BCTool vs. Freescan

[nyscan]

BCTool and Freescan seem to have emerged as the predominant, up and coming, free scanner programming software for the Uniden DMA scanners. I was wondering what the opinions are on the two. Does one have an edge over the other?

 

[Dewey]

Since they are both GREAT programs, and the authors of both programs provide GREAT support, I think you'll have a hard time finding someone who will say that one is better than the other... I know I don't want to. THEY'RE BOTH GREAT!

Dewey

 

[ka3jjz]

I couldn't agree with Dewey more. I've been watching these 2 quite closely, and to me, BCtool has a slight edge - it works with all the DMA scanners, where FreeScan doesn't. I haven't heard whether FreeScan supports the GPS scanning functions, but I know Rob is working on this.

BCTool is slightly more mature development-wise, it seems, but I agree - both are terrific programs, and if they both (or either) get all the functions working that are in the UASD, they put that software to shame. The fact that both now work with the RR Import, is , at least to me, a big plus over the UASD.

73s Mike

 

[Boomeranger]

The .4 version of FreeScan didn't work after installation. I would only complain about the small text of the display. I also recall the button text are pretty bad.

BcTool is nice. The up-front display is kinda/sorta lacking, imho. Needs a trace more color, imho. The programming features look nice. The logging is a bit mystifying, mostly due to my lack of experience with it.

I'm not sure how each handle trunking.

I still keep falling back to ARC396 for the little "top window" real time display, and I like the free IDTracker 2. The display is too sensible and the features are equally great, imho. Though it's not a programming dream. For what it does, I'm impressed and happy with it.

Andy
Scannist

 

[garys]

I couldn't agree with Dewey more. I've been watching these 2 quite closely, and to me, BCtool has a slight edge - it works with all the DMA scanners, where FreeScan doesn't. I haven't heard whether FreeScan supports the GPS scanning functions, but I know Rob is working on this.

BCTool is slightly more mature development-wise, it seems, but I agree - both are terrific programs, and if they both (or either) get all the functions working that are in the UASD, they put that software to shame. The fact that both now work with the RR Import, is , at least to me, a big plus over the UASD.

73s Mike

Freescan seemed to work with my DMA scanners, at least in the bit of testing I did with it. Like others, I give BCTool a slight advantage over Freescan. Although I do like the screen for the virtual control better in Freescan. Since I don't use radio control much at all, it doesn't really matter.

I do like that I can switch between the 996, BC15, BC396, and BR330 easily and share files with little difficulty.

When fully developed BCTool is going to provide some stiff competition for Butel.

Gary

 

[kd7ckq]

When programming your BCD996T or BCT15, has anyone found where the GPS option is and how to put your GPS info in?

Bryan

 

[Saint]

????

When programming your BCD996T or BCT15, has anyone found where the GPS option is and how to put your GPS info in?

Bryan

Are you talking about Freescan or BCTool ??? if your talking about bctool this option will be incorporated into the software in the next release, any information like this is on the bctool yahoo group.
Steve

 

[elephant]

The reason I favor BC Tool over free scan is that BC Tool can be placed on a thumb drive and run on any computer to make changes. Free Scan requires additional files that doesn't make it portable.

I also had trouble with free scan crashing my system when trying to run the virtual control. I'm sure it's something with my configuration, but BC Tool never crashes. It just works!

 

[RolnCode3]

Since you guys are having this big debate, would it be possible for someone to just stick links to both in a reply.

 

[hoser147]

That would be great, good suggestion Roln.............Hoser

 

[hoser147]

http://scannow.org/

http://www.bctool.org/index.php?s=scanners

 

[RolnCode3]

Thanks Hoser.