396 digital scanner

[ajc165]

i have a uniden 396 digital scanner it hasn't been performing very well recently , it's programed for opp. zones 1,2,3. i'm in the Niagara penninsula . it use to pick up a lot of activity but in the last year it's not working to well , has my scanner become obsolete, has there been a programing change that i'm missing ? I'm thinking of purchasing a new scanner what would be a good choice ?

thanks , in advance , ajc

 

[VA3SOM]

I personally replaced my 396XT with a TRX-1, as a lot of stuff in this area moving to DMR and a lot of P25 Phase 2(Metrolinx for example) stuff that my 396 just could not cover.

Seems to do Fleetnet quite well too.

 

[UPMan]

Do you have a BCD396T, a BCD396XT, or a BCD396P2?

 

[ajc165]

BDC396T apco25

 

[mule1075]

BCD396P2?

Typo?

 

[wtp]

ajc165

look for a personal message.

 

[JANFINE]

BCD396T

The BCD396T scanner came out around 2009.
It has been replaced a few times.
First with the BCD396XT then with the Home Patrol.
In 2014 the BCD436HP came out.
So although the BCD396T will work on some systems it is almost 10 years old.
Technology on both the Public Safety radios and on the Scanners changes over time.
It all depends on the systems that you want to listen to.

 

[Go-West]

I have two of them and they work well. I think I paid $530 when they first hit the market.

https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396T

 

[randyf]

i have a uniden 396 digital scanner it hasn't been performing very well recently , it's programed for opp. zones 1,2,3. i'm in the Niagara penninsula . it use to pick up a lot of activity but in the last year it's not working to well , has my scanner become obsolete, has there been a programing change that i'm missing ? I'm thinking of purchasing a new scanner what would be a good choice ?

thanks , in advance , ajc

when was the last time you updated programing

 

[Go-West]

I use the ARC396Pro software for programming them. If you are looking for a newer model, I'd recommend the BCD436HP and have owned this one for about four years now, easy updates online and upgrades are available for a reasonable price. I bought the ARC software for the 436 as well. I guess different scanner makers are similar to Budweiser or Miller.

 

[EJB]

i have a uniden 396 digital scanner it hasn't been performing very well recently , it's programed for opp. zones 1,2,3. i'm in the Niagara penninsula . it use to pick up a lot of activity but in the last year it's not working to well , has my scanner become obsolete, has there been a programing change that i'm missing ? I'm thinking of purchasing a new scanner what would be a good choice ?

With Fleetnet : what towers are u monitoring? Can you hear the control channel?
Have you put in all the OPP talkgroups you want to monitor? You should also put in the MTOE
Talkgroups? This scanner will work only if you put in all the potential patched talkgroups.

To monitor the Niagara OPP talkgroup you have to include the Burligton talkgroup. They are patched. You need both of them in your scanner to monitor. And often the two talkgroups are patched with MTOE talkgroups so put those in as well.

 

[webstar22]

I got myself a Whistler 1098 refurb for my car.

 

[wtp]

the bcd396T

came out in 2005.
if i have done the math right it is 13 years old.
i got mine in 2007 and use it everyday, it goes everywhere with me.
the current firmware is 3.02.02

 

[Voyager]

Typo?

I think he was thinking of the BCD325P2 - the successor to the BCD396XT.

 

[ajc165]

Thanks for all the ideas... I have never updated the firmware . How do I do that ?
It is programmed with all the control groups.

 

[UPMan]

BCD396TFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

 

[ajc165]

ok ..... so I got my scanner ready to do the firmware update, the cable that connects to the pc has a serial port connector , guess what ? my pc(lap top ) doesn't have that type of connection ,,,,,
now what do I do ?

 

[wtp]

any chance

that you have an old computer with the serial connector ?
also if you check the updates they may not concern your area.
i think the updates were for P-25 and 800 stuff, i do know there were others.

 

[hiegtx]

ok ..... so I got my scanner ready to do the firmware update, the cable that connects to the pc has a serial port connector , guess what ? my pc(lap top ) doesn't have that type of connection ,,,,,
now what do I do ?

See this Wiki page for some of your options:
Connecting scanners via USB - The RadioReference Wiki