BCD396T Firmware Update Available

[yaesumofo]

I have found that 6 auto and 7 auto seem to work pretty good.
I have now left the radio on 7 auto and left it in apco adjustment mode for a while (an hour) on a channel with a good signal. The radio seems to "learn" and self adjusts while in adjustment mode.
Once again I like the new volume adjust mode it is good. I would like a similar "fix" for the squelch. That would be an improvement.

Yaesumofo

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"

 

[W4KRR]

Under "Edit System Options" there's an option to "Adjust P25 Level" and the choices are "Auto", "Manual", and "Default". Does this setting have anything to do with the new P25 AGC settings for Response Time and Reference Gain, or are they two seperate issues? Mine had been set to "Auto", does it need to be set to "Manual" in order for the new P25 AGC settings to work?

 

[gregmoss]

Yep! That works for me also..

 

[jpm]

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

Got to love the

MacIntosh computer for downloading this software from the start of all firmware upgrades. This computer does its job.

 

[jimyleg]

I have found that 6 auto and 7 auto seem to work pretty good.
I have now left the radio on 7 auto and left it in apco adjustment mode for a while (an hour) on a channel with a good signal. The radio seems to "learn" and self adjusts while in adjustment mode.

Does it go into adjustment mode by it self, automatically? Or how do get to that mode?

 

[Bill2k]

The radio doesn't really learn. Every time it tries to decode a signal it will start at that reference point.

Say that the perfect threshold for your particular system is 6. If you have the decode threshold set at 8 auto, then every time it goes to decode a signal from that system it will start at 8 and adjust itself down to 6.

The threshold adjustment is there so the user can fine tune the radio to a spot close to the actual threshold allowing the scanner to find the right threshold quicker.

EDIT: The wiki describes it much better then I can. Check it out: http://www.radioreference.com/wiki/index.php/P25_audio_decode_level_adjustment_%28BCD396T%29

 

[Bill2k]

Does it go into adjustment mode by it self, automatically? Or how do get to that mode?

To get to the p25 threshold mode, press and hold the func key and press the selector knob twice. After you are in this mode, turning the selector knob will adjust the p25 threshold.

 

[Codeman]

Kudos to Uniden for the new volume control spacing. When I'm at work, I use a pair of standard stereo headphones. Before this update, that meant volume was set to 1, and it was still a tad high. Although I have a 32Ω ear plug from Pryme (EH-1000), it's not comfortable to me for long-term listening. With the new spacing, I'm now using setting 2, which is just about perfect. Thanks for making "normal" headphones usable!

 

[John_M]

W4KRR Wrote:

Under "Edit System Options" there's an option to "Adjust P25 Level" and the choices are "Auto", "Manual", and "Default". Does this setting have anything to do with the new P25 AGC settings for Response Time and Reference Gain, or are they two seperate issues? Mine had been set to "Auto", does it need to be set to "Manual" in order for the new P25 AGC settings to work?

You must set the scanner to Auto.

 

[USScanner]

What I do it is: If setting 8 sounds good, then watch the scanner auto adjust on a tg & if it seems to adjust to the settings that are in 7 then i change it to 7. Each system might have different settings say 1 system is good with 7 & another is good with 6 or 8 etc. If you have auto tuning on & the system is good with 8 & auto changes to the settings of 6 the audio should still sound fine it might take a split second or a second to adjust itself.

Remember alot of times units sound garbled "not because of your radio settings"

Its because their radio is close to out of range

I tune the radio to the dispatchers radio not the units

 

[DaveIN]

A 6 (Auto) sounds good on my local MPSCS towers. This is a 9600 baud P25 system. on the SAFE-T system I use a 7 (Auto) for the 3600 baud mixed mode.

 

[John_M]

UPMan. When will the unofficial updates to the firmware become official? After the firmware has been out in the field for awhile and doesn't need to be tweaked anymore?

 

[Bill2k]

I was expecting to hear those EDACS beeps when driving through Worcester Ma and Hartford Ct because someone else said they were still hearing them. The only thing close to a beep I heard was a small chirp at the end of their transmissions. It was nothing compared to the five beeps I used to hear after every transmission.

 

[UPMan]

At some future update we'll make the menu items "persistant." At that time, the settings will be official and supported (assuming all is really well with them).

 

[GTO_04]

I was expecting to hear those EDACS beeps when driving through Worcester Ma and Hartford Ct because someone else said they were still hearing them. The only thing close to a beep I heard was a small chirp at the end of their transmissions. It was nothing compared to the five beeps I used to hear after every transmission.

This is what I was hoping to hear!!! The small chirp is normal. As long as you don't get the five beeps it's all good! The beeps are gone for me too! And the small chirp I do get seems makes the ones I get on my 245 seem long!

Thanks UPman for keeping us up to date!

GTO_04

 

[epbernstein]

At some future update we'll make the menu items "persistant." At that time, the settings will be official and supported (assuming all is really well with them).

Is that the update where we'll see function hold?

 

[jimyleg]

What's function hold?

 

[SCPD]

What's function hold?

You answered your own question.

 

[DaveIN]

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

After the firmware update?

 

[Codeman]

What's function hold?

Instead of holding the function key down while pressing another key, you press and release the function key and then press the second key. The scanner's software would effectively "hold" it down for the second key. It would make one-handed use easier.