BCD396XT/BCD996XT: Confusing BCD996XT operation

jrscpu2004

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ive owned this BCD996XT for years. The person I bought it from was apparently feed up in trying
to operate the scanner because when I got it, there wasn’t any Groups or Data save to it.
The users manual reads like a technobabble document which fails to help a novice who bought
this type scanner. I sought help on-line and found “Mike’s” easier to read/understand BCD996-XT,
but it too doesn’t give a Step by Step tutorial which is desperately needed. Then, I tried the numerous
YouTube video‘s and once again the narrators are well versed in the scanners operation but they too
fail to give a novice any clue to the scanners operation.
I sat down with the scanner and basically opened each category in the “ Menu” and opened to each of
the sub-categories. Amazingly, I stumbled across how you can do Service Scans by categories! I never
knew this scanner had this function.
I began to use the service scan and when it locked on a frequency that I wanted to save to memory. I pressed the Hold button. Then I was able to store enough captured stations but I didn’t know how I could send them to a “Group”.
What I did in the past was to download all programming about 8 years ago that set-up the entire scanner
into groups, This circumvented me from having to set-up the scanner and just used what was pre-programmed.
I’ve since then have retired and I want to finally master this beast.
I live in Selden, NY which is in Sufolk County, NY. Ideally, I was hoping there might be a local scanner group
that might hold club events. If that existed, I could take the scanner with me to receive a hands-on guidance.
I have these saved frequencies at the moment. The past downloaded program set up groups and one is
named Suffolk Cnty. How can I send each of my saved frequencies to that group? I would need a step by step
guidance to migrate them into an existing Group. That would help me along in a big way.
 

mule1075

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ive owned this BCD996XT for years. The person I bought it from was apparently feed up in trying
to operate the scanner because when I got it, there wasn’t any Groups or Data save to it.
The users manual reads like a technobabble document which fails to help a novice who bought
this type scanner. I sought help on-line and found “Mike’s” easier to read/understand BCD996-XT,
but it too doesn’t give a Step by Step tutorial which is desperately needed. Then, I tried the numerous
YouTube video‘s and once again the narrators are well versed in the scanners operation but they too
fail to give a novice any clue to the scanners operation.
I sat down with the scanner and basically opened each category in the “ Menu” and opened to each of
the sub-categories. Amazingly, I stumbled across how you can do Service Scans by categories! I never
knew this scanner had this function.
I began to use the service scan and when it locked on a frequency that I wanted to save to memory. I pressed the Hold button. Then I was able to store enough captured stations but I didn’t know how I could send them to a “Group”.
What I did in the past was to download all programming about 8 years ago that set-up the entire scanner
into groups, This circumvented me from having to set-up the scanner and just used what was pre-programmed.
I’ve since then have retired and I want to finally master this beast.
I live in Selden, NY which is in Sufolk County, NY. Ideally, I was hoping there might be a local scanner group
that might hold club events. If that existed, I could take the scanner with me to receive a hands-on guidance.
I have these saved frequencies at the moment. The past downloaded program set up groups and one is
named Suffolk Cnty. How can I send each of my saved frequencies to that group? I would need a step by step
guidance to migrate them into an existing Group. That would help me along in a big way.
@w2lie
 

ejbrennan99

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ive owned this BCD996XT for years. The person I bought it from was apparently feed up in trying
to operate the scanner because when I got it, there wasn’t any Groups or Data save to it.
The users manual reads like a technobabble document which fails to help a novice who bought
this type scanner. I sought help on-line and found “Mike’s” easier to read/understand BCD996-XT,
but it too doesn’t give a Step by Step tutorial which is desperately needed. Then, I tried the numerous
YouTube video‘s and once again the narrators are well versed in the scanners operation but they too
fail to give a novice any clue to the scanners operation.
I sat down with the scanner and basically opened each category in the “ Menu” and opened to each of
the sub-categories. Amazingly, I stumbled across how you can do Service Scans by categories! I never
knew this scanner had this function.
I began to use the service scan and when it locked on a frequency that I wanted to save to memory. I pressed the Hold button. Then I was able to store enough captured stations but I didn’t know how I could send them to a “Group”.
What I did in the past was to download all programming about 8 years ago that set-up the entire scanner
into groups, This circumvented me from having to set-up the scanner and just used what was pre-programmed.
I’ve since then have retired and I want to finally master this beast.
I live in Selden, NY which is in Sufolk County, NY. Ideally, I was hoping there might be a local scanner group
that might hold club events. If that existed, I could take the scanner with me to receive a hands-on guidance.
I have these saved frequencies at the moment. The past downloaded program set up groups and one is
named Suffolk Cnty. How can I send each of my saved frequencies to that group? I would need a step by step
guidance to migrate them into an existing Group. That would help me along in a big way.
If you really want to master this beast, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Proscan for $50 - literally made my scanner use 1000% better in a matter of minutes - yes, you *can* do everything on the device itself - but spend $50 for proscan, and ~$30 for the cable you will need and you can thank me later (I also have a BCD996XT and after 'underusing' it for years, now I like it again.

You can even get a 30 day trial that is fully functional - the cable you will still need to buy.
 

K9KLC

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If you really want to master this beast, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Proscan for $50 - literally made my scanner use 1000% better in a matter of minutes - yes, you *can* do everything on the device itself - but spend $50 for proscan, and ~$30 for the cable you will need and you can thank me later (I also have a BCD996XT and after 'underusing' it for years, now I like it again.

You can even get a 30 day trial that is fully functional - the cable you will still need to buy.
Agreed, best money I ever spent. Truthfully I have both the 996XT and a 536 and it took me getting ProScan to make my 536 what I wanted it to be let alone the 996.
 

cg

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Before you spend your money on anything, be sure that radio will monitor what you wish to hear. Suffolk County NY uses a P25 Phase 2 system which the 996XT will not receive.
 

jrscpu2004

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I already popped for the ARC XT Pro and then renew my subscription to Radioreference for a 6 month period.
When I got the scanner, I think who I bought from, gave me the data cable. I recently found out through the forums that it doesn’t contain an imbedded chip to allow use with Window 10 or 11. Amazon will deliver tomorrow so I can complete downloading local frequencies on to my BVD996XT,
Thank you.
 

WSAC829

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I’m a little late, but i used FreeScan (it’s free) for my 996. Super easy to import from RR.
 
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wtp

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and a lot of folks like proscan

ProScan runs as a 30 day fully functional trial / demo until activated with a personalized key.
 

tvengr

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ive owned this BCD996XT for years. The person I bought it from was apparently feed up in trying
to operate the scanner because when I got it, there wasn’t any Groups or Data save to it.
You can use quick keys to easily turn systems, sites, and groups on and off to select what you want to scan. 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.
 

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