If you want it to be active for all of your configurations, you can assign it to [.]. But, you can't have it in two configurations at once.
Official BCD996T Post Release Thread
- Thread starter scannerfreak
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I hate to whine, but I find I must. I thought I understood the Start Up feature, but it turns out I didn't. I think that's because Uniden anticipated that people would be in different areas and want to have different virtual scanners, for lack of a better term. So, if I were in eastern MA I'd use configuration 1, New York City, configuration 2, and so on. To an extent I do that, but not as much as the way I thought it worked. In that case, I'm in eastern MA and something happens in Boston that I want to listen to. So, I turn off the scanner and turn it back on pressing the 1 key. Now I get only Boston. When I want to go back to my normal listening mode I just turn the radio off and then back on holding no keys. Only it doesn't work that way.
Upon programming the radio and turning it on the first time, I get all of the unlocked groups. That's fine. However, if I select any Start Up key I can never get the system back to the original configuration unless I manually unlock each system I want to listen to. What would be nice is if pressing the "." key on start up returned the scanner to the original (default) configuration. It's not a show stopper, but it would make things much easier.
On a slightly different note. I found that the configuration part of the UASD randomly disable Group Quick Keys. I set up groups within systems and assigned Quick Keys to them. The software should enable any assigned Quick Key, but in some systems enabled some and disabled others. Totally randomly at that.
[/Whine]
Gary
Upon programming the radio and turning it on the first time, I get all of the unlocked groups. That's fine. However, if I select any Start Up key I can never get the system back to the original configuration unless I manually unlock each system I want to listen to. What would be nice is if pressing the "." key on start up returned the scanner to the original (default) configuration. It's not a show stopper, but it would make things much easier.
On a slightly different note. I found that the configuration part of the UASD randomly disable Group Quick Keys. I set up groups within systems and assigned Quick Keys to them. The software should enable any assigned Quick Key, but in some systems enabled some and disabled others. Totally randomly at that.
[/Whine]
Gary
K9GTJ
Member
Gary - It took me a while to figure out the start up keys and then like you, I assumed when I shut down, the unit would scan everything again upon restart. I even checked with UPman today on that thinking I was missing something.
While Uniden will think of using the start up configurations in 2 locations like UPman's example, I really don't see me doing that. Instead I want start up configurations for local activity.
Config 0 might be a general purpose "all scan"
Config 1 might be fire scan for when there is a good/active fire call
Config 2 could be the same but for law enforcement
Config 3 could be a severe weather scan
Config 4 might be a "ham radio" scan
The bad news is I need multiple copies of the same system. While that won't likely cause me to run out of channels, it will require me to make the same change on multiple systems and give me more chances for errors. (Yes, I make typos or forget to set something correctly and it took me several house this AM to discover I forgot to set the control channel only to ON when programming the IN Safe-T trunking system.)
Overall great but little quirks than need to be tweaked. I bet a firmware upgrade could change this for us.
While Uniden will think of using the start up configurations in 2 locations like UPman's example, I really don't see me doing that. Instead I want start up configurations for local activity.
Config 0 might be a general purpose "all scan"
Config 1 might be fire scan for when there is a good/active fire call
Config 2 could be the same but for law enforcement
Config 3 could be a severe weather scan
Config 4 might be a "ham radio" scan
The bad news is I need multiple copies of the same system. While that won't likely cause me to run out of channels, it will require me to make the same change on multiple systems and give me more chances for errors. (Yes, I make typos or forget to set something correctly and it took me several house this AM to discover I forgot to set the control channel only to ON when programming the IN Safe-T trunking system.)
Overall great but little quirks than need to be tweaked. I bet a firmware upgrade could change this for us.
kokomo1 said:
This is similar to what I had in mind. As you note, it would require loading multiple copies of almost all your systems. That would be a bit of a pain, I think.
[qoute] (Yes, I make typos or forget to set something correctly and it took me several house this AM to discover I forgot to set the control channel only to ON when programming the IN Safe-T trunking system.)[/QUOTE]
Kind of like the time I took my 296 to St. Paul with all of the digital trunk systems for the area programmed in. Took me about three hours to figure out that I forgot to turn the digital card ON. Which certainly explained why I couldn't get anything. <G>
Overall great but little quirks than need to be tweaked. I bet a firmware upgrade could change this for us.
Only if they think there's enough of a demand for it. I'd much rather see them add a MUTE function.
Gary
STiMULi
Member
How about one for Base and one for Mobile?
Let me first say that Uniden's research, experience, and paying attention to the users via Paul's saint-like tolerance of our constant comments and moaning has paid off; this is hands down the best scanner I've owned by 20dB. If it was really computer controlled, it'd be just about perfect. On to the nit picking.
This seems like an odd choice. Today, I went on my first multicounty trip A.S. (After Scanner!). I chose to put each of the 55 counties in my state in my 996 in a separate system. So Barbour County is a system, Boone, etc., all the way to Wyoming. I "pre-locked out" all but the two counties near my house, and I have the GPS programmed such that those are the two counties (and thus systems) that will be scanned as I drive around town.
As I drove two counties away, the scanner flawlessly locked out the systems I left behind and unlocked the systems as I entered them on my way out, and vice-versa on my way back home. It was trez cool.
But as UPman points out, although the distant counties were permanently locked out before, they were only temporarily locked at the end of my trip. So I started out with 53 out of 55 counties perm locked out and 2 enabled, but I ended the trip with 50 counties locked out, 2 enabled, and 3 temp locked (the three that I drove into and then back out of). Thus, when I turned the scanner off and on, I had 50 counties locked out and 5 enabled. Arg. Not what I wanted.
The only way I can see to fix this is to (a) let GPS lockouts be permanent (easiest to implement; why aren't they? am I missing something?), or (b) have a "temporary enabled" that works the opposite of temp lock out (i.e., temp enabled banks scan, but when you turn the rig off and on, they go back to being locked out).
Next version of the firmware?!?
...R
UPMan said:
This seems like an odd choice. Today, I went on my first multicounty trip A.S. (After Scanner!). I chose to put each of the 55 counties in my state in my 996 in a separate system. So Barbour County is a system, Boone, etc., all the way to Wyoming. I "pre-locked out" all but the two counties near my house, and I have the GPS programmed such that those are the two counties (and thus systems) that will be scanned as I drive around town.
As I drove two counties away, the scanner flawlessly locked out the systems I left behind and unlocked the systems as I entered them on my way out, and vice-versa on my way back home. It was trez cool.
But as UPman points out, although the distant counties were permanently locked out before, they were only temporarily locked at the end of my trip. So I started out with 53 out of 55 counties perm locked out and 2 enabled, but I ended the trip with 50 counties locked out, 2 enabled, and 3 temp locked (the three that I drove into and then back out of). Thus, when I turned the scanner off and on, I had 50 counties locked out and 5 enabled. Arg. Not what I wanted.
The only way I can see to fix this is to (a) let GPS lockouts be permanent (easiest to implement; why aren't they? am I missing something?), or (b) have a "temporary enabled" that works the opposite of temp lock out (i.e., temp enabled banks scan, but when you turn the rig off and on, they go back to being locked out).
Next version of the firmware?!?
...R
You could put your two "Home" counties/systems on one SK (say, 1) and the others on another SK (2)...then, when you get home, power up with 1 held and it will perm lock the non-home systems.
The SK overall was designed to be comparable to, but an improvement over, V-Scanner folders... With such disparate uses turning up (you darned users never behave in expected ways ) finding an actual operating mode that satisfies all needs could be challenging.
I actually use SK's myself to differentiate between "base" and "mobile" operation. My base systems have all TGID's for the entire city programmed into each system (and have no geocoding). My mobile systems are split up so that each patrol sector is in its own system and is geocoded so that I only hear the patrol sector I'm currently mobile in. SK's work great for this mode (which really wasn't anticipated when I added SK's, either, but hey...sometimes I'm one of those darned users ).
The SK overall was designed to be comparable to, but an improvement over, V-Scanner folders... With such disparate uses turning up (you darned users never behave in expected ways
) finding an actual operating mode that satisfies all needs could be challenging.I actually use SK's myself to differentiate between "base" and "mobile" operation. My base systems have all TGID's for the entire city programmed into each system (and have no geocoding). My mobile systems are split up so that each patrol sector is in its own system and is geocoded so that I only hear the patrol sector I'm currently mobile in. SK's work great for this mode (which really wasn't anticipated when I added SK's, either, but hey...sometimes I'm one of those darned users
).
UPMan said:
I have been doing this, and it works very well as a solution. Indeed, I agree with you that the scanner is so flexible, it would have been hard to predict how people will use its many features; the good thing is that as people find new uses, it might spawn new features for future models. I'm very impressed.
I've been designing, on and off, a software-defined radio for a long time, and it was nice to see in the 996 a few of the features I'd always wanted (still lots of things on my wish list I'll have to share with you some time, like a way to link channels together into a "superchannel" [or is it a "minisystem"?] that will scan, e.g., the base and mobile in a multi-freq non-repeater channel using a delay/hold-time combination like the 996 uses for regular systems). If the computer control-ability were more powerful, b/w the 996 and my two Kenwoods, I'd quite likely give up on my own project altogether. Maybe I'll have to come to work at Uniden and contribute to the next model!
Thanks again. Keep up the great work.
...R
[Is that pic really you? ]
From 1976...
Wow. A radio designer AND a stud. Very impressive.
I'm having another occasion of not being able to do something.
I can take the files I created for the 396 and stick them into the 996. However, I'm not able to take 996 files and put them into the 396, if there is more than one site. I tried adding the Indiana Safe-T system file into the 396 using the 996 USAD system file, but the only frequencies it "took" were those from the first site. The rest of the sites were not there.
Has anyone else run into this situation?
I can take the files I created for the 396 and stick them into the 996. However, I'm not able to take 996 files and put them into the 396, if there is more than one site. I tried adding the Indiana Safe-T system file into the 396 using the 996 USAD system file, but the only frequencies it "took" were those from the first site. The rest of the sites were not there.
Has anyone else run into this situation?
The 996 file has multiple sites for SAFE-T. The 396 is unable to handle the .USD file of this type. You would need to convert each site to an individual System file for the 396 UASD.
Hello,UPMan said:
Oh, I thought it was a publicity still from your guest appearance on "That 70's Show".
The only annoyance with the 996T so far is the beep that occurs if I use the quick hold to set a frequency over the serial port. Thankfully it goes away if I turn the key beep off. I found that the 246T and 396T beeps as well.
Thanks for the Disc test point. No more remembering Data Skip == Disc Out.
I am working on a version of Trunker that will drive the 246T, 396T, and 996T. With the front serial port I can put the laptop in the front seat and hook it up to the 996T in the dash. On the 9996T put a 9600 baud packet port on the front panel as well
Hopefully over the weekend I can try the GPS stuff out.
73 Eric
Scanning is fun again. Paul, you and your team deserve a huge round of applause on a great machine.
For the next one can you include discriminator audio (on the line out?)
joe
For the next one can you include discriminator audio (on the line out?)
joe
safetyobc
Member
It means it is scanning up (also searching up).
You can rotate the VFO knob (I think, I don't have one) to change the direction to scanning down.
You can rotate the VFO knob (I think, I don't have one) to change the direction to scanning down.
bratsch
Member
Every day that is passing, the manual is making more and more sence. My old scanner was the BC895xlt, what a upgrade this BCD996T is , I am loving this scanner more and more every day. I think I am in love all over again.
Sheldon
Sheldon
A little hacking...
Even though it's giving up a very useful character, I can see why UASD rejects comma "," in channel, group, etc., names, b/c the comma is the programming command delimiter, and adding an escape sequence (like \,) into the firmware might be overkill.
But UASD also rejects, for example, underscore "_" and plus "+" even though these characters can be put into channel, etc., names.
So... how do you get them in there? (a) use Hyperterm to program your 996 [ich], or (b) cheat with UASD. If you cut-n-paste text from another app that contains an "illegal" character into, e.g., a channel name WITHOUT typing any other characters to start with, UASD will happily accept just about anything (this goes for just about any field; IMHO, it's bug that UASD allows you to paste in "Hello" for PL, Lockout, etc.). In other words, select the entire channel name field by just single-clicking it and paste in the entire channel name without getting a flashing cursor in the channel name field.
This method restores access not only to "legal illegal" characters, like tilde "~", plus "+", underscore "_" and so on, it also lets you access all of the 8x16 Font characters (like 0x81 uparrow and 0x82 downarrow). And you can also get to the GPS mode characters (see the 996 Protocol programming document). Although the quad-height characters don't do you much good, you might have some fun with the little arrows, the degree and [F] symbols, the [L/O] symbol, and double-wide N, W, S, and E characters (ok.. only if you're VERY bored).
...R
Even though it's giving up a very useful character, I can see why UASD rejects comma "," in channel, group, etc., names, b/c the comma is the programming command delimiter, and adding an escape sequence (like \,) into the firmware might be overkill.
But UASD also rejects, for example, underscore "_" and plus "+" even though these characters can be put into channel, etc., names.
So... how do you get them in there? (a) use Hyperterm to program your 996 [ich], or (b) cheat with UASD. If you cut-n-paste text from another app that contains an "illegal" character into, e.g., a channel name WITHOUT typing any other characters to start with, UASD will happily accept just about anything (this goes for just about any field; IMHO, it's bug that UASD allows you to paste in "Hello" for PL, Lockout, etc.). In other words, select the entire channel name field by just single-clicking it and paste in the entire channel name without getting a flashing cursor in the channel name field.
This method restores access not only to "legal illegal" characters, like tilde "~", plus "+", underscore "_" and so on, it also lets you access all of the 8x16 Font characters (like 0x81 uparrow and 0x82 downarrow). And you can also get to the GPS mode characters (see the 996 Protocol programming document). Although the quad-height characters don't do you much good, you might have some fun with the little arrows, the degree and [F] symbols, the [L/O] symbol, and double-wide N, W, S, and E characters (ok.. only if you're VERY bored).
...R
Still hacking...
I see a couple of remote programming features that don't appear to be used or documented. Some obviously got inherited from dad. 996 configuration files contain an on-the-air clone entry:
ON-AirClone,01518200,AUTO
that UASD translates into the AIR command during programming:
AIR,01518200,AUTO
UASD also sends a battery-saver command to the 996, converting:
BatterySave,ON
in the configuration to:
BSV,1
even though I doubt it supports these 396 commands (but, as in the AIR command, the scanner did not complain but returned "AIR OK" and "BSV OK").
But what's this one?:
State,AL
Finally, POF (Power Off) is accepted, but the scanner powers off only briefly and comes right back on. BAV (Get battery voltage) on mine returns "BAV,0" always.
...R
I see a couple of remote programming features that don't appear to be used or documented. Some obviously got inherited from dad. 996 configuration files contain an on-the-air clone entry:
ON-AirClone,01518200,AUTO
that UASD translates into the AIR command during programming:
AIR,01518200,AUTO
UASD also sends a battery-saver command to the 996, converting:
BatterySave,ON
in the configuration to:
BSV,1
even though I doubt it supports these 396 commands (but, as in the AIR command, the scanner did not complain but returned "AIR OK" and "BSV OK").
But what's this one?:
State,AL
Finally, POF (Power Off) is accepted, but the scanner powers off only briefly and comes right back on. BAV (Get battery voltage) on mine returns "BAV,0" always.
...R
Gps Iii
Has anyone tried using the Garmin GPS III with the 996? I've got one, and I don't want to spend the $37.00 for a cable if it's not compatible.
Thanks!
Has anyone tried using the Garmin GPS III with the 996? I've got one, and I don't want to spend the $37.00 for a cable if it's not compatible.
Thanks!
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