Two BCD396T questions

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powerhouse

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I have just received my BCD396T scanner and accompanying ARC 396 pro software and am begining the learning curve on this fantastic piece of equipment. However,I do have two questions that I have seen addressed here in thes forums in the past but for the life of me cannot find their respective threads. So here goes;
1) The current and latest firmware up grade on Unidens web site is version 1.11.03
yet when checking my receivers firmware it is reported as version 1.11.04.
Is this the latest firmware that my radio is already programmed with or do I need to install the upgrade from the Uniden site?
2) I live in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the services I wish to monitor is Baltimore city's fire and police departments which are APCO 25. However I believe they are also mixed analog and digital. How do I set up my receiver to receive these services?
Like I said, I know these issues were discussed in these forums in the past but I can't find them again.
I have just yesterday dashed off my money order for a premium subscription to Radio Reference so that I may take advantage of downloading frequencies to the ARC 396 Pro software. So in the interim I will be perusing the owners manual to the receiver and software but I would like to have these two issues resolved before I begin programming.
Thanks for your input and advice and as always, any and all responses are greatly appreciated.
 

DaveIN

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1) It's the latest firmware from the factory, and you do not need to update it.

2)You may want to try the preloaded systems for your location, all you need to do is enable the System Quick Keys:
MA Boston Boston Area 34
MA Boston Cambridge 34
MA Boston Marshfield 34
MA Boston Middlesex Conv 34
MA Statewide MA State Police 35
 

powerhouse

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Thanks guys.
The post referenced for the firmware question is the one I remembered reading but darned if I could find it again.

As soon as my money order is received for the premium subscription I will be downloading and installing the data for my area. The scanner is not preloaded with frequencies of systems for my area,(Baltimore,Maryland and surrounding counties).
 

ampulman

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QUOTE: I live in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the services I wish to monitor is Baltimore city's fire and police departments which are APCO 25. However I believe they are also mixed analog and digital. How do I set up my receiver to receive these services?

If these services are part of the Baltimore Co. Public Safety system, the system is listed as Motorola Type II (800 mhz), not APCO 25. The scanner will automatically handle APCO 25 or Analog voice.

If they are conventional frequencies, enter as FM (NFM if applicable) and the channels wll be similarly handled.

AM
 

DaveIN

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ampulman said:
QUOTE: I live in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the services I wish to monitor is Baltimore city's fire and police departments which are APCO 25. However I believe they are also mixed analog and digital. How do I set up my receiver to receive these services?

If these services are part of the Baltimore Co. Public Safety system, the system is listed as Motorola Type II (800 mhz), not APCO 25. The scanner will automatically handle APCO 25 or Analog voice.

If they are conventional frequencies, enter as FM (NFM if applicable) and the channels wll be similarly handled.

AM

My mistake, I was thinking of Boston and not Baltimore... :)

As for the system setup, you need to use Motorola Type II 800 mhz standard for 3600 buad mixed mode systems, then you will hear P25 when it is used.

http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=1191
 

powerhouse

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Thanks for the input guys.
Ampulman, I will be trying to receive Baltimore City which is APCO25 but I believe it is mixed analog and digital. System Name: Baltimore City
Location: Baltimore, MD
County: Baltimore
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface
Sysid: 562A
CT: 83.72
Last Updated: Changed talkgroups
Hits: 16528
You are correct that Baltimore county is a straight Motorola type II system.
 
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ampulman

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powerhouse said:
Thanks for the input guys.
Ampulman, I will be trying to receive Baltimore City which is APCO25 but I believe it is mixed analog and digital. System Name: Baltimore City
Location: Baltimore, MD
County: Baltimore
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface
Sysid: 562A
CT: 83.72
Last Updated: Changed talkgroups
Hits: 16528
You are correct that Baltimore county is a straight Motorola type II system.

I don't know which scanner you are using, but in mine, a 396T, the system would be programmed as Motorola Type II 800 mhz (which is listed as 'system type', above). This is irrespective of the system voice. As such, my scanner would decode either APCO 25 (digital) transmissions as well as straight analog transmissions.

AM
 

DaveIN

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ampulman said:
I don't know which scanner you are using, but in mine, a 396T, the system would be programmed as Motorola Type II 800 mhz (which is listed as 'system type', above). This is irrespective of the system voice. As such, my scanner would decode either APCO 25 (digital) transmissions as well as straight analog transmissions.

AM

If it's a pure P25 9600 baud system you need to program it as a Motorola P25, if it's a mixed-mode 3600 buad system, Motorola 800MHz Standard (800MHz splinter if near the border).
 

powerhouse

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I too will be using a 396T,(after I round the learning curve).
As far as the baud system goes, i'm not sure. My location is almost the exact center of the state of Maryland,(no where near the border).
 

ampulman

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powerhouse said:
I too will be using a 396T,(after I round the learning curve).
As far as the baud system goes, i'm not sure. My location is almost the exact center of the state of Maryland,(no where near the border).

It's really simple. Program the system as Motorola 800 mhz. Enter the control channels (make sure that control channel only mode is selected), then your ready to go. The 396 is really easy to learn to program. I briefly owned a PRO-96, but returned it (long story). The secret is to read over the manual 3 or 4 times. It's available on the internet. When I finally received mine, I programed my local systems right out of the box with no problem.

BTW, the reference to 'borders' refers to our national borders.

AM
 

powerhouse

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Thanks ampulman.
I've got a Pro93 and an AOR8000 and have had no problem programming them in the past.
I'm actually looking forward to learning the 396T. I've just got to get out of the channel/bank mentality and start thinking "systems" and "groups". Also, learning about APCO 25 and various digital transmissions adds another layer to the learning curve.
I kind of figured "borders"referred to our national borders but wasn't sure so I figured I'd cover all bases by saying I live in the exact center of Maryland,(which also happens to be just about centered along the Atlantic seaboard),hence "no where near the border".
 
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