The Scanner Gazette Weekly Recap 02/13/2012 - 02/17/2012

By Jonathan Higgins
Weekly News Recap [02/13/2012 - 02/17/2012]

Somerville MA - City mayor pushes for regional 911 dispatch center - Read more
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Helena, MT - New dispatch center up and running - Read more with photos
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Mnt Jefferson, NC - New Tower on Mount Jefferson improving communications on VIPER Trunking System - Read more
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Moultrie, GA - Electronics students get crash course from radio operators - Read more

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South Portland, ME - Tower should boost emergency communications in South Portland - Read more
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Canton, MI - Town ponders bonds for public safety upgrade - Read more
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Franklin County, VA - Technology transforms county’s 911 dispatch center - Read more

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REBANDING ALERT!

Providence, RI - Re-banding under way for the RISCON [Statewide Trunking System] - See the system update

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Carter County, TN - New narrowband radios are now operational for County Sheriff Department - Read more plus video
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Liberty, OH - Residents and Police are putting up a fight to keep the 911 dispatch in Liberty. [Story update] - Read more plus video
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Meriden, CT - Police Unveil New Informational Website Tonight, Discuss Scanner Encryption [Story Update] - Read more
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Allentown, PA - WFMZ TV gives us a behind the scenes look at the Allentown gas explosion. - Read more
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Dane County, WI - Dane County to join the WISCOM statewide digital trunking system - Read more
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Douglas County, WI - Police & Sheriff's dept. are switching their radio signals from analog to digital and it's causing a few growing pains - Read more
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Hamilton, MA - Town looking to share emergency dispatch facility. - Read more
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Waterford, CT - Waterford postpones vote on regionalizing dispatch center. - Read more
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Lewiston, ME - Making sense of Androscoggin County's 911 choices. - Read more
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Raleigh, NC - NC's Emergency Operations Center gets major upgrade - Read more, plus video
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Crestview, FL - Crestview police dispatch moves to a new home - Read more

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Weekly News Recaps every Friday Afternoon!

New Product Video - Uniden Bearcat BC125AT

Overview of the New Uniden BC125AT Scanner

with Scanner Expert Jonathan Higgins

The Scanner Gazette Weekly Recap 02/06/12 - 02/10/12

By Jonathan Higgins
Weekly News Recap [02/06/2012 - 02/10/2012]

Groton, CT - CT shoreline gets $748K for Fire Communications Gear - Read more
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Medford, OR - City plan will shorten, relocate public safety tower. - Read more
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Evansville, IN - Bill Merkel, took his scanner hobby to Facebook and Twitter! - Read more
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Cass County, MN - Law enforcement officers and dispatchers live in a totally digital world today!

[Update on a story we found last week] - Read more
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Daltona, FL - Deltona youth loves to ham it up on the radio - Read more
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Meriden, CT - Police set community meeting on radio plans (encryption), and new website. - Read more
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Great Falls, MT - Radio Transition going smooth for Great Falls Police

[Update on a story we found last week] - Read more, plus video

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York County, PA - Grant money will open communications between York County, PA and Maryland Fire Departments. - Read more
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Essex County, NY - Antenna's are going up for a new P25 Digital system for NY State Police and Essex County - Read more
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Chautauqua County, NY - The county is weighing the options as the Narrowband deadline quickly approaches - Read more
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Minnehaha County, SD - The county plans to upgrade emergency equipment within six weeks - Read more, plus video
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Allentown, PA - WFMZ TV gives us a behind the scenes look at the Allentown gas explosion. - Read more
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Pasadena, CA - Pasadena Star News, Our View: End police radio silence - Read more
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Kewaunee County, WI - Sheriff's Department receives $210K for communications. - Read more
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Scanner Master News

Scanner 101 Topic: Manually programming the Uniden BC125AT Scanner without software. - Read more

Check our latest blog entry the Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Scanner out of the box! - Read more
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Did you get a new scanner over the holidays? Not sure how to program it? Send it to us, we can program it for you! Check out our HomeTown Programming Services. - Read more
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Here is sneak peek at our next e-mail newsletter - Read more
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Are you on Google+ ? Join Scanner Master on Google+ right now! - Read more
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Are you ready for the 2012 NASCAR Season? Check out our "Ultimate Racing Scanner Package" - Read more
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Weekly News Recaps every Friday Afternoon!

