k4gps
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Anyone own both of these software packages ? Which do you prefer and why ? Will be used with a BCD536HP of course and not too sure if I will be dedicating a PC to it or not yet.
Opinions?: ProScan vs ARC536PRO
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I vote for ProScan. It has more robust remote monitoring and control functions, and can be used as a server that relays the feed from the scanner to anyone with a web browser, either on the LAN or internet. Audio quality is excellent if you use the Wi-Fi connection. ProScan also supports many scanner models, rather than requiring you to buy a separate version for each model.
Bob will give you better support for ProScan. And BTW I do have both!
I only have 1 Butel product it is for my Uniden 785D but Proscan does all the my Butel does plus records audio tone Trunking TG's and UID's of all my scanners I am running 10 copies of PROSCAN on a computer recording and logging all data on all 10 scanners running on my desktop plus I have remote client connections open to all 10 plus you get 2 licenses to run on 2 different computers and can add more if you wish. Also 1 licensee is running all 10 scanners on the same computer.
I have both and if you're wanting to use it for programming go with ARC536PRO. ARC536PRO allows you to program your x36HP using RadioReferece database.
ProScan does NOT have database support for the x36HP scanners, never did. . So you cannot program your x36HP using RadioReference database. You'll have to use something else like Sentinel .
I'm not really sure if that's really correct. ProScan doesn't have the Sentinel HPDB support, granted. However ProScan does have RadioReference Database support. RRDB importing requires a RR subscription thou or the Get Clipboard function to import freqs and tgid's doesn't require a subscription. Also ProScan can import from the Sentinel HPDB without a RR subscription.
Only Sentinel will update the x36 Main Database, and will do so from RR through Uniden, without a RR subscription. But the Main Database only covers the USA and Canada.
ProScan and other software import data directly from RR into a Favorite List if you have a RR subscription. You have to pay for this option, but you can get data from countries not covered by for free via Sentinel.
It would be nice if ProScan could edit the Main Database, so you could change the default 2-second Delay setting, default trunked systems to ID SEARCH instead of ID SCAN, and suchlike.
ProScan and other software import data directly from RR into a Favorite List if you have a RR subscription. You have to pay for this option, but you can get data from countries not covered by for free via Sentinel.
It would be nice if ProScan could edit the Main Database, so you could change the default 2-second Delay setting, default trunked systems to ID SEARCH instead of ID SCAN, and suchlike.
I have both also used arc products since the 250d. That being said Proscan I use all the time the favorites editor is awesome.
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I started to look at that a few weeks ago before I got side tracked on some Web Server stuff. I didn't see a heck of alot of fields in the HPDB file format. Only Service Type so I don't know if it's even possible to change the Delay or ID SCAN/SEARCH. I will look again when I'm done with the current task.
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From what I have seen (I'll look again), Sentinel doesn't read the Delay and the other parameters from the HPDB files. Sentinel will just display a default value. That's why you can't change the parameters in the HPDB (Database), only in the Favorites Editor.
Here's the location to the HPDB files. All I see are the Tone, Location, & Service Type
C:\ProgramData\Uniden\BCDx36HP_Sentinel\Database
Sure there is a work around but what a pain,why not include the database tab like we all are accustomed to?
Why not simplify the whole process? Its been there since 396/996 series of scanners. You offer it in Unidens latest scanners the 996P2 & 325P2.
Look closer. Every talkgroup and frequency line has several tabs at the end, indicating columns of data that are not populated. I strongly suspect that if you put data between those tabs, it will show up in the "missing" columns in Sentinel.
ProScan has the Favorites Editor which imports from the RRDB. It's exactly the same for all supported scanners so no difference. I guess what you call pain is actually more versatile. This way we don't have to wait for the Uniden Weekly pull if any changes to the RRDB. Any system can be imported as soon as the changes have been posted.
Direct HPDB is high on the list. Just not enough hours in the day. Besides I have looked into this and done some work in this area.
{edit} Now that I'm looking at your posting more in detail, It sounds like you may not be aware of the ProScan Favorites Editor. It operates the same on all supported scanners with the same utilities. Just renamed.
Bob, I know you mention awhile back that you had it on your list of things to work on. Direct HPDB would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure there are a lot of us that would like to see this happen.
If you could provide justification or advantages.
I'm not sure that's possible. I did try to edit the files before. I could change the Service Types and Locations and Sentinel could read the changes. I tried to insert Delay values and Sentinel didn't read them. I didn't get as far as trying to see if the scanner would read the changes yet.
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