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Thread: New BearTracker 885...

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    New BearTracker 885...

    Hello everyone! I’m new to CB radio. I started by getting a handheld Midland 75-822, and thought it was cool as heck. Shortly after, I decided I had to get a dedicated unit for my truck. After about a hundred YT videos, and still not knowing a lot about CB radio I bought and installed a Uniden BearTracker 885. So far I’m pleased with it, except for one thing. I could do with a better antenna set up too; but that’s a different story altogether...

    So I read and reread the manual till I became familiar with the features and operation. The Scanner part, seems to work just as Uniden claims. A stripped down scanner, by comparison to a dedicated unit, I know... But still, it does what they said. Here’s my newbie problem...

    I cannot for the life of me, figure out how to get the unit to scan the CB stations. Being that the unit is a CB/Scanner hybrid, I assumed that surely this feature is present in this CB radio. So I reread the manual. Again, and again... Still seeing no mention of how to get the unit to do this. My Midland handheld scans, stops for a second when it hears traffic, and gives me the chance to PTT, and join the conversation. So I can’t imagine that this higher dollar dedicated unit doesn’t have a similar feature. I have to be missing something. Don’t I..? The manual doesn’t help. Can’t find any videos, or threads on this particular feature; and random button, knob, combo pressing, and spinning has yielded nothing...

    Any ideas?

  2. #2
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    From what I read at the Uniden site is the Scanner is FM only.

    https://uniden.com/collections/cb-ra...igital-scanner
    Last edited by whiteastro; 06-04-2021 at 05:10 AM.

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    Shindig (06-04-2021)

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    So... It’s as I suspected. It can’t scan the CB frequencies... Seems like an oversight for a hybrid scanner/CB... Not necessarily the answer I was hoping to hear; but much appreciated none the less. I was really hoping I was having a big dummy moment...

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    whiteastro (06-04-2021)

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    That isn't the only oversight on their part. I might have been interested if the CB had Side-band also.

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    Yeah, you live you learn I guess. Still it’s what I’ve got, and for now it gets me started in the hobby. Now if I can learn to understand the relationship between the squelch, and the RF gain dial...

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    whiteastro (06-06-2021)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shindig View Post
    Yeah, you live you learn I guess. Still it’s what I’ve got, and for now it gets me started in the hobby. Now if I can learn to understand the relationship between the squelch, and the RF gain dial...

    Someone posted a article about that relationship and I thought I bookmarked it but I can't find it so I might have removed it from my bookmarks. As far as I know RF gain controls the strength of the receive signal your radio will allow, and squelch control the noise thresh-hold your CB will allow to break thru. But I could be wrong !

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    Shindig (06-06-2021)

  11. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shindig View Post
    Hello everyone! I’m new to CB radio. I started by getting a handheld Midland 75-822, and thought it was cool as heck. Shortly after, I decided I had to get a dedicated unit for my truck. After about a hundred YT videos, and still not knowing a lot about CB radio I bought and installed a Uniden BearTracker 885. So far I’m pleased with it, except for one thing. I could do with a better antenna set up too; but that’s a different story altogether...

    So I read and reread the manual till I became familiar with the features and operation. The Scanner part, seems to work just as Uniden claims. A stripped down scanner, by comparison to a dedicated unit, I know... But still, it does what they said. Here’s my newbie problem...

    I cannot for the life of me, figure out how to get the unit to scan the CB stations. Being that the unit is a CB/Scanner hybrid, I assumed that surely this feature is present in this CB radio. So I reread the manual. Again, and again... Still seeing no mention of how to get the unit to do this. My Midland handheld scans, stops for a second when it hears traffic, and gives me the chance to PTT, and join the conversation. So I can’t imagine that this higher dollar dedicated unit doesn’t have a similar feature. I have to be missing something. Don’t I..? The manual doesn’t help. Can’t find any videos, or threads on this particular feature; and random button, knob, combo pressing, and spinning has yielded nothing...

    Any ideas?
    Do yourself a favor and get a Cobra HATA Extendable antenna for your Midland 75-822 like I did for mine. It will extend your range considerably. I got a radio check from About 15 miles with it on channel 19 but I was high on a mountain. I bought 2 antennas from Walcott Radio so I would have a spare, at a fair price compared to other places. You can also get rechargeable NMHD batteries at 2600 MAH in a set for your radio which should last longer. Them rubber ducky antennas are a bad joke.

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    When I bought the handheld, I also bought a 30” mag mount, and this 4’ foldable one ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07VF...b_b_asin_title ) I have been using the mag mount on my porch with fairly good results. I’m contemplating a 108” whip. I just started a thread on it. I’m gonna look into your antenna, and battery suggestions though. The rechargeables I have now don’t last to long if I get chatty...
    Last edited by Shindig; 06-07-2021 at 09:38 AM.

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    whiteastro (06-07-2021)

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    The antenna from amazon looks interesting for short emergency use, but might get unruly for long casual use.

  15. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by whiteastro View Post
    The antenna from amazon looks interesting for short emergency use, but might get unruly for long casual use.
    Agreed. I keep it in my “Get Home Bag” that I keep in the work truck. Not really meant for day, to day, but... If I gotta take the shoe leather express home... It’s an option...
    Last edited by Shindig; 06-07-2021 at 06:31 PM.

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    whiteastro (06-07-2021)

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