Change Firmware from 125XLT to 125AT?

[Aerension]

Would it be possible to take a Uniden UBC-125XLT and change the firmware so that it functions as a BC125AT? I've noticed in the manual that some of the service searches and bands are slightly different between the two. And if it was even possible, would the 380-400 frequency range still be available to use on the scanner if it was using the AT firmware? (It is natively supported on the XLT, but not the AT).

 

[Scan125]

I would be very cautious of doing this.

The reason I say this is that unlike the BC125AT having published firmware updates I have NEVER seen any published firmware for the UBC125XLT scanner. *IF* the firmware update program for the UBC125XLT scanner were to work there is the possibility that the BC125AT firmware could brick your UBC125XLT scanner. If this were to happen then there is no source for the UBC125XLT firmware to restore it back to working again.

Maybe somebody can tell us if the BC125AT firmware update program has the ability to save the current installed firmware? If this is the case then you could see if a) it will accept a UBC125XLT scanner and b) is able to save the installed firmware.

I think you would be better off using the Custom Search facility and programming the bands/frequencies you want. The UBC125XLT covers ALL the frequencies the BC125AT covers. A limitation though is that the UBC125XLT does not do Wide Band FM (i.e. broadcast FM coverage).

 

[Aerension]

Thanks for the heads up. This is a hypothetical idea for me. I'm in the process of getting a 125AT (or 125XLT) for aviation. But I was considering possibly trying to get the 125XLT from UK/Europe so that the scanner would have access to the 380-400 range. When looking at the manuals (images in the original post), it started to look like it might require a lot of extra tweaking due to default settings and scanning properties that differ from the 125AT.

So then I basically wondered if the 125AT's firmware could be used on the 125XLT as a shortcut. But even if the firmware took, would the 380-400 range be obsolete on the scanner because the 125AT doesn't support it? Or would it still be accessible due the 125XLT supporting the range on a technical level (even with the 125AT firmware)?

Complicated stuff. Trying to see what might or might not be possible.

 

[Scan125]

You may have seen this info of mine but if not it gives a quick summary of the various 125/126 scanner capabilities:

Scanner Differences

 

[N9JIG]

Most operations on 380-400 MHz. these days are P25 trunking systems, the 125 from either side of the Pond would not handle that regardless.

While there are a few AM aviation operations on that segment here and there they are fewer in number all the time. If it costs you money or other functionality check your local area to see if it is worth it.