BCD396XT / BCD996XT Firmware Update Coming

[wise871]

Which channels?

Old topic.
http://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-scanners/129975-strange-pl-tone-issue-996-15-a.html

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[Tryton]

I feel like an addict, Jones-in for that new firmware.. I know Paul said "Near the end of February" I keep checking the firmware page 2 - 3 times a day lol! I need help!!

 

[RoninJoliet]

What i read from "Upman" is this is and ONLY is a firmware upgrade for the P25 decoding in the 396,996XT models and as mentioned will help "MOST" P25 systems, nothing "MORE".....To read or plead anymore into this is a waste of time....

 

[Highpockets]

What i read from "Upman" is this is and ONLY is a firmware upgrade for the P25 decoding in the 396,996XT models and as mentioned will help "MOST" P25 systems, nothing "MORE".....To read or plead anymore into this is a waste of time....

What you just posted makes sense, and that could possibly be the outcome.

It just doesn't make sense that it's been a long time coming for an update for the XT models. And UPMan reads the threads concerning Uniden, and one would think he took a few notes after all that time and would have tried to include a few of them if possible in the update coming.

I guess we'll find out soon.

 

[scanningisfun]

What you just posted makes sense, and that could possibly be the outcome.

It just doesn't make sense that it's been a long time coming for an update for the XT models. And UPMan reads the threads concerning Uniden, and one would think he took a few notes after all that time and would have tried to include a few of them if possible in the update coming.

I guess we'll find out soon.

UPman, my 396XT is at the repair center right now and I was wondering if it would come back to me with the new firmware. The person that emailed me said it would be shipped out by the 28th.

Jacob

 

[DJ88]

What you just posted makes sense, and that could possibly be the outcome.

It just doesn't make sense that it's been a long time coming for an update for the XT models. And UPMan reads the threads concerning Uniden, and one would think he took a few notes after all that time and would have tried to include a few of them if possible in the update coming.

I guess we'll find out soon.

I agree with you Steve, and, in your case, I know you're referring to the 3 and 4 second delay. I'm sure it would be a minor tweak to include it. The "T" models have 1,2,3,4,& 5 second delay and why they eliminated 3 and 4 in the "XTs" is beyond me. They downgraded a feature in the upgraded models. It makes no sense at all.

 

[UPMan]

Jacob: Shipping out by the 28th...on the bubble. Can't say with certainty either way.

No features are being added by this update.

 

[Highpockets]

Jacob: Shipping out by the 28th...on the bubble. Can't say with certainty either way.

No features are being added by this update.

Well, I guess I got my answer, one thing I'm happy about is you answered, disappointed though. Oh well...... The decoding problem needed attention, thanks for that!

 

[kd8x]

I tried FM and it did help but the problem is still there. It seems like it is taking to long to decode. Which cuts off the transmissions at the begginng of the call. I discovered this when I had my bc95xlt running side by side with the 396xt. I have tried changing all of the settings and it is still there. I finally gave up and removed all the tones. It mainly seems to happen with SRSO.

make sure battery save mode is off..

 

[Skypilot007]

Jacob: Shipping out by the 28th...on the bubble. Can't say with certainty either way.

No features are being added by this update.

"The "T" models have 1,2,3,4,& 5 second delay and why they eliminated 3 and 4 in the "XTs" is beyond me. They downgraded a feature in the upgraded models. It makes no sense at all."

Why can't we have a simple feature back that Uniden took away from us ?

I'm antisipating this firmware update will have little to no effect on performance for most users of the XT series. Why can't you guys read these forums and fix the stuff we have been complaining about. Yes I know about the P25 issues but there are plenty of other issues that would seem to be an easy fix for a competent software engineer.

Its bad enough we all going to have to cough up another $500 or so buck when P25 X2 comes online everywhere. I sure hope we don't have to go through all this again when that unit is released.

 

[Fenix]

I'll be happy when it works. I'm not holding my breath since uniden has ignored us for so long.

One thing's for sure, I guarantee this will be the last update the 396/996XT models EVER receive .

Look how long it has taken them to make the update we are getting now , and it's only bug fixes, no new features.

Once this update rolls out, we might as well consider our scanners updated to "as good as it gets" and go on.

I hate to complain, but Uniden just left us in a boat without a paddle on the XT series.

 

[davedaver1]

Gee, mine IS as good as it gets. My boat is cruising down the river nicely. "us" is relative - since UPMan reads these threads, he can count me as a happy owner who is not dying over the next update.

 

[sjlamb]

Gee, mine IS as good as it gets. My boat is cruising down the river nicely. "us" is relative - since UPMan reads these threads, he can count me as a happy owner who is not dying over the next update.

You are.... BY FAR..... in the majority.

 

[DaveNF2G]

I am hoping for improvement on the local simulcast P25 system. That is all I anticipate from the upcoming release. If it happens, then I will be perfectly satisfied with my XT scanners. Uniden should not be wasting time issuing firmware updates just so there are firmware updates.

