Are we seeing the final death throws of a once great company?

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jim202

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Whatever woes have befallen Uniden -- they're not alone. Sure looks like most consumer electronics companies are in the same boat.

Sure seems like we are seeing a lot of quantity, not necessarily quality, when it comes to electronics. Consumers want it better, faster, and cheaper (pick two, LOL). Shareholders don't seem to want to wait long enough for bugs to be worked out. And end-users have essentially become beta-testers, stuck in an endless upgrade cycle. :

Why should they be alone? Motorola has been doing the same thing with all their radios. I don't think any model has hit the customer without having a number of firmware changes applied to them. And these radios are high dollar ones up to and including $8000 portables and mobiles. They have even managed to kill or screw up royally some features that worked prior to the firmware update.
 

MStep

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Firmware updates are always tricky propositions, especially in units as technologically sophisticated as the 436 and 536 scanners. As I mentioned in another post, one of the issues with the current update should have been caught before release---- it's hard for me to understand how the USB cabling issue (auto switch to serial after 10 seconds) could be released with everyone seeming to have the problem with its not working. This is probably linked somehow with the new version of Sentinel and my guess if that something got skewed in the release. This is a fault that is most likely attributed to sloppiness on the part of Uniden.

The issue with the squelch/backlighting is a something a little different. You may have five or six engineers running through the effects of adding OFF to the replay menu with regard to some of the "typical" functions of the unit. But with units like the 436 and 536, there are so many possible permutations of functions that it is more likely, as has happened in this case, that the end users, who number is the thousands, are going to hit on a feature or function or combination thereof, that has been inadvertently and negatively affected by the change.

This is going to be the case with every firmware update, and becomes exponentially more troublesome when you see releases that incorporate updates to more than just one or two functions. As an example, I recall participating in some "minor" changes to an emergency services dispatch system, and the end result was that each single line of code that was either added, deleted, or changed in the firmware ended up requiring nearly 50 pages of notes to document the change.

The bottom line is that some things, like the USB cable issue, should have been caught by Uniden, but other changes are more likely going to be caught by us guys (and gals) who use these radios in a myriad of different configurations, every single day.
 

Fireboat03

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While I have to agree with Voyager that your analysis of the situation and your solution seems just a wee bit drastic Fireboat, that was a pretty funny post that I am going to print out and frame to hang prominently in the shack here.

Honestly and I surely do not want this thread to keep going on but I do want you to frame my posting. The reason why I want you to frame this posting is because in the near future you will look at it and say that Fireboat was right. I am right because I understand technology and hardware really well.

Look at building a scanner radio like you are building a house. If you do not lay down the concrete foundation right from the beginning on a solid surface then the frame of the house will never be built right and no matter what trusses or beams you try to do to the house to fix it the house will never be structually solid and sound.

I get that Uniden is trying their hearts and souls out to try and salvage their so called "flagship" but the ship is sinking and loosing steam. Firmware updates can only solve so much and they spent millions of dollars on the radios and the campaign and the smelly turd is just going to keep stinking real bad. When the radios were built the Q & A was horrible right from the beginning. The hardware design and components are pretty much crap. No scanner radio should be having a pulsing noise and a hissy noise all the time. No other Uniden scanner has ever done that. The 996 line of scanners do not and the newer 996P2 is flawless and the Homepatrol II is flawless. So I am not trying to beat down Uniden. I am just calling a spade a spade. I have all of these radios, so I know what is good and what is not good......

I am just trying to be fair and give credit where credit is deserved and the BCD536HP line and the 436HP just continue to have issues after issues and the firmware fixes are only going to go so far. And from what I have seen from the last firmware update Uniden just keeps showing their true colors. Maybe a new management team needs to come in and clean the old house out.
 

Fireboat03

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Also, just one more point. Why can't Uniden act like a true corporation and just admit to us that their scanner line of the BCD436 and the 536HP were not built to top notch quality and make good for it. Its really simple. Just tell us that things did not go as well as planned and we had factory issues and bad parts and we honestly tried to do our best because we want a true "flagship" and something horrible went wrong, but we want to make it right for our future growth. We want to clear our name and get these radios off the market and get something bigger and better and win back our customers.

