Considering the 396, have questions

[Mainsail]

I’m considering the purchase of the Uniden BCD396 but have a couple of questions. I live in Tacoma and have found several Tacoma PD freqs via the web but don’t hear anything when I programmed them into my ham radio.

Is Tacoma PD trunked? Digital? Encrypted?

I work on McChord AFB. I’m pretty sure (after handling some of the radios) that they’re trunked. Are they digital? Are they encrypted?

Lastly, does anyone have a master frequency list they’re willing to share?

 

[UPMan]

Tacoma has some digital.

Not sure about the AFB.

Frequency List

 

[icom1020]

North and South Tac are the only ones I have heard in the clear, I don't have a digital scanner but from conversations during the protests two weeks ago, on PSOPS S4, they moved all their traffic to the 'encrypted' talk groups on the other Tac's.

 

[cristisphoto]

Ok So they answered your Frequency Question
YES buy the BCD396T
Its a Cool scanner
I've had mne for about one year now
And I have NO regreets
In fact as time goes on I my appreciation grwos
ANyways
GOod Luck
Crista

 

[icom1020]

Yeah, I would upgrade to digital. Puyallup is going to 800 soon and Pierce County is proposing a P25 system to be implemented over the next 3-4 years.

 

[midnightcaller]

master frequency

Lastly, does anyone have a master frequency list they’re willing to share


you can also go to www.northwestradio.com

 

[Mainsail]

Thanks for all the replies so far! I take it then that Tacoma is trunked? Also, the frequency list I’m interested in isn’t just state and local government. One of my favorite freqs (long ago when I had a scanner) was the McDonalds drive thru. They talked out to the order speaker on one tone, and inside to each other on another tone. The scanner was able to hear all of it, including the insults they would occasionally throw at their customers.

So I’m interested in the freqs you like to listen to, so I can build up a new list.

 

[UPMan]

The wiki hits some of these: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Common_Frequencies

You can also search more specifically to your area for restaraunt licenses by going to the Licensee/Zip FCC Search page, putting in the restaraunt name, your zip code, and selecting "Land/Mobile Private (LP)" then "Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional (IG)" in the appropriate selection boxes. Assuming the establishment is operating under a license that is issued to that address, this will find it.

 

[icom1020]

Yes, Tacoma is trunked. I don't listen to the drive thrus that much. Some like Mc D have gone to 900 spread spectrum, I believe. Lots other on 457, 468 What is listed on here and on Intercept site is pretty accurate for freqs.

 

[olowy]

I have a 396 and live in T town and it works well. TPD is trunked with about 10 enrypted channels, but the majority of TPD and TFD comes in great. Also you can pick up McChord very well ( still have some problem having Ft Lewis come in clearly but that may just be me). The 396 was my first scanner purchase in a while and I haven't been disappointed.

 

[Mainsail]

Ok, one more question. I’m not even going to attempt to program that radio the hard way. I see that the radio comes with the software, but does it also come with the cable? Is the software usable or do I need to buy a different version?

 

[UPMan]

Comes with cable and you can d/l the software for free from Uniden's web site. Different people like different software; I recommend you avail yourself of the trial periods offered on the other stuff.

 

[Mainsail]

OMG, what have I done!?!?!

The scanner will be here on Wednesday. I’m a little intimidated by it because I don’t know anything about talkgroups etc. I have a pretty good understanding of trunking, the basics anyway, but I’m hoping it will become clear when I begin programming the scanner.

Is it some sort of scanner faux paux to ask for another’s frequency lists? I’ve asked here several times and was ignored, so now I’m wondering. When I had my last scanner back in the ‘80s several of us shared our lists. Since I was stationed on Charleston AFB, my AF freqs were pretty popular. Anyway, I was hoping to get a few local lists to get me started.

 

[midnightcaller]

You can ask for any list that you want you have 2 very good sights to go to

www.northwestradio.com and this sight for information

 

[eclipsecivic2002]

Tacoma TRS frequencys and talkgroups

Motorola type II
800 mhz

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2501

 

[eclipsecivic2002]

Hey olowy I sent you a private message.

 

[olowy]

By the way, you can either use the software that comes with your scanner (which I had some trouble with that uniden could never fix) or download a demo version of ARC360 at www.butelsoftware.com. Will make all the difference in the world in how much time it takes to program your scanner. Your scanner also comes preprogammed with a bunch of cities, and the software program makes it easier to remove them as well.

 

[eclipsecivic2002]

sent another message olowy.

Anyone else scanning Tacoma with a digital scanner hows the Tac channels?

-thanks -Louie-

 

[Mainsail]

OK, this is absolutely maddening. I haven’t the slightest clue what to do with this radio and software. I bought the ARC396 software and am trying to program Tacoma. This website lists Tacoma as Motorola Type II Smartzone and below that says Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface.

In General System Parameters, none of the selections in the drop-down are “Motorola Type II Smartzone”. Is it Motorola Type II Standard 800 MHz, or Motorola APCO 25!?!?!?!

What do I do with the decimal and hex numbers listed on the site?

In the software, what information do I need to enter in the Trunk ID column?

I’ve poured over the software HELP and it hasn’t helped at all.

 

[scanvin]

I too

Just got a bcd396. Purchased ARC396 and am happy with how it is. I had some trouble getting it to import the RR database correctly fot Tacoma, but did some pasteing and have it working. I keep hitting a couple of encrypted and 'lnk' conversations, but it's not being translated. I'm assuminig these are apco 25 digital, and that it should happen. Anyway, I'll be watching this trhead.

steve