BCD396XT/BCD996XT: Help with programming BCD996xt with USB cable

[Brownff49]

So this is my first scanner that you apparently have to be a Rocket Scientist to program. My last scanner I was able to just type in VHF and I could instantly hear radio traffic. My department now is using all the P25 digital stuff. I have currently down loaded the ARC XT software from this site and the FTDI Chip driver software. I cannot get the cable to work. I keep getting an error that reads Serial Port is not available or used by other software. Any help would be appreciated thank you!

Matt

 

[hiegtx]

So this is my first scanner that you apparently have to be a Rocket Scientist to program. My last scanner I was able to just type in VHF and I could instantly hear radio traffic. My department now is using all the P25 digital stuff. I have currently down loaded the ARC XT software from this site and the FTDI Chip driver software. I cannot get the cable to work. I keep getting an error that reads Serial Port is not available or used by other software. Any help would be appreciated thank you!

Matt

Which cable are you using? One of the Uniden USB-1 cables, or a knock-off cable bought on eBay? Link to the cable (if you recently purchased it)?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Hi & welcome to the RR forums:
When I owned a 996XT eons ago I had success with this cable & this driver. If a restart of the computer doesn't get the cable to function again it may be worth making sure you have the right COM port set in ArcXT. With cable plugged in hold down Windows key and R key at the same time, type devmgmt.msc in the run box, click OK. Expand "Ports" option and take note of your COM ports. If you're not sure what's what then remove the cable and if one of the COM ports goes away, that should be your correct port. If any have a small exclamation point or question mark next to them then you may not have the correct driver installed. Hope this helps get you up and running

 

[Brownff49]

Okay thanks! I was able to communicate computer and scanner finally. I also attached pic of cable I bought from Amazon since everyone is out of UNIDEN cable.