[MilCom] New Scanner

[Declared Hostile]

Larry Van Horn wrote:
>> BTW as I understand Uniden specifically left those radios wide open as 
>> far as intermod goes to allow for image reception as a way to get 
>> around the cellular ban.
> 
> Absolutely not true my friend. It was an engineering issue that they 
> quote "tried to fix in the 3000/9000 scanners after they pulled the 
> 2500/8500 scanner following the horrible reviews." They still didn't fix 
> the issues in the 3000/9000 models even thought they said they did. A 
> great comparable set of triple conversion scanners of that era were the 
> RS (GRE) Pro-2004/5/6 desk/mobiles and Pro-43 HH which didn't need traps 
> to block the cell images from 800 MHz. I still own all four, they are 
> still working fine and doing the job.
> 
> Sorry DH, I won't own  a 2500/8500/3000/9000 today even if you gave to 
> me. IMHO a total waste of energy to power compared to other triple 
> conversions of that day.
> 
> 73 de LVH

Here is an excerpt from an article about the BC-9000 I came across years 
ago.  Info from Dave Rodriguez (Uniden Corp) & Jeff Zeman:

"The Uniden Sales Dept specifically requested that cellular images be
  included in the BC9000XLT (since it's legal to do that). The front
  end was left wide open to allow this in the 360-385MHz range."

The full article:

Uniden Bearcat BC9000XLT Tricks
      * Info from Dave Rodriguez (Uniden Corp) & Jeff Zeman
        (73252,3645).
        Additional info from Bob Parnass (Monitoring Times)
        File written by SYSOP*Jeff Goldman WA1UDB.
  By holding down the 2, 9 & DLY keys as you turn the 9000XLT on, you
  enter a sort of Test Mode. To do a "keycheck test" you can hit any
  key or turn the VFO knob either direction and the alpha display will
  tell you what key you're touching or which direction you're turning
  the VFO knob.
  At this point, if you momentarily hit LOCK (to the right of the VFO
  knob) and one other button various things will happen:
     LOCK & C - REPLACES ALL MEMORIES w/1300MHz and alpha-tags channels
                1-250 with CH 00-249 in the display. Again, will
                effectively wipe out your memories!
     LOCK & D - Checksum and Firmware Version Number (v.09 in ALL 9000s
                to date)
     LOCK & E - LCD Display Test
  LOCK & PROG - Runs a short, continously-repeating Demo Program
                incorporated specifically for showing at the Jan 1995
                CES in Las Vegas.
                It also sounds attention tones as the message scrolls
                on the display! (Note that the word "scanner" is
                spelled "Scaner" in the demo program; it was too late
                to change this booboo that originated in Japan.)
  The last three tricks will NOT wipe out memory. Only LOCK/C will do
  that.
                           *Additional notes*
  There are more tricks, but they're currently being translated from
  Japanese. One of these has something to do with using the CTCSS
  button to change "Decord" from High to Low. No info yet on this.
  The Uniden Sales Dept specifically requested that cellular images be
  included in the BC9000XLT (since it's legal to do that). The front
  end was left wide open to allow this in the 360-385MHz range.
  No reason available on why the FM filtering is narrower (ie less
  HiFi) than on the BC8500XLT. It was done in Japan without
  explanation.
  The audio amp doesn't shut off as in the BC8500XLT during quiet
  periods. There was an improvement in the circuit, but this means a
  bit of hiss when no transmissions are coming through.
  All BC9000XLTs (whether built in 1994 - serial numbers 45+ - or in
  1995 - serial numbers 55+) have firmware version 0.09. And all have
  AM mode available on any frequency the scanner is capable of.
  The BC9000XLT is capable of having an alpha tag attached to any
  channel, but 250 tags is the limit. (This was verified by doing the
  LOCK/C trick. The scanner loads 250 tags and shows a memory full
  warning if you try to enter additional tags.)
               *A tip from Bob Parnass (Monitoring Times)*
  You can use the SND button during a Search as a sort of Radio Shack-
  type MON button, transferring a freq to any bank you'd like to become
  your "Monitor" bank. With RS scanners, you have to go through extra
  steps to transfer the memories from Monitor channels to permanent
  channels.