can somebody PLEASE tell me how to program my BC296D for DC?

[SCPD]

have a new uniden BC296D bearcat
I can program all my local analog freq just fine
i can't program one trunk channel to save my life tho
Can anybody give me instrutions on how to program it for the DC police department?

I have been to this page here:

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=234


but still cant figure it out
i want these police talkgroups:

DEC HEX Mode Display Description
16400 401 1-01 1D 1st District Operations
16432 403 1-02 2D 2nd District Operations
16464 405 1-03 3D 3rd District Operations
16496 407 1-04 4D 4th District Operations
16528 409 1-05 5D 5th District Operations
16560 40b 1-06 6D 6th District Operations
16592 40d 1-07 7D 7th District Operations



again can somebody PLEASE give me step by step if possbile this is what I mainly bought the scanner for but cant get it to work for some reason thanks in advance

 

[fmon]

I take it you do not have the software provided with the scanner.
This step by step shortcut is for the BC250/785 but I think the 296/796 programs the same.

 

[SCPD]

i have the software,but i still cant figure it out
im not sure of the type, or table, or main frequency, and stuff like that

 

[fmon]

Did you go to the shortcut link in my previous?

Ya apparently can't paste into the crappy Uniden 296/796 software so I pasted the data into Butel 250/785/296/796 and loaded bank 1 and 2 into my 785D then sent this data to the Uniden software. The attached zip is the result.

Bank 1 is 800 and 2 is 400 with the settings. Both have the 7 TG's you listed. And since the system is simulcast, either bank should produce the same results.

 

[SCPD]

i looked at the step by step but the procedure doesnt seem the same for my 296

I have downloaded the file you have just posted but I dont know what to do with it. I have the serial cable that came with the scanner but it very rarely connects because i dont have a computer with a serial port, i had to but a serial-to-usb adapter but that doesnt seem to let me have a steady working connection to the scanner. Was i supposed to send this to the scanner somehow?

thanks for your help

 

[fmon]

i looked at the step by step but the procedure doesnt seem the same for my 296

I can't conferm that but I think they are the same. Butel ARC software works for both, and Unidens does also.

Was i supposed to send this to the scanner somehow?

Yes, extract to your Uniden BC296D796D folder then run the program and open the file and click on "Write current bank to scanner" icon. When bank 1 is finished click on bank 2 and "Write current bank to scanner" icon again.

 

[SCPD]

i looked at the step by step but the procedure doesnt seem the same for my 296

I can't conferm that but I think they are the same. Butel ARC software works for both, and Unidens does also.

Was i supposed to send this to the scanner somehow?

Yes, extract to your Uniden BC296D796D folder then run the program and open the file and click on "Write current bank to scanner" icon. When bank 1 is finished click on bank 2 and "Write current bank to scanner" icon again.

i coudlnt open it in that format (*.ssd) which program to use to open and send that? the uniden software or the butel arc?

 

[fmon]

.ssd is Uniden. Do you have ARC?

 

[SCPD]

.ssd is Uniden. Do you have ARC?

i cant get my usb2serial adapter to work with the uniden

i download the trial version of arc, it does seem to be able to connect to my scanner
do you have a file in ARC format that I can try to upload to the scanner?

 

[fmon]

i cant get my usb2serial adapter to work with the uniden

i download the trial version of arc, it does seem to be able to connect to my scanner
do you have a file in ARC format that I can try to upload to the scanner?

Open Uniden and check setup is the same com port and Baud rate used in AEC.

I didn't save the file in ARC format

 

[SCPD]

yes checked in unidan port number is same
i can run with the uniden and get a non communication error but then can pull up the arc adn connect with no problem
can you put in some type of *.mem file that ARC reads?

 

[fmon]

I used Butel's RadioReference WebService and remade the file. You too can use this great service by donating to RR and downloading the free WebService. All of the info on the Washington DC page is downloaded in .csv format, which you can easily copy from and paste into any Windows based program such as ARC.

Donations
WebService
I would encourage you to also purchase ARC software.

Don Starr's Win96 also has this WebService feature, but loads the selected data directly into the software. This program is used with the Pro-96 and 2096.

 

[SCPD]

I used Butel's RadioReference WebService and remade the file. You too can use this great service by donating to RR and downloading the free WebService. All of the info on the Washington DC page is downloaded in .csv format, which you can easily copy from and paste into any Windows based program such as ARC.

Donations
WebService
I would encourage you to also purchase ARC software.

Don Starr's Win96 also has this WebService feature, but loads the selected data directly into the software. This program is used with the Pro-96 and 2096.

I download the zip file but the *.mem file thats in there, when I open it with ARC it says error invalid format
where can i find win96?

