Hometown Programming SF Bay Area?

[tsanjose]

Hi all. Im new here and even newer to scanning. I purchased a 246T for listening in on local airport chatter and realized there's a lot more to this thing! I dont know anything about scanners and programming and I'm looking for some help with programming local freqs.

Does anyone know if there are ways to transfer programming through email or text file? Am I completely off base with the way the programs are saved on these things?

Also, does anyone know of a good store or shop in the Walnut Creek/Concord area for a walk in consultation?

 

[SCPD]

just look in the RR database & start typing them in?. or get premium membership & the s/w for your scanner & import them direct from the Database

 

[captclint]

Hi all. Im new here and even newer to scanning. I purchased a 246T for listening in on local airport chatter and realized there's a lot more to this thing!

Here is an online manual that should make some of the programming steps and features more clear. :Easier to Read BC246T Manual Basically, at least one system and one group must exist. A system is like a folder on your PC. Groups are like sub folders under the system folder. You Could put all your frequencies in the one group, but just as folders help you organize data on your PC, systems do the same thing. Here are a couple of links to help you understand the concept better:
Dynamic Memory Architecture - The RadioReference Wiki
Scanner Programming

You should definitely consider getting software. This will not only make your programming much easier, but it will help you understand all of the features of the 246. Here is a list of software: BC246T - The RadioReference Wiki Three that provide the most value are ARC246 by BuTel, and free programs, FreeSCAN and BCtool. They allow a automatic download of any or all frequencies in your county and state from this site, and sets up trunking TGID's & para's. Tthis is a big help since you do have several trunking systems in your area. Click on the DATABASE link above, then on your state, and then on your county to see what sorts of things you can monitor. Trunking systems are always listed at the bottom of the county pages. Here's a link to help you understand Trunked Radio Systems

Also, if you have a new PC or lap top, you will need a serial to USB converter. This one is reported to work: USB to Serial Convert Cable . It is reported to work.

Note: You would need to become a paid subscriber to this site to get the automatic down loads, but this is also very reasonable($7.5 for 3 months). This can save you countless hours of programming and frustration.

 

[qlajlu]

Hi all. Im new here and even newer to scanning. I purchased a 246T for listening in on local airport chatter and realized there's a lot more to this thing! I dont know anything about scanners and programming and I'm looking for some help with programming local freqs.

Does anyone know if there are ways to transfer programming through email or text file? Am I completely off base with the way the programs are saved on these things?

Also, does anyone know of a good store or shop in the Walnut Creek/Concord area for a walk in consultation?

Welcome to RR.com, tsanjose!​

The good news, according to the RR Wiki, your BD246T is an analog trunk-tracking scanner. That opens a whole new world to you for scanning.

Check out the trunked systems in California in the RR Database. If you are near to any of these systems you could listen to them.

If I were you, I would post your question(s) in the Californial Radio Discussion Forum because those members are local to the area and can give you some pointers.

Also, I urge you to return to your User CP (left side of the second blue bar from the top of any page if you are logged in) and edit your profile to include your location (city and state) as requested in the material e-mailed to you when you registered. Once you fill in your location it will automatically show in each of your posts. Many of the questions you will have are going to be location specific and without having your location showing you will be asked over and over again what it is. So fill it in now and be done with it.

Welcome to RR. You are in for a neat experience and this Web site has all the information you need to enjoy scanning as a hobby.

ALSO NOTE: Anything in blue and underlined is a link to a different page. Click to follow the links.

 

[tsanjose]

Thanks for the replies! Looks like I got a lot to read I'm heading to Fry's Electronics now to try and get the serial to USB converter. Funny how Uniden still ships serial cables...

I dont mind paying for a membership, especially if it helps fund sites like this. I'm sure I'll have more questions once I dive into the reading some more.

Stay tuned!

 

[SCPD]

Thanks for the replies! Looks like I got a lot to read I'm heading to Fry's Electronics now to try and get the serial to USB converter. Funny how Uniden still ships serial cables...

I dont mind paying for a membership, especially if it helps fund sites like this. I'm sure I'll have more questions once I dive into the reading some more.

Stay tuned!

Good luck & holler if neeed more help

 

[tsanjose]

ok so i need help now... i registered and purchased the arc software. i bought a serial to USB adapter and now need to find all the freqs!

 

[SCPD]

have cable installed & working?

 

[ka3jjz]

ok so i need help now... i registered and purchased the arc software. i bought a serial to USB adapter and now need to find all the freqs!

Once you do, you have a number of options available to you;

• Go to the blue toolbar under the logo and click on DATABASE Navigate to your area. You are a premium subscriber so you can download data from the database into the editor in ARC246 using the web import in the software. However, before you go about doing that, you need to understand the memory structure used in the BC246 called 'Dynamic Memory Architecture' or DMA for short. The wiki article listed below will give you a start, and at the bottom of it, are links for the various 'Easier to Read' manuals. Download the one for the 246 and start reading. (Note anything in blue is a link)
  
  Uniden DMA FAQ - The RadioReference Wiki

• Go to the California forum and ask for an ARC246 file for your area. Be specific about your software; I believe most of the ARC programs can also import Uniden's UASD (or Uniden Advanced System Director) files as well, so don't turn that down as a source of information

• There are several Yahoo groups, any one of which might have data for your area. These include the following;
  
  * Bayscan
  * ARC246
  * BC246T
  
  Any of these groups might have files in the group's files area you can use. I believe ARC246 uses .mem as it's extension, and the UASD would use .usd

73 Mike

 

[tsanjose]

ok so i got the playing with the arc software (im going to need some time) and so far so good. i managed to get in my local airport, fire and police freqs! this is going to be fun

i need to figure out how to download the complete lists sine it looks like there are much more than what gets downloaded...

 

[fmalloy]

Hey tsanjose,

I am in Santa Clara, very near the airport, and I ordered a BC346XT, should arrive next week. I'm in the same situation as you. I installed FreeScan and paid for the premium subscription. I installed all the frequencies and assigned QuickKeys. All I need is the radio...

Let me know what you are hearing and how it's going. I can't wait until I get this thing!