BCD396XT memory failure?

[bc4bw]

Hello, I've had my BCD396XT for a year, and this is my first post.

I've been having problems with the unit locking up (all buttons inoperative), the only way to clear it was to remove the batteries. It's happened 3 times within a year. All 3 times, I lost all programming once the batteries were removed. The 1st and 2nd time this happened I just reprogrammed it and it worked fine afterwards. When it locked up the 3rd time, I removed and reinserted the batteries to reset, and again all programming was lost, but there was a new type of problem, the display would show upside down on some screens, especially during the boot sequence.
I checked to see if I had the most recent firmware which I did, but I decided to reinstall the firmware again which went OK. I then proceeded to reprogram using Freescan just like before, but this time I could not get it to load the program. The com port setting test for port number and rate check came back OK, I can use the virtual control just fine. I've been getting both "Communication error has occured" and insufficient resources error messages. I even tried the factory reset, nothing helped. Do I have bad memory? Is there a way to check for this? Any info on using Uniden support outside of their warranty period? Are their repair rates reasonable? My unit is 1 year +3 weeks old.

Thanks for any help, Masaki

 

[ofd8001]

That upside down part is a little strange. I don't believe there is any setting on the 396XT for upside down display (unlike some of the mobile scanners).

You should not lose programming when batteries are removed, so with these two issues, something is up.

Yes Uniden does repair scanners that are out of warranty. There is a flat rate charge, regardless of how little or big the problem is (presuming it is repairable).

Uniden - Online Repair Form

If it was me, I send it in for repair. You could tell them how long the problem has been going on and they may still be in a good holiday spirit since it's bearly out of warranty.

 

[W8RMH]

I have had a BCD396T, BR330T, and a BCD396XT and never experienced anything like you have.

The upside down display is telling me maybe you have updated the firmware to the BCD996XT in error, if that is even possible. What is your current firmware version?

 

[ak4fn]

Not sure on the upside down thing, but I have had problems with " insufficient resources error message" with freescan and as I remember it was a problem with one of the systems I had set up wrong. Try using a different or known good freescan.996 file to upload to the scanner.

 

[Voyager]

That upside down part is a little strange. I don't believe there is any setting on the 396XT for upside down display (unlike some of the mobile scanners).

It may well share some code with the mobiles, so I can see how that could happen.

As for losing programming, that can happen if the firmware is going to some "reinitialize" part of the code (same issue as going to an upside down part of the code).

Are you using the latest firmware, BC? If not, try updating it. You might have a bad firmware load.

If you are using the latest, I would contact Uniden to see if they have a solution you can try, and if they don't send it in for repair.

It's hard to say if your issue is bad firmware or a bad chip, as they can both cause the issues you are seeing.

 

[bc4bw]

Thanks for the replies!
The firmware version was 1.11.01 (loaded from the factory) when all this happened. I reloaded the firmware obtained from
BCD396XTFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki (same version number).

Tried contacting Uniden support, but they're off today, will try again next week.

 

[bc4bw]

Trying to load my older backup freescan file resulted in the same error.

 

[teufler]

iN Freescan there is an option for upside down display.Scanner, set up scanner options, General,down in the lowser right corner, flip display upside down.

 

[teufler]

ops, 996 and 15 only. no flip on the 396xt

 

[phask]

Maybe it turned into a down under Australia version.

Think it's time to spend $80 and send it in for repair.

 

[hiegtx]

Sending it in may be the only real fix. But I'd at least try a manual full reset first (if you haven't already). It will erase all the files in the pc, but you apparently have backups in FreeSCAN if I'm reading this correctly.

If you want to try that:
Turn the unit off, by pulling the batteries if necessary.

Then, while pressing and holding down the Hold, 2, and 9 keys, power the unit back on.

You'll get an error message that you will erase the scanner memory, and asking for confirmation that you wish to process. Say Yes to proceed.

As the scanner boots back up, you'll also get a prompt asking if you want to re-load the original preloaded system files (these were out of date when you got the scanner, even more so now, but your call).

Once the scanner is (hopefully) back up, try again to load your programming. If no luck, then either try Uniden maybe early next week, or go ahead and initiate a repair. If you have the original sales receipt, showing you got it barely over a year ago, include it, and ask if this could possibly be a covered repair (as was already suggested). Won't hurt to ask. Be sure and note this started before the warranty ran out (again, no guarantee, but at least worth trying).

 

[UPMan]

From your description, this is a repair issue. Use the link provided to you, above, to send it in for repair. No need to sit in a long phone queue for this (and, I'd expect it to be longer than usual the first working day after Christmas on Monday).

 

[bc4bw]

Update....
Uniden repaired my unit for free and the action is described as "Firmware update IC402, IC414".
The firmware version reported by my unit is 1.11.01. Not sure how these numbers relate, don't see any reference to IC402 or IC414 from my unit.

The repair took about a month. They warranty for the repair is good for 90 days.

We'll see if it fixed the unit locking up, time will tell.

 

[ofd8001]

Just guessing, IC402 and IC414 could be either some internal repair codes used by Uniden just to have a record of what they did. Also possible they may have replaced some integrated chips/circuits (hence the "IC") that are numbered 402 and 414.

Good news that they did it for free and I'm sure before they sent it back some testing was done for proper operation.

 

[Voyager]

Most likely Integrated Circuits.

 

[bc4bw]

well, unfortunately I still have the same problem. The scanner just quits with the message "All memory clear please wait" then locks up. Removing the power and waiting 5 minutes, then re-applying power brings the system back (no programming loss this time). It crashed 3 times within an hour. Will be sending it back to for additional repairs.

 

[mciupa]

Thankfully the previous repair is warrantied for ninety days.

I'm wondering what caused such a catastrophic failure. Was the unit dropped?

Hope you don't need to wait another month.