BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436HP - Can't Upgrade to Latest Firmware

[RandyKuff]

I've also tried three other laptops with no luck. I've had the BCD436 forever and now have the SDS100 and no issues when upgrading that the first time either.

I see you have an SDS100 too...

@hiegtx has a good point... What is the "Target Model" in Sentinel set for? It's worth a shot to try it...
You should set the Target Model for what scanner you are working with in Sentinel first...

Sentinel will write the .Bin file to the "Firmware" folder on the SD card and also write it here... See below...


This is what I show for the Bin file size...

 

[WingsAA]

I may be way off base, but let me ask this:

You formatted the card, then did the 'clear user data", correct?

Is this the point where you then download firmware & try to have Sentinel do the update? Are you doing this with the card in a reader, or with the scanner in "mass storage mode"?

If you are doing the firmware update at this point, before you write the current database to the scanner, what is the target model shown in Sentinel? That's noted in the lower left corner of the main Sentinel window.
View attachment 186029

If you are not seeing this:
View attachment 186030

and instead showing one of the SDS models, Sentinel might be downloading the wrong firmware, causing the 'checksum error' when it tries to load the wrong version.

Format your card

Do the 'clear user data' to initialize the new SD card.

Use the Sentinel link to update the firmware.

If you look at the SD card via Windows Explorer, in the "Firmware" folder on the card, you should see the file 1.28.24 bin in that folder. If not, then Sentinel is not accessing the model's file.

With the 1.28.24 bin file in the firmware folder on your card, restart the scanner with the card in the scanner, and the scanner in mass storage mode. (If the scanner was in mass storage mode, when you disconnect the card (from mass storage mode), the firmware should install.)

Yes, I select 'clear user data' following the memory card formatting.
I have done both methods, using a card reader and also directly connected to the scanner in mass storage mode.
Target model selected is correct: 'Target Model: BCDx36HP'
The firmware is getting put into the sd card folder correctly. I copied it from there one time just so I could have it as a backup if needed.

I see you have an SDS100 too...

@hiegtx has a good point... What is the "Target Model" in Sentinel set for? It's worth a shot to try it...
You should set the Target Model for what scanner you are working with in Sentinel first...

Sentinel will write the .Bin file to the "Firmware" folder on the SD card and also write it here... See below...

View attachment 186034
This is what I show for the Bin file size...

View attachment 186035

Thanks for confirming the file size. The target model is set correctly in Sentinel as well.
Hoping to hear more from Uniden via my support ticket... or I may just call.

 

[hiegtx]

Yes, I select 'clear user data' following the memory card formatting.
I have done both methods, using a card reader and also directly connected to the scanner in mass storage mode.
Target model selected is correct: 'Target Model: BCDx36HP'
The firmware is getting put into the sd card folder correctly. I copied it from there one time just so I could have it as a backup if needed.

I found a bit of a peculiar result when duplicating the steps.

After formatting the card (I used a spare blank card that I had available)m I set the target model, in Sentinel, to the initial configuration for the x36HP (BCDx36HP), then did the 'clear user data' from the drop-down Scanner menu in Sentinel.

I then selected 'update firmware' in Sentinel, and (first try) got this screen:


You actually need a third screen where you can select the model. If you hover your mouse over Sentinel's icon on the task bar, you see this:


Click on the far right example so that you end up with this:


(When I tried this a second time, it did go, directly to the correct selection screen. When I try it more than once, about 50% of the time, I get the first incorrect selection screen shown above. Just be sure that you do have the correct one selected. (I presume you do, but since this is such an unusual scenario, I mentioned it again.)

Note that even though my 'target model' in Sentinel was set for the x36HP series scanner, Sentinel defaults to suggesting the firmware for the SDS100. However, if you use that screen & select the correct model, that will be the firmware file downloaded.

Once that is selected, and the process finishes, you'll see this:

Follow those instructions to install the downloaded file.


In between the last two steps above, did you look at the firmware folder, on your SD card, to verify that the correct file, 1.28.24 bin, was in the Firmware folder on your SD card?

I copied a firmware file for the 436HP to my One Drive account. (It's too large to be directly attached to a post.) You can find it here and download it. Extract (unzip) the file so that you end up with just the firmware file, which can be copied into the Firmware folder on your SD card, Then you can follow the instructions just above on how to update the firmware.

That is a known good file, and was used to update both of my 436HP scanners. If you, again, get the checksum error message, I'm out of suggestions. Maybe you will get a helpful response directly from Uniden.

Good luck, and let us know if and when you get this straightened out, so that we can note for possible future use.

 

[WingsAA]

I found a bit of a peculiar result when duplicating the steps.

After formatting the card (I used a spare blank card that I had available)m I set the target model, in Sentinel, to the initial configuration for the x36HP (BCDx36HP), then did the 'clear user data' from the drop-down Scanner menu in Sentinel.

I then selected 'update firmware' in Sentinel, and (first try) got this screen:
View attachment 186044

You actually need a third screen where you can select the model. If you hover your mouse over Sentinel's icon on the task bar, you see this:
View attachment 186045

Click on the far right example so that you end up with this:
View attachment 186043

(When I tried this a second time, it did go, directly to the correct selection screen. When I try it more than once, about 50% of the time, I get the first incorrect selection screen shown above. Just be sure that you do have the correct one selected. (I presume you do, but since this is such an unusual scenario, I mentioned it again.)

