The Uniden Bearcat BC246T is one of our all-time favorite scanners. The radio is very reasonably priced and while it cannot decode digital, that's just about its only limitation. Of course a digital scanner will run more than twice the money. This is a great scanner that we cannot recommend highly enough.
Product Features
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Compact Size (4 ½ x 2½ x 1½)
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TrunkTracker III Technology (Motorola, EDACS, and LTR Analog Trunking)
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Comprehensive Analog Trunking including I-calls, Emergency Alert, Trunk Search and ID Blockout
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Up to 3300 Channels, Dynamically Allocated
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System, Channel Group and Channel Alpha Tagging
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25-54, 108-174, 216-225, 400-512, 806-956, 1240-1300 MHz Coverage
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Close Call RF Capture Technology
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SAME Weather Alert
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10 Programmable Search Ranges
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12 Preprogrammed Service Searches
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Backlit Display
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CTCSS/DCS Rapid Decode
The Uniden Bearcat 246T is one of our all-time favorite scanners. The radio is very reasonably priced and while it cannot decode digital, that's just about its only limitation. Of course a digital scanner will run more than twice the money. This is a great scanner that we cannot recommend highly enough.
Included in the Box
- BC246T Scanner
- Rubber Duck Antenna
- 2 AA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
- AD-008 AC Adapter
- PC Cable
- Wrist Strap
- Belt Clip
- Owner's Manual
Online Resources
Comparable Scanners
So why exactly do we love the 246?
1. DESIGN: It has a handsome look, a good feel in your hand, and it's so small it fits easily in your shirt or pants pocket. A great design.
2. CONTROLS: It is the only Uniden portable scanner with three top-mounted controls for volume, squelch, and tuning and scrolling through frequencies, channels, talkgroups and menus. All other Uniden scanners have only one multi-function control or two control (volume and squelch) and no tuning knob.
3. DISPLAY: Despite its small size the scanner has an excellent display capable of showing two lines by 16 characters of text for labeling Systems, Groups and Channels with text such as:
Police Patrol
East Side Tac
4. CLOSE CALL: This fantastic feature allows you to instantly determine the frequency and sub-audible tone of just about any line-of-sight (non-digital) two-way radio. At a mall, an amusement park or ball game, or perhaps driving by an accident scene? With Close Call you don't need to know the frequencies being used. Just activate Close Call and almost instantly you'll be listening in on the action.
5. BATTERIES: The 246 runs for 8+ hours on just two regular AA batteries! The radio even comes with re-chargeable AA's. Just re-charge them in the radio with the supplied AC adapter/charger.
6. RECEIVER: The scanner has an excellent all-around receiver design that not only brings in signal but also is not wiped out by intermod or interference - a serious problem with older models.
7. TRUNKING: This is the only scanner of this design that includes trunking and it's a TrunkTracker III model incorporating Motorola, EDACS � and LTR trunking.
8. MEMORY: With Uniden's new Dynamic Memory Management you have tremendous new flexibility in setting up Systems (similar to banks) and Groups (a sub-set of systems). The scanner also has a huge amount of memory for programming just about anything you want. While the new memory structure takes some getting used to, it's very powerful and worth the time to learn about it. With Quick Key operation, you can easily turn Systems on and off at your leisure.
9. SUB-AUDIBLE TONES: With the 246 you can program frequencies with CTCSS or DCS (PL or DPL) sub-audible tones for limiting interference and zoning in on the agency of your listening choice. You can also search for tones. This is a feature that novice scanner users can ignore and grow into with a better understanding of its usefulness.
10. PC INTERFACE: The scanner has a serial port on its side for connecting to a PC and with our incredible Butel ARC software you can both program and control the scanner from your PC. You can also interface with radioreference.com and download frequencies basically right into your scanner.
These are just the Top 10 reasons why we love this scanner. This list could go on for some length. But suffice it to say that once you have this scanner programmed (or if you decide to have Scanner Master program it for you) and you've mastered the Quick Key operation for turning Systems off and on (something that's very easy to learn), you'll begin to really appreciate this scanner too as one of the all-time greats, both for novices and experienced scanner users alike.
Build your own package!
Starting with the BC246T Scanner, choose HomeTown Programming or any of the other additional options you want to add to your package and see the savings add up! FREE 6th Edition Police Call CD also optional. Note: Programming is an option which must be selected above if you wish to add it to your order. Click on the question mark next to the option to see more details on each product.
Recommended Bearcat BC246T Packages
Novice Users/Gift Orders: We recommend that first time scanner users and those buying a scanner as a gift should purchase the scanner with the HomeTown Programming option. This way the scanner will be ready to use right out of the box. If you're very technically inclinced and particularly if you're willing to purchase our optional scanner software, you could go without the Hometown option and program the radio itself. Finally, even if you purchase the Hometown Programming option, it's not a bad idea to also buy programming software so that you'll be easily able to back-up our programming, modify it and add to it.
Other useful options include a case for protecting the scanner against scratches and drops and a mobile power cord (which includes a special voltage regulator circuit) for charging and using the scanner in a car. Also appropriate for a car is a mobile antenna and mount which will significantly increase reception distance. For improving reception quality and range in the house, an indoor wire antenna (or an outdoor antenna) is recommended.
BC246T Packages Recommend by our Scanner Experts
(For non-digital areas only)
Package 1 (Programmed, no software)
Bearcat 246T Scanner
Hometown Programming
Carrying Case
Mobile Power Cord
Package 2 (Programmed, with software)
Bearcat 246T Scanner
Hometown Progamming
ARC 246T Software
USB Cable
Carrying Case
Mobile Power Cord
Package 3 (Software, no programming)
Bearcat 246T Scanner
ARC 246T Software
USB Cable
Carrying Case
Mobile Power Cord
