Good evening. I received a new BCD-396XT for Christmas. I will be looking to program the trunking features and 800 MHZ talk groups later this month via computer, I will save those questions for another thread. In the mean time, Can someone simply explain to me how to program just simple frequencies just as 2 meter ham freqs, Aircraft, etc. I will be back for more at the end of the month. Thank you in advance
Steve
I think what you're asking is how to simply get some channels into your scanner so you can listen to something.
Even though you just want to program some simple frequencies, you need to create a "system" ("conventional") and at least one group to hold those frequencies. So, use the easier-to-read manual and learn how to create a conventional system (or multiple, name them "Aircraft", "Ham" etc. as you like) and add groups and channels to them. Start here:
Easier to Read BCD396XT Digital Scanner Manual - Programming Conventional Systems
I agree with the other suggestion to use Freescan, it will make programming 200% easier!
This is especially important so that reorganizing things as you gain experience will be easier, down the road.
You didn't say if you have experience with other scanners, but it's important to understand how these radios organize things - systems, groups and channels, even if you are only doing non-trunk stuff in the beginning.