executioner said:
So how do I set this up in the bcd396? I am still getting the Brazoria County Dispatch on analog.
For any conventional frequency that you know (or suspect) is using digital, do not set any PL/CTCSS tone of code. Also do not set it to ignore a tone, or to "Code Search". Leave that field set to "None". If you have a tone (or code) set, or search, whatever, you will not get any digital mode transmississions.
We're starting to see a few of the surrounding counties or cities in the North Texas change from analog to digital on their dispatch frequencies. Greenville, for a while, was mixed mode, some digital, some analog. If you entered the DPL code listed in the database, you'd never hear the digital communications.
That's one reason I went ahead and ordered a 996. You can specify a frequency as analog only, digital, or both. Wish that was an option on the 396 as well, but it may well be something hard coded in the processor firmware, not addable via a flash download. As a workaround, I've set aside a separate DPS group in my 396 without without tones or codes, & given the group a name reflecting that. The Dallas region is not digital yet, so I have that group locked out, unless I travel west or southwest, into areas where digital conversion for DPS is more advanced.
The other DPS groups have the mobile repeaters text-tagged, and the appropriate PL/CTCSS entered, so that I can identify the area. For your specific case, leave your Brazoria dispatch as is. Enter the digital use frequencies noted above without tones or DCS codes (leave selection to "none").
