First BCD396XT Has arrived, first look and discussion!

[KE4ZNR]

I can't remember the last time I had motorboating on my 396XT. I monitor a statewide mixed mode 3600 Moto system here (VIPER) and decode is better than my old Pro 96 and the "Classic" 396t.
I mean I know I had to have heard at least a little somewhere along the process but just can't remember when.
Great sensitivity and selectivity.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[DaveIN]

I can't remember the last time I had motorboating on my 396XT. I monitor a statewide mixed mode 3600 Moto system here (VIPER) and decode is better than my old Pro 96 and the "Classic" 396t.
I mean I know I had to have heard at least a little somewhere along the process but just can't remember when.
Great sensitivity and selectivity.
Marshall KE4ZNR

You set your Mixed-mode system to digital only, don't you Marshall? I would think that would do it. Weak signal is usually the cause of my dropout on P25. Do you think the sensitivity or selectivity has changed at all? I think mine is about the same.

 

[KE4ZNR]

You set your Mixed-mode system to digital only, don't you Marshall? I would think that would do it. Weak signal is usually the cause of my dropout on P25. Do you think the sensitivity or selectivity has changed at all? I think mine is about the same.

I concur that it is about the same, perhaps a little bit better...I have taken my 396xt into downtown Raleigh which is RF hell and it performed like a champ...and VIPER is a mixed Analog/Digital system so I have it set as a regular Moto system...
I do think overall anyone who is trying to make the decision between the original 396t and the new 396xt would be doing themselves a disservice if they did not pick the XT
However, if your decision is solely based on $$money$$ I would understand picking up a 396t on the used market for a good price.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[fpo701]

CEI just called me. My 396XT is on its way. Short hop over Lake Erie from Ann Arbor to Akron. Should be happy camper for the weekend.

 

[W6KRU]

Which search modes can I use to search for NAC codes? I was hoping to use it with Custom Band search but after studying the reference, it's not obvious if that is possible.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Which search modes can I use to search for NAC codes? I was hoping to use it with Custom Band search but after studying the reference, it's not obvious if that is possible.

Should be under the "SRCH CLOCALL OPT" menu.

Then Tone/Code Search.

Then go into whichever custom search you want to search and the NAC should display on the next digital reception.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[W6KRU]

Should be under the "SRCH CLOCALL OPT" menu.

Then Tone/Code Search.

Then go into whichever custom search you want to search and the NAC should display on the next digital reception.
Marshall KE4ZNR

Thanks Marshall. It sounds like that is a "global" setting that affects all searches then. Cool.

 

[DaveIN]

NAC Works well with custom search. I also noticed if you use Control Channel tracking on custom search you can change the screen mode to see system name (as listed in the radio's database) or SID. Nice feature. Not sure if that also works with the Decimal or Hex setting yet. I need to try that out and see.

 

[freqhopping]

NAC Works well with custom search. I also noticed if you use Control Channel tracking on custom search you can change the screen mode to see system name (as listed in the radio's database) or SID. Nice feature. Not sure if that also works with the Decimal or Hex setting yet. I need to try that out and see.

I wonder if it's been changed to reflect instances of identical numerical system IDs. There are a few systems local to me that display names of systems on the west coast.

 

[W6KRU]

The 396XT has a new system type (P25 Standard). I am close to the border down here and the local system uses the Splinter bandplan. After I change the system type to P25 Standard, I can no longer set my sites to the splinter band plan. Is P25 Standard going to work for a Splinter system?

 

[UPMan]

For 99% of P25 systems, all of the bandplan information is included in the control channel.
(The exception being a couple of military systems for which you need to enter a band plan.)

The P25 type system is not actually new, BTW. In previous models it was under Motorola (because no one else had any widespread installations). The BCD396XT properly splits it out as its own system type, not tied to Motorola.

You should note, however, that neither San Diego system is a P25 system. (I'm assuming from your location that is the system you were referring to). The DOD system is P25, but UHF.

 

[atoms2009]

Summary & Clarification

Hi All,
I'm gonna' summarize & try to clarify what I believe are prominent points every once in a while because this thread is Very important to a future high $$ decision for me, and I'm sure others.

Even though I am a newbie to the scanning field, from much research on the "Model T" against "Others", these seem to be the prominent points:

• Audio / Sound Quality
• Auto Tune (center freq)
• Digital Decoding / Dropouts / Sensitivity
• DSP (auto detect digital signal)

I'm also curious as to whether programming specific LCN order/slots is still imperative on the XT. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice if it's not.

I am hopeful about these things because I do not believe that all of the additional "advertised features" of the XT could have been done simply by programming changes.
.
.
Please continue to comment on your observations.
.
.
Audio / Sound Quality

One immediate observation is that it's loud! One of my biggest pet peeves with the audio of the classic 396 was its quality, or lack thereof, at low volumes. There seems to be improvement in this area.

