BCD160DN Scanning Basics: Scanning, Searching, Tones & Banks

Summary: Background that helps you get the most from the BCD160DN: how scanning and searching differ, what CTCSS and DCS tones do, conventional and repeater systems, and how banks work.

What Is Scanning?

Most two-way radio users don’t transmit continuously. The BCD160DN steps through the channels you’ve programmed until it finds an active frequency, stops and stays there for as long as the transmission continues, and then resumes scanning when it ends.

What Is Searching?

Searching looks for active frequencies you haven’t programmed. You give it a lower and upper limit (or use a preset service list), and it stops on any active frequency it finds. If you like what you hear you can store it into a bank; if not, carry on. See BCD160DN Searching: Service Search, Custom Search, Quick Search & Search Keys.

CTCSS and DCS

CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) and DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) are sub-audible tone systems, sometimes called PL and DPL (Motorola’s trademarked names). Squelch opens only when the tone or code you’ve programmed arrives with the signal. They’re used on FM signals, typically by amateur and commercial users, to restrict access to a repeater or to separate several stations on close-by frequencies. If you programme a tone for a channel, you’ll only hear transmissions that carry it; without the right tone the squelch stays closed. The scanner detects 50 CTCSS tones and 112 DCS codes (see BCD160DN Reference Tables & How Do I…?).

The BCD160DN also displays and can search for DMR Color Codes and NXDN Area and RAN codes, which do a similar job for digital signals.

Conventional Systems

In a conventional system each user group has a single frequency (simplex) or two frequencies (repeater). Their transmissions always use the same frequency, so you only need to know the frequencies. Aircraft, amateur radio, FRS/GMRS users and many business radios work this way.

• Simplex – one frequency for both transmit and receive, limited to line of sight (typically 1-8 miles). Common on construction sites and with consumer radios.
• Repeater – a radio transmits on an input frequency; a repeater, usually high on a building or tower, retransmits it on an output frequency. Your scanner listens to the output. Typical coverage is about a 25-mile radius.

Banks

The 1,000 channels are split into 10 channel storage banks of 100 channels. Group frequencies however you like (by service, place or interest) and switch banks on and off with the number keys while scanning.

There are also service search banks, preloaded with the frequencies allocated to airband, CB, FRS/GMRS/MURS, ham, marine, media, military air, public safety, racing and railroad, which you can switch on and off in Service Search mode; and custom search banks, ten ranges you define, searched from the lowest frequency to the highest.

Where to Learn More

Uniden points owners to RadioReference.com for user-supported radio system information (not affiliated with Uniden), and to uniden.com for other Uniden products. For UK frequencies, UKAFG’s own tools are listed in BCD160DN Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online.