I want to use it to listen to my local fire Dept with Tone out feature , Police, Air and Military frequencies. What is the best translation--easiest way to program this monster? It has a lot more features than I need but it was too good a deal to pass up. Anyone have some advice for a scanner newbie?
Thanks Jeff. Get a program like FreeScan and as a Premium Subscriber here on RR you can just download what you want and program the scanner. Did it come with the serial port cable? It will plug into the little port on the front of the scanner.
From thee, download freescan. It makes it easier to use the automatic database data programming as the other poster said. If you just have a few things you want to start off programming, I'd try programming them with freescan first. Read data directly from the RadioReference Database , 'browse' for local trunk systems and let ARC15 do the programming! ARC15 will never reset your scanner!
Don't have a serial port? Important info for Vista users. Order either the Basic or Pro version Programming software and receive it by immediate download plus the below Free Bonus. This is an exclusive offer that is only available when ordering through this website. My advice is to disable everything and start from there. Most highway patrol vehicles on the road today are equipped with a secondary radio system known as a 'mobile extender' or 'vehicular repeater'.
Whenever the dispatcher transmits to any vehicle in the district, a mobile extender in every car within the district is activated. The Bear Tracker Warning System monitors these frequencies used by mobile extender radios as well as car-to-car, aircraft-to-car, and other special-purpose frequencies. When enabled, the scanner checks for activity on these frequencies for your state every 2 seconds. The scanner scans all the channels of the Bear Tracker system.
Bear Tracker Scanning. The BCT15 includes state-by-state preprogrammed frequencies designed to provide you with good general radio coverage targeted to the state you are in. When you have selected a state and then one or more of the pre-programmed services, each enabled service's icon is displayed on the lower part of the display. When they are disabled, the icons disappears from the display. When the scanner detects a signal in an enabled service, the icon blinks.
After scanning your programmed systems, the scanner will scan the enabled state-by-state agencies, then resume scanning your programmed systems. Normal reception will be interrupted periodically as set by the Set Interval setting in the Priority Scan menu to search for signals in the enabled searches. The more channels you have the scanner check during a priority check, the longer the audio dropout during reception of other channels. Set Hold Time. Set Alert. Set Delay Time.
Set Record. Set Delay Time selects in seconds the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. The default setting is 2 seconds. Set Alert This setting controls when and how the scanner alerts you for the Bear Tracker warning system. Planning your systems will be very important even if you do have the software. Organizing your quick keys will be the hardest part of the planning. You can assign quick keys and copy and paste most of the freqs, alpha tags, and IDs easily into the software.
Most people can get everything they scan into the scanner. Use the worksheets below to help you plan your systems and groups. Number Tags Numbers for system and channel tags can range from 0 to Systems can have the same number tag but you will get a warning.
Same warning applies to channels. You can assign number tags to channels even if the system does not have a number tag but, without a system number tag, you can only navigate to these channels while holding or scanning in that system. For more info visit the Wiki alerts page. See also Using Startup Keys. I have put together complete worksheets ready to print to help you plan your systems, Close Call, and Fire Tone-Out, etc.
Even if you don't fill them out, they are a good check list for programming. Entering Text. To program text you must first program the system, site, group, channel, location, custom search, Tone-Out, or SAME group.
There are links to refer you back here while you are programming. To enter a letter , turn the scroll control until the character you want appears. To enter a decimal point , press. To move the cursor to the right , press 6. To move the cursor to the left , press 4. To clear a character or enter a space , press. To clear all characters , press. No twice. Press the 'Back' button in your browser to return to programming. Programming Systems. You have to create systems first, create sites in the trunking systems where the trunking frequencies now go , create groups in the systems, create channels in the groups, then program the frequencies or IDs into the channels.
Or, you can Quick store freqs or Quick store IDs only after you program the trunking system and site. Trunking IDs only go into trunking system groups and conventional frequencies only go into conventional system groups.
