Hi Hi We get a lot of questions on how to use the Mr. Scanner CD, so I have written two emails of instructions to help you get started .... this is the first one. Jim Springer ================================= You do not use the Mr Scanner CD Directly, you first have to EXPORT frequencies from the CD for your area such as a city/country/state etc. Then you load the export file into our Scancat. This is what I have already written up for several other customers with the same questions. I'm sending this in TWO emails so you can more easily figure out which steps to use first. Then if you still have questions, let me know and we can address them one at a time. Best regards Jim Springer These are the instructions that come on the Mr Scanner CD - it tells you how to operate their windows program "BCC.EXE" HOW TO OPERATE MR. SCANNER'S CD ROM WINDOWS: 1. Open file manager, click on file, click on run. 2. On command line type *:BCC.EXE click OK (* = your CD rom drive letter) 3. On command line type: *:MFW.EXE for windows point & click (* = your CD rom drive letter) 4. You have a choice of using the menu bar or the icons to pick your program options. A. Menu bar options: View Codes About B. Under the view options the choices are: State Frequency County City Service Licensee Ranges C. Under Ranges you will get another menu box with the following: Frequency County City Service D. To view the radio codes or fleet codes and signals do the following: NOTE: Windows limits the number of pages you can see to roughly seven. If your state has a small amount of codes you will see all of them, if it has a lot, then the display will end after approximately seven pages. The best way to view all the radio codes and signals is to use the DOS version or print the radio code file using the DOS print command. 1. Click on codes 2. Click on open 3. Pick the file you want to open from the files box (e.g. (TX.TXT - for Texas Radio Codes & Signals 4. Click OK 5. To close file, click on codes again 6. Pick close You should be able to print your text files from either notebook or write. F. About Screen. This will tell you about the Mr. Scanner CD Rom along with the copyright information. F. Operating with the ICONS. The ICONS are located on the top tool bar. Placing the cursor over the various ICONS will display a message in text form on the bottom left corner of your screen. Making your choices from the ICONS will get you the same dialog boxes as if you had used the menu bar. However, getting to the radio codes and signals is much simpler. To open a file, click on the open folder ICON. then pick your text file to open (e.g. FLEETOH.TXT = Ohio Fleet Codes). Then click on OK. To exit the file click on the close file folder ICON. G. Dialog boxes. When you have picked one of your search functions, you will arrive at a secondary dialog box. For example, if you were doing a search by city, you would simply type in the city name in the box requesting same, then you would pick the state from the box showing the state names (the first one you will see is Alabama). Simply scroll down the names until you come to the state you want to use. After you have made the state choice you will notice three buttons. You need to pick one of them. They are: View Print Export View puts the information on your screen. Print puts the information on your printer. Export will export the data to the drive and file you specify. --- If you do an export you will be asked to provide the drive letter to where you will be exporting, then directory name, file name (without extension), then pick either ASCII or Dbase format, then click OK and export will begin. There will be an Export Message on the main window status bar also when done exporting the computer will beep. HOW TO START MR. SCANNER UNDER WINDOWS '95: 1. Click on Start. 2. Click on Run. 3. Type in the Drive and Program Name (e.g. -- D:MFW.EXE) 4. The program will begin and operates the same as indicated above for Windows. OTHER NOTES: SPECIAL KEY OPTIONS: (A) Page Down -- Once you have gotten the frequency information displayed to the screen, you can use the Page Down key to go to the next page rather than clicking on the PAGE DOWN button. (B) Page Up -- Once you have gotten the frequency information displayed to the screen and you have paged down past the first page, you can use the Page Up key instead of clicking on the Page UP button. (C) Tab key -- When you are in a dialog box, you can use this key to go the next field rather than clicking on the field. (D) Alt D -- Serves the same function as the Page Down key. (E) Alt U -- Serves the same function as the Page Up key. (F) Alt R -- Prints the whole file as shown on the data screen (may be more pages than what you see) instead of clicking on the PRINT button. (G) Alt Q -- Quits the data screen instead of clicking on the QUIT button. CLUBS: Be sure to check out the Text file CLUB.TXT -- This file gives all the information you would need on joining the Bearcat Radio Club -- which is the nation's oldest and largest all scanner club. Subscription includes a membership kit containing membership ID card, wall certificate, bumper sticker, frequency spectrum chart, a frequency list for your county and BBS privledges on the club's bulletin board (513-299-7226 -- from 5PM to 7AM Monday thru Friday and 24 hours on weekends and holidays) -- for only $19.90. The full membership includes all of the above, but in addition includes a regional frequency directory for your area ($14.95 value) also it includes BBS and database privledges on the clubs bulletin board. The databases are the Betty Bearcat frequency directory for USA, Canada & other locations, the Mr. Scanner CD Rom or FCC frequency database, and the amateur radio callbook. Additionally members can receive free of charge the radio codes and signals for their states (with written request) and any new privledges will be added to the full member. (Cost = $29.90). Also visit the club's World Wide Web site at: http://www.bearcat1.com -- Click on the Bearcat Radio Club button. OR: Call their toll-free number of 800-423-1331. NATIONAL POLICE DIRECTORY: The National Police Directory (Contained on CD #1 only) works the same way as the Mr. Scanner CD with the exception that you can look up by call letters and the National Police Directory does not contain any geographical co-ordinates. Commands to start under DOS: NDP - For Monocrome version NPC - For Color Version Commands to start under Windows: NPW - For Windows point & click ACCESSORIES: Scancat & Scancat Gold: Be sure to read the Text file SCANDESR.TXT for information on the computer aided programs of SCANCAT and SCANCAT-GOLD. There is also a demo program contained in SCANCAT.ZIP. It will be necessary to UNZIP the file with PKUNZIP. For further information call 318-637-2555 or fax them at 318-686-0449. To order call them at 888-SCANCAT OR 888-722-6228. If you are going to be traveling and have a scanner that can be programmed with SCANCAT or SCANCAT-GOLD and you do not know what frequencies you will be needing, we suggest you use the file NAT_FREQ.TXT with your SCANCAT program. This is a listing of 200 frequencies that can be heard almost everywhere in the USA. Such things as police, fire, amateur, marine, cordless phones, taxicabs, public safety and some federal government are included in this file. Another program is RADIOMAX and you can sample the programs by reading RADIOMAX.TXT and you will actually be working with the file RADIOMAX.ZIP If you are interested in RADIOMAX you can contact Future Scanning Systems at 918-335-3318 or FAX them at 918-335-3328. IF YOU ARE STILL LOST OR HAVING PROBLEMS GIVE OUR TECHNICAL SUPPORT NUMBER A CALL AT 937-299-7226 (MONDAY THRU FRIDAY) FROM 8AM TO 4PM (EASTERN TIME). IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TRY TO CALL WHILE YOU ARE AT YOUR COMPUTER.