Uniden BCT15x Tedious to program?

[bobruzzo]

Sorry Bob you can get a SERIAL to front connector here is one on ebay.

Uniden DB9 Serial Cable For Scanner Models BC246T, SC230, BCD396T, BR330T, BCD99 | eBay

Uniden DB9 Serial Cable For Scanner Models BC246T, SC230, BCD396T, BR330T, BCD996T - Uniden BWZY1227001. Uniden Scanner DB9 Serial Cable For BC246T, SC230, BCD396T, BR330T, BCD996T. Uniden BWZY1227001.

www.ebay.com

OK those links I posted above a few minutes ago are saying that this radio MUST be programmed from the FRONT! The REAR connection is for GPS. The front port must be well hidden cause I cant see it in pictures. Hahahaha sorry for the confusion. So I just need to simply (!) use the cable that comes with scanner, plug the LITTLE end into FRONT of scanner, get a serial (9 pin) to USB adapter and attach it to the OTHER end of cable, then plug that into the USB port on computer! Damn it woulda been EASIER for Uniden to just design this radio with SIMPLER connections!!!
So how is the cable that comes with radio different than the cable you suggest above? It seems that they BOTH have the SAME tiny connector on one end and 9 pin serial connector on the other........

 

[bobruzzo]

HERE is the front connector!!! Very hard to see in pictures. Looks like the kind of connector for charging your PHONE.

 

[buddrousa]

I have 2 15X's and 2 15's I have used the 9 pin rear before if I remember correct but to update FIRMWARE you have to go through the front. You will be fine get you a USB to 9 PIN Adapter.

 

[hiegtx]

View attachment 81060 HERE is the front connector!!! Very hard to see in pictures. Looks like the kind of connector for charging your PHONE.

While that connector socket appears, at first, to resemble the micro-USB ports on many cellphones and tablets, it is a different, unique, connector. You do have to use that front connector for firmware updates, but as buddrousa has already noted, the rear DB9 connector can be used for a GOS or programming.

See this Wiki page as well.
Connecting scanners via USB - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[bobruzzo]

I have 2 15X's and 2 15's I have used the 9 pin rear before if I remember correct but to update FIRMWARE you have to go through the front. You will be fine get you a USB to 9 PIN Adapter.

OK thank you very much! I also watched a few videos on Youtube which were a bit helpful in understanding programming. OK I am ordering the radio.

 

[bobruzzo]

OK UPDATE. I ordered the BC15X this morning. I have been reading up on the information others have suggested. So I just want to be a little prepared to set up radio when it comes next week. I plan to program ONE LTR "system"....I see the frequencies have to be entered in order. LTR requires ALL frequencies to be entered. I probably have to MANUALLY program these cause using Freescan this "system" doesnt come up to download the data to scanner. And also do TALKGROUPS have to be entered as well? My PRO 2055 automatically grabbed the talk groups when I programmed this "system". The 2055 would just save the TGID's as it scanned through.

Next I plan to program ONE CONVENTIONAL "system" of 2 Counties in my area (Providence & Kent) [police, fire, rescue etc]. This data is easily downloaded from Radio Reference.

Next I plan to program a "system" of miscellaneous CONVENTIONAL agencies in my area (casinos, hospitals, schools, taxis, businesses) This will have to be manually programmed.

Last I am hoping to program one MOTOROLA Type II SmartZone "system". It is STATE POLICE TROOP D Southeastern Mass. 800mhz. I am assuming since this radio is "control channel only" capable I only need to use the CONTROL FREQUENCIES that this system uses. But not sure how this works if I simply just download the data from Radio Reference. It might just copy the control freqs as well as the other freqs in their system. Dont know. Also there is A LOT of talkgroups here.......Hopefully scanner will store them automatically as I scan this system when they come up.

