Official Uniden BC246T Scanner Thread

[Voyager]

When using the "Search For..." > "Service Search" function in any band, once it stops the only way you get it to start searching again is to press "HOLD" twice.

I'm curious: Is there a way to resume searching by pressing only one key once, instead of twice as with the "Hold" key? Yes, I looked in the Manual for something on it

Twist the scroll knob.

Joe M.

 

[Voyager]

2 ideas for the next possible firmware update, although minor they would be nice. When doing a service search and then pressing the "menu" button, it should take you back to the service search menu, not to the main selection of menus.

How would you access the main menu if you made such a change?

Joe M.

 

[baddandy23]

2 ideas for the next possible firmware update, although minor they would be nice. When doing a service search and then pressing the "menu" button, it should take you back to the service search menu, not to the main selection of menus.

How would you access the main menu if you made such a change?

Joe M.

press the menu button again to go back one menu until you reach the "main menu"

 

[Voyager]

2 ideas for the next possible firmware update, although minor they would be nice. When doing a service search and then pressing the "menu" button, it should take you back to the service search menu, not to the main selection of menus.

How would you access the main menu if you made such a change?

Joe M.

press the menu button again to go back one menu until you reach the "main menu"

OK.

Joe M.

 

[SCPD]

if you guys want speed, program the radios in frequency order from lowest to highest- it makes a BIG difference.

bill simpson
n1jbs

 

[SCPD]

i forgot to mention-it works with any scanner-radioshack, aor, regency
i was told this by an engineer from regency when i asked the question
"how can we make a mx7000 scan faster?-it has two speeds-slow and slower." and that was his answer- program in frequency order.

happy faster scanning
bill simpson
n1jbs

 

[Eric61]

I have 6 systems assigned to 1 quick key. Five are trunked and one is conventional. Two of the trunked systems are locked out. Each system has either 2 or 3 groups. If I use FUNC+# to turn off all of the groups in one of the trunked systems, that system still seems to be part of the "scan"; that is, that system name appears on the top line of the display (with no group numbers displayed at the bottom of the display) as the radio moves through the 4 systems that are not locked out. All trunked groups are in ID Scan mode. Consequently, the radio does not stop on any talkgroups, but it does spend a certain amount of time going through a system that I am not currently listening to.

I realize that I can easily lock out that sytem, but to unlock it, I have to scroll through ALL of the systems to find and unlock it. Not that this is all that difficult to do. The only reason for this that I can see is that in order to be able to use FUNC-# to turn a group on or off, the radio must be on that particular system and if all groups were off and it didn't run through that system, you would have to go into the menu to get it back.

While playing around with this, I realized that when assigning multiple systems to the same quick key, groups numbers can be duplicated in multiple systems and turned on/off without affecting groups in the other sytems. I had previously only used one group number per quick key.

Just thought I would pass along my observations for the benefit of anyone that could use the info.

-Eric

 

[brwkem]

Search and Store -- Trunked System

I give up Help!

Trying to use the auto search and store as outlined on pages 84 and 85 for storing a trunked system

Folow steps 1-3 where end up selecting system to store talk group ID's.
Created a MOT standard system for this.
Then on 85 it says after selecting system used to store talk group id's then turn scroll knob until type of search appears -- then a search band.

I never gte this option.
Minute I select system to store it says ID search and store.
Never entered a search range.

What am I doing wrong?

thx.

 

[dbljack]

I had to send my 246 off today to uniden for warranty work. I went to a fireworks display and wanted to listen during the display. To keep my wife happy I used an earphone. After the show I unpluged the earphone and now I have no audio or squelch coming from the unit.


Has anyone else sent something in for repair and if so I am curious what the turn around time is?

Talk about not appreciating something until its gone. I have been using my Pro93 for the last 2 hours which I have not touched since I got the 246 last November. I already miss the dynamic memory and all the flexability the 246 has.

