Announcing the BCD396XT and BC346XT Scanners

[bc780l]

Brief questions:
1) Mode 1 and Mode 2 display capability now available? Didn't see it mentioned.
2) Group Quick Key range: 0-9. I'm hoping that it's a typo--it should be 0-99 with 500 talk groups per system for good manageability ... Use the same methodology as for the 0-99 system IDs for example:
S2:1234567890 System quick keys
G9:1234567890 Group quick keys instead of only GRP1234567890
3) P25 non-trunking talk groups--thanks for including those. How are they going to be handled?
4) Will the PDF of the manual be available at some point for those who'd like to review it?

Thanks for your efforts.

 

[Bill_White]

I'll get the full 346 specs up later this week. But no, it does not do mil-air.

OUCH babe...
Will it have a NASCAR logo on it? :roll:

 

[JB_Dallas]

Hey Paul... I want one!!!! and just for informative purposes...My 396 works fine.. I'm sure it will continue to work just fine. Like my vehicle, it may not have all the newest bells and whistles, but it will still work just fine. It will work for me for many years probably... like my 895 does....

I got to thinking about it. Car manufacturers come out with new models every year... each one with a little cooler, better, and more interesting features because of people's interests. Cell Phone companies sometimes release three new units in one year just because things change and they all have new features.... And computers change so fast, as someone mentioned, they have been updated before you get them home! We accept that as progress... you come out with something new four years later and people gripe... go figure...

for what it's worth...my ole 895 still works great in my 2000 SUV, even when I talk on my old Cingular Motorola Razr phone...

Keep up the excellent work. Keep making it new and better... anyway, you are right Scott and this was difficult to navigate, so I'll stop here... before people start pulling out the dictionary when we all just want to talk about the cool new features on the scanner!!!!

JB in Dallas

 

[E367BL]

Maybe only time will tell, but will Uniden be providing any of these upgrades to the current 396, 996 in either free or paid upgrades? There are a few on that list that I would like to have, specifically:

Multi-Site support (for the 396's)
Individual channel volume offset
Key Safe Mode - lets you hand the scanner to a novice user and prevent programming from being modified.
Private Systems - lets you flag a system so that it cannot be read out of the scanner or modified.
Priority ID Scan on trunked systems
Preemptive Priority on Motorola analog systems

From what I can tell, all of these seem to be limited only by the firmware.

As far as the Control Channel Data Output (allows the analysis of control channel data without the need to perform invasive modifications to the scanner), I assume this one is limited by the hardware, and would require the purchase of a newer model, correct?

 

[K8TEK]

Maybe only time will tell, but will Uniden be providing any of these upgrades to the current 396, 996 in either free or paid upgrades? There are a few on that list that I would like to have, specifically:

Multi-Site support (for the 396's)
Individual channel volume offset
Key Safe Mode - lets you hand the scanner to a novice user and prevent programming from being modified.
Private Systems - lets you flag a system so that it cannot be read out of the scanner or modified.
Priority ID Scan on trunked systems
Preemptive Priority on Motorola analog systems

From what I can tell, all of these seem to be limited only by the firmware.

As far as the Control Channel Data Output (allows the analysis of control channel data without the need to perform invasive modifications to the scanner), I assume this one is limited by the hardware, and would require the purchase of a newer model, correct?

I see lots of people say the 396T lacks memory to add these features, but according to Paul Opitz, the programming that comes with the scanner is embedded in the firmware. Doesn't that seem like a waste of memory?
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119762

Seems to me that the lack of memory bit is nothing more then another lie!

 

[OHIOSCAN]

396XT Feature Request

How about dumping the Side Function Button and putting all buttons\keys on the front like
the Gre500\BCD996, sure makes 1-handed use easier

An SD slot card could be usefull for cloning, loading, backup and upgrades.

Mike

 

[rdale]

That's certainly not a realistic request for something that's going to be available in just a few months...

Maybe a separate "wishlist" thread could be created? There are several already.

 

[UPMan]

Backlight shot added to the wiki. Backlighting is almost impossible to accurately capture by photo, so they are normally post-processed ... but these are pretty much straight from my camera.

Now, some of the other questions I see above:

Will the BC346XT have the same freq coverage as BR330T? No. It will be more like BC246T.

Will have Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3 (trunking activity indicators)

Group keys are still 0-9 (and still a limit of 20 channel groups per system).

P25 "Single Frequency Trunking" will be handled like a trunked system that you can only have one frequency in, but can have NAC assigned to. There is no industry name for this that we have been able to find, so for now it is "P25 Single Frequency Trunking." Actually, I have an opportunity to change this to something else for about 48 hours if someone knows a better term. It is most analogous to EDACS SCAT (in that neither of these are truly "trunking" although they have some of the attributes).

We're working on an O/M Wiki, now. Also working on a releasable copy of the operation specification.

We still have time to add the NASCAR logo if you really want it.

