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

Mobile MilCom

The mobile BC-780 has brought the enjoyment of military monitoring back to my daily commute. This afternoon on the way home, I was able to monitor activity in the W-157 offshore warning area and in Townsend Range, which I was never able to do when attempting to monitor such activity with the BC-996.

From between Rincon and Port Wentworth on GA 21, I was able to hear NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122) and HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533) working in W-157 on 385.300, 283.400, and 348.825. When NIKEL 3# transitioned to work Townsend Range, I was able to hear them quite well on 228.400.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Mobile Monitoring Post Addition

For some time, I've been unhappy with my Uniden BC-996's performance on the military UHF airband. It does just fine on public safety, federal, and military land mobile frequencies and it gives me the easily ability to monitor P25 digital signals, but military aviation is my primary monitoring target. I haven't been able to hear much of my favorite thing to listen to for the last year. Recently, the opportunity presented itself to obtain a third BC-780 for use in the car.

This was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. Another benefit to this 780 is that it has the Scanner Master remote face kit making it the perfect scanner to mount in the car. Given the limited space in the front of the Saturn and the size of the 780 and the 996, I probably couldn't have put both in if the 780 didn't have the remote face kit. The face of the 780 is mounted near the top of the dash over the AM/FM radio and the rest of it is under the front passenger seat.

Several times recently I've been asked what I'm using for antennas on the mobile radios, I never can remember the model numbers, so I'll post them here for easy reference. The Yaesu FT-8800 2-Meter/70-cm dual band transciever (center dash) uses a Comet CHL-62S. The BC-780 uses a Diamond SG7200NMO (an amateur dual band antenna that just happens to be an excellent milair antenna) and the BC-996 uses an Antennex ABSCANC.

The benefit of having both radios in the car is that I now have the ability to hear more. The 996 has been devoted to trunked and conventional public safety and federal communications. The 780 is devoted to military communications. Either radio can be used for searching, leaving the other to scan known frequencies when I'm searching for new frequencies or systems. With my 60-70 mile round trip each day, they provide an excellent way to pass the commute time.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

kf4lmt@comcast.net