Kricka

The BearTracker (BCT) series from Uniden goes one step further. This unit listens for extender signals from police cars, and gives you an audible and visual alert when it detects a signal within three miles of you. In layman's terms, most State Police units, and some local units, use extenders to extend the transmit range of their radios, and these unique signals can be detected whenever the officer uses their radio, or whenever their headquarters transmits (HQ transmissions activate the extenders in all of the units that receive the transmission). While a BCT will not detect a police car while no one is transmitting, there is usually enough radio traffic going on to keep the BCT active. Another nice thing about these units are that they are pre-programmed for all 50 states, so all you have to do is dial in a state and all the police frequencies are already loaded for you.

There are four types of BCTs. The BCT-2 is full-sized (about the same as a CB radio), does not receive 800mHz signals, and cannot be programmed with additional frequencies (fire, ambulance, etc.) These are getting pretty scarce, and should cost about $45. The BCT-7 is the next generation, full-sized, unit and covers the 800 mHz spectrum and does allow for additional freqs to be entered. Look to pay about $145 for a reconditioned unit and about $225 for a new one.

The BCT-10 and BCT-12 units are the size of a radar detector, and can be mounted on your dash or windshield just like a detector. The main difference between the two is that the BCT-12 will pick up 800 mHz signals while the BCT-10 won't. Look to pay about $100 for a reconditioned unit and about $225 for a new one.

So do these work? They sure do and I swear by my BCT-2 and BCT-7. They offer much better detection ranges than any radar detector, they also provide you with vital road condition and weather alert information, and they are legal in every state and Washington, D.C.

Zoltan (icecreaman)

unless you street race and wanna say "we got a 187 cops are all over it were good to go", or "streets closed pizza boy find another way home!" jammers are also worthless, just because no number came back doesn't mean a cop can't write yo a speeding ticket

Barney Fife

<ul><li><a href="http://www.radartest.com/">http://www.radartest.com/</a</li></ul>

ImolaAvant_GA

It works great as long as I don't have my climate control set to Auto. Apparently the AC compressor emits RF noise that causes major interference on a lot of channels.

I love it otherwise.

Kricka

it simply lets you know if a highway patrol car uses its radio within a 3 mile range. This seems useful to me?

ImolaAvant_GA

Mine dosen't go off as often as I thought it would, even passing cops out of their cars - a time that the repeater should definaly be enabled.

But it has alerted me. More helpful, is hearing conversations that let me know where they are.

One other problem with this unit is the LCD is super bright and green. I haven't figured out where to mount it so it won't be distracting or an eye sore

Zoltan (icecreaman)

you don't get it!

Kricka

on longer drives on lonely interstate? My concern is hidden police using instant on and a way to find them before they find me.

ImolaAvant_GA

outside of that, You find out about accidents before most everyone else on the road. It also picks up weatherband, so you don't have to wait through 30 minutes of crappy music and 15 minutes of commercials on the FM dial to get a weather report.

I think it's worth it.

ImolaAvant_GA

the range of radios the police use is not that great, so if you hear conversations you know there is activity near by.

But if a cop is sitting behind a billboard reading his Playboy, chances are he's not using his radio. The repeater alert only works when a broadcast is sent or received via the repeater so even if he's out of his car and the repeater is on, you won't be alerted unelss there is conversation.

I've picked up two police calls about "cars racing" since I've had it. Now, if I were one of those cars, you could clearly see how the scanner could have saved my ***.