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