Announcing the BCD396XT and BC346XT Scanners

[UPMan]

RID is not slated for V1.

 

[ME343]

sweet cant wait

 

[Kevinbb]

Thanks UPMan for the updates and info. I just dumped my GRE 500. Couldn't get use to it. It was just to big, clunky and cheap feeling. Nice radio though. I remember catching it mid air one day before it hit the pavement. I had milliseconds of a vision of it busting in a trillion pieces upon impact. It was a close call and I lost 10 years of my life that day. I'm glad I didn't sell my 396 during the 500 test run. I still have one of the first 396 units and its still running great. I'm hoping I don't have to send my new BCD396xt back for a a new key touch pad and speaker replacement though. I'd like the reception to be a bit better in the new release also. I'm not really complaining but I noticed the GRE 500 had a little better set of ears. Especially on VHF. Guess its time to get out the old 396 box and ready it for e-bay. The thought of getting rid of it stresses me out though. Its like dumping an old girlfriend who did things the others didn't

 

[RiceCake]

I thought Close Call was a Uniden feature?






Regardless if anyone in Canada sees this and has a BCD396T in great condition, let me know. Only the RCMP here has been using digital so I wouldn't mind helping out the eager who need the 'cream 'o the crop.

 

[rbm]

Can I use the same UASD files for both, for example?

Since I have several hundred UASD programming files, I have the same question about UASD files.

I now use the same system files for BCT15's, BCD996T's, and BCD396T's on multiple computers and laptops. I use UASD exclusively to program my scanners (other software for logging).

Thanks,
Rich

 

[anothermother]

What is the "tagging"?

Can anyone elaborate on "System / Channel Number Tagging"?

Thanks!

 

[UPMan]

We are still working on UASD for the new models. Hope to have either built-in compatibility or a conversion utility. Still nailing down which way to go.

 

[UPMan]

System / Number tagging:

You can assign each system a number tag between 0-999. Duplicates are allowed
You can assign each channel a number tag between 0-999. Duplicates are allowed.

To go to a specific channel in a specific system:

HOLD --> S###.C### --> MENU

For example, to go to Channel 43 in System 12: HOLD --> 12.43 --> MENU

(I haven't tried duplicate system tags...not sure the behavior, but will check that out.)

If multiple channels are tagged the same way, scrolling will flip between the duplicate tags.

 

[burningman_77]

Ohhhhhh... I'm getting one.

 

[Landman]

Will there be an adapter cable and/or software available that will allow programming the radio from a USB port instead of a serial port? I can do that now with other models that were originally designed for serial ports.

On a side note, thanks for the easier way to get to a specific channel within a system. Nice, real nice. That works with trunked talkgroups too right?

 

[rdale]

USB adapter has been around for years...

 

[anothermother]

Hm.. Interesting.

So, this is basically to save me from having to scroll all through creation just to get at a particular channel...

Do the tags affect scanning at all, or just "holding"?

p.s. UPman, it's great having you here. I love being able to talk right to the product team. Thanks.

 

[UPMan]

They do not affect scanning (as in scanning order, priority, etc). Just a replacement for scroll, scroll, scroll.

 

[TEH]

New Uniden scanners

Hey, this significant memory expansion is great news, thanks for this very helpful discussion.

Here's my wish list for Uniden:

1. Allow 300 or more quick keys, so we can assign quick keys to all radio systems we program, allowing users to more simply and quickly activate and deactivate systems.

2. Encrypted transmission skip or rescan. Some trunk talkgroups and some conventional channels are encrypted only some of the time. To hear the unencrypted comms, we must leave the talkgroup or channel in the scan list. And that means we will hear lots of annoying noise whenever the comms are encrypted, and forces us to repeatedly press the scan button to get the scanner going again when it stops on scrambled speech.

This encrypted skip function, when activated, would cause the scanner to skip encrypted communications or continue scanning after detecting an encrypted transmission. This is probably possible only on a transmission that is digital and encrypted.

The incrteased memory is much needed. I work for a TV station in Central Florida, and we send news crews all over the state. This amount of memory will allow me to program all the radio services in the state for instant access by our crews covering breaking stories.

 

[UPMan]

And the keysafe mode will hopefully help you keep your hair. It will let you hand the scanner to a reporter without getting a call back 2 hours later starting "I musta hit some button wrong...."

 

[Smerri]

Geez Paul. I now see why last weekend would be your last quiet one for awhile.

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions and get us ready for this new scanner(s).

 

[torontokris]

The current 396 already will skip encrypted conversation already (although there maybe a second delay while it finds out its encrypted)

Im guessing the 396XT does as well

The GRE's and Radio Shacks that do NOT do this.

2. Encrypted transmission skip or rescan. Some trunk talkgroups and some conventional channels are encrypted only some of the time. To hear the unencrypted comms, we must leave the talkgroup or channel in the scan list. And that means we will hear lots of annoying noise whenever the comms are encrypted, and forces us to repeatedly press the scan button to get the scanner going again when it stops on scrambled speech.

This encrypted skip function, when activated, would cause the scanner to skip encrypted communications or continue scanning after detecting an encrypted transmission. This is probably possible only on a transmission that is digital and encrypted.

The incrteased memory is much needed. I work for a TV station in Central Florida, and we send news crews all over the state. This amount of memory will allow me to program all the radio services in the state for instant access by our crews covering breaking stories.

 

[torontokris]

UPMan stated that
You can assign each system a number tag between 0-999. Duplicates are allowed
Not sure if thats the same as quick keys, but that should help you.

Hey, this significant memory expansion is great news, thanks for this very helpful discussion.

Here's my wish list for Uniden:

1. Allow 300 or more quick keys, so we can assign quick keys to all radio systems we program, allowing users to more simply and quickly activate and deactivate systems.

 

[DonS]

The GRE's and Radio Shacks that do NOT do this.

Depends on the signal type (conventional vs. trunked, trunked system type).

 

[UPMan]

UPMan stated that
You can assign each system a number tag between 0-999. Duplicates are allowed
Not sure if thats the same as quick keys, but that should help you.

Not exactly the same, but you could sure use it that way. If you want to quickly lock or unlock a system tagged 124, you could do:

HOLD --> 124. --> MENU --> FUNC + L/O L/O

After you press MENU the scanner will scan only that system (until you press SCAN or HOLD). FUNC + L/O L/O would lock it out permanently if it had been unlocked. Do the same thing, but F+L/O at the end and it would unlock it.