BC95XLT
Precautions Before you use this scanner, please read and Precautions observe the following. IMPORTANT! This scanning radio has been manufactured so that it will not tune to the radio frequencies assigned by the FCC for cellular telephone usage. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, as amended, makes it a federal crime to intentionally intercept cellular or cordless telephone transmissions or to market this radio when altered to receive them.
damage if the volume suddenly becomes too loud because of the volume control or squelch control setting. This might be particularly true of the type of earphone that is placed in the ear canal. 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. Uniden® and Bearcat® are registered trademarks of Uniden America Corporation. Close CallTM is a trademark of Uniden America Corporation.
BC95XLT Controls and Display BC95XLT Controls and Display Squelch Headphone Jack Squelch Volume Display Serial Port Keypad Power DC 6V Jack BC95XLT Controls and Display 4
Contents Contents The FCC Wants You To Know ............................. 7 Scanning Legally .............................................. 7 Introduction ........................................................... 9 Feature Highlights ............................................... 11 About This Manual ......................................... 12 Understanding Scanning .................................... 14 What is Scanning? ......................................... 14 What is Searching? ...............
On and Off ..................................................... Locking Out Channels .................................... Priority ............................................................ Using Keylock ................................................ Using the Display Backlight ........................... Troubleshooting .................................................. Resetting the Scanner ................................... Care and Maintenance ....................................... General Use ..
The FCC Wants You To Know The FCC Wants You To Know This scanner has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a scanning receiver, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This scanner generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there are some transmissions that you should never intentionally listen to.
Introduction Introduction Thank you for purchasing a Uniden BC95XLT 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 either manually or using optional PC software.
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 5 AM Citizens Band/ Business Band 28.0-29.695 5 FM 10 Meter Amateur Band 29.7-49.995 5 FM VHF Low Band 50.0-54.0 5 FM 6 Meter Amateur Band 108.0-136.9875 12.5 AM Aircraft Band 137.0-143.995 5 FM Military Band 144.0-147.995 5 FM 2 Meter Amateur Band 148.0-174.
Feature Highlights 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 37 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.
marine, and weather banks, to make it easy to locate specific types of calls. Key Lock - lets you lock the scanner's keys to help prevent accidental changes to the scanner's programming. PC Programming - lets you quickly program the scanner using your PC and optional software. Direct Access - lets you directly access any channel. Display Backlight - makes the scanner easy to read in low-light situations.
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.
Understanding Scanning 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 14 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.
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.
GMRS/FRS radios. The range is typically 1-8 miles, 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.
You can also call them at 1 800 SCANNER (hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday). • http://www.radioreference.com * - the Internet's premier source for user-supported radio system information. • http://www.bearcat1.com - frequency information from National Communications. • svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm * conventional frequency information on file with the US Government * - This web site is not affiliated with Uniden Corporation.
Included With Your Scanner Included With Your Scanner Antenna AC Adapter Belt Clip ® A World Without Wires UNIDEN BEARCAT SCANNERS TM Scanner BC95XLT PLACE HOLDER ® Owners Manual If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately contact your place of purchase or Uniden Customer Service at: (800) 297-1023, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Central, Monday through Friday.
Setting Up Your Scanner These guidelines will help you install and use your new scanner: • If your scanner receives interference or electrical noise, move the scanner or its antenna away from the source. You might also try changing the height or angle of the telescoping antenna. • To improve the scanner’s reception, use an optional external antenna designed for multiband coverage. (You can purchase this type of antenna at a local electronics store).
WARNING! Set REG. ALK. BATT./NI-MH BATT. to NI-MH BATT. only if you are using rechargeable batteries. Never attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries. Non-rechargeable batteries can get hot or burst if you try to recharge them. 4. Install two batteries in the compartment as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and -) marked inside.
