BC60XLT Programmable Hand-Held Scanner OPERATING GUIDE PRECAUTIONS Before you use this scanner, please read and observe the following: n WARNING! Uniden DOES NOT represent this unit to be waterproof. To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, DO NOT expose this unit to rain or moisture. n EARPHONE WARNING: · Be sure to use only the recommended optional earphone or a stereo headset of the proper impedance (32). Use of an incorrect earphone or stereo headset may be potentially hazardous to your hearing. The output of the Phone jack is monaural, but you will hear it in both headphones of a stereo headset. n coming from the speaker before plugging in an earphone or a stereo headset of the proper impedance (32). Otherwise you might experience some discomfort or possible hearing damage if the Volume suddenly becomes too loud because of the Volume Control or Squelch Control setting. This may be particularly true of the type of earphone that is placed in the ear canal. GENERAL BATTERY WARNING · Set the Volume to a comfortable audio level n explode. NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERY WARNING · Do not short circuit any Battery. · Do not discard Batteries in a fire; they may When using Nickel-Cadmium Batteries with this product, take note of the following warnings: · Cadmium is a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. · Do not charge Nickel-Cadmium Batteries with any charger other than the one supplied with this product. Using another charger may damage the Batteries, or cause them to explode. n properly. Read the Nickel-Cadmium Battery Disposal package insert for important information. ALKALINE BATTERY WARNING · Nickel-Cadmium Batteries must be disposed of · Do not recharge Alkaline Batteries in this product. Doing so may cause serious damage to the product and will void the warranty. Alkaline Batteries in this product. · Uniden does not recommend using rechargeable Controls 1. LCD Display 2. Scan Key 3. Manual Key 4. Lockout Key 5. Weather Scan Key 6. Keylock Key 7. Decimal Key 8. Review Key 9. Numeric Key Pad 10. Enter Key 11. Speaker 12. 12V DC Power Jack 13. Antenna Connector 14. Phone Jack 15. Squelch Control 16. On/Off Volume Control Table of Contents About Your New BC60XLT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Feature Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 What is Scanning? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Types of Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Included with the BC60XLT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Where to Obtain More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Installing Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 AC/DC Adapter/Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Mounting the Flexible Antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Installing the Belt Clip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Keylock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Programming Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 How Squelch Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Setting the Squelch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Scanning Programmed Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Channel Lockout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Scanning Weather Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Low Battery Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Replacing the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Proper Care of Your Scanner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Optional Accessories and Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Operating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Foldout Uniden® and Bearcat® are registered trademarks of Uniden America Corporation. 1 About Your New BC60XLT The BC60XLT is a brand new state-of-the-art information radio with automatic scanning capabilities. It can store frequencies such as police, fire/emergency, marine, amateur, and other communications into 10 channels. Feature Highlights 10 Channels Program one frequency in each channel. You must have at least one channel programmed to use this scanner. 10 Bands, 29 MHz - 512 MHz Scan these frequency ranges with your scanner. (Note: The frequency coverage is not totally continuous from 29.0 MHz to 512 MHz.) Weather Channels Use your scanner as a weather information radio. Memory Backup Frequencies programmed in the channels are retained in memory for at least 1 day, and typically 3 days, when batteries are removed from the scanner. What is Scanning? Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications (listed below) do not transmit continuously. The BC60XLT scans programmed channels at the rate of nearly 10 channels per second until it finds an active frequency. Scanning stops on an active frequency, and remains on that channel as long as the transmission continues. When the transmission ends, the scanner stays on the channel for 2 more seconds after the transmission stops, waiting for another transmission. The scanning cycle then resumes until another transmission is received. While the BC60XLT is scanning channels, it is in "SCAN it is in Mode". When you stop the scanning with "MANUAL Mode". M, 2 Types of Communication You will be able to monitor communication such as: n n n n n n n Police and fire department (including rescue and paramedics) NOAA weather broadcasts (7 preprogrammed channels) Business/industrial radio Motion picture and press relay Utility Land transportation frequencies, such as trucking firms, buses, taxis, tow trucks, and railroads Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands And many more in the following 10 Bands: Frequency Range 29.0-29.7 MHz 29.7-50.0 MHz 50.0-54.0 MHz 137-144 MHz 144-148 MHz 148-174 MHz 406-420 MHz 420-450 MHz 450-470 MHz 470-512 MHz Transmission 10 Meter Amateur Band VHF Low band 6 Meter Amateur Band Military Land mobile 2 Meter Amateur Band VHF High Band Federal Govt. Land Mobile 70 cm Amateur Band UHF Standard Band UHF "T" Band NOTE: The installation, possession, or use of this scanning radio in a motor vehicle may be prohibited, regulated, or require a permit in certain states, cities, and/or local jurisdiction. Your local law enforcement officials should be able to provide you with information regarding the laws in your community. 