BCT15: general questions...

[justrfb]

Hello All.
I am the new proud owner of a gently used BCT15. My story is probably like many of you... As a youngster, I had an 8 channel Bearcat scanner that needed crystals. I wish I could remember what I did with it but I can't, and my Mom and Dad have passed and I forgot to ask them before that... I got the bug to listen to a scanner again as I really enjoyed it back when and I hastily bought an inexpensive non trunking programmable scanner off of Craigslist, THEN I found this site and did some research and now have the scanner I believe I should have.. More research, hence the questions. Thank you for bearing with me as I learn the "in's and out's" of the BCT15.
Am I correct in saying I can not program my radio with a computer? Isn't that only the BCT15X? If I can, could you please tell me what cable and software or freeware? I live in Stanhope, NJ, on the border of Morris and Sussex counties... I have a State Police station about a mile and a half from my home. I will be able to "hear" the NJSP correct? I have a NJT train track about a mile from my home. NJT is "digital" correct and therefore I will not be able to hear them? I am going to keep looking and reading (I should be working though...) but THANK YOU for your answers and information as I embark on "scanning" again.

Sincerely,
Rich

 

[popnokick]

I have a BCT15 and you absolutely CAN program it with a computer... in fact, you should since it is much simpler and clearer. I use Freescan and there is more info and links here on the RR Wiki:
Category:FreeSCAN - The RadioReference Wiki
Google BCT15 USB for cable info... there are a ton of sources for the USB cable that plugs into the front panel USB jack on the BCT15.
In my travels in NJ I find that the BCT15 tracks the Motorola trunked analog systems just fine, but based on what I read in the NJ Forum here on RR those systems are getting fewer in number every month. At some some point, you're going to need a digital-capable scanner if you want to listen to many state and local agencies. More info in the NJ forum where you should be looking -
New Jersey Radio Discussion Forum - The RadioReference.com Forums

 

[justrfb]

Hello popnokick and thank you for your information. I will have to check but if that is not proprietary to Uniden, I might have a cable that will fit. Thanks for the link. I will go there now and look for more answers. While I am at it, I thought of another question... Do you think my radio already has the "fixed" firmware in it that rebands it? From what I can see, the fis was in 2009. Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Rich

 

[cjrjr507]

You can use the rear 9 pin port on the back of the scanner too. Just get a cable for it and make sure you get an null modem adapter with it. You can program the scanner with it too. And you can get an DB9 to usb cable for it. That's what I use for my laptop along with the other cables.

 

[smason]

I remember those old crystal scanners, had a few myself.
As mentioned above, Freescan works very well for programming. If you ever want to do remote control/listening remotely then Proscan is an awesome program. I use it on my 15, and operate my scanner at home while at the office.
The 15 is a great scanner, and usually a bargain on the used market, I use mine for scanning analog stuff (air, Ham, etc) as well as the analog portion of our local trunked system. I use my PSR600 for the digital stuff.

 

[ka3jjz]

Yes, the BCT15 and 15x are analog trunking only scanners - no digital.

Getting FreeScan is only half the battle - you will likely need a USB-serial cable as well. Unfortunately Win 8.x made this a huge pain in the rump, so I've gathered up a number of resources - including those models (apart from Uniden's USB-1) that are known to be Win 8 compatible (and this is key: with the correct drivers...) and added their links to the wiki article below (links are always blue)

Connecting scanners via USB - The RadioReference Wiki

If you are using Win 8.x (many people are), pay particular attention to section 5.3 and everything beneath it

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Another thing that constantly trips newcomers up is that the ports on the scanner are not active by default - you have to activate and allocate them. This has been the discussion on so many levels that there's a section in the FreeScan user guide devoted to this topic

Freescan - Connecting Scanner to PC - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

 

[Voyager]

Another thing that constantly trips newcomers up is that the ports on the scanner are not active by default - you have to activate and allocate them. This has been the discussion on so many levels that there's a section in the FreeScan user guide devoted to this topic

Freescan - Connecting Scanner to PC - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

Huh? The ports come with the front port set to 115k and the rear to 4800 (GPS spec). In fact, I don't think you can disable the ports.

To the OP, you will want to standard programming cable so you can perform updates to the scanner which can only be performed from the front port.

 

[N8IAA]

Hello All.
I am the new proud owner of a gently used BCT15. My story is probably like many of you... As a youngster, I had an 8 channel Bearcat scanner that needed crystals. I wish I could remember what I did with it but I can't, and my Mom and Dad have passed and I forgot to ask them before that... I got the bug to listen to a scanner again as I really enjoyed it back when and I hastily bought an inexpensive non trunking programmable scanner off of Craigslist, THEN I found this site and did some research and now have the scanner I believe I should have.. More research, hence the questions. Thank you for bearing with me as I learn the "in's and out's" of the BCT15.
Am I correct in saying I can not program my radio with a computer? Isn't that only the BCT15X? If I can, could you please tell me what cable and software or freeware? I live in Stanhope, NJ, on the border of Morris and Sussex counties... I have a State Police station about a mile and a half from my home. I will be able to "hear" the NJSP correct? I have a NJT train track about a mile from my home. NJT is "digital" correct and therefore I will not be able to hear them? I am going to keep looking and reading (I should be working though...) but THANK YOU for your answers and information as I embark on "scanning" again.

Sincerely,
Rich

According to the RR database, you will not be able to monitor the NJSP with the 15. You will need a scanner that decodes P-25 digital. At the time I type this, the NJSP are still Phase I on a Phase II system.
But, I do not live in NJ, and can't give you a definitive answer as whether or not you can still hear Troop B on their old system. Hopefully, someone in your area can post an answer.
Larry

 

[parnass]

Huh? The ports come with the front port set to 115k and the rear to 4800 (GPS spec). In fact, I don't think you can disable the ports.

OFF is a menu option for both front and rear serial ports on my BCT15X. It is one of the choices in the serial port speed selection menu.

 

[justrfb]

Thanks very much for all the advice and help. I appreciate it. It turns out the cable I have does not work so I am ordering my cable now. Also, I looked and my firmware version is not the latest, which includes the "rebanding"... I will be loading the latest firmware too. I hope I can get it all together soon. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Rich

 

[Blackink]

OFF is a menu option for both front and rear serial ports on my BCT15X. It is one of the choices in the serial port speed selection menu.

I agree with parnass as my BCT15X has the "off" option for both front & rear ports.

 

[justrfb]

Hello All.
Still no wire!... I am waiting and hope I can figure it out.

Sincerely,
Rich

 

[justrfb]

UUGGhhhhhh...

This stinks.. I can't even get FreeScan to load on my Win7 computer. I am not a programmer but I can get my way around a computer or so I thought... I am trying to download from "SixSpot Software." Is that where I should be getting it from or somewhere else please... Thank you.

Rich

 

[Blackink]

This stinks.. I can't even get FreeScan to load on my Win7 computer. I am not a programmer but I can get my way around a computer or so I thought... I am trying to download from "SixSpot Software." Is that where I should be getting it from or somewhere else please... Thank you.

Rich

Yup, here's the direct link to the download Web site: Downloads - Sixspot Software

fssetup-217.zip

If you pm me with your email address, I can email you a Word document that has instructions on manually programming your scanner for a Conventional System, analog frequencies, if that will help you get going in the mean time.

 

[justrfb]

Hello All.
I am happy to say I jumped the first hurdle! I got FreeScan running and it recognizes my BCT 15. Thank you for all of your help in this matter and I appreciate your continued help in reducing the learning curve on this scanner and current complex radio systems. I will start a new specific post for my next (I think) important question. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Rich