How to set up and use Quick Keys??

[kc8pgr]

Here is what's up...
I live in Ohio near Dayton, but every so often I go to the Columbus area. What I want to do is set up one batch of counties/frequencies for the Dayton area and one for the Columbus area. I am using a BCT15X I just got (Which I love, btw) but darned if I can figure out how to set it up so I can scan the home area when here, and then switch to the Columbus area when I am there. On my old Pro-2006 It was easy enough to just turn off a bank and turn on another. but reading the online manuals I have seen leaves me confused. Anyone know how to do it and can word it in plain and simple English so I can solve my situation?? Thanks in advance for any help. Be well :-)

[W8RMH]

Assign SQK 1 to Dayton and SQK 2 to Columbus. When in Dayton disable SQK 2. When in Columbus disable SQK 1. Pretty simple.

[kc8pgr]

TY. I will have to look up how to set SQKs in the software or the scanner via the manual. But I am sure I will get it figured out here soon. It didn't take me all that long to figure out the ARC-XT and FreeScan software after I got it going. One just has to love Universal Radio. I call them my "Toy Store." Also love that they have and keep a few cats in the place. Be well :-)

[kc8pgr]

To W8RMH, Thanks for the help. Figured it out and all is well. I put the Dayton area on 0 and the Columbus/WashingtonCH area on 1. Going to soon put Cincinnati area on 3. All is well :-)

[sfdf]

You may want to read up here.
Easier to Read BCD396XT Digital Scanner Manual

[davedaver1]

Originally Posted by kc8pgr

TY. I will have to look up how to set SQKs in the software or the scanner via the manual. But I am sure I will get it figured out here soon. It didn't take me all that long to figure out the ARC-XT and FreeScan software after I got it going.

I don't know how they manage it in ARC-XT, but in Freescan the System Quick Key Manager is your friend when you start getting more than just a few programmed.

For what it's worth, I group my QKs by function when possible. For instance, the 40s are my highway patrol systems. And, I travel to Reno occasionally like you do to Columbus - so the 80s are my Reno systems. (I don't want just 1 key to turn on all of the stuff in Reno, I still like some control, so there are 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, and 86 to selectively turn things on and off as I like.

Think about your structure and try to put some logic to it as you go along, it makes things easier to remember. Don't hesitate to rearrange when you see a better way - the software makes that easy to do.

[sfdf]

One easy way to remember what Q key is assassinated is to put the # in front of the name.
= 01 State 02 County then break in further down by 01 PD 02 SO and so on. this way when you see it go by you can see what # you assigned to it and over Time will remember it.

For what it's worth, I group my QKs by function when possible. .[/QUOTE]

[kbehning]

? ? ?

[doctordialtone]

Originally Posted by sfdf

One easy way to remember what Q key is assassinated is to put the # in front of the name.

Dave's right. System Quick Key Manager is your friend in Freescan. It lets you see which SQK's are utilized and for what. Likewise you can export your setup to print out a handy mini-cheat sheet.

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

I am looking to augment my scanner collection with a 396.

Thus, I have DLd freescan, and am a little corn-fused about quickkeys myself.... i am playing with this before I buy the actual scanner.

I have DLd a system from RR, below which there are many groups, each containing a collection of talk groups. Got THAT part of it.

On the SYSTEM, I believe, the quick-keys available are 0-9 (i think). when you get down to the talk group level, looks like there are 30 quick keys(maybe more) of them available at THAT level.

This is where my confusion starts. If I assign "1" to the SYSTEM, and, say "2" to all of the talk-groups below it, what have I got? ... and how does that translate to the user interface/keyboard with regards to turning them on/off. The "easier to read" manual didn't shed light on that FOR ME.

I know this may seem like an odd question, or stupid question, but this is where I get a disconnect, not having the actual hardware to play with.

I have a PSR500, and, as many know, you set up your 800 system(s), then assign any/all talk groups to whatever/however many banks you want. Intuitively, this makes sense to me....

I am having trouble making the paradigm shift to "Uniden-Speak".

Maybe someone can clarify....

[bear780ks]

I'v had a little run in with them keys my self! It's like the little Dog that's chasing his tail he almost has a handle on it) but he's still a we bit from catching up with it.

And this old geezer gained another Day so give me a who who! if want to and lets enjoy the Day... Ra

[UPMan]

http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/publish/QuickKeys.html

[bear780ks]

Hey Paul thanks for the Info) Hey got a ? Paul how about setting up some classes on programming and such for the 396 or 996 for us one's that need a pointer or two.. just kidding but that little burger has thrown me more than one curve or two compared to my BC780.. Ra

[hiegtx]

Originally Posted by GrumpyAeroGuy

I am looking to augment my scanner collection with a 396.

Thus, I have DLd freescan, and am a little corn-fused about quickkeys myself.... i am playing with this before I buy the actual scanner.

I have DLd a system from RR, below which there are many groups, each containing a collection of talk groups. Got THAT part of it.