Cautions: • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type. • Always remove old or weak batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that destroy electronic circuits. • Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities. 5. Replace the cover. 6. When flashes and the scanner beeps every 15 seconds, replace both batteries.
the scanner's DC 6V jack (see “Using AC Power” on Page 23). WARNING! Do not connect either adapter to the scanner if nonrechargeable batteries (such as alkaline batteries) are installed in the scanner and REG. ALK. BATT./ NI-MH BATT. is set to NI-MH BATT., or if you are unsure of the switch’s position. Non-rechargeable batteries will get hot and can even burst if you try to recharge them. Before you use Ni-MH or Ni-Cd batteries for the first time, charge them for 14 hours to bring them to a full charge.
• For longer operation, you can also use highcapacity Ni-MH batteries to power the scanner. This type of battery takes longer to recharge. You can get high-capacity Ni-MH batteries at your local electronics store. Using AC Power You can power the scanner using the supplied 6V, 500 mA AC adapter. To use the scanner on AC power, plug the AC adapter into DC 6V on the side of the scanner then plug the other end into a standard AC outlet. If rechargeable batteries are installed and REG. ALK. BATT./NI-MH BATT.
Connecting an Optional Antenna The scanner's BNC connector makes it easy to connect a variety of optional antennas, including an external mobile antenna or outdoor base station antenna. Note: Always use 50-ohm, RG-58, or RG-8, coaxial cable to connect an outdoor antenna. If the antenna is over 50 feet from the scanner, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. You can get a BNC adapter at your local electronics store.
Attaching the Belt Clip To make your scanner easier to carry when you are on the go, use the supplied belt clip. Use a Phillips screwdriver and the supplied screws to attach the clip to the scanner. Connecting to a PC You can connect your scanner to a PC using an optional serial cable and software (available from www.uniden.com). Plug the small end of the cable into the scanner's serial port, and plug the other end into your PC's serial port.
About Your Scanner We use aYour few simple terms in this manual to explain About Scanner the features of the scanner. Familiarize yourself with these terms and the scanner's features, and you can put the scanner to work for you right away. Simply determine the type of communications you want to receive, then set the scanner to scan those communications. A frequency, expressed in kHz or MHz, is the tuning location of a station.
A Look At The Keypad Your scanner's keys have various functions labeled on the key tops and below the keys. To select the function labeled on a key, simply press the key. To select the function labeled below a key, first press Func then release it. f appears on the display. Then press the next key in the function key sequence while f appears. f appears or disappears as you press Func. If your scanner's keys seem confusing at first, the following information should help you understand each key's function.
Key Name Description Scan/Src Scan – Scans the stored channels. Func + Src – Starts chain search or resumes searching. / – Turns the display backlight on or off. Func + – Locks and unlocks the keypad. Func Lets you use various functions by pressing this key in combination with other keys. Press and hold for more than 2 seconds to turn the scanner on or off. 1/Pri 1 – Enters a 1. Func + Pri – Sets and turns the priority function on or off. 2/ 2 – Enters a 2.
Key Name Description 6/PSrc 6 – Enters a 6. Func + PSrc – Sets and turns program band select mode on or off. 7 7 – Enters a 7. 8/ 8 – Enters an 8. Func + – Selects the scan or search direction. 9 Enters a 9. /Clr 0/L/O Enters a decimal point. 0 – Enters a 0. Func + L/O – Lets you lock out a selected channel or skip a specified frequency. E/Pgm E – Enters frequencies into channels. Func + Pgm – lets you program the frequency.
A Look At The Display The display has indicators that show the scanner's current operating status. The display information helps you understand how your scanner operates. BANK - appears with numbers (1-10). - appears when you lock the keypad. f - appears only when the function mode is on. PGM - appears while you store a frequency into a channel. SRCH - appears during search mode. or - appears during search mode. - alerts you when the battery power gets low.
