Bill2k
Member
Codeman said:
I was thinking about this today. I was thinking if you held the func button for more than 3 seconds it would then "hold" it until a key was pressed. It would definitely make one handed operation easier.
BCD396T Firmware Update Available
- Thread starter UPMan
- Start date
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I was thinking about this today. I was thinking if you held the func button for more than 3 seconds it would then "hold" it until a key was pressed. It would definitely make one handed operation easier.
troymail
Silent Key
Hey UPMan - are the defaults for all settings (digital and analog AGC) ZERO???
Bill2k
Member
Yes.......................................
ButchGone
Member
Wow...all this firmware update stuff, settings, revisions, tweakings...auto this and manual that, has made me really think twice about getting a 396! I'm not a techno-geek, just wanna hear the local cops/firefighters clearly and not worry about downloads and changing all kinds of settings. Hopefully the 996 won't be so complicated to adjust/use and hear clearly. Remember, not everybody wants to fiddle and fumble with computers, menus and function keys on the radio, some just wanna hear clearly.
Loving simplicity,
BG
Loving simplicity,
BG
Bill2k
Member
ButchGone said:
All this firmware stuff is really for people who like to fiddle with their scanner and have more options. The thing is, people complained about certain things and uniden listened and made improvements. Uniden listened to people who already owned their scanner. They had no obligation to do this, yet they did. Not many companies will do this.
My scanner worked fine before I updated the firmware. It works fine after the firmware. If you don't like to fiddle with your scanner, set it and forget it. If you happen to come across something you want to listen to in the future you can be sure the scanner will receive it (ie; digital voice or even the new 700Mhz public safety).
Bill2k
Member
dchrismon said:
Different approach edited out.
Have you read the firmwares pdf? It explains what to do if you encounter an error while updating.
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I applied the new firmware and the flash went without incident.
But now it seems I lost sensitivity and i get alot of garbled audio. I did not change anything else except flashing to new firmware. It was working perfect before the upgrade.
Anyone have any suggestions? or know where I can find the old version of firmware so I can go back?
Thanks
But now it seems I lost sensitivity and i get alot of garbled audio. I did not change anything else except flashing to new firmware. It was working perfect before the upgrade.
Anyone have any suggestions? or know where I can find the old version of firmware so I can go back?
Thanks
Reset the P25 Settings; Make Adjustments to the New AGC Settings
Also, you may now need to adjust the new AGC (Automatic Gain Control or automatic volume control) settings or just turn off the AGC. If the system which you are trying to listen already has AGC/AVC built in (the agencies radio system and radios have AGC/AVC), then you need to turn the AGC off for that system. Otherwise you will receive with poor audio qualities because both the radio system and your scanner are trying to make audio adjustments using the AGC that may result in poor audio quality, such as you reported.
The best thing to do is turn the AGC off for both Digital and Analog, and see how it sounds without it first. If you feel you need AGC, play with the adjustments until it sounds correct. The default settings are "P25 RES TIME: +0" and "P25 REF GAIN: +0." Adjust these settings up (+) or down (-) to gain maximum audio quality. For me, RES at -3 and REF at +3 gave me the best results for systems that I believe do not already employ their own AGC/AVC. However, in most cases, I leave the AGC off for both digital and analog. I am still tinkering with it to find the best settings for my area.
My only gripe is that I cannot set the AGC per each system. One AGC setting is NOT always the same or the best for each system; however, we are forced to have only ONE AGC setting. I may want to have the AGC "off" for one system, "RES -5, REF +4" for another system, and "RES +5, REF -2" for another system. But no, I guess Uniden thinks that we can't handle all that control or some of us may get confused if there are too many settings for each system :roll:. I say this about all the settings for all the functions, such as we should be able to set the backlight time for each backlight setting (Squelch, Keypress, globally) and the ability to restore Locked Out channels in each group, system, or globally.
Mine did the same thing. You may have to reset the Auto P25 start level. I listen to LAPD. Before the firmware update, I had the P25 setting at "8 Auto." After the setting, I had to reset it to "7 Auto."jimyleg said:
Also, you may now need to adjust the new AGC (Automatic Gain Control or automatic volume control) settings or just turn off the AGC. If the system which you are trying to listen already has AGC/AVC built in (the agencies radio system and radios have AGC/AVC), then you need to turn the AGC off for that system. Otherwise you will receive with poor audio qualities because both the radio system and your scanner are trying to make audio adjustments using the AGC that may result in poor audio quality, such as you reported.
