Need Help Programing BCT-15x

[Samtheweatherman]

So I just got the BCt-15x scanner(This is my first Scanner) and I have successfully connected it to my computer. I have freescan and i made a new group and added frequencies to that group, and uploaded it to the scanner. But now my question is how do i make the scanner scan only those frequencies. I saw one in radio shack that was just scanning the police, fire, and ems but I don't know how to make the scanner do this...

 

[KE5BCP]

So I just got the BCt-15x scanner(This is my first Scanner) and I have successfully connected it to my computer. I have freescan and i made a new group and added frequencies to that group, and uploaded it to the scanner. But now my question is how do i make the scanner scan only those frequencies. I saw one in radio shack that was just scanning the police, fire, and ems but I don't know how to make the scanner do this...

Welcome to RR!

The BCT15X is a great radio.

You need to assign a "Quick Key" to your systems, which will allow you to pick-and-choose what you want to hear:
EditSite < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

In FreeSCAN, look to the right of "Name" in the tab "Site Setup".

 

[ka3jjz]

In FreeScan, the following article describes how to work with Quick Keys...

Freescan and Quick Key Processing - The RadioReference Wiki

73 Mike

 

[Samtheweatherman]

So then how do i enter scan mode after I entered the quick keys?

 

[ka3jjz]

The first thing to make sure to do is to activate/enable only the quick keys for the systems you have programmed. The article I mentioned describes how to do this in FreeScan - use the Auto Select function at the bottom of the SQK manager screen.

Next, when you upload, be sure that 'Erase all Systems and Settings' option is checked in the Send To Scanner screen. That way you know that only those systems you've sent will be uploaded, and anything else will be dropped. Always make sure that 'Send System Quick Key Status' is checked. That way as you make adjustments to what you hear - and you will - they are continually refreshed. It's also a good idea, in your case, to suppress sending digital channels to an analog scanner.

Image:FS upload queued v8.JPG - The RadioReference Wiki

Now if all went well, you can go to Scanner/Control Scanner You should see a screen like this;

Image:FS Virtual Control.JPG - The RadioReference Wiki

Make sure the right com port and speed are at the top. If they are, you have a choice of 3 different interfaces, and they're imaged here...pick one

Freescan Virtual Scanner - The RadioReference Wiki

The 'scan/srch' button is what you are looking for. On the IPOD interface (which is very minimal) the right arrow at the bottom is 'scan' - the 2 bars next to it is 'hold'

Now there is something unique about the 15X - there are various state-by-state programs already loaded. I believe - I can't recall, exactly - that FreeScan automatically disables this, but if it doesn't, you can do it manually. The Uniden TWiki shows how to do this;

StatebyStateScanning < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

73 Mike

 

[Samtheweatherman]

I tried this but then on the scanner it says "Scan Mode" "nothing to scan"

I'm not sure what is happening but here are screenshots of all the windows that i needed to change settings in...

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/samtheweatherman/4.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/samtheweatherman/3.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/samtheweatherman/2.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/samtheweatherman/1.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/samtheweatherman/5.jpg

 

[ka3jjz]

Look at the 2.jpg - you have everything locked out (L/O)

This article describes the 'Nothing to Scan' message from our FAQ

Nothing to Scan - The RadioReference Wiki

In addition, from 5.jpg, you can remove the checkmark from the Global lockouts for now, and put a checkmark in 'Dont send digital channels to an analog scanner'. The 15X won't handle P25 digital signals.

73 Mike

 

[Samtheweatherman]

So I figured out the nothing to scan problem, when i upload it says nothing to scan, but then I went to menu, program system, (my system), edit system option, set lockout, and i turned it to unlock. But then when i exit the menu the scanner says Public Safety, but its not scanning the frequencies in my group?!

thanks for your help...

 

[ka3jjz]

Please read the message. You need to unlock all the channels you have locked out as shown in 2.jpg.

I suspect you are in the service search mode. According to the Easier to Read manual (which I highly suggest you read - the link is at the bottom of the DMA FAQ), any service search not assigned to a quick key and/or is not locked out is automatically scanned. You can go to the following screen in FreeScan and lock out each of the services in turn. I brought up this screen and saw most all of these services were locked out, so I'm not sure why you are still getting this. You may need to go into this and do it manually

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Freescan_Service_Search

When you are all done with that, re-upload.

73 Mike

 

[Samtheweatherman]

I figured it out finally, I unlocked all of the frequencies in the group like you told me to. Then I uploaded it to the scanner with the erase everything setting. Then it said nothing to scan, so I went into the scanner menu and the system was locked out, so I unlocked it but then it went to the public safety thing again. But then I uploaded the system again but this time with the "replace any existing system by same name, add remaining, and now the scanner is scanning my group like I wanted it to.

But every time I erase everything and upload the system is set to lockout, and I looked on all of the menus on freescan but nothing with lockout is enabled

 

[ka3jjz]

Let's see your current system and group screens - chances are that you've got the lockout option set on either of them....also something I didn't notice before (I don't have a 15x), on the system screen make sure the state pulldown says 'NONE' 73 Mike