Software · 2015-09-15
FreeSCAN 2.18-beta6 (Sixspot Software)
Recommended version Community copy
Download zip (1.6 MB) Manufacturer's page ↗
The final FreeSCAN release ("2.18 with experimental support for 996P2 & 325", updated 2015-09-15): free Windows programming and control software for Uniden DMA-era scanners, including the BCD396XT and BC246T. Adds BCD996P2/BCD325P2 support, resizable system tree, multiple groups for LTR systems.
Read before installing. Third-party freeware, not a Uniden product. The program states "This program is Freeware" but publishes no licence or redistribution terms, so it is hosted as community. Programs the scanner; it does not update firmware (that is BC_VUP). Direct RadioReference import needs a RadioReference Premium subscription. Labelled beta by its author, but it is the last release and the version the author's download page leads with.
Contents
| File | Size | SHA-256 |
|---|---|---|
| fssetup-218-b6.zip | 1.6 MB | 78febecdfbd04329a8849225494ddf3e3257430a7c37bc72abed1060c54a842c |
| README.txt | These instructions | |
| SHA256SUMS | Checksums of the files above | |
Instructions
The complete README.txt included in the zip:
FreeSCAN 2.18-beta6 (Sixspot Software)
======================================
WHAT THIS IS
------------
The final FreeSCAN release ("2.18 with experimental support for 996P2 & 325",
updated 2015-09-15): free Windows programming and control software for Uniden
DMA-era scanners, including the BCD396XT and BC246T. Adds BCD996P2/BCD325P2
support, resizable system tree, multiple groups for LTR systems.
FreeSCAN reads the scanner's programming (systems, sites, groups, channels,
settings) over the serial cable into an editable tree, edits it, writes it
back and saves it as a file; it also imports from RadioReference and offers
virtual control, logging and recording. FreeSCAN.exe carries the version
string "FreeSCAN 2.18-beta6"; its Windows file-version resource says 0.8.3.0,
which is a stale internal number, not the release.
APPLIES TO
----------
The program's own compatibility message lists: SC230, BC246T, UBC3500XLT,
UBC800XLT, BR330T, BCD396T, BC346XT, BC346XTC, BCD396XT, BCT15X, BCD996XT,
BCT15, BCD996P2, BCD325P2 and BCD996T. In this archive it is tagged to the
BCD396XT and BC246T.
Its author states the BCD436HP and BCD536HP "are unsupported and will never be
supported". It cannot program the BC350A or BC355N, which have no PC
interface; the model list above does not include them.
BEFORE STARTING
---------------
- A Windows PC with Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 or later (the author: "This
latest version is written on the Microsoft .net 4.0 Platform").
- The scanner's serial cable (USB-1 with its PL2303 driver, or RS-232) and
the COM port number.
- The scanner's PC-control baud rate (BCD396XT: MENU > Settings > Set Serial
Port; BC246T: Xfer Information > PC Control); FreeSCAN's port settings
must match it.
- Close BC_VUP, UASD or any other program using the COM port.
- The author's site warns that antivirus software may flag the download and
calls this "probably just a false alarm"; the fubsypoly.com zip is scanned
before publication.
CONTENTS OF THIS ZIP
--------------------
The zip published on fubsypoly.com wraps the vendor file(s) byte-for-byte,
unmodified.
fssetup-218-b6.zip
1,653,311 bytes
SHA-256 78febecdfbd04329a8849225494ddf3e3257430a7c37bc72abed1060c54a842c
The vendor zip contains:
fssetup-218-b6.exe (1,679,524 bytes, dated 2015-09-15)
README.txt
This file.
SHA256SUMS
SHA-256 checksums of the files above.
INSTALLATION
------------
1. Unzip fssetup-218-b6.zip; it contains fssetup-218-b6.exe, a Nullsoft
(NSIS) installer.
2. Run fssetup-218-b6.exe and follow its prompts. It installs FreeSCAN.exe
with the NAudio libraries and lame.exe (used for recording).
3. Start FreeSCAN, open its COM port setup, and select the cable's COM port
and the scanner's baud rate.
4. Read the scanner first and save the result as a backup before editing or
writing anything.
The names of FreeSCAN's menus and buttons are not documented here; the
RadioReference wiki's FreeScan User Guide
(wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FreeScan_User_Guide) covers the program in
detail.
VERIFYING
---------
The program identifies itself as "FreeSCAN 2.18-beta6" (the version string
embedded in FreeSCAN.exe; exactly where it is displayed was not confirmed). A
successful read from the scanner confirms the cable, driver and port.
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
-----------------------
- If FreeSCAN reports that the scanner is not a supported model, the program
itself suggests rechecking the COM port settings: wrong port or baud rate
is the usual cause.
- Install .NET Framework 4.0 if the program will not start.
- Check the USB-1 driver (see the USB-1 driver entries) if no COM port
appears.
- FreeSCAN is unsupported freeware with no vendor support; RadioReference's
Uniden forums are where it is discussed.
DOWNGRADING
-----------
Uninstall FreeSCAN and install the other version. Whether files saved by
2.18-beta6 open in 2.17 could not be confirmed. Earlier FreeSCAN versions
(0.x, 2.05-2.16) were searched for and not recovered.
PROVENANCE
----------
File: fssetup-218-b6.zip
Source: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=12f_ARzbGFO22cl-wPlOPJzP6IDTOvzHc
Wayback: (none recorded)
Retrieved: 2026-09-18
Vendor page: https://sites.google.com/site/sixspotsoftware/downloads
Status: community
Downloaded from the Google Drive file linked from the author's current
downloads page. Status community: FreeSCAN is third-party freeware with no
published licence, so redistribution permission is implied by its free
distribution but not stated. The file was verified to be what it claims: the
installer unpacks a FreeSCAN.exe containing the version string "FreeSCAN
2.18-beta6".
MORE INFORMATION
----------------
- Sixspot Software downloads:
https://sites.google.com/site/sixspotsoftware/downloads
- BCD396XT Upgrades & Firmware:
https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/uniden-bcd396xt/vol-5/
- BC246T Programming: https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/uniden-bc246t/vol-3/
- FreeScan User Guide (RadioReference wiki):
wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FreeScan_User_Guide