3 Included with the BC60XLT 4 Before you can scan, you must program a frequency into each channel you want to use. The Betty Bearcat Starter Frequency Guide lists typical frequencies used around the U.S. that you may use to program the BC60XLT. If the frequencies listed do not work in your area, call the 800 number on the yellow sheet enclosed with the guide. A Uniden representative should be able to provide you with a few sample frequencies. Or, use the enclosed order form to purchase a local frequency list. Where to Obtain More Information The Bearcat Radio Club and other similar hobby clubs have publications, information on computer bulletin boards, and even contests for the radio enthusiast. Additional information is also available through your local library. Please remove the Registration Card from the middle of this guide, complete, and mail it immediately. Read this Operating Guide before using your BC60XLT for the first time. 5 Setup Power Installing Batteries 1. Open cover. 2. Insert batteries IMPORTANT If you are installing Alkaline Batteries, set the switch to "Reg. Alk BATT." If installing Nickel-Cadmium Batteries, set the switch to "Ni-Cd BATT." WARNING! Do not mix Alkaline Batteries with Nickel-Cadmium Batteries. Be sure to install four Batteries of the same type. 3. Replace cover. 6 AC Adapter/Charger Use the included AC Adapter/Charger to power the BC60XLT from an AC source. The AC Adapter/ Charger also recharges Nickel-Cadmium Batteries while they are installed in the scanner. WARNING! Do not charge Alkaline Batteries in this scanner. Doing so may cause serious damage to the product and void the warranty. Before attempting to recharge Batteries, make sure you have installed four rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium Batteries and the selector switch is set to "Ni-Cd" . Mounting the Flexible Antenna Installing the Belt Clip CAUTION: Do not tighten the screws too tight. You could damage the case or clip. 7 Operation Keylock Keylock prevents accidental key entries. To lock: S M, K Only the , and keys will function. To unlock: If keys do not work, press to unlock keys. K The K/L indicator disappears from the display. 8 Programming Channels 1. Select frequency. 2. Select channel using Manual mode. Note: For channel 10, , . press 10 9 -- OR-- 3. Enter frequency. Each digit displays as you enter it. The decimal displays as a dash. If you make a mistake, twice and start press over. . 3a. If frequency outside range. Programmed frequencies must be within the bands shown on the back of the scanner, and on page three of this guide. 10 4. Recheck frequency. The frequency appears one digit at a time in sequence. Repeat these steps to program each channel. You can program the same frequency into two or more channels, if desired. Channels with no frequency programmed are skipped during scanning. After programming your scanner, record the frequencies in the table below (or another convenient place) so you can easily reprogram the scanner in case the memory is accidentally erased. Use pencil so you can change your entries at a later date. Channel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Frequency Notes 11 How Squelch Works Think of "SQUELCH" as a gate. If the gate is set too low (SQUELCH too low), everything (all noise as well as signals) gets through. If the gate is set too high (SQUELCH too high), nothing gets through. If the gate is set just right (SQUELCH set properly), just the desired signals get through. 12 Setting the Squelch 1. Turn until hiss heard. This action lowers the "squelch gate," allowing all signals and noise to get through. No signal should be present when adjusting squelch. Scanner doesn't scan with squelch open. 2. Turn just until hiss stops. This action raises the "squelch gate," allowing only strong signals to get through. Scanner should begin scanning after two seconds. Note: You must have at least one channel programmed before the BC60XLT will scan. Scanning Programmed Channels Turn the scanner on. Channel numbers advance rapidly. Note: When you turn the scanner on, it will always be in Scan mode. 13 The scanner skips any unprogrammed channels, and locked out channels. When transmission received: Scanner stops on that channel. When the transmission ends, scanning resumes after a two second delay. To hold on that channel: 14 To resume scanning: Scanner immediately resumes scanning. To listen to or program a specific channel: Note: For channel 10, , . press 10 to resume Press scanning. S 15 Channel Lockout Channel Lockout lets you skip channels during scanning. There are two ways to lock out a channel: Manual Mode Use Manual mode to select the channel you want to lock out. Note: For channel 10, , . press 10 16 Scanning Mode When the scanner stops on a channel during scanning, you can lock out that channel by . pressing O Because the locked out channel is no longer scanned, scanning resumes immediately . after pressing O To unlock a channel: Use Manual mode to select the desired channel. 17 Note: For channel 10, , . press 10 The L/O indicator disappears from the display after pressing . O Scanning Weather Channels To scan weather channels: 18 The BC60XLT finds the active weather channel in your area from seven preprogrammed NOAA frequencies. Note: The channel number does not indicate the NOAA weather frequency you hear. To review the weather frequency: The frequency displays one digit at a time, in sequence. To resume normal scanning: 19 Care and Maintenance Low Battery Warning When the Batteries become weak, you will hear an audible warning. Be sure to replace Alkaline ...