Proscan-Uniden BCD396T-Balt. County MD

[K3JTP]

Using PS 17.8 to program BCD396T with P25 Phase I Balt. County Fire only (no other services). Set up new "system" for Balt. County and downloaded to the file from RR only the 4 county control channels and, as a separate Group, only the fire talkgroups I want to monitor. I unchecked all other services other than "fire" before importing the data. Only the control channels and the fire talkgroups were imported. The file was uploaded to the scanner; and it continues to scan police and other services. I downloaded the data from the scanner and it only shows the "simulcast" 4 control channels and the fire talkgroups, but continues to scan police, sheriff, schools, etc. I purged the memory and re-uploaded the file 4 times - same result. I programmed Baltimore City and other Phase I systems similarly, and they work as I intended - only scan the fire talkgroups I imported from RR. With those jurisdictions I also unchecked police and other services before uploading and they are not in the scanner database. Why is Balt. County programming differently. Or, better still, what am i doing wrong?
Les
K3JTP

 

[doctordialtone]

Or, better still, what am i doing wrong?

Sounds like you are in "ID Search" mode instead of ID SCAN mode.

Look at the display while it's scanning for a clue.

Read here:

Search/Scan Modes

Page 42 in the manual

http://scancat.com/OnLineHelp/OEM_Radio_Owners_Manuals/Uniden%20Older%20Manuals/UBCD-396T.pdf

 

[hiegtx]

The manual link above appears to be for the European model (UBCD-396T).

Here's a link for the U.S. model:

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD396Tom.pdf

 

[K3JTP]

Thank you! That system was set to ID Search. I temporarily disabled the remaining systems, let Balt. County continue to search/scan, and hit the "dot/no" key, then toggled the "scan" button until the display read "ID SCAN". Then, I enabled the remaining systems. The display now scrolls thru all my systems with "ID SCAN". I think you can also accomplish the same by hitting the Function bar and use the scroll knob to access the ID Scan/Search option. The "easier to read" manual really helped.
Les

 

[BananaPepper]

I am also trying to use ProScan, in the ID Search mode. But cannot get the scanner to search or recognize the talk groups I have programmed. If I sit on a frequency I have programmed and traffic comes along, I can pick it up, but not everytime. I doesn't seem to scan the "trunk lists". The display shows "Scan" and indicates "Bank 1", but shows no "List" on the last line while in "ID Scan" Mode. I am programming a Uniden Bearcat BC785D ( ancient) with the Apco 25 card installed. I am programming an Apco 25 P 1 system. Specifically Michigan, Oceana County. I have only used ProScan this one time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Pulling my hair out.

 

[hiegtx]

I am also trying to use ProScan, in the ID Search mode. But cannot get the scanner to search or recognize the talk groups I have programmed. If I sit on a frequency I have programmed and traffic comes along, I can pick it up, but not everytime. I doesn't seem to scan the "trunk lists". The display shows "Scan" and indicates "Bank 1", but shows no "List" on the last line while in "ID Scan" Mode. I am programming a Uniden Bearcat BC785D ( ancient) with the Apco 25 card installed. I am programming an Apco 25 P 1 system. Specifically Michigan, Oceana County. I have only used ProScan this one time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Pulling my hair out.

Unfortunately, even with a working APCO 25 card installed, the BC785D is not capable of scanning a P25 Phase I system (nor Phase II, for that matter). It cannot decode the control channel data. Also, it cannot handle rebanded systems, though that is a moot point in this case.

 

[BananaPepper]

Thank you. I was thinking that myself, I was hoping that wasn't the answer.

 

[hiegtx]

Thank you. I was thinking that myself, I was hoping that wasn't the answer.

I have the 250D, with a P25 card, the handheld equivalent of your 785D. The same limitation applies to it, which is why its gathering dust on the back of a shelf.

 

[tvengr]

Using PS 17.8 to program BCD396T with P25 Phase I Balt. County Fire only (no other services).

Give this ProScan file a try. Turn off group quick key 0 to eliminate all law enforcement. While scanning the system, hold the Func button on left side of scanner while pressing 0 on the keypad. Save the attached file to your computer. Open with ProScan and Upload to Scanner. System quick key is 1.

 

[ka3jjz]

As an aside, having tried to use a 396T in Baltimore county, I can say from experience that you will likely have at least some distorted comms due to simulcast distortion issues. The county uses a huge simulcast system and scanners like the 396T can't handle that very well....Mike

 

[tvengr]

I totally agree with ka3jjz. Except for the SDS100 and SDS200, every scanner I have has problems receiving the Baltimore County simulcast system at my home. That includes my BCD396T. Depending on your location, the 396T may or may not work. If you are close to one of the towers, it may be OK. With the file I supplied, if you have garbled audio or missing transmissions and dropouts, it will be due to simulcast distortion.

 

[K3JTP]

i will try twengr's suggestion. My desktop WS1098 handles B. Co. better, with a small indoor antenna connected to the back. I am anxious to try out a recently obtained BCD536HP which has not yet been programmed for this area. As for Baltimore City, it appears from RR that there is only 1 site, so no simulcast issue.

 

[hiegtx]

i will try twengr's suggestion. My desktop WS1098 handles B. Co. better, with a small indoor antenna connected to the back. I am anxious to try out a recently obtained BCD536HP which has not yet been programmed for this area. As for Baltimore City, it appears from RR that there is only 1 site, so no simulcast issue.

While there is only a "single site" listed for Baltimore City, that site is actually simulcast.

 

[tvengr]

My desktop WS1098 handles B. Co. better, with a small indoor antenna connected to the back.

With the small indoor antenna, you reduce the number of towers you receive and improve control channel decoding. Also, try turning on the attenuator using the stock antenna on the 396T. With simulcast systems, less signal can be better.