 

[fmon]

I download the zip file but the *.mem file thats in there, when I open it with ARC it says error invalid format
where can i find win96?

Apparently the DEMO ARC is prior to my current version, thus is not compatible. Purchase the basic ARC which will give you the latest version or resolve the issue with the Uniden software. The price of the ARC software is insignificant compared to the price you paid for the scanner.

Win96 WebService only works with the Pro-96 and Pro-2096. It also requires a donation to RadioReference (only one donation is required for all enhanced use of RR). Win96 can also be downloaded for a thirty day trial but using it to try to set up your 296 will not work. http://www.starrsoft.com/

I could also have attached the .csv file but that would bypass the agreement between Butel and RR.

Finally, by now you could have very easily programmed the info required manually by using the Shortcut Link provided in my first posting.

 

[SCPD]

I download the zip file but the *.mem file thats in there, when I open it with ARC it says error invalid format
where can i find win96?

Apparently the DEMO ARC is prior to my current version, thus is not compatible. Purchase the basic ARC which will give you the latest version or resolve the issue with the Uniden software. The price of the ARC software is insignificant compared to the price you paid for the scanner.

Win96 WebService only works with the Pro-96 and Pro-2096. It also requires a donation to RadioReference (only one donation is required for all enhanced use of RR). Win96 can also be downloaded for a thirty day trial but using it to try to set up your 296 will not work. http://www.starrsoft.com/

I could also have attached the .csv file but that would bypass the agreement between Butel and RR.

Finally, by now you could have very easily programmed the info required manually by using the Shortcut Link provided in my first posting.

well i guess i have to use some other software

i tried the shortcut link,for one its not exactly the same steps as my 296D and for two im not sure which numbers to punch in from the DC freqs page,i know the differnce between the primary channels, and in which order you put in the frequencies (if) to make a difference
What i really need is a step by step, that tells me which number to put in and how many numbers,basically all the info from the DC page. Occording to the step by step shortcut you posted i still need to know the correct frequencies and which numbers to place where and i simply dont know that. I've only had my first scanner for about 6 days now
i just dont know how to do trunk channels, only conventials i can do

 

[fmon]

I do realize you are new to trunking, and the scanner you have chosen is a great scanner but a challenge to new users. In the mean time, try again to program by the steps below.

I would again encourage you to get the current Version of ARC software (1.12). And donate to RR (5 bucks will do it). You have several other interesting trunking systems in your area which you may want to listen to.

Programming the 250D for Mot or ED

Motorola Type II or EDACS Systems
Program the frequencies as follows: assuming bank 1
1. press MENU
2. press 2
3. press 2
4. press VFO or E
5. press 1
6. press 1
*7. press 1=Mot II 800, 3=900. 4=UHF *, 5=VHF *, 6=ED Wide, 7=Narrow, 8=SCAT
8. press 2
9. press VFO or E
10. press 1
11. using numbered and decimal keys enter frequency
12. press VFO or E
13. press MENU three times
14. rotate VFO to next channel (C 002 L/O should appear at top)
15. repeat steps 9 through 14 until all are entered (the new top should be C 003...)
16.  press scan after last E
*After pressing 4 or 5 for VHF/UHF in step 7 above, skip steps 8 through 10 and use steps
(a through l) below to enter data for VHF or UHF
a.    press VFO or E
b.    enter base frequency
c.    press VFO or E
d. enter space setting
e. press VFO or E
f. enter offset channel
g. press VFO or E
h. repeat steps (a through g) for additional settings for UHF or VHF
i. press MENU three times
j. press 2
k. press VFO or E
l. return to step 11 above for entering frequencies.

Program ID’s as follows:
1. press MENU
2. press 2
3. press 2
4. press VFO or E
5. press 3
6. press VFO or E
7. press 1
8. using numbered keys enter the first ID, I.E. (MO 57932) or (ED 00-041)
   Note: use period(.)for dash(-) for Mot I or ED
9. press VFO or E
10. press 2
11. rotate the VFO (clockwise) until the Capital letter L appears
12. press VFO
13. rotate the VFO to the next letter (A, in this case rotate ccw)
14. press VFO
15. rotate the VFO to the next letter (W, in this case rotate cw)
16. press E
17. press MENU
18. rotate VFO to next ID (M1-2 should be at the top)
19. repeat steps 6 through 18 for all other ID’s and text tag’s replace
letters in steps 11, 13 and 15 as needed

Under Motorola type II or EDACS:
Step 1 through step 7 and pressing 4 at step 7.
Then follow the note instructions which directs you to go to step a.

