BCT-8 questions

[the phil]

Looks like this is all that is ever posted in here, but I wanted to clarify a few things for myself.

I don't really care about what the police are saying in my area. I do want a scanner with highway patrol alert. I don't care about the size of the unit, as I can figure out where to mount it no matter what.

So I happened upon the BCT-8: http://www.strongsignals.net/access/.../rr_bct-8.html.

Aside from how it says it's from 2003 (Are they still in production?) this seems like what I want.

Questions:
Does it have the highway patrol alert feature?

Does it pick up the 800mhz band? I think this is trunking, but I'm probably miserably wrong. It picks up close to 800mhz (806), but is this ok?

Pretty much, I'm looking for something that will go off in some way or form when I'm getting close to a police car. Will the BCT-8 do it for me?

Finally, where's the best (cheapest) place to get one?

[jimbonzzz]

Does it have the highway patrol alert feature?

Yes.

Does it pick up the 800mhz band? I think this is trunking, but I'm probably miserably wrong. It picks up close to 800mhz (806), but is this ok?

Yes, this is OK.

Pretty much, I'm looking for something that will go off in some way or form when I'm getting close to a police car. Will the BCT-8 do it for me?

It can... In some states, it is almost as good as having psychic powers But in others, alerts can be few and far between. Just depends on the radio systems being used.

Finally, where's the best (cheapest) place to get one?

Hard to say, maybe ebay?

If you are interested in the BCT-8, also take a look at the RadioShack Pro-2051. VERY similar to the BCT-8, but cheaper with more features.

Jim

[happya$$]

Buy the Radio Shack Pro 2051 instead. It is basically a BCT-8m on steroids. It has more channels, sugnal stalker, etc. MUCH BETTER bang for the $$$$$

[the phil]

is it just me...or does the pro 2051 look like a rebadged bct8? Is it?

And I'm guessing that the pro 2051 will also have the state selection thing and preprogrammed-for-each-state kinda thing too?

[happya$$]

is it just me...or does the pro 2051 look like a rebadged bct8? Is it?

And I'm guessing that the pro 2051 will also have the state selection thing and preprogrammed-for-each-state kinda thing too?

It is a rebadged BCT-8. Uniden manufactures it for RS

[the phil]

So it'll have the state selection thing...and the trunking thing...and the highway patrol alert thing too?

[happya$$]

So it'll have the state selection thing...and the trunking thing...and the highway patrol alert thing too?

Yes!

[the phil]

and it's cheaper? Why would people buy the bct8 then?

[vw242]

Close call function of the BC246t seems more useful if one compares the manuals. The uniden has options that the pro does not.

Pro 2051 :


Signal Stalker works well for locating the source of strong
local transmissions, such as mobile and handheld twoway
radios in areas with no other strong transmission
sources; however, if you are in an area with many
transmission sources (such as pager radio transmitters,
multiuse radio towers, traffi c control devices, etc.),
Signal Stalker might not fi nd the transmission you are
searching for, or it might fi nd a transmission other than
the one you are searching for. You can screen unwanted
transmissions by pressing L/O to lock them out. See
“Frequency Skip” for more information.

Uniden BC246T :

Screening Out Paging Systems
�� �� Srch/CloCall Opt �� E ��
Pager Screen �� E
This setting determines whether the scanner
automatically ignores transmissions found during
searching or Close Call operation that are on common
paging system frequencies.
On The scanner skips known paging system frequencies.
Off The scanner stops on any detected transmission,
including paging systems.
Notes:
• The default setting for this feature is On.
• The frequencies include paging systems and also the
NOAA weather frequencies.

This was my problem with the pro 83. It would pick up everything and therefore nothing. The same seems to be true of the pro 2051.

[jimbonzzz]

Well #1 reason I think is the "Highway Patrol Alert" feature. Like the original poster mentioned, he could really care less about listening to what the police are saying, which pretty much also excludes the need for such things as digital receive or alpha tags. Some other points: the price is right, and it is very easy to operate for people who don't want to bother with programming in frequencies manually. Also might be great for those that do a lot of travelling to different states: just select the state.

In my opinion, if someone is interested in getting involved with a scanning/monitoring hobby, they should consider getting something else.

But if someone wants to scan primarily to avoid speed traps with the least amount of hassle, the BCT-8 or Pro-2051 are a good way to go.

Jim