Official BCD396T Discussion Thread (Post-release)

[JohnnyGalaga]

Has anyone noticied that the TV and FM braodcast receive is phenominal! And the WFM audio is excellent for such a small receiver. I can get like 20+ FM stations with this thing.

My TV with a set of rabbit ears doesn't get channel 3, but the scanner picks it up LOUD and cear. :shock:

Either my TV really sucks, or this scanner is the bomb. :!:

 

[safetyobc]

I noticed the same thing on FM. I even checked it with the FM in my truck. The scanner picked up twice as many stations than the factory radio. I thought it was cool too!

 

[tennesseefreq]

Yep it is awesome at getting FM stations. You got to make sure you have broadcast screen on when doing Close Call or you will pick up alot of those. I found that out the hard way as soon as I did Close Call. :lol:

 

[tennesseefreq]

Has anyone tried LTR using the 396? I seem to be having a slight problem. I found a new system searching today. It came up as a LTR with a ID. I read alittle into LTR systems and found out how they work. I programed the system into the 396 and now it doesn't see the person as a LTR as it did before. I really don't know why. I have looked at all the settings I can think of and see nothing that I could change to make it work. It's a simple 5 channel system and its used for taxi service.

 

[kikito]

Has anyone tried LTR using the 396? I seem to be having a slight problem. I found a new system searching today. It came up as a LTR with a ID. I read alittle into LTR systems and found out how they work. I programed the system into the 396 and now it doesn't see the person as a LTR as it did before. I really don't know why. I have looked at all the settings I can think of and see nothing that I could change to make it work. It's a simple 5 channel system and its used for taxi service.

Did you enter the frequencies in the proper LCN order, etc.

 

[6m171]

Pardon me if this has been asked and answered. Quite frankly, I have neither the time nor patience to sift through 27 pages.

Is there any speculation on a desktop or mobile version of the 396? Maybe like an enhanced 796 with the FTO feature?

If I'm going to shell out $500 for a Federal Signal Informer for my desk, I may as well spend an extra $50 or so and buy a scanner too.

And yes, I know that the FTO won't work in scan mode.

 

[Llwellyn]

Pardon me if this has been asked and answered. Quite frankly, I have neither the time nor patience to sift through 27 pages.

The search button is your friend.

Is there any speculation on a desktop or mobile version of the 396? Maybe like an enhanced 796 with the FTO feature?

If I'm going to shell out $500 for a Federal Signal Informer for my desk, I may as well spend an extra $50 or so and buy a scanner too.

And yes, I know that the FTO won't work in scan mode.

Here's the answer:

Uniden does not discuss models that are more than 6 months away from production. So, in answer to "When will there be a base version of the xxx?" the answer is either "never" or "they are more than 6 months away from production."

 

[garys]

Is there any speculation on a desktop or mobile version of the 396? Maybe like an enhanced 796 with the FTO feature?

I wonder if this is worth a sticky? It gets asked quite often.

Gary

 

[6m171]

The search button is your friend.

With all due respect Llwellyn, the search feature returns a list of threads that contain the keywords being searched against, not the messages themselves. The keywords being searched against are highlighted within the threads. This thread was one of the results of several searches. However, sifting through 27 pages of 'how do you get xxx to work?' to find the answers to my question became quite tedious.

Uniden does not discuss models that are more than 6 months away from production. So, in answer to "When will there be a base version of the xxx?" the answer is either "never" or "they are more than 6 months away from production."

Again, respectfully, that was not an answer to the question. The question was not 'when will there be?' but (reworded) 'Is it in the pipeline?' A simple response of 'No, nothing has been announced at this time' would have been a more appropriate answer.

My comments are not intended to be snobbish or condescending, so please do not take them as such. I was merely looking for a direct response to the question I asked.

I have read a lot about the features of this scanner, and I think it's something that has been a LONG time coming. However, a desktop or mobile scanner with this feature set is of far greater use to me than a similar handheld unit.

 

[Llwellyn]

I'll give you the search, I forgot that phpBB doesn't give you the individual posts... vbulletin does and that's what I was thinking of. Fortunately, I think they are scheming about a conversion as we speak

The quote from UPMan came directly from a thread where the exact question "When is the base/mobile version of the 396 coming out?" was asked. It is an answer to your question; 6 months or more away, possibly never is the answer. I think it's a shame, but that's about as straight from the source as you can possibly get, and it's not ambiguous at all...

I always used to prefer the handhelds myself, but after buying a 785 I learned that the base/mobile version does have its merits. I'll be buying a 396 as soon as I can, because I don't want to play "wait and see".

There are some options available for using the 396 as a base scanner; stands can be constructed to hold it, and there is a free advanced control and logging software package available. Some of the posters have even been able to use it to trigger other things, like audio alerts or flashing lights in other rooms using X10 equipment. Perhaps something like that will make the 396 useful to you without having the base/mobile form factor.

 

[Voyager]

Is there any speculation on a desktop or mobile version of the 396? Maybe like an enhanced 796 with the FTO feature?

I wonder if this is worth a sticky? It gets asked quite often.

Gary

The problem is that the answer could change at any moment.

I'm sure as soon as ANYONE knows about an upcoming model, there will soon after be a post on the list, so a sticky for "are we there yet" really wouldn't be that useful. Just watch the board for a new base/mobile thread.

That said, I can't imagine that Uniden would not produce a mobile/base version of the BCD396T and BC246T as popular as those models are. They aren't stupid - they want to make money. Those models would certainly do it - especially with most of the hard part done (such as the software that is in the portable units). The circuits are also developed. Development of the base/mobile would be peanuts compared to the portables that were made nearly from scratch.

Of Paul's answers, lean toward the later one - more than 6 months away. After all, if they stop making scanners, there won't be much need for a product manager, and we would not have an 'inside guy' in Uniden.

Joe M.

 

[wesct]

uniden made a base / mobile out of the bc250 and the bc296. if the receiver is the same, it may not need type acceptance from the fcc and it can be produced quite fast. hopefully this will be the case.

wesct

 

[BillyG]

Greater Cincinnati Area

Hey...
Just got the new BCD396T-scanner. If anyone has one and is in the greater Cinci area, please drop me an e-mail. I have several questions but don't want to tie the board up.
One specific one is that while using the pre-programmed search groups, it continues to stop and lock in on 800 mhz data channels....and while it does pickup the conventional as well as trucked systems-it locks up on some of the data channels...and, being a NON-techie...I don't get it...other than having top keep locking out, locking out and locking out....
Thanks so much,
Billy

chgold151@aol.com

 

[garys]

The problem is that the answer could change at any moment.

I didn't think that a sticky was static, so if the answer changes, so can the posting. At least I thought so.

That said, I can't imagine that Uniden would not produce a mobile/base version of the BCD396T and BC246T

I think it's very likely, but they haven't announced anything yet, which means next year sometime at the earliest.

After all, if they stop making scanners, there won't be much need for a product manager, and we would not have an 'inside guy' in Uniden.

What makes you think that Paul only manages scanner products? It's probably the most demanding audience, but he likely manages other product lines as well. I just don't think that there is a "Cordlessphone Resource" forum that has discussions like this. <G>

Gary

 

[wesct]

What makes you think that Paul only manages scanner products? It's probably the most demanding audience, but he likely manages other product lines as well. I just don't think that there is a "Cordlessphone Resource" forum that has discussions like this. <G>

i beleive cordless phones is the biggest part of uniden.

wesct

 

[Voyager]

The problem is that the answer could change at any moment.

I didn't think that a sticky was static, so if the answer changes, so can the posting. At least I thought so.

It's still much easier to look at the subjects for a new one - especially the scanner model-specific stickies. Again, we don't need a sticky for "are we there yet?" I'm sure when there is a new model, it will be made known in many threads.

BTW, someone said about the same receiver means the same FCC TA. Noty true. If the package is different (which a base/mobile would be), a new TA would be required. The package could change how any RF is radiated.

Joe M.

 

[scanlists]

Silk Print Issue

When I have a meaningful update, I will provide it.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18163&page=1

what is this?
http://uniden.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/uniden.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1007
so much for open communication...

 

[blantonl]

Sounds pretty open to me - find me another scanner mfr that participates as much as Uniden does.

That's what I thought.

 

[scanlists]

You posted this link. No one can argue against its importance. Unless you work for Uniden, Uniden still has not provided it.

 

[Voyager]

You posted this link. No one can argue against its importance. Unless you work for Uniden, Uniden still has not provided it.

Looks like it came from Uniden to me. It IS their URL.

As for it not coming from Paul, maybe he is on vacation. Lord knows he deserves one.

Joe M.