Document Outline

• The FCC Wants You To Know
  • Scanning Legally
• Introduction
• Feature Highlights
  • About This Manual
• Understanding Scanning
  • Understanding Banks and Channels
  • What is Scanning?
  • What is Searching?
  • What is CTCSS/DCS?
  • Conventional Scanning
    • Simplex Operation
    • Repeater Operation
  • What is Trunk Tracking?
  • Trunked Scanning
  • Types of Trunking Systems
    • Motorola Trunking
    • EDACS Trunking
    • LTR Trunking
  • Where To Obtain More Information
    • Information On The Internet
  • Using a Computer to Control Your BC898T
• Included With Your Scanner
• Installing Your Scanner
  • For Home Use (Desktop Installation)
    • 1. Insert the DC plug end of the included AC adapter into the DC 12V jack on the back of the scanner.
    • 2. Plug the other end of the AC adapter into a standard 120V AC wall outlet.
    • 3. Plug the included telescoping antenna into the ANT connector on the back of the scanner. Then extend the antenna to its full height.
    • 4. Use the scanner’s desktop stand for a better viewing and operating angle.
    • Adapter Safety Feature
  • Using An Optional External Speaker/Earphone/Headphone
    • Listening Safely
  • Using An Optional Tape Recorder
  • Using the Demo Software
    • Installing The Software
  • Installing The Scanner In a Vehicle
    • Mounting the Scanner
      • 1. Select a location in your vehicle to mount the scanner. Avoid a location that could interfere with your driving. In a passenger car, the ideal location is underneath the dashboard on the passenger side.
      • 2. Use an optional mounting bracket as a template for marking the location for the mounting screws.
      • 3. Drill the necessary holes and secure the mounting bracket in place using the screws provided with the bracket.
      • 4. Mount the scanner to the bracket only after the wiring has been connected to the scanner’s rear panel.
    • Connecting the Antenna Plug
    • Connecting the DC Power Cord
    • Installing a Temporary Power Cord
    • Installing a Permanent Power Cord
      • 1. Check the vehicle’s battery connections to determine which battery terminal (positive or negative) is grounded to the engine ...
      • 2. Connect an optional DC power cord’s RED wire to the accessory contact in your vehicle’s +12 VDC fuse box.
      • 3. Connect the DC power cord’s BLACK wire to the negative side of the vehicle (usually the chassis).
      • 4. Insert the DC plug into the DC 12V jack on the back of the scanner.
• Basic Operation
• Basic Operation
  • Setting the Squelch
    • 1. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable listening level.
    • 2. Repeatedly press MANUAL until you do not hear a signal.
    • 3. Turn SQUELCH fully clockwise.
    • 4. Turn SQUELCH counterclockwise until you hear a hiss.
    • 5. Turn SQUELCH back clockwise just until the hiss stops. This sets the squelch so that only clearer signals can get through.
    • Using the Rotary Tuner
  • Using the Frequency/Channel Mode Selector
  • Using the Lock Key/LED
  • Manually Selecting a Channel
  • Scanning Programmed Channels
  • Locking/Unlocking Banks
  • Locking/Unlocking Channels
  • Restoring All Locked Out Channels
    • 1. If you de-selected the bank, press SCAN then press the bank’s letter.
    • 2. Press MANUAL.
    • 3. Hold down L/O for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps twice and unlocks all channels.
  • Priority Scanning
    • Changing the Priority Channel
      • 1. Press MANUAL.
      • 2. Use the keypad to enter the channel number for the new priority channel.
      • 3. Press MANUAL.
      • 4. Hold down PRI for about 2 seconds.
  • Using the Dimmer
  • Trunk Scanning Options
    • Searching for Active Talk Groups (ID Search)
    • Searching Only Stored Talk Groups (ID Scan)
    • Monitoring Talk Group ID’s
    • Holding On a Single Talk Group
    • Locking Out Talk Groups
    • Reviewing Locked Out Talk Group ID’s
    • Restoring All Locked Out Talk Group ID’s
    • EDACS Blockout
  • Setting the Attenuator
  • ID Lockout
    • Restoring a Single ID
      • 1. Hold down L/O until you hear two short beeps.
      • 2. Use either the rotary tuner or HOLD r or LIMIT s to select the ID you want to unlock.
      • 3. Press L/O. The ID is unlocked and the next locked ID appears.
      • 4. Press SRC to return to the search mode.
    • Restoring All ID’s
      • 1. Hold down L/O until you hear two short beeps.
      • 2. Hold down L/O for about 2 seconds to unlock all the ID’s at once.
      • 3. Press SRC to return to the search mode.
