Pro-106 or BCD396XT

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N5JMC

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Anyone know the differences/advantages over each of these? I have the pro 106 but thinking about returning it and getting the bc. Is the bc better? I don't like how the 106 can only hold 33 control channels per system. Does the bc hold more? Also does the bc have more features and which pick up better or has better reception?

Off topic, will I pick up transmissions better I'd I only program the primary control channels? Or will it work just as good if I have all control channels loaded? I'm asking cause I'm new and my thoughts are the more control channels I have loaded, the longer it takes to run thru them so I'm worried I could miss a transmission? Is my assumption correct or could someone help me better understand how it works? The reason I want to load all control channels is so I don't miss anything if all the sudden a control challel that's neither primary or alt is used or changes to primary due to one going down or something? Hope I made sense. I'm open to all advice/suggestions since I'm new and trying to learn all of this.
 

ab8sn

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I have a Pro 106 and love it. I started out programming it by hand but later ended up buying the software and cable to make programming a little faster. On the system I monitor, I just program the primary control channel in to hear all the traffic.

The sensitivity is great however when in a larger city, it does get a little intermod. It has more features than I will ever use. Has good audio as well. I cannot give a comment on the Uniden models since I have never used them. I do have a Uniden BCT 15 and I like it as well its just that it doesn't do digital.

Hope this helps

73s

Chad
 

N8IAA

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33 CC's per system. What system are you trying to moniitor? Not every frequency is a CC. Here on RR, the main CC's are in red, and the secondary are in blue. We can help you better if we know a few particulars.
Larry
 

tglendye

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
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I have the PSR-500, which the Pro-106 is basically the same radio in a different package. I really like it. I don't have any experience w/ the Uniden digitals and my last Uniden was a BC780xlt, but the one thing I like better is the the Uniden's menu seems to flow easier.

And I feel your pain on the 33 CC's only. For monitoring our state-wide system (Virginia STARS), you have to create more than 1 TYS to include all the CC's. That's my major complaint... but on a day to day basis, it does not matter.

As for which CC's to program- make sure you get all of the primary and secondary control channels. They typically rotate the channels daily. If you are missing a control channel, you will not pick up ANY traffic on the system. It does not matter what other channels you have programmed in. The scanner just looks for the CC, decodes it and looks for the talk-groups you are scanning.

So, I didn't answer your Pro-106 vs. 396xt question, but as far as the CC's go, just make sure you have all of the primary and alternates (should be 4).

Todd
 

DonS

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Regarding 32 (not 33) CC limit per TSYS...

How many CCs can you actually hear in a given location / area? If 32 CCs cover a good-sized geographic area (e.g. it's at least 8 sites in a Mot system) and you're moving among such geographic areas, you should probably be using the "V-Scanner" feature to quickly load geographically-based settings as you travel. Is loading an entire statewide system, all at once, somehow better than this?
 
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