BCD-396T for Triangle Area?

[rargos]

Greetings all,

I've decided to take the plunge and get an APCO-25 compatible scanner and I was considering the Uniden BCD-396T for Triangle area scanning. Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, pointers, etc. regarding using this particular scanner in the Triangle area?

Thanks in advance,

Raphael

[jeffmulter]

Get the 396XT model ... several additional features over the 396T handheld, along wiht better reception of P25 Motorola trunked systems. The storage memory is several times the T, and the XT can handle system / site programing (which also saves memory space).

I have both ... like the T, but love the XT. Bought both through Communications Headquarters ... the XT was $490 (included shipping / no tax charged) to my doorstep in 2 days:

Communications Electronics Inc-Emergency Operations Center - Emergency phone: +1-734-995-9000

I'd also recommend "FreeScan" software for programming the XT, or any of the Uniden DMA scanners.

[KE4ZNR]

Raphael,
1st off welcome to RR.com!
I also agree with JeffMulter's post. Go ahead and get the XT.
Once you get it let me know and I will setup
you up with a beginner Freescan file
with most Central NC (Triangle) Public Safety Agencies.
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

[rargos]

Thanks! I'll let you know what I finally decide to do.

[rargos]

Originally Posted by KE4ZNR

Raphael,
1st off welcome to RR.com!
I also agree with JeffMulter's post. Go ahead and get the XT.
Once you get it let me know and I will setup
you up with a beginner Freescan file
with most Central NC (Triangle) Public Safety Agencies.
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

Well, just got the XT in the mail today : if you have a Freescan file I can use, that'd be great.

Thanks!

Raphael

[KE4ZNR]

Originally Posted by rargos

Well, just got the XT in the mail today : if you have a Freescan file I can use, that'd be great.

Thanks!

Raphael

Once I get home and have access to my radio programming laptop I can get ya set with a starter Freescan (scannow.org) file.
I will reply back to this thread later with that file.
Marshall KE4ZNR

[rargos]

Originally Posted by KE4ZNR

Once I get home and have access to my radio programming laptop I can get ya set with a starter Freescan (scannow.org) file.
I will reply back to this thread later with that file.
Marshall KE4ZNR

Thanks! I'm still trying to get through the so-called manual : amazing that Uniden doesn't have something a little more user-friendly (and I work in radio for a living)

[KE4ZNR]

Originally Posted by rargos

Thanks! I'm still trying to get through the so-called manual : amazing that Uniden doesn't have something a little more user-friendly (and I work in radio for a living)

They have the Wiki-styled website for the 396xt which has a link to download the "Complete Reference" Guide in pdf format.
There were a couple of reasons for discontinuing owners manuals:
1) Printing costs coupled with environmental considerations.
2) Complexity of the radios along with the capability to add new features via firmware updates.
It is easier to make an online owners manual that can be updated on the fly along with giving radio owners the capabilities of downloading & printing off only the needed parts of the manual.
Do let me know if you have any specific questions along with checking out the Uniden forum as most questions have already been answered there.
Keep our fingers crossed I should have that Freescan file upload a little later this evening.
Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR

[KO4LZ]

Originally Posted by rargos

Well, just got the XT in the mail today : if you have a Freescan file I can use, that'd be great.

Thanks!

Raphael

If I remember correctly, my 396XT came with some of the VIPER system already programmed into it.

But yes, Freescan is great. I particularly like the ability to have "virtually" control the scanner through the PC - a very handy feature.

Enjoy the new scanner!

Paul, KO4LZ

[KE4ZNR]

Starter Freescan file for 396xt and 996xt:
http://forums.radioreference.com/nor...entral-nc.html

[KE4ZNR]

Originally Posted by KO4LZ

If I remember correctly, my 396XT came with some of the VIPER system already programmed into it.

But yes, Freescan is great. I particularly like the ability to have "virtually" control the scanner through the PC - a very handy feature.

Enjoy the new scanner!

Paul, KO4LZ

Paul,
First off: welcome to RR.com!
We quickly hope that you consider this a "2nd home".
Yes, both the 396xt and 996xt come preprogrammed with some VIPER talkgroups but the preloaded VIPER system is incomplete and just a dump of some major metro areas. Add to that other US systems that rarely will be used that take up memory space.
My advice for Central NC (Wake/Durham/Johnston/Harnett) radio owners: wipe the radio and start fresh with blank slate. Use Freescan to load the file linked above. You will be much happier
Of course you will probably want to change some of the layout (system keys/group keys) but overall I have every Central NC public safety agency plus many other monitoring targets in the Freescan file.
Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR

[KO4LZ]

Originally Posted by KE4ZNR

Paul,
First off: welcome to RR.com!
We quickly hope that you consider this a "2nd home".
Yes, both the 396xt and 996xt come preprogrammed with some VIPER talkgroups but the preloaded VIPER system is incomplete and just a dump of some major metro areas. Add to that other US systems that rarely will be used that take up memory space.
My advice for Central NC (Wake/Durham/Johnston/Harnett) radio owners: wipe the radio and start fresh with blank slate. Use Freescan to load the file linked above. You will be much happier
Of course you will probably want to change some of the layout (system keys/group keys) but overall I have every Central NC public safety agency plus many other monitoring targets in the Freescan file.
Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR

Hi Marshall,

Thanks. I actually stumbled across RR last month while doing some DF/interference hunting at work. I'm an RF applications engineer at Rohde & Schwarz and one of my responsibilities is radiolocation/radiomonitoring products.

Thanks too for the Freescan file. I'll definitely give it a go over the weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute back to RR as well.

73,

Paul, KO4LZ