BC346XT

[rockcandymountain]

I hate to rehash the same thing that has probably been dicussed in here before. However, after googling as much as I could stand. I have come up empty.

I am attempting to load freq's from Freescan to my BC346XT, which I got yesterday. I paid for the premium subscription to RR so I could download.

I have installed Freescan on my system. Im running Windows 7 32bit.

After checking device manager, it shows that my serial port is working properly. I did receive a cable which is serial on one end and plugs into the scanner. Trying to upload from freescan to the scanner isnt working. Im sure its because the scanner isnt recognized.

Ive read that getting a USB to serial adapter is the way to go. Im off to Fry's to see what they have. I see that some of them are more compatable than others due to chipset features. I will take a list of compatable adapters with me hoping they carry one of them. Any advice at this point will be helpful.

I'd like to find a mentor to get me through the first several days of attempting to get my scanner loaded.

Im in the Seattle area

Thanks

 

[captclint]

I have installed Freescan on my system. Im running Windows 7 32bit. After checking device manager, it shows that my serial port is working properly. I

I am surprised that a win7 PC has as serial port. If it does, did you go to Control Scanner and set up the com port? You also have to set your scanner to the corrrect baud: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Freescan_-_Connecting_Scanner_to_PC I use a serial port on XP, and everything works well on Com3.

If you still can't get it set up, USB-serial requires that you load the drivers before connection the scanner, but still need to go to Shift+F1. Sounds like you read this, but just in case: Connecting scanners via USB - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[Marv_Ellis]

Hey rockcandymountain,

I just purchased a BCD396XT yesterday myself. And I'm also using FreeSCAN to upload freqs from RR. i also live just up the coast in Vancouver, BC. So maybe we can stumble thru the learning process together?

Ok, first question for you....did you install the .net framework v4 for MS Windows before you installed FreeScan? The latest release notes for FreeScan indicate you should do this or the software will not work correctly.

I will try a test upload (i already have the serial to USB adapter with updated chipset and have successfully used it with my BC898T) and get back to you a little later. The learning curve for this radio is pretty steep. I've just been doing custom searches since I bought it (@ RadShack in B'Ham on sale) yesterday.

Cheers,

 

[ka3jjz]

This article from our wiki has everything you need to get started - including the links to the Easier to Read manuals. Don't even bother with the Uniden piece of brown stuff they sent along with the scanner.

Program your DMA Scanner - The RadioReference Wiki

The links for the manuals are at the bottom.

Regardless of whether you use FreeScan or one of the other compatible packages (ProScan or ARC-XT), you really need to understand how DMA works before you can be successful programming. Each of these packages assumes some knowledge of this. I would go over the DMA FAQ (also linked in the article above), the Easier to Read manual (and if you need to understand how trunking works, there's a link for that too) before you proceed. There are Excel based worksheets floating around to help you with the planning.

Be sure to use the 'Erase all systems and settings' option the first time you try to upload, and ALWAYS back up your last version. That way if you really mess something up, you have a previous configuration to fall back to.

If you guys go to the ScanBC forums or to our Washington state forum, I don't doubt some folks can help out with file(s) they are using. Keep in mind that FreeScan can import BuTel's ARC files, as well as the original UASD (Uniden Advanced System director) software files. The UASD is a very old software package, not compatible with the XTs, that came out way before any of the current crop of software support. It's long since been abandoned.

Mike

 

[Marv_Ellis]

Thanks for the suggestions, Mike. I'm still trying to read thru the Easier to read manual (in between cleaning the house up for a visit from relatives). It will take me a few days to get cozy with all the niceties of programming and scanning with this new beast. Fortunately, I previously owned the BC246T so I'm ahead of the game in one respect, comfort with DMA. However, I sold that radio a few years ago and have been playing in the GRE object-oriented scanning pool since then.

rockcandymountain (what did yer mama name you?), I successfully uploaded a test set of data (WA State Patrol and USDOJ IWN). The FreeScan software had no problems automatically "discovering" the Com Port (6) to use. Hopefully it will work OK for you once you get the Serial Port to USB adapter going.

Now I just gotta figure out how to scan these two new systems (that would be why Mike suggested erasing all the current systems in the radio...once uploaded it starts to try and scan EVERYTHING in its memory).

Gotta run. Have fun and stay in touch.

Paul in B.C.

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

Seem's to me It's going to be a long haul getting my 396xt programed when i get it....

