I own a BCD396T. I have a friend that received a BCT15 from Santa & he's not too good on programming. I was wondering if I download the BCT15 programming software from Uniden, can all of the channel files that I have saved for by 396T in that software be used on the BCT15, or do I have to completely perform all new programming for the BCT15 from square one. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.
BCT15 & BCD396T file compatability?
- Thread starter FTPD4059
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
I'm not sure about the UASD, but I know FreeScan will do it; but you are liable to run into a catch - you can't transfer a P25 system to a BCT15, since that radio can't handle that kind of system. FreeScan can be set up to suppress this kind of transfer. You will likely run into that with other software as well. It's not a software thing, it has to do with capabilities.
73 Mike
73 Mike
Moving Programming..
I used to have a BCD396T and got a BCT15 recently, going through same routine.
Go to: http://www.bctool.org and get your free copy of the tool BCTOOL and read the instructions
(BTW: I have no affiliation with BCTOOL - Just ADMIRATION!)
Connect the 396T thereto and read the 396T files into it. (Use DOWN arrow just over the diskette symbol)
Then save it as a .CSV file by: "Programing"-} "Export to" -} "somename.csv"
It save it in the form of (say): 396T_save122306.csv (radiotype_saveDATESAVED.csv)
(It actually WAS a 2006 save, that I used, BTW)
Shut down BCTOOL and connect the BCT315 - Restart BCTOOL and it will sense it and open up prepared to work with the BCT15. USE FRONT SERIAL PORT NOT REAR ONE!! ;-)
I usually then download and save the current BCT15 programming, but that's up to you.
Go now to "Programming" -} "Import From.." -} "bcTool Exported csv File" ( DO NOT SELECT JUST PLAIN "csv" SELECTION!) and select that filename we saved from the 396T. .
That will load the program with the 396T data and you can check or modify it as wished.
Under the word "Tools" you will see an "UP" arrow. It will open a window and you can select what to upload or upload all - I find it best to select the "delete current programming" check-box (I may have the wording wrong as not connected right now, but essentially I wipe the current/old programming of the BCT15 when uploading new data.)
It will load the whole shebang and (at least in my case) ran beautifully!
Read the BCT15 Manual,especially the STATE part as it may load a state search as well as your personal uploaded frequencies.
Re-save the file as (say) BCT15_save122908 to maintain a copy. When you shut down BCTOOL, it will ask you to do so again to be sure you did it!!
SAME process worked on my older BR330T, BTW!
AS A SIDE NOTE: I did try loading the old 396T files directly into the BCT15 earlier, and they came out rather strange, to say the least. THEN: Tried BCTOOL and all went well.
Tom, W4NOV
I used to have a BCD396T and got a BCT15 recently, going through same routine.
Go to: http://www.bctool.org and get your free copy of the tool BCTOOL and read the instructions
(BTW: I have no affiliation with BCTOOL - Just ADMIRATION!)Connect the 396T thereto and read the 396T files into it. (Use DOWN arrow just over the diskette symbol)
Then save it as a .CSV file by: "Programing"-} "Export to" -} "somename.csv"
It save it in the form of (say): 396T_save122306.csv (radiotype_saveDATESAVED.csv)
(It actually WAS a 2006 save, that I used, BTW)
Shut down BCTOOL and connect the BCT315 - Restart BCTOOL and it will sense it and open up prepared to work with the BCT15. USE FRONT SERIAL PORT NOT REAR ONE!! ;-)
I usually then download and save the current BCT15 programming, but that's up to you.
Go now to "Programming" -} "Import From.." -} "bcTool Exported csv File" ( DO NOT SELECT JUST PLAIN "csv" SELECTION!) and select that filename we saved from the 396T. .
That will load the program with the 396T data and you can check or modify it as wished.
Under the word "Tools" you will see an "UP" arrow. It will open a window and you can select what to upload or upload all - I find it best to select the "delete current programming" check-box (I may have the wording wrong as not connected right now, but essentially I wipe the current/old programming of the BCT15 when uploading new data.)