Thats about it for now......thats everything I have been listening to from here. Here are some screen shots of the LTR and MOTOROLA systems I want to monitor:

 

[bobruzzo]

Radio arrived this morning and I put it to do a state scan just to let it run for a while. Seems to be OK so far. I wanted to first do a firmware update so to get thru this a little quicker I set up my old Windows 7 computer off to the side and installed the updater.....was easily able to use the cable that came with radio since computer has a rs-232 connection on back. So when I ran the updater it said update has already been applied(?) Not sure if the update I did used an OLD FILE? Or if its cool. In any case I did check the firmware version on radio and it says "Firmware version 1.05.03" Next step is to get a db9 (male to female) cable and attach to the cable that came with radio. So I am going to try to simplify matters by just using the Win7 computer for maintaining this radio. When I get the cable, I will attempt to use FreeScan and transfer the file I already made of the things I listen to. BTW the comport identified when I did the was COM1.

 

[tvengr]

1.05.03 is the latest firmware version available for the BCT15X.

 

[bobruzzo]

1.05.03 is the latest firmware version available for the BCT15X.

1.05.03 is the latest firmware version available for the BCT15X.

OK so I am all set with that hurdle! Next is to find a db9 (9 pin) female to female serial cable. Nobody sells them around here....checked Walmart, Staples and Best Buy.......probably have to order it. That sucks cause I was hoping to pick up one today so I can get to programming this new scanner. I am using my older Windows 7 desktop computer which has a db9 (male) connection in back. And the rear db9 jack on the BCT15X is also a male connection. So rather than go crazy with USB I thought I would give this a try. However I am still unsure exactly what kind of cable this is I need. Is it a NULL MODEM cable or a STRAIGHT THROUGH cable with 2 female connectors? Well maybe I can putz around and try to manually program a conventional system or two.

 

[bobruzzo]

I have 2 15X's and 2 15's I have used the 9 pin rear before if I remember correct but to update FIRMWARE you have to go through the front. You will be fine get you a USB to 9 PIN Adapter.

Do I need to get a NULL MODEM db9 serial cable (with female connector at each end) or a STRAIGHT THROUGH cable (with female db9 connectors on each end? I have to order online because no stores around here carry them. I am using my old WIN7 computer that has a db9 connector [male] in back. And the BCT15X also has a male db9 connector. So I need a female to female serial cable but there are 2 kinds that turn up in a search! Either null modem or straight through!

 

[kruser]

I'm thinking you do need a null modem cable or at least a null modem adapter with a male DB9 on one side and female DB9 on the other side.
It's been quite a while since I used the rear port on one of these models though so I could be wrong.

Getting the null modem adapter would allow you to use either cable type if you order the wrong female to female cable.

 

[bobruzzo]

I'm thinking you do need a null modem cable or at least a null modem adapter with a male and female DB9 on each end.
The adapter would allow you to use either cable type if you order the wrong female to female cable.

This is getting really confusing!!!!! OK so the computer I am using has a 9 pin db9 MALE connection. The Radio has the SAME kind of connection on the back. So I need to determine WHICH kind of cable to get, either null modem or straight through. I dont get why I would need a connector with a MALE end because both the RADIO and COMPUTER both have MALE db9 connection ports. Seems I need FEMALE on both ends of the cable. I am trying to simplify this by NOT using the USB route since that appears to have a higher chance it may not work. However I did order a usb to db9 cable anyway. Maybe if I could see a PICTURE of how others have theirs set up? I am still not good at visualizing what I need.

 

[kruser]

This is getting really confusing!!!!! OK so the computer I am using has a 9 pin db9 MALE connection. The Radio has the SAME kind of connection on the back. So I need to determine WHICH kind of cable to get, either null modem or straight through. I dont get why I would need a connector with a MALE end because both the RADIO and COMPUTER both have MALE db9 connection ports. Seems I need FEMALE on both ends of the cable. I am trying to simplify this by NOT using the USB route since that appears to have a higher chance it may not work. However I did order a usb to db9 cable anyway. Maybe if I could see a PICTURE of how others have theirs set up? I am still not good at visualizing what I need.

A null modem adapter is not a cable at all. It's just a small DB9 adapter that you place at one end or the other of your female to female cable that you are going to order.
It converts a straight thru cable to a null cable is all (or it will convert a null modem cable back to a straight thru cable). When you mess with old serial ports, a null modem adapter was always a good thing to have on hand!

 

[kruser]

I just looked at one of my 15X models and it does need a Null modem cable or a null modem adapter if you buy a straight thru cable.