You can only store one trunking system per 'system'. You can store up to systems, up to 20 groups per system, and up to frequencies or IDs per group. Total channels are limited to about 9, Also, remember that conventional frequencies and IDs are considered channels. Note: Once a system has been created, the system type cannot be changed. See also Deciphering Trunked Systems a t the Wiki.
Use the worksheets to help you program your systems, sites, and groups. Private Systems You can flag a system only in the software so that it cannot be read out of the scanner, modified, or deleted.
There are no settings in the scanner to do this. Also, you can't even upload the system back to the scanner and have to delete it with the software too. At ' New Sys Name? Copying a system will copy all sites, groups, channels, and settings including quick key assignments. Programming Conventional Systems. At ' Confirm? Continue at ' Set Quick Key ' below. Then see Creating Groups. Set Quick Key. Set Lockout. Set State. Set Start-up Key. Set Number Tag. Set Quick Key assigns a system to a quick key and will be scanned when the key is turned on.
The default setting is no quick key. Scroll to the quick key number or. Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit quick key will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc.
Set Start-up Key allows you to turn on the scanner with the system enabled for scan using the Startup Configuration. The default setting is no startup key. Scroll to or enter the startup key number or. Set Number Tag allows you to number a system. The default setting is no number tag blank. Enter the number tag Press. Set Lockout determines whether a system will be scanned or not even if the quick key for the system is turned on.
The default setting is unlocked. Set Hold Time sets in seconds the amount of time the scanner will scan the system before moving on to the next system. All unlocked channels will be scanned at least once regardless of this setting.
The scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires. The default setting is 2 seconds for each system. Tip : set your systems to 0. Set Delay Time sets the delay in seconds the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel.
A negative delay will force a resume after that number of seconds. This setting applies to all channels in the system. You cannot set the delay on a 'per channel' basis. Scroll to the desired delay time , -5, -2, 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, or 30 secs.
Set State allows you to add the system to the Bear Tracker system so you can listen to it when you select your 'State'. The default setting is off. Set Record enables the REC jack for marked channels, no channels, or all channels in the system.
Marked Channel - The scanner only sends the audio for channels that have the record option turned on to the REC jack. Off - The scanner does not send any audio from any channel in the system to the REC jack, even if the record option is turned on for a channel.
Programming Trunking Systems. Continue at ' Set Number Tag ' below. Then see Creating Sites. Then see Edit Site Options. Set Status Bit Motorola only. The default setting is ID search. You must program a system fleet map in order for the scanner to properly track and display talk group ID's. Since it is rather lengthy, I will just give you the link.
Set Status Bit Motorola only sets how your scanner works with status bits also called S-bits , letting you control how the scanner interprets and displays Motorola talk group IDs. The default setting is ignore. Yes - the scanner treats all received ID's as unique ID's. Ignore - the scanner rounds all received ID's down to the next interval of Set End Code Motorola only sets how the scanner handles the transmission end code sent by most Motorola systems.
The default setting is Yes. Yes - the scanner immediately returns to the control channel when it detects the end code. Ignore - the scanner does not return to the control channel until the carrier drops. Set Record enables the REC jack for all channels or marked channels in the system or off. At ' Unlock? Once you have your trunking Systems Created and Systems Options configured you can create your sites. All trunked systems need at least one site to enter trunking frequencies.
Set Frequencies. Set Modulation. Set Location Info. Edit Frequency. Set Attenuator. Delete Frequency. New Frequency. Set Quick Key assigns quick key to a site and will be scanned when the key is turned on. Set Start-up Key allows you to turn on the scanner with the site enabled for scan using the Startup Configuration.
The scanner will use the regular old Motorola band plan and return to the menu. Custom band plans require that you enter both a lower and an upper base frequency value. The l ower base frequency or base is always the base frequency as provided in the Radio Reference Database. Use this Excel spreadsheet to calculate the upper base frequency value. If you don't have Excel you can download and install a viewer here.
