BCD396T/BC996T: BCD996T First time programming.

[F6twistersrwindy]

Hey. I have a BCD996T that has been half reprogrammed No trunking added just local frequencies. I want to start from scratch but I have never programmed a scanner or used one. Ive read the manual. I understood most of it. My question is, I am using windows 11 laptop and I need advice on what programming software to use. I want to be able to add updates easily as they come out. User friendly to because I have never done this. Also I'm having a brain fart understanding Uniden I-Call. The manual said it is to pick up local one on one comunications. What is that? Then I read from google saying I-Call is the same as the CloseCall feature. I thought Closecall was picking up emergencies close to home? I using this as a base unit only. All advice welcome. I'm just starting. 🙂

 

[doctordialtone]

saying I-Call is the same as the CloseCall feature. ID diffent things.

Refer to this Easier to Read Manual to assist you in programming.

 

[N6JPA]

Hey. I have a BCD996T that has been half reprogrammed No trunking added just local frequencies. I want to start from scratch but I have never programmed a scanner or used one. Ive read the manual. I understood most of it. My question is, I am using windows 11 laptop and I need advice on what programming software to use. I want to be able to add updates easily as they come out. User friendly to because I have never done this. Also I'm having a brain fart understanding Uniden I-Call. The manual said it is to pick up local one on one comunications. What is that? Then I read from google saying I-Call is the same as the CloseCall feature. I thought Closecall was picking up emergencies close to home? I using this as a base unit only. All advice welcome. I'm just starting. 🙂

I-Call is like a phone call. It is one person talking directly to another person. Close call is for detecting very close radio transmissions that are FM mode.

 

[Enforcer52]

Where are you located and what are you trying to listen too? Police, Fire, EMS, or other stuff?

Inside or outside antenna? It will make a big difference in reception.

ProScan is the best software to use!

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

I am in Ohio. Inside antenna. The one on scanner I'm willing to get a bigger one. I want to listen to Ems, Fire, Police & Military. I can choose more as I learn. Is proscan user friendly? Thats a licensed purchase right?

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

I-Call is like a phone call. It is one person talking directly to another person. Close call is for detecting very close radio transmissions that are FM mode.

So I-Call is the ability to listen to one on one like a fireman talking to Ems about a injury before Ems arrives or 2 police officers talking?

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Refer to this Easier to Read Manual to assist you in programming.

Thank you. Thats great. I like the worksheets too!

 

[K4EET]

<snip> ProScan is the best software to use!

ProScan is definitely a favorite 🤩 😍 around here. It has a 30-day free trial and I encourage you to take it for a test drive.

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 UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

proscan.org

IMHO, ProScan is by far the most feature packed program available for many scanners. It is very user friendly but you will want to review the manual in order to get the most out of it. You buy ProScan once and you get a lifetime of free updates and support. Your support will come from the Radio Reference user base as well as the owner and author of ProScan, Bob @ProScan.

Let us know if you have any questions!

 

[K4EET]

I am in Ohio. <snip>

Are you familiar with the Radio Reference database and how to read the various abbreviations?

 

[tvengr]

Welcome to the forums! ProScan is excellent. The 996T cannot receive DMR or NXDN. You can use FreeSCAN which is FREE and will handle anything your scanner can do. It would help to know your city and county to check the database to see what you are able to monitor.

 

[Enforcer52]

From what I understand, the original programming cable that came with the 996T will not work on Windows 10/11, and requires purchase of a new compatible cable. Such as the one below.

What city in Ohio, so we can look at the database and see what is available in your area of Ohio.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IDSM6BW/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A29Y8OP2GPR7PE&th=1

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

ProScan is definitely a favorite 🤩 😍 around here. It has a 30-day free trial and I encourage you to take it for a test drive.

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 UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

proscan.org

IMHO, ProScan is by far the most feature packed program available for many scanners. It is very user friendly but you will want to review the manual in order to get the most out of it. You buy ProScan once and you get a lifetime of free updates and support. Your support will come from the Radio Reference user base as well as the owner and author of ProScan, Bob @ProScan.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you so much. I love the lifetime free updates & support. Thats vital for me just learning. I will definitely be test driving!

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

From what I understand, the original programming cable that came with the 996T will not work on Windows 10/11, and requires purchase of a new compatible cable. Such as the one below.

What city in Ohio, so we can look at the database and see what is available in your area of Ohio.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IDSM6BW/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A29Y8OP2GPR7PE&th=1

Toledo. I didn't get the original cable with the scanner but I already purchased this one. Will it work?

https://a.co/d/3iEnCm6

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Are you familiar with the Radio Reference database and how to read the various abbreviations?

Not well, no.

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Welcome to the forums! ProScan is excellent. The 996T cannot receive DMR or NXDN. You can use FreeSCAN which is FREE and will handle anything your scanner can do. It would help to know your city and county to check the database to see what you are able to monitor.

Toledo. Lucas County

 

[K4EET]

Are you familiar with the Radio Reference database and how to read the various abbreviations?

Not well, no.

Hi @F6twistersrwindy. Here is the Lucas County database.

Lucas County, Ohio (OH) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Lucas County, Ohio (OH)

www.radioreference.com

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Hi @F6twistersrwindy. Here is the Lucas County database.

Lucas County, Ohio (OH) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Lucas County, Ohio (OH)

www.radioreference.com

Thank you. I assume the Proscan software will tell me what to do with that & how. Lol

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Toledo. I didn't get the original cable with the scanner but I already purchased this one. Will it work?

https://a.co/d/3iEnCm6

I do know I will have to pre install the drivers before I can plug it in. If this one cant work with Windows 11 I need to get another uhhg

 

[Enforcer52]

Lucas county is P25 Phase 1 Simulcast on the Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System, all public safety is on this system.

The 996T is not made to handle simulcast systems, it will depend on the location of the towers in relation to your location. You may receive garbled transmissions or nothing at all. You will just have to try and see. In your case the inside antenna may actually work better to mitigate the simulcast issues.

You will also have to try the cable and see if it works or not.

 

[GILLIG40]

I have a BCD996T. NWORPSS is heavily simulcast. That BCD996T will have a very hard time decoding that. Some days it will work fairly well other days not so much. I have a SDS200 and a Unication G4. They both decode flawlessly.