BCD160DN/BCD260DN: BCD160DN - Logging Software

[pb_lonny]

With my return to "the real world" (office) in the next few weeks, after my forced 5 months off, I am planning on setting up my BCD160DN with some logging software at home, during the day while I am at work.

The purpose of this is to know what frequencies (with CTCSS / DCS / CC / NXDN RAN) are active, both when scanning and searching the bands. Given this need and that I use the Uniden software for programming:
Butel ARC260: Advantages / Disadvantages
ProScan: Advantages / Disadvantages
Other Options?

I don't need to stream this, remote control, audio recording or anything fancy, just a list of what was logged with the details as above. For this use case, does one fit this need better? I am currently using the 30 day demo of ARC260 and so far it is working well.

 

[buddrousa]

PROSCAN best $50 American you can spend on Scanners if you own Unidens and you get 2 License for each $50
Try the free 30 Day PROSCAN also.
I have a PC running PROSCAN connected to 1 BCD260DN 2 BCD996P2's and 1 BCD536HP 4 Copies of PROSCAN 1 License
I have a PC running PROSCAN connected to 4 BC15x's 6 BCD996P2's and 5 BCD536HP's 16 Copies of PROSCAN 1 License
I have a PC running PROSCAN connected to 3 SDS200's 3 Copies of PROSCAN 1 License

 

[pb_lonny]

Thanks, so Proscan has a licence which covers most Uniden scanners? I am also looking at getting another Uniden scanner, so this is a huge win.

In the past, I had a copy of Uniden BCD396T Software for the 396T and it worked quite well, which was why I tried ARC260 first. I will download ProScan and give it a try.

 

[Ubbe]

I don't have Proscan but if you have a SD card scanner you can use the easiest method of letting the scanner do the work and save the result to its SD card.

I have my BCD536 for that and let it search the bands both day and night when I'm not actively using it. Bandplans never match, they are different for each country, so I create scanlists using any ARC program from Butelj, and if not having any then their demo mode can be used, and create channels in a range with the correct step size and paste into a conventional department in Sentinel, one scanlist for each range with a specific step size.

Then I set the delay to negative 10sec, to not get stuck on a control channel or lengthy conversations, and to record all to the SD card. Any known frequencies can then easily be avoided or deleted from the list prior to the scan session. Then after a week or so I use USAP to analyze the result and put any new frequencies into a dedicated scan bank in a scanner that I monitor to hear what's going on and to find out if it's part of a multichannel system.

I guess that Proscan can probably be made to do some similar things.

/Ubbe

 

[dave3825]

so Proscan has a licence which covers most Uniden scanners?

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS150 SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

www.proscan.org

Then after a week or so I use USAP to analyze the result

What program is that?

 

[pb_lonny]

Your process is going to be much the same as mine. I use to use the discovery mode on the UBCD436PT a lot. I only have the BCD160DN now, so will be using that for my loggings, which is why I need software.

I am also looking at getting a new scanner, maybe I am best to put the money from the software towards a UBCD436PT. I was hoping for a "free" option, I might even look at coding my own.

 

[pb_lonny]

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS150 SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

www.proscan.org

I am going to download this tomorrow and give it a try.

 

[RandyKuff]

I am going to download this tomorrow and give it a try.

It's a one time $50 price...
All updates are free after that...

 

[pb_lonny]

It's a one time $50 price...
All updates are free after that...

This is sounding very promising

 

[RandyKuff]

This is sounding very promising

 

[hiegtx]

This is sounding very promising

Once you install ProScan, if you want to use logging on more than one scanner at the same time, use File Explorer to create a second ProScan folder on your PC. Then, just copy all the contents of the original ProScan folder into a new folder (calling it, say "ProScan 2", or whatever name you want) and create a shortcut to run the program in the new, second, folder, You can create multiple copies on your PC, and these don;t affect your option to install ProScan on a separate, additional, PC. (When you purchase the software, you're allowed two PCs to be used, say a desktop and a laptop, or whatever combo you want.)

 

[hiegtx]

Then after a week or so I use USAP

What program is that?

I suspect he's referring to the "Universal Scanner Audio Player" to review the details on audio files & listen to them to identify usage.