Programming help

[Aidenl06]

Hello,

I just got two Uniden BCD996XT scanners and I am trying to program in Allegan, Ottawa, and Kent county's. I have no idea how to work these things or program them, I tried uploading using free scan and I got the stuff onto my scanner but I dont hear anything so I don't know what I did wrong. I tried looking up videos and manuals but nothing is good and helpful.

TIA!

 

[doctordialtone]

manuals but nothing is good and helpful.

It appears that the system you are attempting to monitor is Phase II, which your scanner cannot receive.

You'll need a Phase 2 capable scanner.

Good luck!

 

[Aidenl06]

It appears that the system you are attempting to monitor is Phase II, which your scanner cannot receive.

You'll need a Phase 2 capable scanner.

Good luck!

I'm looking to just monitor FIRE/EMS channels since the LE channels are encrypted. It says mi is on 800 MHZ channels for fire/ems. Is this Phase 2?

 

[Aidenl06]

It appears that the system you are attempting to monitor is Phase II, which your scanner cannot receive.

You'll need a Phase 2 capable scanner.

Good luck!

To clarify, attached is a screenshot of the 800 MHZ, this should work, right?

 

[K9KLC]

Kent county is encrypted for law enforcement. I didn't look up the other two. RR database still has them listed as "D or DE" (the encrypted ones are "DE" but that doesn't indicate phase two. @Aidenl06 you need to go to the database for the counties you're actually trying to monitor. Anything labeled DE you're not going to receive at all regardless of the scanner. If it's labeled "D" you might be able to get it. @doctordialtone says it's phase 2 but the database is showing it as 1 at least at this time so I'm not sure who's right and who's wrong in this case. Perhaps someone from Michigan will chime in here and let you know exactly what's going on .
Also I don't know about free scan, but if you end up programming stuff into it that's not encrypted I highly recommend you look into ProScan. 30 Day free trial (which is enough to get you programmed) but I can almost bet you'll end up paying for it before it's over with having 996XTs. I know I tried it for about 2 days and ended up getting it and I don't program very many scanners.
good luck, hope the Michigan guys can help you out.

 

[Aidenl06]

Kent county is encrypted for law enforcement. I didn't look up the other two. RR database still has them listed as "D or DE" (the encrypted ones are "DE" but that doesn't indicate phase two. @Aidenl06 you need to go to the database for the counties you're actually trying to monitor. Anything labeled DE you're not going to receive at all regardless of the scanner. If it's labeled "D" you might be able to get it. @doctordialtone says it's phase 2 but the database is showing it as 1 at least at this time so I'm not sure who's right and who's wrong in this case. Perhaps someone from Michigan will chime in here and let you know exactly what's going on .
Also I don't know about free scan, but if you end up programming stuff into it that's not encrypted I highly recommend you look into ProScan. 30 Day free trial (which is enough to get you programmed) but I can almost bet you'll end up paying for it before it's over with having 996XTs. I know I tried it for about 2 days and ended up getting it and I don't program very many scanners.
good luck, hope the Michigan guys can help you out.

Thank you for this,

All LE in our area is encrypted. I should clarify I just want fire/ems for Ottawa, Kent, and Allegan.

 

[RMason]

It appears that the system you are attempting to monitor is Phase II, which your scanner cannot receive.

You'll need a Phase 2 capable scanner.

Good luck!

The system is shown as Phase 2 capable. However, the database shows that the talkgroups in Ottawa, Kent, Allegan are designated as "D" - which indicates that these talkgroups are Phase 1. Trunked systems are entered with the “highest level” mode of operation for which it is confirmed to be capable. A Project 25 system is entered in the database as “Phase 2” type if it is confirmed to be Phase 2 capable even if it has no TDMA talkgroups confirmed in use yet. This is an often mis-interpreted aspect of the db. Need to look at the mode of the desired talkgroups to see what is in use.

I did notice that the sites for these counties are simulcast. The OP may be suffering from simulcast distortion with the BCD996XT.

