BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Battery Low Alert Bug/Issue? Please Help

[Gary985112]

Hi Everyone,

On my bcd436hp, when the warning pops up and says that the battery is low, connect to a charger and press e to not lose anything, I will connect it and press E but nothing happens. Is this a glitch? I press e but the screen does not disappear. Thanks for your time.

 

[jtwalker]

I don't have a 436, but guessing it may be related to fact that 436 doesn't charge while on. So the low battery condition persists even though you have it plugged in and not running off battery.

 

[doctordialtone]

says that the battery is low,

Easier to Read BCD436/536HP Digital Scanner Manual

 

[u2brent]

This message means "Turn the radio off now to Charge the batteries" or have a freshly charged set ready to swap out.
As mentioned the radio won't charge while turned on. Eventually with constant use the voltage will get so low that it will just turn off, Even while constantly operating/plugged in to a PC or charger providing power, The batteries will continue to drop voltage. I have 2 436's and even when constantly running off a PC or charger the batteries eventually get too low and the radio starts warning me that it's time to do a swap.

You can only dismiss the warning so many times before it just shuts off.
Not sure why hitting E did not work in your specific case. But none the less it means turn off the scanner now (gracefully) and change or charge the batteries.

 

[Gary985112]

View attachment 98112

Easier to Read BCD436/536HP Digital Scanner Manual

Thanks for the reference but this did not answer anything about the issue where the battery alert screen pops up and pressing e to continue doesn't get the screen off. I have this manual and use it daily.

 

[Gary985112]

This message means "Turn the radio off now to Charge the batteries" or have a freshly charged set ready to swap out.
As mentioned the radio won't charge while turned on. Eventually with constant use the voltage will get so low that it will just turn off, Even while constantly operating/plugged in to a PC or charger providing power, The batteries will continue to drop voltage. I have 2 436's and even when constantly running off a PC or charger the batteries eventually get too low and the radio starts warning me that it's time to do a swap.

You can only dismiss the warning so many times before it just shuts off.
Not sure why hitting E did not work in your specific case. But none the less it means turn off the scanner now (gracefully) and change or charge the batteries.

Ah sure thing, when that pops up am I safe to just power off the unit and it will still save all of my discovery logs from a current session?

Also, what benefit do you get using the scanner while it's plugged into the pc if it doesn't charge? Will the pc power the scanner without batteries? Just wondering how this works. Thanks again.

 

[u2brent]

Yes, you can safely turn it off at that point and all should be saved to the SD card.
The PC does provide some juice, but it's just the nature/design of these radios.
I have them both plugged into PC's and am using ARC536 PRO for logging everything and the display on the PC is much easier to see as well. But it will eventually run down the voltage on the batteries, It is what it is.. I always have 2 sets charged and ready to go when the message starts appearing. If you wait long enough or it's unattended it will just turn off.

I'm not positive but I don't think the radio will even operate without charged batteries installed, Regardless of external power or not.

 

[Gary985112]

Yes, you can safely turn it off at that point and all should be saved to the SD card.
The PC does provide some juice, but it's just the nature/design of these radios.
I have them both plugged into PC's and am using ARC536 PRO for logging everything and the display on the PC is much easier to see as well. But it will eventually run down the voltage on the batteries, It is what it is.. I always have 2 sets charged and ready to go when the message starts appearing. If you wait long enough or it's unattended it will just turn off.
View attachment 98123
I'm not positive but I don't think the radio will even operate without charged batteries installed, Regardless of external power or not.

Oh well that software looks awesome. Does that software let you actually control what you are scanning with the radio plugged in? So like you can click using those controls and your radio will go to that frequency? Would it be a good idea to run discovery mode using that software? Thanks again. Looks awesome

 

[u2brent]

Oh well that software looks awesome. Does that software let you actually control what you are scanning with the radio plugged in? So like you can click using those controls and your radio will go to that frequency? Would it be a good idea to run discovery mode using that software? Thanks again. Looks awesome

Yes, you can control the radio from the software. Also those P25 trunked frequencies are displayed that others want to see on the actual radios' display, but don't appear.

 

[Gary985112]

Yes, you can control the radio from the software. Also those P25 trunked frequencies are displayed that others want to see on the actual radios' display, but don't appear.

Oh wow that's really cool does it cost anything? Also would you say that it's better than ProScan?

 

[u2brent]

I've never used ProScan so I couldn't say..

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Use it free for 30 days..
only the Pro version has virtual display/control

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[mc48]

You don't hit "E" to continue you need to hit ".NO" and the scanner will run on external power, you can then remove and replace the batteries or run on USB power.

 

[Gary985112]

You don't hit "E" to continue you need to hit ".NO" and the scanner will run on external power, you can then remove and replace the batteries or run on USB power.

Okay thank you. I had no idea the bcd436hp can run on only external power

 

[JoeBearcat]

It can, but the recording/replay will be disabled. The .NO selection is also used for remote control.

 

[mc48]

It will record/replay on USB power if it has a charged set of batteries installed, I record with mine 24/7.

 

[W1KNE]

I think the OP is mentioning about the error message that comes up saying that the battery voltage is low, recording has been disabled, please press E to continue. Plug in a USB to keep it turned on, and swap out the batteries. If you want to just scan with the USB plugged in, press "." to go to serial mode when THAT message pops up. Plugging in the USB will clear that message too, but the E should clear it. Are you running the latest firmware on it?

 

[u2brent]

You don't hit "E" to continue you need to hit ".NO" and the scanner will run on external power, you can then remove and replace the batteries or run on USB power.

I'd hit ".No" if it was given as an option

It's already plugged into the PC (it's already in Serial Mode/Getting USB Power, The USB Hub has an external power supply plugged in). It doesn't give .NO as an option when the message pops up... The only course of action is to replace the batteries or turn off to charge the ones in the unit. Running w/o recording on is just a waste of time IMHO.. I suppose my PC just isn't giving the scanner enough juice to operate. I've never attempted to run w/o batteries, I suspect it wouldn't work in my case if the USB power is too low with batteries included.. Hitting E/Yes only postpones the inevitable, The message will shortly occur again, and again until it just shuts off if unattended.

 

[JoeBearcat]

When they battieries are not present or too low in voltage, record/replay is disabled regardless of the external power state.

 

[u2brent]

Why does the message keep recurring after it was dismissed the first time. If recording was already disabled the first time (As the message prompt implies is occurring by pressing E) what's left to disable a second, third, fourth time? (That is a possible definition of a bug) All the while it's still plugged in while this is going on.. Then it'll finally turn off, and then ask if I'd like to charge yes/no. Won't start to charge automatically either, until you see it and hit E.

Sorry I feel like I'm whining.. 😏

 

[JoeBearcat]

After it was dismissed or acknowledged? If you simply cleared it, then I believe record/replay will continue and you will continue to be bugged. It's a lot like ignoring Windows updates.

It's possible your battery is returning a little higher in charge then hitting the threshold again.

But I will put it on the list to look into.

I usually just change the battery and continue scanning/recording.