can you hand program a BCD996P2?

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ruffzarf

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I am a Senior Comm Supervisor looking to get a new home scanner. I have always hand programmed my scanners in the past (since 1973). I read something about having to have a driver and having to program via a computer for this scanner. Is that correct? I have a BC785XLT (I think) and I guess I need a new scanner due to rebanding in San Diego County. I wanted something where I could just program in the freqs and talkgroups by hand. Or is that something from the past? Old Dude
 

W8RMH

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You can program it by hand. With the new large trunked systems it will take a while. You will need a computer to update the firmware if needed.

You may be better off with a Home Patrol 2 or a BCD536HP which is already programmed.
 

ka3aaa

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Yes you can hand program it but it is a lot faster and easier with software. You will also need the bcd996p2 driver to make the software work. Also if the talk groups that you want to listen to are encrypted forget about it because scanners today can't decrypt encrypted communications.
 

jonwienke

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I wanted something where I could just program in the freqs and talkgroups by hand. Or is that something from the past? Old Dude

Definitely. Using a computer is aty least 10x faster, even more so if you download your systems and frequencies rather than entering them all by hand. Entering a trunked system on the computer is complicated (by hand even more so), and you're unlikely to do it successfully and correctly without several iterations of trial and error. The downloadable RadioReference data has already been error-checked. Access requires a paid RR premium membership unless you have a HomePatrol or BCDx36HP scanner (those models include free access through the Sentinel software).

Scanning has gotten a lot more complex with the rise of digital trunked systems, and downloading programming data that has already been error checked will save you a huge amount of time over reinventing the wheel entering it by hand. And other than minor tweaks to channel labels and site threshold settings, you are not likely to end up with better programming data by hand-entering it. It's gone the way of buying crystals for the most part.

You can program any modern scanner by hand if you really want to, but there's no reason to in most cases. The BCDx36HP scanners are the most expensive, but have the best receivers, free acces to programming updates, the ability to monitor the most digital formats, and the most features.
 

iMONITOR

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I wanted something where I could just program in the freqs and talkgroups by hand. Or is that something from the past? Old Dude

Better bring your lunch! :D

Try to learn the software approach. Maybe you can find a local to help you. I'm an old dude too (68). I use software, you can do it. Manually programming some of today's massive systems would be painful!
 

ruffzarf

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So if I get the pre-programmed...

So if I get the 536HP pre-programmed, do you have to hook it up to a computer? Not sure how that works, I don't have a tablet, just a home Apple. I didn't find my 785D that hard to program, just took a few minutes. I only need to listen to 2 systems, there's about 20 frequencies or so in each one, and there are only certain talk groups I need to listen to. If they weren't rebanding I'd be just fine...
So if I want to put in my own stuff, what scanner isn the easiest to program? Or is the group consensus to go with the 536HP. And if so, will that let me just put in exactly what talk groups I want? Just kind of confused on how you hook up a scanner to a computer...Thanks!
 

jonwienke

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The 536 has a USB port on the front. It comes with a nationwide database which is updated weekly. Updating the scanner involves plugging the USB cable into the scanner and computer, and about half a dozen button presses and mouse clicks.

You can either listen to the database, or program your own favorite list. Or both.
 

ruffzarf

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Getting the 536

So I guess I will go with the pre-programmed. The San Diego RCS south loop has not changed freqs as of yet, but it is getting real close. I know some of the outlying small sites have switched already. So I don't want to order the scanner yet, because it will still have the old freqs loaded. How long do you think I would have to wait once the freqs switch over so that my scanner will be programmed with the new freqs?
Thanks alot for the help & advice :)
 

phask

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maybe years - they are not shipped with current database, it may be a year or 2 old.
 

jonwienke

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So I don't want to order the scanner yet, because it will still have the old freqs loaded. How long do you think I would have to wait once the freqs switch over so that my scanner will be programmed with the new freqs?

Don't wait. Updating the database on your scanner is extremely easy--less than half a dozen mouse clicks. That's why Uniden rarely bothers to update the database on the card shipped with the scanner; the expectation is that the first thing the user will do is update it, especially since the online master database is updated weekly on Uniden's end.
 

phask

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You need to look into the programs to run Windows on an Apple....
Sentinel ONLY runs on Windows.

Search the forum or some Apple forums for How to. (not an Apple user)


So if I get the 536HP pre-programmed, do you have to hook it up to a computer? Not sure how that works, I don't have a tablet, just a home Apple. I didn't find my 785D that hard to program, just took a few minutes. I only need to listen to 2 systems, there's about 20 frequencies or so in each one, and there are only certain talk groups I need to listen to. If they weren't rebanding I'd be just fine...
So if I want to put in my own stuff, what scanner isn the easiest to program? Or is the group consensus to go with the 536HP. And if so, will that let me just put in exactly what talk groups I want? Just kind of confused on how you hook up a scanner to a computer...Thanks!
 
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jonwienke

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Another option is to get a cheap Windows netbook. Sentinel (the programming software for the 536) has very modest hardware requirements. All you need is XP or newer OS, a working USB port, an internet connection, and less than a gigabyte of available drive space. A used netbook can be had very cheap.
 

ruffzarf

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Thanks ! Going for the 536

So I'm going to go with a 536. It looks like it has everything. I have gotten other scanners from Scanner Master and it looks like they can set it all up for a few extra bucks before they ship it. Thanks very much for all of the help & advice. I just programmed in the new 851 and 852 freqs into my old BC785D, to see what, if anything, will track once they go live on Monday morning. From what I read, it seemed like the problem was with freqs ending in zero, there are 2 out of 18 that do. So we'll see what happens. What do you think? Will it still track some of the talk groups? Thanks again :) Scott
 

pinballwiz86

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Hand programming scanners has its place. If you're doing a service search and come across a new frequency? You can quickly add it to your scanner by hand programming.

Programming DMR, P25, and other systems with talkgroups, frequencies, and radio units can be done by hand. But it would take more patience than most people have! I will say I programmed all my digital stuff back in 2013 by hand and I learned a lot doing so.
 
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