Official Uniden BC246T Scanner Thread
- Thread starter blantonl
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Can keypads be ordered from Uniden and replaced by the end user without voiding the warranty? If Uniden can send us a couple keypads for free while the radio is under warranty, and charge us a few bux when it's out of warranty, it would calm a lot of folks down. Why doesn't Uniden just emboss the rubber instead of silkscreening it?
See message regarding new firmware: http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?p=142792#post142792
Firware Update
Here is the latest firware update:
http://www.uniden.com/rn_productsupport_downloads.cfm?product=BC246T
JRed
Here is the latest firware update:
http://www.uniden.com/rn_productsupport_downloads.cfm?product=BC246T
JRed
Yeah, or laser enscribe it. The initial costs may be high. But Uniden could do the lettering themselves, and it could be used for all of their models. But best of all, it won't come off.MaXGTS said:
There's probably more to it than we realize.
Part Change for 246T ?
I think it is time for Uniden to make a part replacement for the keypad for the 246T.
I would gladly pay for the part and wouldn't expect Uniden to send people new ones. The type that the 780XLT uses would be great as this type doesnt wear off. (the clear keypad with the black lettering)
I havent seen the 396 yet so I dont know what type of keypad they use but from what I read here they are fine.
UPMAN any ideas if there is a possibility of a part change for the 246T ?
Thanks
I think it is time for Uniden to make a part replacement for the keypad for the 246T.
I would gladly pay for the part and wouldn't expect Uniden to send people new ones. The type that the 780XLT uses would be great as this type doesnt wear off. (the clear keypad with the black lettering)
I havent seen the 396 yet so I dont know what type of keypad they use but from what I read here they are fine.
UPMAN any ideas if there is a possibility of a part change for the 246T ?
Thanks
walter900
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Service Search lockout and airband steps...... What a pain,
What is the deal with having to press the lockout button, followed by the yes button to lockout a service search frequency. This is a two button press for a one button job!!!!
BTW... the 396, as well as, just about every other scanner has this as the correct one button job... You press lockout and the scanner moves on! .......not with the 246 though.
Am i missing something? I hit several data and pager hits while in service search, and it was a pain toggling between lockout and yes to keep the service search moving. I have never had to do this before.
I also noticed no 8.33 khz air band selection step, again, like the new 396 and pro-97 have. As i understand it, this will be next airband step for us here in the USA.
Can these issues be fixed with a firmware update and Has anyone else noticed this?
What is the deal with having to press the lockout button, followed by the yes button to lockout a service search frequency. This is a two button press for a one button job!!!!
BTW... the 396, as well as, just about every other scanner has this as the correct one button job... You press lockout and the scanner moves on! .......not with the 246 though.
Am i missing something? I hit several data and pager hits while in service search, and it was a pain toggling between lockout and yes to keep the service search moving. I have never had to do this before.
I also noticed no 8.33 khz air band selection step, again, like the new 396 and pro-97 have. As i understand it, this will be next airband step for us here in the USA.
Can these issues be fixed with a firmware update and Has anyone else noticed this?
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MarkWestin
Member
New version of ARC246 Released Today
Quoted from the ARC246 List:
"We just released ARC246 version 1.10.
The major change in this version is the addition of the Radioreference
database import option. Using ARC246 1.10 you can now directly browse
the RadioReference.com database and import trunk id's directlty in ARC246.
(to use this option you must be a donating member of radioreference.com)
For ARC246 1.10 download goto 'download' section at
www.butelsoftware.com . This is a free update for customers that
previously registered ARC246.
Thank you all for your support and feedback!
Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com"
I have already downloaded and installed this on my PC.
Mark
Quoted from the ARC246 List:
"We just released ARC246 version 1.10.
The major change in this version is the addition of the Radioreference
database import option. Using ARC246 1.10 you can now directly browse
the RadioReference.com database and import trunk id's directlty in ARC246.
(to use this option you must be a donating member of radioreference.com)
For ARC246 1.10 download goto 'download' section at
www.butelsoftware.com . This is a free update for customers that
previously registered ARC246.
Thank you all for your support and feedback!
Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com"
I have already downloaded and installed this on my PC.
Mark
B-BC246T - The BC246T Digital Capable Scanner with 1600 channels, 10 priority channels and continuous band coverage. The BC246T Scanner with 1600 channels, Close CallT RF Capture Technology, and TrunkTracker III
Bolding by me. WHy is it in all posts I see the major cpmplain of this scanner was that it wasnt digital.
Yet directly off of Unidens website http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=B-BC246T&tabid=1
It says it is.
Bolding by me. WHy is it in all posts I see the major cpmplain of this scanner was that it wasnt digital.
Yet directly off of Unidens website http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=B-BC246T&tabid=1
It says it is.
flyingwolf said:
Above that it even says APCO-25. Someone needs to have a serious talk with the web site designers. That's almost as bad as Radio Shack's 1050 MHz weather channels (that's what the PRO-96 was supposed to have).
Joe M.
Voyager said:
Looks like they fixed most of it. Except it has continous coverage
radio
Member
How do you reset the 246 to make a second attempt to update it with the new firmware?
Al42
Member
If it's hung, it's still waiting for the firmware - just run the vup program again.
2.05 bug/quirk?
