I think the steep learning curve comments are based on people trying to understand the concepts of the DMA memory, which requires more abstract thinking than the fixed bank conventional memory model. Since you are comfortable with you BR330T, I assume you understand the DMA programming. If that is the case, then you should not have a problem with the XT since it is very similar to the BR330T in design, although features have changed. And yes, the menu structure will be familiar.
Although things are similar, they are not the same, so there is some learning curve for things that have changed and things that have been added. Examples: You can now press and release the function key and it will remain in the function mode for several seconds, or you can hold the function key for several seconds and it will then remain in the function mode until you press the function key again. Also, some of the function keys have been changed. The BR330T used Func "." to hear the Reverse freq,, whereas the XT uses Func 8. The 330 allows you to drill down to a channel with the Func 7, whereas this feature is no longer available on the XT! (The XT has added Number Tagging, which is nice, but I wish Uniden had retained the Func 7 feature.)
Unfortunately, the XT does not have a printed Owners manual. Ther CD has a wiki which appears to contain documation for all the new models (which can be confusing) and a PDF reference document. Both have room for improvemet. I suggest you start with PDF file.
- Pg 9 - 13 Reviews all the features of the radio, including the items new to you.
- Pg 16 - 20 Goes over the controls and use of the keys.
- Pg 21 - 22 Goes over the display
- Pg 25 - 27 Goes over operation of the scanner
- Pg 111+ Goes over scanning mode
- Pg 167 Weather Scan (Changed from the 330).
That should give you a good start to mastering the XT.
The PDF is hard to find on the CD.
Manual > Rsrc > UnidenMan4 > BCD396XT > BCD396XT_Complete_Reference.PDF
How is that for intuitive! There are more current updates available online, but it is sloooow browsing.
Let me add some detail to Paul's note above. The advantage of the XT "sites" is when an agency has multiple antenna sites using different frequencies but all sites have the same talk groups. With the XT, you only have to program the talk groups one time for one system, then add each site with the different frequencies to the one system. The 330 would require you to duplicate the system multiple times.
Implied is a potential problem when you want to share the same programming file between the XT and the 330. There is no problem with FreeScan if you only have one site per system. It will automatically create the site on the XT when reading a file obtained from the 330. I do not know how it handles a situation where you have a file from an XT containing multiple sites and you want to load it to a 330.
Here is a suggested map to initially program your XT based on your 330, using FreeScan.
- Set up FreeScan so it is using the same baud rate as the 330 and port as set up on the PC.
- Use the data cable to connect the 330 to the PC, turn on the scanner.
- Click on "Queue System List" to load the sytem index.
- Have FreeScan read the 330 data.(Scanner to Computer).
- Errors should be zero. Review the data. Save the file.
- Turn off the 330 and disconnect.
- Reset the XT to clear out the Uniden channels, and to return any settings to the defaults.
(Press down 9, 2, Hold Keys while powering up the scanner.)
- Connect the XT to the PC, then turn on the scanner.
- Set the baud rate on Freescan and the scanner to the same value.
- Write the FreeScan data to the scanner.
-- Do not select Erase system, the Reset did that already.
-- Do NOT check Send Custom Radio Settings
If checked, the XT splash screen will say BR330T when you turn it on!
- Errors should be zero.
- Turn off scanner and disconnect.
- Start playing with your new scanner.
You can now start programming the digital sytems, either directly in FreeScan, then loading to the scanner, or in the scanner, then copying to FreeScan. You can also customize any search ranges.
If you make the XT the master radio as far as the programming content, then you can duplicate the non digital information on your 330. Just hook the 330 up to the PC, then bring up FreeScan, which should contain all file updates, and load the programming into the 330. Just uncheck any digital defined systems and do not copy the Custom settings.
One new feature of the XT relates to HOLD. If you press down on the HOLD key for a few seconds while holding on a system, HOLD will start flashing on the display. Then when you press scan, the scanner will only scan that sytem rather than all systems. Here is the catch, the only way to get out of this mode is to press down on the hold key again for a few seconds. I mention this because it is easy to get in this mode by accident and not know how to get out of it. (Do not ask I how found out about this!!)
Good luck with the scanner.