BC245xlt Handheld Scanner Review
By Brian Shoop
The Basics:
Channels 300
Banks 10
Coverage 29-54 108-174 216-512 806-956 minus cell
Scan 100 Channels/Second
Conversion Triple
Priority Channels 10
Search Skip
Delay Programmable 2 Second
Lock-Out Per Channel
Weather Pre-Programmed with Weather Alert

Picture to come...


Construction:
The BC245XLT is constructed with a plastic case and rubbery plastic buttons. The radio has a professional feel and look to it but is the same style as the BC235XLT and BC230XLT radio's. When you first turn on this radio, it flashes bc245 a couple times and then starts scanning away. It has a light switch that you can press to turn the light on (for 5 seconds) or off.  You can also hold the light button down until you here 2 short beeps and this will enable the light to come on when ever there is a broadcast.  Sometimes this works but it doesn't light when you want it too. The manual is easy to understand with step by step instructions on how to program and use the radio for all it has to offer but Uniden did a poor job because there are several errors in the manual that should have been fixed before releasing the radio.  

Performance:
The radio is easy to program (the trunked part can get tricky) and easy to use. The sound is ok but when you want to turn it up alittle like in the car, the sound is lacking some. I set it up next to my BC895XLT to see how it does on interference rejection and reception.  Using the stock antenna that comes with the BC245, the reception was poor compared with the BC895.  After playing with the radio some I discovered that the antenna is the problem.  I would recommend that if you wanted to get all you can out of the BC245 to invest in a new antenna. I found the cell phone antenna from Radio Shack model # 17-317 made a big improvement in the 800 mhz trunked systems.

My 2 cents:
If you over look the problems with the manual, the quality of the antenna, and the sound when you want to turn it up, then the radio is a winner.  It does have allot to offer from trunk tracking Motorola systems to GE/Ericsson systems.  You can trunk multiple systems at the same time while scanning conventional systems.  There is a 5 second delay that it waits on with each trunked system before going to the next bank that I could care less about but the radio does a fine job... The BC245 also has service search bands that include police, marine, fire, railroad, and air.  It can be hooked up to a PC using its remote jack and the cable that comes with the radio.  Software is sold separately by independent companies.  I give this radio an 8 out of 10...The radio new cost a tad over 200 bucks which I feel is a fair price for a hand held scanner that can do so much.
Back to Brian's review Page