BCT15X Close Call

Summary: How Close Call finds strong nearby transmitters on the BCT15X, its modes, and how to configure and store the hits.

What Close Call Does

Close Call searches for signals that are much stronger than the others on a band – a sign the transmitter is close by. It performs a Close Call check every 2 seconds, briefly switching to the selected bands and then returning to what it was doing. It never runs in Weather or Tone-Out mode. The operating temperature limit for Close Call is slightly narrower (-10 to +60 C).

The Modes

• Close Call Priority – checks every 2 seconds, even when the scanner is receiving audio, which can briefly cut out a conversation.
• Close Call Do Not Disturb (DND) – only checks when the scanner isn’t already receiving audio, so you don’t hear interruptions.
• Close Call Only – stops everything else and only performs Close Call checks.

Enter and cycle them with FUNCTION + tap SQUELCH (repeat to step through modes, and to turn Close Call off and return to scanning), or FUNCTION + press and hold SQUELCH for Close Call Only. The Close Call icon shows steady open for Priority and steady filled for DND; it blinks when a hit is found.

The Close Call Menu

• Close Call Only – start a Close Call Only search.
• CC Auto Store – runs a search and stores each hit into a system called Close Call in a Found Channels group, until the Max Auto Store limit is reached.
• Hits with Scan – the scanner keeps the 10 most recent hits in a temporary system (Close Call Hits). You can give it a Quick Key, Number Tag, lockout and hold time like any other system. The list is cleared when you power off, so save anything you want to a real system (or use CC Auto Store).
• Set CC Mode – Off, CC DND or CC Pri for background checks while you scan or search.
• Set CC Override – On jumps straight to the hit. Off alerts you and lets you choose whether to tune to it; if you don’t respond, the scanner times out and returns to what it was doing.
• Set CC Alert – the tone and light for a hit, plus Set CC Pause (3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 or 60 seconds, or Infinite) for how long the scanner waits when Override is off.
• Set CC Bands – choose which bands to check.

Close Call Bands on the BCT15X

• VHF Low 1: 25.0000-53.9800 MHz
• VHF Low 2: 54.0000-107.9000 MHz
• Air Band: 108.0000-136.9916 MHz
• VHF High 1: 137.0000-224.9800 MHz
• VHF High 2: 225.0000-319.9500 MHz
• UHF: 320.0000-512.0000 MHz
• 800 MHz+: 758-823.9875 MHz, 849.0125-868.9875 MHz, 894.0125-960 MHz and 1240-1300 MHz

Only the bands you switch on are searched. Turning off bands you don’t need makes each check faster.

Close Call Keys

While Close Call is active:

• Number keys turn the associated Close Call band on or off. If you’re holding on a frequency, the keys enter digits (direct entry) instead.
• HOLD holds on the most recent Close Call hit (if there is one). FUNCTION + HOLD holds on the current hit.
• SCAN returns to Scan mode. FUNCTION + SQUELCH turns Close Call off and returns to scanning.
• E/YES stores the current frequency when stopped on a hit.
• LOCKOUT: tap – temporarily lock out the frequency; double tap – permanently; press and hold – unlock all search frequencies; FUNCTION + LOCKOUT reviews the lockout list. Rotate the SCROLL knob to resume Close Call after a hit.
• FUNCTION + MENU opens the Close Call menu.

Overall Close Call options such as the delay time and attenuator live under Srch/CloCall Opt, described in BCT15X Searching: Service, Custom, Quick Search & Search Keys.

Tips

• If you hear too many false hits, turn on the Attenuator for Close Call in Srch/CloCall Opt, or turn off bands you don’t need.
• Use DND when listening to a conversation you don’t want interrupted.