Having Trouble Already, I Think?

[Bearcat95]

I have been playing with my new BC95XLT off and on for the past three or so days, read thru the manual a couple of times and boy is there ever a lot of instructions to try and remember re: operating this scanner (glad I didn't go for a bells & whistles unit).

Anyway, I have been using it in the basement rec room but wasn't hearing anything so I took it upstairs, pressed the Scan button and the word SCAN travels across the screen, the #1 in the Bank line flashes on and off continuously but am not hearing any transmissions. With the Search it goes thru a bunch of frequencies continuously but have not heard anything except for one brief transmission from what sounded like a utility co. and the weather frequency when it gets there on the Search, other than that it will stop on some frequencies where there is only a static noise then it moves on or I press Search again to get it moving.

Right now the more important channel for me would be the Air Band but while it is Searching thru I don't see the 108-137 frequency showing at all on the screen although it was supposed to have been programmed into the unit. I tried (following steps in the manual) to input the 108.0 frequency but it does not appear to be scanning/searching for that one, to me anyway.

I don't know if this is sufficient info or if I'm even describing my problem correctly enough for anyone to point me in the right direction with this. I'll freely admit that I am not by any means proficient with these and that's one of the reasons why I got a "basic" model, I figured it would be easier to get up-and-running but perhaps it's just me and I'm missing something in all this. As for the antenna, I'm using the small rubber one that came in the box, I know it's not the best but I figure it should at least recieve the Air Band and maybe some other transmissions.

If any advise you can contact me directly by email...tmacdougall4@cogeco.ca or via this forum. Thanks.

Tom

 

[mciupa]

Hi Bearcat95, don't give up yet !

Sounds to me from what I have read that you have no frequencies programmed into the scanner.

One of the best aviation sites is here: http://www.canairradio.com/ont.html
Browse through that listing and look for airports that are close by.

Turn on the scanner , hit the Manual key to stop it from scanning.
I'm sure it is no more difficult than entering these keys :1 2 8 (decimal point) 1 7 5 and then E into a blank channel. (000.0000)
You should here Ottawa departures on 128.175.

Repeat those steps again with areas you are interested in listening to.

 

[DaveH]

Turn on the scanner , hit the Manual key to stop it from scanning.

There is no key called Manual on the 72/92/95; it is called Hold.

Dave

 

[Forts]

You should be able to scan the aircraft band using the pre-programmed Service Searches in the radio. I just skimmed thru the manual and it really don't tell you how to use them though. From looking at the keypad, I would say give FUNC - 3 a try (since 3 has SVC under it). Hopefully that will let you toggle thru the pre-programmed searches (Air, Marine, Rail etc etc).

 

[VE3RADIO]

if it is similar to the other uniden scanners.. go to menu and scroll to the "service search" option, go in to service search and scroll through railroad, air etc.. and it should work automatically. If i remeber well i did have this scanner breifly and it was very complex for a basic scanner.

 

[DaveH]

if it is similar to the other uniden scanners.. go to menu and scroll to the "service search" option, go in to service search and scroll through railroad, air etc.. and it should work automatically. If i remeber well i did have this scanner breifly and it was very complex for a basic scanner.

Which menu are you speaking of (there is none)? Forts is right, just keep
pressing <FUNC> 3 until the correct search range is selected.

Perhaps you are thinking of the PRO-95 (a completely different scanner)?

Dave

 

[davidmc36]

Which menu are you speaking of

I think he may be thinking of the dual Func/Menu button like on the side of the BC246T. You are correct, the 95XLT does not have a menu button.

 

[Bearcat95]

You should be able to scan the aircraft band using the pre-programmed Service Searches in the radio. I just skimmed thru the manual and it really don't tell you how to use them though. From looking at the keypad, I would say give FUNC - 3 a try (since 3 has SVC under it). Hopefully that will let you toggle thru the pre-programmed searches (Air, Marine, Rail etc etc).

