BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436HP zip code search

[bailchaser]

Just purchased scanner, 2-21-26. I entered my zip code. Simple enough. It picks up police, sheriff, EMS, odd agencies, but NO FIRE. Not city or county. Old scanner did, two-radio in car does. Not this scanner?? What am I doing wrong?

 

[J-Wrock]

You'll have to ensure the service type is turned on for Fire Dispatch / Fire Tac / Fire Talk. By default, they are turned off. On the scanner, press the Menu button (bottom button on left side of scanner) -> scroll down to Select Service Types -> Scroll to each service you want to listen to and, if it says OFF, press E with it highlighted to turn it on. Press the System softkey to return to scanning.

As a side note, since you are using the zip code feature, I strongly recommend you connect to a Windows computer and run Sentinel to update the Full Database (and firmware if it needs it) to ensure that you have all the correct information on the scanner. Hope you enjoy your new 436 and happy scanning!

Edit: You can also turn on the service types in Sentinel by going to the Edit Profile screen (Icon looks like a text editor icon) and click on the Service Type tabs. Then write to your scanner. Also, once you update the database in Sentinel, you'll have to write that to the scanner as well.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

If these are agencies you'll be monitoring regularly then it's always best to use Sentinel and program (a) favorites list(s) versus scanning the "full database" (zip code). But yes, you'll also need to turn on the applicable service types as shown in the "tag" column in the RRDB

Sentinel (Uniden software) - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[hiegtx]

Just purchased scanner, 2-21-26. I entered my zip code. Simple enough. It picks up police, sheriff, EMS, odd agencies, but NO FIRE. Not city or county. Old scanner did, two-radio in car does. Not this scanner?? What am I doing wrong?

If you recently purchased this scanner, brand new, the database, in the scanner, is likely well out of date. As J-Wrock has noted, you need to verify which Service Types are enabled. In addition to "Fire Dispatch", you should also enable Fire Tac as well as Fire Talk. While you can enable these via the scanner's menu, your better off to do that in Sentinel.

Installation of Sentinel is addressed in the Wiki. Be sure to note that you must have the correct .Net version enabled in Windows for it to work. After installing Sentinel, update the database in the software, then write that update to the scanner.

There are "Easier to Read" manuals available online for both Sentinel as well as your scanner.

 

[bailchaser]

If these are agencies you'll be monitoring regularly then it's always best to use Sentinel and program (a) favorites list(s) versus scanning the "full database" (zip code). But yes, you'll also need to turn on the applicable service types as shown in the "tag" column in the RRDB

Sentinel (Uniden software) - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Sentential is installed. 👍🏻😉

If you recently purchased this scanner, brand new, the database, in the scanner, is likely well out of date. As J-Wrock has noted, you need to verify which Service Types are enabled. In addition to "Fire Dispatch", you should also enable Fire Tac as well as Fire Talk. While you can enable these via the scanner's menu, your better off to do that in Sentinel.

Installation of Sentinel is addressed in the Wiki. Be sure to note that you must have the correct .Net version enabled in Windows for it to work. After installing Sentinel, update the database in the software, then write that update to the scanner.

There are "Easier to Read" manuals available online for both Sentinel as well as your scanner.

Thanks. Will try that. And Sentinel is installed on laptop.

 

[bailchaser]

I've now had my BDC436HP for one week. Used zip code search, got some, no fire. You helped me "turn on" the fire service. Still nothing. No fire. I made a couple of favorite lists, they show on scanner, but it scans for a minute, then goes to scanning by frequencies.
I'm tired and quite frustrated with the whole "programming" issue. Think I will just return the scanner.
Thanks to those who tried to help me, maybe at 70 it's over my head. I even watched some videos. Don't know.