Uniden 996XT programming

[BlackhawkCB]

Hello, im trying to program my uniden 996XT for the Southeast Georgia Regional Radio Network (SEGARRN) (https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6694 ) but im not really sure how, i read the easier to read manual but it still makes not much sense, i have no programming cable so i am doing it all by hand, it may be that i messed up during programming but it seems theres no static on the 700 MHz band for me? not sure whats going on, admins feel free to move this post to another thread if needed. also, do i need to program EVERY frequency for the whole SEGARRN system or just for my county?

 

[UnidenSupport]

I'll PM you with some step by step instructions. feel free to ask me any questions regarding this
Edit: I cant pm you, so here they are

The steps for programming are below:

For Conventional frequencies please follow these steps:

1. Press Menu button
2. Highlight Program System, Press E
3. Highlight New System, Press E
4. Highlight Conventional, Press E
5. Confirm by pressing E
6. Highlight Edit Group, Press E
7. Highlight New Group, Press E
8. Highlight Edit Channel, Press E
9. Highlight New Channel, Press E
10. Enter your Frequency, Press E
11. To enter more frequencies, Highlight New Channel, Press E

For P25 (Standard Trunk), Motorolla, Edacs, LTR:

1. Press Menu
2. Highlight Program System, Press E
3. Highlight New System, Press E
4. Highlight the system you need Conventional, P25, Motorolla, Edacs, LTR, Press E
5. If P25 (Standard Trunk), EDACS, or Motorolla please follow the steps below:
6. Highlight Edit Site, Press E
7. Highlight New Site, Press E
8. Highlight Set Frequencies, Press E
9. Highlight New Frequency, Press E
10. Type in Primary and Alternate Frequencies (red and blue frequencies on RadioReference) Press E
11. Highlight New Frequency to enter more, Press E

Once you have entered all of your frequencies and want to enter DEC/TGID:

12. Press Menu 4 times.
13. Highlight Edit Group, Press E
14. Highlight New Group, Press E
15. Highlight Edit Channel, Press E
16. Highlight New Channel, Press E
17. Enter in the DEC/TGID, Press E
18. To enter more DEC/TGID Highlight New Channel, Press E

Once you have finished entering the DEC/TGID

19. Press Menu 4 Times
20. Highlight Edit Sys Option, Press E
21. Highlight ID Scan/Search, Press E
22. Press E on ID Scan if using TGID's and ID Search if just using only Frequencies.

For P25 One Frequency Trunk:

1. Press Menu
2. Highlight Program System, Press E
3. Highlight New System, Press E
4. Highlight P25, Press E
5. Highlight One Freq Trunk, Press E
6. Highlight Edit Site, Press E
7. Highlight New Site, Press E
8. Highlight Set Frequencies, Press E
9. Highlight New Frequency, Press E10. Enter the Frequency, Press E
11. Highlight New Frequency, Press E
12. Once you have all the Frequencies entered you can Press Scan

When your finished press scan.

 

[MisterLongwire]

Good job! Couldn't have done better myself!

 

[bob550]

I would only program the primary and alternate control channels applicable to your county. There's no need to program in every frequency listed. Also, since your programming by hand, consider setting your 996xt to ID Search and don't initially program in any talkgroups. When the scanner hits on a transmission, you'll see the talkgroup number displayed. Make a note of that number and use RR to determine who it is. After a couple of days, you'll have a good idea of what talkgroups are active. You can then program only those active talkgroups you've monitored.

 

[doctordialtone]

consider setting your 996xt to ID Search

Don't forget to change it back to "ID Scan" or you will be listening to more than you want to...
(Common mistake)

 

[bob550]

Don't forget to change it back to "ID Scan" or you will be listening to more than you want to...
(Common mistake)

But I wouldn't revert to ID Scan for maybe a week or two. The OP may pick up some transmissions on lesser-used talkgroups that way. As an example, I will occasionally hear some interesting comms on a NYS Parole talkgroup. But it's only infrequently active at those times I tend to monitor.

