Uniden BCT8 Scanner Problems

[fxstdse]

We are having problems with the new MOH reception on some of the BCT8 scanners; I know of 6 in the Whitby and Oshawa area that where programmed by 4 different people and they all have the same garbled reception but only on the MOH, I personally have had 3 on a table and they where seperated by a least 4 feet and 1 works excellant and the others are garbled. I called Uniden repair in Peterborough and they had losts of possibilities like antenna, power wire to close together but every explanation they gave was checked and rechecked. So it back to blaming the BCT8 scanner.
HAS ANYONE ELSE GOT THIS PROBLEM ??????
ALL HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED EITHER IN THE FORUM HERE OR TO MY E-MAIL:
FXSTDSE@SYMPATICO.CA

THANKS FOR ANY HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[motomeso]

I own a BCT-8 and it works great for the MOH off the Cedarwoods site. Can you explain any further about the garbled audio? The audio is a lot lower then other systems I tend to scan but I over come this with my Motorola amplified external speaker.

 

[DaveH]

Is the BCT8 capable of true narrowband FM on trunked VHF? If not,
possibly is the volume being cranked to compensate, up to the point of
high distortion?

Dave

 

[Forts]

No problems at all in my neck of the woods (Woodstock to Sarnia corridor).

 

[imcleish]

I am running a 246T and have no problems with control channel only tracking off the whitby tower.

 

[hastingsmedic]

Perhaps a lead for you...

Hey folks... I'm monitoring MOH analog fleetnet with two BCT8s. Both used to work fine... then one started with this garbled thing, but only on MOH trunked talkgroups.
I had nothing to lose, so I started frigging around.
GET THIS.... IT WORKS FINE if you REMOVE THE OUTER CASE.

I'm still testing, but I'm thinking some sort of ground leak?


Andrew

 

[Forts]

Wow. That is bizarre. So you are saying that if you just lift the lid off, the reception clears up? If so, it definitely sounds like a cold/bad solder joint or something along those lines. And it's only trunked reception that is messed up? Again, very odd....

 

[hastingsmedic]

"Naked" BCT8 Reception

Yes, mine would start out normal, then after 5 minutes it would get progressively more garbled.

I removed the entire black casing, and it worked fine. I have disassembled the scanner, cleaned all grounding solder pads, and reassembled. It still is garbled if the case is even TOUCHING the scanner, but if it is off, no problems.

Again, it only does this when analog trunking... I can switch in the middle of a garbled transmission, and hear Wx clearly.

Right now it is sitting on the counter in a plastic case I made out of perforated plastic speaker covering, and is running 100%.

I'm stumped now though. How do I figure out what is going on? Sounds like some kind of ground leak, but I don't know. Any suggestions anyone?

Andrew

 

[UPMan]

Can you email me a file of the "Garbled Audio" at: popitz@uniden.com

 

[DaveH]

Yes, mine would start out normal, then after 5 minutes it would get progressively more garbled.

I removed the entire black casing, and it worked fine. I have disassembled the scanner, cleaned all grounding solder pads, and reassembled. It still is garbled if the case is even TOUCHING the scanner, but if it is off, no problems.

Andrew

Sounds like something is drifting as the radio warms up with the case on, and taking it off causes things to cool off and restore better behaviour. If that is the case and everything is set up right, there may be a problem with the particular radio(s).

Is the radio (not system) step size correctly set for that part of the band (Canadian steps..) and are all the frequencies correct i.e. not rounded off to 12.5kHz steps etc.? If you are seeing frequencies like 142.4125 instead of 142.4100, that may be happening.

Dave

 

[ve3zo]

And I thought it was just my t8 doing that, but here is a another thing. I live in Windsor and it does it while trunking the Windsor Public Safety 800Mhz system as well as the MOH on the Fleetnet system. I have absolutely no issue while trunking the KELCOM LTR System. Could this be just a MOTOROLA issue?

I have not taken the lid off of mine as it is in my car.

Chris
VE3CTP
Windsor, ON


BCT-8
BC 780 XLT
BCD 396t
MVT 7100
Pro-2004

 

[hastingsmedic]

Maybe Not Fixed....

Welll, this is weird. I put the BCT8 that was acting up into the car. Worked fine for a while... now it is doing the same thing... fine for a few minutes, then progressively worse. I figured it was an overheating thing... but keep in mind that it is currently -10 C out there.

I have two plans.

I am going to let it become garbled inside, then take it outside to cool down and see what happens, then I'm going to try cloning the one that works onto the garbled one to see if it is a programming error.

This is really frustrating!

Andrew

 

[hastingsmedic]

Cool it.

So the troubled BCT8 is working very nicely outside on the deck. So, I guess I need to install it in the fridge eh?

Something obviously is heating up ...


Andrew

 

[mciupa]

Is it still under warranty ?
Maybe Lectron have a peek at it and diagnose the problem ?

 

[Forts]

My BCT-8 lives in my work truck 24/7 and has never exhibitied any of these problems. This time of year, cold & slow LCD is the worse I get. Hopefully Paul can maybe give you guys some suggestions as to whats happening. I've had no problems what so ever with mine.

 

[imcleish]

Did anybody ever send upman an audio file??

Did upman ever figure out the problem??

 

[UPMan]

I received several files that I was unable to open (made on a Mac). WAV or MP3 are both fine, but I haven't received anything I can use, yet.

 

[mikewazowski]

Can anybody confirm whether the BCT-8 suffers from the same multiselect/patch bug that other Uniden scanners have?

 

[Wreckmaster]

Hi,I'm a newbie on here,but I'll add that I listened to 2 BCT8's today,that I programmed within the last month,in the city of ottawa,and they are experiencing the same "garbled" transmissions on certain analog channels,bylaw and parking control,to be more specific,these are both newer factory sealed units,with the nascar logo,......of 5 others that I programmed,all are working fine on the same frequencies,(even did the side by side test),. I then cloned the unit acting up,with a correctly working, daily used unit,and it didn't correct the problem,,,anybody found the root of the problem yet?,one other question,I'm sure I've "initialized" bct 8's before,but I can't remember which key's to press,and the process is not covered in the factory manual..,,thanks.

 

[Forts]

Can anybody confirm whether the BCT-8 suffers from the same multiselect/patch bug that other Uniden scanners have?

Which bug is that Mike? I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary on mine.