The upper base frequency can also be found using the Band Plan Calculator at the online Wiki. Press MENU to return and repeat for each band plan as needed. Set Frequencies this is where you program or change the trunking frequencies, delete frequencies, or lock them out. You will return to the ' Edit Site ' menu. Press MENU twice to return to the site menu. Set Modulation This setting selects the modulation used for the site.
See also Band Defaults. Set Attenuator This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on this site by about 20 dB. Set Lockout determines whether a site will be scanned or not even if the quick key for the site is turned on.
Set Hold Time sets in seconds the amount of time the scanner will scan the site before moving on to the next site. If you select 0 for trunking sites, the scanner stays on the site for at least 1 second. The scanner moves to the next site after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires.
The default setting is 2 seconds for each site. Tip : set your sites to 0. Enter the range 0. Set State allows you to add the site to the Bear Tracker system so you can listen to it when you select your 'State'. Creating Groups. Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, trunking system Sites Created , and Site Options configured, you can create your groups.
Edit Name. Edit Channel. Edit Name allows you to change the name of a group. Set Quick Key sets the quick key for the group. Scroll to or enter the quick key number or. Edit Channel creates channels and edits channel options.
Set Lockout determines whether a group will be scanned or not even if the quick key for the group is turned on. Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, Sites Created for trunking systems , Site Options configured, and Groups Created , you can finally program your channels.
Quickly Storing a Conventional Frequency. At ' Quick Freq Save? Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, ' Frequency Exists Accept? No to return. The scanner will save the frequency in a created group called ' Qck Save Grp ' in a created system called ' Qck Save Cnv Sys ' with no quick keys assigned and you will be at the ' Edit Channel ' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, ' Frequency Exists' Accept? After storing the frequency, you will be at the ' Edit Channel ' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. See Programming Trunking Systems. The scanner stores the ID into a created channel group called ' Qck Save Grp ' with no quick key assigned and you will be at the ' Edit Channel ' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
After storing the ID, you will be at the ' Edit Channel ' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. See also Set ID Format. Note: If you omit the subfleet still need the hyphen , the scanner treats this field as a wildcard will treat the subfleet as 1 ID and receive all IDs in the subfleet.
You can also lock out this subfleet ID so you will not receive it. No once , then enter the home repeater number 01 - 20 and press. Note: If you omit the user ID still need the hyphen , the scanner treats this field as a wildcard will treat the home repeater as 1 ID. You can also lock out this home repeater ID so you will not receive it. Notes: To view unit IDs you have to turn the option on in the ' Settings ' menu. Other channel attributes alerts, etc. To enter hexadecimal IDs see Entering Text.
Continue at Edit Name below. Program the rest of the channels the same way. Edit Channel Options Menu. Once you have your systems built, systems options configured, Groups Created , and your Channels Programmed , you can set your channel options. No to cancel storing a tone code if asked. Set Attenuator conventional only. Volume Offset. Set Priority. Delete Channel.
New Channel. Set Modulation conventional only. Edit Name If you do not enter a channel name, the scanner displays the frequency for conventional systems or the talk group ID for trunked systems when it stops on a channel.
The default setting is Off. Scroll to the desired DCS code you want present with the signal. Set Number Tag allows you to number a channel. Set Modulation conventional only This setting selects the modulation used for the channel. Set Attenuator conventional only This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on The channel by about 20 dB.
Set Priority This setting controls whether the scanner treats the channel as a priority channel while scanning. Set Alert This setting controls when and how the scanner alerts you if the channel becomes active.
Set Record enables the REC jack for the channel. You must also set the system's record option to either 'All Channel' which will record all channels regardless of the channel's record setting or 'Marked Channel' which only records the channels you've set to record. Set Lockout determines whether a channel will be scanned or not.
Volume Offset This setting allows you to adjust the volume offset for the channel. Note : You can only copy and paste from like systems - conventional to conventional or trunking to trunking. Location-Based Scanning. A good application of this feature would be to set the longitude and latitude for each multi-site system transmitter as usually you can receive at least a handful in any given location.
