To determine whether the information on this page applies to your scanner, see the tags at the bottom of the page.
The scanner has several different operation modes; in each mode, the scanner's operation, display, and key functions can be completely different:
Scan mode
The scanner checks each frequency in the user-programmed list of frequencies. For trunked systems, it checks each Talk Group ID in the user-programmed list. When it detects a signal, the scanner stays on the channel and opens squelch. For trunked systems, if the Talk Group ID becomes active, the scanner switches to the audio channel and opens squelch. When the signal stops, the scanner continues the scan.
For information about key operation and other specifics about Scan Mode:
To enter Scan mode, tap SCAN. (This is the default mode when the scanner powers on.)
Search mode
The scanner checks each frequency that falls within a user-programmed range. For trunked systems, it checks each control channel in the user-programmed list. When it detects a signal, the scanner stays on the channel and opens squelch. For trunked systems, when it detects an active Talk Group ID, the scanner switches to the audio channel and opens squelch. When the signal stops, the scanner continues the search.
For information about key operation and other specifics about Scan Mode:
To enter Search mode, FUNCTION+ tap SCAN . The scanner asks if you want to perform the Quick Search: tap YES if this is the search you want. To start a different search, tap NO: the scanner takes you to the Search for... menu, and you can select your search.
Hold mode
The scanner stays on the current channel and enables save and edit options (options vary depending on the type of system).
For more information about key operation and other specifics about hold mode:
To enter Hold mode, tap HOLD.
Close Call Priority mode
In Close Call Priority, the scanner interrupts its current operation every 2 seconds, searches for signals that are stronger than other signals on the selected band, then returns to the previous operation. When it detects a close call hit, the scanner can switch to the channel and open squelch (depending on the setting). In Close Call DND (do-not-disturb) mode, the scanner only interrupts if it is not already receiving audio.
For more information about key operation and other specifics about Close Call mode:
To enter Close Call mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT, FUNCTION + repeatedly tap HOLD until Close Call Pri appears.
To enter Close Call mode on the BCD996XT, repeatedly tap the SQ knob until Close Call Pri appears.
To enter Close Call mode on the BCT15X, Function + repeatedly tap the SQ knob until Close Call Pri appears.
The Close Call icon appears for Close Call Priority mode and is in reverse colors for Close Call DND mode.
Close Call Only mode
The scanner stops the current operation and only performs Close Call checks as described above.
For more information about key operation and other specifics about Close Call Only mode:
To enter Close Call only mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT, FUNCTION + press & hold HOLD.
To enter Close Call only mode on the BCD996XT, press and hold the SQ knob.
To enter Close Call only mode on the BCT15X, FUNCTION + press & hold the SQ knob.
Close Call Do Not Disturb mode
When set in this mode, the scanner will periodically make Close Call checks whenever the scanner is not receiving audio in another mode. This eliminates the annoying breaks in conversation while still allowing for the Close Call functionality. In Close Call Do Not Disturb mode, the Close Call icon appears in reversed color.
For more information about key operation and other specifics about Close Call Do Not Disturb mode:
To enter Close Call Do Not Disturb mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT, FUNCTION + repeatedly press HOLD until Close Call DND appears
To enter Close Call Do Not Disturb mode on the BCD996XT, repeatedly press the SQ knob until Close Call DND appears.
To enter Close Call Do Not Disturb mode on the BCT15X, FUNCTION + repeatedly press the SQ knob until Close Call DND appears.
Priority Scan mode
At a specified interval, the scanner interrupts its current operation, checks the user-designated conventional priority channels, then resumes the previous operation. You can set the interval for priority scan checks.
For more information about key operation and other specifics about Priority Scan mode, see
Priority Scan.
To enter Priority Scan mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT:
- Enter Hold mode.
- FUNCTION + tap NO.
To enter Priority Scan mode on the BCD996XT, press PRI.
To enter Priority Scan mode on the BCT15X, FUNCTION + press POL/PRI.
If no conventional channels in enabled and unlocked systems are designated as priority, the scanner will display
Priority Scan No Channel.
For trunked priority channels, you need to enable priority scanning in the system option menu as well as tagging the channel as priority. Trunked priority only works while scanning that system's control channel or (in the case of Motorola systems) when the scanner is scanning any channel in the system.
Priority Plus Scan mode
The scanner stops the current operation and only performs Priority Scan checks as described above.
To enter Priority Plus Scan mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT:
- Enter Hold mode.
- FUNCTION + repeatedly tap NO until the scanner displays Priority Mode Plus On.
To enter Priority Plus Scan mode on the BCD996XT, press PRI until the scanner displays Priority Mode Plus On.
To enter Priority Plus Scan mode on the BCT15X, FUNCTION + repeatedly tap POL/PRI until the scanner displays Priority Mode Plus On.
GPS mode
(Requires a connected GPS receiver.) The scanner displays longitude, latitude, and heading information.
For more information about key operation and other specifics about GPS mode:
To enter GPS mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT, FUNCTION + tap GPS.
To enter GPS mode on the BCD996XT or BCT15, tap GPS.
Weather mode
The scanner checks each of the 10 National Weather Radio channels and opens squelch when it detects a signal. When the signal stops, the scanner continues checking the other weather channels. For more information about Weather Mode, see
Weather Mode.
To enter Weather mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT, FUNCTION + press & hold WX.
To enter Weather mode on the BCD996XT, press & hold WX.
To enter Weather mode on the BCT15X, FUNCTION + press and hold GPS/WX.
Weather Priority Mode
In Weather Priority mode, the scanner interrupts scanning every 5 seconds to check for an alert. If an alert tone is present, the scanner sounds an alert tone, then stays on the weather channel so you can hear the alert. For more information about Weather Priority Mode, see
Weather Mode.
To enter Weather Priority mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT, FUNCTION + tap WX.
To enter Weather Priority mode on the BCD996XT, tap WX.
To enter Weather Priority mode on the BCT15X, FUNCTION + tap GPS/WX.
Weather Alert mode
This is similar to Weather mode: the scanner checks each of the 10 National Weather Radio channels and stays on a channel when it detects a signal. However, in Weather Alert mode, the scanner only opens squelch if it detects the EAS alert tone. For more information about Weather Alert Mode, see
Weather Mode.
To enter Weather Alert mode on the BCD396XT or BC346XT:
- Enter Weather mode.
- FUNCTION+ tap WX.
To enter Weather Alert mode on the BCD996XT:
- Enter Weather mode.
- Tap WX .
To enter Weather Alert mode on the BCT15X:
- Enter Weather mode.
- FUNCTION + tap GPS/WX.
Tone Out mode
The scanner checks up to 10 user-programmed channels for two-tone sequential, single, or group paging tones. When it detects a tone that matches the configuration for that channel, the scanner displays the tone information and opens squelch. For more information about Tone Out Mode:
To enter Tone Out mode, tap MENU , then scroll down and select Tone-Out for...
To exit Tone Out mode, enter Scan mode.
Band Scope mode
The scanner searches a frequency ranges and displays a visual representation of the signal level. For more information about Band Scope Mode:
To enter Band Scope Mode:
- Set one of the 3 search keys to a Band Scope search.
- Enter Search mode.
- FUNCTION + Tap the designated search key.