Official BCD996T Post Release Thread

[safetyobc]

As I expected, and have experienced with the 396T, VHF-HI is IMHO quite superior to the PRO-2096. The jury is still out on UHF, 800, and VHF-Lo.

More to follow.

VHF-High on my BCD396T isn't the best. I hope the 996T observations you experience are the what will be typical for this unit! I am hopeful at this point.

 

[KC1UA]

Well, my comparision is to PRO-2096 performance. I'm in a high RF environment at home, about 1 mile as the crow flies from the local "intermod alley", and the 2096 was plagued with overload problems in that band. The 996T does not seem to be susceptible to that problem, which for me is a distinct improvement.

 

[STiMULi]

The 996T does not seem to be susceptible to that problem, which for me is a distinct improvement.

YES!!!

I live near the mountains and really enjoy mountain top listening with a good reciever but intermod kills all.

How about sensitivity?

 

[yaesumofo]

I want o know how the selectivity in the real world. Here in LA you may have trunk data channels Right next VOICE CHANNELS. GOOD SELECTIVITY IS A MUST.
Do you guys like this radio or not?I can't believe nobody has really talked about how it is working for them. I am pretty sure I am going to stick with the 396 for a while ...besides it does 90% of what the 996 does and you can carry it in your pocket. There is something to be said for that.

With the 996 being a larger radio there is more room for better filters lets hope they used some of the extra space for just that better filtering. That would be a good thing. I am just itching to get rid of my perfect little 780...I will wait.
Yaesumofo

 

[HIP]

I have read in another post here that the AGC not only is on/off but that there is some type of threshold adjustment. However, I could not find threshold even mentioned in ANY of the online manuals available for downloading. Am I missing something here... or just misunderstanding the posts I have read.

TIA.

Do not have my scanner yet should be here on weds.But I saw the threshold adj. in the uasd softaware. Probably is accesable in the scanner also..Many menus in the software and I can not remember exactly where I saw it but it is there.

Mike T. kc8rrm
BCD996 (arriving shortly)
785D
780
245
Pro2096
Kenwood TMD700
Kenwood TS2000

 

[STiMULi]

New BCD996T Owners:

Please contribute to this WIKI DRD DXG POI

Be sure to add the borders into your States of operation as it pertains to the roadways

 

[dfw1417]

Bcd996t Gps Command Data Formats

Here is the two NEMA GPS data formats used by the Unit for anyone who might want to know what data it contains.

GGA GPS FORMAT

GGA,hhmmss.ss,1111.11,a,yyyyy.yy,a,x,xx,x.x,x.x,M,x.x,M,x.x,xxxx*hh

1 UTC of Position
2-3 Latitude - N/S
4-5 Longitude - E/W
6 GPS Quality Indicator
0 = fix not available or invalid
1 = GPS SPS Mode, Fix valid
2 = Differential GPS, SPS Mode, fix valid
3 = GPS PPS Mode, fix valid
7 Number of satellites in use (00-12, may be different
from the number in view)
8 Horizontal dilution of precision
9 Antenna altitude above/below mean sea level
10 Units of antenna altitude, meters
11 Geoidal separation - difference between the WGS-84
earth ellipsoid and mean sea level (geoid), “-” =
mean sea level below ellipsoid
12 Units of geoidal separation, meters.
13 Age of Differential GPS data - Time in seconds since
last SC104 Type 1 or 9 update, null field when DGPS
is not used
14 Differential reference station ID, 0000-1023

RMC GPS FORMAT

RMC,hhmmss.ss,A,1111.11,a,yyyyy.yy,a,x.x,x.x,xxxxxx,x.x,aa*hh

1 Time, UTC of position fix
2 Status (A = valid, V = Navigation receiver warning)
3-4 Latitude at UTC time, N or S
5-6 Longitude at UTC time, E or W
7 Speed over ground, knots
8 Course over ground, degrees
9 Date (DDMMYY)
10 Magnetic variation, degrees (E or W)
11 Mode Indicator

The formats listed are NMEA formats

ENJOY

 

[n2pqq]

Can you post a picture of both radios in a dark room. Would like to see the back lighting on both keypads.

 

[Butelsoftware]

Clone996 - Freeware for BCD996T now available

BuTel is proud to announce that the free Clone996 - 'Backup and Restore Utility' for the new BCD996T is now available!

This freeware will generate backups of the entire contents of your
BCD996T. Backup files can be restored or exchanged with other users!

The software includes extra free bonus files:

- 'out of the box' preprogrammed systems clone file
- 'memory clear' clone file

To download and install this free software, please visit our website
www.butelsoftware.com

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

 

[KC1UA]

Does the BCD996T allow access to the "P25 Response Time" and the "P25 Reference Time" as the latest firmware of the 396T does? This was discussed in this thread: http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34901

Page 52 of the 996T manual discusses "Optimizing P25 Performance" but such optimization is on a system by system basis. The P25 response time and P25 reference time settings as discussed in the above thread were global.

Incidentally I tried pressing the HOLD button on the 996T while turning it on. The result was a rapidly flashing display between red and green, but otherwise nothing that I'm aware of. I know it's very early in the game, but any thoughts on this? Doing this with the 396T allowed access to the "secret features" and ultimately the settings I list above.

Also, the firmware version of my 996T shows as 1.02.01. There is also an added line of data that shows the radio's serial number.

 

[UPMan]

You are confusing AGC and P25. The BCD996T itself also has the "hidden" AGC tweak mode, but it is not accessible through UASD.

That rapidly flashing display indicated that you successfully turned on the hidden menu items for that session.

 

[KC1UA]

You are confusing AGC and P25.

You're right of course, Paul... I am. I'm just equating the tweak with the overall improvement of the P25 sound.

The BCD996T itself also has the "hidden" AGC tweak mode, but it is not accessible through UASD.

That rapidly flashing display indicated that you successfully turned on the hidden menu items for that session.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to get to the settings, which would appear to involve a different procedure than that of the 396T. I'm not getting it thus far, unfortunately. I'm not sure if this is even an area that you want to tread through; if not I understand.

Thanks.

 

[KC1UA]

Can you post a picture of both radios in a dark room. Would like to see the back lighting on both keypads.

I'm not home right now, but I'll be glad to do that later this evening.

 

[UPMan]

Well, I'm at home for the holiday and these are settings that I don't actually use (default works fine for all my monitoring) so I don't have the procedure memorized. Well, I used the settings a couple of times during testing but not enough for the method to "stick" in my long-term memory...either someone else will reply or I'll try to get back to this next week.

 

[KC1UA]

Thanks. Default is overall working fine for me as well. I was just curious as to whether or not performing the tweak would make it sound even better. I am still noticing somewhat of a delay in the attack time on some transmissions.

Enjoy the holiday. If I find the right combination of keys I'll follow up.

 

[brandon]

How does the P25 compare to the PRO-96/2096 series? Can you post a recording of how the P25 audio sounds?
Thanks for all your info. I'm looking forward to recieving mine I ordered it on Friday.

 

[KC1UA]

Can you post a picture of both radios in a dark room. Would like to see the back lighting on both keypads.

I tried, but my camera is just not working well in darkness. The 2096's lighting is brighter than the 996's, not only brighter but lighter in color. The "red" of the 996T is actually as I look at it just a deeper amber color. The fact that it is not as bright as the 2096 does not detract from its "viewability" in complete darkness; as a matter of fact it's easier on the eye. I am looking at both set at their brightest settings when I comment. Perhaps someone with a better camera than mine can show you. Sorry I can't.

 

[KC1UA]

How does the P25 compare to the PRO-96/2096 series? Can you post a recording of how the P25 audio sounds?
Thanks for all your info. I'm looking forward to recieving mine I ordered it on Friday.

I need to hear more P25 audio before I can make a distinct comment on this. Locally I have sporadic activity from Otis Air National Guard Base. Other than that my closest P25 activity is New Hampshire and some other scattered Massachusetts locations. Normally I need some enhanced conditions to hear that traffic.

From what I've heard the P25 audio is very good. I am running the 996T with AGC on and P25 in Auto. As I stated above I'd love to get into the "secret settings" mode and be able to try the AGC tweak. On occasion it sounds like the AGC attack time is slow, and the first few words of a P25 transmission are loud before it smooths out. The aforementioned tweak eliminated this problem for me with my 396T and made it sound just about as good as my PRO-2096. I trust that the result will be the same with the 996.

If I get some enhanced conditions I'll put my 996T on a feed and let you know the link to it, so you can hear the audio live. Tonight doesn't look like it'll be ideal for that, however.

 

[kikito]

Thanks. Default is overall working fine for me as well. I was just curious as to whether or not performing the tweak would make it sound even better. I am still noticing somewhat of a delay in the attack time on some transmissions.

Enjoy the holiday. If I find the right combination of keys I'll follow up.

Wouldn't it be just like the BCD396T, press FUNC and tap the Scroll/Volume knob twice to get to those settings?

 

[scannerfreak]

Rats, someone beat me to it!

:lol: Well, Touche because I've been hidden deep in the Smokey's all weekend w/o the net so You beat me to revealing the hold/power up:lol: So We're Even :