 

[BlackhawkCB]

I would only program the primary and alternate control channels applicable to your county. There's no need to program in every frequency listed. Also, since your programming by hand, consider setting your 996xt to ID Search and don't initially program in any talkgroups. When the scanner hits on a transmission, you'll see the talkgroup number displayed. Make a note of that number and use RR to determine who it is. After a couple of days, you'll have a good idea of what talkgroups are active. You can then program only those active talkgroups you've monitored.

i used to use unitrinker and rtl sdr's but i dont really like the idea of having my PC on all the tie just to listen to radio, also it just wasnt practical for me to use that setup

 

[BlackhawkCB]

I'll PM you with some step by step instructions. feel free to ask me any questions regarding this
Edit: I cant pm you, so here they are

The steps for programming are below:

For Conventional frequencies please follow these steps:

1. Press Menu button
2. Highlight Program System, Press E
3. Highlight New System, Press E
4. Highlight Conventional, Press E
5. Confirm by pressing E
6. Highlight Edit Group, Press E
7. Highlight New Group, Press E
8. Highlight Edit Channel, Press E
9. Highlight New Channel, Press E
10. Enter your Frequency, Press E
11. To enter more frequencies, Highlight New Channel, Press E

For P25 (Standard Trunk), Motorolla, Edacs, LTR:

1. Press Menu
2. Highlight Program System, Press E
3. Highlight New System, Press E
4. Highlight the system you need Conventional, P25, Motorolla, Edacs, LTR, Press E
5. If P25 (Standard Trunk), EDACS, or Motorolla please follow the steps below:
6. Highlight Edit Site, Press E
7. Highlight New Site, Press E
8. Highlight Set Frequencies, Press E
9. Highlight New Frequency, Press E
10. Type in Primary and Alternate Frequencies (red and blue frequencies on RadioReference) Press E
11. Highlight New Frequency to enter more, Press E

Once you have entered all of your frequencies and want to enter DEC/TGID:

12. Press Menu 4 times.
13. Highlight Edit Group, Press E
14. Highlight New Group, Press E
15. Highlight Edit Channel, Press E
16. Highlight New Channel, Press E
17. Enter in the DEC/TGID, Press E
18. To enter more DEC/TGID Highlight New Channel, Press E

Once you have finished entering the DEC/TGID

19. Press Menu 4 Times
20. Highlight Edit Sys Option, Press E
21. Highlight ID Scan/Search, Press E
22. Press E on ID Scan if using TGID's and ID Search if just using only Frequencies.

For P25 One Frequency Trunk:

1. Press Menu
2. Highlight Program System, Press E
3. Highlight New System, Press E
4. Highlight P25, Press E
5. Highlight One Freq Trunk, Press E
6. Highlight Edit Site, Press E
7. Highlight New Site, Press E
8. Highlight Set Frequencies, Press E
9. Highlight New Frequency, Press E10. Enter the Frequency, Press E
11. Highlight New Frequency, Press E
12. Once you have all the Frequencies entered you can Press Scan

When your finished press scan.

thank you, this helped a lot. also.. so ill only program the contrl channels under the site set frequencies? no need to do the voice channels?

 

[doctordialtone]

so ill only program the control channels under the site set frequencies?

Correct!

Just verify that the control channels are active and working when you're done.

 

[bob550]

I would do everything you could to acquire a data cable for this scanner. Trying to successfully program the 996 by hand is like running a marathon on one leg.

 

[BlackhawkCB]

Correct!

Just verify that the control channels are active and working when you're done.

alright, i know for sure that one is active. not sure about the rest

 

[sparklehorse]

I would do everything you could to acquire a data cable for this scanner. Trying to successfully program the 996 by hand is like running a marathon on one leg.

Boy howdy! I totally agree with bob550.
Since you apparently already have a PC and experience with Unitrunker & RTL SDR's you are way ahead of the game with regards to computer programming a scanner. Go get yourself a cable, download Freescan and get cracka lackin'!! You will be amazed how much faster you can program a whole crap load of stuff vs. entering it all manually.
.

 

[wtp]

i set up my 396T by hand, but i am a numbers guy and it just shows numbers.
the system is named and i usually only listen to one thing at a time.
so my talkgroup 1616 shows up and i know it is dispatch 1.
or 1680 is dispatch 3.
but yours might get a bit complicated.
it can be done, but it takes time.
my radio has about 150 systems and 2500 frequencies in it all by hand,,,slowly.