ScanDiego.com

I'm finnally getting my new BCD-396T this Friday for my birthday. The only problem is i've never had a scanner this advanced before and have no idea where to start. Is there a place i can go to get frequecies for local police, fire.... etc etc.... I live in chula vista so CVPD is a must. I'm really excited to get it, but still a little reluctint because i don't know how to use it so i'm going to be asking a lot of questions here.

How much time do you have on your hands and how much do you want to spend? I bought ARC396 software and have a subscription to RadioReference.com. I can set up new trunk systems very quckly using those. There are other options though. You can use FreesScan and paste information from this site or RadioReference. You can put in systems by hand as well but that is very slow and laborious if you have many systems to put in. I suggest at least using some free software until you understand how to build systems with the software. That way you can listen to your scanner while you study the owners manual.

Man now I'm really confused. All this sounds Greek to me. How much are we talking here?

I started with proscan, google it.

30days free, very easy to use.

Looked it up, 50 bux anin't that bad. So with this software i will be able to program my scanner???

With ARC, proscan, etc. Yeah you can.

I just used the 30day to program mine.

What you should do tho. Is make a plan. Get what all you want to listen to. Like in notepad.

Thanks for you help. I was getting a little freaked out and was having second thoughts of buying it.

Since you haven't got it yet.

Uniden should be releasing more info at the CES show in Las Vegas this week. On the new 396XTdigital scanner.
The newer 396XT scanner should be out around February.

If I get anymore info doing the CES show. I will report back on Sunday. or check the radioreference.com Uniden Forum.

is the new one going to be any easier? All i've ever used are your basic NASCAR race track scanners. All this trunking, talk group stuff is new to me. It's really hard to grasp the concept because i've never used a new type scanner. I was playing to get my scanner this friday at HRO. It's actually going to be a birthday present.

Programming wise it's all the same with Uniden newer digital / Analog scanners(346XT) etc.
But you will have a newer scanner with 396XT.

If you can't program it. I'm sure someone around that can program it for you. HRO has a contact person that programs scanners for people in San Diego County.

If I was you. I would wait those few weeks for the 396XT to come out. Since you be paying the same price as a 396T scanner that is over 4 years old.

BC396XT - Wiki
396XT has Channels: 25,000 maximum & Colors Screen. (396T is 6,000 channels)
Talkgroups per trunked system: 500 maximum (396T only allow 200 talkgroups)
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396XT