BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD996P2 questions (new owner)

[Setina]

Hello. After posting questions last month about SDR radio and trying unsuccessfully to get it to work, I picked up a BCD996P2. I'm overwhelmed to say the least with programming, and I do use Freescan to simplify the process.

I'm able to lock out channels I don't want, and I can enable Close Call which is pretty neat in of itself. My scanner immediately begins scanning when turned on, and I know by holding down a number key that I can limit to scanning only a specific system. My questions are:

1) Can I have it like old scanners used to do, where just pressing a number would enable that channel and only that channel when already powered on? What I mean is, rather than selecting a system at power up by holding down a number key, or locking out all of the unwanted channels, to just reverse the process and press the number for the system I *do* want and continue to press alternative numbers without powering it back on or locking out other sites?

2) Is there any way to reset the scan to a default? I enabled the HAM, CB, Railroad, and a few other scans which have picked up occasional chatter but would be nice to fallback to the ones I added via Freescan. Each time I power it back on, the previously locked out options are enabled again and I don't want it to scan them, only the ones I imported via Freescan (ie. I don't want HAM, CB, FRS, etc. even if I enable them one time)

3) I'm looking at purchasing a ghost wire due to not wanting to leave window open a tad during winter (also not my home, so landlord might not appreciate even if I insulated the crack). Is there considerable signal loss? Would I be able to mount an antenna to the brick wall or would that block signals (I know it's line of sight, but one side of course wouldn't be blocked). Trying to come up with an uninstrusive option once I do get it out the window.

Thank you for any help... I do read all the replies.

 

[hiegtx]

1) Can I have it like old scanners used to do, where just pressing a number would enable that channel and only that channel when already powered on? What I mean is, rather than selecting a system at power up by holding down a number key, or locking out all of the unwanted channels, to just reverse the process and press the number for the system I *do* want and continue to press alternative numbers without powering it back on or locking out other sites?

Number tags might do what you want. You can use that to jump to a specific system or channel

https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/NumberTags

2) Is there any way to reset the scan to a default? I enabled the HAM, CB, Railroad, and a few other scans which have picked up occasional chatter but would be nice to fallback to the ones I added via Freescan. Each time I power it back on, the previously locked out options are enabled again and I don't want it to scan them, only the ones I imported via Freescan (ie. I don't want HAM, CB, FRS, etc. even if I enable them one time)

I suspect that after you set up hose scans, perhaps you "read" the scanner back into FreeSCAN. So, since, once upon a time, when one or more were active, FreeSCAN saved that.

From the drop-down scanner menu, select Setup Scanner Options.


Choose the Service Search tab to look at your search options.



Clear the selections on the Service Search Keys field. Be sure to save the settings and then write your programming file back to the scanner.Also look at the 'Easier to Read Manual site if you need further assistance.

Easier to Read BCD996P2/XT Digital Scanner Manual

I'm not familiar with the 'ghost wire'. Maybe someone else can assist you with that. That might also be a question better asked in the Antennas Forum.

 

[ka3aaa]

use the "hold" button on the frequency or channel the you want to listen to, if you do turn the scanner off it will come and stay on this channel until you hit the "scan or resume" button.

 

[ka3jjz]

If you want to do this manually, it's FUNC + L/O L/O (yes twice) and it will drop that service search while you are scanning it

Mike

 

[Setina]

Thank you for the replies. I am now able to use number tags to set the system and channels.

 

[Setina]

One issue... when I try scanning Fleetnet using the Number Tags, it continously says "Finding Ctrl Channel" whereas if I don't use the number tags, it has no issue finding the control channel. Signal strength is 5 bars. This happens only while HOLD'ing, which renders the whole Number Tag thing useless.

I can't see it being a Simulcast issue as there is only the one Fleetnet transmitter near me (Byron).

 

[phask]

One issue... when I try scanning Fleetnet using the Number Tags, it continously says "Finding Ctrl Channel" whereas if I don't use the number tags, it has no issue finding the control channel. Signal strength is 5 bars. This happens only while HOLD'ing, which renders the whole Number Tag thing useless.

I can't see it being a Simulcast issue as there is only the one Fleetnet transmitter near me (Byron).

You are not "turning on" a site or the correct site.

 

[Setina]

It seems to be an issue with the channel itself. I have "Fleetnet" as the system, and then "Byron" (Fleetnet tower nearby) for the site. Group and channels are EMS, OPP, etc. They have only talkgroup ID's though, and no frequencies associated to them. The frequencies are defined at the site level.

Works when scanning, but HOLD mode keeps saying it has to find the Ctrl channel. Seems like you need to have years of experience in scanners just to enjoy the hobby with this model. Frustrating...

 

[Brales60]

Seems like you need to have years of experience in scanners just to enjoy the hobby with this model. Frustrating...

Not just that unit, but a bunch of them. It's a love/hate deal. It's fun when you do figure it out to a certain degree.

 

[Setina]

Update
I can now listen to Fire, Transportation, Airport and Ham radio. Fleetnet however seems to have gone silent. I use the Freescan import settings. It shows "NFM" when it gets to the Fleetnet tower and I'm not sure that's good??

If I hold the scanning, I can sometimes hear traffic on the channel but otherwise nothing... it's set to Search not Scan. I'm also using the stock antenna but it has worked in the past. I'm goiing to order a discone one but the lack of any Fleetnet traffic is of concern.

Perhaps some kind soul has a 996 file?

 

[phask]

Update
I can now listen to Fire, Transportation, Airport and Ham radio. Fleetnet however seems to have gone silent. I use the Freescan import settings. It shows "NFM" when it gets to the Fleetnet tower and I'm not sure that's good??

If I hold the scanning, I can sometimes hear traffic on the channel but otherwise nothing... it's set to Search not Scan. I'm also using the stock antenna but it has worked in the past. I'm goiing to order a discone one but the lack of any Fleetnet traffic is of concern.

Perhaps some kind soul has a 996 file?

I honestly don't know if it means anything, but change the control channel only option to no. It can't hurt. (on the sds series that is not even an option with Sentinel software),.

 

[Setina]

Thanks. I tried that, nothing. I CAN pick up traffic if I hold and check individual frequencies for Fleetnet but there seems to be no control channel working. Again, hoping maybe someone has a Freenet file for London area.

 

[Setina]

Moved antenna to other side of house... works!!!