BC296D: bc296d issues

[naterade]

recently acquired a bc296d, purchased a new battery for it, turned it on and all it does is make a faint hissing noise, contacts for battery are clean, not sure if something is shorted out or if battery is low, any help?

 

[enosjones]

Battery could be low charge it, make sure its got a good connection

 

[trentbob]

The only help I can give you, after owning one in 2004. That bp180 battery pack is very old and very well might be kaput, how could it not be?

The radio itself is not going to be that much help to you in today's world anyway but my diagnosis would be... This is a very old radio. Too old. I also have a BC 250D from 2003, same radio but not reband capable and the digital chip was optional. You didn't have to buy it and the radio could remain analog. On your radio it's built in. Several other issues involved also because... It's too old just my two cents.

Digital type 2 smartzone systems. came out years before the scanner did and this scanner solved the problem and we were able to pick up digital along with the GRE built Pro 96 rebranded by RadioShack that blew the doors off the Uniden offering in 2003.

Run it off an external power source and you will find it a very capable scanner on certain systems, especially conventional VHF and UHF systems. Don't know your area but investigate what it's capable of picking up using the database. I really liked those radios.

 

[tvengr]

recently acquired a bc296d, purchased a new battery for it, turned it on and all it does is make a faint hissing noise,

First, make sure the new battery is fully charged. Years ago, I programmed a BC296D manually for our news department. I wore out the volume knob rotating it to select characters for the alpha tags. It is much faster and easier to use programming software. I use Butel ARC250 for my BC796D's, the mobile version of your scanner. The same software is used for the BC296D. What is your city, county, and state, and which agencies would you like to monitor. I'll check the database to see if your scanner is capable. Do you have the programming cable? It has a special connector that is different from the rest of the Uniden scanners.

 

[ka3jjz]

ProScan is Win10 compatible, and covers this radio. We have threads for support in the Scanner Programming forum. If you plan on getting other Uniden radios, this is a worthwhile investment

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD3600XLT UBCD436PT...

www.proscan.org

Mike

 

[tvengr]

ProScan is Win10 compatible, and covers this radio. We have threads for support in the Scanner Programming forum. If you plan on getting other Uniden radios, this is a worthwhile investment

I agree! I was using ARC250 before ProScan was available. ARC250 does an excellent job, but ProScan covers many more Uniden scanners.

 

[smithken]

The radio itself is not going to be that much help to you in today's world anyway but my diagnosis would be... This is a very old radio. Too old. I also have a BC 250D from 2003, same radio but not reband capable and the digital chip was optional. You didn't have to buy it and the radio could remain analog. On your radio it's built in. Several other issues involved also because... It's too old just my two cents.

I disagree about the radio not being much help in today's world. My 296D works fine on the Michigan statewide P25 system. If and when they go phase 2 the 296D will become useless for that system. From what I can see in the database P25 phase 1 is still popular.

 

[wtp]

i believe batteries plus can rebuild them.
yep,

Tech Center Services - Batteries Plus Bulbs

Every Batteries Plus Bulbs Store is equipped with an on-site tech center powered by a battery professional capable of rebuilding, custom building and installing new batteries to replace worn out battery packs.

www.batteriesplus.com

 

[tvengr]

I disagree about the radio not being much help in today's world. My 296D works fine on the Michigan statewide P25 system. If and when they go phase 2 the 296D will become useless for that system. From what I can see in the database P25 phase 1 is still popular.

I find that my BC796D's, the mobile version of the BC296D, work better on some of the P25 Phase I simulcast systems than newer scanners, excluding the SDS100 and SDS200. Be advised that the BC796D and BC296D do not support 700 MHz and cannot be used on any site with 700 MHz frequencies. What is your county and state and which agencies do you wish to monitor?

 

[lebrunmn]

all it does is make a faint hissing noise

Just for grins... did you check that the squelch wasn't turned all the way up? Check the easy stuff, first.