Programming BCD996P2 Scanner with Freescan software

[Rsleser]

I am a newbie trying to program my BCD996P2 scanner using the Freescan software. I seem to be able to program a conventional system, but the scanner won't scan when I program a trunked system. I have upgraded the scanner to firmware version 1.11.07. I get an error message during download in the Freescan that says "Unable to set WX", and "No APCO band plan available for MidlandCnty", when RadioReference shows that my systems are APSC 25 systems. The scanner display shows "MidlandCnty" and below "ID SEARCH" with an up arrow.

Any help would be appreciated.

Scott

 

[jtwalker]

I’m just guessing but I’ll bet you didn’t program any sites from the trunked system, only talkgroups.

 

[hiegtx]

I get an error message during download in the Freescan that says "Unable to set WX", and "No APCO band plan available for MidlandCnty", when RadioReference shows that my systems are APSC 25 systems.

Those are common FreeSCAN error messages, and can be ignored.

It's telling you that you that you did not set up weather details on the Set Up Scanner drop down menu.

That's not required for normal scanning, and does not affect whether you can scan the channels you program.

As for the APCO band plan for the system, that's not required either. While there are a few system types that do require that plan to be programmed, that does not apply to MPSCS, the trunked system used in your county. The band plan information is carried on sites control channel frequencies & when receiving a site, the needed information will flow into the scanner with no need for you to enter the data.

As for not being able to scan a trunked system, it's likely that you did not program everything needed. One of the most common errors is only programming the talk groups, used by the various agencies in your area, but not entering the sites used for transmitting. That's what jt was commenting on. Look at the "Uniden DMA scanners section" section on this 'Nothing to Scan' page in the Wiki.

Attached is a file I created for your county in FreeSCAN. It's 'zipped' (compressed) as that is required to attach a FreeSCAN file to a post. Save the file to your PC then use Windows Explorer (also called 'File Explorer in some versions of Windows) to extract (unzip) the Midland County file then open it in FreeSCAN. I don't know what, specifically, what you are most interested in, so I imported all the public safety agency talkgroups in your county. You, of course, can delete or lockout those not of interest.

There are a couple of talkgroups listed, for your county, that are labeled as "encrypted". Those will be ignored by your scanner, idf encryption is in use, without you having to lock them out or delete them. Those are indicated by DE in the mode column.


These is a User Guide for FreeSCAN in the Wiki. Since you are a premium subscriber, you an import exactly what you want from the RadioReference database into FreeSCAN.

 

[Enforcer52]

Midland County is Simulcast, and the 996P2 is not designed for simulcast systems so you may run into reception problems. Only the SDS100/200 handle simulcast.

I would suggest ProScan over Freescan, as you will soon become frustrated with the limitations of Freescan. It is well worth the $50.

ProScan

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

www.proscan.org

If you need help feel free to PM me.

 

[tvengr]

I’m just guessing but I’ll bet you didn’t program any sites from the trunked system, only talkgroups.

I get an error message during download in the Freescan that says "Unable to set WX", and "No APCO band plan available for MidlandCnty"

You Upload Programming to send the file to the scanner. As jtwalker stated, you may not have programmed a site. Midland County uses a simulcast site on the MPSCS trunked system. The band plan is automatically loaded off of the control channel if you have a site programmed. It is not necessary to program a band plan. It is also possible that the scanner is unable to load the band plan off of the control channel due to simulcast distortion. You only need to enter the 4 red control channel capable frequencies in the site. All of the frequency information is carried on the control channel. Enter the frequencies without the lower case "c". Please attach your FreeSCAN .996 programming file so we can take a look at it. You will need to zip the file to be able to attach it. Click on Attach files and open the zipped file.

1 (1)	022 (16)	Midland County Simulcast	Midland	769.45625	769.70625	770.18125	851.350	851.600	851.775	851.850
				852.050	852.300	853.050	853.525c	853.625c	853.725c	853.825c

 

[Rsleser]

Hope this works. I'm not sure I know enough to ask a decent question. I had an analog scanner years ago and my county changed to digital and just want to listen to what's going on. Thank you for the help so far, but I confess it doesn't seem to make much sense to me.

 

[tvengr]

It appears that the folder is empty.

 

[Rsleser]

You Upload Programming to send the file to the scanner. As jtwalker stated, you may not have programmed a site. Midland County uses a simulcast site on the MPSCS trunked system. The band plan is automatically loaded off of the control channel if you have a site programmed. It is not necessary to program a band plan. It is also possible that the scanner is unable to load the band plan off of the control channel due to simulcast distortion. You only need to enter the 4 red control channel capable frequencies in the site. All of the frequency information is carried on the control channel. Enter the frequencies without the lower case "c". Please attach your FreeSCAN .996 programming file so we can take a look at it. You will need to zip the file to be able to attach it. Click on Attach files and open the zipped file.

1 (1)	022 (16)	Midland County Simulcast	Midland	769.45625	769.70625	770.18125	851.350	851.600	851.775	851.850
				852.050	852.300	853.050	853.525c	853.625c	853.725c	853.825c

I downloaded the Proscan software which is a free trial. I think I downloaded the four frequencies in red mentioned above. Now the scanner displays Midland County S and below that ID SCAN with an Up arrow. Still nothing.

Sorry the ZIP file was empty, I guess I don't know how to perform that function.

Again, thank you for the help and replies. Maybe this is above me, but am willing to try. I just don't get the lingo.

Scott

 

[Rsleser]

Friends, I have received alot of help from you folks and I appreciate it. I have been advised that the scanner I purchased, the BCD996P2, is not intended to work friendly with simulcast systems, which is the system that I wish to scan (Midland County Simulcast). Being a raw newbie, I am not equipped to navigate the work-arounds to get the scanner to do what I need it to do. I've decided to return the scanner and look into the SDS100/200 scanners, which are more adaptable for the simulcast system.

Again, thank you so much for the help and patience. I may be back with a new scanner!

Scott

 

[tvengr]

Check your squelch setting. It should be 2.

 

[ProScan]

I downloaded the Proscan software which is a free trial. I think I downloaded the four frequencies in red mentioned above. Now the scanner displays Midland County S and below that ID SCAN with an Up arrow. Still nothing.

Did you enter in the TGID's in a group? If you didn't then ID Scan won't work. Change it to ID Search at the system level like in this image then upload to the scanner.

 

[Ronaldski]

Hello neighbor!
Yes it is simulcast, but depending on where you are and if your closer to one tower then the others does help and less antenna is better.
Locations

FCC Callsign WQVZ379 (MICHIGAN, STATE OF)

FCC Callsign WQVZ379 (MICHIGAN, STATE OF)

www.radioreference.com

I've programmed quite a few of those scanners with freescan is all you need and own one myself.
Be advised all police in the city-County use encrypted talkgroups, so 911 you'll be able to get just fire and ambulance.

Check your private messages it's in the upper right looks like an envelope.