Some Ohio help for a new BC396XT user

[FFAndy]

I just bought A Uniden BC396XT for Christmas and I love it so far. Its a lot more complicated than my Pro95 was though. So my question is and I hope dont confuse anyone is...

the departments that im listening to are made up of a bunch of different systems. I'm slowly learning how to program my new scanner and for the most part i am able to pick up tranmissions from all the different networks. But it seems that I pick up some better than others. I can hear some departments that are 400 MHz and are 25 miles from my house but the department right down the street is 400MHz and I dont hear them all the time. So If i can get some advice on how to program my scanner and set the squelch and off set so I can make the most of my scanner. Im slowly teaching myself but I want to start to make the most of my new scanner. also any advice a good attenna for my BC396XT. I want one for the top of it not an outside one for my house. EX of the systems Im using are as follows.

Parma (Project 25) Trunking System, Parma, Ohio - Scanner Frequencies
Southwest Regional Communications Network (SWRCN) Trunking System, Brookpark, Ohio - Scanner Frequencies
Westshore Region Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Thanks for reading and I hope Someone can help me out

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

I have been looking at that scanner lately because it looks like Uniden's first hand held scanner that will handle multiple control channels in a single system ....

Based on the systems you have identified, it looks like you are in Northeast Ohio - I listen to many of the same systems.

The stock antenna provided with scanners is usually fair at best and will not allow you to get the most out of your scanner. If you want to listen to 800 / 900 MHz systems primarily, I would recommend the Radio Shack 800MHz antenna without question. It will make a huge difference in the way your scanner performs in that band and will also work well with VHF-High and UHF.

800MHz Scanner Antenna - RadioShack.com

If you find you want to listen to systems in the VHF High band or 420's primarily, I would recommend something similar to this:

Diamond RH77CA Amateur HT Antenna

The right antenna will make a big difference. Another thing that may help out is using software to program the scanner and importing the systems from the Radio Reference database - this will ensure you have everything correctly programmed and will take all of the manual steps out of the programming process.