Butel ARC396 and ARC996 Pro Software for the Uniden BC396 and BC996

I recently upgraded both my ARC396 and ARC996 software to the Pro versions. The Pro versions add computer logging and recording to the already excellent ARC basic software. I've been messing around with ARC396 Pro here in Brunswick the last two days and plan on doing some mobile logging/recording with ARC396 Pro next week. Already I believe that both of these programs, available at www.butel.nl, are excellent additions to a scanning or monitoring "toolbox." The cost for the Pro versions is $69.99, but it is well worth the purchase considering the scanners are near $500. Both programs allow you to do unattended logging with the added beneift of recording which means you can not only log talkgroups or frequencies but attempt to ID them through the associated recordings.

The software logs talkgroup or frequency hits to the virtual control screen with the option to also log the hits to a .csv file. The virtual control screen shows what talkgroups or frequencies have seen hits, the number of hits, frequency it was for a talkgroup, and date/time. The .csv file logs the same info, but logs each individual hit. You can open up the file in Excel and easily sort out the fields to utilize the information.

The software can also record audio from the talkgroup and frequency hits as .wav files. Each individual "intercept" by the scanner is recorded as a seperate .wav; if several transmissions are made before the scanner resumes scanning, those will all be in one file, if only one transmission passes before resuming, just that transmission is recorded. The files are named with a combination of date, time, and talkgroup or frequency in folders specific to the systems and groups programmed into the scanner, thus they are easily identified and located to listen to. It isn't hard at all to ID what frequency or talkgroup you listening to a recording from or what time it was made.

If you are just a casual listener, ARC396 and ARC996 Pro may not be for you but if you are interested in searching and discovering new things with your scanner these two programs are definitely for you.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT