[Scan-DC] Re: BC-396

[ka3jjz at netscape.com]

Tonight, oldsdoug wrote:
I'm seriously considering the purchase of a BC-396... anybody have any thoughts?

Have been looking on scannermaster.com which is where I bought the 796... will almost certainly purchase the BuTel software with it.

If bought "off the shelf", is there anything programmed in it at all?
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Doug, there are numerous pre programmed systems already in the 396. Most people I know of use software to unload the unused systems to clear system memory. That way you can get the most use of all those 6000 channels. 

You'll notice I said 'systems'. The 396 is one of the new breed of DMA scanners, where there is no such thing as 'banks'. It's all 'systems' and 'groups'. To help you get your head around the new concepts, there are a few wiki links on the 396 article at RR to read (check the 'related pages' section) - take your time, it will take time to get away from thinking 'banks'...

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396T

(I'm going to go through the same thing shortly....)

Be sure to bookmark the Easier to Read manual.

As for software, while ARC396 is the acknowledged commercial champ, lots of folks start off with the UASD (Uniden Advanced System Director). They then move on to other software, such as ARC396, or the 2 freeware packages that support the 396 (FreeScan and BCTool). Some can read UASD files as input, and that's handy.

FreeScan and BCTool both have the ability to download data from the RR database, assuming you are a paid subscriber (you ARE a paid subscriber, right??? Just checking, hi). However I think that both of those freeware packages don't quite support everything the UASD can do (the flip side is that the UASD can't read RR data directly - you would need an intermediate program such as Excel...). That may be just as well for just starting off. Both packages are in a constant development mode, and both either have a dedicated forum or Yahoo group for support and new version announcements. Both have their fans and detractors - pretty much that's the way it is with a lot of software, so that should not be such a surprise. I fully expect that once these packages are fully developed, they're going to give BuTel and the UASD (as well as some of the others, like Scan Control) a run for their money.

Joining the 396 Yahoo group also gets you access to the files area - I'm pretty sure there's either .mem or .usd files for the Virginia area there, and perhaps more importantly, some Excel based worksheets that you can use to plan how you want to program your systems. 

73s and GL  Mike


links editor,Capitol Hill Monitors
Utility Monitoring Central
Wiki Administrator, HF Forum moderator, Radioreference.Com 

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