Hoestly I think we would all melt and stop digging the knife into a salty infected wound that just is not healing.
 

trentbob

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... fireboat... that is a good point... I wish they would do that too... I would like any reason to once again respect and believe in a company that has made such a difference in my life for over 40 years but what you are calling for takes good leadership at the top and that is obviously what Uniden is missing not unlike our country...
 

SOFA_KING

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Death Throes II...The Sequel

I also see it industry wide. This global economy crap with bad trade deals, coupled with Wall Street demands for exceeding expectations or suffer the consequences, has all these companies treating their talent like $#!+. Don't like it? Try and find a better job somewhere else. I predict the end is not far, and it won't be pretty.

Such a shame our corrupt politicians sold us out. Unfortunately, it has to get worse before it gets better.

Phil
 

KE0GXN

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Great points...Fireboat and trent, but in my forty plus years of experience breathing, I would not suggest we hold our breath. Companies like Uniden just don't care, they have made money for so long off of us they think they are unfathomable.

Which is quite sad if you ask me.

Time to move on and seek other folks to give my money to.....I feel for the x36 owner, but I am glad I did not make that mistake and will roll with my HP till it rolls no more and if and when I decide I need something new...it will not be an Uniden.
 

buddrousa

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Fireboat I have a Uniden 785D that passes all kind of noise just scanning no radio traffic that is from 2003 but that was also the 1st P25 scanner ever released on the market and you could remote control it also. But scanners have come along way in the last 12 plus years GRE built the 1st 9600 baud P25 scanner that was remote controllable then GRE built the 1st scanner that held the complete US database and did P25 Phase 2 then Uniden came out with P25 Phase 2 with the complete US database that was remote controlled with a keypad.
 

Voyager

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Look at building a scanner radio like you are building a house. If you do not lay down the concrete foundation right from the beginning on a solid surface then the frame of the house will never be built right and no matter what trusses or beams you try to do to the house to fix it the house will never be structually solid and sound.

But you are looking at a few loose shingles and using that as evidence the foundation needs fixed. (you must be a contractor LOL)

They are replacing the leaky windows, and are replacing the plaster.

There is no evidence that there is anything wrong with the foundation.

There is also no reason to doze the house to the ground because you don't like the color.
 

KE0GXN

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That must be what prompted the most recent firmware update which addresses cosmetic issues. If they don't care, why would they even bother to put out that update?

Its all good....

I remember you telling another member they needed something to complain about and that you understood.

Well, I know you need something to praise Uniden about, so I understand too. :D

As far as your statement.....Uniden is a dollar short and a day late in my opinion.
 

Markscan

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I would have been perfectly happy with a phase 2 capable 396. I think they rushed the flagship radios to the market and are now paying the price.


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Boatanchor

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But don't let me get in the way of conspiracy theories and wild assumptions. :)

Always amazing how folks on the outside think they know everything about a company.

If your statements have to start out with "My Guess is" then there is a good chance you are waaaay off base with your assumptions.

Marshall KE4ZNR

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are it is a duck.. ;)

Anyone can read Unidens official financial reports. It is no secret that the company's electronics division is struggling and revenues have been plunging for at least the last five years. Even the official 'Investor Relations' bulletin's highlight the fact that the company is divesting from electronics and instead focussing increasingly on other commercial activities. It is all there was in (Japanese) black & white.

Uniden scanners may survive, but to do so the company will have to find further ways to reduce overheads.
This may involve outsourcing of production and further cuts to personnel. If the company owns the new production facility in Vietnam, there may be opportunities to sell and then lease the facility back. Regardless, with revenues on the current trend line, something has to change and change soon.

But, what would I know.. Like you said, it is all just a crazy conspiracy theory on my part.
 

MStep

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But, what would I know.. Like you said, it is all just a crazy conspiracy theory on my part.

May guess is that Uniden probably maintains several sets of books. I would not go by anything which is published on the internet, including this very post ;-)
 

SOFA_KING

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Uniden scanners may survive, but to do so the company will have to find further ways to reduce overheads.
This may involve outsourcing of production and further cuts to personnel. If the company owns the new production facility in Vietnam, there may be opportunities to sell and then lease the facility back. Regardless, with revenues on the current trend line, something has to change and change soon.

