BC245int tutorial

This FAQ last updated on Sun Jan 4 20:50:21 CST 2009.

About bc245int
What is bc245int?
Who wrote the program?
Why doesn't Senss answer my email?

Downloading bc245int
Where can I download 245int?
How do I know which version I have?

Setting up 245int
Should I pick a port speed other than 9600?
I installed it but 245int still doesn't see my scanner!
What is mscomm32?

Freqs and Alpha Tags
What should I know before importing/exporting?
How do I get my freqs from the scanner into the software?
How do I get my freqs from the software into the scanner?
How do I export my freqs, IDs, and alpha tags so my buddy can use them?
How do I import freqs/tags from the file my buddy sent me?
Can I import just the banks(s) I choose?
How do I handle multiple setups?

Talkgroup IDs and Alpha Tags
I just got 245int - how do I get my alpha tags from the scanner into the software?
How do I upload EDACS talkgroup IDs?
I originally entered my EDACS talkgroups in Decimal form but alpha no longer shows up...
How can I enter talkgroups for an out-of-range trunked system?

"Banks"
What is "Banks"?
How can I move freqs around (re-organize)?
Why do ID slots sometimes disappear?
How do I get my ID slots back when they disappear?
How can I get my new lines where I want them?
How can I keep empty ID slots so I can fill them later?

Listen
What does listen do?
Will I be able to hear the audio?

Further information
Are there mailing lists?
What are some 245-related websites?

Misc
My computer causes interference.
How can I mute my scanner in a hurry?

About bc245int

What is bc245int?
it's the Senss bc245xlt Interface, freeware for controlling your 245 scanner.
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Who wrote the program?
bc245int was originally created by Senss and has since been extended by other author[s], chiefly Kevin Herzig. The last pure Senss release appears to have been 1.9.9.
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Why doesn't Senss answer my email?
He's apparently very busy with his academic work up in Canada.
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Downloading bc245int

Where can I download 245int?

Senss download page
extended 245int versions (2.4.3, etc)

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How do I know which version I have?
Open the About menu item. This is where version info is displayed for most Windoze software.
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Setting up 245int

Should I pick a port speed other than 9600?
You can; just remember you'll have to change it both in your scanner and in bc245int. In my experience, there's no benefit to upping the rate.
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I installed it but 245int still doesn't see my scanner!
Make certain the scanner is in Remote mode (hold the Remote key until the unit beeps and the flashing key shows on the LCD).
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What is mscomm32?
It is a Visual Basic file, needed to run newer versions of 245int. You can get it here or on a myriad of places on the net.

"You need to register the file.

Select START
Click on RUN
Enter COMMAND and click OK
type regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\mscomm32.ocx
Press enter and you should get something like file registered okay. If this doesn't work you may have it in a different directory so check the path to the file." (pduffy)
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Freqs and Alpha Tags

What should I know before importing/exporting?
The main thing to understand is that there are four places frequencies can be located:

in .dat files (245int native files, the default and current setup of 245int)
in .txt files (exported files)
in 245int's memory
in your scanner

This can cause some confusion. Understand that it is possible to have frequencies in 245int that are not in the scanner, and vice versa. The only way to get them to match is to upload/download frequencies from one to the other.
There is a similar situation with alpha tags, but they can only be in three places since the 245 does not support alpha tags.
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How do I get my freqs from the scanner into the software?

First off, if you have an existing setup in 245int be sure to Export your current file first because the incoming data from your scanner will blow away whatever's in 245int.
Memories
Edit Frequencies Directory This will drop you in bank 1.
Data Receive from: Scanner
Now go through the Freq Bank selector (upper left hand corner) for all banks you want to download (returning back to 1 if you are doing all banks).

Your scanner's freqs are now kept in 245int's default frequency file that will be loaded next time you start it up. You might want to export it out just to be safe. Paranoid is better than keying stuff in by hand...
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How do I get my freqs from the software into the scanner?

Memories
Edit Frequencies Directory
Data Receive from: File
Now go through the Freq Bank selector (upper left hand corner) for all banks you want to upload (returning back to 1 if you are doing all banks).
Data Send to Scanner

Your scanner's freqs are now refreshed from 245int's default frequency file.
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How do I export my freqs, IDs, and alpha tags so my buddy can use them?

Memories
Export Tagged Text File
zip up the resulting file and email it to your buddy (or whatever). Better, stick them up on a website so we can share the bounty.

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How do I import freqs/tags from the file my buddy sent me?

Memories | Import Tagged Text File
Send Changes to Scanner: yes

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Can I import just the banks(s) I choose?
Yes.

As with all changes, remember to export out your current setup first so no harm is done.
Memories | Import Tagged Text File
Send Changes to Scanner? no. Now the imported data is in the program but not in the scanner.
Go to the bank you want (Memories | Edit Frequencies Directory) and choose Data Send to Scanner. This will upload just that one bank.

Remember that the other imported-but-not-uploaded freqs may not match what is in your scanner. Using the info below, you may want to copy all that bank's info to the clipboard, re-import in your original .txt, go into banks and paste the data into the appropriate spot. And re-export again so you have a backup of the brand new setup...

This might be a good time to explain the "freqs/IDs can be located in different places" claim I made above.
For the sake of argument, let's assume you have a Scanner, filled with 10 banks. Let's call them S1-S10. And you have an exported File containing banks F1-F10.
You want to import just Bank 4 from File (F4) into Bank 4 of the Scanner (S4).

