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Difference between revisions of "Freescan FAQ"

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==Error Messages==
 
==Error Messages==
 
* '''When uploading a trunked system, I get a warning that it is untrackable or unscanable. Is this a problem?'''
 
* '''When uploading a trunked system, I get a warning that it is untrackable or unscanable. Is this a problem?'''
**There are numerous system types that these scanners can neither trunk or scan (even conventionally). These include Open Sky, ProVoice or iDEN. FreeScan will continue the upload. This is in case a tapped scanner is being used as a data source for utilities such as DSD or UniTrunker.  
+
**There are numerous system types that these scanners can neither trunk or scan (even conventionally). These include Open Sky, ProVoice, AEGIS, MPT-1327 or iDEN (note that it flags LTR systems, even though LTR standard is trunkable, but other LTR types are not). FreeScan will continue the upload. This is in case a tapped scanner is being used as a data source for utilities such as DSD or UniTrunker.  
  
  

Revision as of 21:29, 20 September 2016

Common / Operational Questions

  • How do I download FreeSCAN?
    • Go to this page for the most recent version, which includes support for the P2 series scanners.


  • My virus checker (insert name here) flags FreeScan as having a virus/Trojan. What gives?
    • There is NO virus or Trojan in the software. However some of the coding resembles a virus or Trojan, which triggers the alert. Create an exception (see your software's documentation) and continue. See the Freescan and Anti Virus Software article.


  • What operating systems is FreeSCAN compatible with?


  • Is it Mac compatible?
    • No. However if you are running LINUX, please see the link above


  • What scanners are supported?
    • SC230, BC246T, UBC3500XLT, BC15T, BCD396T, BR330T, BCD996T, BC346XT, BCD396XT, BCT15X, BCD996XT, BCD325P2, BCD996P2.


  • Is my (model number) scanner that isn't listed above supported?
    • No. Note that the HP series of scanners (HP-1, HP-2, BCD436HP, and BCD536HP) are NOT supported, and will not be.



  • What should I do if I encounter a bug?
    • If you encounter a bug, then please go to the Scanner Programming Software forum at Radio Reference and report it. Please include what kind of a scanner you have and the program version.


Data Sources and Operations


  • How can I capture data from a site other than RadioRef, which uses the web service?
    • See the Freescan EZGrab article. As long as the data is in a tabular or column format, you can use this to import the data. This function can also import data from the RadioReference wiki, if the data is columnar or tabular in nature.






  • How can I move data from my DMA scanner to a non-DMA scanner?


Error Messages

  • When uploading a trunked system, I get a warning that it is untrackable or unscanable. Is this a problem?
    • There are numerous system types that these scanners can neither trunk or scan (even conventionally). These include Open Sky, ProVoice, AEGIS, MPT-1327 or iDEN (note that it flags LTR systems, even though LTR standard is trunkable, but other LTR types are not). FreeScan will continue the upload. This is in case a tapped scanner is being used as a data source for utilities such as DSD or UniTrunker.


  • When uploading, I get a "Critical Error, Possibly Caused by Insufficient Scanner Resources. Aborting" message. How do I resolve this?
    • There are a couple of ways this can happen;
      • You have exceeded the memory limits for a system, site or group. See the Moving DMA Data to Other Radios in Freescan article for a summary of statistics.
      • You have done numerous ADDs without ever wiping the scanner first. This can cause multiple copies of the same system(s) which take up memory space. When making changes, you should use REPLACE instead.
      • Each of the DMA scanners has test data loaded into some quick keys as a demo. This data is often old and outdated, and should be dropped. Combine this with having done numerous ADDs and memory space gets eaten up quickly
      • You should first back up your current configuration, then examine the data to be uploaded to insure it doesn't exceed the memory limit for your model. Wipe the scanner completely (there's a red option for this at the top of the upload form) and reload


  • I get a "Critical Comms Error -2147024882" when downloading
    • You are using an obsolete operating system such as Windows 98 or WinME . FreeSCAN requires Windows 2000 or higher.


  • I get a "Critical Comms Error" when downloading, or channels or groups are missing
    • Slow down the baud rate you are using. You may also have to turn off turbo mode. Also make sure that no other process has control of the serial port that FreeScan is trying to use. Serial port errors can be caused by many different things. Most communications problems are caused by old or poor drivers for USB-Serial adapter converters. The most reliable way to link to your scanner is to use a hardware serial port.


  • When trying to communicate with the scanner, I get "Exit Menu Mode before download". What does this mean?
    • Your scanner is in menu mode. Push scan to go back to normal scanning and try it again -or-
    • You are having a problem with the serial port not being setup properly.


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