linn area help for BCD396XT

I bought this scanner from radio shack and cant figure anything out. I need someone to school me on how or ill pay someone to do it for me. Im lost!!!!!!! Im new at this and tried to program it over 10 times only to get NOTHING. Im ready to blow it up or throw it as far as I can. Fustrated? yes !! I listend to my pro106 all the time and after reading all the reviews on the bcd396xt I bought one. (man was that a mistake for a newbi) I don't even know how to connect it to the pc. I tried to buy a NULL modem locally at radio shack and they told me they don't sell OUTDATED equip. PLEASE Someone HEEELLLPPP