Need some simple help

[tbholler]

Hello, very new to the scanner! I had bought a bct-8 a few years ago, I live in Wilmington NC. Back about 4 years ago I could program the 800 freq.'s and program them to be in the trunked format with this scanner. I could here all that was going on and see the ID numbers flash on the screen. I moved away and returned 3 months ago. Now I believe that I have found most of the up-to date 800 freq. and tried again to reprogram the scanner with that horrid manual that is so hard to understand in the first place. However I get nothing from it. No ID number's show up, and all I seem to here is HWY state police ) I think ) on it. Then, it was brought to my attention that this whole area that I am living in went to Digital. I found that the BCT-8 is a analog scanner. Can some tell me if this is the reason why I cant pick up and trunked freq. anymore or would it not matter. Sorry to seem so dumb on this, but I need to take it one step at a time to solve my issue and get back into scanning.

 

[TBennettcc]

If this is your scanner:

Uniden BCT8 - The RadioReference Wiki

... and this is where you live:

New Hanover County, North Carolina

...then your scanner should work just fine. From what I can tell, your scanner will do most of the digital systems in your area. Note there is a difference between an analog system and analog voice. For example, the Wilmington-New Hanover County Public Safety trunked system, located here:

Wilmington-New Hanover County Public Safety

has a 'System Type' of Motorola Type II SmartNet. However, you'll notice that the 'System Voice' is 'Analog'. Your scanner can decode all of the digital system listed in the first link. It doesn't look like it can decode P25 (APCO-25), so you might have mixed luck monitoring the New Hanover County P25 system:

Scanner Frequencies: New Hanover County P25 System Trunking System, Wilmington, North Carolina

which uses a mix of analog and digital voice. Take a look at the frequencies in the wiki for your area (second link). It's possible they may have changed. Try inputting some of the new frequencies into your scanner. It might also be worthwhile for you to check out the North Carolina-area forum here on RadioReference:

North Carolina Radio Discussion Forum - The RadioReference.com Forums

I'm sure they will know much more about your local systems.

Hope this explains things a little better. If it's still clear as mud, don't hesitate to say so, and I'm sure someone else will chime in.

73, and good luck!

 

[tbholler]

Hey thanks for the info, still a bit muddy. Still new to the terms.