BCD260DN Programming Channels & Banks

Summary: How to set up banks and programme channels on the BCD260DN, including the digital reception and record settings.

Before You Scan

You must programme at least one frequency before you can scan; an empty bank shows Nothing to Scan. There are 10 banks of 100 channels: Bank 1 holds CH001-CH100, Bank 2 CH101-CH200, and so on; Bank 10 is shown as bank 0. Press SCAN/SEARCH to scan. It starts at bank 1 and goes through bank 10 (shown as 0), flashing the current bank number at the bottom. Press a bank’s number to turn it off and again to turn it back on.

Editing Banks

Menu, Program Channel, Select Bank, then choose a bank (1-9 or 0):

• Edit Name – names default to Bank 1, Bank 2 and so on, and show at the top of the screen while scanning.
• Edit Channel – see below.
• Copy Bank – select the bank to copy, choose Copy Bank, choose the destination and press E Yes to overwrite it. The bank name isn’t copied.
• Clear Bank – erases the bank and returns it to factory defaults.

Editing a Channel

Edit Channel, then choose a channel. There are 13 editable settings. If you enter a frequency that’s already stored, the scanner shows Frequency Exists – Accept? (Y/N); Yes stores it twice.

• Edit Name – default BANK 1-001 and so on; shown when the channel is received.
• Edit Frequency – any supported frequency, rounded to the nearest valid step.
• Set Audio Type –
• All – detect and receive whatever’s there. Use it if you don’t know the mode. In All mode, a digital signal that can’t be demodulated, or a control signal with no sound, is treated as analogue and the scanner stays on it until it disappears. If you know a frequency is digital, use Digital Only.
• Digital Only – assume only digital signals. Data and undecodable signals are ignored. The Code Option menu offers Search, Set Color Code (0-15), Set NEXEDGE RAN (0-63) and Set IDAS Area (0 or 1). Keep the squelch closed when scanning in Digital Only (about 2 or 3, or the level you use for analogue); an open squelch slows scanning.
• Analog Only – assume only analogue. The Set CTCSS/DCS menu offers Search, CTCSS, DCS and Set Lockout (to avoid a particular tone).
• Set Modulation – Auto uses the band default, or choose AM, NFM, FM, WFM, FMB. FUNC knob + 9 (MOD) overrides it in Scan Hold.
• Set Delay Time – 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 seconds after a transmission ends; negative values (-2, -5, -10, -30) leave after that many seconds even if the transmission continues.
• Set Attenuator – about 20 dB. FUNC knob + 7 (ATT) overrides in Scan Hold; press and hold for global attenuation.
• Set Priority – On makes it a priority channel (see BCD260DN Priority Scan).
• Set Alert – Set Alert Tone (Off or Alert 1-9), Set Level (Auto or 1-15) and Set Alert Light. The alert light uses the LCD backlight in the colour you choose: with the normal backlight Off, it lights in the chosen colour for 5 seconds; with it On, the chosen colour overrides for 5 seconds; Slow Blink blinks up to three times and Fast Blink up to five. Because the alert colour overrides your normal backlight colour, pick a colour different from the one you normally use.
• Set Record – On sends the channel’s audio to the REC output jack for a recorder; Off doesn’t.
• Set Lockout – Unlocked, Temporary L/O (cleared on power cycle) or Lockout (saved to memory).
• Adjust Volume Offset – -3 to +3. FUNC knob + 5 (LVL) overrides it in Scan Hold. (The manual’s text lists -2 to +3, but its menu chart shows -3 to +3.)
• Set Digital Waiting – time to decide if a signal is digital or analogue; default 400 ms (the menu offers 0-1000 ms). It only affects channels with Audio Type set to All, and analogue audio there loses the start of a transmission, up to this time.
• Clear Channel – the channel becomes empty (0.0000 MHz), locked out and skipped.

Tips

• Find frequencies for your area on a frequency website, or use UKAFG’s tools (see BCD260DN Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online).
• Set Audio Type to Analog Only for analogue channels to avoid losing the start of transmissions to the Digital Waiting time.
• Set a distinct alert colour so alerts stand out from your normal backlight.