New BCD996XT v1.07.03 Firmware Update Available

[nickcarr]

Okay so if the F/W updater goes out to the internet to download the F/W image file, how am I suppose to update the 996XT in my vehicle?

Can I start the F/W updater inside the house and then run outside?

[burawski]

What exactly does this update do for the scanner?

Bernie
KJ4BWQ

[rdale]

Originally Posted by burawski

What exactly does this update do for the scanner?

Bernie
KJ4BWQ

Listed in the very first post.

[burawski]

Originally Posted by rdale

Listed in the very first post.

Alright alright. I clicked on the link. I didn't initially see that. I get the message.

[FlashP]

Paul, please explain...

Okay so if the F/W updater goes out to the internet to download the F/W image file, how am I suppose to update the 996XT in my vehicle?

Can I start the F/W updater inside the house and then run outside?

This isn't some trivial issue given the number of mobiles you referred to earlier.

[jdolina]

Here is what I found. I tried the update on both Windows 8 and Windows 7 64 bit. I first tried with the USB to serial adapter I use to program the scanner with no issues. I also had used this to do previous updates (AETN GUC232A). This adapter is not natively recognized by windows and requires a specific drive download and install. The update would return scanner not found on both platforms.

I then hooked up another usb to serial cable (Keyspan USA-19HS) which is recognized and installs automatically by windows. The update then worked with no problems.

So if I had to take a guess it is an issue with adapters that have specialized driver software.

[kbehning]

Laptop with wireless
or
Desktop with a USB or RS-232 extension cables out to vehicle.
or
Remove the scanner from the vehicle, take in house to update, then reinstall.

It shouldn't be prohibitively hard to find someone with a laptop and a wireless network if you don't have one.

It would be nice though if there were an option to save the firmware's on the PC for later use. Even if they were .SCN files used with the old 2.0.0.7 updater. Its just nice to be self sufficient and not have to have Uniden in the loop to switch forward and back with firmware files as we see fit.

I tried the new 996XT firmware and it acts just like the 396XT update did. Higher errors on our Motorola Astro Digital system, along with digital sneezing at the beginning of receptions. I've reverted back to the old firmware versions that UPMAN has so graciously made availalble in the BC VUP updater. It'll be nice if they're always available on Uniden's system. Would like to be able to save them off locally though.

[kirk23]

Download the update file into your laptop .extract the files..Then take your laptop to the vehicle ..connect it up then run the program. Everything will be in your laptop..

[radioalbany]

No problems. SF Bay Area EBRCS system seems a little better, even before doing any P25 tweaking.

Thank You!

[kruser]

Originally Posted by kirk23

Download the update file into your laptop .extract the files..Then take your laptop to the vehicle ..connect it up then run the program. Everything will be in your laptop..

That does NOT work. The updater only downloads the firmware after it is connected and communicating with the scanner.
You cannot download the new updater's firmware as a file and save it on your computer. You can only download the updater now.

With the old updater, you also downloaded the actual firmware file to your drive along with the old updater. Not true with the new updater.

[kruser]

Originally Posted by scanningisfun

Try site 3-59 on Starcom 21. I would like to see how the decoding improved as it does indeed use LSM/CQPSK.

Jacob

Sorry, no reception of St. Clair county here at all. I can only get one site from Starcom and that is 3-001 out of Madison County.

So far, the new firmware has made Madison county worse, much worse. But in all fairness, I need to wait a day or two. Madison county usually gives me really decent decodes but tonight the humidity is high (89%) and that does affect my reception of that site. Just like rain or snow, high humidty attenuates the signals on the weaker sites when you start talking 700 MHz and up.

Now the City of St. Louis, MO 800 MHz system is working better than ever with the new firmware for me.

[nickcarr]

Yeah it looks like they're just downloading the files from a FTP site. I obtained the files for the 996XT upgrade. I'll go out and see if I can now update the scanner... hopefully, it'll see that the files are there...

[kirk23]

Originally Posted by kruser

That does NOT work. The updater only downloads the firmware after it is connected and communicating with the scanner.
You cannot download the new updater's firmware as a file and save it on your computer. You can only download the updater now.

With the old updater, you also downloaded the actual firmware file to your drive along with the old updater. Not true with the new updater.

Sorry Nick...
I wasn't aware of that change

[kruser]

Originally Posted by nickcarr

Yeah it looks like they're just downloading the files from a FTP site. I obtained the files for the 996XT upgrade. I'll go out and see if I can now update the scanner... hopefully, it'll see that the files are there...

Post back if this works or not. Question, where are you placing the firmware file? I mean, what folder are you putting it in so the updater will find it and use it?

[nickcarr]

This is what one sees with no internet connectivity:



The program terminates immediately after this message...

So the only solution was to download the SCN file from the FTP server and then use the old 2.0.0.7 BC_VUP application.

[nickcarr]

Originally Posted by kruser

Post back if this works or not. Question, where are you placing the firmware file? I mean, what folder are you putting it in so the updater will find it and use it?

Nope, I had to use the old updater. See newest post.

[pdw911]

My reception of the P25 system I want actually is degraded....

UP Man...can I backdate firmware to version 6...I have it, but don't want to lock up the chip

Want to do a comparison

[Sybex7254]

This firmware update does not seem to fix any LSM reception issues with this system:

Morris County (Project-25) Trunking System, Morris County, New Jersey - Scanner Frequencies

Both the updates for the BCD396XT and HP-1 work fine. Running it side by side with my HP-1 and it decodes the TG's in search mode but no audio which is the same issue that existed on the other scanner pre-firmware update.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by pdw911

My reception of the P25 system I want actually is degraded....

UP Man...can I backdate firmware to version 6...I have it, but don't want to lock up the chip

Want to do a comparison

Version 1.06.00 is an available choice in the new BC VUP 3.0. There's no problem downgrading the firmware.

Originally Posted by Sybex7254

This firmware update does not seem to fix any LSM reception issues with this system:

Morris County (Project-25) Trunking System, Morris County, New Jersey - Scanner Frequencies

Both the updates for the BCD396XT and HP-1 work fine. Running it side by side with my HP-1 and it decodes the TG's in search mode but no audio which is the same issue that existed on the other scanner pre-firmware update.

Have you made sure that P25 Adjust Mode and P25 Adjust Level were reset to their defaults of 11 and 50? If the defaults don't work well, you can try tweaking them a bit.

[Sybex7254]

[Have you made sure that P25 Adjust Mode and P25 Adjust Level were reset to their defaults of 11 and 50? If the defaults don't work well, you can try tweaking them a bit.[/QUOTE]

Yes. Defaults are set properly.