436, an expensive paperweight?
- Thread starter ButchGone
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ButchGone
Member
Problem solved
I think my issue is resolved, and it may be the same issue affecting some of the others with SD card problems. I found the SD card wasn't properly seated in the tiny metal flap, and must not have been making the proper contact. That metal flap is delicate and appears to spring loose or move easily, so once closed it I covered it with black electrical tape to keep it secured. So far so good. Maybe a more robust micro disk holder would be of benefit?
Otherwise, the 436 sounds great - very nice analog and digital audio, and my local P25 simulcast system decodes beautifully.
BG..
I think my issue is resolved, and it may be the same issue affecting some of the others with SD card problems. I found the SD card wasn't properly seated in the tiny metal flap, and must not have been making the proper contact. That metal flap is delicate and appears to spring loose or move easily, so once closed it I covered it with black electrical tape to keep it secured. So far so good. Maybe a more robust micro disk holder would be of benefit?
Otherwise, the 436 sounds great - very nice analog and digital audio, and my local P25 simulcast system decodes beautifully.
BG..
LEP..I could not agree with you more. I have had a few meltdowns on this forum with my new 436, but I know that, without exception, my issues with this scanner have been all "user error."
I also believe in starting with the easiest possible fix first. If that does not work, go up one notch until it does.
One day I reset my scanner to factory defaults, wiped it clean, then could not get past the "nothing to scan" error. I spent hours trying to figure out why it would not scan the national database for me. Then I had a flash..I never put my zip code in after the factory reset. Real user error..put in my zip and it worked perfectly.
ButchGone, I'm glad you got the scanner worked out. You will really like it. I have owned Regency / Uniden scanners since 1972, and this was the most difficult scanner I have ever come across. It took me weeks just to get a working knowledge of the software. Then one day, a flash came out of the sky and I understood it all. There is a steep learning curve for this radio for most experienced users; I cannot imagine a newby buying this as his first scanner; imagine the look on his face???
Have fun with it; its a very powerful radio.
Greg
I also believe in starting with the easiest possible fix first. If that does not work, go up one notch until it does.
One day I reset my scanner to factory defaults, wiped it clean, then could not get past the "nothing to scan" error. I spent hours trying to figure out why it would not scan the national database for me. Then I had a flash..I never put my zip code in after the factory reset. Real user error..put in my zip and it worked perfectly.
ButchGone, I'm glad you got the scanner worked out. You will really like it. I have owned Regency / Uniden scanners since 1972, and this was the most difficult scanner I have ever come across. It took me weeks just to get a working knowledge of the software. Then one day, a flash came out of the sky and I understood it all. There is a steep learning curve for this radio for most experienced users; I cannot imagine a newby buying this as his first scanner; imagine the look on his face???
Have fun with it; its a very powerful radio.
Greg
Dafe1er
Member
I find that it is 90% user error for everything I play with.
What really is the issue is most hobbyist did not go with the Home Patrol-1/ Sentinel when it came out and stuck with the older style scanners. So, when coming to the BCDX36HP's they have a huge learning curve. I did when I bought the HP-1 just after it came out.I was use to just entering a single frequency and listening to it on an analog scanner.
I bought the BCD436HP last week and truth be told really enjoy it. It is much lighter, easier to tote around, and receives better than my HP-1. So far.
I plugged the 436 into the PC and was up and running in under five minutes. This was due to me knowing how to work Sentinel already and had things all per-programmed weeks in advanced.
Sentinel is really a simple program. The new tabs of options is a learning curve for me now since the previous version did not have them. I am going to go with a third party software for the 436 very soon. I never tried them before and wonder if they do anything better or easier.
Stick it out and take a breather when you get frustrated playing with these new scanners. It is fairly simple once you get the hang of it.
What really is the issue is most hobbyist did not go with the Home Patrol-1/ Sentinel when it came out and stuck with the older style scanners. So, when coming to the BCDX36HP's they have a huge learning curve. I did when I bought the HP-1 just after it came out.I was use to just entering a single frequency and listening to it on an analog scanner.
I bought the BCD436HP last week and truth be told really enjoy it. It is much lighter, easier to tote around, and receives better than my HP-1. So far.
I plugged the 436 into the PC and was up and running in under five minutes. This was due to me knowing how to work Sentinel already and had things all per-programmed weeks in advanced.
Sentinel is really a simple program. The new tabs of options is a learning curve for me now since the previous version did not have them. I am going to go with a third party software for the 436 very soon. I never tried them before and wonder if they do anything better or easier.
Stick it out and take a breather when you get frustrated playing with these new scanners. It is fairly simple once you get the hang of it.
SD cards used on all electronic devices are prone to corruption. The problem lies with the garbage non-redundant filesystems that are used for data storage, namely FAT32 and exFAT.
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