Uniden BC898T manual What is Trunk Tracking?, Simplex Operation, Repeater Operation

•Aircraft

•Amateur radio

•FRS/GMRS users

•Broadcast AM/FM/TV stations

•Many business radio users

When you want to store a conventional system, all you need to know is the frequencies they operate on. When you are scanning a conventional system, the scanner stops very briefly on each channel to see if there is activity. If there isn’t, the scanner quickly moves to the next channel. If there is, then the scanner pauses on the transmission until it is over.

Simplex Operation

Simplex systems use a single frequency for both transmit and receive. Most radios using this type of operation are limited to line-of-sight operation. This type of radio is frequently used at construction job sites, and with inexpensive consumer radios such as GMRS/FRS radios. The range is typically 1-8 miles, depending upon the terrain and many other factors.

Repeater Operation

Repeater systems use two frequencies: one transmits from the radio to a central repeater; the other transmits from the repeater to other radios in the system. With a repeater-based system, the repeater is located on top of a tall building or on a radio tower that provides great visibility to the area of operation. When a user transmits (on an input frequency), the signal is picked up by the repeater and retransmitted (on an output frequency). The user’s radios always listen for activity on the output frequency and transmit on the input frequency. Since the repeater is located very high, there is a very large line of sight. Typical repeater systems provide coverage out to about a 25-mile radius from the repeater location.

What is Trunk Tracking?

Your BC898T is designed to track the following types of trunking systems.

•Motorola Type I, Type II, Type IIi, hybrid, SMARTNET, and PRIVACYPLUS analog trunking systems, which are extensively used in 800 MHz communication systems.

•LTR trunking systems

•EDACS trunking systems

When tracking these types of systems, you might want to remember these important points:

•Your scanner defaults to monitor Type II systems; however, you can change this if the system in your area is different. (The types of systems are discussed below.)

•Your scanner can track more than one trunking system at a time and scan conventional and trunked systems at the same time.

9