Both sites list the latitude, longitude, and height of the antenna, and both sites can map the exact location for you. Radio Reference is more user-friendly, so it's easier to find what you're looking for. Connecting Your Scanner. Dangerous Xing or Dangerous Road. Set Type. Set Alert Volume. Set LocationInfo. Set Alert Light. Set Range. Set Heading. Set Speed Limit. Set Type If you want to change the location type, the scanner resets the available options based on the new location type and the scanner goes back to the ' Program Location ' menu for that location.
The default tone is ' Alert 1 ',the default level is ' Auto ' and default pattern is ' Fast Blink '. The tone pattern varies depending on what type of location it is. The default pattern is ' Fast Blink '. Set Location Info enter the latitude and longitude for the location. Set Range POI only enter how far out from this location you want the scanner to alert you. To make the alert direction-dependent, select a direction of approach.
Select ' All Range ' to be alerted regardless of your direction of approach. The default setting is ' All Range '. To make the alert speed-dependent, enter the speed limit for this location. Leave the speed limit blank to be alerted regardless of your speed. Set Lockout the default setting is ' Unlocked '. To program the current location press and hold GPS for 2 seconds. If you have programmed data for a Point of Interest, Dangerous Crossing, and a Dangerous Road, you can review the type, range setting, and location information for each location.
While in Review Location Mode:. To select a location turn the scroll control. The Startup Configuration option lets you quickly and automatically lock and unlock systems based on how you assign your startup keys. Simply hold down a number key while powering on the scanner, or while the opening screen is displayed, and systems assigned to that number key are automatically unlocked and systems assigned to other startup keys are automatically locked.
Systems that are not assigned to any startup key are left unchanged. You could use this feature to give you quick, single-press access to your favorite systems.
Scanning Systems. You can still do that separately if you really want to confuse yourself. See also Using Quick Keys. The scanner stores the ID into a created channel group called ' Qck Save Grp ' and you will be at the ' Edit Channel ' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. It will also light in conjunction with GPS settings. A will appear and flash in the display. This mutes the alert action for about 3 minutes. A will appear in the display.
With the advent of Multi-site trunking, you can no longer lockout a trunking system. You have to lockout the site assigned to the system. You can still lockout conventional systems and searches the same way. You have to be quick to get ' Lockout '. Rotate the scroll control until the system that has the group you want to lock or unlock appears. Press MENU. Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the group will be unlocked. See ' Edit Group Options '.
There are several ways to get to a channel. Some ways are quicker than others. Some ways you have to be quick with those keys, other ways you can take your time pressing them.
Use what works best for you. Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the channel will be unlocked. Or , quickly press Hold to hold on the channel. You still have to be quick to get ' Lockout '. Or , use MENU to drill down to the channel options and lock it out there. See ' Edit Channel Options '. Or , use MENU to drill down to the channel options and unlock it there.
Note: This will also enable all your groups turn the quick keys on. Press ' Menu ' to return. Search Mode with Normal Screen.
Max Hold Mode with Settings Screen. Using Band Scope Mode. These are the settings you should look at before you perform a quick search , close call search , search and store , or close call auto store. Freq Lockouts.
Repeater Find. Max Auto Store. Freq Lockouts allows you to review locked out frequencies or unlock all frequencies for Searching and Close Call search. Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies: A ' T ' will appear to the right of a frequency if it is temporarily locked out.
If no frequencies are locked out, you will see ' Nothing Locked '. Scroll to the frequency or press. Broadcast Screen these settings determine whether the scanner automatically ignores transmissions that are on common broadcasts, paging systems, and other annoyance radio sources during Custom Search, Quick Search, or Close Call Search.
Note : Broadcast screen is not effective during some service searches. Set All Bands On - turns on broadcast screen on for all bands. Set All Bands Off - turns off broadcast screen off for all bands.
