Service manual a no no???

[N1508J]

Hello UPMAN and company!

This question is sure to raise hackles on the necks of Uniden, but here goes. How’s bout a “service manual” containing a schematic for Uniden products, i.e., scanners in particular?:wink: Yeah, I suspect the same “no user serviceable parts inside” thought will surface similar to when tubes were replaced by transistors and chips in the late 60’s. Sure there are dingewhap whoop-de-do micro-mezmorizers that are not “serviceable” or programmable by us cheese-cake brain ole fart inquisitive techs, yet there must be a radio and audio circuit in them thar scanners someplace. :lol: A manual similar to the ole Sams Photofax would be nice to look at during breakfast rather than the newspaper! Out of warranty rigs with SIMPLE failures MIGHT be repaired if a schematic and parts list is available. Customers could order their replacement part and Uniden could make more cash. Then, after the customer wrecks his rig, :twisted: Uniden could make more cash in the repair process when he sends it in! At least think the idea over, think of the cash to be made selling the manuals…put me down for one! Now, let’s hear the excuses:roll: ….err, reasons.

 

[gewecke]

You're absolutely correct in your thoughts about repairs,but in layman terms most of these rigs DON'T have many user serviceable parts...
unless you are well trained in surface mount technology or SMT.
I have one of the very first "trunk trackers" produced from uniden and it works like a champ! It's a BC 780xlt. The components in there are
about the size of 1/8 of your smallest fingernail!
To service these,it takes a very small wattage soldering pencil
which has to be rated as "esd safe". Or in other words,grounded.
I have 20+ years in electronics and I will not open the case as long as it works!
But...let me know if you have any luck?
73's!
N9ZAS.

 

[N1508J]

Know watt u mean

You're absolutely correct in your thoughts about repairs,but in layman terms most of these rigs DON'T have many user serviceable parts...
unless you are well trained in surface mount technology or SMT.
I have one of the very first "trunk trackers" produced from uniden and it works like a champ! It's a BC 780xlt. The components in there are
about the size of 1/8 of your smallest fingernail!
To service these,it takes a very small wattage soldering pencil
which has to be rated as "esd safe". Or in other words,grounded.
I have 20+ years in electronics and I will not open the case as long as it works!
But...let me know if you have any luck?
73's!
N9ZAS.

Yep, know per-zakly what ur talking about!

I know about soldering techniques and electrostatic precautions. As an electronics inspector for the Navy, I busted the asses of techs not using SOP’s and MIL standards properly when I snuck up on them! Anyway, information is enlightening. Absent using a can opener to see what can/can’t be user fixed, there is no way other than a pictorial/schematic of the Pandora ’s Box that sits there laughing at you keeping it’s secrets within! There are SMT components available commercially. If you are damn careful you can repair boards…I know! It is up to the customer/tech to determine if it is physically possible to attempt a repair, but without adequate literature (schematic/service manual) there is even less of a chance to make that evaluation.

 

[gmclam]

Actually the problem seems to be that too many people only want the service manuals so that they can modify their scanners to receive phone calls. FWIW, I was able to purchase service manuals for every scanner I own via eBay. It seems that some people outside of the USA (where there is a law about receiving phone calls) can get them.

Good luck.

 

[jon124]

they don't want you to know that the $300 difference between the bct15 and the BCD996T is a couple 50 cent IC's

 

[n2mdk]

they don't want you to know that the $300 difference between the bct15 and the BCD996T is a couple 50 cent IC's

It's not the chips that drive the cost of the radios up it's the licensing fees

 

[rdale]

A service manual won't help you get phone calls...

The reason the 996 costs $300 more is due to 1) the additional circuitry for digital and 2) the licensing fees (which a servce manual won't help you with :> )

 

[garys]

A service manual won't help you get phone calls...

The reason the 996 costs $300 more is due to 1) the additional circuitry for digital and 2) the licensing fees (which a servce manual won't help you with :> )

Please stop trying to make sense. It just confuses those who have made their minds up that it's all a big conspiracy.

Gary

 

[mancow]

Actually, if you compare the two internally thre's hardly any difference at all. I think there's one or two memory chips. The DSP/Processors are the same. I would be willing to bet it's just a matter of increasing the memory and loading the proper firmware.

A service manual won't help you get phone calls...

The reason the 996 costs $300 more is due to 1) the additional circuitry for digital and 2) the licensing fees (which a servce manual won't help you with :> )

 

[rdale]

it's just a matter of increasing the memory and loading the proper firmware.

"Just"? I "just" went to the store to get milk. Increasing the memory might be do-able but not easy, hacking the encrypted 996 firmare and putting it into the 15? Impossible.

 

[jon124]

not impossible. load up hyperterminal and send the 996 firmware on over to the 15. with the addition of the missing 50 cent IC's it would be the exact same scanner. there was a big thread about this on hamsexy

 

[jon124]

Please stop trying to make sense. It just confuses those who have made their minds up that it's all a big conspiracy.

Gary

no conspiracy, just simple economics.

 

[N1508J]

Thus the need

Actually, if you compare the two internally thre's hardly any difference at all. I think there's one or two memory chips. The DSP/Processors are the same. I would be willing to bet it's just a matter of increasing the memory and loading the proper firmware.

