New 396XT 1.11.01 Firmware Available

[DDan]

Originally Posted by kb8rvp

3 used to be the default but when the previous update came out Upman posted this comment if you look at the first page of the sticky for the last update that came out in 2012 for the 396XT and 996XT the default changed to 11 and 50:

To adjust the decode threshold, start with the scanner powered off. Then, follow these steps:
1. While holding down the HOLD button, power on the scanner.
2. Access the hidden P25 Adjust Mode menu by MENU --> Settings --> P25 Adjust Mode.
3. Set the mode to 11, which is the optimal setting for most P25 systems.
4. If you have previously adjusted the P25 Adjust Level, reset it to a value of 50 by MENU --> Settings --> P25 Adjust Level.

So that is why I now say the default is 11 and 50.

Thanks,
Mike

That is a little misleading. What will the mode setting be if you reset the scanner to the default settings?

[andrewyb]

Any other advice. I'm still hearing nothing out of my 396XT. It was working fine until I pushed this firmware update. The only other thing that's changed is that I'm at work today. This is the first time I've brought the new scanner into work. Large building in downtown Louisville. Could the interference be that bad?

[davidmc36]

Originally Posted by andrewyb

..... Could the interference be that bad?

Interfierence from other signals and lack of good signal while in the big building could certainly explain you issue.

[RoninJoliet]

When a friend installed the 1.10.0 firmware (now older) in my 996XT and rebooted the scanner the default settings were P25 adjust mode ="3", and Adjust level="50".....

[RoninJoliet]

Correction: Firmare in 996XT was 1.06.00, above was 396XT but P25 settings were the same=3-50....

[KC9VZV]

This may have been already asked, so I'm sorry if I am being repetitive, but as I try to update the firmware, it is saying that no scanner is detected when doing the auto detect for the proper COM port. I have tried manually selecting the COM port and also doing the L/O + 6 key thing, and I am having no luck. I am using the provided serial cable with a serial-to-USB adapter. Any thoughts? Thanks everyone!
Dan

[fxdscon]

Originally Posted by KC9VZV

This may have been already asked, so I'm sorry if I am being repetitive, but as I try to update the firmware, it is saying that no scanner is detected when doing the auto detect for the proper COM port. I have tried manually selecting the COM port and also doing the L/O + 6 key thing, and I am having no luck. I am using the provided serial cable with a serial-to-USB adapter. Any thoughts? Thanks everyone!
Dan

When you look in your Windows Device Manager, does it show a working COM port for your serial to USB adaptor?

[KC9VZV]

Originally Posted by fxdscon

When you look in your Windows Device Manager, does it show a working COM port for your serial to USB adaptor?

It does not look like it. What really puzzles me though is that I have used this same setup (with serial-to-usb adapter) many times on this scanner and my BC346XT for programming with FreeScan and it worked fine. Thanks!

[dtscho]

This situation happened to me too. It took me a while to resolve it - very frustrating at the time, but glad I was able to fix it. I have also established successful communication between the computer and scanner using Freescan, so I didn't know what was going on.

First, I switched from my laptop to a desktop, so that I could use ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Not sure if this mattered, but I figured it couldn't hurt. I also turned off things like antivirus programs, network monitoring, etc. I went into the 396XT and set the baud rate down to 9600, in case the slower baud rate might have helped the scanner communicate better.

Other than these things, I just kept on trying to install the firmware several times. Eventually it worked. (One time, it quit in the middle of installing, right when the scanner was in "write" mode. This was disconcerting, but I just started the process over, and it worked.)

Hope this helps. I was surprised I had all these problems, when most people said installing was a breeze, but it worked out in the end.

Dave

[KC9VZV]

Originally Posted by dtscho

This situation happened to me too. It took me a while to resolve it - very frustrating at the time, but glad I was able to fix it. I have also established successful communication between the computer and scanner using Freescan, so I didn't know what was going on.

First, I switched from my laptop to a desktop, so that I could use ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Not sure if this mattered, but I figured it couldn't hurt. I also turned off things like antivirus programs, network monitoring, etc. I went into the 396XT and set the baud rate down to 9600, in case the slower baud rate might have helped the scanner communicate better.

Other than these things, I just kept on trying to install the firmware several times. Eventually it worked. (One time, it quit in the middle of installing, right when the scanner was in "write" mode. This was disconcerting, but I just started the process over, and it worked.)

Hope this helps. I was surprised I had all these problems, when most people said installing was a breeze, but it worked out in the end.

Dave

Thanks Dave. I'll try those suggestions. I have been working mostly on a desktop which I am pretty sure is connected to ethernet instead of wifi, but I will try the others and report back to you if it works. Thanks!

[kb8rvp]

Originally Posted by DDan

That is a little misleading. What will the mode setting be if you reset the scanner to the default settings?

Looking at the release notes from the last firmware update which has the following information:
1.10.00
This update improves decoding on many P25 systems. For cases where the default settings are not optimal, the update also adds a setting that allows you to adjust the auto decode threshold limit.
To adjust the auto decode threshold limit, start with the scanner powered off. Then, follow these steps:

1.While holding down the HOLD button, power on the scanner.
2.Access the hidden P25 Adjust Mode menu by MENU --> Settings --> P25 Adjust Mode.
3.Set the mode to 11, which is the optimal setting for most P25 systems. Some systems are reported to decode better at a setting of 8.
4.If you have previously adjusted the P25 Adjust Level, reset it to a value of 50 by MENU --> Settings --> P25 Adjust Level.
Upman do you have any suggestions for the best settings to start with for the new firmware? Are they the same as 1.10.00 now that we have upgraded to 1.11.01?

