BCT15X Programming a Conventional System

Summary: Step-by-step: creating a conventional system, its channel groups and its channels on the BCT15X.

What You Need

A list of the frequencies you want to monitor. A conventional system is just a container for those frequencies. You must create the pieces in this order: system, then at least one group, then at least one channel in each group.

Step 1: Create the System

1. Go to Program System and choose New System.
2. When asked for the System Type, choose Conventional.
3. Tap YES to confirm. The scanner creates the system with a default name.
4. Choose Edit Name if you want to rename it (up to 16 characters).
5. Set any system properties you need now.

System properties – none are required, but these are worth setting:

• Edit Name, Set Number Tag and Set Quick Key (recommended)
• Set Record – audio to the RECORD OUT jack
• Set State – link the system to a US state or Canadian province for State-by-State locking
• Set Delay Time, Set Hold Time, Set Lockout and Set Startup Key
• Copy System and Delete System are also available here

Some options found on other Uniden models (Audio AGC, P25 wait time) are not available on the BCT15X.

Step 2: Create a Channel Group

Each conventional system holds up to 20 groups and must have at least one.

1. On Program System, select your new system.
2. Go to Edit Group and choose New Group. It gets a default name such as Group 01.
3. Optionally set Edit Name and Set Quick Key (recommended), plus Set LocationInfo and Set Lockout.

Step 3: Create Channels

Each group can contain many channels (up to 1,000 per conventional system) and must contain at least one.

1. On Edit Group, select the group you just created.
2. Go to Edit Channel and choose New Channel.
3. Enter the frequency in MHz. If the frequency is invalid or already exists in the system, the scanner sounds an error tone and asks again.
4. Set any channel properties you need.

Channel properties – only the frequency is required; the rest is recommended or optional:

• Set CTCSS/DCS – Off opens squelch on any signal; Search displays received tones but still opens on any signal; CTCSS or DCS opens only when the matching tone code is present; Lockout blocks a specific tone code you don’t want to hear.
• Set Modulation – Auto uses the band’s default; otherwise choose AM, NFM, FM, WFM or FMB (only the options valid for that frequency are shown).
• Edit Name and Set Number Tag
• Set Alert, Set Record, Set Attenuator (20 dB), Set Lockout, Set Priority and Volume Offset
• Copy Channel, Delete Channel and New Channel

The Copy Channel option puts the channel into a buffer and adds a Paste Channel item to the channel menu whenever you edit a compatible system – handy for creating many similar channels.

Programming It From Your PC Instead

You don’t have to type every frequency through the keypad. Squawker PC can build systems, groups and channels for you and write them to the scanner over the serial cable. See Filling Systems & Groups – Quick Fill, the Data Dropdown & Add To and Writing to Your Scanner – BCT15X/UBC3500XLT/UBC800XLT. A write replaces everything on the scanner, so read and back up first (Reading, Backing Up & Restoring – BCT15X/UBC3500XLT/UBC800XLT). Use the options in this article to fine-tune anything afterwards on the radio itself. If you’d rather load frequencies as a file from the website, see BCT15X Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online.

Tips

• Aircraft on the airband use AM. Leave modulation on Auto and the scanner will select AM for 108-137 MHz.
• Using a CTCSS/DCS code cuts out unwanted co-channel traffic, but leave it on Off or Search if you aren’t sure which tone a channel uses.
• The Attenuator is useful for very strong nearby transmitters that overload the radio.