HOLD - appears during scan hold mode and search hold mode. L/O - appears when you manually select a channel you locked out or a skip frequency. DLY - appears when you select a delay. PRI - appears when the priority feature is turned on. HAM, WX, POL, FIRE, AIR, or MRN - appears along with an indicator that shows the current service bank during a service search. ALT - appears when you receive a Close Call alert while the Close Call function is on.
Understanding Banks Service Banks The scanner is preprogrammed with all the frequencies allocated to the weather, ham, marine, aircraft, police, and fire services. Channel-Storage Banks To make it easier to identify and select the channels you want to listen to, the 200 channels are divided into 10 channel-storage banks. Each bank has 20 channels. Use each channel-storage bank to group frequencies, such as those for the police department, fire department, ambulance services, or aircraft.
Operation Operation Turning On The Scanner and Setting Squelch Note: Make sure the scanner's antenna is connected before you turn it on. 1. Turn Squelch fully counterclockwise. 2. Press and hold for about 2 seconds to turn the scanner on, then turn Volume clockwise until you hear a hissing sound. 3. If the scanner is scanning, press Hold to stop scanning, then turn Squelch clockwise until the hissing stops. Storing Known Frequencies Into Channels 1. Press Hold.
2 seconds after the end of a transmission before scanning proceeds to the next channel. To turn the function off or on, press Func + Dly. • If you enter a frequency that has already been entered elsewhere, the scanner sounds an error tone and displays the channel that was duplicated. If you entered the frequency by mistake, press then enter the correct frequency. To enter the frequency anyway, press E to accept. 4. To program the next channel in sequence, press E then repeat Steps 2 and 3.
press Func + frequencies. or Func + to step through the To release the hold and continue searching, press Hold. Or, if you did not press Hold, simply press Func + or Func + to continue searching. Note: Because there are many different frequencies allocated to fire and police departments, it can take several minutes to search all the service frequencies.
transmission, it stops on it. When the transmission ends, the scanner resumes scanning. Notes: • If you have not stored frequencies into any channels, the scanner does not scan. • If the scanner picks up unwanted partial, or very weak transmissions, turn Squelch clockwise to decrease the scanner's sensitivity to these signals. To listen to a weak or distant station, turn Squelch counterclockwise. • To ensure proper scanning, adjust Squelch until the audio mutes.
Special Features TM RF Capture Technology SpecialCall Features Close Your scanner's Close Call feature lets you set the scanner so it detects then displays the frequency of a nearby strong radio transmission. Close Call RF capture works great for finding frequencies at venues such as malls and sporting events.
• Close Call works better with some types of transmissions than others. It might not correctly display frequency information for transmitters using a highly directive antenna (such as an amateur radio beam antenna), if there are many transmitters operating at the same time in the same area, or if the transmitter is a broadcast television station. Setting the Close Call Options 1. Press Func then press and hold C for 2 seconds. One of the following Close Call options appears. C-C.
If you selected C-C.Alt, skip to Step 5. If you selected C-C.PS, skip to Step 7. 3. Repeatedly press or until the band you want to search appears, then press E to select it. Otherwise, press if you do not want to select it. The scanner displays the following options. Lo On or Lo OFF: Lets you select the VHF Lo frequency band. Air On or Air OFF: Lets you select the Air frequency band. Hi On or Hi OFF: Lets you select the VHF Hi frequency band. UHF On or UHF OFF: Lets you select the UHF frequency band.
ALt OFF: The scanner does not provide any alert when a Close Call signal is detected. 6. Repeatedly press or until the option you want appears, then press E to select it. Otherwise, press if you do not want to select it. Then skip to Step 9. 7. Press E while C-C.PS appears. One of the following Pager Screen options appears. PS On: The scanner ignores hits on common pager frequencies. PS OFF: The scanner alerts you when it receives hits on common pager frequencies. 8.
key to confirm the displayed frequency. Press Scan to resume scanning. Or press or while the frequency and f appear to select the band where you are searching. To turn on the Close Call feature and turn off normal scanning, press Func + C twice. C flashes. To turn off Close Call and turn on normal scanning, press Func + C three times. C disappears. Chain Search This feature lets you search through preset frequency ranges. You can also change each range to a range you set.
