Last updated February 13, 2003
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Programming channels

1. From the File, Open menu select the file that contains your conventional frequencies. The valid file formats are dBase, Excel or Text (Comma Delimited).

2. Make sure the radio scanner is in conventional mode, not trunk tracking mode.

3. From the list boxes on the left side of the screen select the appropriate columns for each of the field. The only mandatory list box is the Frequency, all other list boxes are optional. If you are using an Excel spreadsheet, your individual workbooks will be listed above the spreadsheet.

Valid field values:

• Frequency - Any valid numeric number that can be programmed into the radio scanner as a frequency.

• Delay - A numeric value of -1 for ON and 0 for OFF, all other values will be ignored.

• Tone Data - A valid numeric tone frequency that can be programmed into the radio scanner.

• Beep Alert - A numeric value of -1 for ON and 0 for OFF, all other values will be ignored.

• Attenuator - A numeric value of -1 for ON and 0 for OFF, all other values will be ignored.

• Steps - A valid numeric value. 50, 25, 12.5, 10, 7.5 or 5

• Mode - A valid mode. AM, FM, NFM or WFM

• Alpha Tag - Any valid alpha-numeric text. Only the first 16 characters of the field are use.

• Priority - A numeric value of -1 for ON and 0 for OFF, all other values will be ignored.

• Lock Out - A numeric value of -1 for ON and 0 for OFF, all other values will be ignored.

NOTE: The software will attempt to fill in the correct columns for you using the first two characters of the column title. For example; if the title of the column starts with "FR" then the software will select this column as the default for the Frequency combo box, "DE" for Delay, "TO" for Tone, etc...

4. If you are programming a trunked system, select the appropriate trunk type from the Trunk Type list box in the Channel Program frame. If you are programming conventional radio frequencies then leave this field blank.

5. Select the Start Channel number in the Start Channel number field. The software is not bank specific, it will simply start programming from the selected channel until it either runs out of data or reaches the highest channel number.

6. Press the Program button.

Programming talk groups

Programming talk groups is similar to programming channels. When the scanner is in trunk tracking mode the Channel Program frame will be replaced with the Talkgroup Program frame and the Frequency combo list will be replaced by Talk Group combo list.

1. Select the starting scan list number and the bank where the trunked system is programmed.

2. Select the appropriate field from the Talk Group combo list and the optional Alpha Tag list.

3. Press the Program button.

Saving the Radio Scanner memory to disk

This feature was added due to popular demand. The sole purpose of Control Freq Jr is to quickly and easily program your radio scanner from easily editable files on your computer. Saving the memory of thumb-programmed radio scanners is secondary.

The File, Read Scanner menu item will prompt you for a text file name. Simply select where you want the text file created and its name. The entire contents of the radio scanner channels will be saved to a Text (Comma Delimited) file.

The only supported file format for saving your radio scanners memory is comma delimited text. If you wish to save your radio scanners memory in either Excel or dBase then you must use the import feature in your Excel or dBase program.

Hint: To import a comma delimited text file into Excel 2002 select the Data, Import External Data, Import Data from the pull down menu. When you are prompted for Delimiters (Step 2 of 3) select Comma instead of Tab.

Alpha Tags

Control Freq Jr v2.0 has a feature that allows you to quickly program both channel and bank alpha tags.

1. Enter the appropriate alpha tag (up to 16 characters for the BC250D) in the Alpha Tag field in the Alpha Tag frame.

2. Select either the channel number or bank number from the appropriate list box.

3. Press the appropriate Channel or Bank button.

My Bit bucket

My Bit Bucker is for those who wish to see what the scanner is doing as it communicated with the computer. You can send commands to the scanner by typing them in the text box to the left of the Send button. After entering your command press the Send button to send it to the scanner.

The button at the top right of the My Bit Bucket frame is a toggle that will increase the viewable area while sacrificing the viewable are of the spreadsheet.

There is currently a small "Easter Egg" (undocumented feature) in the My Bit Bucket frame .. click around to see if you can find it.

Keypad

There really isn't much to say about the keypad as it functions the same as the keypad on the radio scanner. If you press the toggle button at the bottom right of the Keypad frame the Keyboard will extend to include buttons that are not on the actual keypad.

Battery level

The BC250D has a new feature now found in previous Uniden radio scanners, a battery level indicator. While the scanner is plugged into the A/C adapter the level will be at 100% and a power plug icon will appear at the bottom of the battery level indicator. When the radio scanner is on battery power the appropriate battery level will be displayed and an icon of a battery will he shows at the bottom of the battery level display.

If you put your mouse over the power level indicator, it will give you an estimated percentage of battery life remaining.

Mode, Frequency and Signal strength

Just to the left of the Keypad are three indicators that tell you what mode the radio scanner is in, what the current or last frequency the radio scanner was on and the radio signal strength level.

Service, Scan and System menus

The three menu items on the menu bar should look familiar as they are simply the same menus you find by navigating through your radio scanner. By duplicating them within the software it's hoped that this will make it easier to modify these settings without the use of ones thumbs.