BCD436 SD Card Not Recognized - Not Visible on PC

[WB2KTG]

Just got my 436 back from Uniden RTC repair campaign. Scanned just fine after I installed the SD card. Last night decided to use Sentinel to update my Favorites list. Sentinel did not 'see' the SD card. I removed it from the radio and formatted it with SDFormatter. No problems formatting it. I re-installed it in the 436 and plugged the USB cable in to the computer. The SD card was not recognized by the computer, no additional drive was indicated. I went into Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Computer Management / Disk Management and it did not show the SD card. I REFRESHED it, etc. and it still wasn't seen. I removed the SD card and replaced it with another SD card that I had also formatted using SDFormatter. This new SD card wasn't recognized either. The 436 screen tells me to Clear User Data, but Sentinel does not show the SD card as being present. I've also tried plugging the USB cable into other USB ports on my computer. I am totally at a loss.

Any Suggestions???

 

[budevans]

Try another SD card. There have been many reports very similar to yours regarding SD cards. It's not just with scanners. Camera's, phone's and other devices experience the same issue. Once a card stops responding even if you reformat, it typically won't work again.

You might consider buying two new SD cards, to have a spare on hand just in case. One other suggestion. If you don't use the record feature turn it off. That will reduce the write/read/erase cycle and should extend the life of the card.

 

[WB2KTG]

Budevans- Thanks for the quick reply, but from my original posting, I did try a second 'new' SD card, formatted with SDFormatter. It too, was not recognized by the Sentinel, and the 436 with the new SD card was not recognized by the computer, even using Disk Management from Control Panel.

Thanks!

 

[UPMan]

After formatting, you must use the "Clear User Data" function. In order for Sentinel to show the blank card, turn on "Show All Drives" in the option box.

 

[WB2KTG]

Thank you UPMan! After formatting using SDFormatter, I installed the card in the 436, connected the USB cable to the laptop and started up Sentinel. The screen of the 436 says 'SD Card File Error, Use Sentinel to Clear User Data'. I click on Clear User Data. The window pops up and is empty. I click on Show All Drives and the window is populated with my hard drives, only. I cannot see the SD card in that window. When I close Sentinel and try to see the SD card using Disk Management from Control Panel it does not show up there either. When I repeat the same procedure with another SD card I get Exactly the same results. That's why I'm confuzzled.

 

[buddrousa]

what version of sentinel are you running?

 

[UPMan]

If the scanner screen is showing an error, and the drive is not visible in Windows, then there is either a problem with the (multiple, I know) SD card(s) or with the scanner itself.

 

[KR3LC]

If the scanner screen is showing an error, and the drive is not visible in Windows, then there is either a problem with the (multiple, I know) SD card(s) or with the scanner itself.

I had this problem before I sent my scanner in for the clock repair. Tried different cables, different SD cards and different settings in Sentinel. In the end it was the scanner. The problem was resolved at the same time the clock issue was resolved. I used Sentinel with the SD card externally until Uniden called for my scanner under the repair campaign.It was inconvenient but it worked.

 

[WB2KTG]

KR3LC - You mean you took the SD card, installed it into a reader/writer and addressed it directly instead of having it read and updated in the scanner??? BRILLIANT! I need to try that. But then I still wonder why it's not working in the scanner. I'll try and report back. Thank You!

 

[Voyager]

Sentinel does not know the difference between a card in the scanner or a card in any other device. You can even update the firmware using a card reader (of course it won't be installed on the scanner until the card is put back in the scanner).

 

[WB2KTG]

Status Tonight + UPMan - help please

I was using Sentinel 1.05 this morning, upgraded to 1.06 tonight. No change in operation at all.

I can take either of my two microSD cards and have them recognized by the computer and by Sentinel using a simple USB adapter. I can Clear User Data on both cards using Sentinel. I can copy user data and the national database to either SD using Sentinel. The programmed cards will allow the '436 to function as a scanner once again (YAY!). However, with the SD cards in the scanner neither Sentinel or Butel software will see the cards. MeThinks I have a hardware issue with the scanner. I also think this may have been an due to something accidentally happening during the RTC rework procedure at Uniden, as the unit worked perfectly, forever, before being shipped for RTC rework. Also, my battery cover was not returned with my '436 from Uniden.

UPMan - can this condition be repaired under warranty? I don't want to risk wearing out the microSD holder and or damaging the radio in some other way as a result of not being able to program it as intended. Thanks!

 

[N7JGN]

I was using Sentinel 1.05 this morning, upgraded to 1.06 tonight. No change in operation at all.

I can take either of my two microSD cards and have them recognized by the computer and by Sentinel using a simple USB adapter. I can Clear User Data on both cards using Sentinel. I can copy user data and the national database to either SD using Sentinel. The programmed cards will allow the '436 to function as a scanner once again (YAY!). However, with the SD cards in the scanner neither Sentinel or Butel software will see the cards. MeThinks I have a hardware issue with the scanner. I also think this may have been an due to something accidentally happening during the RTC rework procedure at Uniden, as the unit worked perfectly, forever, before being shipped for RTC rework. Also, my battery cover was not returned with my '436 from Uniden.

UPMan - can this condition be repaired under warranty? I don't want to risk wearing out the microSD holder and or damaging the radio in some other way as a result of not being able to program it as intended. Thanks!

what? your battery cover was not returned.. do you mean the plastic cover of the Uniden Case? I can't believe that, why didn't mention it before now? not that it has anything to do with the situation, but, but, but.. this doesn't seem to jive..

 

[buddrousa]

If you would read the uniden repair thread post 773 it was stated missing battery cover the day it was returned to him. That does jive.

 

[N7JGN]

If you would read the uniden repair thread post 773 it was stated missing battery cover the day it was returned to him. That does jive.

Sorry, I didn't see that.. Duh...nice to be reminded by the expert..are you going to issue me a fine?

 

[buddrousa]

No just trying to teach a newbie

 

[N7JGN]

No just trying to teach a newbie

Ok.. Thanks.. I was only teasing about the fine.. 😄 I do appreciate all help..
Doug

 

[buddrousa]

none taken

 

[Voyager]

However, with the SD cards in the scanner neither Sentinel or Butel software will see the cards.

Does the PC make any connection alert?

Does anything show in Device Manager?