BCD396T/BC996T: BCD996T First time programming.

[F6twistersrwindy]

Hey. I have a BCD996T that has been half reprogrammed No trunking added just local frequencies. I want to start from scratch but I have never programmed a scanner or used one. Ive read the manual. I understood most of it. My question is, I am using windows 11 laptop and I need advice on what programming software to use. I want to be able to add updates easily as they come out. User friendly to because I have never done this. Also I'm having a brain fart understanding Uniden I-Call. The manual said it is to pick up local one on one comunications. What is that? Then I read from google saying I-Call is the same as the CloseCall feature. I thought Closecall was picking up emergencies close to home? I using this as a base unit only. All advice welcome. I'm just starting. 🙂

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Here is a PDF file which will answer all of your questions about using quick keys. Print it out and save it for your reference.

Thank you 🙂

 

[IC-R20]

From what I understand, the original programming cable that came with the 996T will not work on Windows 10/11, and requires purchase of a new compatible cable. Such as the one below.

What city in Ohio, so we can look at the database and see what is available in your area of Ohio.

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www.amazon.com

Not true at all. Computers don’t have serial port anymore but I have a trendnet USB adapter for it and its recognized perfectly fine as if it were native hardware, I actually found it to work more reliably than having to screw with the drivers for the USB program cable. I even program my baofengs that way as well using a kenwood serial cable on the adapter.

 

[LJF]

Hey. I have a BCD996T that has been half reprogrammed No trunking added just local frequencies. I want to start from scratch but I have never programmed a scanner or used one. Ive read the manual. I understood most of it. My question is, I am using windows 11 laptop and I need advice on what programming software to use. I want to be able to add updates easily as they come out. User friendly to because I have never done this. Also I'm having a brain fart understanding Uniden I-Call. The manual said it is to pick up local one on one comunications. What is that? Then I read from google saying I-Call is the same as the CloseCall feature. I thought Closecall was picking up emergencies close to home? I using this as a base unit only. All advice welcome. I'm just starting. 🙂

Welcome to scanning.
Getting started can come with a lot of "What do I do now?".
I started with Youtube. There is a lot of info from many presenters. Find one you can follow easily. I looked at different software for my 996XT and went with Freescan, easy to understand. You can always move up to another after you get your feet wet.

Good Luck and enjoy the listening!
Larry

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Welcome to scanning.
Getting started can come with a lot of "What do I do now?".
I started with Youtube. There is a lot of info from many presenters. Find one you can follow easily. I looked at different software for my 996XT and went with Freescan, easy to understand. You can always move up to another after you get your feet wet.

Good Luck and enjoy the listening!
Larry

Thank you 😃

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Hey. I have a BCD996T that has been half reprogrammed No trunking added just local frequencies. I want to start from scratch but I have never programmed a scanner or used one. Ive read the manual. I understood most of it. My question is, I am using windows 11 laptop and I need advice on what programming software to use. I want to be able to add updates easily as they come out. User friendly to because I have never done this. Also I'm having a brain fart understanding Uniden I-Call. The manual said it is to pick up local one on one comunications. What is that? Then I read from google saying I-Call is the same as the CloseCall feature. I thought Closecall was picking up emergencies close to home? I using this as a base unit only. All advice welcome. I'm just starting. 🙂

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Ok, Not sure if im typing where everyone can see the update but I got my scanner connected to the pc. I got proscan software open. There some frequencies already in scanner but I better restart from scratch. Please tell me what to do next.

 

[Enforcer52]

Check your PMs.

 

[GILLIG40]

Just a heads up as you are programming anything from NWORPSS. A lot of what is listed there is seldom to never used. Open up the link to node 225. Then open all captured talkgroups. That will show you any activity in the past 24 hours. Also you only need to program the Lucas County Simulcast site . The Wood & Fulton County talkgroups will still be available to monitor. The control channel frequency just about never changes is 855.8875. You can try any of these things once you have it programmed and scanning. Just a few things to make scan faster

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Just a heads up as you are programming anything from NWORPSS. A lot of what is listed there is seldom to never used. Open up the link to node 225. Then open all captured talkgroups. That will show you any activity in the past 24 hours. Also you only need to program the Lucas County Simulcast site . The Wood & Fulton County talkgroups will still be available to monitor. The control channel frequency just about never changes is 855.8875. You can try any of these things once you have it programmed and scanning. Just a few things to make scan faster

Ok Thank you. 🙂

 

[GILLIG40]

If I were you I’d follow @tvengr advice. Post 10 & 48. Sounds like he’s telling you to download FreeScan then use my FreeScan file to program your 996T. After you have it up and scanning he’s saying that you then read your then programmed scanner to Proscan. Disclaimer. I only know enough about computers to get myself in trouble. But I have programmed my 996T, SDS200, and G4. I have Proscan but definitely do not know enough about it to give you advice. The simulcast situation around is a problem. I provided links to FreeScan if you decide to go that route

Releases · mfcallahan/FreeSCAN

FreeSCAN is free and open source software for programming Uniden DMA scanners. - mfcallahan/FreeSCAN

github.com

FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

At the bottom of the FreeScan user guide look at video #1 trunked.
That gentleman will walk you through every step.

 

[F6twistersrwindy]

Just a heads up as you are programming anything from NWORPSS. A lot of what is listed there is seldom to never used. Open up the link to node 225. Then open all captured talkgroups. That will show you any activity in the past 24 hours. Also you only need to program the Lucas County Simulcast site . The Wood & Fulton County talkgroups will still be available to monitor. The control channel frequency just about never changes is 855.8875. You can try any of these things once you have it programmed and scanning. Just a few things to make scan faster

I upgraded my scanner to the SDS200. I have been listening to the Nworpss it was the 255 node link shared here. What is Lucas county simulcast? Your saying for me to manually add each talkgroup i see that was reciently active? Does proscan do that?
I really like the all live calls on that page to & how everybody communicates in the broadcasting. Cant i copy that to the scanner? That has tons of activity. Id love to have that set up programmed into scanner.

Node 255: Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System (Site: Lucas County Simulcast) - Live

BCFY Calls Node: Node 255: Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System (Site: Lucas County Simulcast) - Live

www.broadcastify.com

 

[GILLIG40]

I was saying that a lot of what is listed in the database for NWORPSS is seldom to never used. I mentioned node255 because if you use ( the talkgroups seen in the last 24 hours ) tab it will give you a pretty good idea of what is really active. I used Sentinel to program my SDS200. I have Proscan but didn’t have any issues with Sentinel so I stuck with that. Proscan will import all of NWORPSS. You can then just avoid the talkgroups that aren’t used. The Lucas County Simulcast is what was given your 996t problems. I have only the Lucas County Simulcast site programmed. I still receive Wood County and Fulton County talkgroups