Before we start the scanner has S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10.
Since the software is "synched" to the scanner, the BC245int also has S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10.
The file has F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10.
Memories | Export Tagged Text File to save your existing setup.
Memories | Import Tagged Text File.
Send Changes to Scanner? no.
The scanner still has S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10.
BC245int now has F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 since we just imported that data. At this point it is possible for there to be totally different info in the software and in the scanner. In practice, there is usually some overlap.
The file still has F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10.
Go to the bank you want (Memories | Edit Frequencies Directory) and choose Data Send to Scanner.
The scanner now has S1 S2 S3 F4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10.
BC245int still has F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 since we just imported that data.
The file is unchanged F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10.
Open Banks and copy the new bank data; you will need it in a moment.
Re-import your preexisting setup from the first step.
The scanner still has S1 S2 S3 F4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10.
BC245int now has S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 since we just imported that data.
The file is unchanged F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10.
Open up Banks again and paste in the bank info; save the bank. Now your software and scanner have the same info.
The scanner still has S1 S2 S3 F4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10.
BC245int now has S1 S2 S3 F4 S5 S6 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 since we just imported that data.
The file is unchanged F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10.

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How do I handle multiple setups?
Export a file for each setup, and name the file after that setup. Then load the one you want when you want it. Note that there is currently a problem with uploading Talkgroup IDs.
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Talkgroup IDs and Alpha Tags

I just got 245int - how do I get my alpha tags from the scanner into the software?
Your scanner has no alpha tags in it to download.
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How do I upload EDACS talkgroup IDs?
(This may apply to Type 1 IDs as they have dashes in them, too). The 245 stores its talkgroup IDs internally as xx-xxx. In theory you can upload in either decimal ("1042") or Edacs format ("08-022") but there is a caveat below. Decimal will go up cleanly, xx-xxx style IDs will need to be in a form the scanner can receive; you will need to replace the "-" with a "." for uploading as you do when manually programming the scanner. xx-xxx will need to be xx.xxx in your 245int bank before you upload.

Both ways will get the talkgroups into your scanner and will scan properly. But in both cases the ID you have in 245int does not match exactly what's in the scanner, so 245int will not show the correct alpha tag. So now you need to get the same exact format in your 245int as in the scanner. You can key it in manually or just re-download the talkgroup IDs from the scanner. It's faster that way.

I hope the conversion can be made automagically by 245int in the future, so we don't have to do this kind of thing.
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I originally entered my EDACS talkgroups in Decimal form but alpha no longer shows up...
Ok, this one is a bit strange, and is related to the problem described above. You can manually enter decimal style talkgroups by hitting SVC for two seconds before entry. But 245int doesn't do this. If you re-upload your frequencies from 245int they will be stored in the Uniden AFS (nn-nnn) format. This will not match the Decimal format of your talkgroups stored in 245int, so your alpha tags will be busted. The solution:

backup/export your current setup
download the talkgroups from your radio into 245int. (Memories | Edit ID Directory | Data from Scanner). Flip through each ID bank, rotating back to #1. This will reset the talkgroup numbers to the AFS format in the radio, but will leave your alpha tag definitions in place.
Backup/export your new setup.

Nifty.
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How can I enter talkgroups for an out-of-range trunked system?
Program in the freq for a local system's control channel so the radio can lock on. Then enter in your groups. After the groups are in, replace or delete the false control channel. (thanks to Craig Orban and Mike Agner)
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"Banks"

What is "Banks"?
Banks is a freq/tag-organizing option introduced in 2.4.3. The main benefit of using banks (Memories | Banks)) is that you can cut/paste relatively easily. This helps when you want to reorganize.
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How can I move freqs around (re-organize)?
You can cut/paste from Memories | Banks. Select the bank you want to work in and then pick either Frequencies or Scan List IDs, whichever you are wanting to work with. There are a couple of caveats:

keyboard shortcuts don't work; you'll need to use the cut (X), copy (C) and paste (V) buttons at the bottom.
when you are marking your data, exclude the Channel column or the freqs will not be moved.
Before you leave that bank, Save the changes before you leave that bank.
empty ID slots (3-9, 3-10, etc) will not be saved when you leave the Bank. See below

I find the cut/paste functionality to be a bit wonky, so if it gives you fits it may not be you.
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Why do ID slots sometimes disappear?
It seems that numbered-but-unused slots do not appear in Banks; only filled slots appear.
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How do I get my ID slots back when they disappear?
You can enter them manually. For example, if all of the 4-x ID bank is missing you can press the + button 10 times, which will generate 10 blank lines. Plug in the 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, etc channel numbers and now you can plug in data. Remember to save the bank before moving off it. You can also create the new lines, select the fields, and paste in the number series you want from this list of ID Numbers I put online for this purpose. Much faster than typing them in manually...
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How can I get my new lines where I want them?
New lines are added to the end. Note that only the number is important; order is not. If you like everything in order, add the new lines, fill them, save the bank, and go away from and then back to the current Bank. Your Bank will not be sorted.
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How can I keep empty ID slots so I can fill them later?
You can put fake/dupe info in the fields and they will stay alive. I stick "0" in mine and it seems to cause no problems.
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Listen

What does listen do?
The listen app allows you to control 245int from some other point on the Net.
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Will I be able to hear the audio?
No, that would be a function of a RealServer or something like that.
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Further information

Are there mailing lists?

bc245int on yahoo

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What are some 245-related websites?

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Misc

My computer causes interference.
Mine does, too. I found that moving my scanner as far away as possible (to the end of the 3' cable or whatever) made a huge difference. If your box is really radiating you might be able to get a serial cable extender and gain some distance that way.
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How can I mute my scanner in a hurry?
My scanner runs most of the time, but I mute it for phone calls, etc. Since it's across the room from my workdesk (see previous entry on interference), I mute the scanner with Options | Mute. You can do this from the keyboard with [alt-o-m].
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