Press Func + Src to start chain search mode. SRCH, the enabled search bank number, and or (indicating the search direction) appear. The search bank number being searched flashes. Press 0-9 to enable or disable the search bank number being searched in this mode. Enabled bank numbers appear. (Disabled bank numbers disappear). At least one search bank must be enabled. (The scanner sounds an error tone if you try to disable all the search banks).
If you try to save a frequency that is already stored, the scanner sounds an error tone and displays the channel that was duplicated. If you entered the frequency by mistake, press . To enter the frequency anyway, press E to accept. The scanner sets itself to program mode after you store a frequency. Program Band Select Mode You can use this mode to define the search range used during a chain search in each search bank. To set the scanner to program band select mode, press Func and PSrc. SRCH appears.
Direct Entry Search You can use direct entry search to search up or down from the currently displayed frequency. 1. If the scanner is scanning or searching, press Hold. 2. Enter the frequency you want to start from by using the number keys. (Press to enter a decimal point). 3. Press Func + or Func + . The scanner searches, starting from the frequency you entered in Step 2. If you enter a frequency that is out of range, the scanner sounds an error tone and Error appears.
Press Func + to decrease the frequency by one step or Func + to increase it by one step. Hold down or for about 1 second to quickly increase or decrease the frequency. To resume direct search, press Func + Src or Hold. or appears on the display, showing the search direction. Storing Frequencies Found During Direct Entry Search into Channel Memory Follow these steps to store frequencies received during direct entry search mode or direct entry search hold mode. 1.
Notes: • You cannot skip frequencies during WX service search. • Search skip frequencies are shared by service search, direct entry search, chain search, and Close Call modes. If skip frequencies are sent in certain mode, the frequencies are also skipped in other search modes and Close Call mode. To skip a frequency, press Func and L/O when the scanner stops on the frequency during a search or a search hold.
• Press Func + or Func + to select a skipped frequency while HOLD appears. L/O appears when you select a skipped frequency. Delay Sometimes a user might pause before replying to a transmission. To avoid missing a reply on a specific channel, you can program a 2-second delay into any channel or frequency. The scanner continues to monitor the channel frequency for an additional 2 seconds after the transmission stops before resuming scanning or searching.
Turning Channel-Storage Banks On and Off You can turn each channel-storage bank on and off. When you turn off a bank, the scanner does not scan any of the 20 channels in that bank. While scanning, press the number key that corresponds to the bank you want to turn on or off. Numbers appear at the top of the display, showing the currently selected banks. The scanner scans all the channels within the displayed banks that are not locked out (see “Locking Out Channels” on Page 48).
To unlock all channels in the banks that are turned on, press Hold to stop scanning, then press Func and press and hold L/O until the scanner beeps twice. Priority The priority feature lets you scan through the channels and still not miss important or interesting calls on specific channels. You can program one stored channel in each bank as a priority channel (10 for the banks).
Using Keylock Use the scanner's keylock to protect it from accidental program changes. When the scanner's keys are locked, the only controls that operate are Scan, Func, Hold, , , and . To turn on keylock, press Func + . appears. To turn off keylock, press Func + disappears. . Note: Using keylock does not prevent the scanner from scanning channels. Using the Display Backlight To turn on the display light for easy viewing at night, press . The display lights for 15 seconds.
Troubleshooting If your BC95XLT is not performing properly, try the Troubleshooting following steps. Problem Possible Cause The scanner doesn’t work. The scanner might not be receiving any power. Improper reception. The scanner’s antenna might need to be adjusted. Scan won’t stop. The squelch might need to be adjusted. Suggestion Check the batteries or make sure the AC adapter is connected to an AC outlet and the scanner.
