Help with 396T Scanning

[EricInSC]

I am super new to scanning. I have a 396t with the latest 3.00 firmware. I have not changed the test modes from 1 to 3. But I dont think that matters for the initial conventional stuff i am trying to hear.

What I am having trouble with is getting scanning to actually work. I have setup a conventional police dept in my area and notice that when i enter the tone, the scanner never picks up any conversations. When I remove the tone, it works, but the conversations are a little broken up (interruptions). Does this sound normal?

I have the sccecc programmed (at least i think i do
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=226#cid-978

Also, I get very little air traffic, even though I am in the bay area. It never rarely seems to register anything for the ZOA approach/departure frequencies or anything into SJC when i would expect a lot of chatter?

One last question, how, when using the 396t can i enter a frequency manually and just listen for traffic on it?
I tried hold -> enter freq -> hold but that doesn't seem to work...

I think I need some basic pointers

 

[k5xs]

Eric,

I have been into Amateur Radio for 40 of my 57 years, and the 396T is still a "work in progress" for me, too. So don't feel bad, it is a complicated (but very capable) box.

As to aviation frequencies, I assume you are scanning specific frequencies, and not doing a "Service Search." Users of aviation frequencies exercise probably the best communications discipline of any service, so transmissions are kept very short. If you are "searching" for activity, you'll likely miss it. Also, radiation patterns at airports and other facilities are designed to point up and out, and they aren't aimed at the horizon as public service, amateur, or broadcast signals are. So although you'll hear airplanes far out (owing to their altitude), you'll need to be reasonably close to hear the ground part of it. And finally, the antennas on hand-held scanners are inefficient on most frequencies, but one of the worst for them (because it calls for some of the longest electrical antenna lengths) is the aviation service. So...Add all that up and it isn't always really easy. If you can, program in the specific frequencies you are looking for and if possible, use an external antenna that works well on the 108-137 MHz band.

As to the tone feature, it almost sounds as though you either have the squelch adjusted too high or that you have a slightly off tone selected. I am not really familiar with tone operation on the 396, other than I see them displayed on several of my frequencies, indicating the scanner has ferretted them out for me.

As for manually entering a frequency, the easiest thing I have found is to start a SERVICE SEARCH (MENU, SEARCH FOR, SERVICE SEARCH, [Select Service]. Then I hit the HOLD button somewhere near the desired frequency and use the tuning knob to tune it exactly in. (I'm afraid a lot of us--myself included--are so wedded to "channel" and "memory" mentalities on other scanners that the 396T actually makes some tasks harder.)

I hope this helps.

73,
Bernie K5XS

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

When I remove the tone, it works, but the conversations are a little broken up (interruptions).

If the audio is interrupted every 2 seconds, you have priority and/or close call enabled.

 

[loumaag]

...
One last question, how, when using the 396t can i enter a frequency manually and just listen for traffic on it?
I tried hold -> enter freq -> hold but that doesn't seem to work...

I think I need some basic pointers

The above provided plenty pointers; however, what you describe (quoted above) is how it works. But just to make sure let's assume you want to listen to 154.250 (just a random number), while scanning you would do the following (everything within "<>" is a key):

• Press <HOLD>
• Type <1> <5> <4> <.> <2> <5> <0>
• Press <HOLD>

After doing this the scanner should be sitting on 154.2500 and holding.

 

[EricInSC]

I think my problem was a combination of close call + weather priority being turned on. I agree with Bernie that the likely cause of my troubles hearing ATC was their short communication times "on air". Anyway, I seem to have resolved my 'problems' by turning off close call and WX priority, setting the P25 to mode 3 (after the 396t 3.00 update) and just being a bit more patient.

I am still poking around for a good (strong) frequency for hearing ATC in the Oakland airspace in the South Bay.

Thanks for all the pointers as I struggle through understanding how this thing works!

--Eric

 

[slicerwizard]

I have the sccecc programmed (at least i think i do

Also, I get very little air traffic, even though I am in the bay area.

You're trying to pick up VHF/UHF traffic on a deaf radio (396's are deaf) with a stock antenna that is deaf on VHF/UHF. Get yourself a VHF antenna - telescoping whip, magmount, something...)