Uniden SC230 Scanner featuring Pre-Programmed NASCAR / Busch Frequencies

by Uniden

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 3 x 6 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002RJ0T8
• Item model number: sc230
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,803 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #19 in Electronics > Security & Surveillance > Radio Scanners
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 4, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

SC230 Racing Scanner with 2500 Dynamic Channels and Race Track Operation.

Features

• 1600 Channels Typical / 2500 Maximum
• Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory - Makes It Easier to Program and Use Your Scanner Without Wasting Channels.
• Compact Design - The Uniden SC230 is designed to be compact for added flexibility and portability.
• Race Track Operation - Easily program and select the race and drivers you want to listen to
• Close Call RF Capture Technology - Instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters
• Alpha Tagging - Makes it easy to identify the driver talking
• Preprogrammed with Major Racing Frequencies - You'll be ready to listen when they're ready to roll
• Quick Key System Access - Quickly select the systems or race you want to hear by pressing the 0-9 keys
• Frequency Coverage - 25-54, 108-174, 216-225, 400-512, 806-956, 1240-1300 MHz (Excluding Cellular)
• DCS/CTCSS Rapid Decode - Instantly Detects and Displays the Subaudible Tone So You Can Quickly Determine the System Settings.
• S.A.M.E. Weather Alert - Specific Area Message Encoding - During a NOAA Weather or Emergency Alert, a code for your specific location will alert you to severe conditions in your immediate area.
• 10 Programmable Search Ranges - Helps you find unlisted frequencies in use in your area
• 11 Preprogrammed Service Searches - Public Safety, Railroad (by channel), Air, Marine (by channel), CB (by channel), GMRS/FRS (by channel), Weather, News Media, Ham Radio and Special
• Search and Store Operation - Automatically stores found frequencies in the system
• Backlit Display - Easy night time operation with Uniden's Patented Backlight-On-Squelch feature that illuminates only when there is channel activity
• 2 AA Battery Operation - Provides flexibility in choice of batteries: Alkaline for long life, rechargeable for economy (batteries can be charged while in the scanner)
• PC Interface - Both programming and remote control of your scanner features from a PC
• On-Air Programming - (separate transmitter required) Makes programming multiple units a snap - just transmit the driver information using a PC and transceiver, and all scanners update at once
• Priority Scan - Frequently scans the channels you have designated as priority channels
• Attenuator - Cuts down on interference from strong, nearby signal sources
• Delay - Helps prevent missed replies during 2-way conversations

Product Description

The Uniden(r) SC-230 handheld racing scanner has a compact design for added flexibility and portability. The race track operation feature allows you to easily program and select the race and drivers you want to listen to. The scanner can pre-program major racing frequencies, and the quick key system access allows you to quickly select the race you want to hear by pressing 0-9 keys. You can even get weather alerts in case of emergency.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BIG bang for the bucks, February 9, 2005

By 

sgeise "sgeise" (South West Fl United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Uniden SC230 Scanner featuring Pre-Programmed NASCAR / Busch Frequencies (Electronics)

A little about me first. I don't have the equipment to analyze the scanner inside and out. I also live in an area with LOTs of radio traffic. Keep that in mind if you want an engineering review, or live in the sticks.

This radio is geared for the Nascar fan. If that's your sole interest in this scanner, then by all means buy it. It is pre-programmed with all the drivers in all the major Nascar events. Since the scanner has "Alpha tagging" you see the name of the drivers. The officials are also tagged along with the scorers and news-media. It also has a built in search of the frequencies the drivers use, so you can easily pick up new cars, or find drivers that made changes. It comes with two antennas, a typical "rubber duck" antenna, and a stubby rubber duck. Either antenna will work fine at the track. The radio is very small, and with the stubby antenna, you should have no problem keeping it on your hip or in a pocket.

This scanner is jam packed with features for a great price. I'm not a Nascar fan, and the scanner suits me fine. The pre-programmed searches are a God send. You can also program your own custom searches and save them. The pre-programmed searches can only be scanned one at a time, but all 10 custom searches can be scanned in any combination. Searches can be run just to scan, or "search and store" With search and store, any received chanell is checked against memory. If it is new, it will automatically store into a system you chose ahead of time, or a defualt one for you to look through later. Alpha tagging is great. You have the ability to enter a name for each chanell. Since this scanner has so much memory, it's a God send. The scanner memory is organised more like a computer, than the traditional 10 banks of 20 chanells memory. It's lengthy to explain, but it's very easy to learn and is a much more convienient way to use the scanner.

Some of the programming features are a tad bit arcane. Where some scanners alow chanells to be moved in and out of memory space with a couple of easy key presses, this one can get odd. Sometimes a chanell has to be copied into the scanners buffer, then you have to navigate around the menu to find the place you want to paste it.

There are so many features and in and outs of the radio I could go on all night. But here are the important things (in my opinion) it's jam packed with great features, at a good price. It's perfect for Nascar, just pick it up and go. The numerous searches make it great for finding new chanells. The memory is organised efficiently and intelligently. The little speaker provides good volume and sound quality. Much better than any of my older scanners. Headphone jack has enough poop to drive my headphones nicely. They even give you rechargable batteries with it.

For those just getting interested in the hobby..... Bear in mind that many Police/Fire agencies are going digital, or trunked. This scanner will not receive digital at all. It scans very fast, but it is not ideally suited for newer trunking systems either. You need to find out ahead of time what your local agencies use. The quickest way is to stop in a Radio Shack store in your town and ask. While the "price is right" for this radio, you may be disappointed if you don't check ahead of time. My local agencies are digital. I live on the Gulf of Mexico, near several airports. I listen to the air traffic, and also the marine traffic out in the Gulf.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Buy, January 29, 2007

By 

A. Rojas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Uniden SC230 Scanner featuring Pre-Programmed NASCAR / Busch Frequencies (Electronics)

I bought this as a gift for my husband and he loved it. He doessn't care for Nascar so he deleted those preset channels. He has enjoyed listening in to police, airplanes, you name it. It's small, very portable and lightweight. The only thing I was disappointed in was the computer connector. It uses an older connection instead of a USB port so we can only plug it into our older laptop and not our new Dell Desktop.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best NASCAR scanner., September 28, 2009

By 

DK (VTA, Calif.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Uniden SC230 Scanner featuring Pre-Programmed NASCAR / Busch Frequencies (Electronics)

For all those race fans out there that want to purchase their own race scanner rather than rent one at the track, this one is the best. I've seen and used all the scanners at a NASCAR race. This one has the most memory and will show the name of the driver that you're listening to(Alpha tagging). It doesn't matter that the frequencies that come with this scanner are outdated. When you go to a race, you will only spend $5.00 to have R.E. download the current frequencies in the scanner and it only takes about 2 minutes.