<UPDATED 4/11/08>
Here is a condensed version of the overall update process. This will be included in the UPDate going out today.
The general steps to apply the update are:
- Register your scanner (you don't need to enter the ESN/Checksum, yet).
- For the BCD396T, download and install ESN_Loader. For the BCD996T, download and install BC_VUP 2.0.0.3 and download and uncompress the V1.04.12 update.
- For the BCD396T, run the ESN_Loader application and follow the on-screen instructions. For the BCD996T, run the BC_VUP application, select the V1.04.12 update when prompted, then follow the on-screen instructions
- For either scanner, navigate in its menu to MENU --> Settings --> See Scanner Info --> Firmware Version and make a note of your scanner's ESN and 3-digit/letter checksum.
- Update the registration information for your scanner with the ESN and checksum.
- On your "All My Scanners" page, click the link for "Get Registration Key" then select the "Get Key" button on the window that opens.
- Download the V2 update by selecting the link on your "All My Scanners" page then unzip it to a folder on your PC.
- Apply the update to your scanner using BC_VUP, entering that scanner's registration key when prompted.
April 10, 2008
Updates are Here!
In This Issue
Keeping it Real
In my first update I announced that updates were coming, and coming they were. Just not as quickly as I had hoped or expected. One of the challenges of developing a complex product like a digital scanner is that you don't always know what bumps might lie along the development road. After finishing the majority of development and testing for this update, we hit one of those unexpected bumps...One tester in one city on one repeater site of one system (but not other repeaters of that same system) got a very obnoxious pop after many transmissions. The same transmission on other sites came through flawlessly. This is the kind of problem that makes the engineers pull their hair out.
Fortunately, the engineers were able to quickly identify the source of the problem and provide new firmware for testing...which restarted the release countdown. In addition to making sure that the problem had gone away, we always have to test against the law of unintended consequences and make sure that everything that was working fine before still works fine after.
So, I'm very happy to release this update and am confident that you will find that it is well worth the wait. Read on for general information about each update, and then be sure to read the complete release notes that detail the steps you take to install each one.
It All Starts on the Web
No matter which scanner you have, your first stop for getting the latest updates into your scanner is
My Uniden. Start by registering your scanner, then follow the links to get the updates you need.
As you can see from the screen shot (well, in the email there is a screenshot...just imagine a screenshot is here, too), you'll have a little different path to take depending on whether you have a BCD396T or a BCD996T. Take it step by step and you'll be updated before you know it.
What’s Updated?
The biggest enhancements were to the scanner's performance on all types of P25 systems, but especially "multipacket" systems like the Virginia STARS system, all manner of mixed digital/analog systems, and EDACS systems and their pesky beeps. The release notes for each update provide more complete details of what was fixed, but I hope you'll agree that just those three make it worth the time.
Of course, the first part of the update is just for "housekeeping" and lets us issue secured updates. Security is not really important on this particular revision, but testing it now allows us to look at making additional features available in the future that we wouldn't be able to do otherwise.
The Final Word
DON'T PANIC!
I can't sign off without recognizing that a few of you will have some problems applying the updates. In the words of Douglas Adams, "Don't Panic!" No, really, don't panic. We have received several scanners in because they "failed during and update" and we've never had to do anything other than apply the update. We didn't use any special tools or computers...we just ran the same program that we issued to you and it worked. So, if you have problems take a deep breath, read all of the troubleshooting tips provided with the update, and give it another shot.
Still have problems? Try asking on the appropriate Yahoo! Group or in the forums at RadioReference.com...I hang out there way too much and that is one of the best ways to get your problems solved (plus, when it is solved in a public forum many others can take advantage of the same solution).
Thank you again for being so patient and for being our customer.
Paul Opitz
Product Manager
Uniden America Corp.
BCD396T and BCD996T Updates are Here
Linear Mode