I believe outsourcing is what created the mess they are in now. Just look at the whole wifi dongle nightmare that took so long to resolve. Who knows how many other problems we see were/are a result of farming out the work? This X36 line is markedly different from previous offerings, which most agree had much better quality and cleaner designs. Something changed, and it was not a good change. That is the problem.

Perhaps the scanner business will spinoff and survive somehow. Maybe another company like Whistler will purchase it. Good opportunity for someone else to "step in". May not be a huge market, but a market nonetheless.

Phil
 

Voyager

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I believe outsourcing is what created the mess they are in now.

Companies have outsourced since the beginning of manufacturing.

The issue is that there are many more counterfeit and cheap sources these days, and that is the key difference. What is worse is that the counterfeits are getting so bad (good) that you can't tell the difference and they even come from the same distributors, and the cheap parts are selling for the same prices as the original sources that had quality parts.

Mark my words: This issue is only going to get worse and affect nearly any manufactured product.

It's not just scanners, but any electronics that are susceptible. And non-electronic items, too.
 

SOFA_KING

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I'm not talking about a parts supplier. Not even a board house. I'm talking about engineering and design. Take that outside your immediate control, because it's cheaper and supposedly increases revenue, and you risk losing control of quality. If you are on a tight timeline, like almost every product design is, working out QA issues becomes a real headache. Releasing a product before it is even finished, under these circumstances, is going to damage the brand name. And it will cost you on the back end, as it is costing Uniden now.

I have worked in companies (in engineering) that both considered outsourcing, and that were the outsourced company. The risk has to be weighed carefully. Yes, you can try to bring up a lawsuit against an outsourced company for breach of a well-written contract, but that may not even address the problems if the company can't get the job done...and then the legal costs become astronomical.

It's easy for low-ball outsourcing companies to make promises they can't keep, and hard to make them comply on a tight timeline. But, releasing a half-baked product under such conditions is suicide.

Phil
 

gratefulleo

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Gee I wonder how many people start listening to feeds and get hooked and go out and buy their own scanners. It happens! Everyone wants to control what they hear and all and feeds are so limited in scope.

That's what I did 2 weeks ago! So all I can say is "it could happen"

Leo
 

Citywide173

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Perhaps the scanner business will spinoff and survive somehow. Maybe another company like Whistler will purchase it. Good opportunity for someone else to "step in". May not be a huge market, but a market nonetheless.

Phil

I think the first person to mate an SDR into a Raspberry Pi with rapid channel scan software (why don't we have this yet?) and a simple interface/display will be the real winner
 

gmclam

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Missing a key engineer

Also, just one more point. Why can't Uniden act like a true corporation and just admit to us that their scanner line of the BCD436 and the 536HP were not built to top notch quality and make good for it. Its really simple. Just tell us that things did not go as well as planned and we had factory issues and bad parts and we honestly tried to do our best because we want a true "flagship" and something horrible went wrong, but we want to make it right for our future growth. We want to clear our name and get these radios off the market and get something bigger and better and win back our customers.
The typical reason companies do not do this is that it opens them up for litigation.

Without knowing (internal) details, I'd only be guessing as to what real problems are. I've spent most of my adult life as a (consumer) product developer, designer, firmware author and the like. So I do have a little more insight as to potential issues than most others.

I remember reading about having "contractor issues". Recently in this thread it was suggested that a key firmware engineer may no longer be available to Uniden. I work every day with products from large companies and it is obvious to me that product A was developed by a different firmware/software engineer than was product B, so I know the biggest companies do have turnover with this regard.

Consider that back in 2008 people would take any work they could get. I could see someone accepting a project to pay the bills. Fast forward a few years and a highly qualified engineer has tons of offers. Often high management in companies do not understand the value of specialized engineers and feel they can be easily replaced. This is why it is best to employ these people and reward them highly so they're not enticed to move on. But this is all conjecture on my part. Just thoughts about how these things happened.
 
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