Is proscan really worth it over OEM programming software?

[KQ4VKM]

Greetings all, I am new(ish) to the world of radio scanners and got a Uniden SDS100 for Christmas recently. I have been attempting to program it with the Sentinel software from Uniden, with a good deal of success. I am able to program in essentially everything I want but I have found that Sentinel is rather annoying and unintuitive to learn/use. I've heard many people both here and elsewhere talk about "proscan" and how good it is for programming scanners of many various makes and models. I've tried to do my own research but I figured I'd ask here: is proscan really worth the money? What improvements would you say it has over the software offered by manufacturers like Uniden? Thanks for any help!

 

[Jondrew55]

Bob here, maker of ProScan chiming in. Thanks for trying out ProScan. Let us know of any snags. On the Web Server setup, see the document on my ProScan website. It's located in the lower right corner. Ignore the part about the BCD536HP if you don't have that model, and just go to the Web Server part.

There's a few things here that are not correct. I just want to clear it up so you will get a better understanding of how ProScan, Sentinel, and the scanner works.

1. On the Mass Storage / Serial Port prompt = ProScan has no control over that. A USB cable detected will bring up the prompt otherwise it will go into Serial Port mode. It's called 'Serial Port' mode which is the same as when the scanner is in normal operation (including the menus) or in other words, anytime the scanner is not in Mass Storage mode. If you have a SDS200 then there's another mode, FTP mode.

2. On the Sentinel showing in the com port - Sentinel doesn't use the comm port, It doesn't log or show a display. It just uses the Mass Storage mode for reading and writing the database, favorites, profile, and firmware.

3. Yes, when using ProScan, you have to switch from Serial Port to Mass Storage mode if you're using ProScan for logging or the display.

4. Sentinel doesn't directly import from the RRDB(Radio Reference Database). ProScan importing from the RRDB may seem to be clunky but maybe over time, your option may change or it could be due to the many options.

Hi Bob, Bob here,

thanks for clearing things up. ”Clunky” was probably not the right word. I knew after using the trial for less than an hour Proscan was a winner so I purchased it. The RR import is different and I like it. I really like the logging function. There’s probably dozens of other features I’m going to be exploring. I’m a Mac guy so I’m having to readjust to the windows OS. Great product and I highly recommend. Like any versatile tool, the user has to put the time in to learn it.

 

[EAFrizzle]

I've found ProScan to make programming a few sites and TGs on a regional TRS much easier than in Sentinel. Sentinel always wanted to add the entire system, even when trying to pick and choose sites and agencies (thanks, but I don't need 99% of TxWARN up here). With ProScan, I just need a map to learn where everything is up here. It  seems easier and more intuitive to me to be able to check and un-check boxes than to click multiple lines, then try to weed out the extraneous stuff.

Thanks for a great product!

 

[K9KLC]

Bob here, maker of ProScan chiming in. Thanks for trying out ProScan. Let us know of any snags. On the Web Server setup, see the document on my ProScan website. It's located in the lower right corner. Ignore the part about the BCD536HP if you don't have that model, and just go to the Web Server part.

There's a few things here that are not correct. I just want to clear it up so you will get a better understanding of how ProScan, Sentinel, and the scanner works.

1. On the Mass Storage / Serial Port prompt = ProScan has no control over that. A USB cable detected will bring up the prompt otherwise it will go into Serial Port mode. It's called 'Serial Port' mode which is the same as when the scanner is in normal operation (including the menus) or in other words, anytime the scanner is not in Mass Storage mode. If you have a SDS200 then there's another mode, FTP mode.

2. On the Sentinel showing in the com port - Sentinel doesn't use the comm port, It doesn't log or show a display. It just uses the Mass Storage mode for reading and writing the database, favorites, profile, and firmware.

3. Yes, when using ProScan, you have to switch from Serial Port to Mass Storage mode if you're using ProScan for logging or the display.

4. Sentinel doesn't directly import from the RRDB(Radio Reference Database). ProScan importing from the RRDB may seem to be clunky but maybe over time, your option may change or it could be due to the many options.

I think because I'm more used to using Unication pagers, and the RR import works "somewhat the same", I had less trouble finding what I needed when using Proscan. I like that you can be in USB serial port, and the software will kick it into Mass Storage mode to make a change, then after XX seconds return back to serial port. That's genius in my opinion. (or that's the way it seems to work anyway). While I've only touched on the basics of this software, I wish I would have had longer now, I might not have sold my 436 just recently. Thanks for some great software.

 

[K9KLC]

I've found ProScan to make programming a few sites and TGs on a regional TRS much easier than in Sentinel. Sentinel always wanted to add the entire system, even when trying to pick and choose sites and agencies (thanks, but I don't need 99% of TxWARN up here). With ProScan, I just need a map to learn where everything is up here. It  seems easier and more intuitive to me to be able to check and un-check boxes than to click multiple lines, then try to weed out the extraneous stuff.

Thanks for a great product!

Agreed 100%.

 

[Chris0516]

I've been a proud non-endorsed Proscan ambassador since 2012. There's no better app for Unidens out there

I wish I had used Proscan from the very beginning. Without even bothering with Freescan. I started using Freescan(ugh), around 2016.

 

[VE3THO]

What does this Proscan do that is so desirable vs other software ?

 

[Enforcer52]

What does this Proscan do that is so desirable vs other software ?

Download the free 30 trial and find out for yourself. So much it's hard to detail it all.

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

www.proscan.org

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What does this Proscan do that is so desirable vs other software ?

Have you ignored this entire thread??? Ask @buddrousa what it does for him

 

[Chris0516]

What does this Proscan do that is so desirable vs other software ?

The software developer has a forum on RR, AND. Continues to update the software. Freescan hasn't been updated in years, AND. Proscan only requires one $50 license. To run it on several scanners.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

The software developer has a forum on RR, AND. Continues to update the software.

Apparently today's his birthday, so hope he has a good one!

 

[dave3825]

What does this Proscan do that is so desirable vs other software ?

Pretty much everything. And the author keeps making it better and better. Like the gift that keeps on giving.


Happy B Day @ProScan

 

[ProScan]

Apparently today's his birthday, so hope he has a good one!

Yes, I'm having a very good day. My wife and my sister in law called so I'm on cloud 9.

 

[Chris0516]

Yes, I'm having a very good day. My wife and my sister in law called so I'm on cloud 9.

Not Cloud 950, lol?

 

[ProScan]

Pretty much everything. And the author keeps making it better and better. Like the gift that keeps on giving.


Happy B Day @ProScan

Thank you.
Working on the SDS150 Display at the moment.

 

[K4EET]

Thank you.
Working on the SDS150 Display at the moment.

😳 It is your birthday, Bob. You deserve a day off (and a whole lot more)! Know that all of us truly appreciate all that you do for us and the ProScan software. You’re the best! God bless you! Dave K4EET

 

[K9KLC]

Happy Birthday @ProScan !!!

 

[J-Wrock]

I wish I had used Proscan from the very beginning. Without even bothering with Freescan. I started using Freescan(ugh), around 2016.

I started with Butel after hearing about it on "The Scanner Guys" back when I hung out on You Tube. A few months later, I found this thread and have been using Proscan. Just for fun, I loaded Butel (which is still on my computer for some reason) and it looks clunky and incomplete compared to what I'm used to with Proscan. No word yet if Butel will support the SDS 150 (I assume it will at some point) but not only has @ProScan told us when he expects the SDS 150 to be supported, but he posts updates with screen shots.

In short, yes, Proscan is really worth it.

 

[VE3THO]

Have you ignored this entire thread??? Ask @buddrousa what it does for him

No idea never seen anything like that before on my laptop

 

[J-Wrock]

No idea never seen anything like that before on my laptop

That is a picture of 16 different instances of Proscan running 16 different scanners. One could control each of those scanners from the computer itself. Unless you have 16 scanners connected to your laptop, you won't see anything like that on your laptop. Don't worry, I don't either since I don't have that many scanners!!

 

[VE3THO]

Have you ignored this entire thread??? Ask @buddrousa what it does for him

Sorry but I attempted for many hours to make computer controlled scanning operate on my scanners a couple of years ago . And totally failed in frustration . Just working up the bravery to risk failure and rejection again . I have had a few things occur in life the past couple of years And must admit to letting myself become over stressed .