UBC92XLT SCANNER 200 Channels 6 Pre-Programmed Service Banks with Close CallTM RF Capture OWNER'S MANUAL Precautions Before you use Precautions this scanner, please read and observe the following. EARPHONE WARNING! Use only a genuine Uniden earphone. An incorrect earphone may be hazardous to your hearing. Turn down volume before connecting the earphone and then adjust volume to suit. 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. Trademarks used throughout this manual are the property of their respective holders. Precautions 2 UBC92XLT Controls and Display Antenna UBC92XLT Controls and Display Headphone Jack (see "Connecting the Antenna" on Page 19) Squelch Volume Display UBC92XLT DC 6V Jack Power Keypad UBC92XLT Controls and Display 3 Contents Contents Introduction ........................................................... 6 Feature Highlights ................................................. 8 About This Manual ........................................... 9 Understanding Scanning .................................... 11 What is Scanning? ......................................... 11 What is Searching? ........................................ 11 Conventional Scanning ................................... 11 Where To Obtain More Information ............... 13 Included With Your Scanner ............................... 14 Setting Up Your Scanner .................................... 15 Using Internal Batteries .................................. 15 Using AC Power ............................................. 19 Connecting the Antenna ................................ 19 Connecting an Earphone/Headphone ............ 20 Connecting an Extension Speaker ................. 20 Attaching the Belt Clip .................................... 21 About Your Scanner ........................................... 22 A Look At The Keypad ................................... 23 A Look At The Display ................................... 26 Understanding Banks ..................................... 28 Operation ............................................................ 29 Turning On The Scanner and Setting Squelch .............................................. 29 Storing Known Frequencies Into Channels .... 29 Searching For and Temporarily Storing Active Frequencies ............................ 30 Scanning the Stored Channels ...................... 31 Manually Selecting a Channel ....................... 32 Special Features ................................................. 33 Close CallTM RF Capture Technology ............ 33 Chain Search ................................................. 37 Direct Entry Search ........................................ 39 Search Skip Memory ...................................... 41 Delay .............................................................. 42 Turning Channel-Storage Banks On and Off ..................................................... 43 Locking Out Channels .................................... 44 Priority ............................................................ 44 Contents 4 Using Keylock ................................................ Using the Display Backlight ........................... Troubleshooting .................................................. Resetting the Scanner ................................... Care and Maintenance ....................................... General Use ................................................... Location ......................................................... Cleaning ......................................................... Repairs........................................................... Birdies ............................................................ Specifications...................................................... Optional Accessories .......................................... One Year Limited Warranty ................................. 45 45 46 48 49 49 49 49 50 50 51 53 54 Contents 5 Introduction Introduction Thank you for purchasing a Uniden UBC92XLT Handheld Scanner. The scanner is versatile, compact, and easy to use. In addition to its standard scanning features, your scanner also includes Close CallTM RF capture technology designed to help you detect and identify strong local radio signals in your area. You can program up to 200 frequencies into the scanner's memory. The scanner lets you scan transmissions and is preprogrammed with service banks for your convenience. You can quickly search those frequencies most commonly used by police and other agencies, without tedious and complicated programming. Use your scanner to monitor: · · · · · · Police band Marine band Air band AM CB UHF CB Railroad Introduction 6 This table lists the frequency ranges, default frequency step, default mode (AM or FM), and type of transmissions you can hear for each range. Frequency Range Step Mode Transmission (MHz) (kHz) 25.0-27.995 28.0-69.995 70.0-88.0 108.0-136.9875 137.0-147.995 148.0-174.0 400.0-512.0 806.0-956.0 5 5 12.5 12.5 5 12.5 6.25 12.5 AM FM FM AM FM FM FM FM Citizens Band/ Business Band 10 Meter Amateur Band 6 Meter Amateur Band Aircraft Band 2 Meter Amateur Band VHF High Band Land Mobile Band `800' Band Introduction 7 Feature Highlights Close CallTM RF Capture Technology - you can set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions. See "Close CallTM RF Capture Technology" on Page 33 for more information. Pager Screen - lets you set the scanner so it does not detect pager frequencies during Close Call search. Chain Search - lets you enter personal search bands in 10 locations and search all locations in a chain of frequency bands. Triple-Conversion Circuitry - virtually eliminates any interference from IF (intermediate frequency) images, so you hear only the selected frequency. Channel-Storage Banks - the scanner has 10 banks. You can store up to 20 frequencies into each bank (for a total of 200 frequencies), so you can more easily identify calls. Two-Second Scan Delay - delays scanning for about 2 seconds before moving to another channel, so you can hear more replies that are made on the same channel. Lock-Out Function - lets you set your scanner to skip over specified channels or frequencies when scanning or searching. Priority Channels - lets you program one channel in each bank (10 in all) and then have the scanner check that channel every 2 seconds while it scans the bank, so you do not miss transmissions on