BCT15X Settings Menu, Key Safe Mode & Wired Cloning

Summary: The BCT15X Settings menu (display, key beep, serial ports, band defaults and scanner information), Key Safe mode for locking out accidental changes, and Wired Clone for copying to another scanner.

The Settings Menu

• Set Backlight, Set Dimmer – Auto dims the display when a signal reaches the orange lead. Choose + Polarity (dims when +12V is present on the lead) or – Polarity (dims when +12V is not present). Manual lets you choose High (brightest), Middle or Low.
• Adjust Key Beep – Level 1 to 15, Auto (follow the volume control) or Off.
• Set Upside-down – inverts the display, for overhead mounting.
• Adjust Contrast – 15 levels; the display changes as you scroll and you press YES on the level you like.
• Set C-CH Output – how control-channel data is output: Off, On or Extend (control-channel data plus extra information).
• Set GPS Format – position format, time format, time zone and unit. See BCT15X GPS, Location-Based Scanning & Programming Locations.
• Set Serial Port – choose Set Front Port or Set Rear Port, then a baud rate: 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600 or 115200 bps, or Off. The front port defaults to 115200 bps; the rear port defaults to 4800 for GPS compatibility.
• Band Defaults – change the default modulation (AM, NFM, FM, WFM, FMB) and 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) for each band. The list shows each band as frequency : modulation / step.
• See Scanner Info – % Memory Used (overall memory and the number of systems, sites and channels used, with the percentage of available positions) and Firmware Version (version, ESN, checksum and major version number).

Key Safe Mode

Key Safe locks the programming menu and the more advanced functions so somebody else can use the scanner without accidentally changing anything.

To turn Key Safe on or off: switch the scanner off, press and hold FUNCTION while switching it back on, and the scanner shows Key Safe Mode On (or Off) and then returns to what it was doing.

While Key Safe is on:

• MENU is disabled.
• Many FUNCTION combinations are disabled. If you press a disabled key the display says Key Safe Mode. Press FUNC while Power On for Full Operation.
• Basic operation keeps working: volume and squelch, alerts mute, backlight, scanning and holding, the number-key Quick Keys, temporary lockout (tap LOCKOUT), and in Scan mode FUNCTION + Search Key combinations.
• Permanent lockouts and press-and-hold lockout actions are disabled.
• In Close Call, Tone-Out, Weather, GPS and Band Scope modes the SCAN key is disabled; in Search mode it works as Resume.

This makes Key Safe suitable for a scanner in a shared vehicle or a shop.

Wired Clone

Wired Clone copies all settings from one BCT15X to another of the same model.

1. Connect the two scanners with one of the included data cables: the DB9 end goes in the rear port of one scanner and the other end in the front port of the other.
2. On the scanner you’re copying from, open Wired Clone, choose Master, then the port (Front or Rear) the cable is connected to.
3. On the scanner you’re copying to, open Wired Clone, choose Slave, then the port the cable is connected to.
4. The master checks the slave is connected and ready, then starts the transfer. Do not disconnect the cable or switch off either scanner during it.
5. Both scanners show Complete when it’s finished. Reboot the slave scanner to load the new settings.

Warning: all settings and data saved on the slave scanner will be erased.

Firmware and PC Control

The scanner supports upgradeable firmware, PC programming and direct PC control through its serial ports. Use Set Serial Port if a program needs a specific baud rate. To connect the scanner to Squawker PC for programming, follow BCT15X/UBC3500XLT/UBC800XLT Programmer – Overview & Getting Connected, and read Before You Start – Understanding the Risks and Backups – How Squawker PC Protects Your Existing Programming before your first write. Note that Wired Clone (above) overwrites the second scanner completely, just as a write from Squawker PC overwrites the scanner’s programming, so back up first in either case.