  • Searching Tips
    • ID Delay Mode
    • ID Hold Mode
    • ID Monitor Mode
  • Scan Lists
• Searching
  • Chain Search
    • Setting and Saving a Chain Search Range
      • 1. Press MANUAL to stop scanning.
      • 2. Press SRC.
      • 3. Press HOLD r. HOLD appears.
      • 4. Select the memory location where you want to save a chain search range by pressing its bank key (A-J). If there is a chain search range already stored in that memory location, the lower and upper frequencies of that chain search range flash.
      • 5. Use the keypad to enter the lower frequency of the chain search range, then press E on the keypad or LIMIT s. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
      • 6. Use the keypad to enter the upper frequency of the chain search range, then press E on the keypad or LIMIT s. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
    • Selecting Chain Search Ranges
    • Using Chain Search
  • Holding On An Active Frequency
  • Setting Data Skip
  • Skipping Frequencies
  • Storing Found Frequencies
    • 1. Press E or SEND when the scanner is stopped on that frequency. All the bank indicators flash.
    • 2. Select the bank where you want to send the frequency. The display alternates between the frequency you are sending and the lo...
    • 3. Press E.
  • Automatically Storing Frequencies
    • 1. Press MANUAL to stop scanning.
    • 2. Press AUTO. All the bank letters flash and AUTO appears.
    • 3. Press the bank keys (A-J) where you want to store the frequencies the scanner finds. The bank letter(s) you select stop flashing.
    • 4. Press SRC to start AutoStore.
    • 5. Press MANUAL to exit AutoStore and return to the manual mode.
  • Setting Subaudible Tones for Searching
    • 1. Press PRI to turn off priority scan.
    • 2. Hold down CTCSS/DCS for about 2 seconds. CTCSS and DCS blink and the scanner searches for CTCSS or DCS tones. When the scanner finds a CTCSS or DCS tone, the frequency blinks.
  • Attenuating All Search Ranges
  • Setting Delay For All Search Ranges
  • Searching a Trunked Bank
    • 1. Press TRUNK then press SCAN.
    • 2. Press a bank key (A-J) to select the trunked bank you want. For example, press B.
    • 3. Once the data channel is acquired, the scanner starts to trunk track. Talk group ID’s, which represent different service groups, appear.
    • 4. Press TRUNK again to return to conventional mode.
  • Searching for CTCSS/DCS Tones
    • 1. If necessary, press PRI to turn off priority scan.
    • 2. Hold down CTCSS/DCS until you hear two short beeps. CTCSS and DCS appear and begin to flash. If there is a break before a ton...
• Using Weather Alert (SAME)
  • 1. Press WX to find your local weather station.
  • 2. Press HOLD r.
  • 3. Hold down ALERT for about 2 seconds. ALERT appears.
  • Searching for a Weather Broadcast
  • Programming a FIPS Code
    • 1. Hold down WX for about 2 seconds to turn on weather alert.
    • 2. Hold down E for about 2 seconds.
    • 3. Turn the rotary tuner or repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s to enter a FIPS code (1 through 15). Then enter the FIPS code and press E.
    • 4. When you finish entering FIPS codes, press E.
• Programming
  • Transferring a Programmed Frequency
    • Transferring a Frequency to the First Available Channel In a Bank
      • 1. Select the bank where you want to send the frequency. For example, press D. The display alternates between the frequency you are transferring and the bank’s lowest available channel.
      • 2. Press E on the keypad to transfer the frequency to the new channel. The scanner moves the frequency from the old channel to the new channel.
      • 3. To cancel the transfer before it is complete, press SEND.
    • Transferring a Frequency to a Specific Channel
      • 1. Use the keypad to enter the channel where you want to send the frequency. (For example, press 9 and 4 on the keypad to send the frequency to Channel 94).
      • 2. Press HOLD r.
      • 3. Press E to complete the transfer.
      • 4. To cancel the transfer before it is complete, press SEND.
  • Duplicate Frequency Alert
  • Deleting a Stored Frequency
  • Programming a Channel With a CTCSS/DCS Tone
    • 1. Press MANUAL.
    • 2. Press CTCSS/DCS.
    • 3. Select the channel you want to program then press E. If you have already programmed a CTCSS or DCS tone, the frequency for the tone blinks. Otherwise, 000.0 HZ blinks.
    • 4. Enter a CTCSS tone.
    • 5. To cancel CTCSS mode, press CTCSS/DCS or MANUAL. The CTCSS indicator and displayed tones are turned off but not deleted.
  • Programming Tips
  • Setting the Delay Mode
    • Setting Delay in Scan or Search Mode
      • 1. Press SCAN or set a search range then press SRC.
      • 2. When your scanner stops on a channel, press DELAY. DELAY appears. Scanning resumes two seconds after the transmission ends.
