Help with settings for Uniden 396T

[tjgerard]

I have a 396T and haven't been very happy with it. I am playing with the settings again in the attempt to figure out if I can get this sucker working better. I would like some help/recommendations regarding how the settings should be set -

status bit
motorola end code
digital end code
i-call

EDACS format - decimal or AFS
AGC
delay time
etc...

I am primarily in new castle county in the hockessin area.

Thanks for your time.

tom

 

[ka3jjz]

I would start with reading the 'Trunking Basics' article that's found on the wiki's front page, since the state system is entirely trunked...(note that anything in blue is a link)

Main Page - The RadioReference Wiki

Now about 2/3 way down that page on the right, in the yellow 'Popular Topics' area, click on the 'Uniden DMA FAQ' link. At the bottom of this article are the links to the Easier to Read manuals. Download the one for the 396 (not the 396XT which is a different animal).

Are you using software? Do you have an USB cable to connect the PC and scanner? I travel through Delaware anytime I have to go home to NJ, so at least some of the things I have set up via FreeScan should get you going. This is a Motorola system, so nothing in the EDACS world is needed.

You might also consider upgrading the firmware- there's a link in the DMA FAQ for that too...more information needed...73 (best regards) Mike

 

[tjgerard]

Basic

Mike,

Thanks for the response. I am pretty familiar with the basics and will go back and re-read the references you cited. I have had the scanner for 2 or 3 years now and just have not been happy with its performance. It is set up and receives but doesn't do it well.

I did just upgrade to Firmware Ver. 3.0 something or other and that seems to have improved a few of the issues and allows a couple additional settings to be adjusted.

I had been using the USAD software but recently started playing with FreeScan. It is more comprehensive than the uniden software but it is taking a little time to figure it out. I am pretty close at this point.

What I was hoping to find was someone with the same scanner that has it all tweaked and could share their settings with me.

Tom
KB3ONZ

 

[mandlair]

Hi tjgerard I have gotten rid of all my unidens for that reason.GRE work great on the Delaware system.Not sure about 396xt or home patrol though.Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Mike,

Thanks for the response. I am pretty familiar with the basics and will go back and re-read the references you cited. I have had the scanner for 2 or 3 years now and just have not been happy with its performance. It is set up and receives but doesn't do it well.

I did just upgrade to Firmware Ver. 3.0 something or other and that seems to have improved a few of the issues and allows a couple additional settings to be adjusted.

I had been using the USAD software but recently started playing with FreeScan. It is more comprehensive than the uniden software but it is taking a little time to figure it out. I am pretty close at this point.

What I was hoping to find was someone with the same scanner that has it all tweaked and could share their settings with me.

Tom
KB3ONZ

Tom, FreeScan has it's own user guide which is housed in our wiki. To get to it via FreeScan, select Help then Online Help. The UASD doesn't support all the features and upgrades that went on between versions 1 and 3, but FreeScan works - and you may have also noticed it has its own support forums, although Assaf is often in our software forum (to make it easier for him to spot a question, put FreeScan in the title).

You can also get to it from here;

FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

Unfortunately the various important settings (AGC, delay, etc.) are all very dependent on where you are, how strong the control channel is being received and the antenna you are using, among other factors. My settings are rather loose due to the fact that when I'm traveling to NJ, I have 3 states I'm traversing. Perhaps another Delaware person can jump in with some recommendations as to a better set of settings...73 Mike