I still have in mind some updates for the older models beyond the one coming out this week. However, as I have mentioned in the past, it all really depends on market forces and resource availability. Some updates just aren't possible under the limits of the hardware (like more channels/trunked system, more modes in a system, etc...). The memory for channels (and the preprogrammed stuff) are external to the CPU. To scan something, you have to bring it into the CPU's RAM...and that is where we've run into hard limits. Keep in mind that we've had updates for both the 296 and 796 since they were discontinued, and still plan at least one more (for rebanding). Of course, there is a limit to how long you can support an orphan...

 

[UPMan]

The BCD396XT and BC346XT will use single-hand Func operation. Those of you who are used to the current operation will surely let fly a few creative phrases as you get used to it.

Basically will work like the scroll knob on the mobile units. Tap to activate for 3 seconds...most function presses extend the activation for another 3 seconds.

You can latch the function by pressing and holding (which is when you'll get most creative), but that will no longer be the method of choice for holding on a system. Instead, long press HOLD and the scanner will hold and scan the current system (and you'll still be able to use F+ commands while it is scanning...something you cannot do on the 396T).

 

[Smerri]

2) Group Quick Key range: 0-9. I'm hoping that it's a typo--it should be 0-99 with 500 talk groups per system for good manageability ... Use the same methodology as for the 0-99 system IDs for example:
S2:1234567890 System quick keys
G9:1234567890 Group quick keys instead of only GRP1234567890

I was hoping for more group quick keys too with the increase in memory.

Thanks a lot Paul for the replies and answering many questions today.

 

[garys]

A lot of nice feature additions to the current predecessor product. The temporary lock out, multi site, start up keys, and other "996" features make it almost worth upgrading. The new features such as system/channel tagging, and the public safety oriented lock out features will be nice in the inevitable mobile versions.

I really hope that some of the features will be incorporated in the current 396T, even if there is a cost attached.

 

[slicerwizard]

Maybe only time will tell, but will Uniden be providing any of these upgrades to the current 396, 996 in either free or paid upgrades? There are a few on that list that I would like to have, specifically:

Multi-Site support (for the 396's)
Individual channel volume offset
Key Safe Mode - lets you hand the scanner to a novice user and prevent programming from being modified.
Private Systems - lets you flag a system so that it cannot be read out of the scanner or modified.
Priority ID Scan on trunked systems
Preemptive Priority on Motorola analog systems

From what I can tell, all of these seem to be limited only by the firmware.

All of those are firmware features.

As far as the Control Channel Data Output (allows the analysis of control channel data without the need to perform invasive modifications to the scanner), I assume this one is limited by the hardware, and would require the purchase of a newer model, correct?

That is also a firmware feature.

No extra hardware is required to implement any of those features. The only newly announced features that could require extra hardware are: IF Exchange, Band Scope, and Multicolor Display Backlight. The rest are all pure firmware.

 

[b52hbuff]

EDACS Wide with Narrowband voice?

Do we have the ability to decode an EDACS Wide control channel and decode the voice channels with narrow band voice modulation?

The local NASA site went to a narrowband channelization but kept their old EDACS controller. The result is that the audio level from the current radios (e.g. 246/396) is muted and muffled, since the radio tries to decode a narrowband FM signal with the 'FM' channel spacing.

 

[UPMan]

Some of that first group would require more CPU RAM...

I'm not sure where we are right now on codespace...some of the new features require a non-trivial amount of code to implement.

But right now, I'm mostly concerned with getting the XT out.

 

[UPMan]

Do we have the ability to decode an EDACS Wide control channel and decode the voice channels with narrow band voice modulation?

The local NASA site went to a narrowband channelization but kept their old EDACS controller. The result is that the audio level from the current radios (e.g. 246/396) is muted and muffled, since the radio tries to decode a narrowband FM signal with the 'FM' channel spacing.

Yes, you will.

 

[b52hbuff]

Reverse tone decode for conventional channels?

Does the radio have the ability to suppress the audio on a conventional channel when the tone is removed? I really don't like the squelch tail on the existing uniden radios.

 

[b52hbuff]

Any new automation features?

Uniden has historically had some great automation frequencies (e.g. autostore for Search, TRS Search and CC). Are there any new automation features in this radio?

I'm also curious if the radio has the ability to generate an alert on an 'unknown' TGID during a TRS search?

Thanks for all of the answers to my other questions!

 

[Viper43]

But..... firmware is dependent on available memory for the firmware.....

V

All of those are firmware features.



That is also a firmware feature.

No extra hardware is required to implement any of those features. The only newly announced features that could require extra hardware are: IF Exchange, Band Scope, and Multicolor Display Backlight. The rest are all pure firmware.

 

[donc13]

I really think you should consider the switch to BNC as most scanner users use BNC.

If someone really wants SMA they can get an adapter.

Although I understand if its based on the 396 then your going with the same design etc (the 396 had SMA)

You can use an adapter either way...sma to BNC or BNC to sma

I kind of like the way it is now....comes with an sma but also comes with a BNC-sma adapter so all your current antennas will still be usable without another thingie to purchase.

 

[torontokris]

Nice picture of the backlight different colours.