Scanner 101 - Programming the Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Scanner

Product: Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Scanner

Scanner 101 Topic: Manually programming the BC125AT Scanner without software.

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Here are the steps to programming a conventional frequency into BC125AT

Step 1
Press Hold Button and Press the channel number you want to program then hit hold again.

Step 2
Press "Func" (Orange Button) then hit "Pgm E" button.

Step 3
"Enter Frequency" will be highlighted press "Pgm E" button.

Step 4
Press in the frequency you would like to program, then hit "Pgm E" button when you done.

Step 5
Select "Edit Tag" by scrolling the knob at the top of the scanner one click clockwise, then press "Pgm E" button.

Step 6
Using the knob at the top of the scanner scroll thru the letters and stop on the one you want then hit the "6 >" button to add the next letter. (repeat this step on until complete) Once your done with your Text Tag then hit the "Pgm E" button

Step 6
Select "Set CTCSS/DCS " by scrolling the knob at the top of the scanner one click clockwise, then press "Pgm E" button.

Step 7
You can select from the following CTCSS/DCS options

• Off
• CTCSS
• DCS
  
• CTCSS/DCS Search

If the frequency has a CTCSS or DCS you can program it here or you can Search for it.

Step 8
The other options in the menu you wouldn't need to worry about when programming. You can now hit scan to start scanning. To add more frequencies repeat Steps 1 - 7.
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Programming Software
Programming software is available from Uniden and from BuTel software shortly. Uniden Software will be very basic vs. the BuTel Software will more advanced. With the BuTel Software you will have capability to import frequencies from RadioReference.com with a paid Membership.

Product Test - Uniden Bearcat BC125AT

By Jonathan Higgins - The Scanner Expert




Product Tested: Uniden Bearcat BC125AT
Cost of product: $139.95




Out of the box
I'm very impressed with the Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, everything I could ask for in a basic analog conventional scanner. Alpha Tagging, PL Tone, NOAA Weather Alerts, and much, much more!

Once programmed, I had great reception inside of our Holliston office. The speaker audio quality was clear and crisp. Unit is pretty light weight even with the batteries installed.

This scanner will be ideal for someone that in area using analog conventional communications . Also great for auto racing, railroad buff or aviation hobbyist.

What makes this scanner different from BC72XLT and BC95XT?
Uniden added a lot of features, that are available in the XT models.

ALPHA Tagging - you can program a frequency and assign a name to the channel such as:

Private Line Tone (PL Tone) along with programming the frequency you can program CTCSS or DCS. If you're not sure what the PL Tone is you can do a CTCSS/DCS Search. This is very helpful with blocking interference.

Bigger Memory - 500 channels, 10 banks, 50 channels per bank.

NOAA Weather Alert Mode

Narrowband Compatibles

Includes Military Air Band

Priority Scan with "do-not-disturb"

Close Call RF Capture with Do-Not-Disturb

Design
BC125AT is very handsome in it black and gray case, with its easy to press black and white buttons. Very compact and can fit in a shirt pocket without a problem. The display is much larger then BC346XT/BCD396XT, and super easy to read. Across the top of the scanner you have; multifunction knob at the top right, head set jack in the middle and BNC antenna connection on the left. Charging/ remote programming port on the right side. The back of the scanner you have the fixed belt clip and AA Alkaline/rechargeable battery compartment.

Memory System
Bank structured memory system with 500 channels, 10 banks with 50 channels per bank. The layout is very simple to understand for someone trying to field program the scanner.

Band Coverage
25-54 MHz
108-174 MHz
225-380 MHz
400-512 MHz

Service Searches
Very simple to turn off and on Press "Func" then "Srch". The services are broken down into banks and you can turn them on and off by press it number. Let's say you want to turn off "CB Radio" press the "8" button to turn it off and to turn it back on just press the "8" again. To return to normal scanning press the "Scan" button.

1. Police
2. Fire/Emergency
3. Ham Radio
4. Marine
5. Railroad
6. Civil Air
7. Military Air
8. CB Radio
9. FRS/GMRS/MURS
0. Racing

Custom Band Search
Band Searches, press "Srch" button, you can set up to 10 custom search band limits. While in this mode press "Func" then "Pgm" then Select "Program Limits". You will have a list of 10 custom search bank.

