Firmware · 2008-12-11
Uniden BC246T firmware 2.60.00
Recommended version Verified — manufacturer file
Download zip (203 KB) Manufacturer's page ↗
The final BC246T firmware. It adds support for rebanded Motorola 800 MHz systems (an 800MHz Custom band plan) and Close Call Do-Not-Disturb, and includes every earlier update.
Read before installing. Uniden's current page installs 2.60.00 through BC_VUP 3.03.00, which fetches the firmware itself; this .scn file is the one Uniden attached for use with BC_VUP 2.0.0.7. The .scn payload is encoded; the version is established by the filename and Uniden's page. BC246T only.
Contents
| File | Size | SHA-256 |
|---|---|---|
| BC246T_V2_60_00.zip | 199 KB | fcabfeb633a601e248720ca16c4c2c60e760f61f3434a182739b8ecd97406b67 |
| README.txt | These instructions | |
| SHA256SUMS | Checksums of the files above | |
Instructions
The complete README.txt included in the zip:
Uniden BC246T firmware 2.60.00
==============================
WHAT THIS IS
------------
Uniden firmware version 2.60.00 for the BC246T handheld trunking scanner, the
final release, attached to Uniden's BC246T firmware page on 2008-12-11 (the
attachment date in Uniden's table; the file inside is dated 2008-11-07). The
zip holds one file, BC-246T_V2_60.scn.
What changed: support for rebanded Motorola systems (an "800MHz Custom"
Motorola system type with an editable band plan) and a new Close Call
Do-Not-Disturb mode. Uniden: "This update is cumulative...it incorporates all
improvements made in all previous updates." The previous public versions were
2.10.00 ("Updates firmware to use a common updater", reduced pop noise on
first unmute, better Close Call resume) and 2.05.01 (faster trunked scanning,
UHF TV screen, multiple CTCSS/DCS auto-store and many fixes); neither of those
files survives.
For rebanded 800 MHz systems Uniden gives these band-plan values: plan 1 lower
base 851.0250 MHz, upper base 854.0000 MHz, offset 440, spacing 25 kHz; plan 2
lower base 851.0125 MHz, upper base 868.9875 MHz, offset 0, spacing 25 kHz
(Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan). Close Call DND is selected by pressing
F+HOLD repeatedly until the display shows Close Call DND.
APPLIES TO
----------
Uniden BC246T (Bearcat BC246T) only. Do not load it into any other scanner.
BEFORE STARTING
---------------
- A Windows PC and either BC_VUP 3.03.00 (Uniden's current instructions; it
downloads the firmware itself, so this file is not needed) or BC_VUP
2.0.0.7 with this .scn file (the updater Uniden attached to the page when
2.60.00 was released). Both updaters are in this archive.
- A serial connection. The BC246T owner's manual describes the included
connection cable plugging into the Remote jack on the right side of the
scanner and ending in a DB9 serial connector. A PC without a serial port
needs a USB-to-RS232 adapter; Uniden sells the USB-1 for this and supports
only it.
- The AC adapter: the procedure powers the scanner from it with the
batteries out.
- A backup of the scanner's programming. Uniden: "it is possible that
applying a firmware update could affect some of your scanner's programmed
settings or systems." Uniden's backup steps use UASD (Scanner View > Setup
> Options to set the COM port and a baud rate matching the scanner's Xfer
Information > PC Control setting, then Connect to Scanner, then Save);
FreeSCAN can also read and save the scanner.
- Close UASD and any other program using the COM port.
- Uniden: "Since this update does not change the major version number, you
do not need a registration code to apply this update."
CONTENTS OF THIS ZIP
--------------------
The zip published on fubsypoly.com wraps the vendor file(s) byte-for-byte,
unmodified.
BC246T_V2_60_00.zip
204,024 bytes
SHA-256 fcabfeb633a601e248720ca16c4c2c60e760f61f3434a182739b8ecd97406b67
The vendor zip contains:
BC-246T_V2_60.scn (628,178 bytes, dated 2008-11-07)
README.txt
This file.
SHA256SUMS
SHA-256 checksums of the files above.
INSTALLATION
------------
With BC_VUP 3.03.00 (Uniden's current instructions): install BC_VUP 3.03.00,
run BC_VUP3 and follow the on-screen instructions, selecting BC246T. See the
BC_VUP 3.03.00 README for the step-by-step.
With BC_VUP 2.0.0.7 and this file. Uniden's 2009 page linked this zip and
BC_VUP_v2.0.0.7.zip; the step list below is the procedure Uniden published for
BC_VUP 2.0.0.7 with a .scn file on its BCD396XT page in 2009, applied to this
file. The BC246T page itself gave only the troubleshooting steps, so treat the
ordering as confirmed for BC_VUP 2 generally, not verbatim for the BC246T:
1. Unzip BC246T_V2_60_00.zip; it contains BC-246T_V2_60.scn.
2. Unzip BC_VUP_v2.0.0.7.zip and run BC_VUP_v2.0.0.7.exe to install the
updater (delete any old BC_VUP install files in the "BCSS" directory
first).
3. Run BC_VUP, follow the on-screen instructions, and when prompted select
BC-246T_V2_60.scn.
4. When prompted, turn off the scanner, remove the batteries, and hold down
both L/O and 6 while plugging in the AC adapter. Uniden: "The orange
backlight should come on and remain on until the end of the update."
5. Leave the cable and power alone until the update finishes.
VERIFYING
---------
The BC246T owner's manual documents MENU > See Scanner Info > Firmware
Version. After this update it should show version 2.60.00 (the exact display
format was not confirmed).
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
-----------------------
- If an error occurs, repeat all steps, including removing power, holding
L/O and 6, and plugging in AC power, even if the backlight is already on.
- Almost all update errors come from choosing the wrong COM port or from
another program holding the port (UASD, scanner-control software, PDA sync
software).
- Third-party USB-serial adapters may not work or may need newer drivers;
Uniden supports only the USB-1.
- After the update, UASD can still be used, but Uniden notes the new 2.60.00
settings are available only by direct entry at the scanner.
DOWNGRADING
-----------
Not documented by Uniden, and no earlier BC246T firmware file survives to
downgrade to (1.42, 2.05.01 and 2.10.00 were searched for and not found).
PROVENANCE
----------
File: BC246T_V2_60_00.zip
Source: https://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/UnidenMan4/BC246TFirmwareUpdate/BC246T_V2_60_00.zip
Wayback: https://web.archive.org/web/20210506103903/http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/UnidenMan4/BC246TFirmwareUpdate/BC246T_V2_60_00.zip
Retrieved: 2026-09-18
Vendor page: https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BC246TFirmwareUpdate
Status: verified
Downloaded from the live attachment on Uniden's BC246T firmware page. Status
verified: the vendor's own URL.
MORE INFORMATION
----------------
- BC246T Programming: https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/uniden-bc246t/vol-3/
- Uniden BC246T firmware page:
https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BC246TFirmwareUpdate
- BC246T owner's manual (Reference Library):
https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/library/bc246t-owners-manual/
- BC246T remote-command protocol v2.60 (PDF, on Uniden's firmware page).