HomePatrol-1 v2.03.01 Released

[UPMan]

No need to pay extra. The HomePatrol-1 with the included Sentinel software does exactly that.

[gonzalu]

I was just about to say that. Anyway:

--With Sentinel, if the frequencies you want to listen to are already IN the database, you simply find them on the Full Database and then ADD them to a Favorites list...

--If it is NOT in the database, just go and create a new Favorites list,
--Add System
--Add a Channel to that System
--Edit the details (frequency, name, tones, mode, etc.)

I would suggest you use Microsoft Excel (or a comparable program) to do all your editing and naming etc. and then simply copy/paste but be careful, Sentinel is NOT that forgiving to improperly formatted paste operations. If you have a field that is missing or wrong when pasting, Sentinel will complain, and worse, will enter the wrong data into a field.

If you need a sample excel setup for Sentinel paste ops, let me know and I can gladly help :-)

Manny, N2MAG

[gonzalu]

The HomePatrol has at least ONE FEATURE missing from my other Unidens that makes it worth it to me regardless of anything else. Ability to stop on a System, Department or Frequency... very very useful...

[DaveNF2G]

Tap the System, Department, or Frequency portion of the display. It stops and turns that level yellow. Press again to resume broader scanning.

[gonzalu]

Originally Posted by DaveNF2G

Tap the System, Department, or Frequency portion of the display. It stops and turns that level yellow. Press again to resume broader scanning.

Dave, was this directed at my post?

[DaveNF2G]

Yes it was.

[UPMan]

Dave: I read the post the same way you did, the first time, and almost had the same reply. Then, I realized he meant that the HomePatrol-1 has that feature and he wished other models did, too.

[gonzalu]

Originally Posted by UPMan

Dave: I read the post the same way you did, the first time, and almost had the same reply. Then, I realized he meant that the HomePatrol-1 has that feature and he wished other models did, too.

Thanks for that, Paul :smile: Exactly what I meant... English isn;t as clear cut as Spanish :P

Yes, I meant that ALL OTHER Unidens I have are missing the WONDERFUL stop on system/zone/channel from the HP1... invaluable feature...

[UPMan]

Although you can hold on an individual system in the XT series. Simply press and hold HOLD for a couple of seconds while you are on the system.

Aunque se puede mantener en un sistema individual de la serie XT. Simplemente presione y mantenga HOLD durante un par de segundos mientras está en el sistema.

[JASII]

I think the fact that the Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT and the Uniden Home Patrol HP-1 are different is the very reason I keep BOTH of them rather than switching to the same two of one or the other. I enjoy my BCD996XT at home, BUT the Home Patrol HP-1 with the Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS is a great mobile device.

[gonzalu]

Originally Posted by UPMan

Although you can hold on an individual system in the XT series. Simply press and hold HOLD for a couple of seconds while you are on the system.

Aunque se puede mantener en un sistema individual de la serie XT. Simplemente presione y mantenga HOLD durante un par de segundos mientras está en el sistema.

ROTFL!!! That was good, Paul. And thanks for the tip. Did not notice that on the read of the manual...

BTW, does the change to a better Avatar mean that a new set of radios is coming out soon? :P

[harryshute]

I am still interested in getting my AFS values changed to decimal in the Extreme Feature current activity. Is it a bug that will be fixed in the future. Do love the radio though. Wish it were around in the days I ordered numerous crystals to get a hit on an agency I was interested in.

[larryh64]

Lets face it the Uniden Home Patrol is not for old scanner buffs like me. Over the years I have purchased numerous scanners from Uniden. I have not been happy with these folks for along time. They flood the market with these un-updated scanners and un-expecting customers buy them for several hundred dollars. Plug them in and WOW it needs updated right out of the box to the new Extreme version, we forgot to tell you. Send us a $100, and you can fix it yourself.. Really NOW Uniden what happened to customer friendly? I don't know about the rest of you Home Patrol owners out there, but after years of being loyal to Uniden I'm done. What a slap in face. Thanks Uniden.