 

[ka3jjz]

One of the biggest stumbling blocks everyone seems to have when trying to figure out why something isn't being scanned is the concept of quick keys. They're like bank switches in the old world. In a conventional system, you have system and group quick keys - in the trunking world (XT scanners) you have site and group quick keys. You need to understand how each works.

FreeScan makes it easy on the group level, as it defaults to all groups being enabled (but notice I didn't say allocated - it's a 2 step process, and a step you must do). And you can use the System Quick Key manager to see what system/site keys are allocated (and you can use it to be sure you enable them as well). That's explained in the FreeScan User guide.

Mike

 

[K7CAR]

RCM, I'm NE of you near Monroe. If you have your scanner communicating with your PC I can send you several scanner files that will cover W.WA or the entire State. All you'll need to do is load them on your scanner.

 

[rockcandymountain]

So I went and got the USB to Serial adapter, plugged it in and Good Old Windows 7 updated the driver automatically. When I went to import a system to the scanner, it was saying that it wasnt communicating with the scanner. One of the Wiki articles mentions trying different USB ports. That did the trick. I was able to upload what I wanted to the scanner.

Now I have new questions. First of all, why when I go to Freescan and begin an import, I go to Radio reference and choose runked systems and then Washington, King County, then Seattle-King County public safety. At this port I get a left pane populated with sites and the right pane is populated with Groups.

I chose the groups I wanted however Freescan will not let me get further without picking a site. So, I picked a site and prroceeded to load everything to the scanner. On the scanner screen top line is listed the site I selected. Why am I forced to pick a site?

 

[UPMan]

Because a site defines the frequencies that will be used to monitor the system.

 

[rockcandymountain]

Ok, Im a bit confused here. Are you saying that a 'site' is required before you pick the groups? I dont see any correlation between the names lsted in the sites compared to the names listed in the groups.

 

[UPMan]

It doesn't matter what order you pick them in. But at least one site is needed in order to scan the groups. Without a site, the scanner would have no frequencies to use to scan the system.

You need to select the site or sites that are near your scanning location.

 

[rockcandymountain]

I dont see the connection between the two as far as the commonalites are. But, I'll just have to deal with it. LOL

 

[UPMan]

Channel groups tell the scanner which channels you want to listen to, and are identified by TGIDS (typically numbers and/or dashes). Channels do not correspond to any particular frequency.

Sites provide the frequencies on which the channels are carried. There is no 1:1 correlation (channels can be carried on one site or multiple sites, depending on the system and size of the agency using the channel). Every time a user keys up their radio, the sites assign a frequency for them to use (so it can be a different frequency every time).

All sites do not carry traffic for all channels. Typically, they only carry traffic for a channel if a radio user who uses that channel has affiliated with that site (their radio has done a "handshake" with that site).

 

[kayi4cle]

I dont see the connection between the two as far as the commonalites are. But, I'll just have to deal with it. LOL

When setting up a new trunked system in your radio, you choose a site closest to you and enter the control channel and alternate control channel FREQUENCIES (such as 853.9500, 852.9875). You can stop there and use ID Search to hear active talkgroups.

You don’t have to enter anything under Groups. But, if you wish to monitor certain specific talkgroups, then you can enter just those and use ID Scan.

 

[rockcandymountain]

Here are the 'sites" that come up when I do my state/county/public safety:

Appletree Cove, Capital Hill (seattle backup), Education Hill, EPSCA North Seattle, EPSCA Simulcast, Grass Mountain, King County Courthouse, King County/ValleyCom Simulcast, McDonald Mountain (Kangley), Newcastle SE Bellevue, Regional Justice Center, Seattle Simulcast, Snoqualimie Pass( Dodge Ridge), Sobieski Mountain, and Sount Transit(South Portal Lowe Power)


Now on the groups side are various cities listed. Does it matter if I pick one site or all sites as to whether I receive all of the cities I select?


Is the site side locations for antennas?

 

[UPMan]

You will only be able to receive from sites that are no more than 20-30 miles away from you in typical conditions. The scanner is going to spend a minimum of 1-2 seconds checking for desired traffic for each site you have enabled that it can receive.

You will not hear a city if no radio in that city has affiliated with the site you are currently monitoring.

 

[loumaag]

The OP and the other new users of trunking scanners have to understand how trunking works to get the confusion cleared up. Read the Trunking Basics article in our Wiki to get a foot hold on the process.

 

[UPMan]

Or my articles at:
RadioSystemsOverview < UnidenMan4 < TWiki
But I just want to Listen to the Police!
Scanner Programming

 

[loumaag]

Those work too.