And I also agree about the volume. Heck I can have it sitting in one room and hear it in another. Great Volume.

NICE
.
.
Auto Tune (center freq)
Digital Decoding / Dropouts / Sensitivity
DSP (auto detect digital signal)

The sensitivity appears to be about the same. P25 decoding has improved and uses the automatic tune methods.

Hi Dave, please clarify 'auto tune center freq' or 'auto detect digital signal'

I am hearing a lot of P25 traffic not normally received. Signals are weak or non-existent on the signal meter, but decode is excellent.

Hi scancapecod, is the unit programmed specifically for that P25 traffic, or is it detecting it automatically?

I monitor a statewide mixed mode 3600 Moto system here (VIPER) and decode is better than my old Pro 96 and the "Classic" 396t... Great sensitivity and selectivity.

Weak signal is usually the cause of my dropout on P25. Do you think the sensitivity or selectivity has changed at all? I think mine is about the same.

I concur that it is about the same, perhaps a little bit better...

.
.
Thank You All For Keeping Us Fence Sitters Apprised !
.

 

[UPMan]

I'm also curious as to whether programming specific LCN order/slots is still imperative on the XT. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice if it's not.

That has not been neccessary on any DMA scanner. When you create the system frequency for an EDACS or LTR system, you tell the scanner what the LCN is. You don't have to "skip channels" or program in any particular order.

 

[atoms2009]

That has not been neccessary on any DMA scanner. When you create the system frequency for an EDACS or LTR system, you tell the scanner what the LCN is. You don't have to "skip channels" or program in any particular order.

I'm sorry,

I thought I would have to program the frequencies in certain channel slots (LCN) to be able to follow the system and receive correct IDs.

Just to clarify, may I program the frequencies in any order, And will the scanner then Automatically find the 'home' frequency and trunk the system correctly?
.

 

[UPMan]

You may program them in any order. However, you do need to specify the frequency's LCN when you program it in order to properly track the system.

 

[hfxChris]

One question. I've never owned any of the newer Uniden scanners... but I have a Radio Shack Pro-137, made by Uniden and appears to use the same style case/enclosure. Does the knob on top of the BCD396XT function the same as the Pro-137, in that it functions as a jog dial, essentially taking the place of up/down buttons? Also on the 137, you have to push the knob for it to become the volume knob, and push Func + knob to adjust squelch. Is this the same for the 396XT? Also, does the 396XT have the same buttons on the left side for function and mode?

I'm assuming the answers to all of these are yes... but I figured I should ask anyway.

 

[DaveIN]

One question. I've never owned any of the newer Uniden scanners... but I have a Radio Shack Pro-137, made by Uniden and appears to use the same style case/enclosure. Does the knob on top of the BCD396XT function the same as the Pro-137, in that it functions as a jog dial, essentially taking the place of up/down buttons? Also on the 137, you have to push the knob for it to become the volume knob, and push Func + knob to adjust squelch. Is this the same for the 396XT? Also, does the 396XT have the same buttons on the left side for function and mode?

I'm assuming the answers to all of these are yes... but I figured I should ask anyway.

It controls many other features in Programaming and Menu item's, but is
essentially the same control as you mentioned.

 

[hfxChris]

That's a bit of a shame. I don't mind using the knob as the up/down 'button' - but having to push it first to adjust volume (or func to adjust squelch) is a bit of a pain. Then again, I got used to it on my 137. The thing though that I do miss, is being able to "fine-tune" the volume like with a potentiometer. Ah well, at least when I power it on it's at the same volume it was last time, I don't have to worry about accdently turning it too loud when powering it up
Definitely not a deal breaker.

 

[DaveIN]

The volume/squelch algorithms must have been improved, it seems to work better than the 396 classic.

 

[DaveIN]

Auto Tune (center freq)

Not sure what you mean here, but the Close Call tune sometimes get a false hit on a strong signal 5KHz off. Custom or Service search is right on :wink:

Digital Decoding / Dropouts / Sensitivity
DSP (auto detect digital signal)

Hi Dave, please clarify 'auto tune center freq' or 'auto detect digital signal'

P25 decoding sounds the best it has ever. It sounded as if the person speaking was in the next room. That clear.

Dropouts are inevitable on weak signals. Even some of the system users report the sound of digital, usually reported on the dispatcher end about the portable or mobile.

Sensitivity, unfortunately hasn't changed, at least on my 396XT vs. the classic.

The digital only setting works well for stored talkgroups on ID Scan (for Motorola Mixed Mode Systems) and the new NAC search addition is great.