Hey guys,
I appreciate all of the help, but at this point, I'm thinking this scanner just isn't capable of receiving this system for whatever reason. Unless there are any issues I should know about, or better scanners for the money, I'm probably going to get a SDS100 and quit fighting this thing. BTW, I now have two BCD396T's for sale....cheap! lol
The 396T is capable of monitoring a P25 Phase I system. You don't need to enter a band plan because on a P25 system, the scanner gets the needed information from the control channel data.
However, I suspect that the reason you are still having troubles may be simulcast distortion. That would be on the Baton Rouge Simulcast site, Did you try aiming your directional antenna at the Central site, to your southeast? That would be your best choice as far as trying to reduce simulcast issues on the Baton Rouge Simulcast frequencies.
The Baywood (Pride?) site is not simulcast, and might work better for you since it is in the opposite direction from the multiple towers of the simulcast layer. I would give it a shot, both with a rubber duck antenna, and also with your directional one. I would also suggest that, if you still cannot monitor Baywood from home, that you take a drive closer to it, and see if that helps. It would at least verify that your scanner could hear it if there was enough clear signal. If there are cell sites very close to your home, that may be somewhat overloading the scanner, and impacting your reception. The Uniden scanners are not bulletproof as far as overload, but are somewhat better in handling it than the GRE/Whistler scanners.
The SDS100 is better on simulcast than the 396T, 396XT, or the 325P2 (the Phase II replacement for the 396XT). While the 436HO & 536HP work well for me, I do not have severe simulcast issues at my home location. My SDS100 works well in some of the problem areas for simulcast problems in the DFW Metro area. I have not checked all of them, but have tried to spot check some of the places in areas where I frequently visit.
