Please help: Programming the 246T with Butel ARC246

[LedZeppelin]

Hello,

This is my first help thread, and I've searched through the older threads hoping to get answers before posting, but I have not been able to come to a resolution. First, I'm not a scanning newbie, just a new scanner newbie. All of my old scanners were direct program, meaning you throw in a frequency on one channel and boom, done. The 246T is the first scanner that I've bought that needs to be programmed in the way it requires, and I'm dumbfounded. I've read the Uniden manual for programming it directly via the handset itself, but that left me shaking my head with more questions than the manual could provide. I bought the ARC246 software thinking that it would be much easier since most people here agree it is, but after reading that manual, I'm still very confused. Does anyone have any screenshots of programming their scanner using the ARC246? I'm in the Hartford area of CT, so what I want to do is this:

1) Set up a system with groups of A) Local PD B) Local Fire and C) EMS/Public Works (or even PW on a different group)

2) Set up the city of Hartford, CT on it's own system with groups just like above.

I'm totally dumbfounded as where to begin. If someone could maybe walk me step-by-step through the above process, I'm sure once I do it, and get the hang of it, it'll be a piece of cake.

The first steps are always the hardest. Thanks in advance for any help that can be provided. Sorry for sounding like a total newbie here, but I guess it's better to ask than have an expensive doorstop.

 

[Dubbin]

Have you even tried reading the "User Manual" on BuTel's website?

 

[oregontreehugger]

The Butel web site has some good screenshots of programming.

Opening my own ARC246 I see that you'll get a "New System1" with "Group 1" through "Group 10" listed under it. This is your first system. (Say, for Hartford).

Then go to "File"... "New System". This adds a second system. (Say, for the County). Etc. You can keep adding systems as you wish.

To program frequencies, click on one of the "Group" blue dots on the left of the screen. This brings up the channels / TG's you can enter. Right-clicking the mouse on a group allows you to edit names and other settings for the groups in each system.

Basically, the new dynamic memory goes as follows (example):

System 1 (Hartford City)
Group 1 (Police)
Group 2 (Fire)
Group 3 (EMS)

System 2 (Hartford County)
Group 1 (FD's)
Group 2 (Mutual Aid)

A "system" is just a bunch of "groups" stuck together. Spend some time playing around with the software and try uploading a few test systems/groups to the scanner. Good luck!

(Also, a site with some 246 FAQs is at: http://home.hvc.rr.com/bpetrow/faq.htm )

 

[LedZeppelin]

Have you even tried reading the "User Manual" on BuTel's website?

No, I have not, I figured it would be the same as the "help" Adobe file that's included with the software, I'll give that a shot, thanks.

 

[LedZeppelin]

The Butel web site has some good screenshots of programming.

Opening my own ARC246 I see that you'll get a "New System1" with "Group 1" through "Group 10" listed under it. This is your first system. (Say, for Hartford).

Then go to "File"... "New System". This adds a second system. (Say, for the County). Etc. You can keep adding systems as you wish.

To program frequencies, click on one of the "Group" blue dots on the left of the screen. This brings up the channels / TG's you can enter. Right-clicking the mouse on a group allows you to edit names and other settings for the groups in each system.

Basically, the new dynamic memory goes as follows (example):

System 1 (Hartford City)
Group 1 (Police)
Group 2 (Fire)
Group 3 (EMS)

System 2 (Hartford County)
Group 1 (FD's)
Group 2 (Mutual Aid)

A "system" is just a bunch of "groups" stuck together. Spend some time playing around with the software and try uploading a few test systems/groups to the scanner. Good luck!

(Also, a site with some 246 FAQs is at: http://home.hvc.rr.com/bpetrow/faq.htm )

Thank you, some good info here, I'll be giving it a shot this afternoon while I'm watching some football.

 

[LedZeppelin]

A little off topic, but I just got back from the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society, and I was quite shocked to see all the guys (and one girl even) that had their scanners attached to their belts. I think our little hobby is getting a little more popular.

 

[Al42]

2) Set up the city of Hartford, CT on it's own system with groups just like above.

1) Hartford PD, FD, etc. are on the Hartford trunked system.

2) I live on the other side of the sound so I couldn't check this file out, but I made a .usd file for you from the RR database page. Download http://www.webdingers.com/Hartford.usd

Also go to Uniden's site and download the UASD for the 246. (You'll have to rename the file to one of the system names they allow, but you can name it back once it's in the scanner.)

Upload the file to your scanner.

Download it using ARC246 and save it.