Changing modes on trunking channels (BC246T)

[PhillyPhoto]

Does anyone know of a way to change the mode of channels in trunk systems on the 246? I can change them on any conventional channel (NFM -> FM), but can't figure out trunked freqs. I use FreeSCAN, and haven't seen any settings in it to change the mode. Can it be done? I've always have greater listening range using FM as opposed to the default NFM mode.

 

[n2mdk]

Does anyone know of a way to change the mode of channels in trunk systems on the 246? I can change them on any conventional channel (NFM -> FM), but can't figure out trunked freqs. I use FreeSCAN, and haven't seen any settings in it to change the mode. Can it be done? I've always have greater listening range using FM as opposed to the default NFM mode.

The only thing you can change is the trunking mode itself. Motorola, EDACS, LTR etc. The modulation mode has to be set to what the bandplan specifies.

 

[PhillyPhoto]

That's kind of stupid, because I've only seen air frequencies change to AM, everything else has always been NFM by default. I remember being able to change it on the 250D, so I don't know why you lose features as new models come out.

 

[PhillyPhoto]

Can the mode be changed on the 396? I'm thinking of getting one, but I remember having reception issues on it with a friends scanner when I was out in Detroit.

 

[LEH]

Can the mode be changed on the 396? I'm thinking of getting one, but I remember having reception issues on it with a friends scanner when I was out in Detroit.

There are some issues with Detroit regardless of the scanner you are using. I recall seeing comments in a couple of the scanner specific threads on this. So don't base 396 performance on what you heard there.

All in all, the 396 is a solid performer. You can change the modulation of a frequency in the 396, but it isn't a single button push like on the PRO96. You've got to go into the menu, select the system, select the frequency and the select the modulation and change it. Only works for that one freq (but then pushing the 'mode' button on the 96 only changes the current frequency too.).

 

[PhillyPhoto]

Thanks Lynn. Detroit was the first 9600 system I listened to and it was pretty bad. I got the 246 for free, but I've been eyeing the 396 for a while, now that it seems like everything I listen to is going digital. I'm used to programming scanners by hand, so a couple extra steps is the norm I'm used to.

Now if only GRE made better looking and more user friendly scanners, they'd have a new customer...