BCD396XT/BCD996XT: BCD396XT won't connect to FreeScan

[MURSman]

Correct. It doesn't mater what's plugged in, just serial port to USB converters when the software has the port opened. Did you do this? Set the Port to None then click the Set button. Now try the Auto Detect button.

Yes I did, even on ProScan like others suggested. When I select "None" and click on the port it's plugged into, it still won't show it's connected when I click "upload to scanner".

Other times it will say "In Use By This Instance".

 

[sallen07]

Yes I did, even on ProScan like others suggested. When I select "None" and click on the port it's plugged into, it still won't show it's connected when I click "upload to scanner".

Other times it will say "In Use By This Instance".

It doesn't see the scanner. If it did, it would show the scanner model name.

Silly question and I apologize if you have answered it already. If you unplug the cable, does COM3 go away?

 

[MURSman]

It doesn't see the scanner. If it did, it would show the scanner model name.

Silly question and I apologize if you have answered it already. If you unplug the cable, does COM3 go away?

Yes it does.

 

[sallen07]

Yes it does.

OK how does that port show in Device Manager, and if you right-click on it and select Properties, what does it say, and what Driver is it using?

 

[Ronaldski]

Freescan works perfectly fine for what you want to do as does proscan and he mentioned about SET for the autoscan for the port. The others more-less disregard previous comments TBH.
What you have to do is this each time, same with any other software is to have the software find the correct COM port is all.

This is what I use, Cable for 996XT

In Freescan, assuming you want to program(Upload) to the scanner,
Click on "Scanner", Upload programming
click the box where it shows COM, its between the Auto and Start Upload boxes.
Then after clicking COM box,
click on "Start Auto" box, it will then find the scanner.
Then press Close and do what you need as Freescan has found the correct COM port/baud rates.

I usually will have in the communications box have these ticked-
Replace any....
Send custom...
Dont send...
Send system...
Automatically...

Once you have everything the way you want in freescan, I also tick the "All" button and the Erase....

Same procedure to Control Scanner or Download - that is copy the scanner info into Freescan.

The videos can help, although they didnt show about finding the COM ports and had already setup communications.
FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

If it still wont connect, IMHO its a driver issue or the cable.

 

[MURSman]

OK how does that port show in Device Manager, and if you right-click on it and select Properties, what does it say, and what Driver is it using?

It also says it's the most up to date driver. Unless I have to go to the FTDI website itself and download it there if Windows somehow doesn't know there's newer drivers.

 

[ka3jjz]

Did you see this from the FreeScan wiki...

Freescan - Connecting Scanner to PC - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

There is an unique feature on the XT scanners that has to do with Control Channel Output. If it is not disabled, it will prevent FreeScan (or any other software for that matter) from connecting. See the last line of the above article to make sure it is disabled

Mike

 

[MURSman]

Did you see this from the FreeScan wiki...

Freescan - Connecting Scanner to PC - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

There is an unique feature on the XT scanners that has to do with Control Channel Output. If it is not disabled, it will prevent FreeScan (or any other software for that matter) from connecting. See the last line of the above article to make sure it is disabled

Mike

I checked and It was already set to off. No luck.