Scan won’t stop (continued) Scan won’t start. The antenna might need to be adjusted. One or more channels might be locked out. The channel’s frequency might not be stored in memory. The channel might not be active. You must press Scan to scan. The squelch might need to be adjusted. One or more channels might be locked out. The antenna might need to be adjusted. Troubleshooting 52 Check the antenna connection. Make sure the channels you want to scan are not locked out.
Weather scan doesn’t work. The squelch might need to be adjusted. The antenna might need to be adjusted. Adjust the squelch threshold. See “Turning On The Scanner and Setting Squelch” on Page 33. Check the antenna connection. Resetting the Scanner If the scanner's display locks up or stops operating properly, you might need to reset the scanner. Caution: This procedure clears all the information you have stored in the scanner.
Care and Maintenance Keep the scanner dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry Care and Maintenance immediately. Use and store the scanner only in normal temperature environments. Handle the scanner carefully: do not drop it. Keep the scanner away from dust and dirt, and wipe it with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. General Use • Turn the scanner off before disconnecting the power. • Always write down the programmed frequencies in the event of memory loss.
• Clean the outside of the scanner with a mild detergent. • To prevent scratches, do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents. Be careful not to rub the LCD window. • Do not use excessive amounts of water. Repairs Do not attempt any repair. The scanner contains no user serviceable parts. Contact the Uniden Customer Service Center or take it to a qualified repair technician. Birdies All radios can receive “birdies” (undesired signals).
Specifications Specifications Specifications Certified in accordance with FCC Rules and Regulations Part 15, Subpart C, as of date of manufacture. Channels: ........................................................... 200 Banks: .................................. 10 (20 channels each) Frequency Range (in MHz): 25.0-27.995 .............. Citizens Band/Business Band 28.0–29.995 ...................... 10 Meter Amateur Band 30.0–49.995 .................................... VHF Low Band 50.0–54.0 ...............
Sensitivity (S+N)/N = 20 dB 25.005 MHz (AM) ........................................ 0.5 µV 40.840 MHz (FM) ........................................ 0.3 µV 49.900 MHz (FM) ........................................ 0.3 µV 118.800 MHz (AM)........................................ 0.5 µV 127.175 MHz (AM)........................................ 0.5 µV 135.500 MHz (AM) ....................................... 0.5 µV 138.150 MHz (FM)........................................ 0.3 µV 162.400 MHz (FM) ...................
IF Frequencies 1st IF (25-174 MHz)..........380.6050-380.7000 MHz 1st IF (406-512 MHz) .......380.6125-380.7000 MHz 1st IF (806-956 MHz) .......380.7000-380.7875 MHz 2nd IF ...................................................... 21.3 MHz 3rd IF ........................................................ 450 kHz Audio Output .............................. 490 mW maximum Built-in Speaker ........................... 32 mm dia, 8 ohm Dynamic Type Current Drain Squelched .............................................
Optional Accessories Optional Accessories Contact your local Uniden Dealer or call the Uniden Parts Center at: (800)554-3988, 8:00AM to 5:00PM EST, Monday through Friday, for information about ordering these optional accessories. ® Earphone Remote Speaker USB-1 Cable PC to Scanner Serial Cable BC95XLT UASD Software Note: the cables are available from the Uniden On-Line store. Visit www. uniden.com.
One-Year Limited Warranty ranty One-Year Limited WarImportant: Evidence of original purchase is required for warranty service. WARRANTOR: UNIDEN AMERICA CORPORATION (“Uniden”) ELEMENTS OF WARRANTY: Uniden warrants, for one year, to the original retail owner, this Uniden Product to be free from defects in materials and craftsmanship with only the limitations or exclusions set out below.
AND IS IN LIEU OF AND EXCLUDES ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER OR PROVIDE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OR PAYMENT OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Some states do not allow this exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion might not apply to you.
A World Without Wires ® © 2006 Uniden America Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas. Contains additional foreign articles. Printed in China.