The best thing to do is turn the AGC off for both Digital and Analog, and see how it sounds without it first. If you feel you need AGC, play with the adjustments until it sounds correct. The default settings are "P25 RES TIME: +0" and "P25 REF GAIN: +0." Adjust these settings up (+) or down (-) to gain maximum audio quality. For me, RES at -3 and REF at +3 gave me the best results for systems that I believe do not already employ their own AGC/AVC. However, in most cases, I leave the AGC off for both digital and analog. I am still tinkering with it to find the best settings for my area.
My only gripe is that I cannot set the AGC per each system. One AGC setting is NOT always the same or the best for each system; however, we are forced to have only ONE AGC setting. I may want to have the AGC "off" for one system, "RES -5, REF +4" for another system, and "RES +5, REF -2" for another system. But no, I guess Uniden thinks that we can't handle all that control or some of us may get confused if there are too many settings for each system :roll:. I say this about all the settings for all the functions, such as we should be able to set the backlight time for each backlight setting (Squelch, Keypress, globally) and the ability to restore Locked Out channels in each group, system, or globally.
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Reset the P25 Settings; Make Adjustments to the New AGC Settings
If anything, the radio is now more sensitive to P25 transmissions - a good thing?
Also, you may now need to adjust the new AGC (Automatic Gain Control or automatic volume control) settings or just turn off the AGC. If the system which you are trying to listen already has AGC/AVC built in (the agencies radio system and radios have AGC/AVC), then you need to turn the AGC off for that system. Otherwise you will receive with poor audio qualities because both the radio system and your scanner are trying to make audio adjustments using the AGC that may result in poor audio quality, such as you reported.
The best thing to do is turn the AGC off for both Digital and Analog, and see how it sounds without it first. If you feel you need AGC, play with the adjustments until it sounds correct. The default settings are "P25 RES TIME: +0" and "P25 REF GAIN: +0." Adjust these settings up (+) or down (-) to gain maximum audio quality. For me, RES at -3 and REF at +3 gave me the best results for systems that I believe do not already employ their own AGC/AVC. However, in most cases, I leave the AGC off for both digital and analog. I am still tinkering with it to find the best settings for my area.
My only gripe is that I cannot set the AGC per each system. One AGC setting is NOT always the same or the best for each system; however, we are forced to have only ONE AGC setting. I may want to have the AGC "off" for one system, "RES -5, REF +4" for another system, and "RES +8, REF -2" for another system. But no, I guess Uniden thinks that we can't handle all that control or some of us may get confused if there are too many settings for each system:roll: . I say this about all the settings for all the functions, such as we should be able to set the backlight time for each backlight setting (Squelch, Keypress, globally) and the ability to restore Locked Out channels in each system or globally.
Mine did the same thing. You may have to reset the Auto P25 start level. I listen to LAPD. Before the firmware update, I had the P25 setting at "8 Auto." After the setting, I had to reset it to "7 Auto."squirrel said:
If anything, the radio is now more sensitive to P25 transmissions - a good thing?
Also, you may now need to adjust the new AGC (Automatic Gain Control or automatic volume control) settings or just turn off the AGC. If the system which you are trying to listen already has AGC/AVC built in (the agencies radio system and radios have AGC/AVC), then you need to turn the AGC off for that system. Otherwise you will receive with poor audio qualities because both the radio system and your scanner are trying to make audio adjustments using the AGC that may result in poor audio quality, such as you reported.
The best thing to do is turn the AGC off for both Digital and Analog, and see how it sounds without it first. If you feel you need AGC, play with the adjustments until it sounds correct. The default settings are "P25 RES TIME: +0" and "P25 REF GAIN: +0." Adjust these settings up (+) or down (-) to gain maximum audio quality. For me, RES at -3 and REF at +3 gave me the best results for systems that I believe do not already employ their own AGC/AVC. However, in most cases, I leave the AGC off for both digital and analog. I am still tinkering with it to find the best settings for my area.
My only gripe is that I cannot set the AGC per each system. One AGC setting is NOT always the same or the best for each system; however, we are forced to have only ONE AGC setting. I may want to have the AGC "off" for one system, "RES -5, REF +4" for another system, and "RES +8, REF -2" for another system. But no, I guess Uniden thinks that we can't handle all that control or some of us may get confused if there are too many settings for each system:roll: . I say this about all the settings for all the functions, such as we should be able to set the backlight time for each backlight setting (Squelch, Keypress, globally) and the ability to restore Locked Out channels in each system or globally.
