Computer programming question

[radio]

I was able to program by Bearcat 245, 250 and 780 with the Uniden E Scanner Plus software with my old computer which had Windows 98. That computer crashed so I purchased a new one with Window XP. I tried to program all of the radios with and without checking the box for Windows XP without sucess. The software does recognize the radios either way and I am able to operate them through the computer keyboard. It will not read the current info in the scanners and will not accept the new information. Any suggestions I would greatly appreciate. Thank you.

 

[ka3jjz]

You're not alone with the problems with EScanner; some people make it work, others use it as a cup holder. Do the latter, as there are better choices out there.

Since you specified the 245, 250 and 785, I'm going to assume you want one package that will work with all 3. There are individual packages that are well regarded; let me know and I will amend or add as needed. I'm pretty sure all these I'm going to mention are XP compatible;

Radio Manager 2004: http://www.bensware.com/rm2002.htm
in my opinion the editor is way overblown and very difficult to use. But some folks like it...

Scancat: http://www.scancat.com
This actually has several different packages depending on cost. Jim Springer also has a program called Scancat Lite Plus which does programming only. I've written a review on this software (using the 245 and 895), and it should give you a good idea of how to use the software. Jim can be found on the Scancat Yahoo group. The URL for the review is:

http://www.strongsignals.net/access/feature/review_013.html

In an earlier version of Scancat I fooled around with, it didn't support Multi Track (the ability to trunk and scan conventionally in 1 pass), so to me that's a real problem.

Scan Control: http://www.scannersoft.com
Ken D. is a frequent contributor on the Scan Control Yahoo group, so getting tips and hints is very easy. Scan Control does support Multi Track, and the editor is, to me a great deal easier to work than either Scancat or Radio Manager. I wrote a review of the Lite (programming only) version of this software at:

http://www.strongsignals.net/access/feature/review_014.html

and I have a preliminary version of the full package's review if you're interested. Email me privately if that's the case.

73s Mike

 

[K5MAR]

I'll second Mike's endorsement of ScanControl. I have the 245 and the 780, and ScanControl makes it easy to do both with a single package. One note. You can use a file from the 245 to program the 780, but not the reverse. I geneally make changes to the 245 files, then inport them to the 780. The 245 files will store alpha tags, even thought the radio can't display them, for use when using the program to control the radio. So it's easy to set up the 780 with the 245 files.

Mark S.

 

[ka3jjz]

I'll second Mike's endorsement of ScanControl. I have the 245 and the 780, and ScanControl makes it easy to do both with a single package. One note. You can use a file from the 245 to program the 780, but not the reverse. I geneally make changes to the 245 files, then inport them to the 780. The 245 files will store alpha tags, even thought the radio can't display them, for use when using the program to control the radio. So it's easy to set up the 780 with the 245 files.

Mark S.

Mark - a simple workaround you can use, if you have the full version, is to export the 780's banks to a clipboard file, then import them into the 245. That way, SC will not choke when you try to downgrade..

73s Mike

 

[radio]

Thanks for the response. Yesterday, I was trying to make it work and lo and belold, it worked. I think there is something that causes my computer to throw a firewall because when I won't allow the data to load, a little bar in the lower bar where the icons, the clock, etc (forgive me that I don't know what you call it) with a little symbol that I think means firewall. I have no clue about firewalls. All I know is the systems working great with Windows 98 on the older computer. Also, after it did load, I looked at the radio and discovered it did NOT transfer totally and exactly as it was typed in. For instances, it will not erase I-Calls for a regular talkgroup and neither will it load I-Calls. In a list where the I-Call was, I manually deleted it, but would not accept the regular talkgroup either. The alpha tags all worked to change them with both I-calls and regular talkgroups. I have the XP 1 on now. A Windows XP 2 is now available. Would that help too? Thanks again for any help.

 

[K5MAR]

I'll second Mike's endorsement of ScanControl. I have the 245 and the 780, and ScanControl makes it easy to do both with a single package. One note. You can use a file from the 245 to program the 780, but not the reverse. I geneally make changes to the 245 files, then inport them to the 780. The 245 files will store alpha tags, even thought the radio can't display them, for use when using the program to control the radio. So it's easy to set up the 780 with the 245 files.

Mark S.

Mark - a simple workaround you can use, if you have the full version, is to export the 780's banks to a clipboard file, then import them into the 245. That way, SC will not choke when you try to downgrade..

73s Mike

Yes, I do. I've been buying ScanControl for several years now. Know about that "trick" but not as easy as I'd like. Ultimately, I'd like to see the program read the pertinant data from the file that's required for the radio being programmed, with the remainder ignored. Ken says maybe, down the road.

I tend to keep similar setups programmed for my various radios, to eliminate confusion when switching between the various Unidens and Radio Shack/GRE scanners I own. So I setup the master file for the 245, then load and convert it for the 780. The same for my Pro-series scanners using Win9x and the WinXX data converter. After that, it's just housekeeping, which is easier done in the radio-specific files. But occasionally, I'll update the 780 files and fail to get the 245 files changed. That's when i wish I could load the 780 file into the 245 and save the results.

I just wanted to bring that point up, so radio would be aware of the possible "limitation".

Mark S.

 

[UPMan]

The little bar in your system tray that you deleted was the program that synchronizes your Palm Pilot, Windows CE handheld, or other device that was set up to sync on your computer. That software takes over the assigned seraial port, and never lets it go (unless you manually disable it). This is the most common cause for the serial port to appear dead.

 

[akuter]

E-Scanner from RS works great on my PC.

Got a laptop(E-machine), installed went well, but I can't remove the factory pre-program for texas, so I can program my own database.