My new BCD 396T

[DrDenny1]

This is great! I blew off the RS PRO-162 and the BC246T and got the 396. I was able to register it and do the 1st firmware update to 1.20.13 with ease. I got the ESN number and check sum, and downloaded the v2.xx stuff, but I run through the process and it goes through the update but does not ask the the key. It finishes and I am sill at 1.20.13 I posted on the update post and will see where I am going wrong.

I also got the free cumbersome UASD software, I saved the default program but managed to jack that up after I saved it. I did upload some of the local freqs in my area, so I am happy for tonight.

I got alot of good info here so far.

My 1st scanner was a $99 RS special almost 20 years age, just got a used RS PRO-94 about a month ago, but it started getting flakey.

Alot of things are going digital in SoCal, so I went for it yahoooo!

 

[ka3jjz]

Keep this link handy - it's a reference to many things, all 396 specific...(anything underlined and/or in blue is a link of one kind or another)

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396T

I would definitely download the Easier to Read manual and keep it handy. There are 2 freeware packages available for the 396 - BCTool and FreeScan, both also linked on that article. Both have the advantage over the UASD that when you purchase a premium subscription, you can download data from the database here on RR into the software (you can copy/paste the data into the UASD if you have Excel or similar, but it's very clumsy...).

The User Guide for FreeScan is also linked in the wiki, as is an article that has 2 links for BCTool - one for the Yahoo group, the other for the website. If you get BCTool, go straight to the beta page and download that, as it's the latest version. Both packages are gradually getting cleaned up (no software is EVER perfect...), and I personally think BCTool is a bit easier to use. But everyone's different - some keep FreeScan around because it does lay out programming a bit better, but BCTool's strengths lie in PC control and functions. As both are free, you lose nothing. And both can import UASD files. In fact you might want to go to the Calif. forum and ask for files (make sure you say you have a 396). There is also a 396 yahoo group (the files section has UASD files, but they're a bit dated), and I know there are several Calif. scanning related groups on Yahoo as well. All of these are potential data sources.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/US_Scanning_Mailing_Lists

73 Mike

 

[DrDenny1]

Cool, Thanks. I downloaded Freescan earlier I say it here and I will D/L the other one and give them a test to see whih is easier. I really want to get the firmware to v2.00.07. I'll look on the Wiki in a little while.

Thanks,
Denis

 

[DrDenny1]

Oops! I was just getting an ID-10-T error. All I was doing was reinstalling the software piece and not running the actual application. Well it's running now and I input the key and it's almost done.

 

[DrDenny1]

Success!! v2.00.07