Actions

Freescan Create Site

From The RadioReference Wiki

Allocate new site

This screen can only be accessed after a system has been defined. FreeScan will create a single site along with the system. To define another site within a system, make sure the cursor is on the original site then right click. The screen at right appears.


It should be noted that the concept of a 'site' is only applicable to the BCD996, BCT15 and the XT scanners. For all other DMA scanners, this screen should be viewed as an extension of the system screen. The 996 and 15 may have 256 sites per system. Please see the Uniden Multi-Site Trunking article for a brief explanation of this feature.


For those scanners that use sites, you can now drop and drag a site from one system to another. The process is simple;

  • Open up the sending and target systems (makes it easier to see what's going on)
  • Right click on the desired site to move (ignore the menu that pops up)
  • Drag the site to the desired system and release mouse

Site Setup

Click on images to expand

(Figure 1)

  • Name: - the name of the system, as assigned during import functions or when the site is defined manually.
    • If you use the RR import function, and the name has an asterisk next to it, hover the mouse over it to see the imported site notes NEW .9c
  • Quick Key - For the BCD996, BCT15, BCD396XT and BC346. The Site Quick Key (SIQK) assigned to this system. The Find Free button will attempt to find the next available SIQK to be assigned, however you can override this with the pulldown
  • Startup Key - BCD996, BCT15, BCD396XT and BC346 only. Enables the scanner to power up using only site defined with this key. To enable this function, press the appropriate keys for the desired site when powering up. Can apply to systems, sites or searches. (Reportedly also available on the new BCD346XT and 396XT)
  • APCO Mode- BCD396,BCD996T and BCD396XT only - Sets the mode the scanner uses for P25 decoding.
    • AUTO - Adjusts the threshold to match the transmission if the signal is strong and has a high decode rate
    • MAN - The user can adjust the threshold
    • DFLT - The default setting as determined by the scanner.
  • Threshold - BCD396, BCD396XT and BCD996T only - Sets the thresholds where P25 decoding adjustments take place.
  • Modulation - Select the correct modulation for the site. Usually AUTO will give the correct value
  • P25 Wait Time (BCD396XT only) -
  • Site Type - if you allocated this system manually, the site type should appear here. Importing from the UASD or RR will define this for you. This sets the type of trunked system being defined.
    • Note that there is a bug in defining an EDACS system. It will default the system type to EDACS Narrow. This might not be correct for your area. It's advisable to define this as EDACS standard/wide unless the RR Database tells you otherwise.
  • Hold Time - The number of seconds the scanner will wait while scanning a site before moving to the next one.
  • Locked Out - If checked this site, and all its components are locked out of scanning
  • 20db Attenuation - If checked, sets a 20db attenuation on all channels in the site.
  • Control Channel only - See the Control Channel Only article for more information. This option turns the function on if checked. This option is only valid for Motorola systems - otherwise it's greyed out and inaccessible. Systems that are P25 use this function by default.
  • GPS - BCD996, BCT15, BCD396XT and BC346 only. Indicates use of the GPS function. Pressing Edit Loc & Range displays figure 2, where locations and ranges may be defined
  • Base Frequency, Step, Offset - Required for analog VHF/UHF systems. P25 VHF and UHF systems may not need these parameters to be set since they are defined in the control channel data. The AUTO UPPER button will attempt to calculate the next upper channel in sequence (figure 3)

Trunk Frequencies

Trunked freqs screen

The buttons on this screen are self explanatory. New frequencies can be input via the 'Frequency' box, or brought in from another website via EZ GRAB Please see that article for more information on how to use this function. Note that LCN only applies to EDACS and LTR type systems.
If using Control Channel Only mode, only those channels (shown on RadioReference in red and blue) are required. The scanner will follow the trunk by calculating the next voice channel to be used by the system. This mode is only valid on Motorola systems.
2 other controls are available for the BCD396XT and BC346XT only. These are:

  • Vol Adj
  • Num Tag

Rebanding Support

rebanding screen

This screen is only available when the system/site is defined as Mot Custom/Reband. See the figure at right. Version 3 firmware or better is required. Currently 2 bandplans are recommended in Uniden's release notes;

  • Bandplan: 1
  • Base lower: 851.025MHz
  • Base upper: 854.000MHz
  • Offset: 440
  • Polarity: +
  • Spacing: 25 kHz


  • Bandplan: 2
  • Base lower: 851.0125MHz
  • Base upper: 868.9875MHz
  • Offset: 0
  • Polarity: +
  • Spacing: 25 kHz


NOTE: FreeScan will automatically populate these fields with these values if the RadioReference database has the site flagged as 'rebanded'. NEW .9c


The instructions for upgrading your scanner firmware can be found here

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