Downloading/Retrieving Frequencies

[greggk]

Good Morning. I recently became a premium subscriber because (1) I thought it would be great to get all the frequencies as shown in the premium page example, (I think they are PDF files) and (2) with all the free infomation and advice, I thought that paying for a premium membership was well worth my return.

Now most members here speak a few clicks above my radio knowledge level, but I am wondering how to view and download the premium subscription data bases. I thought I was doing it right, but all I get is a blank page.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Greg

 

[ka3jjz]

Greg, you don't download data as PDF files for programming. What you do is use one of the many applications for scanners that can connect to the database, and download data into the software's editor so you can manipulate, and upload it, to your scanner.

You didn't mention what scanner(s) you own, but our wiki has a good selection of links that will allow you to make a decision as to what software to use. Here's a web page with a listing...

http://wiki.radioreference.com//index.php/RadioReference.com_Web_Service

73 Mike

 

[captclint]

I thought I was doing it right, but all I get is a blank page.

As Mike says, you will need a software package to get an automatic download, but if you really wanted the PDF file, or even a CSV file, you can get those also by clicking on the REPORT tab on the county or state agencies pages.

 

[greggk]

Thanks Mike and Clint. I own two scanners, the Uniden 996T and the Uniden BC 246T

When I connect with the data base, can I download strictly to my computer first? I would rather do that then download directly to my 996T. And, what program do you recommend??

I cannot find the box that my 996T came in since we recently moved. I have the cable in the box. I will buy another cable from uniden, but hoping I can put a USB extender on it to reach my computer. !!

Again, any advice would be appreciated.

Greg

 

[captclint]

When I connect with the data base, can I download strictly to my computer first?

No, you will need to select a scanner(either one). Then hook up the other one and do the same. It's fairly painless and quick. Besides, there are things the 996 will accept that the 246 will not.

I will buy another cable from uniden, but hoping I can put a USB extender on it to reach my computer.

You will need a USB converter cable as well as the RS232 from Uniden. This one is reported to work for the 246, but not sure about the 996.http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10311&cs_id=1031104&p_id=2276&seq=1&format=2

Both of these will allow download. FreeSCAN and BCtool They have the added advantage that they will handle both scanners. They are free, and have very active forums for help, bugs and improvement requests. Personally, I like BCtool a little better for it's virtual display, Download both and see which on you like. BTW, neither handle logging well on the 246. ARC246 is the only one that does, but you may not have any interest in that since you have a base unit.

 

[greggk]

Thanks again Clint. I will need to find the cables that came with my units and then move on from there. I also need to update the firmware in my 996T. They are both great radioes and I enjoy using them.

Thanks

Greg

 

[ka3jjz]

By the way, the 246 has firmware updates as well. The links for them are actually on the Uniden wiki site, but we've got a link to that article in our Uniden DMA FAQ. Go to the toolbar under the logo, float your mouse over WIKI and select FAQs. There you will see a link for the Uniden DMA FAQ.

Although it doesn't have the RR Web connection ability (a real shame), Scan Control also works with both the 246 and 996. To me the editor is a real pain, but it does work OK (I have used it on my 396). The advantage here is the software has a utility that will migrate data from your 246 to the 996 without you having to do a whole lot. Going the other way would require you to dump the data down to a comma delimited file and reimporting it, however 73 Mike

 

[loumaag]

Topic moved to the Database Discussion forum.

When I connect with the data base, can I download strictly to my computer first?

and

No, you will need to select a scanner(either one). Then hook up the other one and do the same. It's fairly painless and quick. Besides, there are things the 996 will accept that the 246 will not...

I just want to clarify something here, I am sure you understood what was meant, but it wasn't what was said; you can only download from the site to your computer. There is no application that I know of that allows download into the radio directly or even using the computer as a "middle-man" in one step. It is always a three step operation at a minimum:

1. Using the software package of your choice, download data from the RR site to your computer.
2. Using the software on your computer, massage the data into the form you want to upload into your radio; rearrange, rename, update, remove, add, etc.
3. Using that same software, upload the data from your computer to the radio.

Indeed, there is no need to even own the target radio to download the data into the software. I think where the confusion comes is that you must be using a software package that covers the target radio and mostly those are radio specific (or radio family specific) packages; however, some packages cover more than one model of scanner, FreeSCAN comes to mind right away.

 

[greggk]

Thanks Mike and Lou. Your help is very useful, and has given me the knowledge to at least start this whole process.

I was thinking back to 1972, when I bought my first Uniden Bearcat scanner. It had 8 slots inside and you purchased 8 crystals and popped them inside for whatever you wanted to listen to. It worked like a charm ! Scanners have come a long way.

One last question. Is there any where I can locally purchase the cables I need? I assume the 246 and the 996 use different cables....it would be to easy if they used the same one. I was wondering if they can be bought anywhere besides Uniden?? These cables do have me somewhat confused. Clint said I needed a serial to usb port, but then don't I need a USB to scanner (USB 1) cable connected to the serial cable?

Again, any help is much appreciated.

Greg

 

[Jay911]

Actually, the 246, 996, 396, and all the rest, all use the same cable.

If your computer has a nine-pin serial port on it (that fits the connector on the fat end of the scanner's cable), all you need to do is plug it in, make sure the baud rate in the scanner matches the baud rate in the program (see the scanner manual and program help for more on this), and get goin'. If you don't have any serial ports, yes, you will need a serial to USB adapter. I use the Belkin F5U409 serial to USB adapter quite successfully with my USB-only WinXP laptop.

I also have a Vista desktop that I specifically got serial ports installed on so I could do radio programming, both scanners and pro radios. The cable for the Uniden scanners (in my case, a 996, a 246, and as of most recently, a 396XT) works just fine except it's short, so I should get a serial extension cable if I can find a store that still sells them.

The Uniden USB-1 cable just gives you the same thing you'd have if you got a serial to USB adapter and hooked it up to your existing scanner cable.

I would heartily recommend the program FreeScan if you're going to use just Uniden scanners. It's free, as the name implies, and you can have essentially one data file for use in any of your modern Uniden scanners (or separate ones for each scanner, if you want) If you have the RR subscription, you can download data into the program with or without your scanner connected. As Lou was explaining, the program holds the data in a file until you commit to sending it to the scanner.

Links to FreeScan can be found on this site in the scanner software forum, and they have their own website and forum to help with use of the program as well.

 

[greggk]

Thanks Jay. (I sent you an e-mail) That answers my cable questions. I hope I can get about 20 feet of extension cable. My desktop computer is not movable. My 996 is on my end table, connected to and hooked up in conjunction with my Oregon Scientific weather station and my NOAA alert radio. I like my :"toys"

Thanks Again

Greg