    • Setting Delay in Manual Mode
      • 1. Press MANUAL.
      • 2. Use the keypad or rotary tuner to select a channel.
      • 3. Press DELAY. DELAY appears. The scanner pauses on the channel when a transmission is received.
  • Recording Transmissions
    • 1. Use the keypad or rotary tuner to select the channel you want to record.
    • 2. Press LINE. LINE appears indicating that the channel will be recorded if you connected a tape recorder to your scanner.
    • 3. Repeat these steps to select other channels for recording.
    • 1. Use the keypad or rotary tuner to select the channel you do not want to record anymore.
    • 2. Press LINE. LINE turns off and the channel is not recorded.
  • Data Skip
  • Frequency Skip
• Programming Conventional Channels
  • Changing the Frequency Step
  • Setting the Modulation Mode
  • Setting Priority Channels
• Programming Trunked Systems
  • Setting the Scanner to Trunking Programming Mode
    • 1. Hold down TRUNK. The scanner beeps twice and BANK and TRUNK flash.
    • 2. Select the trunking bank you want to program.
    • 1. Press TRUNK to return to conventional mode if you have been monitoring a trunking bank.
    • 2. Hold down TRUNK. The scanner beeps twice and BANK and TRUNK flash.
    • 3. Select the trunking bank you want to program.
  • Programming Motorola Systems
    • Programming Channels and Entering Trunking Frequencies
      • 1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and the bank letters A-J blink.
      • 2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.
      • 3. Select Motorola scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s to select one of the following Motorola scanning choices:
      • 4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 F appears. Then press E on the keypad.
      • 5. To enter trunking frequencies, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
      • 6. For each additional frequency, select the next channel by turning the rotary tuner or pressing HOLD r. Then use the keypad to enter the next frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
      • 7. If you selected E2-800, E2-900, or E1 in Step 3, stop here.
    • Otherwise, if you selected E2-HI or E2-UHF in Step 3, follow these steps to enter the band plan (base frequency, spacing frequency, and offset channel) for the system you want to scan.
      • 1. If you are still in the programming mode, press DATA. Otherwise, select the trunking programming mode and bank you want to change. Then, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until E1 appears, then press E.
      • 2. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until FLEET appears, then press E.
      • 3. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s to select the fleet map you want. For example, E1P2.
      • 4. Press E then press SRC.
      • 1. If you are still in the programming mode, press DATA. Otherwise, select the trunking programming mode and bank you want to change.
      • 2. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until E1 appears.
      • 3. Press E.
      • 4. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until FLEET appears, then press E.
      • 5. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s to select USR.
      • 6. Press E.
      • 7. Enter the size code for the first block by repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s until the correct size code appears.
      • 8. Press E. The next available block appears.
      • 9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 until you have selected a size code for each block.
      • 10. Press SRC.
      • Programming Talk Group ID’s
        • 1. If you are still in the programming mode, press DATA. Otherwise, hold TRUNK for 2 seconds, then select the bank and system type and press E.
        • 2. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 ID appears. Then press E.
        • 3. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s or rotate the dial to select the talkgroup ID channel you want to program.
        • 4. Enter an ID. To enter the dash used in Type I ID’s, use the . key.
        • 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for all ID’s you want to program.
  • Programming a Hybrid System
  • Programming EDACS Systems
    • 1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and the bank letters A-J blink.
    • 2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.
    • 3. Select EDACS scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s to select one of the following EDACS scanning choices:
    • 4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 F appears. Then press E on the keypad.
    • 5. To enter the trunking frequencies for LCN1, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
    • 6. For each additional frequency, select the next channel by turning the rotary tuner or pressing HOLD r. Then use the keypad to enter the next frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
    • 7. If you selected ED-SCT in Step 3, stop here.
    • Otherwise, if you selected ED-HI or ED-LO in Step 3, follow these steps to enter the talk group ID (agency, fleet, and subfleet) for the system you want to scan.
  • Programming LTR Systems
    • 1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and the bank letters A-J blink.
    • 2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.
    • 3. Select LTR scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s to select LT. Then press E on the keypad.
    • 4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 F appears. Then press E on the keypad.
    • 5. To enter trunking frequencies, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
    • 6. For each additional frequency, select the next channel by turning the rotary tuner or pressing HOLD r. Then use the keypad to enter the next frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).
    • 7. Follow these steps to enter the talk group ID (agency, fleet, and subfleet) for the system you want to scan.
• Care and Maintenance
  • Location
  • Cleaning
  • Repairs
  • Birdies
• Troubleshooting
• Specifications
• Optional Accessories
• Appendix
  • Preset Fleet Maps
  • User Defined Fleet Maps
    • Type I Programming Information
    • Size Code Restrictions