You do not need to set step a through l for the 800 mhz freqs but they do need to be set for the UHF 400 freqs.
If you want to set the scanner to CC only scanning, in the 800 mhz bank, use plan 1, in the 400 mhz bank use plan 2.

The 250/785/296/796 all program the same, the main difference between the 250 and 296 is decoding and baud rate, not programming. The 250 can be programmed up to 19xxx baud with software and the 296 up to 56xxx baud. The 296 can decode 3600b and 9600b while the 250 is limited to 3600b. However, this does not change programming procedures. One can program a 250 with a 9600b system, but the scanner wont scan it worth a crap.

The files I provided have the 800's with the 7 TG's in bank 1 and the 400's in bank 2. All freqs are programmed, IOW, not set for CC only trunking. I would suggest you use separate banks also, however, since they are both simulcast, you may only need one bank with either the 800's or 400's with the additional UHF settings if using 400's,

 

[SCPD]

ok i tried to re enter it manually...............

Now i do hear DC Police now!!!
however, its spread across channels, and the talkgroups dont come up, so i cant tell if its 1st distrct, 2nd district, etc, although i have programed talkgroups

Here's what i got:
i store this in bank 3
so channels 201-212 have these frequencies(1 per channel)
460.02500* 460.10000* 460.15000* 460.20000* 460.25000 460.27500 460.32500 460.35000 460.40000
460.42500 460.45000 460.47500 460.50000

which i got off that DC freq page, with 460.1 being in channel 201, then 460.023 in the next, then 460.15 then all behind that
how when i got it scanning(hit the scan button) on only bank 3,i hear police on varies channels(ie 207 208 211 212 etc),but no talk group IDs come up
basically i have it working, i can hear the DC police, but i (believe) i have the talkgroups loaded in, but when i hear talk on the channels just the channel number and the frequency comes up, but it doesn tell me which talkgroup and the alpha name i got attached so i know which district is talking
i thought for the police to talk theyd have to be in a talkgroup? but none shows up when i listen in ? I believe i have it working now but i would simply liek for the talkgroup to come up when somebody says something, and how to scan just that particular ID/talkgroup(say if i just want to listen to district 3 which i belive has talkgroup id 16464)
And to scan a trunked system, i thought i was supposed to go to one channel, such as 201 which has the main control frequency(listed in red on the DC freq page) and all the talkgroups come up on that one channel? or are you supposed to hit the scan button to hear all the different talkgroups? i dont know please help......... and thanks for the help so far

also what is "cc scanning" ??

 

[fmon]

Press and hold TRUNK until you see READY TO ID SCAN. If you see READY TO ID SEARCH instead then press and hold TRUNK again.

Edit: I hope you set the base, space and offset.

 

[SCPD]

Press and hold TRUNK until you see READY TO ID SCAN. If you see READY TO ID SEARCH instead then press and hold TRUNK again.

Edit: I hope you set the base, space and offset.

I set the base space and offset

i hit trunk and see ID scan but no talkgroup ids come up
which channel should I be on when i do that?
also whats the diff/importance of choosing control channel only?

 

[fmon]

which channel should I be on when i do that?
also whats the diff/importance of choosing control channel only?

Channel is a frequency.

During idle time the display should indicate:
Line 1=ID SCAN
Line 2=current CC
Line 3=LIST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0, where the numbers are for the scanlist selected. You should use only the list which have TG's programmed.
Line 4=blank
Note: The line 3 LIST could indicate any number(s) with _ indicated for unselected list. Or as I normally have mine set; 1 2 3 _ _ _ _ _ _ 0. I have the generic PL 700000 ID in scan list ten and Law enforcement in list 1 2 & 3

During coms:
Line 1=Mx-x (x-x is for the scan list in use and location) with current ID number flashing.
Line 2=voice channel
Line 3=TG tag
Line 4=scan list tag

Do this test:
During idle time, press the UP/HOLD button, this should place your scanner display in the "During Coms" condition as indicated above. If you do not see Mx-x with an ID on line 1, CC on line 2, TG Tags on line 3 & 4, then programming is not correct.

CC operations provide more channel locations for other freqs. Motorola Smartnet and Smartzone systems function on CC decoding, thus the scanner does not need the rest of the freqs, but Unidens require setting a CC only Plan. GRE scanners function without setting a plan. Many systems change the CC every day so you will need all CC's and Alts programmed if using CC only. Your 400 mhz system is Plan 2 as I recall.

BTW, locally I tend to use all freqs in Uniden and CC only in GRE scanners. If traveling, I'll set the Uniden to CC only and place several systems in my route with the same Plan in one bank and scan in ID SEARCH Mode. But locally, each system is in separate banks.