BCD396XT/BCD996XT: 396xt no audio

[irishman75]

I am having problems getting audio from my BC 396XT scanner. I used free scan software to import all the frequencies and the names are coming through on the scanner, but I’m not getting any audio. I do have an extension speaker hooked up and I’m sounds the scanner is making, but there’s no volume

 

[wtp]

what system are you trying to listen to ?

 

[irishman75]

Anne Arundel county pd &fire Baltimore city/county and Anne Arundel county schools

 

[irishman75]

I’m using a bc396xt and freescan software

 

[wtp]

Anne Arundel County (P16)​

This system is deprecated, and may no longer be in use or is superseded by another system.

001 (1)	Simulcast	854.1875	854.3375c	854.4125c	854.5125	854.7125	854.8125c	855.1625c	855.5375
		856.0125	856.0875	856.1125	856.1625	856.5125	856.3875	856.4125	856.6375

and this looks like the new system
Project 25 Phase II

1 (1)	001 (1)	Simulcast	851.1375c	852.6875c	853.325c	853.8375	854.1875	854.5125c	854.7125	855.8375
			856.0125	856.1625	856.4125	856.5125

Baltimore County

1 (1)	002 (2)	Simulcast	854.0125	854.0375c	854.5625	856.0625	856.2125c	856.4625	856.6875	856.7125
			856.9625	857.0625	857.1125	857.2125	857.4625	857.5375	857.6875	857.7125
			857.9625c	858.1125	858.2125c	858.6875	858.7125	858.9625	859.1625	859.2125
			859.4625	859.5875	859.7125	859.9625	860.2125	860.4625	860.7125	860.9625

and what they all have in common is that nasty word SIMULCAST.
usually if you are far enough away it is not that bad, but you never know.
other than the uniden SDS radios, many have problems with simulcast.
on our system the 396T and 396XT had problems receiving the 700 mhz simulcast system.
at times it would show 5 on the signal meter and we would not hear anything.
the best we got it to do ws 1/4 second of voice and then 1/4 second of silence.
so the wife and i got a SDS100 and have no problem.
i am a cheap guy, and hate to tell someone to spend money...but the SDS radios are worth it.
they take a bit to get used to programming them, but so did the others.
the wife set 'her' radio up with me just looking over her shoulder.
but she did do IT work for many years.
to make sure it is the problem, can you get near a tower and see if it works fine ?
the problem is when the radio 'sees' more than one tower.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Building upon the simulcast distortion diagnosis above, feel free to try the mitigation methods linked here if there is still traffic carried on the old P16 system. Ultimately you'll need a P25 Phase-II capable scanner if/when your county finally makes the migration over to the new Phase-II system, your 396xt won't track the new system at all. I'll echo the recommendation for an SDS100

 

[irishman75]

what system are you trying to listen to ?

Anne Arundel police and fire and schools, Baltimore city/county police and fire

 

[wtp]

yes.

Baltimore City​

1 (1)	001 (1)	Simulcast	851.1125	851.225	851.350	851.625	851.6625	851.825	851.850	851.875
			851.900	852.150	852.175	852.2125	852.400	852.4375	852.4625	852.825
			852.900	852.925	852.9875	853.100	853.125	853.150	853.300	853.450
			853.700c	853.7375c	853.875c	853.950c

 

[irishman75]

Oddly it was working fine a month ago. Now suddenly nothing

 

[wtp]

is the radio in the same place and everything ?

 

[wtp]

oh, it could be that with less leaves on trees you then get better signals from other towers.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Oddly it was working fine a month ago. Now suddenly nothing

The P16 system is now listed as "deprecated" meaning they've moved on to the new Phase-II system. As I mentioned in Post #6 you won't be able to track the new system with your current 396XT
Also one important note: All law enforcement is now fully encrypted as are all other mode "TE" talkgroups on the new system so you won't be able to monitor these with any receiver not intended to operate on the system. Mode "T" talkgroups can be monitored with a capable scanner, preferably an SDS100 to overcome simulcast distortion

 

[irishman75]

How much is an sds100?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

How much is an sds100?

Uniden sets the price for new stock at $649.99 with no paid upgrades. If you search the classifieds you can sometimes find them second hand for cheaper

 

[Ubbe]

If it's just one or two systems that use simulcast and you monitor from home, then you can use a $20 SDR dongle and suitable free trunking software. No need for a SDS100.

/Ubbe

 

[tvengr]

The Anne Arundel County system is P25 Phase 2. The BCD396XT is capable of P25 Phase 1 only. Law enforcement is fully encrypted and cannot be received by any scanner. Your scanner is not capable of receiving the new AA County P25 system. Simulcast distortion is a big problem with the new system. The only scanners specifically designed to receive simulcast sites are the Uniden SDS100 handheld and SDS200 base/mobile.

 

[hiegtx]

Anne Arundel County (P16)​

This system is deprecated, and may no longer be in use or is superseded by another system.

001 (1)	Simulcast	854.1875	854.3375c	854.4125c	854.5125	854.7125	854.8125c	855.1625c	855.5375
		856.0125	856.0875	856.1125	856.1625	856.5125	856.3875	856.4125	856.6375

As noted, this system is deprecated. But, the county's database page still lists it as the primary system, with no reference to the new Phase II system on the main county page. (The new Phase II system is listed in the section showing trunked systems in the county, but not referenced when the county's page is first viewed.

Oddly it was working fine a month ago. Now suddenly nothing

Looking at the change history, the old (P16") system was marked as deprecated on 10/28, even though still shown on the county page as being in use. Someone in the area possibly could confirm whether the old system was still in, at least, partial use until the 10/28 change date. That's also the same date as the last update to the new system. The 4 Phase II system is listed among the trunked systems for the county, but is not referenced on the main page for the county.The county database page needs an update to reflect current usage, which tends to result in confusion as to which system is in use and should be programmed.. Someone in that area should send a 'reminder' update so that it reflects the current usage.

As Whiskey3, and several others have noted, the OP's 396XT is not capable of monitoring the new Phase II system. The best choice for a scanner for a simulcast system, as noted in several posts, is the SDS100. The issues created by simulcast distortion are heavily affected by location. In a few, limited, cases, a scanner other than the SDS series might work, and/or one of the suggested work-arounds on the simulcast Wiki page can help in a few instances, but that can be a long shot in making them work very well. But other than using an SDR dongle and software on a PC, the best choice remains an SDS100 or the base/mobile SDS200.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Uniden sets the price for new stock at $649.99 with no paid upgrades. If you search the classifieds you can sometimes find them second hand for cheaper

I can't say for certain, but some good deals may pop up in a couple weeks. (No, I have no inside info on this happening or not happening)