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!

 

[K4EET]

<snip> I cannot find instructions for programming. <snip>

The well-written ProScan manual is found under the “Support” menu item in the application.

 

[mr10pt]

The well-written ProScan manual is found under the “Support” menu item in the application.

See that. Brain is QRP now. I'll start playing around. Thank's and 73's

 

[Brejames1]

It's a given: ProScan for the scanners and RT Systems for the ham radios.

Between the two, they probably saves hours and they give amazing results!

Hi it's brejames1 idk where to start each search I put in goes no where so I'll ask a fellow ham. I need help to use proscan or ARC536 to put in 1 talk group into my SDS 200 do u know of a video specifically showing how to do that. Thanks and 73's
The phrase favorites list confuses me

thanks i'll look into the manual
73's

 

[buddrousa]

Youtube.com is full of SDS200 videos.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sds200+programming

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

The well-written ProScan manual is found under the “Support” menu item in the application.

Or online here

 

[ProScan]

Hi it's brejames1 idk where to start each search I put in goes no where so I'll ask a fellow ham. I need help to use proscan or ARC536 to put in 1 talk group into my SDS 200 do u know of a video specifically showing how to do that. Thanks and 73's
The phrase favorites list confuses me

thanks i'll look into the manual
73's

Editing the favorites lists using ProScan or ARC536 is similar to using Sentinel and the scanner front panel. TGIDs are added to the Departments.

A FL (Favorites Lists) contains the systems. I would keep it simple at first and just have one FL.

​

 

[Brejames1]

Editing the favorites lists using ProScan or ARC536 is similar to using Sentinel and the scanner front panel. TGIDs are added to the Departments.

A FL (Favorites Lists) contains the systems. I would keep it simple at first and just have one FL.

​

Ty 73's

 

[BinaryMode]

As the majority of opinion has stated, it's an emphatic yes from me as well. I bought Proscan knowing that it would perform much better than some other software. I also like the history log file it generates and due to that I'm able to compile some interesting statistics like these charts.

 

[Chris0516]

I hear everyone say programming w/ProScan is easier. Since 2018, I've only used Sentinel. I do have ProScan running my 200 off my desktop. I also have ProScan on my laptop which I use Sentinel for programming. I'm not a computer guy so it takes a bit to get the feel for it. I cannot find instructions for programming. Can someone post a basic "what to do" list in bullet point form. From there I can play around and hopefully get it working. Looks like 1st step is import Sentinel DB? Thanks in advance.

Proscan Manual

 

[EAFrizzle]

Downloaded it about an hour ago, pulling the trigger right now.

I haven't even hooked either SDS up to it yet, but it made programming the BCD325P2 and the BC125AT faster than a cat can lick his rear. Running the 325 in logging view now, very useful. This should make it much easier to find unid TGs and such.

If you have more than one type of Uniden scanner, this is the solution. It has so much more functionality than Sentinel, but it seems MUCH more intuitive to use.

I just wish someone would have recommended it sooner! 😜

 

[N6JPA]

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!

If you have multiple radio scanners then it is a good deal. If you only have one then OEM software or BUTEL.NL would be a best choice.

 

[K9KLC]

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

I only wish it showed the TG numbers when you went to the RR database to download stuff.(unless I'm doing something wrong) Only thing I have so far...NOW THEN....I need to learn this thing I can tell you so far, fumbling my way around, it's pretty nifty. I'm guessing this does WAY WAY WAY more than I've touched upon here in the short time I've had it installed. Eventually I've got to get sentinel fixed also in case I end up with one of those "SDS" things and need updates... (any of you that have seen my posts will understand that statement). I took your word for it and went and got it, and yes, I like it! (Proscan). Shame it won't do the unication pagers LOLOL. Anyway thanks for the help. Still fighting Sentinel but this has me working and will be my go to. I think I have a 996XT coming in the next week or so to play with so it's good for that too I see.

Again, thanks.

 

[K9KLC]

See that. Brain is QRP now. I'll start playing around. Thank's and 73's

Do IT! I did and am already hooked!

 

[EAFrizzle]

I need to learn this thing I can tell you so far, fumbling my way around, it's pretty nifty.

It's extra nifty.

In a couple of hours, I'm more comfortable and proficient with ProScan than I am with Sentinel after a few months. I just finished filling the 125 with MilAir frequencies, and now that I've figured out quick keys (and ProScan made that easier, too) I'm going to stuff the 325 and the SDSs with lists and systems until they holler 'uncle'.