[fxdscon]

Originally Posted by larryh64

Lets face it the Uniden Home Patrol is not for old scanner buffs like me. Over the years I have purchased numerous scanners from Uniden. I have not been happy with these folks for along time. They flood the market with these un-updated scanners and un-expecting customers buy them for several hundred dollars. Plug them in and WOW it needs updated right out of the box to the new Extreme version, we forgot to tell you. Send us a $100, and you can fix it yourself.. Really NOW Uniden what happened to customer friendly? I don't know about the rest of you Home Patrol owners out there, but after years of being loyal to Uniden I'm done. What a slap in face. Thanks Uniden.

That's some really bad information you're giving out there larryh64. All firmware "updates" for the Home Patrol that address known bugs and tweaks are at no cost to the user.

All weekly database updates are also free.

The Home Patrol does indeed work just fine "right out of the box".

The Home Patrol does not "need" the extreme "upgrading" at all, and it's not a "fix" for anything. It's an entirely optional and additional group of features, most of which are not even available on any other scanner at any price.

Uniden did not "forget" to tell you anything, it's all clearly documented on the Home Patrol website.

You may wish to read this post, and the one right after, it may help your understanding of exactly what the Extreme upgrade actually is :

Uniden radio scanners


.

[gonzalu]

Originally Posted by larryh64

Lets face it the Uniden Home Patrol is not for old scanner buffs like me. Over the years I have purchased numerous scanners from Uniden. I have not been happy with these folks for along time. They flood the market with these un-updated scanners and un-expecting customers buy them for several hundred dollars. Plug them in and WOW it needs updated right out of the box to the new Extreme version, we forgot to tell you. Send us a $100, and you can fix it yourself.. Really NOW Uniden what happened to customer friendly? I don't know about the rest of you Home Patrol owners out there, but after years of being loyal to Uniden I'm done. What a slap in face. Thanks Uniden.

Ouch... seems like you have never used the HomePatrol just fresh out of the box. I did for about a week and loved it and CONSCIENTIOUSLY and willing;y upgraded to the Extreme option because I WANTED the extra features. Sure, they could have sold me a full upgraded $700 radio and have no option...

You can look at it that way or your way but you are not being accurate as NO ONE needs the Extreme option to enjoy the radio. Is it perfect? Probably not, but, it is far more perfect than most.

What do I want improved?

--The screen needs to be like an iPhone 4s or 5 or a Galaxy SIII ... period!! The current screen is not good for me...takes too much effort to make the execution. I want to just be able to touch it.

--Needs an Motorola IMPRESS battery or similar. AA batteries are just not cutting it. Put in a proper laptop style battery or similar. Make the AA option available via a cheap adapter cradle that slips into the same cavity. Similar to what modern cameras do today.

--The screen layout can sometimes be a problem.. the options to the right of the screen are obstructed by the frame around the screen. I sometimes struggle to touch just the edge of the buitton. Either make the screen flush with the case or let me chose where to put the option split (left of screen for example :-)

--The volume buttons are in the wrong place for me. If I use my right hand to move the volume, my hand obstructs the display and I can;t tell what the volume is set to unless I make some weird move of my hand. It may work better while the radio is on a Desk Stand below your head position but in the car, I have it mounted slightly above my head and the hand blocks the display.

--Put in a Intel Core i7-3770k :P Seriously, I would love more speed and responsiveness.

--Recording. MORE options please. I'd love to put in a 32GB or 64GB card if I wanted to and record as much as possible as long as I want :-) 3 minutes max? Why? Storage is cheap :-)

--INSTANT analysis. Can I simply press a button and have the Extreme option instantly analyze a channel for me. Say I am going through frequencies and the scanner stops on an obvious data channel, sounds like trunk to me. How can I simply analyze this channel immediately without first programming the scanner to do so? Would be an ideal tool for me. Lots of frequencies are going digital these days.

