BCD396T Firmware Update Available

[hotdjdave]

Update Results; AGC Needs to be System Specific!!!

Like yaesumofo, I too live and monitor in LAPD-ville. After applying the firmware and adjusting to the suggested settings (P25 Response Time: -7; P25 Reference Gain: +3), the reception became very choppy, cutting out, missing transmissions, and did not improve the audio quality at all. For LAPD, setting the digital AGC to RES +8 and the REF +5 (all the way up on each) seemed to help; but it is still not as good as it was before. I tried all the possible combinations and none were as good as it was before the update. It seems better to just set the Digital AGC setting to off now for LAPD, but some LAPD transmissions still cut out and are choppy now; and that doesn't help me with my other systems that need it! I am still testing with other systems (LA City Trunked System, LA County Trunked System, LADWP Trunked System, ICIS Trunked System, LASO, and other analog systems).

However, as Shaun suggested, maybe the LAPD radio system already has AVC/AGC and I should not use it on my scanner. This doesn't help for the rest of the radio systems in my scanner. As someone else asked, how do we know if the system already employs AVC/AGC?

DO NOT use AGC if you know for certain the system you're listening to uses TRANSMIT AGC on the portables/mobiles in use on the system. AGC + AGC = cascading effect. It will sound like crap. Some call this the "underwater sound". Some ancient and neglected ASTRO systems use old firmware that does not support TRANSMIT AGC on the Motorola radios. If you're trying to monitor such a system, the 396/96/2096 AGC feature makes a HUGE difference.

As for the AGC being "global," my question is "WHY?" In light of the above fact that some radio systems already employ AVC/AGC and some don't, shouldn't we be able to choose what systems in our scanner should have it to avoid the duplicate AGC problem? What if we scan some systems that have it and some that don't? This is a BIG problem, especially since the AGC setting is so finely tuned now and each system may need its own "fine tuning" or no AGC at all.


As for the other portions of the update, they seemed to have marked improvement or unknown effects.

”Add P25 bandplan setting for Implicit Mode systems” - What is this and what does it do?

The Volume Table update is great. Lower volume settings actually give you "lower" volume now.

”Improved scanning where there are adjacent strong signals” - Wonderful, if this is true! Didn't really seem to have the problem before, so I guess I will never know.​

I see additional settings now under Motorola system settings (or maybe these were already there and I just didn't notice them - either way, I need to know what they are for):

• Edit Band Plan - What is this?
• Digital End Code and Set End Code - Why are they both listed?
• Emergency Alert - What is this? The manual only shows the settings, no explanation of its purpose.
• Rvw ID: Srch L/O - Why can't this be under all group and system settings, and a global command as well?
• Clr All L/O IDs - Why can't this be under all group and system settings, and a global command as well?
​

Overall, I am happy that Uniden listens to its customers and makes necessary or wanted changes and improvements. As others mentioned, I too would like to see more changes and for the next update to include:

• Make the overall time for the backlight variable in 5 second increments (for all timed backlight modes).
• The ability to set the time on how long the backlight stays on under the "Squelch" and "Keypress" options.
• The ability to adjust the backlight brightness intensity level (e.g. “Low,” “Medium,” and “High;” or variable).
• Better sensitivity.
• The ability to set the “Volume Level” view on/off.
• The ability to set the “Squelch Level” view on/off.
• The ability to set a view for the Trunking Activity Indicators to remain on/off while scanning a trunked system (currently it goes off after a few seconds).
• The ability to set a view for the voltage meter to remain on/off while in normal scan mode.
• The ability to restore all locked out frequencies/channels at one time (within a group, system, or globally).
• Possibly a DTMF-16 (0-9, *, #, A, B, C, D) decoder (not sure this is possible without additional hardware).
• A mode for Close Call to have the ability/option to pass (play) the audio and display the frequency (and CTCSS or DCS, if available) of a locked on frequency without having to first press a button to accept it.
• The ability to choose filtration levels in FM and WFM – Narrow and Wide (this may not be possible without additional hardware – not sure).
• AFC* – Automatic Frequency Control – with an option to visually display the tracking of the frequency deviation (this may not be possible without additional hardware or may not be necessary at all – not sure).

*AFC – While receiving in FM mode, the received signal may drift causing distortion and noise. When the AFC function is activated, drifting received signals are automatically tracked providing stable reception of signals.​

I must mention that the UASD software needs some updating as well. Hint: take a look at the Butel ARC396 software.

I know, that is a lot of items; but I believe they will make for a better communications receiver, improved scanning flexibility, and overall product satisfaction. Agree?

 

[epbernstein]

Add function hold...

 

[USScanner]

Uniden had more AGC settings in the 396 testing this release. They settled for these settings. It might confuse the user if these settings were specific to each system??

