Official BCT-15 Post Release Thread

[UPMan]

I have tried to figure out why my scanner scans so slow. I have three zones setup with a total of 45 channels and it takes at least two seconds to scan through the channels. Is there something else I need to look at. I changed the System Hold times to off. Any suggestions?


Thanks

David

On a trunked system, the number of channels programmed has no affect on scan speed. The scanner has to dwell on each active control channel long enough to receive a full "frame" of data so that it can determine which talk groups are active on the control channel and then compare those active talk groups with the information you've stored into channels to see if it should switch to the voice traffic. This takes about 1 to 1.5 seconds per control channel.

 

[dmonty83]

ok...

That makes sense, but I do not have any trunked systems programmed into this unit. I have placed it side by side with my 780 and the 780 seems much quicker to return to an active frequency. Oh well...


David

 

[UPMan]

Ah. I assumed trunked. In that case, be sure your system hold time is set to 0 (default is 2 seconds).

 

[Eric61]

Nope, care to try again?

While Scanning system of interest, press HOLD/RESUME, then use F-Knob to scroll to channel of interest.

73

Dave AKA The Tripzter

This works for normal scanning, but not if you select and scan only a system that is normally locked out. While scanning, I press and hold F to latch, scroll to a system that has been locked out and press F to select that system. Now the radio will scan only that system. If I press hold, then sroll, it scrolls to the next system. At first I was also not able to force a continued scan after the radio stopped on a transmission. Then I figured out I could press hold twice and it would force the radio to continue scanning. Still can't hold and select a particular channel or talkgoup.

Also still haven't found out what the SCR REP is either. Saw this on a 996 as well.

Eric

 

[h8tdigitalradio]

While scanning, I press and hold F to latch, scroll to a system that has been locked out and press F to select that system. Now the radio will scan only that system. If I press hold, then sroll, it scrolls to the next system.

It would seem from your description FUNCTION is still enabled. If FUNCTION is enabled (Solid or Flashing "F") the only options are:

* Scroll programmed systems, search and custom preset ranges, and State Systems
* Lock or unlock systems
* Enable or disable GQK's
* Scan selected System

As long as FUNCTION is enabled, you cannot scroll thru channels of a system even after pressing HOLD.

Also still haven't found out what the SCR REP is either.

SCR: Appears when one or more broadcast screen bands are turned on.
REP: Appears when Repeater Find is enabled.

73

Dave AKA The Tripzter

 

[Eric61]

Thanks Tripzter Dave!

With your help I am finally making a little progress. I can establish a hold after selecting the system, then take it out of function mode and scroll channels. If I don't press hold first, when I turn the function mode off, it starts scanning through other systems. When I am done listening to the channel of interest, F, then lockout x2 gets me back to "regular" scanning.

Thanks also for the SCR/REP help.

The manual is really incomplete and could use a major rewrite.

I am still not happy about not being able to use the quick keys to disable a system and still manually listen to channels in that system using the above method. Guess there is nothing I can do about that. I suppose I could enable the system with a quick key, then use the above method, but it adds a step, plus I have to remember or look up the quick key number first.

Eric

 

[Ubbe]

The manual is really incomplete and could use a major rewrite.

None of the newer Uniden scanner carry a comprehensiv manual. All functions could change in a blink with the next firmware release. If a scanner where non-upgradable you could probably see a well written manual, but as all things are changable nowadays you will probably not see any dsetailed instructions being published by Uniden, escept perhaps in the release note of any new firmware upgrade package.

Ubbe.

 

[Ubbe]

I have placed it side by side with my 780 and the 780 seems much quicker to return to an active frequency. Oh well...David

I have to agree. My 780 seems to scan at a 100ch/s rate while the BCT15 runs at 50ch/s.
It seems to go even slower in search mode and are way down in speed from the 780.

My BC246T are speedlighning quick compared to BCT15 and they both have nearly the exact same setup and number of channels.

Ubbe.

 

[Ubbe]

1. What are your opinions? You get very much scanner for your money.

2. How is the sensitivity? Extreamly well in the low-vhf, better than 780, same as 780 in hi-vhf and uhf but way better in high-uhf which I belive is a first for a Uniden scanner.

3 I have read a few responses that some claim this will meet or exceed the the 780 peformance? Overall better reception than 780.

4.Any known issuses? CloeCall now less sensitive and are more focused on "close" compared to earlier Close Call scanners.

5. Any problems finding or tracking CC in trunk mode? No

6. Any problems having next to a computer? No. If you open up the scanner you'll see that there are extra shield plates, as many 2-way radios have, that makes the BCT15 my first scanner to not receive a local transmitter 1/4 mile away without the antenna cable connected. Internal shielding are excellent.

7. How well does it do in the Civ and Mil-Air bands?

8. Likes and Dislikes? Would like a "group selection" option and "scan selected group only" function. Loudspeaker sound and controls are excellent. GPS functions are awesome.

9. Does it overload using an outdoor antenna? Yes, not as prone as 780 but not as good as an old Pro-2006.

10. Any keypad tricks or Mods?

11. Preferred settings or Suggested? Always have CloseCall Do-Not-Disturb engaged while mobile. Read the hits at home and plot the logged GPS locations on a map to see where you got them. Mapquest can be used for this.

Ubbe.

 

[Ubbe]

I'd like to chime in that if a future OEM remote head unit is possible (BCT15 / 996), that would only make a great scanner even better. I have no idea how the guts of the unit are setup, and if it's even possible, but it would sure be nice!

I belive Scannermaster spent 2 years developing the remote head for the 780 and then they only sold a couple before they closed the production line. The BCT15 are way more complicated in the interface between head and mainboard and it will probably never materialise any remote head for the BCT15/BCT996.

Ubbe.

 

[aar9sm]

Bct15.bc780

I have a chance to get a bct15 or 780 for the same price which one would you guys recommend? Iwill use it for some trunking but mainly Mil-Air

Mike

 

[DaveIN]

I have a chance to get a bct15 or 780 for the same price which one would you guys recommend? Iwill use it for some trunking but mainly Mil-Air

Mike

The BCT15 can be firmware flash upgraded for rebanding, the BC780XLT can not support rebanding. For the same price you'll get more for your money in the BCT15.

 

[aar9sm]

Interferece

I have been getting killed in the 163-174 mhz with weather channel interference after I changed the coax from and RG58 to the RG6 . I seemed to have really increased me my incomming signal , weak signal is greatly improved. The scanner just cannot seem to filter out 162 mhz weather signal across the band, I have use the ATT feature. Has anyone else had this problem?

Mike

 

[mvanbeek]

I belive Scannermaster spent 2 years developing the remote head for the 780 and then they only sold a couple before they closed the production line. The BCT15 are way more complicated in the interface between head and mainboard and it will probably never materialise any remote head for the BCT15/BCT996.

Ubbe.

You guys made have already read this but, there is a remote head in the works for BCT15.

http://www.scannermaster.com/Articles.asp?ID=149

 

[DaveIN]

You guys made have already read this but, there is a remote head in the works for BCT15.

http://www.scannermaster.com/Articles.asp?ID=149

There is an offical stickey for this thread in the Uniden forum. Just scroll down a bit.

 

[aar9sm]

Intermod Paging

I have been experiencing a lot of 162 mhz weather station intermod and paging noise throughout the vhf uhf bands with both of my BCT15's stock antenna and it really gets bad when I want to scan the 160-174 mhz federal band with and outside antenna forget it, I cannot scan through it without using the Att feature then I loose most of the signal.

I have seen others reporting this problem very recently nothing was mentioned on the earlier reviews or I would have went another way.

I would like try and get a count on just how many people are experiencing this problem. It seems that maybe Uniden might have went a little cheap on the filtering, what a shame this is a beautiful rig with a ton of features that is becoming functional only in the 800 mhz band for me. Kind of reminds me of the ole Uniden BC2500xlt had it all but intermod just killed it.

Mike

 

[DaveIN]

No, I have not experenced the intermod/paging noise you mention on my BCT15 or BCD996T. Are you in a metro area or rural? How high and what type of antenna do you have? Do you have any other scanners to reference to, in the same frequency band?

 

[AG4WI]

No, I have not experenced the intermod/paging noise you mention on my BCT15 either.
I can look out my livening room window and see 3 commercial Transmit towers and my
BTC-15 never gets any intermod. I also use a high gain Austin Antenna.

 

[aar9sm]

Intermod

I am using the RS 20-176 with RG-6 quad about 20ft off the ground.

I have two BCT15s they are both swamped with weather and some data interference in the Vhf air band and the 163 federal band even using the stock antenna to the point that I have just about given up trying to listen I have to use the attenuator to even try and listen to the bands I even get some of the weather interference in the Uhf bands

Rigs,bcd396 does a lot better than the BCT15 my Icom 706,Kenwood 707, little to nothing concerning intermod in those bands.

I live in Phoenix AZ

Would a an inline filter for the 162 band work without to much loss throughout the rest of the 163-174 band or should I just stick with the Att on and miss any of the weaker signals.

Mike

 

[ex8010]

GPS: would this work?

I found this NMEA outputting GPS reciever online:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=UT-41&cat=GPS&cpc=GPSbsc

Would this work with the BCT-15? I guess it would need some way of getting power and the USB converted to serial.

Could be cheaper than using a standard reciever