how to program BCD396XT

[airhead13]

friend brought me this BCD396XT scanner to program? was that a mistake! this is not your everyday scanner.I have paid for membership of RADIOREF.don,t know how to save all freq needed for Iredell nc.
down loaded freescan software,but cannot figure out how to download from computer to radio scanner. am using serial cable that came with scanner.I did set scanner for serial port,but that,s as far as I have gotten .Thanks for your help!

 

[captclint]

friend brought me this BCD396XT scanner to program?
down loaded freescan software,but cannot figure out how to download from computer to radio scanner. am using serial cable that came with scanner.I did set scanner for serial port,but that,s as far as I have gotten .Thanks for your help!

Welcome to RR. There are several good software programs that will log onto RR, let you select all or some of the frequencies for Brunswick County, North Carolina (NC) Since you are doing a favor, your best bet is FreeSCAN (It's free!). Once you take the time to look at the instructions, and http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FreeScan_User_Guide you should find the whole process quite automatic and trouble free.
First you need to set up the software for the scanner. Scanner, control scanner, comport set-up.
To log on, select Import, RR conventional(you can go back later to get any trunking), chose county/state, and then the list of available systems will come up. Select the ones you want and hit import. This will send them to your software. Then upload to your scanner(I would check the eraser all). After you 1st upload, be sure to check the "Replace any systems with same name if you make any changes for uploading.

If you have questions, post in the Software Forum.

 

[ka3jjz]

Actually it's better to start from scratch, if you've never done anything with DMA programming, before using any software, Freescan included. All the popular programming packages pretty much assumes you understand how DMA works, so it's up to you to learn it. Our DMA FAQ is a good place to start;

Uniden DMA FAQ - The RadioReference Wiki

I would also download the Easier to Read 396XT manual (linked at the bottom) and start reading.

Best regards...Mike

 

[airhead13]

tried down loading ,but does not connect to scanner.I am using the serial cable that came with scanner.freescan is looking for usb, which I am not using, what next??

 

[ka3jjz]

If you have a serial port on your PC, you shouldn't have any issues - unless you didn't go into the menu and set up the serial port on the scanner itself. That is explained in this article...

Freescan - Connecting Scanner to PC - The RadioReference Wiki

However PCs these days don't have serial ports - if the jack you're connecting to doesn't have 9 or 32 pins, it's not a serial port. You will need a USB-serial converter, the link for which is also in that article

best regards..Mike

 

[airhead13]

ok I did set scanner for serial port and 115200bps.but still will not connect to pc?

 

[airhead13]

how do you set front port on scanner for serial port from pc?

 

[airhead13]

Thanks guys.I finally got scanner programed.not the easiest,and I could not have done it without your help!
Thanks again.I know where to go from now on for help .