 

[Highpockets]

I am hoping for improvement on the local simulcast P25 system. That is all I anticipate from the upcoming release. If it happens, then I will be perfectly satisfied with my XT scanners. Uniden should not be wasting time issuing firmware updates just so there are firmware updates.

Look on the Home Patrol main page, you'll see:

"YOU SPEAK, WE LISTEN"

That tells me that upgrades must be important to Uniden and their customers, and the customers have spoken for over a year concerning the XT models, are they listening? Not completly.

I'm glad your perfectly satisfied with your XT scanners, myself I don't believe upgrades are a waste of time if it's something you feel was taken away and shouldn't be to much of a problem to put back.

But then again, I'm only one customer and most likely not on Uniden's Christmas Card List!

 

[pro106import]

My turn to chime in.
Simma down Naw
Anyway, I have been following this development on this thread and also on the BCD396XT yahoo group.
UpMan has been up front about the update from the beginning saying it will ONLY be for the P25 problem. Lots of posters here are asking for other improvements, including myself, but we all know they probably will never come. I work in an electronics environment with many engineers, and they are always looking forward for new and improved products. Uniden has already made a boatload from the XT models, and I am sure the engineers are working on new radios as we speak. I believe what happened is during the development on those new radios, an engineer stumbled upon a new way to improve the P25 and realized that it could easily be incorporated into the XT also. So we got lucky. I really don't think that they were actually working on improving the XT models. Just so happens that in designing the new radios that it will work for the old ones without any significant cost.
With that said, I just want to say that I own TWO 396XT's. One stays at home searching all day and recording new freqs, and the other goes with me to work. I also own a Pro-106 which was my original radio. I had the Pro-96 but sold that one for the same price that I paid for the 106. They keep their value, and the 106 was on sale on Black Friday a few years back for $299 and there was a $50 coupon on line to boot.
The reason why I bought the 396XT is this:
ENCRYPTION MUTE!
I couldn't take the constant mickey mouse noise on the 106 any further (and the wife couldn't take it either!).
Unfortunately, you really need both types of radios (GRE and Uniden) to take advantage of all of the benefits that each radio has.
Will we EVER see a radio that has everything? I doubt it.
Carry on Ladies and Gents.
Happy Scanning everyone and thanks Paul ("Don't shoot the messenger") for being here for us.

Bob

 

[fxdscon]

The reason why I bought the 396XT is this:
ENCRYPTION MUTE!
I couldn't take the constant mickey mouse noise on the 106 any further (and the wife couldn't take it either!).
Unfortunately, you really need both types of radios (GRE and Uniden) to take advantage of all of the benefits that each radio has.
Will we EVER see a radio that has everything? I doubt it.
Bob

I Agree 1000% !

 

[RoninJoliet]

I feel the pain with Uniden users here trying to get there system to work well on there scanner as its a great hobby....It is fortunate that the Uniden radios work very well here for the most part on the ILL-STARCOM Digital system....When you see tho how TV's, Ipods etc come out with new model after model thats the way profits are made and company's stay alive in this modern world...Im not a rich man and am retired so it is tough to spend $500 but i see my grandkids with "Ipod after Ipod and thats high price profits....If you wanna play you have to pay...I give Upman alot of credit as he is being as honest as possible with us owners as he must have a guy shadowing him....Have a good day scanning gents....

 

[KC1UA]

This thread is similar to dropping a side of beef into a shark tank.

Maybe it would be best just to release the firmware unannounced. Actually, maybe it's more fun to watch the feeding frenzy.

Good God....it wasn't so long ago that when you bought a scanner, that was that. There was no ability to update the damned thing on the fly. The man gave a pretty clear statement of what this update would provide. I'm happy that we have this capability these days, not only with Uniden, but also with GRE and any number of the increasing black box/SDR type receivers now at our disposal.

 

[kruser]

Unfortunately, you really need both types of radios (GRE and Uniden) to take advantage of all of the benefits that each radio has.
Will we EVER see a radio that has everything? I doubt it.
Carry on Ladies and Gents.
Happy Scanning everyone and thanks Paul ("Don't shoot the messenger") for being here for us.

Bob

There ya go right there. In my case I must have both radios due to the GRE's being so darn susceptible to front end overload from the nearby paging systems here. The Unidens all handle the paging signals great. So my GRE's are deaf without extra filters for the VHF paging bands but they work great for the 800 P25 simulcast system. The XT Unidens work fantastic for everything except the P25 simulcast systems.

Overall, I'm much happier with my Uniden XT radios than I am with the GRE's but like you said, many really need both and I'm one of the many you speak of.

I also look forward to the upcoming FW patch. If it works, that will be fantastic and I bet my GRE's see very little use from that point forward. They will travel to the country property where there are no high RF levels for them to overload from.