New BCD396T!!

[dstew67]

I ordered a new BCD396T from an outfit in Kansas yesterday late, after nobody had any suggestions on where to get one around here. They made special effort to get it out the same day for me, and it's on a truck out for delivery. I'm like a little kid at Christmas time. OK, it is Christmas time, but you get the point.

The scanner was $514.95, and I paid $18 for expedited delivery. I talked to them on the phone before I ordered, and they were very nice to deal with.

If anyone's interested in a reputable source for scanners or 2-way, they are formerly Kansas Tower company, and now called National Electronics. They are at http://www.national-electronics.com. I just felt I owed them a plug for the great deal and service.

Now, if that UPS driver would show up, I'd give him a plug too!! ;-)

 

[John_M]

If you want to you can download the UASD 396t software and get a feel for it before the scanner comes. I bought mine from www.Hamstation.com Jeff is the salesman, I also talked to him before I bought mine.

 

[dstew67]

JMedley, did you pay for the software? The way you worded this, it looks like you're saying you bought the software, but I'm sure you're saying you bought the scanner from Ham Station, and just downloaded the software before it came. Right? I only ask because Uniden has the software for free on their site.

I did download it though, and looked at it briefly. It looks very different than what I'm used to with Don Starr's WinXX software. It's going to take some getting used to. I've read a bit about Arc's product, but before I spend the money, I'll want to see if I can work the free stuff first.

Any feedback or tips on using the UASD product would be much appreciated.

 

[pfish]

d_stew, I believe UASD will not let you upload more than a certain number of systems unless you buy the full version.

http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=BC246TUASD

 

[radio]

I have purchased most of my scanners from National Electronics. Their prices are the best I have seen. As far as the software for the 396, so far the UASD software from Uniden has been much better than that it had for the 246. Good luck with that radio. I still think the 246 and 396 were disappointments.

 

[bonus1331]

??

Disappointments compared to what?
Uniden's dynamic memory is probably one of the best innovations since scanners started tracking trunked systems. Then you have (396): milair, close call, compact size, etc.

 

[fireant]

The USAD for the 396 is free all you have to do is download it from uniden's website and enter you email they will send you a free key to unlock the full version for free. The software is very easy to use. There is no charge for USAD at all.

fireant

 

[radio]

Disappoinments, are many. Advantage I see is one.
1. Have to use two hands to operate the 246 and 396.
2. With the 396, to change volume and squelch with the scroll is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen. If you are listening to a channel and want to change the volume, nine times out of ten you end up changing the channel instead of the volume and squelch, the same thing.
3. To find a specific channel in a system with the 246 and 396 you have to jump through too many hoops. By the time you find the channel, whatever you wanted to hear is done. With the 250, 296 and 780, you can stop the scanning the system and with the swift of one finger, you can go the the bank and channel of what you wanted to hear.
4. Try too follow a conversations, say in with the fire and rescue on one or more channel and the law enforcement in another, like in a shooting, auto accident, etc. To switch back and forth between is a nightmare. You forget which way you have to scroll back or forward and end up missing the whole thing. For this argument, bank 4, channel 10, is the fire and rescue incident channel and bank 1, channel 1, is the law enforcement working channel on the same incident. Going back and forth with designated channels with the 250. 296 and 780 is a breeze. Why Uniden did not figure out how to be able to construct banks like the other radios have is beyond me.
5. No trunking priority feature on 246 or 396
6. No Activity ID feature on 246 or 396
7. No backlight at all on 246.

The only advantage I can see is being able to program multiple systems in the radio.

I hope Uniden got the message and will incorporate these and others back into the new scanner.

 

[Gilligan]

7. No backlight at all on 246.

I'm assuming you mean backlit keypad, cause there's a button dedicated for the backlight on the 246. It's in the bottom left corner just above the power button.