Help with programming Uniden BCD396T

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jwetsit

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Hello guys,

I need help with programming my BCD396T. I am not receiving any digital and I think I have it programmed right, but must not?????????????? I receive plenty of Analog, but no Digital.

thank you
 

ka3jjz

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Before anyone can help, you need to supply a couple of things...

a. What are you trying to program? Find the system or page in the database, and supply the URL so others can see it

b. What software, if any are you using? If you aren't using software, how did you program manually? In either case, folks are going to want to see what you have done. The UASD or Uniden Advanced System Director is available from the Uniden downloads area, and there are 2 freeware programs - BCTool and FreeScan - which are also pretty decent. If you don't have software, these choices are good ones, even though lots of people use ARC396 or ProScan. Links for all of that can be found here (anything in blue is a link)

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396T

If you are using software, which package?

After all of that a SD'er should be able to point you in the right direction. To me it sounds like you haven't set the modes and levels correctly, or perhaps have a group key or two missing, but seeing the programming is the only way to tell for sure

73 Mike
 
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jwetsit

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Help

is it worth me purchasing some good software such as ARC or proscan? If so what do you recommend?


I am trying to load the state of South Dakota System, below is the link.

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=2315

below is the way I programmed the scanner initially. I have loaded some things with freescan, but only analog stuff.

Hit the Menu button, then go to
Program System > New System > MOT> VHF Band
(note: select VHF Band, NOT P25 for the system type, the state system
does not have a P25 control channel)

Then go to
Edit Sys Option > Set Quick Key
Assign the system a quick key

Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan > Band Plan 1
Enter 155.415 for the base freq, 15.0 for the step, 380 for the offset

Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan > Band Plan 2
Enter 157.2 for the base freq, 12.5 for the step, 436 for the offset

Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan > Band Plan 3
Enter 157.47 for the base freq, 15.0 for the step, 454 for the offset

The only thing left to do is is enter the frequencies. There are 2
schools of thought on how to do this. You could enter the control
channel frequencies for every site in the state. The advantage to that
is that you could take the scanner anywhere in the state and it would
pick up a local control channel and start scanning away. Personally, I
prefer to program each site as a separate "system", with a separate
quick key assigned for each site. That way, I can hear numerous sites
at the same time.

To do it the second way, all you need to do is enter the control channel
frequencies for the one particular site you're trying to program.
Set Frequencies > New Frequency
For the Sturgis site, enter 158.58 and 157.95

Now, if you hit the scan key, it should lock onto the active control
channel. If you make sure the system is in ID Search mode rather than
ID Scan mode, talkgroup IDs should start popping up and you should start
hearing things. When talkgroup ID numbers pop up, look them up on the
talkgroup list at radioreference.com, and you'll know what channel
you're hearing.

We have not programmed any talkgroup IDs, but the way I recommend
monitoring the system, that's not really a problem. If you stay in ID
Search mode, you'll hear every talkgroup that comes across the tower. I
think this is a better way of monitoring than using ID Scan mode,
because ID Scan mode ignores any talkgroup IDs that haven't been
programmed in. There are still a lot of talkgroups that haven't been
identified by the general scanning public yet, and therefore aren't
listed on radioreference.com. You'll miss these if you use ID Scan mode.

The problem is, you'll also pick up annoying talkgroups in ID Search
mode (AIB, DOT, transit buses, PBS, etc.) Just lock these out as they
come up.

That's the easiest way to get going. Just repeat the above steps for
every site you want to program. I'd also recommend changing the hold
time from 2 to 0.
 

loumaag

Silent Key - Aug 2014
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Location
Katy, TX
The instruction you have above seems correct (at first glance). I would suggest that you download the free software from Uniden for the 396T and then use the published files on the ScanSD Yahoo group to get started.
 
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