I just recently changed over my firmware to the 2.05 vresion from the 1.42 version and noticed something that is annoying that was changed. On the 1.42 version when you are scanning a trunk system and hit an ID and hit enter to save it, if the ID is already in the radio no matter where what group it is in it will go to that ID where you can edit the existanting entry. If the ID is new you have the option of saving the ID. Now with the new firmware it seems no matter if the ID is in the radio or not it will ask if you want to save it. Actually I should clarify that I believe if the ID is in the Qck Save Grp it will go to the ID as it did before in the old firmware but if the ID is in another Group then it will ask if you want to Save it. I am not sure if youi meant to do this but I tend to have quick fingers and sometimes hit the enter button to save a little too fast and sometimes wind up trying to save a talkgroup already in the radio.
Matt
I just recently changed over my firmware to the 2.05 vresion from the 1.42 version and noticed something that is annoying that was changed. On the 1.42 version when you are scanning a trunk system and hit an ID and hit enter to save it, if the ID is already in the radio no matter where what group it is in it will go to that ID where you can edit the existanting entry. If the ID is new you have the option of saving the ID. Now with the new firmware it seems no matter if the ID is in the radio or not it will ask if you want to save it. Actually I should clarify that I believe if the ID is in the Qck Save Grp it will go to the ID as it did before in the old firmware but if the ID is in another Group then it will ask if you want to Save it. I am not sure if youi meant to do this but I tend to have quick fingers and sometimes hit the enter button to save a little too fast and sometimes wind up trying to save a talkgroup already in the radio.
Matt
BC246TUASD v2.0.1.7
Download from the Uniden site.
Latest Updates: This version provides several updates. If you have previously installed the software, just install this version…all updates will be applied and the software registration is retained. If you are installing the software for the first time, the software runs in DEMO mode until you purchase and apply the registration key. You can purchase the registration key from our on-line store. In demo mode, the software only allows the transfer of four systems, specifically named “Motorola,” “EDACS,” “LTR,” and “Conventional” and also does not allow you to write to the scanner without first erasing the current memory.
The updates in this version from previous versions includes:
Download from the Uniden site.
Latest Updates: This version provides several updates. If you have previously installed the software, just install this version…all updates will be applied and the software registration is retained. If you are installing the software for the first time, the software runs in DEMO mode until you purchase and apply the registration key. You can purchase the registration key from our on-line store. In demo mode, the software only allows the transfer of four systems, specifically named “Motorola,” “EDACS,” “LTR,” and “Conventional” and also does not allow you to write to the scanner without first erasing the current memory.
The updates in this version from previous versions includes:
- Add UHF-T Screen option
- Verify and update preprogrammed systems
- Frequency step is allowed for trunked systems
- General compatibility updates for other versions of UASD
- Added support for copy/paste from the Windows clipboard
- Removed electronic version of O/M from the distribution to make the d/l smaller
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I-Calls on 900 Mhz Motorola systems
Any users out there that listen to 900 MHz Motorola systems notice that when you receive I-Calls, the 246 only shows the ID of one of the units transmitting? I'm comparing it to my BC 780 that will flash the ID of both radios involved in the I-Call. This only happens with 900 MHz systems...800 MHz systems will show both ID's next to each other. You may wonder what difference showing one or both ID's makes? When making a scan list of let's say a transit company (which use I-Call 95% of the time) you can enter in the ID of the dispatcher and not ALL the buses. Now when the dispatcher calls ANY bus, you will receive the call. The way the 246 works, if the bus is the first to key up the radio, it will not pick up that ID as it is not in the scan list. Naturally you can get around this but in a large bus system you would need to add all 400 (or however many buses they have!) ID's to the scan list. Another work around is to use the search function...but then you are picking up EVERY transmission on the system...and that's not what I want to do! Anyone else notice this "shortcoming" on their 246? Any comments would be appreciated!
Bob
Any users out there that listen to 900 MHz Motorola systems notice that when you receive I-Calls, the 246 only shows the ID of one of the units transmitting? I'm comparing it to my BC 780 that will flash the ID of both radios involved in the I-Call. This only happens with 900 MHz systems...800 MHz systems will show both ID's next to each other. You may wonder what difference showing one or both ID's makes? When making a scan list of let's say a transit company (which use I-Call 95% of the time) you can enter in the ID of the dispatcher and not ALL the buses. Now when the dispatcher calls ANY bus, you will receive the call. The way the 246 works, if the bus is the first to key up the radio, it will not pick up that ID as it is not in the scan list. Naturally you can get around this but in a large bus system you would need to add all 400 (or however many buses they have!) ID's to the scan list. Another work around is to use the search function...but then you are picking up EVERY transmission on the system...and that's not what I want to do! Anyone else notice this "shortcoming" on their 246? Any comments would be appreciated!
Bob
trainwreck100
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Okay, I think I might have settled on this scanner for an upgrade from my old bc80xlt. It was my first scanner, just something to kind of get my feet in the water and figure if it seemed worth it. Well, I love my little 80, but the 50 channels just aren't enough, and since I bought it I've found out about trunking and all sorts of things I never new existed. My question is, can I still set out a certain group of channels to scan? I have my main channels that I listen to all the time, about 15 of them, and then I used my other banks for certain things like amateur storm spotters and ham radio, but I leave those banks locked out most of the time so I don't miss anything good on my main channels. Also, how long does it ake to scan 1600 channels? It seems like it takes forever to scan my 50, probably a little over a second, at that rate you'd miss a conversation before it got back! I know these are probably dumb questions, but I'll figure out more of the particulars about some of the features after I've got it, that's the way I learn things best.
Greg
Greg
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