Uniden BCD996P2 programming

[Calfire406]

Interested in buying a Uniden a BCD996P2 Phase 1-2 Scanner. Cannot figure out we’re I can find to download the Freescan software. I figure it seems the easiest to use. Any info appreciated. This is my first unit programming so I need some help
Thanks

 

[LS101]

here is link

Sixspot Software - FreeSCAN

FreeSCAN, the award-winning Freeware program for programming the Uniden SC230, BC246T, UBC3500XLT, BR330T, BCD396T, BC346XT(C), BCD396XT, BCT15X, BCD996XT, BCT15 and BCD996T, BCD996P2 public safety scanners (The 436 & 536 will not be supported). FreeSCAN allows to download and uploading

sites.google.com

 

[hiegtx]

There is a User Guide for FreeSCAN in the Wiki.
FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[tvengr]

What is your city, county, and state and which system are you trying to monitor?

 

[Chris0516]

Interested in buying a Uniden a BCD996P2 Phase 1-2 Scanner. Cannot figure out we’re I can find to download the Freescan software. I figure it seems the easiest to use. Any info appreciated. This is my first unit programming so I need some help
Thanks

There are no updates to Freescan. There still is the manual, as has been mentioned. But there are no improvements. Freescan does not program well.
(Proscan user, former Freescan user)

 

[sonm10]

Freescan is easy enough for newcomers. It will not DMR or NXDN, but does everything else well.

 

[ka3aaa]

proscan is a much better software package and covers a multitude of scanners and formats.

 

[iMONITOR]

Get the best forget the rest, try ProScan. It's free to try then you'll want to buy! It's a great investment if you're serious about scanning.

ProScan Software, LLC

Computer Aided Scanning Software for the Uniden BC125AT BC250D BC296D BC346XT BC346XTC BC780XLT BC785D BC796D BCD160DN BCD260DN BCD325P2 BCD396T BCD396XT BCD436HP BCD536HP BCD996P2 BCD996T BCD996XT BCT15 BCT15X BR330T SDS100 SDS100E SDS150 SDS200 SDS200E UBC125XLT UBC126AT UBCD160DN UBCD260DN...

www.proscan.org

 

[Chris0516]

Freescan is easy enough for newcomers. It will not DMR or NXDN, but does everything else well.

It also won't do P25, EDACS/ProVoice, LTR, etc.. So, Instead of a new user coming to the realization of what Freescan can't do. They should start with supported software.

 

[JANFINE]

There is a new Beta version of FreeScan that will do P25 and DMR. The older Beta also did P25.
Old Beta 1.8 and new 1.9 I believe, off the top of my head.

 

[sonm10]

It also won't do P25, EDACS/ProVoice, LTR, etc.. So, Instead of a new user coming to the realization of what Freescan can't do. They should start with supported software.

I dont know where you are getting your information at. Freescan WILL do P25 phase I&II, Edacs, Ltr
It will not do dmr, nxdn, provoice

Freescan is a nice piece of software for newbees. No, it will not do everything Proscan does but thats the difference between freeware and paidware.

And by the way, Im a HUGE fan of Proscan, but there are other options.

 

[hiegtx]

I dont know where you are getting your information at. Freescan WILL do P25 phase I&II, Edacs, Ltr
It will not do dmr, nxdn, provoice

Freescan is a nice piece of software for newbees. No, it will not do everything Proscan does but thats the difference between freeware and paidware.

And by the way, Im a HUGE fan of Proscan, but there are other options.

ProVoice is merely a digital option for an EDACS system; it's not programmed as a different system type. As FreeSCAN can program EDACS systems and their talkgroups, you can program a ProVoice EDACS system. (Providing, of course, that you have the ProVoice upgrade; without the upgrade, you could still program PV talkgroups, but they would not work.)

There is a new Beta version of FreeScan that will do P25 and DMR. The older Beta also did P25.
Old Beta 1.8 and new 1.9 I believe, off the top of my head.

The "new" beta version will let you program DMR conventional, and set a color code. However, while you can manually create a DMR trunked system, you cannot input the color code for a sites trunked frequencies.

