New user Uniden BCD996P2

[drobin4355]

I recently purchased a new Uniden BCD996P2. I found the owner's manual to be really difficult to understand so I turned to Google. From there I thought it went well, they directed me to a Youtube video of a guy programming individual frequencies into his Undiden scanner using data from radioreferance.org. Using that video and the data from Radioreferance I was able to enter frequencies for police and fire for my county and some surrounding counties and my scanner seems to be receiving them. I have a neighbor telling me that I have a lot more to do as I am missing a lot and in many cases only getting one side of conversations. Is that the case?

So I've looked into Proscan and Freescan. Proscan is not an option as my computer is a work computer and that web site is blocked. Freescan seems to be available through Sixspot but I can't get anywhere on that site either. It looks to be also available through a premium subscription to redioreferance.org and I don't mind that cost as long as I know I can download it and use it to program my scanner. Any advice?

 

[doctordialtone]

Any advice?

Welcome to the site!

Both Freescan and Proscan can be used to program your scanner - or you can program by hand.

Proscan has a free trial and the developer participates on this site to answer any questions you have about the program.

It would help to know where you are located and what you are trying to monitor?

Please provide a link to the database.

No doubt, you have already found the "Easier to Read" manual for your scanner.

If not, here's the link.

Easier to Read BCD996P2/XT Digital Scanner Manual

Let us know...

 

[drobin4355]

Thanks for the quick response

I'm in Sawyer county Wisconsin and this is what I used for frequencies. Sawyer County, Wisconsin (WI) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference.

 

[doctordialtone]

this is what I used for frequencies.

OK, most of the frequencies shown are conventional, so they should be straightforward.

If you wish to monitor WISCOM, that's a trunked system here:

Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications (WISCOM) Trunking System, Statewide, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications (WISCOM) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

The "D" in the mode column means you'll be able to receive those fine.

A "DE" in the mode column indicates encryption and you won't be able to monitor those.

Be sure to read the section of the manual on ID Search vs ID Scan.

In ID Search mode, you'll hear all talk groups. In ID Scan mode, you'll only hear the groups you have programmed.

Of course this assumes you are in range.

Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.

 

[marksmith]

Looks like most of what you want to monitor is on the wiscom system.

Although freescan is a great program and a premium subscription here will allow you to download programming to your scanner, it is not difficult to hand program using the site and talkgroup info from the database or to program it in freescan by hand. You need to pick which sites of the wiscom system you wish to program and then I would suggest separately programming each site you want as a separate system with the talkgroups you wish.

You are limited to 500 records (frequencies, talkgroups and unit IDs) for each site this way, which should be good for all the sites frequencies and talkgroups you wish and some radio IDs.

 

[hiegtx]

I recently purchased a new Uniden BCD996P2. I found the owner's manual to be really difficult to understand so I turned to Google. From there I thought it went well, they directed me to a Youtube video of a guy programming individual frequencies into his Undiden scanner using data from radioreferance.org. Using that video and the data from Radioreferance I was able to enter frequencies for police and fire for my county and some surrounding counties and my scanner seems to be receiving them. I have a neighbor telling me that I have a lot more to do as I am missing a lot and in many cases only getting one side of conversations. Is that the case?

So I've looked into Proscan and Freescan. Proscan is not an option as my computer is a work computer and that web site is blocked. Freescan seems to be available through Sixspot but I can't get anywhere on that site either. It looks to be also available through a premium subscription to redioreferance.org and I don't mind that cost as long as I know I can download it and use it to program my scanner. Any advice?

There is a User Guide for FreeSCAN in the Wiki:

FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

While a Premium Subscription, allowing imports from the database into software is the most efficient way to program, as mark has noted, it's not that hard to program manually. However, FreeSCAN has a tool EZ-Grab, that allows you to copy fields from a web page, such as the RadioReference database, and then selectively paste that into the software. There is a link in the FreeSCAN user Guide on using EZ-Grab. (There is a similar functionality in ProScan).

 

[drobin4355]

I appreciate all the help. I downloaded FreeScan and subscribed to RadioReferance and just finished importing some additional frequencies. I have a lot to learn but this is a huge help.