Powering the Scanner
Very much like IPhone/IPod, the BC125AT comes with a multipurpose USB cable. This cable can connect to the PC for programming and firmware updates. This cable powers the scanner via a USB AC or USB DC adapter (Sold Separately). Rechargeable batteries can be charged inside the unit.

Programming Software
Programming software will be available from Uniden and from BuTel software shortly. Uniden Software will be very basic vs. the BuTel Software will more advanced. With the BuTel Software you will have capability to import frequencies from RadioReference.com with a paid Membership.

Weather "WX"
This compact unit is great for monitoring NOAA Weather radio. You can also receive NOAA Weather Alerts while the scanner is scanning. Or you can run the scanner in Weather Alerts Standby mode. In this mode the BC125AT will act as weather station, audio will kick-in with weather alerts. To see all weather options on the scanner press "Func" then the "3 WX" button.


In the Box

BC125AT

Rubber Duck Antenna

Multipurpose USB Cable

Owners Manual
(available online PDF)




Recommend Optional Accessories
Scanner Master is currently developing multiple carrying cases and we will keep you posted on that. We carry both optional AC USB and DC USB adapters, along with backup rechargeable batteries. We also have full line of portable antennas with BNC connections. If you plan on using the BC125AT in the home make sure you check out "Spectrum Force Desk Mount for One Portable Scanner".

The Scanner Gazette Weekly News Recap 01/30/2012 - 02/03/2012

By Jonathan Higgins
Weekly News Recap [01/30/2012 - 02/03/2012]

Washington, DC - Can public safety meet the Narrowband deadline? - Read more
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Huntsville, AL - Fire & Rescue gets grant to buy new high-tech radios. - Read more
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Maryland State Police - Ten Codes are no longer used by the Maryland State police. - Read more

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Great Falls, MT - Great Falls Police Department transitioning to digital radio system. Read more [Story with Video]
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Cass County, MI - Will be joining Michigan Public Safety Communications System with in a week to 10 days. - Read more
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Encinitas, CA - Fire Department Wins Grant for Digital Radios - Read more

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Clark Cnty WA - Pretty cool story about a twitter scanner feed Follow @VanWAScanner @ScanCouver - Read more

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Guilford, CT - Shoreline ham operators learn about emergency communications - Read more
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OHIO COUNTY, KY - Out with the analog and in with the digital for Ohio County, KY... Soon! - Read More
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LaCrosse, WI - A new public safety radio system, could cost $4 Million - Read more
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---Scanner Master News---

Got a scanner in need of programming and (or) firmware update? Please check out our HomeTown Programming services. - Read more
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Save on select RadioShack Scanners, these deals don't last for long! Sales ends Thursday, February 16, 2012 - Read More
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Check out this past Scanner 101 blog entry... How to Cloning Uniden XT Scanners - Read More
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NEW PRODUCT - Adjustable Trunk Lip Mount with NMO Connection. - Read more
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Weekly News Recaps every Friday Afternoon!

The Scanner Gazette Weekly Recap 01/23/2012 - 01/27/2012

By Jonathan Higgins
Weekly News Recap [01/23/2012 - 01/27/2012]

New York, NY - NYPD Transit bureau will have the ability to communicate with NYPD precinct police... - Read More
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Leavenworth, KS - Rebanding under way, Leavenworth County Sheriff using temporary system. - Read More

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NASCAR - NASCAR Bans Driver-To-Driver Communications for All Races - New for 2012 - Read More

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New York, NY- With two police scanners in hand... A Day in the life of a Spot News Photographer [Story w/audio report] - Read More

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Porter County, IN - Man stole police cruiser, police communicate with him over the two-way radio system. - Read More

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Le Claire, IA - Railroad radio communication tower dispute ends - Read More

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San Bentio, TX - New digital Two-way radios coming soon to San Benito, TX Police Department - Read More

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Fox TV - Fox's new show Alcatraz [Episode 3 "Kit Nelson"] a police scanner was used to tip off the team about a kidnapping. - Read More

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---- Scanner Master News ----

New Product - Uniden Bearcat BC125AT [Analog Conventional] Scanner. Coming soon, first week of February! - Read More
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New Scanner Package - NASCAR Fans! Check out our "Ultimate Racing Scanner Package". Order now and save!!! - Read More
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Weekly News Recaps every Friday Afternoon!