Hi Bert; while ARC8 and ARC246 from BuTel are very popular, I don't believe they offer any kind of data exchange - where data from ARC8 could be directly imported into ARC246 (once the groups are defined). Something to keep in mind here is that the BCT8 uses conventional memory - banks are fixed, as are the number of frequencies per bank, the BC246 uses what is known as Dynamic Memory Allocation (DMA is the way you will see this written). To put into basic terms, you define the number of channels, groups, ect. from a pool of available channels.
I'm sure Gommert will come in here and correct me
Keep these 2 pages handy - just click on them to go to...
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCT8
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BC246T
There are 2 programs that support both radios - Scan Control and Scancat Lite Plus. I would imagine all you would need would be programming support - and both programs are set up for this. Scan Control comes in 2 flavors - a light (programming only version) and a full version (programming and control). Scancat Lite Plus is a programming only package.
I reviewed both programs (using different radios) and was not particularly impressed with Scancat Lite Plus. It struck me as being a half finished product - it supports only so many of the radios features and stops right there. Part of this is because the spreadsheet like format is from a third party vendor and is difficult to modify. I also found it a little clumsy to work with.
Scan Control is a better product - more straightforward in its approach, and it does support most of the features of the scanners it support. It has a data migration function that would allow you to move your BCT8 data to the BC246 once all the setups are complete.
Scan Control handles primarily the Uniden line (plus the PRO-2052), while Scancat Lite Plus handles various scanners in the Uniden and RS line. Scan Control's users manuals (one for the regular scanners - the so-called non-DMA radios, and one for the DMA radios) are downloadable from their website, which is given in both pages. The last I looked, Scancat Lite Plus didn't have much of one - and really does need it.
Since you mention that you are migrating to 800 Mhz, many companies around the country are moving to a digital 800 mhz platform - this means that neither scanner will be able to monitor your department. There are radios that can. It is an important consideration if you are to buy the right radio for the right application. Probably your radio shop is probably the best place to find out whether digital is or will be in use in your new system - or if you mention where you are (city/state is fine), there are many knowledgable folks here that already know....
Before we go any further, let's find out whether your department is indeed going digital or not. 73s Mike