I currently don't have a programming cable. I will probably buy one shortly.
Is there a logical way of going about programming manually?
There's only one way to program the scanner: The right way. If you don't enter the data correctly, it will not work. So you either get it right, or you get it wrong.
1. Figure out what you want to monitor. (nearly everything is on MTS Fleetnet trunking system)
2. Create Trunking System
3. Enter Control Channels for the tower you wish to monitor
4. Enter Talkgroups you wish to monitor. Keep in mind you'll only hear those talkgroups if users are affiliated to the tower you're listening to.
RCMP are in the process of switching to AES-256 for general patrol (including Traffic Services), so all that'll be left to monitor by summertime is EMS, Fire, Sheriffs, and Winnipeg EMS and Fire. WPS is already encrypted.
In Winnipeg, the best stuff to monitor is on Fleetnet south zone, site 14. The control channels are 866.1375 and 866.0625. This is a Type II 800 MHz system, not a APCO25 Trunking (9600) bps system.
The talkgroup data in the RR database -- although extremely disorganized and somewhat outdated, will get you through the day.
If you go outside of Winnipeg, rural EMS/Fire are active on the various Fleetnet towers which are listed in the RR database.
You will also want to scan the following conventional (non-trunked) frequencies:
159.24 - EMS/Fire paging/alerting/dispatching
158.97 - EMS/Fire paging/alerting/dispatching
158.925 - Fire simplex (used as a fireground/scene frequency)
158.55 - Manitoba EMO interagency simplex (mostly used for search and rescue, grass fires, etc.)
861.5125 - EMO Simplex - Used by STARS-7 helicopter to coordinate landing zones with fire/ems on ground. Very short-range communications.
Hope this helps. Also, you will want to pick up a dedicated 800 MHz rubber duck antenna from somewhere. The antenna that comes with the 396 is welfare and performance sucks on 800.