BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436HP unable to decode Digital signals

[aundromeada]

I noticed a few days ago my 436HP was a lot more quiet than usual. Turns out the radio wasn’t decoding the DMR frequencies. With the frequencies manually keyed and held in search mode, I hear the audio DMR signal but the radio doesn’t decode. Analog signals come through loud and clear but no digital.

DMR and NXDN are unlocked on the radio.
The signals are active with voice and can be decoded using DSD+.
I have reset, reformatted and reinstalled firmware(1.28.24), memory card etc .
I tried attaching a LNA to “boost” the signal, with no joy. Signal audio just sounds stronger with no decode.

Any ideas or suggestions on trouble shooting is very much appreciated. Otherwise I have resigned myself to waiting for the next firmware update (whenever that is) or accept I now have an analog scanner.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the RR forums. Are we dealing with conventional channels or a trunked system? While in search mode are you seeing the data carried for said digital signals? (Net, Site, TG, code, etc) Have you tried programming said frequencies into a favorites list rather than just searching? If conventional be sure Set Audio Type is set to "Digital" and the applicable color or RAN code(s) is (are) programmed in. If still having trouble then zip up your Sentinel .hpe export and post it as an attachment so someone can have a look at your programming

 

[dmfalk]

Tey setting the DMR Color Code to "search", and see what happens?

 

[aundromeada]

Welcome to the RR forums. Are we dealing with conventional channels or a trunked system? While in search mode are you seeing the data carried for said digital signals? (Net, Site, TG, code, etc) Have you tried programming said frequencies into a favorites list rather than just searching? If conventional be sure Set Audio Type is set to "Digital" and the applicable color or RAN code(s) is (are) programmed in. If still having trouble then zip up your Sentinel .hpe export and post it as an attachment so someone can have a look at your programming

Thank you, first time poster but long time lurker.

It’s all conventional DMR channels, nothing complex.
In search mode, the scanner stops on the signal but does not decode, all that comes through the speaker is just the digital audio sound for as long as the signal is active without it decoding.

I do have a number of digital stations already programmed in that i have been listening to for a few months with no issues, and now nothing.

I am struggling to remember if the scanner fell and its possible internal/physical damage or a sync session gone wrong.

 

[Ubbe]

Manually keying in frequencies in search mode will already have everything set to search.

Try doing Fn+click on the rotary dial and then a second Fn+click on dial will show the threshold setting. If it shows a too high value, like 13 and above, it will probably stop decoding and you'll have to go to the menu and into Search/CloCall options and set it to manual and 6.

Scanner stores a specific auto value for threshold to each channel so it doesn't seem realistic that those values suddenly have changed. But try that different threshold settings in search mode.

/Ubbe

 

[aundromeada]

Manually keying in frequencies in search mode will already have everything set to search.

Try doing Fn+click on the rotary dial and then a second Fn+click on dial will show the threshold setting. If it shows a too high value, like 13 and above, it will probably stop decoding and you'll have to go to the menu and into Search/CloCall options and set it to manual and 6.

Scanner stores a specific auto value for threshold to each channel so it doesn't seem realistic that those values suddenly have changed. But try that different threshold settings in search mode.

/Ubbe

No joy there either, I set it to “6 Man” and it’s still audio coming through with no decode.

It’s as if the Digital part of the scanner is dead or deaf for lack of a better description. No DMR decode on VHF or UHF on frequencies it’s been picking up easily for the last couple of months.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

But umm...

While in search mode are you seeing the data carried for said digital signals? (Net, Site, TG, code, etc)

???

 

[aundromeada]

Nothing. No TalkGroups, no Slots, No code.

Just digital Audio through the speakers.

 

[Ubbe]

It’s as if the Digital part of the scanner is dead

Yes, it seems like it is. Usually a scanner goes thru a self check procedure during power on that all chips in the scanner respond as they should and displays an error on its display if something isn't right.

If you look in Menu/Settings/Upgrade I assume that it looks okay and it doesn't say "Upgrade DMR" ?

/Ubbe

 

[dmfalk]

Check to see is it's set to analogue, digital or all. Should be digital only.

 

[ofd8001]

So these frequencies were coming in just fine, but all of a sudden, they stopped decoding and you did nothing to the scanner programming wise?

If that's correct, I'd suspect something inside the scanner broke. A trip to Uniden repair might be in order.

If you "did something" like modify programming, update firmware, etc., you might see if you can rollback the firmware or get previous programming from a backup file(s) and try that.

 

[blackbelter]

I would suggest to remove and replace the SD card.

 

[aundromeada]

I spent the better part of the evening doing some more troubleshooting, with no luck.

It still says Upgrade DMR in the settings page, and says DMR/MotoTRBO has already been activated when clicked.

I manually added the frequencies to a new FAV List with digital only, the scanner stops on the channel for about a second or two with no decode and continues scanning.

Swapped out the current 32Gb memory card with the original 4GB card that came preinstalled. Nothing.

Upgraded and synchronised database with sentinel, no changes. Applied an earlier back from pro scan also nothing.

I think something is broken within the scanner, i’ll take it with me to Europe on a 4 day work trip to see if it picks up anything, but I’ve slowly accepted the fact i now have 2 analog scanners. LoL

 

[Ubbe]

It's the DSP chip in the scanner that handles digital signals. Maybe it's firmware code isn't the proper one to match the main processors firmware version ,or are somehow corrupt. Try going back one step in firmware version and power up and then upgrade to the latest firmware to perhaps set it straight again.

/Ubbe

 

[aundromeada]

Thanks, that's worth a try.

The next challenge will be to find the BCD436HP_V1_28_15 firmware or earlier.

If anyone has the bin file or earlier lying around or could point me in right direction to get one, that would be much appreciated.

 

[pro92b]

https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BCD436HPFirmwareUpdate#

At the bottom of the page find 1_28_14

 

[aundromeada]

Reverted to 1.28.14, still no decode, updated back to latest firmware with no joy either. I think there’s something wrong internally, possibly the DSP chip mentioned earlier.

Unfortunately there are only DMR signals at my current location, I’ll try scanning known NXDN and P25 signals at my home base next week to be sure the digital decoder is bricked, but I expect results will be the same.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.