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Bill2k
Member
b52hbuff said:
No it doesn't. The firmware memory is seperate from the system memory.
suttles1972
Member
Same problem
I took the next step by contacting a Uniden Tech support rep. When I explained to him that the scanner wouldn't repower, after receiving a error code on the firmware update, he was dumbfounded. I asked him if it was a reset code I could use on the keyboard. He replied negative and told me that the only way to reverse this problem is to send it in for repair. I must say that I was ferious with this being the only option I had to repair the problem. But nothing I did would work, so off went the 396. My only request I added was for tech support to update the scanner, since I had to send it off. I hope this is a simple request. I hope others have a better solution to this potential problem. And if not, be prepared to be without your toy for a little while.
WES
dchrismon said:
I took the next step by contacting a Uniden Tech support rep. When I explained to him that the scanner wouldn't repower, after receiving a error code on the firmware update, he was dumbfounded. I asked him if it was a reset code I could use on the keyboard. He replied negative and told me that the only way to reverse this problem is to send it in for repair. I must say that I was ferious with this being the only option I had to repair the problem. But nothing I did would work, so off went the 396. My only request I added was for tech support to update the scanner, since I had to send it off. I hope this is a simple request. I hope others have a better solution to this potential problem. And if not, be prepared to be without your toy for a little while.
WES
hotdjdave said:
Just remember that these are "Unofficial" features as of now. Uniden could have not told us about them at all. Eventually they will be added to the menu and maybe for each system.
Give it time.
I for one am happy that they are working on improving it. Makes me feel better about my investment.
suttles1972 said:
Did you tried restarting the whole update process again?
We've been told by Paul O. himself that when something happens in the middle of the update, you can just try it again. The firmware update process doesn't overwrite the "boot loader" or memory area (for lack of a better term) of the radio that lets you do the keypresses (L/O + 6) and upload firmware. So even if it failed the first time, it shouldn't keep you from trying again.
Maybe the guy at tech support didn't know better....
suttles1972
Member
kikito said:
I guess my biggest mistake throughout my ordeal was relying solely on the information of one Uniden Tech. I assure you that if I knew about this, I would be $5.00 richer and have my scanner in my posession. I guess that's what they mean when they say" You learn as you go". Thanks for the quick response.
WES
Virgin-Rookie Scanner
I'm a newwbie to scanning. I purchsed the BCD396T as my 1st. car. I'm a lil overwhelmed by the whole deal. I'm no dummy(no responses to that please), but I am very confused in how to set this unit for my local and state systems. And does downloading the most recent firmware help using this unit?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Tom
Methuen, Ma
I'm a newwbie to scanning. I purchsed the BCD396T as my 1st. car. I'm a lil overwhelmed by the whole deal. I'm no dummy(no responses to that please), but I am very confused in how to set this unit for my local and state systems. And does downloading the most recent firmware help using this unit?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Tom
Methuen, Ma
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Bill2k
Member
Hey Tom, Have you installed the uniden software to help you program frequencies from your computer? Mass State Police is preloaded into the scanner so you can listen to them while you're reading the manual
Fortunitely for you Methuen, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Lowell are all conventional systems and those are the easiest to program. I live in Plaistow and have the above cities in my scanner. If you want throw me a private message I can possibly email those systems and walk you through loading them into your new scanner. Don't be intimidated by all the features, it may take a couple days but you will get familiar with it.
Fortunitely for you Methuen, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Lowell are all conventional systems and those are the easiest to program. I live in Plaistow and have the above cities in my scanner. If you want throw me a private message I can possibly email those systems and walk you through loading them into your new scanner. Don't be intimidated by all the features, it may take a couple days but you will get familiar with it.
GTO_04
Member
Nikkojuno said:
Definitely download the newest firmware. For me it has fixed the nagging issues that plagued the 396. Also download the UASD software to program your scanner. The scanner can be programmed manually (without PC) but is more tedious and more time consuming.
We can't tell you everything you need to know in one thread. Just realize it is not all that difficult to program this thing. It is actually easier to program than older scanners because it's menu driven. You will be prompted to enter certain settings.
Look over the owner's manual first. It's not that bad as far as owner's manuals go. Then if you have any specific questions there are many here that can help you. If there are sections you don't understand we will be able to help.
GTO_04
- Status
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