Maybe now, after a couple of days of research (random button mashing), I'll be able to get these SDS scanners to be as useful for me as they are for everyone else.

 

[K9KLC]

It's extra nifty.

In a couple of hours, I'm more comfortable and proficient with ProScan than I am with Sentinel after a few months. I just finished filling the 125 with MilAir frequencies, and now that I've figured out quick keys (and ProScan made that easier, too) I'm going to stuff the 325 and the SDSs with lists and systems until they holler 'uncle'.

Maybe now, after a couple of days of research (random button mashing), I'll be able to get these SDS scanners to be as useful for me as they are for everyone else.

Ya I think it's pretty good. I had a 30 day free trial and only messed with it one or two times cause I was spending more time trying to make Sentinel work. I only run Windows for programming various radios, scanners, pagers, well you get the picture. My laptop is old and a replacement in the works but that will be later this spring. I went ahead and paid for it today, since I can transfer it to another machine without too much hassle it seems.
I can tell you, I've already done more with it than Sentinel since I've owned the 536, just didn't seem for me for some reason. This makes a little more sense somehow (maybe cause I need it to) and it's cool having the scanner screen and a way to count hits and such.
Enjoy! I think I will, and I don't like paying for software usually but I think this was a good purchase.

 

[EAFrizzle]

It's the first software I've bought in a LONG time, and I agree. It was worth the price in the first 30 minutes of using it.

I'm enjoying the history logging as well.

 

[Jondrew55]

I hear everyone say programming w/ProScan is easier. Since 2018, I've only used Sentinel. I do have ProScan running my 200 off my desktop. I also have ProScan on my laptop which I use Sentinel for programming. I'm not a computer guy so it takes a bit to get the feel for it. I cannot find instructions for programming. Can someone post a basic "what to do" list in bullet point form. From there I can play around and hopefully get it working. Looks like 1st step is import Sentinel DB? Thanks in advance.

I just downloaded it today. The manual is located in the support menu. I'm still fumbling with it, but the first thing I learned is, unlike Sentinel, you have to answer "no" when the scanner asks if you want to be in USB mode. Sentinel will then show up on the com port menu and you can connect with your computer. When you want to download your favorites, add to them or edit them, you need to go back into the USB mode on the scanner and create a file in a directory on your computer. You can then download your favorites to your computer in USB mode.

There's probably better ways to do this, but that's how I got started. Now I'm trying to figure out how to import frequency lists from the RadioReference database directly into the scanner using ProScan. It seems clunkier than using Sentinel, probably only because that's what I'm used to.

I've yet to start looking at Youtube videos, but there seems to be several out there. I figure in a few days I'll be able to do the basics. But the PC and web server features are the ones I'm most interested in.

Hopefully someone on here who actually knows what they are talking about will chime in to help both of us. The manual most likely has everything in it, but I need visual examples to get jump started.

Good luck.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I only wish it showed the TG numbers when you went to the RR database to download stuff

Personally I don't see a need as long as the alpha tag comes up but...ProScan Bug Reporting and Suggestions

 

[K9KLC]

Personally I don't see a need as long as the alpha tag comes up but...ProScan Bug Reporting and Suggestions

Eh, I guess you're probably right, I can get what I need with a logging ID scan actually. Like I said thus far, right off the bat, that's what came to mind. I'm too used to programming some other "stuff" with TG #s I guess. Thanks for the link. I might mention it but it's certainly not a big deal.

 

[ProScan]

I just downloaded it today. The manual is located in the support menu. I'm still fumbling with it, but the first thing I learned is, unlike Sentinel, you have to answer "no" when the scanner asks if you want to be in USB mode. Sentinel will then show up on the com port menu and you can connect with your computer. When you want to download your favorites, add to them or edit them, you need to go back into the USB mode on the scanner and create a file in a directory on your computer. You can then download your favorites to your computer in USB mode.

There's probably better ways to do this, but that's how I got started. Now I'm trying to figure out how to import frequency lists from the RadioReference database directly into the scanner using ProScan. It seems clunkier than using Sentinel, probably only because that's what I'm used to.

I've yet to start looking at Youtube videos, but there seems to be several out there. I figure in a few days I'll be able to do the basics. But the PC and web server features are the ones I'm most interested in.

Hopefully someone on here who actually knows what they are talking about will chime in to help both of us. The manual most likely has everything in it, but I need visual examples to get jump started.

Good luck.

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.