BC246T scanner

[johnwashington]

I use this service to get information about frequencies and then use ARC246 to store information. Frequencies on here are FM but the default of the Uniden scanner is NFM. Using the Arc246 program, for modulation I use "Auto" select which of course comes up NFM- question- should I go back in and change NFM to FM. Also for frequency stepping I also use "Auto" select but I see in the Unident manual on page 78, it says to refer to pages 10-11 for frequency steps. I thought using the "Auto" select on this would automatically set the steps. Question. On the ARC246 program should I use "Auto" or go in and program each frequency group as described on pp 11-12. Thanks.

 

[loumaag]

Moved to the Uniden forum.

Program the individual frequencies to the correct mode (FM/NFM) based on what is used. For the most part we try to keep the RR Database correct; however, unless someone tells us differently, we have to assume whatever is on the license is correct. When a license is issued for both NFM and FM, we have to assume the larger (FM).

As to your radio, the difference you will notice is that if you program a FM channel to NFM it will be louder then it should be and may distort. If you program a NFM channel to FM you will get it at a lower audio level.

Uniden defaults to NFM which in 15 years or so probably will be correct. :wink:

 

[johnwashington]

thanks

 

[johnwashington]

frequency step

For the BC246T- would you recommend using the "Auto" select or manually select to be used in the ARC246 program?

 

[fredclausen]

For the BC246T- would you recommend using the "Auto" select or manually select to be used in the ARC246 program?

I manually set the mode in ARC246. It seems with the default mode being NFM that it causes problems.

 

[loumaag]

For the BC246T- would you recommend using the "Auto" select or manually select to be used in the ARC246 program?

I don't own a 246T but I do have a 396T, which has the same problem. I agree with fredclausen, program each channel manually since the "Auto" setting defaults to NFM in most cases.

 

[johnwashington]

I manually set the mode in ARC246. It seems with the default mode being NFM that it causes problems.

By manually set the mode (modulation), I assume based on your database, that you set the frequencies to FM. Is that correct? And do you use the P/L tones?

 

[fredclausen]

I don't set any P/L tones (honestly couldn't tell you what they do!). For conventional systems, I download the freqs from RR via ARC246, set mode to FM and it works just fine.

Someone more familiar with trunking than I am can correct me, but I don't believe you set FM vs NFM vs AM etc on the trunking systems?

 

[johnwashington]

Yes, I mean the conventional mode. I have set everything (mode) to FM. According to my scanner book, "P/L tones only allow you to hear transmission with the programmed tone, even if other transmissions are active on that frequency, therefore reducing paging systems "bleeding over" on other frequencies or powerful nearby transmitters "overriding" your scanner regardless of whether it is tuned to that frequency." I havent used the tones yet but my frequency book does provide them. Southwest Frequency Directory from www.arizonascanner.com page 5. Thanks for the help. Much appreciated. P/L tones of course being CTCSS tones