996 Quick Key Problem

[jmays]

After working with the fine 996 for the past year I decided to start using the System Quick Keys. Using the Butel Pro software, I enabled both the System and Group Keys and loaded the systems I wanted under the respective keys. I read the 996 owners manual and the Butel Pdf manual. When scanning, I pressed the specific key or keys and get a beep but no other response. It just keep scanning all the systems. I called Uniden and was told the scanner may be defective. I'm thinking there is something here I am missing. I've double checked the Butel program and the scanner manually. Everything seems in order but no response from the 996 for System Quick Keys. Everything else works great.

Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have any ideas for a fix?

jmays
KO4SI

[UPMan]

So, you've assigned Quick Keys to all your Conventional and LTR systems and Motorola and EDACS sites, right (these are SQK's...system/site quick keys)? What SQK's did you assign?

While scanning, if you press the SQK (if it is a single digit SQK) or . plus the SQK (if it is a two-digit SQK) it should enable/disable those systems assigned to that SQK.

I'd get that down before worrying about GQK's (channel Group Quick Keys).

[jmays]

UPMan, thanks for the reply. You are most knowdgeable about the 996. From my site here in West Tennessee I am able to monitor a large number of Counties in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. So the 996 is very well thought out to handle and organize numerous systems. Regarding the SQK's, I organized certain systems and assigned them to 9 of the first 10 SQK's. Some SQK's include a combination of one or more conventional, Mororola, and maybe an EDAC site. All trunked systems work fine and have been imported from RadioReference using the Butel Pro software.

While there might be a use for the channel Group Quick Keys, most of these were automatically assigned. Those that were not were manually assigned. I probably would not have bbothered with these but when everything else failed I thought I would try since the screen reflects those that are programed and those that are not. Assigning the GQK's
had no obvious affect

As previously mentioned, I carefully read the Uniden Manual and the Butel Manual. I understand the single digit for "O" through "9" and "." plus the SQK for higher numbers. I have checked the scanner by going through the steps manually to check the setup. That looks OK as does the screen info when scanning.

So, I appreciate your working with me on this. Please let me know any other ideas you have.

John
KO4SI

[werinshades]

Originally Posted by jmays

After working with the fine 996 for the past year I decided to start using the System Quick Keys. Using the Butel Pro software, I enabled both the System and Group Keys and loaded the systems I wanted under the respective keys. I read the 996 owners manual and the Butel Pdf manual. When scanning, I pressed the specific key or keys and get a beep but no other response. It just keep scanning all the systems. I called Uniden and was told the scanner may be defective. I'm thinking there is something here I am missing. I've double checked the Butel program and the scanner manually. Everything seems in order but no response from the 996 for System Quick Keys. Everything else works great.

Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have any ideas for a fix?

jmays
KO4SI

I think the scanner is fine, but you have to manually assign a System and Group key after you have loaded the systems you want in. Go to: Menu>Program System>Select System>Edit System Option>Set Quick Key> Scroll to Number you want to assign it to>Press Scan.....now when you are in Scan mode, you should see a * next to the System Quick key you selected. If their are no System or Group Quick Keys assigned..you should see a - (Dash).

(EX: S0: 1*****- - - - ) ...this sceario would mean System Quick Key 1 has been turned on, System Quick Keys 2,3,4,5,6...locked out....no Systems have been assigned 7,8,9,0.

[UPMan]

As referred to above, please advise what the 2nd from the bottom line in the display looks like while scanning. It starts with the letter "S" followed by a numeral then a series of numbers, dashes, or "*".

[jmays]

Again, thanks to werinshades and UPMan for your responses. Here is what the display looks like when scanning: SO: 12345678-0 (no systems are assigned to 9 or higher 2 digit numbers). When scanning through systems which have been assigned to an SQK the number flashes and if groups were assigned the respective GRP number flashes as well.
When pressing a SQK the number changes to the asterisk but the scanner continues to scan all systems, not just the ones assigned to the SQK (I have pressed multiple SQKs with the same results of getting the appropriate asterisks but the scanner scanning all systems).

What is your prognosis?

John
KO4SI

[UPMan]

Ok, the prognosis is that you are misunderstanding how SQK's work.

Pressing an SQK only toggles the status of those systems assigned to that SQK. It does not affect any other systems. So, if the display looks like the above, when you press "4", it will now look like:

SO: 123*5678-0

And you will be hearing all systems except those assigned to SQK 4.

If you want to hear only SQK 4, then instead of hitting "4" above, press 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 0 so that the display looks like:

SO: ***4****-*

Then, if you want to hear only those systems assigned to SQK 2 you would press "2" "4" after which the display would look like:

SO: *2******-*

The SQK buttons work just like the bank buttons did on "old school" scanners (only better).

[LordJ]

I'm gonna try this one, and see how it works...Did you totally delete the systems that were on there? I am guessing that the old non-sqk system is still on there, so when you shut off all the 'new' systems, the old one is still on there. I would reset the radio deleteing all the systems programmed in. Then for your new systems, put the sqk # in the title then upload the new systems. This should fix your problem. (the # in the title won't, but you should find it useful Hope this solves your problem...If I mis-interpreted your problem, please disregard all previous blabber..

[jmays]

UPMan, you are the man! You were absolutely correct. I misunderstood the operation of the QKS. I thought I was missing something and you have come to the rescue and educated me. The QKS works great when you understand it. I made it too hard. Thank you very much!

While I have your attention, I want you to know how much I enjoy the 996. I have been scanning since I purchased a PRO 2006 when they first came on the market. Since then I've owned a BC 9000, BC780, and BC785D which I use together with the 996 as my base station. The 785D and 996 are tied to two Scantenna's mounted on an 80' Rhom 45 tower and fed with Belden 9913 and RG11 respectively. With this set up here in the flatlands of Southwest Tennessee, I monitor 16 Tennessee counties, 9 Mississippi counties, 2 Arkansas counties, 2 Alabama counties, 5 trunked systems, and 8 agencies.

The 996 is perfect for this type of monitoring and using a computer and the Butel Pro software together with RadioReference is a fantistic combination. The 996 is a master piece down to the little simple details such as the front mounted headphone jack. I'm complimenting you on this because I'm under the impression that you were involved in the development of the 996.

Thanks again to you, and others who have offered help.

John
KO4SI

[UPMan]

Thanks. I was the architect, but there were a lot of engineers taking care of the details.

[blinddog50]

C'mon Paul, Let's not be modest here.

By the way, what happened to the horns?