Kiteflier
Member
1980's Bearcat scanner BC 170...a question was asked in 2014 but no replies. I hate to toss this. Is there any way to get frequencies on this? It says "16 channel scanning radio."
Uniden Bearcat BC 170
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Sure why not, it had a capacitor memory so you don't have to worry about a battery being burned out. Here are the specs and the instructions. You're going to be limited to the frequency coverage, no trunking of course.
Yes it is a good for air scanning, weather freqs.
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Also original poster, keep in mind, it has a mot pin antenna Jack so if you wanted to use an outdoor antenna with a pl259 connection you can still get this adapter on a internet search.
Looking at the database for Pierce County, Washington there's quite a few things you will be able to hear using the search feature and the radio reference database.
Looking at the database for Pierce County, Washington there's quite a few things you will be able to hear using the search feature and the radio reference database.
Kiteflier
Member
I'm afraid the website doesn't work. Any way for you to post the manual's PDF?
Kiteflier
Member
Per my other post, someone suggested I provide my area:
I'm in western Washington, Pierce County, Spanaway (specifically, the Bethel/Elk Plain/Rocky Ridge area ...south of "Spanaway.") It's south of Tacoma, NE of Olympia. We are along one of the south borders to Joint Base Lewis-McChord military base.
I'm in western Washington, Pierce County, Spanaway (specifically, the Bethel/Elk Plain/Rocky Ridge area ...south of "Spanaway.") It's south of Tacoma, NE of Olympia. We are along one of the south borders to Joint Base Lewis-McChord military base.
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Yes, did you see post #3 and #6? Even if you purchase a new radio your 170 is a good second radio. As you can see it's very easy to program.
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I posted the specs and instructions above yesterday.
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The link works for me. The file is over 9MB and too big to attach here. I compressed it and chopped off the last pages of non-essential info to make it post-able here. It should still be readable.
Kiteflier
Member
I must say that these comments, and in my other post, have been most enlightening and enjoyable to read. I had not thought about the technology involved, much like a ham operator it sounds like; much of it way over my 68-yo female head. I was a park ranger in the 1980s in northern Idaho and used the scanner there. It's been collecting dust, but with all the sirens I hear, I pulled it out to see if it worked. Got 'er plugged in and it's scanning. Without the manual, it might be a lost cause. With squelch up all the way, it will locks onto a channel but the other 15 channels say ERROR. Turning the squelch down a bit allows it to continuously scan and will lock onto another channel if I turn it up. Hard to say it continuous scanning will lock onto something if I hear a siren. Your comments have been very gracious and I have appreciated them. Keep them coming if you have further comments. THANK YOU! This has been fun.
Kiteflier
Member
Oh THANK YOU!!! Printing it now.
Kiteflier
Member
Got them and looking it over.
Kiteflier
Member
Yes I did copy the comments to a Word document for reference. I'm printing it now to review. Thank you! Let's see if I can "do this," hahaha.
Odd, the RadioPics site in general doesn't load for me.
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Yeah you have to tap on them and enlarge them, I sharpened it as best as possible. It's very easy to do.
Direct keyboard entry of frequencies started in the 70s and it was Space Age Technology LOL as opposed to plugging in crystals for one single frequency.
Most scanners had four or eight channels to scan, before that it was slide rule dial receivers where you can only hear one frequency at a time. Let us know how it goes.