Thanks for any help...By the way the setting of 11 and 50 is working great on the Genesee County Michigan simulcast site... This may not be what the radio "defaults" to, just recommended if you want to have the radio auto adjust so I guess what my thinking was that this is the "default" setting for the audio adjust function to work not the radio default. Sorry for any confusion... I have tried other settings but after going to 1.10.00 my default has been 11 and 50 but as we all have learned no one setting works for everyone, just trying to suggest a starting point.

Mike

[FDNYbuffL132]

got it

[FDNYbuffL132]

I found the answer to my Question, the DL went to my program files rather to my desk top.

[Diggie]

Originally Posted by andrewyb

Any other advice. I'm still hearing nothing out of my 396XT. It was working fine until I pushed this firmware update. The only other thing that's changed is that I'm at work today. This is the first time I've brought the new scanner into work. Large building in downtown Louisville. Could the interference be that bad?

This may be a silly suggestion, but have you checked your squelch isn't too high?

Also, to add to the P25 default debate, I've upgraded through the firmwares but never manually adjusted those settings, and mine are now 3-50.

[Boatanchor]

In my experience on my local trunking networks, P25 Adust Mode setting 8 and P25 Adjust level 50-200 gives the best reception of very low signal strengths.

Setting the Mode to anything else and the scanner hunts all over the place, is often unable to find the best level and it makes weak signal reception almost impossible.

At setting 8, the Level setting doesn't seem to make much, if any difference as the scanner stays on 8 regardless of signal level.

I'm talking about 1-2 bars or less of signal strength here too.

[w2csx]

Originally Posted by andrewyb

Any other advice. I'm still hearing nothing out of my 396XT. It was working fine until I pushed this firmware update. The only other thing that's changed is that I'm at work today. This is the first time I've brought the new scanner into work. Large building in downtown Louisville. Could the interference be that bad?

Just a thought,if you have your systems with groups,make sure you have the group numbers check.

[kruser]

Originally Posted by fxdscon

There is an easy way to get a copy of the *current* Home Patrol firmware if you didn't get it before it was erased.

Without connecting the Home Patrol to your computer...... just put any memory card or thumb drive into your computer, and tell Sentinel that's your Home Patrol.
.

Even though this thread is about the 396XT, I figured I'd update my reply to your post with my findings on downgrading the FW in the HP1.
I was able to find the original FW files (.SCN files) for firmware versions V1_03_01, V2_00_36, V2_01_06, V2_02_10, V2_03_01 and V2_04_01.
I think there are also associated help files that change with some of the FW versions but I did not copy any of those into the HP1. I kept them as backups along with all my old FW versions I found though.
I can now upgrade or downgrade too any of the above versions simply by copying the version I want back into the HP1's Firmware folder and then unplugging the USB cable.
It will see there is a .SCN file there and update the radio with that version.
I tried doing all the versions except the V1_03 file as I'm not sure what would happen being as V2_00 was needed when the Extreme updates and upgrades were released. They all loaded worked just fine.

I'm also running Win 7 so I also copied the FW I loaded into HP1 into the C:\ProgramData\Uniden\HomePatrol_Sentinel\Updater folder so things match. Not sure what happens if this step is not followed. I also do not know where the .scn file is stored on a Win XP machine. I'm sure someone running XP can find it easily enough though using search.
The latest FW file is erased after a successful FW upgrade from the scanners xD card but not from the folder mentioned above.
I was fortunate and had backups of my Sentinel folders through all the FW releases.

Not sure that I'll ever need to go back a version or two but I at least now know it is possible.

[ButchGone]

Updating my 396xt with the latest firmware version has definitely made reception of the local ASTRO 7.XX simulcast system much worse. The problem appears that the 396xt lost it's ability to stay locked on the control channel in all but near perfect conditions. So instead of seeing the control channel on the display it reads "NFM." When it does find the control channel it works. When driving around town it tracks the system less that 50%. The previous 1.10 version was a huge improvement and I could hear the system most times no matter where I was. My older 396t is tracking the system virtually flawlessly.
I have tried changing Adjust Mode and Adjust Level settings with no help. Since the last version 1.10 Mode 8 and Level 50 worked best. That still seems to work best with the newest update. Mode 11 and Level 50 that everybody says is default doesn't work at all.
Is there anything else I can do to make my 396xt work again? Can I go back to version 1.10? Why does the LSM update cause the radio to lose it's lock on the control channel?
I'm glad I still have my 396t!
BG..

[davepm]

My first time updating the firmware in 2 years. I am a total dork with this stuff. My scanner was programmed for me and all I do is listen. This update made me very nervous that I would lose everything and have to have it programmed again.

WOW - less than 5 minutes very easy no problems and I am done. Thank you to whoever designed such an easy updating procedure. Please starting working with all other software companies to make theirs as easy. Seems much clearer on the P25.

[kirk23]

Originally Posted by W9NES

Gentleman, A release needs to be made to UPGRADE the 396T and the 996T as they both have the same problem.Please get you facts right as this is Simucast LSM. Just to clear the air I have read Paul's post 3 times before posting.A lot of people including me own the Uniden 396T and the Uniden 996T. If a Upgrade in frimware can be done for the 396XT and the 996XT then a Update in frimware can be released for the 396T and the Uniden 996T.

What it is so hard for you to comprehend? the 396T is the OLD model that has been REPLACED by the 396XT.. now why would a company keep issuing UPDATES for an old model years after they stopped production when they have replaced it by a NEWER & SUPERIOR model.If they kept updating the old stuff indefinately, they would never sell the new models.Did you ever consider the technology in the old 396T can't/won't support the current day upgrades?
Go buy the current model 396XT then you can update it to your hearts content and then you can have a scanner with current technology.
Have you ever wondered why WE all understand this but you can't?