BCT15X Searching: Service, Custom, Quick Search & Search Keys

Summary: How to search for activity on the BCT15X with Quick Search, Service Search, Custom Search, Search and Store and the three Search Keys, plus the Srch/CloCall Opt options.

Types of Search

• Quick Search – start with FUNCTION + tap SCAN and tap YES. Uses the delay, attenuator and related options from Srch/CloCall Opt.
• Service Search – searches one of the 12 preset service bands: Public Safety, News, HAM Radio, Marine, Railroad, Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS/MURS, Racing, FM Broadcast, Military Air and Special (Itinerant).
• Custom Search – searches one of ten ranges you define.
• Search and Store – searches an existing system and stores active channels or talk groups into its Found Channels group.
• Search with Scan – lets a search range take part in normal scanning.

Open Search for… from the menu (or FUNCTION + MENU while searching) to reach all of these.

Edit Service

Change the defaults for each of the 12 service bands: Set Delay Time, Set Attenuator, Set Record, and Search with Scan.

Edit Custom

Programs the ten custom ranges. For each you can set:

• Edit Name (16 characters)
• Edit Srch Limit – the lower and then upper frequency
• Set Delay Time
• Set Modulation – Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM or FMB
• Set Attenuator
• Set Step – 5.0, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 50.0 or 100.0 kHz, or Auto for the band’s default
• Set C-Ch Only – search for trunked control-channel data only. When found, the scanner stops on the control channel and shows activity, and for Motorola systems it tries to follow voice traffic using the Motorola band plan you choose with Set MOT Band Plan. It also shows the system name if the ID matches a known system.
• Set Record and Search with Scan

Search with Scan

Adds a search range to your normal scan cycle. Its options are Set Quick Key, Set Startup Key, Set Number Tag, Set Lockout and Set Hold Time (how long the scanner checks the range before moving on; 2 seconds by default).

Search and Store

1. Open Search for… and choose Search and Store.
2. Select the system you want to add found channels to. You need at least one programmed system.
3. For a conventional system, choose a custom or service search range. For a trunked system, choose the site; the scanner searches it for active talk groups and stores their IDs (unlocking the site first if it’s locked).

New hits are added to the Found Channels group after the scanner checks they aren’t already stored. It isn’t available for EDACS SCAT systems. The number stored is limited by Max Auto Store.

Search Keys

Search Keys are shortcuts to three searches, assigned to number keys 1, 2 and 3. To assign one, open Search for…, choose Set Search Key, pick the key, and then pick a service search, a custom search, a Tone-Out search or a Band Scope search. Start the assigned search with FUNCTION + tap the key (they don’t work in Scan or GPS mode). Search Key 3 is set to Band Scope by default. If a key starts a Tone-Out search, turn the SCROLL knob to choose which of the ten tone-out channels to use.

Srch/CloCall Opt

General options for searching and Close Call:

• Freq Lockouts – Rvw Search L/O (see and unlock individual locked-out frequencies) and Unlock All.
• Broadcast Screen – screen out common broadcast signals. Five presets: Pager, FM (88.1-107.9 MHz), UHF TV (470-512 MHz), VHF TV (54-72, 76-88 and 174-216 MHz) and NOAA WX (the ten weather frequencies). Use Set All Band On, Set All Band Off, Set Each Band, or Program Band to define up to 10 custom screen bands by lower and upper limits.
• CTCSS / DCS Search – On or Off; whether an active frequency is searched for tones (ignored in AM, WFM and FMB).
• Repeater Find – when a signal is found on a common repeater input frequency, the scanner looks for it on the output and, if found, shows Repeater Found and switches to the output.
• Max Auto Store – 1 to 256 hits stored in Search and Store or Close Call Auto Store.
• Set Delay Time – for Quick Search, Close Call and the Close Call Hits system.
• Set Attenuator – 20 dB for Quick Search, Close Call and Band Scope.
• Set Record – include found audio on the RECORD OUT jack.

Lockouts While Searching

Tap LOCKOUT for a temporary lockout of the current frequency, double tap for a permanent one (the search lockout list holds 500 entries: 250 temporary and 250 permanent). Review with FUNCTION + LOCKOUT.