BCD396T in the UK

[yelmarb]

I'm aware that this scanner is not sold in the UK but I'm wondering if there are any UK owners and if so have they been able to pick up any other transmissions that an analogue scanner would not pick up?

 

[morfis]

I'm aware that this scanner is not sold in the UK but I'm wondering if there are any UK owners and if so have they been able to pick up any other transmissions that an analogue scanner would not pick up?

Yes quite a few UK owners.
Yes several APCO P25 transmissions noted

 

[Lodis]

Morfis, how is the Trunk tracking performance of this in the UK?

Did you modify the bandplan or is it not too bad how it is?

I am looking to get one of these soon.

 

[morfis]

There aren't many systems that you can use the "trunk tracking" on as most trunked systems outside the USA use other protocols.

The bandplan on the 396T comes in two (I think only two) flavours, neither of which is much use in the UK. It is not user configurable.

Why specifically one of these? According to a few people the 3500 is the best thing since sliced bread and almost has a Uk suitable bandplan. The "close call" certainly seems better on the 3500 than on any of the US model Unidens I've used (so far!)

 

[Lodis]

There aren't many systems that you can use the "trunk tracking" on as most trunked systems outside the USA use other protocols.

The bandplan on the 396T comes in two (I think only two) flavours, neither of which is much use in the UK. It is not user configurable.

Why specifically one of these? According to a few people the 3500 is the best thing since sliced bread and almost has a Uk suitable bandplan. The "close call" certainly seems better on the 3500 than on any of the US model Unidens I've used (so far!)

I do have a 3500 and it is excellent and as you say, the bandplan is not too bad, number 3 seems to be the most suitable.

The reason why I am looking at the 396T is because I am looking for a portable Trunking scanner. I have had a Uniden 780 XLT Trunk Tracker III (EU) Base Station for quite some time now and this is excellent for Trunk Tracking but I do want to get a portable that can do the same as this.

I am not sure if the 396T can though, the 780 XLT has Trunking capabilities: Motorola, EDACS, LTR, doesn't the 396T have these as well?

 

[morfis]

The reason why I am looking at the 396T is because I am looking for a portable Trunking scanner. I have had a Uniden 780 XLT Trunk Tracker III (EU) Base Station for quite some time now and this is excellent for Trunk Tracking but I do want to get a portable that can do the same as this.

I am not sure if the 396T can though, the 780 XLT has Trunking capabilities: Motorola, EDACS, LTR, doesn't the 396T have these as well?

Yes but in terms of what is publicly discussed there is no LTR in the UK, five Motorola nets and three EDACS nets. It's an expensive radio just to monitor a couple of these...and as you'd have to travel around to monitor all of them a handheld probably doesn't offer much advantage over your 780.
The 396 will allow you to monitor a few APCO P25 channels that your 780 won't.

The 780 IS a portable scanner.

 

[Lodis]

Yes but in terms of what is publicly discussed there is no LTR in the UK, five Motorola nets and three EDACS nets. It's an expensive radio just to monitor a couple of these...and as you'd have to travel around to monitor all of them a handheld probably doesn't offer much advantage over your 780.
The 396 will allow you to monitor a few APCO P25 channels that your 780 won't.

The 780 IS a portable scanner.

Thanks for your input Morfis, it is very appreciated. I am interested in where you got your 396T.

I hear the Butel ARC396 software is good for this one and although the bandplan is fixed in the actual radio apparently you can setup a bandplan in the software. I am assuming this is just the custom search ranges and step settings though.

You are correct that it would be an expensive radio just to monitor a couple of those channels.

Would you purchase this radio again if you had a second chance or would you instead go for a different one?

 

[morfis]

Thanks for your input Morfis, it is very appreciated. I am interested in where you got your 396T.

USA

I hear the Butel ARC396 software is good for this one and although the bandplan is fixed in the actual radio apparently you can setup a bandplan in the software. I am assuming this is just the custom search ranges and step settings though.

I've got to like the free Uniden software. Tried the Buysenware but wasn't keen on it nor did I think it was good value for money.