On the SYSTEM, I believe, the quick-keys available are 0-9 (i think). when you get down to the talk group level, looks like there are 30 quick keys(maybe more) of them available at THAT level.

This is where my confusion starts. If I assign "1" to the SYSTEM, and, say "2" to all of the talk-groups below it, what have I got? ... and how does that translate to the user interface/keyboard with regards to turning them on/off. The "easier to read" manual didn't shed light on that FOR ME.

I know this may seem like an odd question, or stupid question, but this is where I get a disconnect, not having the actual hardware to play with.

I have a PSR500, and, as many know, you set up your 800 system(s), then assign any/all talk groups to whatever/however many banks you want. Intuitively, this makes sense to me....

I am having trouble making the paradigm shift to "Uniden-Speak".

Maybe someone can clarify....

With the Uniden DMA scanners, you assign System Quick Keys to Conventional Systems, which is a collection of conventional frequencies. That could be a: single county (a small, rural county, for example); a medium sized city, with a small number of frequency assignments; or perhaps a department, police or fire, in a larger city, with a large number of frequencies in use.

Your Systems can be further subdivided into Groups, and Group Quick Keys assigned to them. I use the groups to to sort frequency usage by city, agency, or type. It all depends on the type of system.

For Trunked Systems, the Quick Keys are called Site Quick Keys. Each transmit site, for the same system, can be given the same Site Quick Key, so that all can be toggled on or off at the same time, or you can give each one, or a number of them (perhaps grouped geographically) the same key. You can also use Groups, with the Group Quick Keys, in a Trunked system, to sort out the various talkgroups by user and/or function. By default, when importing, FreeSCAN will generate a 'group' for each 'group' of talkgroups (or frequencies) that are separated in the database with a heading title.

System, or Site, Quick Keys can be any number from 0 through 99. You can assign the same number to as many systems as you wish to turn or off at the same time.

Group Quick Keys are 0 through 9, though you can have up to twenty Groups in a given system.

The scanner display is:

Conventional Systems:
System Name<----alternating with---->Group Name
Frequency's Text Tag

Trunked Systems:
Site Name<-------alternating with---->Group Name
Talkgroup's Text Tag

You did not specifically mention them, but you also have Startup keys available in the 396XT. You assign these (0 through 9) to systems to selectively load only what you want to scan. Like, for a trip, a 'key' for each segment. Or, one 'key' for scanning around your home, a different one for where you work, if the systems you can hear there are different.

Originally Posted by UPMan

http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/publish/QuickKeys.html

Besides the link UPMan provided, see this Wiki page.

Also see: Program your DMA Scanner - The RadioReference Wiki

[davedaver1]

The DMA concept is strange if you are used to the old bank-and-channel concept (like a BC780). I have a 780, 785 and had a 250D as well. I had a heck of a time getting my head wrapped around my 396XT for some reason - and from what I read on here, it's common.

Here's what finally got me going: QKs are like the banks. But you get a whole lot more than you used to! So create what you might want in a bank, and then assign it a QK - that's the number for your bank. While scanning, you flip the banks on and off by the QK number - easy. (The hard part is that you can create so many, it's hard to remember - and for me, at least, a cheat sheet is necessary for all but my most favorites.)

The GQKs are for turning things on and off within a system - channels or talk groups. Oddly, they are limited to 0-9, but that's usually enough. Here's how I do it most of the time: I have systems that are counties. Then, I have GQKs that are almost always arranged the same. 1=Fire, 2=Police, 3=Public works and others as necessary. I am mostly interested in fire, so by default GQK 1 is on. I can turn on the other stuff as desired.

So, here's an example of using it. I'm sitting here monitoring my usual agencies and I hear the med helicopter has taken off with the patient from an incident. I like to hear the patient reports to the hospital, so I press "9" on the keypad and now it's scanning the system with the Med channels. Patient report accomplished, and I press "9" on the keypad to turn off the Med channels. Another call - I hear a fire unit asking for a sheriff's unit to respond. I press and hold the Function button or dial - and select the county I'm listening to, then press "2" to enable the sheriff GQK. I can now leave it and it will scan only that system, or I can press Function again to resume scanning everything that's currently enabled. When I'm done listening to the sheriff group, I can do the above again and lose the sheriff GQK and it's channels.

There's a lot more, of course, but I guarantee you that once this clicks in your mind, it's crazy good. When I finally "got it", I started loving my 396XT so much that I had to get a 996XT - the BC785D just wasn't doing it for me anymore.

Anyway, hope this helps....

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

First of all, thank you to all who explained.

I figured that this system could have huge flexibility, but, without the actual hardware, I am sure it is diffucult to wrap ones arms around.

That being said, I am looking forward to augmenting my "fleet" and playing with this scanner.

The explanations here have assisted me in having a much better understanding than I had before. Thanks to all for responding.

[jkahn]

Originally Posted by UPMan

http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/publish/QuickKeys.html

Paul:

If you ever found the time, you could do a couple of instructional videos on subjects like this. You didn't seem to mind being on camera when the HP-1 came out !!