BC796d and Nashville PD/Fire Question

[fyreman252]

I am debating the purchase of a BC796D Mobile scanner. I was wondering just how complicated it is to program this information in the scanner, and should i spring for computer software/cable to assist in the programming. I'm pretty good at figuring these things out, i have just never tried anything this complicated before, and before i spend the money on the scanner, i'd really like to know i'll be able to get it going.

Thanks in advance for any help or advise
Tony

 

[CORN]

If you live in Nashville or Chattanooga you will be needing a digital scanner. The 796D is not hard to program manually. It is time consuming but not hard. Some will say the computer way is the easiest but i don't go that route. Just follow the manual if you do it manually and you will be OK. Plus the RR database is a good resouce for the TRS in your area. I also have mine in my vehicle and it's attached to a CB style antenna and hooked to a radio shack mobile amplified speaker (which works very well). Plus it has a great deal of coverage in the other bands as well, including my favorite after public safety, Milair. It's a good radio and like i said it acts more like a regular scanner in trunked mode.

 

[n8chb]

BC796D

Hello Tony,

I use my BC796D in the car and as a fixed station for 850 MHz stuff.

The scanner can be programed with or without software and I use
the Uniden program that can be downloaded free at
http://www.uniden.com/productsupport_downloads.cfm?product=BC796D
A serial cord can be picked up for around $5 at the computer shows.

I agree with the person above about using a amplified speaker because
unless you mount the radio upside down its hard to hear.
I wrote an audio mod for it and I'll send it to you if need be.

One really annoying thing I found with the scanner is it will not
take multiple control frequencys for trunking so I have to manually
switch from one control tower frequency to an other while traveling.
It can be done by turning the squelch full off. But so far for me
that has not worked out. If you live in a flat area you might get away
with turning more than one on.

Anywho, Thats the scoop.

If you want to hear what a BC796D sounds like tune into my
live feed at http://67.149.70.95:8000/
It's hooked up to a homebrew antenna and in the car I have a trunk
mounted Motorola 1/4 wave cut at 3 1/4 inches.


73,

Roger N8CHB

 

[JoeyC]

Re: BC796D

One really annoying thing I found with the scanner is it will not take multiple control frequencys for trunking so I have to manually switch from one control tower frequency to an other while traveling.

The scanner tracks one system per bank at a time for a total of 10 trunked systems at a time possible. You can put hundreds of control channels in and turn them off/on as you travel. Not really sure what you expect of the scanner.

Additionally, its not necessary to manually turn on/off controls as you move in and out of range of the different systems if you are creative about your programming.

 

[n8chb]

Trunking

hi Joey,

Thanks for your information and I would like you to explain
a bit more how you can get the scanner to unlock from one
control frequency to an other.

As you are no doubt aware the control frequency transmitter
never shuts down and constantly sends data.
Like you said I can program several of them and select
trunking ON for all of them but the uniden scanner
does not follow APCO standards to unhook from cell to
cell so it will stay locked on one frequency too long
as i move away from. That is a problem on the Michigan system
because so far they all don't transmit the same information
on all the towers. I have found myself almost on top of the
next tower and still locked on one 15 or 20 miles away.

There is no problem on a transceiver type radio as soon as it transmits the processor will switch to the closest control frequency. Could be this will never solved on a receive only radio.


73,

Roger N8CHB

 

[fyreman252]

Thanks for the info

Thanks for all the information. i live in a county next to nashville/davidson co, and am wanting to monitor Davidson Co. I am just confused about the talkgroup id's and how to program them in, in conjunction with the freq's for the system. i have decided i will buy the scanner and try it out, i'm pretty sure once i get it, i'll be able to figure it out a whole lot easier.
Again, thanks for the information.