3 (3)	045 (2D)	Ottawa County Simulcast	Ottawa	769.20625	769.65625	770.18125	771.00625	771.63125	772.15625	772.75625
				851.325	853.575c	854.1875	854.3875	854.6875c	856.0375c	861.0375
3 (3)	046 (2E)	Allegan County Simulcast	Allegan	857.9375	858.2375	858.2625	858.4375	858.4875	858.9375	859.2375
				859.2625c	859.4375c	859.8125	859.9375c
3 (3)	047 (2F)	Kent County Simulcast	Kent	769.45625	769.95625	770.40625	770.90625	773.03125	773.30625	773.83125
				774.53125	851.150	851.2625	851.5375	852.0375	852.2375	852.2875
				852.6625	853.1375c	853.250c	853.750	854.1625	854.4625	854.5125
				854.8375

Maybe someone local will chime in.

 

[K9KLC]

Thank you for this,

All LE in our area is encrypted. I should clarify I just want fire/ems for Ottawa, Kent, and Allegan.

Ok that's a bummer, I'll dig my laptop out in an hour or so when I get back to it and see if I can help more.

 

[K9KLC]

The system is shown as Phase 2 capable. However, the database shows that the talkgroups in Ottawa, Kent, Allegan are designated as "D" - which indicates that these talkgroups are Phase 1. Trunked systems are entered with the “highest level” mode of operation for which it is confirmed to be capable. A Project 25 system is entered in the database as “Phase 2” type if it is confirmed to be Phase 2 capable even if it has no TDMA talkgroups confirmed in use yet. This is an often mis-interpreted aspect of the db. Need to look at the mode of the desired talkgroups to see what is in use.

I did notice that the sites for these counties are simulcast. The OP may be suffering from simulcast distortion with the BCD996XT.

3 (3)	045 (2D)	Ottawa County Simulcast	Ottawa	769.20625	769.65625	770.18125	771.00625	771.63125	772.15625	772.75625
				851.325	853.575c	854.1875	854.3875	854.6875c	856.0375c	861.0375
3 (3)	046 (2E)	Allegan County Simulcast	Allegan	857.9375	858.2375	858.2625	858.4375	858.4875	858.9375	859.2375
				859.2625c	859.4375c	859.8125	859.9375c
3 (3)	047 (2F)	Kent County Simulcast	Kent	769.45625	769.95625	770.40625	770.90625	773.03125	773.30625	773.83125
				774.53125	851.150	851.2625	851.5375	852.0375	852.2375	852.2875
				852.6625	853.1375c	853.250c	853.750	854.1625	854.4625	854.5125
				854.8375

Maybe someone local will chime in.

Right depending on where he lives he may fight the simulcast bug. Truthfully, my 996XT works great at my house on the simulcast I listen to. took it to my sons and it works great there too. Lucky in two locations. A third location we tried it at however, that simulcast monster really got to it.

 

[Enforcer52]

I sent you a PM, check the envelope in top right corner.

 

[smithken]

According to the data base most of Ottawa County's law enforcement is NOT encrypted. Allegan County's law enforcement is hit or miss as far as encryption is concerned. Kent County's law enforcement is all encrypted. The only phase 2 operations on MPSCS is Oakland County, the rest of the system is still phase 1. I live near Oakland County but I haven't tried to receive them yet so I can't comment on them. Since I live far away from Allegan, Ottawa and Kent counties I can't verify if the database is correct.

 

[wtp]

is the squelch set to 2 ?
too high and you might not hear anything.

and how far away are you trying to listen to ?

 

[Ronaldski]

All the counties you mention are simulcast - Multiple towers with the same frequencies and talkgroups that can cause havoc depending on your location and where the towers are.
What I’m taking about -

and

As mentioned these are all Phase I, NOT Phase II.
I put this disclaimer on the MPSCS awhile back-
"All sites are phase 2 capable, but operate as phase 1, with the exception of Oakland county which is phase 2"

Under MODE if it’s D or T it’s in the clear, De or Te sometimes clear, sometimes encrypted, DE or TE is always encrypted.
https://www.radioreference.com/db/sid/100

I use Freescan all the time, look at the bottom for how-to videos since your a premium subscriber.

FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com