Note that even though my 'target model' in Sentinel was set for the x36HP series scanner, Sentinel defaults to suggesting the firmware for the SDS100. However, if you use that screen & select the correct model, that will be the firmware file downloaded.

Once that is selected, and the process finishes, you'll see this:
View attachment 186048
Follow those instructions to install the downloaded file.


In between the last two steps above, did you look at the firmware folder, on your SD card, to verify that the correct file, 1.28.24 bin, was in the Firmware folder on your SD card?

I copied a firmware file for the 436HP to my One Drive account. (It's too large to be directly attached to a post.) You can find it here and download it. Extract (unzip) the file so that you end up with just the firmware file, which can be copied into the Firmware folder on your SD card, Then you can follow the instructions just above on how to update the firmware.

That is a known good file, and was used to update both of my 436HP scanners. If you, again, get the checksum error message, I'm out of suggestions. Maybe you will get a helpful response directly from Uniden.

Good luck, and let us know if and when you get this straightened out, so that we can note for possible future use.

I really appreciate you helping troubleshoot this and taking the time to test it out yourself. I'm good on the target selection and mine's staying on the BCDx36. I'm actually now using another machine to completely eliminate that as a possibility altogether. I've also grabbed the bin file and confirmed it's the right one.
Let me grab the file you gave the link for and give it another try later with that and report back.

 

[WingsAA]

Well, @hiegtx .... your file worked!!!! Thank you for sharing.
I placed it in the firmware folder on the scanner's SD card, rebooted the scanner, and it completed the update successfully.

I'm now on 1.28.24

I'll have to update Uniden support on the resolution. I'll let you all know what they say or if I ever figure out what the heck prevented me from updating. Again, thanks, everyone.

 

[hiegtx]

Well, @hiegtx .... your file worked!!!! Thank you for sharing.
I placed it in the firmware folder on the scanner's SD card, rebooted the scanner, and it completed the update successfully.

I'm now on 1.28.24

I'll have to update Uniden support on the resolution. I'll let you all know what they sau or if I ever figure out what the heck prevented me from updating. Again, thanks, everyone.

Glad it's worked for you. This was the first time (that I remember) dealing with the sort of issue you were seeing. You were doing the right steps, but something (which, so far, we have not been able to find) was causing your issue.

Once you have installed the file, the firmware file is deleted from the scanner's SD card. Sentinel parks the file in a file folder under "Program Data" on your hard drive. C:\ProgramData\Uniden\BCDx36HP_Sentinel\Updater



The next time (if there is one) that you do a firmware update, the newly installed file will be copied to that folder, and the previous (installed version) file will be deleted. I've made it a point to collect copies of the firmware files and place them in a different folder. So, I have previous files for earlier updates for my x36HP & SDS series scanners.

From where you are in Carrollton, you probably have reception on many of the trunked systems (and their sites) used here in the DFW area. Besides your "home" Metrocrest, you likely can hear the Irving, as well as the two "Dallas layer" sites on NTIRN. You may well be able to get the two Fort Worth layer sites on that system, and the 'Northeast Tarrant' site should be definitely in range. Not to mention the Denton system, the PAWMCo system and Frisco, from Collin County. And, there probably a few more possibly in range.

 

[WingsAA]

Glad it's worked for you. This was the first time (that I remember) dealing with the sort of issue you were seeing. You were doing the right steps, but something (which, so far, we have not been able to find) was causing your issue.

Once you have installed the file, the firmware file is deleted from the scanner's SD card. Sentinel parks the file in a file folder under "Program Data" on your hard drive. C:\ProgramData\Uniden\BCDx36HP_Sentinel\Updater

View attachment 186053

The next time (if there is one) that you do a firmware update, the newly installed file will be copied to that folder, and the previous (installed version) file will be deleted. I've made it a point to collect copies of the firmware files and place them in a different folder. So, I have previous files for earlier updates for my x36HP & SDS series scanners.

From where you are in Carrollton, you probably have reception on many of the trunked systems (and their sites) used here in the DFW area. Besides your "home" Metrocrest, you likely can hear the Irving, as well as the two "Dallas layer" sites on NTIRN. You may well be able to get the two Fort Worth layer sites on that system, and the 'Northeast Tarrant' site should be definitely in range. Not to mention the Denton system, the PAWMCo system and Frisco, from Collin County. And, there probably a few more possibly in range.

Yep. I'm in far North Carrollton... near Grandscape. I have pretty decent reception. I hear Firsco, Plano, Denton County, etc.
I've had the BCD436HP for what feels like forever, and have never had this issue I've just faced with upgrading firmware. Makes for a funny story as I used it as an excuse to justify picking up an SDS100.

 

[pro92b]

This may have nothing to do with the problem but...
BCD436HP_V1_28_24.bin is version 1.28.24 with file size 2,162,688 bytes
BCD536HP_V1_28_24.bin is version 1.28.24 with file size 2,162,688 bytes
The files are not the same however
For the BCD436HP binary the CRC32 is 58B21223
For the BCD536HP binary the CRC32 is E518E6A0
If there was an attempt to load 536 firmware into the 436 it should fail.