Rebanding Pro 96

[westgateblvd]

The pro96 will do ARMER just fine, cancel the eBay listing, keep the 96, use it for a while and see what other features mean the most to you. I bought a used 96 for my first scanner to cover ARMER, it did great for me. I sold it because I got a good offer and wanted a smaller scanner- the Uniden 396t.

I tried the other night to use it. It kept telling me that all of the channels were locked up on it. I don't underdtand st all the owners manual. Trunks and banks and all of that other stuff. I pressed search and got some tv station. I tried putting in a bunch of numbers for different channels and hit scan. Nothing. Said all of the channels were locked. Looked in the manual for locked channels and found nothing. Judt to frustrating to figure out. Cd 's come with it for Mr Scanner. I can't use them because I have windows 7 and it only goes to 2000, or vista. I just hope it sells for enough to cover the price of another unit.
Now if I bought a pro 106. Would I need to do a lotof extra work to get it to run?? Sorry if anybad spelled words. I am typing on a kindle.

 

[Tahoe1970]

Sorry that installing Win96 created problems. I (and many other members here) have used it successfully for years.

As mentioned above in addition to the Pro-96, the Pro-106 and BCD396xt will work for that system but they will still have to be programmed for the systems you wish to monitor. If I were in your position I would do some further research into digital and trunking scanners. Software is many people's choice but systems can (with few exceptions) can be manually programmed as well.

That being said, the 106 uses "Object oriented memory management" and the 396xt uses Dynamic Memory Architecture. These can be confusing since they are very different ways of loading and managing frequencies. I would suggest using the Wiki section here to research both scanners as well as their programming. Since the company supplied manuals can often be confusing, I would also look through the "Easier To Read" manuals for any models you are interested in.
Mark's Scanners

In my personal experience, with the huge changes in radio systems, the more capable the scanner, the more difficult the programming.

There are other options for scanners which are more user friendly for programming (e.g. Uniden Home Patrol) but they are usually far more expensive than a 106.

One last item to note. The Pro-106 was manufactured by GRE and they have currently stopped production of radios and replacement parts. Their future is unknown at this point and spare parts for many of their radios (including the Pro-96) are becoming limited.

 

[ryolsen8]

Uniden BCD396T

The pro96 will do ARMER just fine, cancel the eBay listing, keep the 96, use it for a while and see what other features mean the most to you. I bought a used 96 for my first scanner to cover ARMER, it did great for me. I sold it because I got a good offer and wanted a smaller scanner- the Uniden 396t.

What do you think of your BCD396T? I am considering getting a BCD396XT...Upgrading from a Pro-106, to put up another Live Feed.

 

[stmills]

I have been very happy with the 396t. I like the ease of programming and reprogramming. The size is great for portability, and mine has survived a drop into fresh water while on with out a problem. I had to replace the speaker early on but that was a cheap simple repair. I have considered buying a 396xt, my hope is to keep my 396t until uniden has a phase2 capable portable.

 

[westgateblvd]

Sorry that installing Win96 created problems. I (and many other members here) have used it successfully for years.

As mentioned above in addition to the Pro-96, the Pro-106 and BCD396xt will work for that system but they will still have to be programmed for the systems you wish to monitor. If I were in your position I would do some further research into digital and trunking scanners. Software is many people's choice but systems can (with few exceptions) can be manually programmed as well.

That being said, the 106 uses "Object oriented memory management" and the 396xt uses Dynamic Memory Architecture. These can be confusing since they are very different ways of loading and managing frequencies. I would suggest using the Wiki section here to research both scanners as well as their programming. Since the company supplied manuals can often be confusing, I would also look through the "Easier To Read" manuals for any models you are interested in.
Mark's Scanners

In my personal experience, with the huge changes in radio systems, the more capable the scanner, the more difficult the programming.

There are other options for scanners which are more user friendly for programming (e.g. Uniden Home Patrol) but they are usually far more expensive than a 106.

One last item to note. The Pro-106 was manufactured by GRE and they have currently stopped production of radios and replacement parts. Their future is unknown at this point and spare parts for many of their radios (including the Pro-96) are becoming limited.

So you would suggest that I look for a newer unit then?? Doesn't anyone make a scanner that the average Joe can program, and doesn't cost an arm or leg to buy??

 

[westgateblvd]

That said and all. What should I look for in buying a scanner?? Triple Trunking, 800 Mhz?? Just what?? Thanks

 

[ryolsen8]

So you would suggest that I look for a newer unit then?? Doesn't anyone make a scanner that the average Joe can program, and doesn't cost an arm or leg to buy??