those channels. Six Service Banks - frequencies are preset in separate police, railroad, aircraft, marine, UHF CB, and AM CB banks, to make it easy to locate specific types of calls. Police, railroad and AM CB preset frequencies in the service bank are valid for Australia ONLY. Aircraft, Marine and UHF CB preset frequencies are valid for both Australia and New Zealand. Feature Highlights Feature Highlights 8 Key Lock - lets you lock the scanner's keys to help prevent accidental changes to the scanner's programming. Direct Access - lets you directly access any channel. Display Backlight - makes the scanner easy to read in low-light situations. Flexible Antenna with BNC Connector - provides adequate reception in strong signal areas and is designed to help prevent antenna breakage. Or, you can connect an external antenna for better reception. Memory Backup - keeps the frequencies stored in memory for an extended time if the scanner loses power. Two Power Options - let you power the scanner using internal batteries or external AC power using the included AC adapter. Key Confirmation Tones - the scanner sounds a tone when you perform an operation correctly, and an error tone if you make an error. Battery Low Alert - warns you when battery power gets low. About This Manual The screen displays used in this manual are representations of what might appear when you use your scanner. Since what you see depends on the frequencies for your area and the settings you select, you might notice some differences between what is in this manual and what appears on your scanner. Feature Highlights 9 To get the most from this manual, review the contents to become familiar with the basic functions available. If you are new to scanning, be sure to read "Understanding Scanning" on Page 11 for a quick background on the technology behind the hobby. The first thing you'll need to do is install batteries in the scanner. Then you need to connect the included antenna to the scanner. See "Using Internal Batteries" on Page 15 and "Connecting the Antenna" on Page 19 if you need any help doing this. Feature Highlights 10 Understanding Scanning This section provides you with background on how Understanding Scanning scanning works. You don't really need to know all of this to use your scanner, but some background knowledge will help you get the most from your UBC92XLT. What is Scanning? Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most twoway communications do not transmit continuously. Your UBC92XLT scans programmed channels until it finds an active frequency, then stops on that frequency and remains on that channel as long as the transmission continues. When the transmission ends, the scanning cycle resumes until the scanner receives another transmission. What is Searching? The UBC92XLT can search for active frequencies. This is different from scanning because you are searching for frequencies that have not been programmed into the scanner. When you select frequency bands to search, the scanner searches for any active frequency within the lower and upper limits you specify. When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops on that frequency as long as the transmission lasts. If you think the frequency is interesting, you can program it into one of the banks. If not, you can continue to search. Conventional Scanning Conventional scanning is a relatively simple concept. Each group of users in a conventional system is assigned a single frequency (for simplex systems) or two frequencies (for repeater systems). Any time one of them transmits, their transmission always goes out on the same frequency. Up until the late 1980's Understanding Scanning 11 this was the primary way that radio systems operated. Even today, there are many 2-way radio users who operate using a conventional system: · · · · · Aircraft Amateur radio PRS (UHF CB) users Broadcast AM/FM/TV stations Many business radio users When you want to store a conventional system, all you need to know is the frequencies they operate on. When you are scanning a conventional system, the scanner stops very briefly on each channel to see if there is activity. If there isn't, the scanner quickly moves to the next channel. If there is, then the scanner pauses on the transmission until it is over. Simplex Operation Simplex systems use a single frequency for both transmit and receive. Most radios using this type of operation are limited to line-of-sight operation. This type of radio is frequently used at construction job sites, and with inexpensive consumer radios such as PRS (UHF CB) radios. The range is typically 1.5-12 km, depending upon the terrain and many other factors. Repeater Operation Repeater systems use two frequencies: one transmits from the radio to a central repeater; the other transmits from the repeater to other radios in the system. With a repeater-based system, the repeater is located on top of a tall building or on a radio tower that provides great visibility to the area of operation. When a user transmits (on an input frequency), the signal is picked up by the repeater and retransmitted (on an output frequency). The user's radios always Understanding Scanning 12 listen for activity on the output frequency and transmit on the input frequency. Since the repeater is located very high, there is a very large line of sight. Typical repeater systems provide coverage out to about a 40 km radius from the repeater location. Where To Obtain More Information By itself, this manual really only provides part of what you need to know to have fun scanning ­ how to program and use the scanner. Information On The Internet The Internet is a great source for current frequencies and information about scanning. Many web sites have lists of frequencies for your area. You can use a search engine to find and use them. Make a list of the agencies you want to listen to, then look up the frequencies and systems used by those agencies. You may visit the Uniden websites listed below for information regarding scanner frequencies. Click on 'Products' from the main page and then click on 'Scanning Receivers'. For more information about Uniden and our other products, visit http://www.uniden.com.au and http://www.uniden.co.nz. Understanding Scanning 13 Included With Your Scanner Included With Your Scanner Belt Clip AC Adapter UBC92XLT UBC92XLT OWNER'S SCANNER MANUAL 200 Channels 6 ...