I am sure there are more ... but this will keep Paul awake for now :P

[bgav]

Originally Posted by larryh64

Lets face it the Uniden Home Patrol is not for old scanner buffs like me. Over the years I have purchased numerous scanners from Uniden. I have not been happy with these folks for along time. They flood the market with these un-updated scanners and un-expecting customers buy them for several hundred dollars. Plug them in and WOW it needs updated right out of the box to the new Extreme version, we forgot to tell you. Send us a $100, and you can fix it yourself.. Really NOW Uniden what happened to customer friendly? I don't know about the rest of you Home Patrol owners out there, but after years of being loyal to Uniden I'm done. What a slap in face. Thanks Uniden.

At the risk of taking this topic about firmware off topic even further, I'd like to address your comments. I've owned scanners since I was 14 and I'm in my 40's. When the Opto456, Optocomm and computer aided scanning of trunked systems with software like Scan*Star, per channel recording, etc came out, I was all over it. Thousands of dollars worth of gear, and not very portable.

Flash forward to the HP-1. I liked it before the *optional* Extreme Update came out, and with the Extreme Update it's an incredibly powerful, *standalone* system with built-in recording/instant replay that is a fraction of the size, power requirements, and costs of the Opto456/Optocom/tethered computer. I sold my OS456 & Optocom to fund the purchase of the HP-1 (and PSR-800) and haven't looked back. Add a GPS and location-based scanning and it's still relatively inexpensive for all of the capabilities. They regularly provide firmware and database updates. The Extreme Update is not a $100 "fix" as you propose, but an optional upgrade that provides features that typically require a SDR and/or addition of a computer (Unitrunker). The HP-1 is extremely versatile: Easy to use for inexperienced users to program (arguably bringing new users into the world of scanning) with powerful optional features for more advanced users.

It kind of burns me when an official thread about a firmware release gets hijacked with complaints, disinformation, and hardware requests for unreleased/imaginary/dream products. I monitor this thread to check on the status of the firmware and discuss its features/bugs/bug fixes.


Feel free to remove/move this post along with the other OT posts.

[gonzalu]

More HiJacking but UPMan is listening. Forgot to add what I said in the other thread...

TACTICAL View

You reminded me of one of my favorite features of ScanStar, the tac view. I wish the Homepatrol gets a screen where I can see maybe 9 buttons or more each with a programmable thing below it. A system, A site, a channel, whatever and it is like an on off switch. Either press to select mode (meaning press one and all others unselect) and a Mix and Match mode, if it is on is on, if it is off is off. Turn n of them on or off at the same time.

[UPMan]

--Recording. MORE options please. I'd love to put in a 32GB or 64GB card if I wanted to and record as much as possible as long as I want :-) 3 minutes max? Why? Storage is cheap :-)

You can record to the limits of the memory card. 3 minutes is only for the replay buffer. With the included card, you could typically record for a week or more.

[Jay911]

I've only once hit the "card full" error and if I recall correctly that took over 3 days of continuous use, and stopped with 512MB still free.

I run a 32GB card in two of my HPs with no problems. (One which appears to be a cheaper card occasionally gives "Card Read Error" on power-up, but removing and reinserting the card fixes this.)

[KE4ZNR]

Originally Posted by Jay911

I've only once hit the "card full" error and if I recall correctly that took over 3 days of continuous use, and stopped with 512MB still free.

I run a 32GB card in two of my HPs with no problems. (One which appears to be a cheaper card occasionally gives "Card Read Error" on power-up, but removing and reinserting the card fixes this.)

Jay has the right idea above.
I use a 16GB card in my HP-1 and have yet to have to worry about storage limits.
As long as you format the card correctly you can use a larger memory card in the HP-1...only caveat is that Uniden only supports the 2gig card that the HP-1 comes with at purchase.
Happy Holidays and Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR