Official BCD996T Prerelease Thread

[woody_46]

It should be noted that when buying the new BCD996T, Uniden is not charging you for the addition of a GPS device. The BCD996T only has the ability to interface to an optional GPS device. So those who don't feel the need for GPS, aren't paying for it. Many of the other new features are very similar to the BCD396T, which has been well received. Regarding performance, it's too soon to tell. Lets give it a chance!

The reason we are commenting on performance, and other things, is because a Uniden rep is ACTUALLY listening to us. Maybe some of our ideas can be implimented in future radio releases too? We are giving the radio a chance, I'm looking forward to it!

Where the heck is a GRE rep around here?

 

[Voyager]

I just hate it when I forget to turn off the GPS and let the batteries die... :*)

Sounds like you need to invest in a DC power cord.

Joe M.

 

[Uplink]

REMOTE HEAD Please!!!!!!!

They dont make cars and even trucks like they used to. How many people here still have 70's era pickups that you can fit a stack of radios in the cab? A remote head opens up all kinds of mounting options. I hope Uniden (or someone) make this scanner's head remote easily and cheaply. The Icom & Yaesu included it nowadays for cheap. I like Scanner Masters remote kit, but sheesh, it cost almost as much as the scanner.

PLEASE, PLEASE UNIDEN, REMOTE THIS 996T HEAD!!!!

Bye the way, I love my 396T, a revolutionary design, keep it up UNIDEN,

 

[sigint1]

Nice price! Well, Ok, it's first street price I've seen, but it seems reasonable. Does anyone know if Grove charges the credit card when the order is placed, or when the unit ships?

I just submitted my Pre Order - Got a real nice email back from them within a half hour (in addition to the automatic order conformation) stating that my credit card would not be charged until they ship it - Joe

 

[Schnoor1648]

GPS Compatible with BCD996T

Does anybody have any recommendations on GPS units that will interface with this scanner? I would like to get a good automotive GPS unit that will work with this.

 

[Voyager]

Does anybody have any recommendations on GPS units that will interface with this scanner? I would like to get a good automotive GPS unit that will work with this.

Just make sure it's not a USB unit - make sure it has a serial output. Other than that, I think most, if not all, will work fine. Garmin makes some nice units.

Joe M.

 

[DaveIN]

It must be NEMA out compatable as well as serial output. This means my older Garmin 12 will not work (no NEMA).

 

[Voyager]

It must be NEMA out compatable as well as serial output. This means my older Garmin 12 will not work (no NEMA).

How old is it? My Garmin 45 is virtually an antique and it has NMEA outout RS232.

Joe M.

 

[Schnoor1648]

GPS Units for the BCD996T

I was actually sort of considering getting this http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap276c/ and the optional automotive navigation kit. It looks like it has 2 NMEA serial ports, BUT I don't think it has touch screen like a StreetPilot has. I also don't think it will do multiple destination routing. There is a review of the Garmin GPSMAP 276C here http://www.gpsinformation.org/wilson/g276crev.htm I have also started looking at some information on-line at http://www.kd4rdb.com/bbs/ about amateur radio APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System). They have had some discussion about creating a list of GPS units that are APRS compatible. It might be nice to have a list of GPS units compatible with the Uniden Bearcat BCD996T. A couple of the better GPS webpages that I have looked at are http://gpsinformation.info/forum/ The "parent" site is http://gpsinformation.net/ I also like http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?group=2 The "parent" site for this is http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/default.asp?_SetCurrentVersion=EN

 

[DaveIN]

I took a second look after you said that. It's 1985 vintage, looks like it only supports 600 baud output and NEMA 1.5. Shortly after that they upgraded the firmware, but mine is not flashable. The current rev is 4.53 mine is 2.03. It also eats batteries and needs to be connected to external power for any length of time, so I ended up getting a eTrex Legend for X-mas. It was like going from a BC142XL to a BCD396T. +

 

[johncoleman]

scanner

i have cash is their a waiting list ?? where can i find it please

 

[Schnoor1648]

I see that I have not been paying close enough attention to this forum lately. I just found out about the Uniden USB-1 cable that is available for the forthcoming BCD996T. Would that necessarily mean that I could use a GPS unit with a USB connection and feed that data to the BCD996T or is this just going to be for other features?
http://www.uniden.com/store/accdetail.cfm?item=USB-1

 

[rdale]

"Would that necessarily mean that I could use a GPS unit with a USB connection and feed that data to the BCD996T"

No, as mentioned above the GPS has to have a serial output.

 

[Jay911]

Apologies if this has been asked/answered before, but what's the 3-pin connector directly below the DC power socket on the back (as seen in the "external photos" PDF on the Yahoo group)?

 

[UPMan]

Jack for 3-wire power harness (included). Ground, +12V, Orange wire (dimmer control).

 

[mam1081]

I think that would be another first on a scanner - dimmer control tied in with the car!


You're getting to be like car radios now! I don't think any professional radios do that either.

 

[joey_corleone82]

this looks exciting. I think I will pick one up to replace my 796d mobile setup....I just got that radio but am not happy with the 1 trunk tower per bank thing...I mean it doesn't really make it easy to monitor multiple towers when mobile on statewide systems like MPSCS here in Michigan...+ GPS is mad cool. So yeah, dynamic memory allocation looks awesome!

 

[TedTed]

Hopefully there is also external mute

 

[Schnoor1648]

I like to monitor some frequencies that can be either P25 or analog. When they are analog I can program in the correct PL and I don't hear them when they are encrypted. That's good because I don't want to hear the noise. However, since they could also come up P25 I now have to listen carrier squelch mode. I am using a Uniden Bearcat BCD796D. Does anybody know of any work around for this? Perhaps a software interface that would mute the audio when it comes up encrypted and/or cause it to continue scanning. I do have the ARC250 Pro and it does this on encrypted trunked talk-groups, but does anybody know if it will do this on conventional, non-trunked channels. Maybe what we need is a P-25 only mode on the BCD996T.

 

[UPMan]

The 996 lets you set a channel as Analog and Digital, Analog Only (in which case you can set a PL/DPL for the channel), or Digital Only.

In your situation, you'd program the frequency twice: Once as Digital Only and once as Analog Only with the correct PL.