Scroll to the next band and repeat. Repeater Find this feature sets whether the scanner tries to tune to a repeater output frequency when it detects a transmission on a repeater input frequency in Search and Close Call modes.
Since you can normally only hear one side of a conversation when you listen to an input frequency transmission, turning this feature on can let you hear both sides of the conversation on the output frequency. If the scanner detects the transmission on the output frequency, it beeps and ' Repeater Found ' appears, and it remains on the output frequency until transmissions end. When the scanner reaches the maximum number of hits you set, it stops the auto-store operation. Set Delay Time this setting determines how long the scanner waits after a transmission ends before resuming Quick Search and Close Call Search operations.
Turn on this setting if you are near other strong signal sources to attenuate about 20dB. Attenuation sometimes helps to reduce interference and desensitization that strong signals create. Search For Please review those first. Note: The items below in Blue do not follow the radio's menu order because IMHO they should be in the following order to properly setup and use the Search features.
Edit Service Search. Edit Custom Search. Editing a Service Search. Used for 'Search with Scan' only. Scroll to or. Service Search lets you quickly select and search the scanner's preprogrammed frequencies.
See Edit Service Search first. Then see Searching. Editing a Custom Search allows you to edit the 10 custom search ranges. The default custom search range names appear as Custom 1 , Custom 2 , and so on.
See also Auto Step Sizes. Scroll to Auto , 5 , 6. See also Edit Band Plan. Custom - Allows you to create a custom band plan for rebanded systems. Press MENU 3 times to return.
Press MENU to exit. Custom Search lets you search the scanner's 10 programmed frequency ranges. See Editing a Custom Search first.
The scanner has three search keys that you can assign to a special search range. The search keys are set to number keys 1 , 2 , and 3. This allows you to start a service, custom, Tone-Out, or Band Scope search without having to go into the menus. Lets you search and store frequencies from enabled custom search ranges or a service search range into a conventional system, or new talk group IDs into a trunked system.
To store frequencies or talk group IDs you find during Search and Store, you must first select a system where the frequencies or talk group IDs will be stored. You will not hear any audio in this mode. See Max Auto Store first to set the maximum number of hits the scanner will store. Tip: Before you start Search and Store, run the custom search es or service search first to lock out the birdies, data, noise, etc.
This will prevent the scanner from stopping on them and doing a memory check each time it passes. Notes: The quick key for the system must be turned on if one is assigned to the system and not locked out to select the system to store frequencies in otherwise you will see ' Nothing to Scan '.
If no systems are programmed ' No System Stored ' appears. When you have selected a service search or custom search range s , the scanner looks for active frequencies within the range s and ' Search and Store ' appears on the display's lower line and the system name and search range name s appear on the display's upper line.
When the scanner finds an active transmission, it checks to see if the frequency has already been stored in the system ' Memory Check ' in the display. If the frequency has already been stored, the scanner continues to search. If the frequency has not been stored, it stores the frequency into a created group named ' Found Channels ', then resumes searching. Notes: The quick key for the system must be turned on if one is assigned to the site and not locked out to select the system to store IDs in otherwise you will see ' Nothing to Scan '.
If no systems are programmed, ' No System Stored ' appears. When the scanner finds an active transmission, it checks to see if the ID has already been stored in the system ' Memory Check ' in the display. If the ID has already been stored, the scanner continues to search. If the ID has not been stored, it stores the ID into a created group named ' Found Channels ', then resumes searching.
Quick Search lets you search from the currently-tuned frequency if you are scanning, or enter a frequency to start searching from. To start searching at the current frequency in scan mode quickly press Hold to hold on the frequency.
At ' Quick Search? To start searching at a specific frequency while scanning or searching , press Hold to hold on any channel or frequency.
Enter the new frequency you wish to start at then press Hold to set the new starting frequency. Press Hold again to release hold mode and start searching.
Searching only, not Search with Scan. To toggle search bands on or off for custom searches press the number key of the custom search.
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