Need BCD396T Software Programming Advice

hmnurse1 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007, 07:40 PM

I recently purchased a BCD 396T, and need advice from you experienced folks. First, the owners manual is not friendly. I live in San Diego County and want to set up my scanner to receive the normal every day police, fire, military, and public service broadcasts.

I have seen software advertised on http://www.scancat.com/combocd.html The software is called: "Scancat Lite Plus / Public Safety Combo," for $54. Has anyone purchased this software? Would you recommend this software?

Is there any other resources or software that you would recommend to me for programming my scanner? I would appreciate any advice or wisdom you have to offer which will help me program this gadget. Thanks.

You can respond here of email me at: hmnurse1@yahoo.com

ka3jjz · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007, 09:35 PM

Stay as far away from the Scancrap software as possible. You need to do a couple of things;

a. Most folks I know with 396s are using both the Uniden Advanced System Director (UASD for short - available from the Uniden downloads area, which requires a free registration) and/or ARC396 (from BuTel, available from Scanner Master). To be fair, there is up and coming freeware for the 396 called BcTool ; it's not trunking yet, but I'm willing to bet it will, soon. There are other packages - such as Scan Control, which just came out with its 6.1 release (and a copy/paste function called the 'Data Grabber' for reading RR data...). We have a wiki article on the 396 (as you hit 'wiki' in the blue toolbar, look right for 'digital trunktrackers' in the yellow box- click on that, then on the 396 link and away you go), which should be in your bookmarks. It lists almost all the software that's compatible (including Scancrap, unfortunately....) and a great deal more.

b. There is no such things as banks anymore with the DMA scanners (your 396 is one...) That requires you to think in other terms. Our DMA FAQ article will get you started, soup to nuts. Everything from what is DMA, links for trunking and 2 very important links - UPMan's Scanner Programming article, and at the bottom, the Easy to read manual for the 330 and 396. Also becoming a paid subscriber will allow you to download data directly from the databases - there's a link for that, too (anything in blue is a link). If you need to set up for trunking and don't understand it, read the Trunking basics and FAQ articles linked there.

c. It's sometimes easiest to start with a predefined file for your area - once you have some software (lots of folks start with the UASD), go to the California forum and ask for a UASD file for your area. It's very important to be specific about the software you are using - file types are not always interchangable one from another. The 396 Yahoo group may also have files for your area - it's worth joining to see. There are numerous California based Yahoo scanning groups as well, and that might be another source.

Lots to read and understand. Go slow and you'll do fine. 73s Mike

n2mdk · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007, 09:53 PM

The best and easiest software is ARC396, with it and a premium subscription to this site you can use the software to download the data from the database into the software then upload it into the scanner. You can download a trial of ARC396 from the BuTel site http://www.butel.nl/

frankh · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007, 11:39 PM

hang in there once you get it programmed its way more user friendly, imho then any other digital scanner you're gonna run across.

loumaag · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007, 02:30 PM

Also, since no one else mentioned it, please read and heed the notice at the top of the San Diego Co. page in the database.

I have used both the ARC396 and the UASD software for programming my 396t. I will disagree with n2mdk's opinion, IMHO the UASD is much easier to use although there is no download ability (from the RR DB) in it and (again my opinion) the Butel software if way overpriced for what it does. However, I will agree that under no circumstances should you buy or use ScanCat software.

wjf · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loumaag

Also, since no one else mentioned it, please read and heed the notice at the top of the San Diego Co. page in the database.

I have used both the ARC396 and the UASD software for programming my 396t. I will disagree with n2mdk's opinion, IMHO the UASD is much easier to use although there is no download ability (from the RR DB) in it and (again my opinion) the Butel software if way overpriced for what it does. However, I will agree that under no circumstances should you buy or use ScanCat software.

Ditto that. ARC is not worth the price.

Ronrico · #7 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007, 07:28 PM

I think I downloaded about 3 or 4 different programs in an attempt to program my 396t and I finally found the one that's by far the most user friendly. It was the ARC 396 and it really seemed much easier to understand and to use.

I gotta say something about our good friends at Uniden though. I talked to a guy in customer service that acted like he could care less about helping you do anything and rushed me off the phone. Nice job customer service guy.......you'll go far in that company I'm sure.

Thanks for the suggestions and help to the RR family.

hmnurse1 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007, 08:20 PM

Ronrico,
Did you purchase the ARC 396 or find a place to download it at no cost. I thought hooking up this scanner was going to be a piece of cake verses humble pie. The manual that comes with this BCD 396T is very technical. I have no problem with computers or software issues. However, programming this device is no fun thus far. I opened up the download software from Uniden. Like you said its not user friendly for someone with no experience with this device.