 

[yaesumofo]

Lapd seems to be settling down a bit this evening with continuous listening.
The new volume control is good. especially if you choose to use stereo ear phones. the max High is the same as before. the lowest low is also the same the journey between is now a more slight sloop for the first 5 or 6 clicks as I see it.
definitely an improvement.
Yaesumofo

Like yaesumofo, I too live and monitor in LAPD-ville. After applying the firmware and adjusting to the suggested settings (P25 Response Time: -7; P25 Reference Gain: +3), the reception became very choppy, cutting out, missing transmissions, and did not improve the audio quality at all. For LAPD, setting the digital AGC to RES +8 and the REF +5 (all the way up on each) seemed to help; but it is still not as good as it was before. I tried all the possible combinations and none were as good as it was before the update. It seems better to just set the Digital AGC setting to off now for LAPD, but some LAPD transmissions still cut out and are choppy now; and that doesn't help me with my other systems that need it! I am still testing with other systems (LA City Trunked System, LA County Trunked System, LADWP Trunked System, ICIS Trunked System, LASO, and other analog systems).

However, as Shaun suggested, maybe the LAPD radio system already has AVC/AGC and I should not use it on my scanner. This doesn't help for the rest of the radio systems in my scanner. As someone else asked, how do we know if the system already employs AVC/AGC?

 

[USScanner]

A good way I have found to tune the audio is tuning is to the dispatchers radio & not the portable/mobie radios.

Since the portable/mobile units can be close to out of range of the system. Alot of times if the radios are on the system edge the error rate goes up on the 396. Also if the system is not tuned right (ex. proper power output for system coverage) it will affect the receive quality.

 

[hotdjdave]

A good way I have found to tune the audio is tuning is to the dispatchers radio & not the portable/mobie radios.

Since the portable/mobile units can be close to out of range of the system. Alot of times if the radios are on the system edge the error rate goes up on the 396. Also if the system is not tuned right (ex. proper power output for system coverage) it will affect the receive quality.

The dispatchers and the mobiles are being repeated from the same site (repeater). On a repeater system, you are hearing all the communicatinos from a radio site, not the radio of the actual unit communicating. It shouldn't make a difference, unless you are trying to listen directly to a mobile in simplex mode. However, if the dispatcher has a link (wired or microwave) to the repeater rather than also transmitting on a radio, then the dispatcher will sound much cleaner and have better P25 readings.

 

[USScanner]

What I meant mainly pertains to portable radio users, if the portable is on the fringe coverage of a system/repeater that persons audio will sound distorted compared to the dispatcher.

The dispatchers and the mobiles are being repeated from the same site (repeater). On a repeater system, you are hearing all the communicatinos from a radio site, not the radio of the actual unit communicating. It shouldn't make a difference, unless you are trying to listen directly to a mobile in simplex mode. However, if the dispatcher has a link (wired or microwave) to the repeater rather than also transmitting on a radio, then the dispatcher will sound much cleaner and have better P25 readings.

 

[mikewazowski]

Like yaesumofo, I too live and monitor in LAPD-ville. After applying the firmware and adjusting to the suggested settings (P25 Response Time: -7; P25 Reference Gain: +3), the reception became very choppy, cutting out, missing transmissions, and did not improve the audio quality at all.

Choppy reception, cuttingout and missing transmissions would seem to suggest that you need to manually tweak your P25 decode settings not your agc settings.

 

[hotdjdave]

But Why Do I have to Readjust the P25 Settings After the Firmware Update?

Choppy reception, cuttingout and missing transmissions would seem to suggest that you need to manually tweak your P25 decode settings not your agc settings.

This is true, but why did the firmware update cause the need for this change?

The P25 settings I had for was "8 Auto" for all LAPD P25 transmissions. Now, after the firmware update, I have to play around with each LAPD transmission and set it somewhere between "5 Auto" and "7 Auto"

 

[loumaag]

I'm simply going off what was written in Uniden BCD396T Firmware Revision Notes 1.11.03 (BCD396TFirmwareRevisionNotes.pdf):

"Fix an issue where EDACS beeps are sometimes not detected and suppressed." -page 1.

That is all it says. It says nothing about P25 systems. Regardless, the problem happens when I am not monitoring a P25 system (as you sleuthed, I have none near me), so the problem did not "[go] away" - even before the update was applied.

I guess I assumed you (who have been following this scanner very closely since it's release) would have been aware of what the problem was in regard to monitoring both P25 trunking systems and EDACS at the same time. As for sleuthing, none was necessary, your past posts told me where you were and I just happen to know there are no P25 systems in the Bay area.

I can't speak for Bacon, but I'm only 1-1/2 mile from the site.

