BC246T serial cable - different connections

[gander6]

I just picked up a BC246T to replace my PRO-97 that died (or at least is in a coma...the screen went blank). Finally get to the point of connecting it to my computer to try bcTool software and find the supplied serial cable won't connect to the scanner. The connections are different.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l45/gander6/BC246Tserialcable.jpg

Has this happened to anyone else? Am I missing something here?

 

[KE5MC]

I just picked up a BC246T to replace my PRO-97 that died (or at least is in a coma...the screen went blank). Finally get to the point of connecting it to my computer to try bcTool software and find the supplied serial cable won't connect to the scanner. The connections are different.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l45/gander6/BC246Tserialcable.jpg

Has this happened to anyone else? Am I missing something here?

The cable connector you show looks like the mini usb found on external pocket hard drives and cameras. All the cables I have seen for Uniden are DB9 connector on the computer side and a small rectangular similar to mini usb but different on the radio side. If your cable has a standard size usb connector at the computer end I think you have the wrong cable.

 

[captclint]

Am I missing something here?

if you have a new PC or lap top, you will need a serial to USB converter from Uniden http://tinyurl.com/2cqyu4 or Radio Shack: http://tinyurl.com/2gpbsp . Another source is http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10311&cs_id=1031104&p_id=2276&seq=1&format=2, for quite a bit less. It is reported to work.

 

[gander6]

Connection to the computer isn't the issue. Fortunately I have a serial port. It's the scanner end that is the problem.

It seems odd that I'd be the only one with this problem. I've contacted the vendor to see what can be done. I prefer not to be required to purchase a cable since I'm supposed to get one (that works) with the scanner.

 

[KE5MC]

Connection to the computer isn't the issue. Fortunately I have a serial port. It's the scanner end that is the problem.

It seems odd that I'd be the only one with this problem. I've contacted the vendor to see what can be done. I prefer not to be required to purchase a cable since I'm supposed to get one (that works) with the scanner.

On the cable that you have is the other end a usb connector or a serial DB9 connector. If it is a usb connector then the cable is not for a Uniden, for they have always been serial. If it is a DB9 then it is for a different model of Uniden. My current 396 has a port like your 246. I sold my 250 awhile back and it might have a connector like you are showing with your radio, but I don't recall now other than the other end was a DB9 connector.

 

[gander6]

The other end (computer side) is serial, not USB.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l45/gander6/BC246Tserialcable004.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l45/gander6/BC246Tserialcable005.jpg

If Uniden scanners other than the BC246T take the cable I received, this makes some sense to me in that the wrong cable was packaged at the factory.

The vendor has promised to ship the correct cable, so problem should be solved. Thanks for the feedback. At this point I'll wait for the replacement cable and go from there.

 

[andy404ns]

The connector in your photograph looks like a charger for a Motorola Razr cell phone.

ninja edit: the connector in your first photograph. Find someone with a razr to try it.

 

[torontokris]

Did you buy the 246T brand new??? Or used?
They gave you the wrong cable, thats NOT the 246T cable, or any other Uniden cable that I know of.

But i see they will send you another one.

 

[torontokris]

Whats the cable in the second photograph where did that come from? Looks like the proper one

 

[UPMan]

I agree...the photos in Post #6 sure look like the correct cable (and is not the same one as shown in post #1).

 

[donc13]

I just picked up a BC246T to replace my PRO-97 that died (or at least is in a coma...the screen went blank). Finally get to the point of connecting it to my computer to try bcTool software and find the supplied serial cable won't connect to the scanner. The connections are different.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l45/gander6/BC246Tserialcable.jpg

Has this happened to anyone else? Am I missing something here?

You're showing us two different cables. In your first posting you show a cable with a metal shroud around the tip. In the 2nd two pictures, you show a cable with a plastic end...and a quick looks shows it to perhaps be the right cable. It is keyed, it only goes in one way.

 

[gander6]

I read the "different cable" posts and thought "what? can't be." Sure enough, you're right. I have to embarrassingly admit to mixing cables. What happened is I have various cables at my computer for PDA, cell phone, BT ear piece, etc. I plugged in the BC246T cable on the serial port and grabbed the wrong cable to plug into the scanner. I never noticed I had the wrong cable. I didn't even notice the error when taking the pictures.

So, thanks for the astute observations. Though I feel pretty foolish, it's mitigated by the fact bcTool is up and running.

Now off to correct things with the vendor....