 

[SCPD]

i havent seen that problem. its probably the spring in the ear jack that didnt make it back.
i would have plugged in the earphone a couple of times to see if would come back. wish i knew this before you sent it out!

i have seen this similar problem in the kenwood thf6a dc jack- plug it in a couple of times and it fixed it.

bill simpson
n1jbs

 

[SCPD]

i forgot- average turn around is about a month not including transit time.

bill simpson
n1jbs

 

[safetyobc]

I have the BC246T and the BCD396T. After 6 days of use the BCD396T's printing is wearing off and is being investigated by Uniden. They say they'll make it right and I trust that.

But, I also have a BC246T and after only 2 or 3 months of use the writing on the keys started showing wear and some keys are now almost completely gone! The "Hold" "E" and "3" keys are all wearing off. I used software to program the BC246T for 99% of the programming. What, if anything, is Undien planning to do about the printing issues on the BC246T?

I know I am not the only one that this has happened to, I have saw others post that the BC246T ink comes off of the keys.

 

[W4KRR]

I have the BC246T and the BCD396T. After 6 days of use the BCD396T's printing is wearing off and is being investigated by Uniden. They say they'll make it right and I trust that.

But, I also have a BC246T and after only 2 or 3 months of use the writing on the keys started showing wear and some keys are now almost completely gone! The "Hold" "E" and "3" keys are all wearing off. I used software to program the BC246T for 99% of the programming. What, if anything, is Undien planning to do about the printing issues on the BC246T?

I know I am not the only one that this has happened to, I have saw others post that the BC246T ink comes off of the keys.

Two different model radios, and the print is coming off the keys on both radios? This seems odd to me. Sounds like the problem lies with the user as opposed to the radio.

I have been scanning for over 30 years, have owned many different radios over the years; base, mobiles and hand helds, and never had a radio where the print has worn off the face of the radio or the keys.

I have a theory: I believe some people produce more oil on their skin that other people, and this oil may be more acidic than that of other people. This may be corrosive to certain kinds of paint and ink. I have no data or other info to back this up, just a theory.

 

[Voyager]

I have the BC246T and the BCD396T. After 6 days of use the BCD396T's printing is wearing off and is being investigated by Uniden. They say they'll make it right and I trust that.

Two different model radios, and the print is coming off the keys on both radios? This seems odd to me. Sounds like the problem lies with the user as opposed to the radio.

You misread the comment. The printing is coming off the case on the 396, not the buttons. The printing is coming off the buttons only on the 246.

Joe M.

 

[jimf]

246T TalkGroups

To save me from reading 38 pages of posts, can someone answer this question. On the 780, you can stop on a talkgroup and then turn the knob to scroll through the talkgroups you have entered for that system. Can this be done on the 246, or is some other procedure required?

Thanks, Jim.

 

[W4KRR]

Re: 246T TalkGroups

On the 780, you can stop on a talkgroup and then turn the knob to scroll through the talkgroups you have entered for that system. Can this be done on the 246, or is some other procedure required?

Thanks, Jim.

Yes, it can be done on the '246.

 

[dbljack]

I just received my 246 back today from uniden for a little warrenty work. They had it 18 days which was not as long as I expected. They fixed the problem to my satisfaction. However I also asked them to update the firmware but that seemed to be a little to much for them to do. I should give them a call but what is the point it won't do me any good unless my 246 breaks again.

 

[KB9WUV]

246T/396T

The problem with the ink lies with uniden not the users,My 246T started
loosing ink on the keys in a week after i got it. I refuse to spend 500.00
dollars on the 396 until they fix the ink issue and all the other bugs im reading about

 

[Voyager]

However I also asked them to update the firmware but that seemed to be a little to much for them to do. I should give them a call but what is the point it won't do me any good unless my 246 breaks again.

Why should they take the time to do something you can do yourself?

What version do you have? There have only been two public releases - the original and one that came out a month or so after the release of the scanner, so you likely DO have the latest version on top of everything else. There is supposed to be a new version coming out soon, but again, you can upgrade it yourself.

Joe M.

 

[SCPD]

I thought I was losing it when the lettering on my 246T was coming off. I see that I am not the only one. I have lost most the letters now and well other than I know them by heart ... it isnt that much of a problem, but rather disappointed that this would happen.