Metro Area Scanner programming data files

Having problems getting scanner programmed?  Don't want to screw around, just want to hear the action? 

Download this file and open it in Uniden software that came with your scanner.   Write this file to your scanner and you should be all set to go!

BC 396

Click to download 396 USD data file collection (for use with Uniden software)

What's included:

1 Mpls City - T109 - Minneapolis police & fire & University of Minnesota PD
2 MN Metro - T101 - MN Metro backbone system - Mpls PD, Mpls FD, State Patrol, EMS, LRT & Transit
3 Henn Sheriff - T201 -  Hennepin County system - Hennepin Co Sheriff & County Fire, municipal PD & FD
4 Henn PSAPS  - T201 - Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Edina, Hopkins, MAC Airport, Minnetonka, Richfield, & St Louis Park/Golden Valley
5 Conventional - St Paul PD & FD, State Fair, Air Traffic Control
6 Anoka Co - T102 - Anoka County SO & FD
7 Carver Co - T104 - Carver County SO & FD
8 Dakota Co - T108 - Dakota County
9 Mall of America - LTR trunked system
0 Duluth - City of Duluth and surrounding area conventional

To download the files

#1 Download the Zip file to your PC
#2 Extract the zip file
#3 Copy the new USD files to the UASD_Systems folder (Default install is "My Documents\UASD_DataBase\BCD396T\UASD_systems)

To install the files to your scanner

#1 Start the BCD396T Scanner Director program
#2 Click the "Data Base" tab (top of screen, middle)
#3 Either create a New Scanner Configuration or double click an existing configuration to open the Scanner Configuration Editor
#4 Within the Config Editor, click "Systems" tab.
#5 The newly downloaded USD files should show up in the right hand DataBase list.  If they do not, verify you have copy & pasted them to the UASD_Systems folder. 
#6 Click on the new Database (right hand column) and click Add from Database.  The new file should show up in the left hand column under  "System (files) in configuration"
#7 Click File, Close, and save the new configuration.
#8 From the Main Database screen, the new System Files should appear in the list on the right.  Double click on the System file name to open up the Editor.
#9 Click "Write To Scanner" from the main screen to upload the new files to your scanner.   Make sure the "Write (add) selected systems" option is checked for the new database files. 

Generally it's a good idea to click the Erase memory before writing option otherwise the software will write the files twice to the scanner.

BC296/BC796

Click to download Uniden SSD file (for use with Uniden software)

Click to download ARC250 MEM file (for use with Butel software)

What's included:

Bank 1 - Minneapolis system - Mpls PD, Mpls FD, State Patrol, EMS, Patches & Tacs
Bank 2 - MN State, metro system - Mpls PD, Mpls FD, State Patrol, EMS, MNDOT
Bank 3 - Hennepin County system - Henn Co Sheriff & County Fire, municipal PD & FD talkgroups
Bank 4 - MN State, other towers -
Bank 5 - Conventional & Analog - ST Paul PD, area analog FD, patches & statewides
Bank 6 - Mall of America - Analog LTR system
Bank 7 - Bloomington - Analog EDACS trunking system
Bank 8 - blank
Bank 9 - MN State, Carver Co system
Bank 10 - blank (Anoka Co when it comes online)

Tips for using your Uniden Scanner with the metro 800mhz system

#1  Generally the squelch must be turned all the way open (to the right, clockwise) otherwise you may not hear any traffic or it will be broken.   Unfortunately this means no scanning of analog frequencies (bank 5).  The work around for this is to program PL/DCS tones for all analog freqs.   If this is done, then you can mix analog & trunked scanning.

#2  Signal strength is extremely important with monitoring the digital system (see the squelch hint above).   If you encounter problems or signals that break up - try improving your antenna.   For the BC296, try the Radio Shack 800mhz antenna ($15 - Catalog #: 20-283). 

#3   Where do I start?   Try scanning each digital bank, one at a time, to get an idea of what systems you are in range of.   Your best bet to copy the majority of traffic will be if you can hear MN Metro, Henn Co & Mpls.   However if you are in the outer suburbs, you're only option may be to scan bank 4 and copy off the MN systems.   (See the "How it all works" FAQ and system maps here).

#4  I'm confused about this scanning deal, how do I change banks & lists?

There are TWO methods of scanning, bank scanning and ID list scanning.   

Bank scanning allows you to turn on/off what banks you are monitoring (banks 1,2,3,4 etc).   To just listen to the Henn Co bank, turn off all banks except 3.  Bank scanning is the same as with older, analog, conventional scanners.

ID List scanning is for when you are in trunked mode.   The trunk ID's representing each talkgroup are organized in groups of 10:  M1-1 through M9-0.   You can turn on/off each bank of 10 by hitting the number keys when scanning.

To switch between Bank scan and ID List scan hit the "." (decimal) button.   The bottom row of the display will change between List name and Bank name.

(Yeah I know, this is all pretty confusing, be patient - the easiest thing is to just try monkeying with the radio, use the software to look at the overview, and play around with it.  It's a pain at first, but it will eventually make sense!!

For more help, check out the forums at Scanfan.com

Radio Shack Pro96 / 2096

Click to download Win96 file (for use with Win96 application)
                                                         (Free 30 day trial of Win96)

Includes:

Bank 0 - Minneapolis system - Mpls PD, Mpls FD, University of MN PD
Bank 1 - MN Metro - State Patrol, EMS, MNDOT, LRT & Transit
Bank 2 - Hennepin County Sheriff & Fire
Bank 3 - Hennepin County PSAPS - Bloomington, Edina, St Louis Park/GV, Hopkins, Richfield, MAC Airport, Minnetonka
Bank 4 - Anoka County Sheriff & Fire 

Bank 5 - Carver County Sheriff & Fire

Bank 6 - Ramsey County Sheriff & Fire, Saint Paul Fire & future PD
Bank 7 - Other ARMER - Towers for Wash Co, Dakota, Isanti, Hastings, St Cloud, Rochester (OPEN mode)
Bank 8 - Conventional - Dakota & Washington County, St Paul PD.
Bank 9 - blank

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