New Uniden 396 HELP!

[w8prr]

Just picked up my new 396 today in Columbus. This thing could be the death of me!
Have downloaded the program from Uniden, but still don't have any idea where to start.
Help!

Rick, W8PRR

 

[ray smith]

396

Dont be to upset I felt the same way. Almost took it back. But its a hot little radio. But dont try any programing till you get ARC 396. Its the only way to go! Just keep playing with it and it will soon come together. I know what your going though!
Ray

 

[mmartinfan]

I agree get ARC396 at least. I was the same way in April with the 246T I thought I could program it on the fly. WOW was I wrong get the software and program it that way its much easier. Programming by hand is not the way to go.

Give me an Email and I will send you my files for Central Ohio

 

[Spec]

The best thing I can tell you is to:

1. Order the software to program it.

2. While you wait for the software take the time to organize what you want to put in it. AND WHERE. Don't worry about "banks" as the do NOT exist as you know them from the past. Think SYSTEMS. Be they conventional or trunk.

3. READ the manual and play with the scanner. That's the only way you can get to know it.

I have manually put in 5 EDACS, 2 LTR, and 6 Conventional "SYSTEMS" in so far. Yes ,that is without software. VERY labor intensive, but I do know how to use all the features now. A great radio. Very different from the many others I have had. While I'm not big on hand-helds, I beleive this radio is in a class of it's own. If Uniden can come out with a "base" type unit that compares to it that would be fantastic.

 

[jpm]

I myself found the uniden software for the bcd396t was sufficient to program the radio.

 

[w8prr]

Where do I buy the ARC 396?
e mail w8prr@earthlink.net

Rick

 

[muddy mudskipper]

butel.nl

or scannermaster.com

 

[ajpritch]

The ARC software is great espically for trunked systems since you can import them from this website.

 

[wa8pyr]

I have manually put in 5 EDACS, 2 LTR, and 6 Conventional "SYSTEMS" in so far. Yes ,that is without software. VERY labor intensive, but I do know how to use all the features now. A great radio. Very different from the many others I have had. While I'm not big on hand-helds, I beleive this radio is in a class of it's own. If Uniden can come out with a "base" type unit that compares to it that would be fantastic.

I'll go along with Spec on this. Read the manual! Also, I strongly suggest putting at least one or two systems in manually so that you know how to do it. The day may come when you need to slap a system in there quickly and don't have the computer handy to do it.

My '396 is great. It has not replaced my Pro-96, but is rather an addition to it.

Also, oddly enough, I have not found any other scanner antennae that make enough of a difference that I want to use one of them instead of the stock antenna. This is highly unusual; generally, the stock antenna that comes with the radio is a piece of garbage, but the Pro-96 and now the BC-396 have both come out with a stock antenna that is quite acceptable and performs well enough that I have no problem using it day to day.

My next trick: trying out the pager tone feature. I've already recorded fire radio traffic several days running with Scanner Recorder, stuck the result into Cool Edit 2000 and used the analysis feature of CE2k to verify tone frequencies. I've already got most of Central Ohio figured out. Fun!

Tom WA8PYR

 

[w8prr]

I have the rig running MARCS as it came with the radio. Only thing I have heard is stuff that I now is comming off the Bellefontaine site. It is hooked to a Comtelco yagi feed with 1/2 inch hardkine aimed at Columbus and it gets Columbus on my BC250. Does the installed program only lock onto the strongest site?

Rick
W8PRR