119 - Looking back at the Uniden BC780XLT - a podcast by Phil Lichtenberger

from 2020-03-31T08:00

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Today we're talking about a classic, the Uniden BC780XLT.

This radio came out in 2000 and it shook up the scanner radio market.

Learn why the power that was behind it made it a go-to scanner for many people at the time and what was available for this model on the aftermarket.

What You Learn in this Week’s Podcast:

Learn what the BC780XLT could do right out of the box.
The BC780XLT was strictly analog.
You can put a Motorola trunk system in the same bank as conventional frequencies.
You can't mix two trunk systems in the same bank but you can mix conventional and trunking together.
This model allows you to search out CTCSS and DCS tones.
You can program 500 channels in 10 banks.
It works well as a weather receiver
You can program scan delays that are built-in per channel, and you can have a limit hold on each frequency.
This scanner has channel alerts.
A very cool feature is this scanner’s versatile RS232 serial port.
You have a tape-out on the back of the radio
Program searches are built-in.
You can pre-program ten search ranges and have selectable step sizes.
The display was revolutionary for the time.
There were many aftermarket software options for this model.
People took this scanner with them and actually used it as a portable radio.
Aftermarket Accessories Include:
- Protective carrying cases for portable use
- There was a way to have internal battery packs powering the scanner.
- AM and shortwave broadcasts modification
- An automatic mute with an RF sensor mod.
- Remote head kit.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session119

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Further podcasts by Phil Lichtenberger