Trunk import of a DMR system is still incorrect. FreeSCAN will 'import' the system, but does not recognize the format, so it creates it as a Motorola Type II. You can edit the system type to a 'MotoTRBO trunked system', but just like the manually created DMR trunked system, you cannot input the color codes.

I have not been able to do a Conventional system web import in the new version. I always get an error message, 'error retrieving data........'. Web import for Trunked systemsworks (with the exception noted for DMR), but so far, Conventional does not.

 

[chazcarly]

So what is the best way to learn Pro Scan? is there a manual or video Tutorial?
i have used Freescan in the past but need to update my BCD996P2 . A couple of local towns went to DMR.

 

[hiegtx]

So what is the best way to learn Pro Scan? is there a manual or video Tutorial?
i have used Freescan in the past but need to update my BCD996P2 . A couple of local towns went to DMR.

Several videos on YouTube. Start here.

Installing ProScan also installs the manual. It's a *.pdf file. It's under the Support drop-down menu.

 

[ka3aaa]

the best way to learn how to use a software package is play with and use the help file at the same time but most importantly read what is in front of your eyes on the monitor..

 

[chazcarly]

Ok will do, off to you tube it is.
thank you

 

[Chris0516]

I dont know where you are getting your information at. Freescan WILL do P25 phase I&II, Edacs, Ltr
It will not do dmr, nxdn, provoice

Freescan is a nice piece of software for newbees. No, it will not do everything Proscan does but thats the difference between freeware and paidware.

And by the way, Im a HUGE fan of Proscan, but there are other options.

Whenever I tried to do P25 on Freescan, it was a pain. As for EDACS ProVoice. Look at the NOTE below:

Getting Started

The following scanners are compatible with FreeSCAN:

• SC230, BC246T, BR330T, UBC3500XLT, BCD396T, BCD996T, BCT15
• BC346XT, BCD396XT, BCD996XT , BCT15X
• BCD325P2, BCD996P2 (version 2.18 and greater)
• UBCD996T,UBCD396T, UBCT15 - Programming available from version 1.07.06 firmware for these radios
  • NOTE: FreeScan does not support, nor will support DMR, MOTOTRBO or EDACS Provoice

 

[hiegtx]

Whenever I tried to do P25 on Freescan, it was a pain. As for EDACS ProVoice. Look at the NOTE below:

Getting Started

The following scanners are compatible with FreeSCAN:

• SC230, BC246T, BR330T, UBC3500XLT, BCD396T, BCD996T, BCT15
• BC346XT, BCD396XT, BCD996XT , BCT15X
• BCD325P2, BCD996P2 (version 2.18 and greater)
• UBCD996T,UBCD396T, UBCT15 - Programming available from version 1.07.06 firmware for these radios
  • NOTE: FreeScan does not support, nor will support DMR, MOTOTRBO or EDACS Provoice

I see where you found that, but it is still incorrect. You do not program ProVoice talkgroups in an EDACS system any differently than the regular, analog, talkgroups. For a normal EDACS system, that is not ProVoice, you program the individual TGIDs. If the system is mixed mode (some TGIDs are analog, code A in the mode column), others are ProVoice (digital, a D in the mode column), the analog & ProVoice talkgroups are the exact same syntax. Nothing in the format of the TGID itself is different. In the database here, yes you see the difference in the mode column, but the talkgroups themselves do not have any difference.

Look at this system:

San Antonio/Bexar County Trunking System, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio/Bexar County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

It's a ProVoice system used by San Antonio & Bexar County here in Texas. Some TGIDs are analog, others PV.

I selected this department on the system, where most of the talkgroups are ProVoice, with one that is mixed-mode:

I then started FreeSCAN & imported the system and that department. Here's what I got:

FreeSCAN imported the ProVoice talkgroups without a hitch.

Now, during the import process you need to make sure that 'Skip channels marked as digital' box is not checked. That's on the Options tab that you see during import.

So the Wiki page is incorrect.

 

[sonm10]

Whenever I tried to do P25 on Freescan, it was a pain.

Not sure why, it should literally take <5 minutes if you're doing it right
My guess is your programming was wrong

 

[Chris0516]

Not sure why, it should literally take <5 minutes if you're doing it right
My guess is your programming was wrong

Maybe, But I find Proscan far easier, to program.