Old Noobee

[FUZZBUSTER]

Hi Ya'll from up here on the hill, Ramona, Ca. Has the CDF air tank plans staitioned,
I am getting back into the Scanner scene, I had (2) RS scanners back in the '80's and and a CB in the Apt. and sometime was able to Shoot Skip all the way to Pasadena, and talk to someone.
Story short, I am going to get a BCD396XT, in a few days , and will NEED ALL of your Gent help to get back started into this Hobby, I loved to listen to all the action going around Houston, Tx. Back then
and with the new Fandangle system out today, Just boggles my mind with the new codes and terms, Is confusion on a Black Hole level....Be Gentle with me Please....And Thanks for the Invite.

Gary K

 

[QDP2012]

Welcome

Welcome to RR,

Congratulations on the new scanner. Many here also like that model.

In addition to the documentation included with your new radio, this easier-to-read manual might be a good reference as you learn your scanner:

Easier to Read Manual for BCD396XT

Hope this helps,

 

[ka3jjz]

Welcome Gary

This article from our wiki (anything that's blue is a link) has many links to get you started - stuff on trunking, our online glossary, a FAQ on DMA and much more. I'd keep it handy as I have no doubt you're going to refer to it again and again at some point

Program your DMA Scanner - The RadioReference Wiki

HTH...Mike

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

Thank you Sir's, other than this wonderful New stomping grounds ,is there book that I can reflect on these new terms and new linggo I can read on to get up to speed "kinda" So i'm not, to be much of a Dope

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

Thanks Gents, is there a book out there that I can get to read up on the Ling-go of the new systems scanners out there and prodacall ,to keep me up to speed from looking like a complet duffuss on here

 

[QDP2012]

I don't have a physical book to recommend right now, but a quick reference for understanding terms would be the RR Wiki Glossary:

RR Wiki: RR Glossary

It will be a good starting point.

Hope this helps,

 

[ka3jjz]

...which is also linked in the article I gave. Remember anything that's blue is a link to another article or part of this site (sometimes even other sites)

Mike

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

Thanks, ka3, I was Old school with cystals back in the day, Now with all the new spaces dot,dot, dash, talk groups, trunking alpha tags groups....WHooa...I'm dizzy...Plus I know I will need to upgrage to a outside antena, due to being up here on the hill in Ramona, with a lot of Crap in the way, can you point me in the right direction, or is RS still a good place to look, Mind that I am on base ground 1 level homestead, and need to get at least 10' or so above the roof line, But keepit in the buget, it can be a bear to get out and reach someone out Younder ,I don't thingk a good Mobile Wip will do, Unless someone out there has some experince in that Dept.....Chime In Folks Give all the Dirt you can...Keep it coming.. or whwer to start...Thanks again for the links..Guy's..

GK..

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

power up

It looks like when I get the scanner, I read that there will be a Preprogramed list of Installed frec. that will start up , So I didn't just buy a $400 paper weight, But I don't see California on the list, Sure would be nice to start hearing some traffic right out of the box, Is there a online downloadable list to install in the scanner, or is it going to be all by hand one by one...I read all of the steps and I wonder if I am going to be biting off more than I can chew, Or having to work on the list for Months with no traffic to enjoy...

 

[Rt169Radio]

You can use FreeScan to help you program your scanner, also the BCD396XT has preprogrammed service searches covering: public safety, news, ham radio, marine, railroad, air, CB radio, FRS/GMRS, racing, military air, FM Broadcast, and special. So why not check out those as you learn how to add specific freqs? For a good antenna with a good price check out the AntennaCraft ST2.

FreeSCAN - Sixspot Software

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

update.!

I ordered my 396XT, today, have my custom made LMR-400 coax from Kim on its way, was given 30 (feet) of 1" 1/4 galvanized electrical conduit pipe from my boss, just collecting dust in the warehouse, My RS 800 MHz "Duckie" and the wall mount for the outside pipe and the Discone antenna, from RS, is in route from FEDX, and the Enloops and Maha C-9000 charger is coming from Amazon....WHOHOO.You think I'm covered to Jump into this Hobby with both feet and Thumbs....??? and Have freeSCAN, loaded on both computers...

Gary

 

[zl2taw]

sounds like you have everything covered there Gary, now the hardest part is waiting

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

Thanks, Ya' it's like haviing a new 1911 Pistol in gun jail here in the States, waiting for the back ground check to clear, Just after you paid for it in FULL........Come On, I'm Mad Now..!!! (Bart Simpson)..heheh

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

So FeeScan, will be able to let me find, & program all (or most) of the Trunking, & channels in my area, If not, is there a list I can get to (Try) to figure out myself..Oh' This is going to be dilly, when the 396xt comes in....Pray, Please Help.....!!!

 

[Rt169Radio]

FreeScan makes programing your Uniden scanner more easy, plus it has a option called EZ-Grab which lets you paste stuff really quick from radio databases into the program. Am not sure if you have to be a premium member on RR or not to use that feature. Plus take a look at this manual.

Easier to Read BCD396XT Digital Scanner Manual

 

[Ed_Seedhouse]

So FeeScan, will be able to let me find, & program all (or most) of the Trunking, & channels in my area, If not, is there a list I can get to (Try) to figure out myself..Oh' This is going to be dilly, when the 396xt comes in....Pray, Please Help.....!!!

For 15 bucks you can get a half year subscription here and then Freescan will be able to download systems directly from the RR database, which is pretty darned comprehensive.

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

I will have to become a member then, I will sign up after i Re-coupe some of the Bling I just laid out for, and wait till I can get the 396xt up and runing...Thanks.......Come On FEDExcuse hurry Up...Your Killin me.!

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

??'s

For 15 bucks you can get a half year subscription here and then Freescan will be able to download systems directly from the RR database, which is pretty darned comprehensive.

You BetCha, I looked down the DB for San Diego county, for all the fire/corrections/police/Sheriff Dept. And it looks SCARY difficult to know how to input them by hand in to my 396xt, So...?'s ...Is I will be able to see the Whole list of Frec. on frreeSCAN and pick and choose, and then "click" on the ons I like and Inport them directly "right:" into the scanner.....RIGHT.!....That will be sweet, then At least I can get the hang of doing the "hard" way and to Learn the scanners system...

 

[Ed_Seedhouse]

Is I will be able to see the Whole list of Frec. on frreeSCAN and pick and choose, and then "click" on the ons I like and Inport them directly "right:" into the scanner.....RIGHT.!....That will be sweet

With my first scanner I spent a couple of weeks trying to program it by hand then finally got Freescan and bought a subscription here and got more programmed in an hour than I had in the weeks leading up to that. Definitely the way to go unless you have one of the new and expensive types with the RR database already built in.

 

[FUZZBUSTER]

EEERR,!

Well it was a banner day at the Garys house, got my antenna bolted togather and brackets on the house, and USPS shows up with my 396xt, and the Maha and enloops, WHooHoo, BUT. I power upyhe scanner and the only pre-porgramed Frec.is Alaska, and "nothing"...I guess I'm not going to hear Polar bears Gabb'n, So go try to get the DB from RR, for the download membership, and It won't accept a CC or Debit CC, so Wasup..I would like to get something other than the weather...Loop..HELP..And sunburnt from staring at a White wall outside mounting the antenna....Ouch.