Forts (and all)...You were right, I had NO IDEA that the Func + 3 key had to be pressed to get to the Air band. I for the life of me did not remember reading that in the manual. I believe, being a dummy newbie, that I have a steep learning curve ahead with my...ahem, basic beginner scanner <lol>. Many thanks.

Tom

 

[VE3RADIO]

I think he may be thinking of the dual Func/Menu button like on the side of the BC246T. You are correct, the 95XLT does not have a menu button.

Correct.. the 246.. i thought it might be worth a shot on the 95..

 

[Bearcat95]

Hi Bearcat95, don't give up yet !

Sounds to me from what I have read that you have no frequencies programmed into the scanner.

One of the best aviation sites is here: http://www.canairradio.com/ont.html
Browse through that listing and look for airports that are close by.

Turn on the scanner , hit the Manual key to stop it from scanning.
I'm sure it is no more difficult than entering these keys :1 2 8 (decimal point) 1 7 5 and then E into a blank channel. (000.0000)
You should here Ottawa departures on 128.175.

Repeat those steps again with areas you are interested in listening to.

Thanks for the lead on the av. site 'mciupa', this will definatey be helpful and I'm going to make a copy of it.

With the aid of the members here I have been able to access the Air Band frequencies which I was most concerned with, but now if I want to monitor say one particular frequency alone, is it possible and how would I do that without loosing access to the others? Tks.

Tom

 

[Forts]

I've skimmed thru the manual a few times now, and I may be missing it... but I don't think it actually mentions how to use the Service Search. It mentions the Service Search feature near the beginning but doesn't really touch on it again, so I don't think it's any fault of yours that you didn't see the directions on using it.

If you want to monitor a set of particular frequencies alone, you will have to manually program those into channels as mciupa mentioned above. Then switch back and forth from searching to scanning (or holding on a channel) as needed.

 

[Slayer0420]

From the BC95XLT owners manual ...

Service Search
You can search for weather, ham, marine, aircraft,
police, or fire transmissions without knowing the
specific frequencies used in your area. The scanner
is preprogrammed with all the frequencies allocated
to these services. To use this feature, press Func
and Svc. SRCH appears and the scanner searches
starting with the weather service bank. To select a
different service bank, repeatedly press Func and
Svc. Service mode appears on the display.
When the scanner stops on a transmission, press
Hold to stop searching and listen to the
transmission. Hold appears. In this mode, you can
press Func + or Func + to step through the
frequencies.
To release the hold and continue searching, press
Hold. Or, if you did not press Hold, simply press
Func + or Func + to continue searching.
Note: Because there are many different frequencies
allocated to fire and police departments, it can take
several minutes to search all the service frequencies.
Storing Frequencies into Channels
During Service Search
You can store frequencies you found during service
search or service search hold mode into channels.
1. Press Func and Pgm during service search or
service search hold mode. The frequency and
the lowest blank channel alternately appear.
2. Press E to store the frequency into the blank
channel. If you want to select another channel,
press Func + or Func + before you press
E. You can also use the 0-9 key to select the
bank.
If you entered a frequency that has already been
entered elsewhere, the scanner sounds an error
tone and displays the channel that was duplicated.
If you entered the frequency by mistake, press
then enter the correct frequency. To enter the
frequency anyway, press E to accept.

 

[Bearcat95]

Thanks Slayer0450...I think my biggest hurdle with understanding is that I don't learn well by reading but rather by doing. Generally if someone shows me how something is done I can pick up on it but for me to read instructions I will usually miss something in the translation especially if it's poorly written like some manuals for example<lol>.

Currently I am using the preprogrammed frequencies as I find it easier and there is generally enough stuff going on to keep me entertained. I also have a Uniden BC246T...hell, I don't even want to get started on that one! Thanks again.

 

[wheelerg]

are you close to Trenton? good listening at CFB Trenton, 128.700 128.400 just to name a few, Kingston airport is 122.500,