Announcing the BCD396XT and BC346XT Scanners

[floydpink999999]

BCD996XT : Is it a possibility?

Just when I was thinking of finally getting a new BCD996T, I'll just wait a little more until Uniden announces the new BCD996XT. I have lots of patience...

 

[bwilborn]

So I have a couple of questions:

1.) Will the audio out port (headphone jack) double as the discriminator tap port via analog, to be used with an external data slicer? Or, will that be handled as a data stream through the serial cable to interface directly with a PC? I'm just curious if the radio will be able to interface with, say, Pro96Com directly.

2.) Backlight colors - are we just limited to the seven colors (which is great), or will we have the ability to adjust individual RGBW intensity settings to create colors in-between (which would be super-hot)?


Thanks!

-- B

 

[al95]

Upman will the bcd396t still be updated, or will this be last update 09-30-2008 for this scanner. I hope you will continue updating this scanner, by adding new features.

 

[rdale]

al95 - that's the fourteenth post asking, check the 396T threads - this is for the XT.

 

[DickH]

Lots of cool new features. Ain't competition great !!!

 

[WayneH]

You obviously don't know anything about firmware vs system memory. What is burned into a ROM (which is where I suspect the default systems are stored) can't be changed. If that's burned into a PROM or flash memory...fine, it can be changed, dropped or added to...but that does NOT make that space available for "operation" They are separate areas and types of memory.

We were doing perfectly fine until you had to dredge up this earlier rant. Leave it alone!

No more on the "obsolete topic". Go argue it in another thread.

 

[UPMan]

1. Decoded data will stream through the serial port.

2. 7 colors, 3 dim levels per color.

So I have a couple of questions:

1.) Will the audio out port (headphone jack) double as the discriminator tap port via analog, to be used with an external data slicer? Or, will that be handled as a data stream through the serial cable to interface directly with a PC? I'm just curious if the radio will be able to interface with, say, Pro96Com directly.

2.) Backlight colors - are we just limited to the seven colors (which is great), or will we have the ability to adjust individual RGBW intensity settings to create colors in-between (which would be super-hot)?


Thanks!

-- B

 

[Viper43]

See message #87.......

V

Upman will the bcd396t still be updated, or will this be last update 09-30-2008 for this scanner. I hope you will continue updating this scanner, by adding new features.

 

[KC1UA]

Lots of cool new features. Ain't competition great !!!

THAT is exactly correct. Thank God for both of these companies from a scannist's point of view. They are both fine companies doing a fine job. They have both come out with their own fine and unique features, and both have to some point imitated some of the competition's features; the highest form of flattery.

I hope they continue to compete for the foreseeable future. That does nothing but benefit us end users.

With the discriminator output on the serial cable it will be interesting to see how programs like UniTrunker will ultimately work with these radios. It'll be great to carry something this small that has that capability without having to modify the radio.

I'm less concerned about the colors, but this approach sounds superior to that of the GRE radios. I had to turn off the LED on my PSR500. I liked the concept, but the damned thing was so bright it detracted from viewing the display.

I love my PSR500, but if Uniden gets the P25 audio 100% right this time around and the speaker quality is improved over the 396T, I can see the 396XT becoming the #1 radio in my arsenal. I've become accustomed to the DMA layout of the Uniden scanners and I must say I like their approach a bit better than GRE's, although GRE's is pretty neat as well.

Yep, competition is great!

 

[slicerwizard]

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

The 396 already has a meg of flash RAM. No way it's full of code already.

Each channel has to be checked to see if it has a lockout flag or not, that slows scan speed as much as having a lot of channels.

Maybe if the firmware is brain dead. Even my 15 year old Pro-43 is smart enough to find the next unlocked channel while it's evaluating the one it's currently tuned to.

1. Decoded data will stream through the serial port.

Unfortunately, useful data like lost OSWs and corrected bit counts aren't reported (assuming the scanners do FEC).

 

[Eng74]

I like what has been done with the Fire Tone Out, the built in decoder will be great. Is it still only 10 channels? Also was it added to the 346XT?

 

[jmm346]

NAC decode should an added feature for the 396T firmware update tomorrow or Wednesday

Really?

 

[Viper43]

I guess you missed the part about CPU ram as well, which is where the limits are......

And who said it isn't smart, it takes TIME though, and it all adds up....

V

The 396 already has a meg of flash RAM. No way it's full of code already.



Maybe if the firmware is brain dead. Even my 15 year old Pro-43 is smart enough to find the next unlocked channel while it's evaluating the one it's currently tuned to.



Unfortunately, useful data like lost OSWs and corrected bit counts aren't reported (assuming the scanners do FEC).

 

[ff026]

what about P25 Phase 2 TDMA & FDMA. will it work on those systems, if not will there be a firmware update?

 

[rdale]

ff026 - scroll back and use the "Ctrl-F" function. Already addressed.

 

[pointy]

It would be great if it had bluetooth. Pity it's not included.

Is the Attenuator on a per channel basis or the useless global variety now implemented in the 396?

Thanks, Greg.

 

[Viper43]

Read back, thats another issue already answered, actually both were....

V

It would be great if it had bluetooth. Pity it's not included.

Is the Attenuator on a per channel basis or the useless global variety now implemented in the 396?

Thanks, Greg.

 

[N9NRA]

cool to hear this news! And i was thinkin` on getting me another ham radio...mabey i`ll wait and see how the `396XT shakes out, might have to rethink my plans for my next year`s tax refund . N9NRA

 

[mikey60]

So I have a couple of questions:

1.) Will the audio out port (headphone jack) double as the discriminator tap port via analog, to be used with an external data slicer? Or, will that be handled as a data stream through the serial cable to interface directly with a PC? I'm just curious if the radio will be able to interface with, say, Pro96Com directly.
-- B

I'm assuming that it will be via the serial port. As far as Pro96Com decoding the data, I won't know until I see a sample of the output.

Mike

 

[loumaag]

...No more on the "obsolete topic". Go argue it in another thread.

I moved 22 off topic posts mostly due the the ranting of K8TEK to the wasteland so that people who are interested in sensibly discussing this radio announcement without slinging mud can do so.

As Wayne says, no more "obsolete" discussion here.