How does the 396t work?

[executioner]

I am thinking about buying a 396t. My experience with scanners has been with the old 100-200 channel analog type. My question is this: Will I be able to scan and recieve all channels that are programed into the 396t at the same time? (On my old scanners I can scan multiple banks or channels in different bands at the same time and what ever hit first came up) Does the 396t scan Digital, analog, trunked etc at the same time? If someone who has one of these would care to explain the basic operation of it, I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Dubbin]

There are MANY threads here about the 396t. Try the search feature and I'm sure you will find all of the answers to your questions. Also take a look at this http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396T

 

[rmv221]

396t

If you would like some personal opinion and not a thead I will gladly tell of my opinion.
It's the best scanner I ever had. It will scan all frequencies all at once, whether analog or digital. You can listen to conventional, trunked and digital with excellent sound. I am glad I purchased one. just get the ARC396 to program it and your on your way to many hours off listening.

 

[wjf]

If you would like some personal opinion and not a thead I will gladly tell of my opinion.
It's the best scanner I ever had. It will scan all frequencies all at once, whether analog or digital. You can listen to conventional, trunked and digital with excellent sound. I am glad I purchased one. just get the ARC396 to program it and your on your way to many hours off listening.

Ditto. Except that there are many "freeware" programs to help you program it.

Great unit. No regrets.

 

[executioner]

That is just what I was looking for "personal opinions from people who own this unit" thank you for responding. I have read and read the stickies, wikis etc but just dont get the same from them as I do from real owners. Again Thank you for your replies.

 

[bc780l]

I've had a 396 for over a year now. Overall, it's a great unit, except ... aircraft band reception and AM audio (on any band) is not good. If I'd bought it to monitor air comms, it would have gone back in a minute. For air comms I use two-way, anyway, so it's not an issue for me--but it might be for a listening-only user. Also as usual with handhelds, a better antenna will help in fringe areas. The USAD software is fine for my purposes, too.

 

[DJ88]

I have one and love it. However, it's totally different from other scanners, in that it doesn't have banks. You program your frequencies and trunk systems into "systems" instead of "banks". They are basically one and the same, except that a bank has an assigned number of channels. A system, that you create, has an infinite number of channels. You decide how many channels, by the number of frequencies you program into each system. And you can add or subtract to each system, as needed. This feature had me baffled until a good friend of mine explained it to me.

If you program it manually, you really need to read the manual thoroughly, and it does take a lot of time. If you have or can get software, it will cut your programming tme down considerably. I did mine manually, as I have all of my scannerrs because I feel it gives me a better understandiing of how the scanner actually works.

I will say, though, if you get one, invest in a telescopic antenna. I did, and the reception is 100 times better than it was off of the "rubber duck" that comes with it. It comes with a BNC connector (I think I used the correct term), in the box, that you can attach to the scanner after you remove the rubber duck, and the telescopic antenna will attach to the connector. Just be sure you get an antenna with the proper connector so you can attach it.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it four stars, out of four. I don't think you'd be unhappy or disappointed. It's a great unit. I'm very happy with mine.

 

[executioner]

DJ88 what kind of telescopic antenna did you get?

 

[hotdjdave]

BCD396T

Quite possibly and most undoubtedly the best hand held scanner ever made (so far). I does everything you wrote, and more. Although, I am not sure what you mean by "at the same time" in your statement:

Will I be able to scan and recieve all channels that are programed into the 396t at the same time?

 

[DJ88]

I really don't remember what kind (brand) it is. It's just standard "stick" antenna, 16 inches from the connector to the top when closed, 42 inches when fully extended. I got it at a radio/electronics store (they sell scanners, and different types of radios and radio equipment). If you get one, be careful with it when it's extended, that you don't poke someone or something, and compromise the integrity of it. You would want to adjust the height accordingly for the best reception, as fully extended doesn't necessarily mean the best reception on all bands. If you do decide to get one, try Communication Electronics, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their prices are great ($499.95 for the 396, shipping included) and UPS delivery within 7 working days of ordering. I got my 898T and 396 from them and both times they were delivered in 4 to 5 days. Their website is www.usascan.com. There's a phone number on the site, 1-800-USA-SCAN, 10AM - 4PM eastern time. You can order on line or by phone.

 

[800crazy1]

great scanner/ the features are what made me buy it , used to be stricktly a R/S scanner man , but was disappointed when the pro96 came out with no added features that the 396 had , such as LTR (standard) trunking, I-CALL feature , the airband ect. now from a number of good posts iv read , supposidly the 96 has better or superb audio where P-25 is concerned, dont know as i never heard a pro96 . and i know that the airband can be uploaded to the scanner afterwards , from someone elses software , but why didnt GRE just add the air band anyways , i do have my frustrations with the 396 where sensitivity is concerned , but over all , i love the damn radio , and never programmed a scanner using any kind of soft ware , so i bought 396 basic from butel, and brother , didnt know what i was missing, i programmed my 250-D and 785-D all by hand , in fact you can no longer read the keys on the radio from programming it by hand , still works fine , but it definetly depreciated the value of the radio im sure . so all in all , love the 396T.