Channel memory does not work

No. It has no such battery inside. Its memory IC is non-volatile type, and need no back-up electric charge to retain the data, even after it is switched OFF. http://electronicshelponline.blogspot.com/

There are two possibilities:

1. channel memory is retained by an internal battery, which has died and needs to be replaced;

2. channel memory is retained in a memory chip, which for some reason is not functioning properly or has failed.

Either way you're going to need to fix something inside the set. TVs are so inexpensive today, you're better off buying a new one.

Try with the remote to direct enter the channel number (with the number buttons and or enter) If set makes it there go into menu for option to manually add it to the set memory.

Not likely a problem with your set.

Please try this,

If the scanner's display locks up or does not work properly after you connect a power source, you might need to reset or initialize it. If you have problems with the scanner, first try to reset it to retain the memory. Warning: Initializing the scanner will clear all channel memories and reverts it the state it was in right out of the box.To Initialize the scanner, turn off the scanner then turn it back on. Press 0 when the welcome screen appears. 'Please select factory tests. Exit if no key is pressed' will briefly appear. Then quickly press 1. 'Initialization clear all memory Enter to confirm Clear to exit' will briefly appear. Quickly press ENT to initialize. 'Initializing, Please stand by' then appears. Do not turn off the scanner while it is initializing. The display should then show M000 on the top line and Bank 0 CH 00 when finished.

Hope that helps!!
Happy Scanning

A simple suggestion that may work--tried to direct enter a channel like 21 enter to see if it goes there? If it does you should be able to go into menu and ADD it to the up/down memory of channels, takes time but if works better than nothing. (can also remove channels in same way---shopping and golf channels are first ones I always delete.

Try to direct enter channel three (03 enter) to get to that channel--if that works go into menu and find where to add the channel into the set memory.

Also can try in the customer menu to "Auto-program" which should restore ALL CHANNELS AVAILABLE to memory.

Channel Lockout You can lock out a channel so it is not scanned. Channel Lockout does not erase the frequency from the channel. You can lock out up to 50 channels, including the Priority channel.
Lockout information is retained in the memory when the scanner is turned off.To Lock out a Channel
Example: Suppose you want to lock out Channel 2 because it stops on transmissions you don't want to hear.Press LOCKOUT when the scanner stops on Channel 2.The scanner locks out Channel 2, Then it immediately advances to the next channel that is not locked out, and resumes scanning.In the Manual mode, press LOCKOUT to lock out the displayed channel. Pressing LOCKOUT does not advance to the next channel in Manual mode.L/O appears in the display to indicate the displayed channel is locked out.Whenever you want to search for channels that are locked out, press MANUAL repeatedly to go through all 50 channels. If a channel is locked out, L/O
appears in the display.Restore a Locked Out Channel To unlock a channel so that it can be monitored during scanning:1. Press MANUAL repeatedly to find the locked out channel.2. Press LOCKOUT again to unlock the displayed channel. L/O no longer appears in the display.Restore All Locked Out Channel To unlock all channels, you must be in the Manual Mode.1. Press MANUAL.
2. Press and hold LOCKOUT to unlock all channels. The L/O indicator goes out on any channel previously locked out.

you need to replace memory ic, that parts stored your free set channel, consult your product service provider for the availability.

Major Functions of Uniden BC 855 XLT Desktop Scanner

RANGES AND MODES:
29-54 MHz; 137-174 MHz; 406-512 MHz; and 806-956 MHz NFM; 118-136 MHz AM

MEMORIES & MEMORY SCANNING:
• The 855 receives mainly via frequencies programmed into its 50 memory channels. It does not have a VFO or dial mode as such, but can scan within two frequencies.
• To scan memory channels, press SCAN. To hold a channel, press MANUAL.
• The 50 channels are divided into 5 banks (Bank 1: Channels 1-10, Bank 2: 11-20, etc.).
• Any of the 5 banks can be turned off from scanning. To turn a bank on/off, press its number while in Scan Mode. Active banks are illuminated in the display.
• SPEED toggles between 8 & 16 channels per second in both scan & search modes.
TO ENTER A FREQUENCY IN A MEMORY CHANNEL:
• Press MANUAL.
• Press the channel number you wish to program using keypad.
• Press MANUAL again.
• Enter the desired frequency using the keypad.
• Press E (ENTER). (If you make an ERROR, press CLEAR & re-enter frequency.)
• To set 2-second delay, press DELAY. Confirmed by “DLY” in display. Same deselects.
• To lock out channel from scan, select it & press LOCK OUT. Same deselects.
PRIORITY CHANNEL: Press PRIORITY to scan Ch. 1 every 2 seconds.
TO SELECT CHANNELS MANUALLY:
• Press MANUAL.
• Press desired channel number on keypad.
• Press MANUAL. Press MANUAL repeatedly to step through channels sequentially.
TO SCAN UP/DOWN FROM A CHANNEL: Select channel manually, then press ? or ?.
TO SCAN/SEARCH A GIVEN FREQUENCY RANGE:
• Press MANUAL.
• Enter the lower frequency limit.
• Press LIMIT.
• Enter the upper frequency limit.
• Press LIMIT.
• Press SEARCH.

I couldn't locate the manual for your scanner, but it's basically the same as the BC860XLT, except that the 860 has 100 channels. Other than that, all controls and functions are the same. You can download and print the manual for the 860 here:

http://uniden.com/pdf/BC860XLTom.pdf

For a comprehensive database of active frequencies in your area, and a lot of other useful scanning info, visit:

www.RadioReference.com

BillB

If the scanner's display locks up or does not work properly after you connect a power source, you might need to reset or initialize it. If you have problems with the scanner, first try to reset it to retain the memory. Warning: Initializing the scanner will clear all channel memories and reverts it the state it was in right out of the box. To Initialize the scanner, turn off the scanner then turn it back on. Press 0 when the welcome screen appears. 'Please select factory tests. Exit if no key is pressed' will briefly appear. Then quickly press 1. 'Initialization clear all memory Enter to confirm Clear to exit' will briefly appear. Quickly press ENT to initialize. 'Initializing, Please stand by' then appears. Do not turn off the scanner while it is initializing. The display should then show M000 on the top line and Bank 0 CH 00 when finished.