Unfortunatly, for the 800, no. It takes time. The easiest out there for the average joe to program would be the Pro 106.. Like I keep saying, If you buy the software from RS, I can make you a program for what you would want/need. Then all you would have to do is send it to the scanner, and bam, your done!

 

[Tahoe1970]

Looking through the thread, the radios that should work with your system seem to be the (hand held/Base-Mobile) Radio Shack: Pro-96/2096, Pro-106/197, Pro-18: GRE: PSR-500/600 PSR-800; Uniden: BCD396T/996T, BCD 396XT/99tXT, Home Patrol.

Generally, the Pro-96 is the cheapest and lately the PSR-800 the most expensive. The Home Patrol is not a hand held model but is taking the least programming.

All the models are covered quite well in the Wiki here at RadioReference.


Looking in the Database for your county,
St. Louis County, Minnesota (MN) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
and at the ARMER system specifically, you need a radio that can trunk a rebanded 800 mHz Project 25 (Digital) Phase 1 system.

The radios listed above are the only ones I can think of from the 3 most popular manufactures. There are other receivers available from other manufactures (e.g. AOR, Yaesu, etc.) but they are generally more expensive. You can also find information on these brand on the Wiki and if you search ebay, you can check current prices and availability.

As previously posted, I would keep the 96 and spend some time learning to program the system. When you were trying to program it, did you post any questions in the forums. As you can see, there are plenty of people here to help when it's needed.

 

[Tahoe1970]

Just read ryolsen8's post. I would probably take his advice and go that route.

 

[westgateblvd]

Unfortunatly, for the 800, no. It takes time. The easiest out there for the average joe to program would be the Pro 106.. Like I keep saying, If you buy the software from RS, I can make you a program for what you would want/need. Then all you would have to do is send it to the scanner, and bam, your done!

Ok. I have a bid on a 106. I will know by Tuesday weather or not I win. I put a large enough bid on it. If I don't win.. Well then I will just have to wait for another to come around..

 

[ryolsen8]

Bid

Ok. I have a bid on a 106. I will know by Tuesday weather or not I win. I put a large enough bid on it. If I don't win.. Well then I will just have to wait for another to come around..

Copy that! Let us know, good luck!

 

[westgateblvd]

Ryolsen8. What software would I need??

 

[Jimbo695]

New Pro 106 from Amazon $285 plus tax & shipping

Check this out. FOUR left :

Amazon.com: pro 106

 

[ryolsen8]

Software

Ryolsen8. What software would I need??

Honeslty, I cannot remember the name, its BuTel Software, if you go to RS and ask for the Scanner Programming Software, they should I would hope know what you mean. It is a trial version, but Ive been using it for a year or so and havent had to pay more....

 

[westgateblvd]

Well I sold my Pro 96. Got $275 for it. I also bought a Pro 106 for $285. Has the cord, and the yellow battery pack and also something called a wall wart?? What is a wall wart??

 

[Tahoe1970]

Congrats

Nice job upgrading the radio for $10 even if you got a few less accessories. I looked at your 96 add and the software wasn't that great so good riddance. "Wall wort" is the AC to DC converter to plug your scanner into a household plug so that's a wash. It looks like the only thing you may need is the programming cable. The yellow battery holder (for rechargeable batteries) is nice since they can no longer be ordered new and it seems like many recent listings don't include the yellow one. If you only have the yellow holder then you should use rechargeable batteries in the scanner or remove all the batteries when you plug it in.

Reading back through the thread, the Butel software for the 96 is ARC96
Butel Software

Congrats

 

[westgateblvd]

Programing cable is with it. Also comes with 8 rechargeable batteries, and another charger. Owners manual is also there. Just have to go to Radio Shack and get that software. We miss our scanner..

 

[westgateblvd]

Says it comes with a CD-Driver.. Might this be the CD that I need for programing??

 

[CMListner]

The driver needs to be loaded for the cable to work. You can get the software on radioreference under the Wiki tab or at the links below.

RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Radio Shack Programming Software Free Trial - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[westgateblvd]

Should I buy the software, or just use the free download??


Also a unrelated question.. My Wife and I are going to attend Back to the 50's at the State Fairgrounds in two weeks. If I brought the scanner it has a 800 Mhz antenna. Would I be able to hear any calls from Duluth on it??