I turned my BC 780XLT on for the first time in 15 years... Questions about PC software

[Horseflesh]

I rediscovered my box of scanners and want to fire up this old 780 XLT. The last time I used it, I had some Windows freeware which required an Excel spreadsheet to program the radio! If someone could give me a couple pointers to whatever today's well-regarded PC programming options are, I would sure appreciate the leads.

If it matters, I am in the Seattle area so that's where I'm looking for freqs.

The radio's ancient programming is still pulling in chatter but I am sure that something has changed in the last 15 years, and I am not sure where to start looking.

 

[fxdscon]

If someone could give me a couple pointers to whatever today's well-regarded PC programming options are, I would sure appreciate the leads.

the best is here…. Proscan:

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD3600XLT UBCD436PT...

proscan.org

 

[sparklehorse]

I think ProScan might be your only option for the 780 that’s current. But as good as the 780 was, it won’t help you with Seattle / King county which is all digital now. But lucky you, law enforcement there hasn’t switched to encryption in a big way, at least not yet. That could change, but for now an SDS scanner or a Unication pager would work a treat.

 

[Horseflesh]

Thank you, that's the kind of info I need to catch up on.

I'm closer to Snohomish so I'll have to look up what they are doing these days, too.

 

[LesWurk]

I rediscovered my box of scanners and want to fire up this old 780 XLT. The last time I used it, I had some Windows freeware which required an Excel spreadsheet to program the radio! If someone could give me a couple pointers to whatever today's well-regarded PC programming options are, I would sure appreciate the leads.

If it matters, I am in the Seattle area so that's where I'm looking for freqs.

The radio's ancient programming is still pulling in chatter but I am sure that something has changed in the last 15 years, and I am not sure where to start looking.

check this thread for Andy's program

BC780XLT: - BC780XLT Andy's Program Download?

Hello! Dusting off the old topic of BC780XLT programming. . anyone have a source for the freeware 'Andy's Program' ? Every link I've found is broken. I liked this program from back in the day, and several computer generations later, I don't have a copy anymore. Still love the BC780XLT for...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[Horseflesh]

My gosh you found it! I couldn't even remember what it was called, and struck out on a google search. Thanks!

I may yet try ProScan depending on how useful this old radio may still be in my area... but this is a great start.

 

[rf_patriot200]

My gosh you found it! I couldn't even remember what it was called, and struck out on a google search. Thanks!

I may yet try ProScan depending on how useful this old radio may still be in my area... but this is a great start.

It's got a Bunch of preprogrammed search choices in it, out of the box which makes it useful. I Love mine for Mil Air & Rail scanning.

 

[KE4ZNR]

My gosh you found it! I couldn't even remember what it was called, and struck out on a google search. Thanks!

I may yet try ProScan depending on how useful this old radio may still be in my area... but this is a great start.

Even thought you will be limited to non-digital forms of comms there is still stuff to monitor out there: aircraft, railroads, etc.

I remember I was one of the first to get the 780xlt here in Central NC. This was back in the Rich Wells Strongsignals.net days. Loved the form factor and the display was a perfect size.

 

[Skip_Wilson]

I resurrected my 780 and use it mostly for aircraft. Runs 24/7. Really love using ProScan with it.

 

[sparklehorse]

I think the 780 has to be my favorite scanner of all time. It was such a good radio, could do almost everything well (at the time), great sensitivity, great display, could run it mobile or base, could even use it portable if you added the battery pack that ScannerMaster came up with. It marked a whole new generation of scanner design. You could even program it using a computer (early days for that). A benchmark radio for sure.