Remote Scanner Control Protocols

Uniden Models BC895XLT, BC245XLT, BC780XLT, BC250D,  BC785D and BCT8

Radio Shack Models PRO2052

Just about any device programmed to communicate over an RS-232C serial port can control all the BC895, BC245, BC780, BC250, BC785 and PRO2052 radios remotely. Control is accomplished by sending a command (usually just two CAPITOL letters) followed by a carriage return. The radio will respond with OK for okay, NG for no good, or some other usually short message, which is also almost always followed by a carriage return. The command set for the radios is very similar but not identical. The most notable differences arise due to the differences in features offered by the radios. The 245 and PRO2052 do not have CTCSS while the 895 does not have an EDACS trunked mode, and the BC780XLT, BC250D, and BC785D have it all. All support Motorola I/II trunked modes. Some commands are only relevant in certain modes and will return "OK<cr>" in some circumstances and "NG<cr>" in others. An "ERR<cr>" suggests an invalid command, but may be functional in other modes.

Each command will include the following legend to indicate on which model commands are valid for. Hint for Experimenters: Any syntax returning NG indicates a VALID Command but not entered in the right mode or using the correct parameters. ERR indicates an INVALID Command.

BC895 BC245 BC780 BC250 BC785 BCT8 PRO2052

The BC895XLT's serial port connection operates at 2400, 4800, or 9600 baud (bps) with 8 data bits and no parity. The BC780XLT, PRO2052, BC245XLT, BC250D, and BC785D's serial port settings can be set to up to 19.2k baud rates. The radios' port settings can be changed from the keypad (see manual). All units default to the 9600 Baud rate upon startup from the factory. Units may then have their baud rate changed by the user as necessary and will retain the new baud rate setting from then on. So if your software does not support the default baud rate, then be sure to change it to match!

BC250 and BC785 radios are capable of cloning themselves to other BC250/785 radios interchangeably. When this operation is done, the radios are set to no PC communication, and require setting via menus, to the baud rate that you wish.

Conventions:

variable Italic letters indicate placeholders for information you supply.
[expressionlist] Items inside square brackets are optional.
Examples COMMAND
RETURN
COMMENTS
Commands sent to the device are in white.
Results from the device are in green.
Comments are in bold yellow.

B
C
8
9
5
X
L
T
B
C
2
4
5
X
L
T
B
C
7
8
0
X
L
T
B
C
2
5
0
D
B
C
7
8
5
D
 B
C
T
8
P
r
o

2
0
5
2
C
O
M
M
A
N
D
Description
               
AC
 All Clear
             
AF
 EDACS AFS/DECIMAL ID Mode
             
AL
 Auto Light
             
AP
 P-25 Card
             
AR
 Auto Recording
             
AT
 Attenuator
             
AW
 Activity ID Window
             
BA
 Beep Alert
             

BC

 Confirm Base, Space, Offset
             
BL
 Battery Life
             
BM
 Battery Monitor Reporting
             
BP
 Beep Set
             
BS
 Battery Save
             
BT
 Bit Status
             
CB
 Choose (Search) Banks
             
CC
 CTCSS Condition
             
CD
 CTCSS Detection
             
CS
 CTCSS Set
             
CT
 CTCSS Tone
             
DL
 Delay
             
DM
 Digital Modulation
             
DS
 Data Skip
             
DV
 Digital Voice
             
EA
 Emergency Alert
             
EL
 Enter Lock
             
FB
 Fleet Map Program
             
FI
 Frequency Identification Mode
             
FP
 FIPS Weather Search Code
             

HA

 Highway Alert
             

HP

 Highway Alert Signal Received
             

HW

 Highway Scan Mode
             
IC
 ID Channel
             
ID
 Trunk ID Monitor
             
IL
 ID Lockout Memory
             
IR
 ICALL
             
IS
 ID Scan lists
             
KEY
 KEY pad commands *
             
LC
 unknown
             
LCD
 LCD Commands
             
LL
 Lower Limit (Search)
             
LM
 LCD Mask
             
LO
 Lock Out
             
LT
 Light *
             
LU
 Upper Limit (Search)
             
MA
 Manual (Channel settings)
             
MD
 Mode
             
MU
 Muting
             
PC
 Priority Channel
             
PI
 Priority ID
             
PM
 Program Memory (Channel frequency)
             
PR
 Priority Scan
             
QU
 Squelch Notify
             
RF
 Radio Frequency Tune
             
RG
 EDACS ID Range Mode
             
RI
 Priority Notify
             
RM
 Receiver Modulation
             
SB
 Scan Banks
             
SG
 Signal Strength
             
SI
 System Information
             
SQ
 Squelch Status
             
SS
 Search Skip
             
ST
 Step Size
             

SV

 Service Scan Mode
             
TA
 Tag Alphas
             
TB
 Trunking Bank Mode
             
TC
 Trunking Control Channel Mode
             
TD
 Slash Data
             
TG
 Talk Group ID
             
TR
 Trunk Type
             

US

 US State
             
VR
 Version
             
VS
 unknown
             
WA
 Weather Alert