 

[wtp]

i sent you a personal message with some stuff, look for the envelope on the top right.

 

[drobin4355]

OK, most of the frequencies shown are conventional, so they should be straightforward.

If you wish to monitor WISCOM, that's a trunked system here:

Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications (WISCOM) Trunking System, Statewide, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications (WISCOM) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

The "D" in the mode column means you'll be able to receive those fine.

A "DE" in the mode column indicates encryption and you won't be able to monitor those.

Be sure to read the section of the manual on ID Search vs ID Scan.

In ID Search mode, you'll hear all talk groups. In ID Scan mode, you'll only hear the groups you have programmed.

Of course this assumes you are in range.

Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.

So I've been playing around at programming using FreeScan and Database from RadioReference. If I try to import for a trunked system it goes well but when I try to import for a conventional system I get this message?

 

[mciupa]

Looking over your screen shot, I see that you have pending Windows updates and two notifications. Perhaps a shut down or a restart will resolve the connection issue.

 

[tvengr]

So I've looked into Proscan and Freescan.

Another option is Butel ARC-XT. I use ARC-XT Basic.

 

[hiegtx]

So I've been playing around at programming using FreeScan and Database from RadioReference. If I try to import for a trunked system it goes well but when I try to import for a conventional system I get this message? View attachment 119691

Which version of FreeSCAN are you using? The last "official" version is 2.18-beta6. It is no longer supported by the original author. Another RR member tried to make some updates to the software. One of his versions did not work for conventional imports of frequency data, but did for trunked systems. Version 2.19-beta1 does allow imports. If you are using one of the correct versions, but having issues, be sure that you are using the correct login credentials. The user name (for accessing imports) is your RadioReference member ID, as well as the password you use to log into RadioReference.

 

[drobin4355]

Which version of FreeSCAN are you using? The last "official" version is 2.18-beta6. It is no longer supported by the original author. Another RR member tried to make some updates to the software. One of his versions did not work for conventional imports of frequency data, but did for trunked systems. Version 2.19-beta1 does allow imports. If you are using one of the correct versions, but having issues, be sure that you are using the correct login credentials. The user name (for accessing imports) is your RadioReference member ID, as well as the password you use to log into RadioReference.

I am using 2.19 and I'm using the same user name and password that I use for RadioReference.

 

[buddrousa]

You could also try PROSCAN it has a 30 free trial
ProScan

 

[drobin4355]

You could also try PROSCAN it has a 30 free trial
ProScan

I have tried but my computer is a work laptop and if I try it on Chrome it's blocked.

I was able to access it on my wife's laptop so I will play with that for a while.

 

[dave3825]

You could also try PROSCAN it has a 30 free trial

I have tried but my computer is a work laptop and if I try it on Chrome it's blocked.

Try downloading @ProScan with Internet Explorer or Edge. If they block the download also, you could always download from your wifes laptop to a flash drive and try installing that way.

I worked for a place that had internet explorer set to block all internet traffic to everything except the companies own sites and sites they authorized us to visit. I brought chrome in on a flash drive and installed it and that took care of that.

 

[ka3aaa]

just run proscan from the flash drive only and dont install it on the company computer.

 

[Ronaldski]

To me its pretty clear you cant get to this site because of the company firewall, has nothing to do with freescan.

 

[drobin4355]

Thanks, I'll be trying the flash drive the first chance I get.

 

[Chris0516]

Thanks, I'll be trying the flash drive the first chance I get.

Back in 2016, I packed away my old Radio Shack scanner, when I bought the UBC(Uniden BearCat)75XLT(handheld). I downloaded FreeScan. I became frustrated with 300(analog) channel limit, and analog limitations of that scanner. Along with lack of developer support on FreeScan. In 2018 I was able get a new UBCD(Uniden BearCat Digital)325p2 and ProScan. Proscan will do some things that FreeScan can't, and has constant(as opposed to every once in a blue moon) developer support. looked at Sentinel. But I didn't like its' design. That is why, I chose ProScan.