Program BCT 8 with Barghis 780 XLT Program?

[flafiretwo]

Just finished updating my 780 XLT frequencies using the Barghis 780XLT Software. Connected the BCT 8 to the computer using same cable and program. Set BCT8 to PC@19200. Asked 780 program to load from scanner and ALL 250 Frequencies loaded. Program showed it read from a BC245 scanner. It appears I could make changes and send to scanner. However, I DID NOT try to load program to scanner yet. Thought I would ask for further information here before I went any further.

[Al42]

Originally Posted by flafiretwo

Just finished updating my 780 XLT frequencies using the Barghis 780XLT Software. Connected the BCT 8 to the computer using same cable and program. Set BCT8 to PC@19200. Asked 780 program to load from scanner and ALL 250 Frequencies loaded. Program showed it read from a BC245 scanner. It appears I could make changes and send to scanner. However, I DID NOT try to load program to scanner yet. Thought I would ask for further information here before I went any further.

The protocol for the 3 scanners (8, 245 and 780) appears to be the same. (I didn't do a line-by-line comparison, but I needed some things for the streaming program I'm writing, so I went through the various protocol documents), and they're all banked, not dynamic memory so, aside from the differences in serial port speed, the program should work - with one caveat:

Are the banks set up the same on all 3? If you read a frequency from a bank that doesn't exist, or write a frequency to it, no telling what will happen. I doubt that the scanner will be damaged, but you may end up having to reset it to get the CPU back from the middle of next year.

[flafiretwo]

I have another BCT 8 so I think I'll select "send frequencies only" and try to transfer the data to the scanner. If it fails I can always re-clone from the other scanner. Thanks for your thoughts

[flafiretwo]

Test is complete. The AFS780 program can be used to program conventional frequencies into the BCT8. You can record an alpha numeric field in the program which can describe the frequency, but that DATA will not transfer. It appears that the AFS780 does not properly transfer trunking banks. Had to reclone from another BCT8 to get everything back to normal. So, if you travel and would like to store several conventional channel configurations in your PC for future use , this program can handle basic programming. While the program displays channels as 1 - 250 the computer print out produces 10 pages. One bank per page with each bank displaying Channels 1 - 30 .

[Al42]

Have you tried ID Tracker (http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/k/.../IDTracker.htm)? It claims to handle every single one of the older Unidens, with the exception of the BCT8, which it should handle - again, if the bank setup is the same.

[flafiretwo]

The AFS780 program WILL do what I need. By allowing me to program conventional non trunked frequencies I have the time saver I needed. Need this for trips into other states which involve railroad radio and non trunked fire dept monitoring. Thanks for the input.