BC296D: Windows 10 and programming help

[EngineCo8]

Hello all. I am in need of assistance programming my BC296D scanner using the supplied software and windows 10. I have tried everything that I can think of (which isn't a lot as my programming knowledge is limited) to get the computer to read from the scanner and write to the scanner. Every time I try to read or write I get a pop up with "Communication Error! Please check BC296D or BC279D SS remote setting." I have tried changing the com port and adjusting the speeds with the same results. Any help would be awesome thank you.

I am using a Insignia USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter, this all was given to me 2nd hand and according to the person who gave it to me it all worked for him, but he was using an older version of windows.

 

[Redneck0410]

Look up to see if you can find win10 drivers for that cable.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[EngineCo8]

Should I be looking elsewhere for the updates? I went into the device manager menu and found the cable and selected "search for updates" (or however it is worded) twice and it says all the drivers are up to date.

 

[ka3jjz]

'Supplied software'?? I have serious doubts that the original Uniden software would work on Win10. Happily, I could be wrong about that...

Fortunately there are alternatives - the best being ProScan. The author is on this site for help

As to your USB connector - check the manufacturer's website and see if they have a Win 8.x (or better, Win10) compatible driver. Be sure you get the right version, as there's a 32 and a 64 bit version of Win10

Mike

 

[EngineCo8]

ka3jjz, thank you for the input. I shall look into that now.

 

[iMONITOR]

I am using a Insignia USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter, this all was given to me 2nd hand and according to the person who gave it to me it all worked for him, but he was using an older version of windows.

Are you certain your computer does not have an RS-232 serial port? If you need to use USB, you can buy new adapters with the proper drivers for Windows 10 for about $8.00 on Ebay.

 

[EngineCo8]

I'm positive as I am using a laptop. Also Thanks to ka3jjz and proscan I seem to have things working. Thank you.

 

[iMONITOR]

I'm positive as I am using a laptop.

Glad you were able to get it working!

Just an FYI, numerous laptops do have RS232 serial ports (DB-9 male). I'm currently using one that does (Dell Precision M4700). Also docking stations/port replicators almost always have serial ports on them. Many people mistaken them for external video ports.

You can pick up older laptops for under $100 with serial ports, and dedicate it to scanner programming/control. It makes it so much easier.

 

[EngineCo8]

I may just look into getting one for that reason. Thanks for the info, I hadn't seen a laptop with an RS port in a very long time.

 

[iMONITOR]

I may just look into getting one for that reason. Thanks for the info, I hadn't seen a laptop with an RS port in a very long time.

Here are several on Ebay at very reasonable prices:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/PC-Laptops-Netbooks/177/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=laptop+rs232+serial+port

 

[EngineCo8]

Awesome thank you for sharing.

 

[jonwienke]

Alternatively, there are any number of USB to RS-232 converters with your choice of DB-9 male or female connectors. Make sure you get one with an FTDI chip to minimize driver hassles.

 

[EngineCo8]

I did finally get my adapter to work. Thank you though.

New question, I used the ProScan software and used the RR database to upload some frequencies (with the trunked talkgroups) to the scanner. Everything looks like it's set up right, my question is, is there any other setting I should have changed or what not, or did ProScan handle it all? I only ask because the channels I programmed are relatively quite, so I haven't caught anything on my scanner yet. So I wanted to know if I needed to do anything or is my scanner good and it's just been a quite frequency?

 

[iMONITOR]

I did finally get my adapter to work. Thank you though.

New question, I used the ProScan software and used the RR database to upload some frequencies (with the trunked talkgroups) to the scanner. Everything looks like it's set up right, my question is, is there any other setting I should have changed or what not, or did ProScan handle it all? I only ask because the channels I programmed are relatively quite, so I haven't caught anything on my scanner yet. So I wanted to know if I needed to do anything or is my scanner good and it's just been a quite frequency?

Have you updated the firmware in your scanner? Also, you're scanner might be affected by rebanding.

REBANDING
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Rebanding

 

[EngineCo8]

I have not, and I'm not sure if it's been done. Is there a way I can check?

 

[ka3jjz]

Precisely WHAT system are you trying to hear? There are many possibilities here apart from a rebanding issue. It could be anything from a quiet system to not hearing the control channel well, or any number of other things. Go to our database (upper left corner has a link in the toolbar called 'DATABASES') and give us the URL.

Assuming that you need to update your firmware - I don't have a 296, so I'll let other owners chime in on that - here is the Uniden article with everything you would need.

BC296DFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

Bookmark this for future reference...Mike

 

[EngineCo8]

My apologies I thought I included that at the end of my post. https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4699

More specifically just Fort Belvoir FD.

Edit: I know this can be a quite system some days. I just want to make sure that I programmed it correctly.

 

[jonwienke]

Look up the difference between "quite" and "quiet".

 

[ka3jjz]

Rebanding has nothing to do with the UHF Military frequencies...

It's a stretch to imagine that the Ft Belvoir FD would be that busy. Since you're on a 380 Mhz system, there's few issues with programming (altho since you are hearing a little, I suspect your programming isn't the total issue here). Your next step is a better antenna, as I think Manassas to Ft. Belvoir would be a stretch for that little antenna. The little antenna that comes with scanners (often called a 'duckie') is very much a compromise. Much better would be a discone or similar (like the crossed antenna sold by DPD Productions, the ScanTenna or the home built OFCD we have in our wiki) mounted high up outside the home would outperform that duckie by a wide margin.

Mike

 

[EngineCo8]

Jonwienki, sorry I am slightly dyslexic and tend to move letters around commonly. It also doesn't help I let autocorrect do it's work with my crap spelling.

Ka3jjz, I actually have not heard anything yet. And as for distance, I live in the Lorton area now (just haven't updated my location on here yet). But I don't know that it would be too much or an issue because I can still get PWC fire dispatch on my PRO-92 just fine.