You are correct that it would be an expensive radio just to monitor a couple of those channels.

Would you purchase this radio again if you had a second chance or would you instead go for a different one?

If I was just looking for a general scanner no I wouldn't buy one, however that wasn't why I bought it.

 

[Lodis]

I have been looking at this review for the 396T done by someone who imported one to the UK http://www.ukmidlandscanner.co.uk/unibcd396t.htm

Towards the end of the review when discussing the Trunk Tracking capabilities they said the following:

''However I did try the Trunking of Staffordshire Fire brigade on a motorola VHF type II system.

Unfortunately the Uniden 246T has not got the capability to do this due to the 12.5KHz step size used on that system (A firmware upgrade has become available for the 246 which should now make this compatible I would appreciate any confirmation).''

Any idea about this one Morfis?

I notice the Uniden site has an update BCD396T_V1_11_03.zip and in the change log they mention:

''Add P25 band plan setting for implicit mode systems''

As far as I can see this only applys to the APCO Project 25 so I wonder if you have had any problems with the 12.5khz with regards to Trunking.

 

[morfis]

The review seems to be mostly a re-hash of his other efforts mixed with a bit of cut and paste from the sales info....which radio are you now talking about as he obviously can't remember what he was "reviewing"?

I've had no problems with the 396T on any of the UK systems.

 

[Lodis]

The review seems to be mostly a re-hash of his other efforts mixed with a bit of cut and paste from the sales info....which radio are you now talking about as he obviously can't remember what he was "reviewing"?

I've had no problems with the 396T on any of the UK systems.

I am talking about the 396T so im glad to hear you haven't had any problems with this on any of the UK systems.

 

[morfis]

I am talking about the 396T so im glad to hear you haven't had any problems with this on any of the UK systems.

hh. wasn't actually questioning you just Melv's "review" of the 396T where he has cut and pasted his comments from an earlier "review" and forgotten to change the model number.

 

[Lodis]

hh. wasn't actually questioning you just Melv's "review" of the 396T where he has cut and pasted his comments from an earlier "review" and forgotten to change the model number.

Yea I know.

That review did get a bit confusing when he did that.

 

[RobertDavies]

Just as a double confirmation, I'm tracking and monitoring the Staffordshire trunked system on my 396T as I write this. Works very nicely

-Rob

 

[yelmarb]

I'm also picking up some interesting trunked systems. However, they're not listed (in the database) and hence I'm having troubles trying to figure out how to program the system from scratch. I've noted down a broad list of frequencies and what could possibly be a few control channels. I now just have to put them all together. Any idea how?

 

[morfis]

I'm also picking up some interesting trunked systems. However, they're not listed (in the database) and hence I'm having troubles trying to figure out how to program the system from scratch. I've noted down a broad list of frequencies and what could possibly be a few control channels. I now just have to put them all together. Any idea how?

Several things would help me answer:
Where are the systems?
What are the frequencies?
What type of trunked systems are they?

====edit====
There are very few UK freqs in the database here, many of them aren't accurate or up to date.

I'd also suggest you start a new thread to make it easier for people searching for info through the board archive.

 

[tbone_69]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=910

I have just moved from the USA to the UK with my 396 in tow

Can anyone give me advice on how to load the above trunked scheme ?

 

[morfis]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=910

I have just moved from the USA to the UK with my 396 in tow

Can anyone give me advice on how to load the above trunked scheme ?

Presumably you are in Central London?

There is little point in doing the whole thing as most of that is out of date. Concentrate on the Central Area parts.
I built an example file for one of the previous respondents maybe he'll chip in and send you a copy of his file (mine was deliberately limited to form a framework as i have no interest in the met plod)

 

[morfis]

...and a couple more divisions turned off their mainscheme sites last night after switching to Airwave.....

 

[tbone_69]

Thanks buddy - much appreciated......actually I live in Surrey, but travel all over the London area regularly and as a Brit returning home I know the legal situation here :-(.

I have also just ordered the remote head for the BCT396 in case anyone hadn't noticed it's release ;-)