Thus the need for schematics/manuals


Of course the rigs are gona LOOK the same inside. :roll: What manufacturer wouldn’t employ similar hardware/circuitry in another product if physically able to do so? Whether the difference is merely plugging in another micro-whizbanger or software, I sure don’t know…don’t care either. I would like the manual/schematic for repair of REPAIRABLE failures. Others need to be sent back to Uniden where the creators can wave their magic wand over.

 

[country2]

I usually try to find a service manual "just in case it breaks out of warranty , plus it'll cost too much to send in and what the hell its tore up anyway so I'll open it up and take a peek"

I can find most manuals on ebay after time. I have also bought 2 as is doesn't work Pro-97 and fixed them sold one making 45 dollars and gave one to my mother. I also have bought 3 laptops as is don't work (found service manuals for free) fixed and sold them also.

One thing that helps is that I work in maintenance and have access to tools and supplies that most don't and have a basic understanding on electronic circuity.
but I just notice that most if not all the manuals I've seen on ebay for the Uniden most are old scanners...

 

[N1508J]

UpMan silent

I usually try to find a service manual "just in case it breaks out of warranty , plus it'll cost too much to send in and what the hell its tore up anyway so I'll open it up and take a peek"

I can find most manuals on ebay after time. I have also bought 2 as is doesn't work Pro-97 and fixed them sold one making 45 dollars and gave one to my mother. I also have bought 3 laptops as is don't work (found service manuals for free) fixed and sold them also.

One thing that helps is that I work in maintenance and have access to tools and supplies that most don't and have a basic understanding on electronic circuity.
but I just notice that most if not all the manuals I've seen on ebay for the Uniden most are old scanners...

That's the idea Country2...be able to get an idea if the problem is feasible to repair or send it back to be fixed. Not many can understand that!!:wink:

Since UpMan has been silent thus far, I suspect that Uniden understandably does not want “customer mangled” units arriving for repair due to schematic/manuals being available. Yet from post I’ve seen, some “turn around times" may be excessive due to backups of waiting rigs. No doubt, some of these are out of warranty rigs that have relatively simple problems. Such problems COULD be repaired by the mostly savvy scanner enthusiast with the necessary literature. Uniden therefore could cut down on backlog time involved in “first come-first served” repairs by not having to fool with silly failures such as a poor solder joint or zapped regulator. I doubt there are many owners who will use such literature to make a time machine out of their scanner thinking the schematic is an ancient Mayan code to do so:twisted: .

 

[WX5JCH]

I know in the medical world, we can withhold payment until we receive service manuals. FDA requires it. Too bad we can't get access to them, they would be of great use.

Jim

 

[socalmike]

Here is why

Hi All,

I had the need for a SM myself and came across the reason why Service manuals are non-existant. Apparantly , the big 2 (RS and Uniden) were approached by the FCC regarding the hacking of scanners to illegally receive cell calls. Everything from sealing the units to epoxy coating the circuit board were mulled over. The big 2 VOLUNTARILLY decided it would be in the best interest of the scanner hobby and community to pull the service manuals to curb the illegal mods. Since the year 2000, service manuals for scanners that receive 800 MHz will not be available to the general public.

I have been unsucessful in obtaining a Bearcat 8500XLT SM, even on ebay. F.W.I.W. I repaired a bearcat 250 with the aide of a service manual I downloaded for free! I could care less about Cell calls and they are all digital anyway. All I need is the alignment procedure as the 8500 is over 14 years old . HELP us UPMAN- any one.

FYI- if anyone needs the manual , I have the bearcat 210 , 220 and 250 service manuals.

 

[N1508J]

Ahhh So!

Hi All,

I had the need for a SM myself and came across the reason why Service manuals are non-existant. Apparantly , the big 2 (RS and Uniden) were approached by the FCC regarding the hacking of scanners to illegally receive cell calls. Everything from sealing the units to epoxy coating the circuit board were mulled over. The big 2 VOLUNTARILLY decided it would be in the best interest of the scanner hobby and community to pull the service manuals to curb the illegal mods. Since the year 2000, service manuals for scanners that receive 800 MHz will not be available to the general public.

I have been unsucessful in obtaining a Bearcat 8500XLT SM, even on ebay. F.W.I.W. I repaired a bearcat 250 with the aide of a service manual I downloaded for free! I could care less about Cell calls and they are all digital anyway. All I need is the alignment procedure as the 8500 is over 14 years old . HELP us UPMAN- any one.

FYI- if anyone needs the manual , I have the bearcat 210 , 220 and 250 service manuals.

Thanks for the info socalmike!:wink: How big of the big two to decide what's best for their customers! Think I will post this on another thread where a guy was having trouble with his 996's audio and the topic of my thread here came up about schematics!

TNX again!

 

[garys]

Thanks for the info socalmike!:wink: How big of the big two to decide what's best for their customers!
TNX again!

Maybe they are thinking about what's best for them. As in it's in their best interest to be able to sell scanners and not have more legislation because irresponsible people will use service manuals to perform modifications that will allow for illegal monitoring.

Actually, I guess that being able to continue to sell scanners is in OUR best interest as well.

Gary

 

[socalmike]

Read all about it

FYI - found this - good reading although dated - it has good info and UPMAN appears in it !



http://www.nf2g.com/scannist/rs_manuals.html