If you don't think you will ever mess with serial ports in the future, just order a null modem cable that has female DB9 connectors on each end.
That's all you will need to use it with the computer that already has a built in serial port.

I always mark my null cables with the word NULL on one of the ends with a Sharpie so I know what it is if it ends up in my spare cable bin.
Some are factory labeled but I find many that are not marked at all.

 

[bobruzzo]

OK I think I have it. One problem though....I just programmed my first "system"......called "Business"......then programmed group called "Group 1" then edited channel and put in NAME and FREQ and CTCSS. Fine but when I press "scan" scanner does show a "1" while scanning but is still scanning my STATE! How do i get it to STOP scanning STATE and just scan the system I just programmed? Hahaha OK figured out I had to REMOVE the icons at bottom of screen!

 

[bob550]

just looked at one of my 15X models and it does need a Null modem cable or a null modem adapter if you buy a straight thru cable.

I've used the rear GPS port for programming my 996xt for several years. As I recall, from the GPS connector I connected a straight 9-pin cable to a null-modem adapter, to a serial to USB adapter cable. Since I have the latest and last firmware update in the scanner, I've never even used the original front-mounted cable. My computer doesn't have a serial port anyway.

 

[bobruzzo]

I've used the rear GPS port for programming my 996xt for several years. As I recall, from the GPS connector I connected a straight 9-pin cable to a null-modem adapter, to a serial to USB adapter cable. Since I have the latest and last firmware update in the scanner, I've never even used the original front-mounted cable. My computer doesn't have a serial port anyway.

I have a USB 2.0 to db9 cable on order so hopefully according to a video on Youtube that will work on Win 10. But I also can use my Win 7 computer as well. I was feeling ambitious and ended up manually programming a system of 40 conventional frequencies with their ctcss and dcs codes. Mostly businesses, malls, hospitals, taxi, casino, etc in the Providence county area near where I live. Then I programmed another system, manually, this time a local LTR system of 10 frequencies. It's the state prison where there is a lot of activity.....I noticed while programming I didnt enter the 3 tgid's they use....but when scanning, and scanner stops on active frequency, the tgid shows up. While scanning that "bank" ID SEARCH scrolls across screen. So maybe I dont have to enter the talk groups? Couldnt figure out how to do that. Well so far I am very impressed with this radio. Nice display and audio. Next step is to program an 800 mhz trunked system. But not tonight!

 

[ka3jjz]

No you don't need to necessarily put in all the TGs. ID Search will show you all the TGs on that system; ID Scan, on the other side, will only show those you have programmed. You can easily switch between the 2 - if you read the Easier to Read manual, you'll know how....Mike

 

[bobruzzo]

No you don't need to necessarily put in all the TGs. ID Search will show you all the TGs on that system; ID Scan, on the other side, will only show those you have programmed. You can easily switch between the 2 - if you read the Easier to Read manual, you'll know how....Mike

OK I was looking on the Easy to read manual on how to enter TGID's but when I tried it kept overwriting what I had entered. Like scanner would only put in 1 tgid. I will look more closely.

 

[bobruzzo]

I programmed about 125 frequencies manually in both conventional and LTR.....so after doing all of that I undoubtedly know how to program this radio by hand! After repitition after repitition I quickly learned how to do this. I am having trouble with my LAST system. Motorola. The Mass State PD uses Motorola Type II Smartzone 800mhz trunked. It's TROOP D, Southeastern Mass. I ran into a road block trying to follow the "Easy to read" page but it had me jumping all over the page trying to set different options that I didnt understand. Once I get the NEW system, rename it then I go to "Edit sys options" and this is where I get confused. It asks me to edit a "SITE". I didnt have to edit a site doing LTR or conventional. I remember editing a "GROUP" and then putting in frequencies with conventional and LTR. But don't understand editing a "SITE". I understand this radio will receive using just the control channels, and there's 4 of them: 859.8375, 859.2875, 858.3625 and 855.9125. The Easy to read document isnt too clear on a more straightforward explanation. So if anybody could give me a clear step by step instruction, then this radio will be all programmed ready to go.