BC780XLT & Ohio MARCS

[CVPI4Ever]

I didnt know where to put this so I thought this would be the right place. I have a Uniden BC780XLT and I was wondering if it would pick up the new Ohio MARCS system. I know very little about the MARCS system. Thanks for any and all help!


Tim

 

[jpm]

nope pure digital. although the site has a conventional freq stated as a digital freq and it pick ups on my 780xlt. which by the way isn't a digital scanner.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

no modifications/cards available?


I am assuming the Ohio State Highway Patrol frequencies for District 2 that I have (44.980 and 44.820) are now obselete?

 

[jpm]

nope. have to buy one of the digital scanners that are out there.

 

[nexus]

Digital didn't come about until the BC-785D which replaced the 780. The 785D comes with a slot for a digital card. However, both the 780 and the 785D are going to be obsolete when the 800mhz rebanding has been put into effect on the MARCS or any 800mhz trunked system.

The BC796D will survive the rebanding, and is digital, as well as the BCD396T.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Anyone know where I can get a NEW BC796D for a good price? Id like to upgrade for a good price. Ive known for a little while the BC780XLT is outdated somewhat. My BC780XLT has an intermittent problem where the display wont turn on but you can hear the transmission and you have to hit it or turn it off and back on to get the screen.

 

[Voyager]

Digital didn't come about until the BC-785D which replaced the 780. The 785D comes with a slot for a digital card. However, both the 780 and the 785D are going to be obsolete when the 800mhz rebanding has been put into effect on the MARCS or any 800mhz trunked system.

Rebanding or not, both will be obsolete for MARCS when MARCS goes full-P25.

So, you could actually see a situation as follows:

* BC796D tracks MARCS (today)
* Rebanding happens and BC796D will no longer work on MARCS
* MARCS upgrades to full P25 and the BC796D works again with no flashing!

That could happen since the P25 bandplan contains all the frequencies used in the rebanding bandplan. It is unlikely they will change the P25 bandplan.

That may make some of the MARCS BC796D/BC296D users happy.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the upgrade happen concurrently with the rebanding.

Joe M.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Rebanding or not, both will be obsolete for MARCS when MARCS goes full-P25.

So, you could actually see a situation as follows:

* BC796D tracks MARCS (today)
* Rebanding happens and BC796D will no longer work on MARCS
* MARCS upgrades to full P25 and the BC796D works again with no flashing!

That could happen since the P25 bandplan contains all the frequencies used in the rebanding bandplan. It is unlikely they will change the P25 bandplan.

That may make some of the MARCS BC796D/BC296D users happy.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the upgrade happen concurrently with the rebanding.

Joe M.

So what scanner would you suggest? I dont want to buy a scanner and have it be outdated soon after.

 

[jpm]

Correct me if I'm wrong

System Voice: APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive

this is from the database, isn't this system already APCO25 fully digital. And the BC785D scanner only does APCO16. Also the BC785d by all means will not be rendered useless. Chicago police is suppose to be a 3600 uhf digital trunked system in the near future here. Plus one could use it for conventional scanner and it will be good for EDACS and LTR. One will have to reprogram the scanner for the EDACS and LTR. Although I don't think they are manufactoring the BC785D scanner anymore.

 

[loumaag]

Digital didn't come about until the BC-785D which replaced the 780. The 785D comes with a slot for a digital card. However, both the 780 and the 785D are going to be obsolete when the 800mhz rebanding has been put into effect on the MARCS or any 800mhz trunked system.

Rebanding or not, both will be obsolete for MARCS when MARCS goes full-P25.

So, you could actually see a situation as follows:

* BC796D tracks MARCS (today)
* Rebanding happens and BC796D will no longer work on MARCS
* MARCS upgrades to full P25 and the BC796D works again with no flashing!

That could happen since the P25 bandplan contains all the frequencies used in the rebanding bandplan. It is unlikely they will change the P25 bandplan.

That may make some of the MARCS BC796D/BC296D users happy.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the upgrade happen concurrently with the rebanding.

Joe M.

Joe, on your second point up there, do you now have some information that the BC796D will not be able to be reflashed as Uniden plans on doing?

 

[Voyager]

So what scanner would you suggest? I dont want to buy a scanner and have it be outdated soon after.

For base, I would wait for the base version of the BCD396T.
For portable, the BCD396T.

Yes, the system VOICE frequencies are P25. The system (control channel) is NOT. When looking for the system type, look at the system type line, not the system voice line.

For MARCS: System Type:Motorola Type II SmartZone Omnilink
(Note this does not say APCO P25 Standard, so it's not a P25 system)

No, Lou, I don't have anything that says the 796 won't be flashed. I only wanted to point out a possibility that the 796 could work on MARCS, then not work, then work again without any upgrades - only reprogramming of the control channel frequencies.

Joe M.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

So whats the ideal scanner for MARCS? One that will survive rebanding.

Also, what is "Flash." Keep in mind I dont know the jargon and never got technical with this kinda stuff?

Also, what is RR Wiki?

 

[Voyager]

So whats the ideal scanner for MARCS? One that will survive rebanding.

Also, what is "Flash." Keep in mind I dont know the jargon and never got technical with this kinda stuff?

Also, what is RR Wiki?

Right now, the best one in my opinion is the PRO-2096. But, again, I would wait for a base version of the BCD396T - even if it's a year from now.

'Flashing' is the ability to update the firmware in the scanner with a PC and a file provided by the manufacturer.

The RR Wiki is the location you get to by clicking the RR Wiki at the top menu of the forum pages. It's the 5th item from the left.

Joe M.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

What is the base version of the BCD396T? This will need to go in my vehicle.

I know where the Wiki is on the site. What exactly is it?

 

[Voyager]

What is the base version of the BCD396T? This will need to go in my vehicle.

The model number hasn't been announced yet. It may not be for several months.

As for wha tthe wiki is, I'll let that to someone who knows better than I do.

Joe M.

 

[mmartinfan]

There is nothing wrong with the 796D after the rebanding it will work just the same as today even with the flash upgrade.

Pro-2096,Pro96, BC296D,796D, 396T all work for MARCS and will for a longggggggggggggggggggggggg time

 

[Al42]

I know where the Wiki is on the site. What exactly is it?

Think of it as a combined forum/web page. Users can edit the web pages in the wiki, add to them, etc. See this definition