This comment, along with some others I read, and my own experience with an EDACS system some 12-14 miles away (I don't seem to have the problem you are experiencing) makes me wonder. Since I am also the owner of both a Pro-96 and 2096 and they suffer from a known "hot" front end, I am wondering if you are so close that it really is a symptom of too much signal causing a degradation of the receive ability. That just looks silly at first glance, but bear with me here. We all know that if you are on the fringe of an EDACS system, you will occasionally get the beeps because you are far away, I get them occasionally on all my scanners when listening to the Montgomery County system some 30 miles away. I don't get them on the local EDACS system I listen to (reference above) so try this, put the ATT on for the system and see if helps. I mean at 1.5 miles it can't hurt to give it a try.

 

[Bill2k]

The new firmware addressed the AGC is not the P25 decode. Have you tried disabling AGC altogether? Maybe someone in your area can help you find a good setting which works for them.

 

[code6]

BCD396T firmware update

Could someone please email the update to me, I can not get it to work from the
Uniden web site. When I try to install it with the installer the file comes up as
BCD396T 1.11.htm,when I hit the install button nothing happens.Tried to download
it several times from web site no luck.
my email is scannerfreq@msn.com
thanks for any help provided
Rick C.

 

[Bill2k]

I just sent it to you via gmail. I guess we'll see if gmail allows .src files as attachments soon.

 

[loumaag]

Could someone please email the update to me, I can not get it to work from the
Uniden web site. When I try to install it with the installer the file comes up as
BCD396T 1.11.htm,when I hit the install button nothing happens.Tried to download
it several times from web site no luck.
my email is scannerfreq@msn.com
thanks for any help provided
Rick C.

Your browser is renaming the extention of the file. Just make sure the file ends in ".SCN"

The proper entire file name is: BCD396T_V1_11_03.scn

 

[wolter]

As for sleuthing, none was necessary, your past posts told me where you were and I just happen to know there are no P25 systems in the Bay area.

I don't recall saying the specific area that I live in. My avatar may lead someone to guess which State, but that doesn't mean anything in itself. I just searched all the posts that I made over the years and I found none that say I said I live in the Bay Area. Unless you can show me otherwise. But moderators -- and only moderators -- have access to other information (including posting IP address) that might indicate where a user lives, and you have been known to attempt tracking someone with that. But a posting IP doesn't necessarily mean anything either. Still, this doesn't matter to me. (I only addressed this here because you did.)

The attenuator doesn't make a difference with the beep, but it was a good thought.

 

[code6]

Thanks bill for the email it worked great. thanks again Rick C.

 

[Al42]

As someone else asked, how do we know if the system already employs AVC/AGC?

And, as Shaun said (I think it was Shaun - I didn't go looking), you listen. If you hear background noise, then the nose goes down as someone starts speaking, it's AGC. If everyone is at about the same level, even the car horn that blasts when the cop is talking is the same level as the cop, there's probably transmit AGC.

If everyone is at a different level, some transmissions so low you want to hook a PA system to the scanner, others so loud you wonder if the speaker's warranteed against crawling out through the slots in the case, there's no transmit AGC.

If it's in the middle somewhere, you just have to listen more, or turn the AGC on and see which way sounds better, on or off.

 

[loumaag]

I don't recall saying the specific area that I live in. My avatar may lead someone to guess which State, but that doesn't mean anything in itself. I just searched all the posts that I made over the years and I found none that say I said I live in the Bay Area. Unless you can show me otherwise. But moderators -- and only moderators -- have access to other information (including posting IP address) that might indicate where a user lives, and you have been known to attempt tracking someone with that. But a posting IP doesn't necessarily mean anything either. Still, this doesn't matter to me. (I only addressed this here because you did.)

You could have asked this via PM, but given my position here and the fact that I can indeed do what you say in reference to the IP I need to point out that you didn't do such a good search. The very first thread I looked up provided this post:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?p=247672
Most of the time I have a pretty good memory, but I am getting older. :wink:

The attenuator doesn't make a difference with the beep, but it was a good thought.

Darn, I was hoping that would work. How many beeps are coming through?

 

[josephdavis13]

Austin Texas BCD396T P25 Users

Austin Texas BCD396T P25 Users

If you elect to use the new firmware version 1.11.03 and want to use
the "Adjusting AGC Parameters (Unofficial)". Make sure that you have
the "Adjusting
the P25 level set to manual" not auto or default.

My BCD396T works and sound great after new firmware upgrade. My audio
quality has never sounded this good since I have had this in August of
2005.

Lastly take your time and read over the information, I feel you will
be happy.

Joseph

 

[wolter]

I need to point out that you didn't do such a good search. The very first thread I looked up provided this post: http://www.radioreference.com/forums...d.php?p=247672

That isn't what my post says. Check your PM's.