Bought a bcd396t apco25 scanner today

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:23 pm

I got it at ham radio outlet in clairmont. I had them program it while i waited. I mainly wanted them to put in national city pd and chula vista pd. The guy hooked it up to his lap top and downlaoded what he had in there to my scanner. I really wished I would of paid attention to how he did it. Is there a way for me to hook up my scanner to my computer and somehow see what is all in there? Im very very confused and I read the manual and it might as well be in another language, maybe i wasnt cut out for this

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:34 pm

How do i see what they put in my scanner? A cord came with the scaner but it wont plug into my laptop my laptop is brand new do i need to by a different cord?

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:59 pm

on the display it says s2-----6-----
grp*****34***** all i need is someone to please telll me how to set this thing up to monitor all of the calls coming from national city pd cars and dispatchers and chula vista pd.

Post by **Brian** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:50 am

Since you are a new scanner user. There is a very nice group of people on the Uniden396 yahoo group. (File area has the uniden software also)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCD396T/

You can download the free uniden software here (need to register first)
to better see whats in your scanner.
http://www.uniden.com/my/downloads.cfm?product=BCD396T

Most new laptop doesn't come with a serial port on the back.

so some people been using a USB adapter with the cable that came with scanner. (More about the USB adapter can be found on the 396 yahoo group doing a search and in the file area)

Easier to Read BCD396T Trunking Scanner Manual
http://myweb.cableone.net/marksscanners ... 0test.html

From the site above:
"s2-----6-----"
To turn System quick keys on or off, for single digit keys, press the corresponding number on the keypad that is assigned to the system you want to listen to. To turn a double-digit key on or off, Press .No first then enter the 2 digits.
Note: Any system not assigned to a quick key (and not locked out) will still be scanned.

"grp*****34*****"
To turn Group quick keys on or off, while scanning press and hold the Func button-don't let go. Scroll to the system that contains the group/car you want to turn on/off then press the corresponding number key(s) on the keypad.

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:02 am

Thank you very much I have national city pd and chula vista pd in. I have all of the rcs south frequencies in I currently am listening to both of the above now i would like to add chula fire and coronado pd and fire they have already been programmed in but i just dont know how to unlock them and have just the above mentioned in the scan??

Post by **Brian** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:09 am

chula fire and coronado pd and fire

Try this to find where it's at and look at the bottom line to see what group key it is 'GRP #'

To hold on the current ID or frequency, press Hold. To step through IDs/frequencies, turn the scroll control back or forward. Press Hold again to resume scanning (and searching).

To toggle between frequency or ID and text display, Hold on any channel and press Func then 5. Press Hold the resume.

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:28 am

okay that helped a lot i have group 3 and 4 on wich is all my chula vista national city stuff i did what you said and found coronado on group5 now how do I unlock that ??

Post by **Brian** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:32 am

hit 'Func button' release it..... then hit '5'
It should turn on 'Group key 5'

note: Func button on the left side of scanner.

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:42 am

when i scan all that is scanning is grp 34 everything else has an atstrick by it ?? How come please hang in there with me i know its late but im almost getting it

Post by **Brian** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:04 am

Here is another way to see what group keys you got for that system.

Programming Channel Frequencies/TGIDs Contents

To program a new channel, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.
At 'Select System' scroll to system where you want to program a channel and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'Edit Group/Car' and press E/Yes.
At 'Select Group/Car' scroll to the group/car that you want to program the channel in and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' and press E/Yes.

In that same menu area you can see what group keys are for those talkgroups groups...