It will load the whole shebang and (at least in my case) ran beautifully!
Read the BCT15 Manual,especially the STATE part as it may load a state search as well as your personal uploaded frequencies.
Re-save the file as (say) BCT15_save122908 to maintain a copy. When you shut down BCTOOL, it will ask you to do so again to be sure you did it!!
SAME process worked on my older BR330T, BTW!
AS A SIDE NOTE: I did try loading the old 396T files directly into the BCT15 earlier, and they came out rather strange, to say the least. THEN: Tried BCTOOL and all went well.
Tom, W4NOV
bonus1331
Member
If you use the UASD software from Uniden, you can easily interchange the .usd files between the two programs (15 and 396). Just open two File Explorer's and you can copy and paste between the two.
An update to this problem,
I did download bctool & performed the instructions as Tom graciously provided above. After uploading the programming, for some reason, the BCT15 would not recognize any control channels on the trunked channels. The conventional channels work fine. I played with this for almost 5 hours with no success. The TGID's & sites installed, but I kept getting "finding control channel" when stopped on a TGID. I am within range as there is a radio tower on the system in my hometown. I finally dropped back & punted as they say. I downloaded the BCT15 software from Uniden & paid for the Registration key. I was then able to load the software into the BCT15 from by BCD396T configuration. The control channels were recognized & I did show signal strength bars.
However, after the software was loaded from the uniden software & the scanner stopped on any TGID, all i would get was that annoying interference/squelch type noise & I could not hear any voices, as I had my BCD396T nearby & heard voices without problems.
After some thought, I decided to download the latest firmware for the BCT15 from uniden as I thought that would resolve the noise problem. I believe I entered a wrong registration key as after the firmware software worked, I received an error stating to change the baud rate (which was on the lowest setting). Now when I turn the BCT15 on, I have "registration key error" on the scanner & I cannot connect to it from the software & it will not scan. I did e-mail uniden for assistance. If anyone has any assistance in #1: getting rid of the registration key error & #2: getting voice rather than annoying noise, it would again be appreciated. I thank you & Happy New Year to all.
(My friend is gonna owe me big time for this!)
I did download bctool & performed the instructions as Tom graciously provided above. After uploading the programming, for some reason, the BCT15 would not recognize any control channels on the trunked channels. The conventional channels work fine. I played with this for almost 5 hours with no success. The TGID's & sites installed, but I kept getting "finding control channel" when stopped on a TGID. I am within range as there is a radio tower on the system in my hometown. I finally dropped back & punted as they say. I downloaded the BCT15 software from Uniden & paid for the Registration key. I was then able to load the software into the BCT15 from by BCD396T configuration. The control channels were recognized & I did show signal strength bars.
However, after the software was loaded from the uniden software & the scanner stopped on any TGID, all i would get was that annoying interference/squelch type noise & I could not hear any voices, as I had my BCD396T nearby & heard voices without problems.
After some thought, I decided to download the latest firmware for the BCT15 from uniden as I thought that would resolve the noise problem. I believe I entered a wrong registration key as after the firmware software worked, I received an error stating to change the baud rate (which was on the lowest setting). Now when I turn the BCT15 on, I have "registration key error" on the scanner & I cannot connect to it from the software & it will not scan. I did e-mail uniden for assistance. If anyone has any assistance in #1: getting rid of the registration key error & #2: getting voice rather than annoying noise, it would again be appreciated. I thank you & Happy New Year to all.
(My friend is gonna owe me big time for this!)
cpuerror
Member
Turn on your scanner while holding L/O + 6. Then reperform the firmware upgrade again and that should bring it back to life.
Thank you, I did the firmware upgrade again & the scanner is back to life. However I believe I found what the problem is. The trunked system that was downloaded into the BCT15 is an APCO25 system. I see on uniden's website that the BCT15 does not support APCO25 systems. I did not know what P25 meant in the 2nd post on this thread, but I do now. Thank you all again for your assistance.
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