BCD536HP Backlight Question

[MTScannerNut]

My first post, great forum and learning a lot.

Quick question regarding my recently purchased BCD536HP with 2017 serial number. Is it safe/ok to leave the backlight on all the time? I remember reading about the backlight issues on this scanner and the repair campaign to fix it. Right now I have it set to only come on when it picks up a transmission, but would like it on all the time if it won't cause any issues.

 

[hiegtx]

My first post, great forum and learning a lot.

Quick question regarding my recently purchased BCD536HP with 2017 serial number. Is it safe/ok to leave the backlight on all the time? I remember reading about the backlight issues on this scanner and the repair campaign to fix it. Right now I have it set to only come on when it picks up a transmission, but would like it on all the time if it won't cause any issues.

I leave mine on 24/7, and have since day one when they first came out. The display faded over time, but that was corrected during the repair campaign for the clock issue. No problems, no dimming, since that was done.

 

[MTScannerNut]

I leave mine on 24/7, and have since day one when they first came out. The display faded over time, but that was corrected during the repair campaign for the clock issue. No problems, no dimming, since that was done.

Thank you. Makes me feel better about leaving mine on all the time.

Do you keep it on the brightest setting?

 

[kruser]

My first post, great forum and learning a lot.

Quick question regarding my recently purchased BCD536HP with 2017 serial number. Is it safe/ok to leave the backlight on all the time? I remember reading about the backlight issues on this scanner and the repair campaign to fix it. Right now I have it set to only come on when it picks up a transmission, but would like it on all the time if it won't cause any issues.

Another option is to run the backlights on medium or low if bright enough.
That should keep them within spec and avoid damaging the LEDs.

One of my 536HPs has been running on medium for at least a year if not two and they are still just as bright as when I bought them.
Of course doing this may never reveal if yours does have a problem but who knows how long it may take before they fail if you run them on high always.
Another of my 536s did start to dim. I switched it to medium and it never did get any dimmer so I guess I saved what was life was left before they grew so dim you could not see it.

When these radios are plugged into USB and in Mass Storage mode for programming, the backlights are set to High and you cannot change that until you unplug the USB cable and then it should go back to your last setting. That's the only time any of my x36HPs run in high brightness mode. That's also probably when they will fail with my luck.

 

[MTScannerNut]

Another option is to run the backlights on medium or low if bright enough.
That should keep them within spec and avoid damaging the LEDs.

One of my 536HPs has been running on medium for at least a year if not two and they are still just as bright as when I bought them.
Of course doing this may never reveal if yours does have a problem but who knows how long it may take before they fail if you run them on high always.
Another of my 536s did start to dim. I switched it to medium and it never did get any dimmer so I guess I saved what was life was left before they grew so dim you could not see it.

When these radios are plugged into USB and in Mass Storage mode for programming, the backlights are set to High and you cannot change that until you unplug the USB cable and then it should go back to your last setting. That's the only time any of my x36HPs run in high brightness mode. That's also probably when they will fail with my luck.

Appreciate the response.

Medium brightness may be the optimal setting for longevity of the LEDs. Gonna give that a try for awhile.

 

[hiegtx]

Thank you. Makes me feel better about leaving mine on all the time.

Do you keep it on the brightest setting?

Yes, it's set for the brightest setting.

 

[kruser]

Appreciate the response.

Medium brightness may be the optimal setting for longevity of the LEDs. Gonna give that a try for awhile.

Someone posted that they were pushing the original LEDs to their voltage limit or just over when on high.
I don't know how they knew this as nobody has ever posted what the original oem part number was in the affected models AFAIK.
That post was back when this problem first started showing and I don't recall if they said what that voltage limit was. I'd always wondered if the original part number was known so I could research my own LEDs but I've never seen it posted. I'm sure Uniden would not post the info either.
I wish Uniden still offered service manuals for their scanners. Many of the issues could be fixed by the end user with SMD tools and experience.

Who knows when they may end the repair campaign.
I do run one 436 on high sometimes but it came with the new LEDs when I purchased it. My other 436 has the LEDs with the problem plus it has the RTC problem so I may send it in before they end the program just because it is hard to swap the RTC cell in the portable models. Even Uniden swaps the logic board in the 436 models but that may be because it also fixes the backlight problem in addition to the RTC problem. Who knows if the old logic boards also had other issues that were not discovered by the end users but are fixed in the newest board revision. Then the board has the issue with noise in the 450 MHz range. The old boards did not have solder pads for the missing capacitor that fixes the problem either. The newer revision boards do have solder pads and some are showing up now with the capacitor installed. Uniden can fix three issues with a board swap in the 436 models. That must speed up repairs a lot. I always wondered what they did with the old revision boards and if they could salvage the more costly components from them and use them for repairs or if they just write them off as a loss.


I mostly run my radios in a somewhat darkened area so running them on medium or even low is always plenty bright for my needs.

 

[eastofottawa]

I have a BCD436HP on order. Is there a serial number checker or something online to determine if the unit is affected/covered by the repair campaign? I bought it on Amazon.ca but through a 3rd party Amazon seller (fullfilled by Amazon) and I'm worried about getting an older unit... I should receive it Monday.


Nevermind! Found another post with the answer.

 

[fdnyfish]

how do you keep the backlight on?

 

[eastofottawa]

how do you keep the backlight on?

Settings->Display Options->Set Backlight->Set Mode->Timeout->Infinite.

Then toggle on/off using the On/Off/Backlight button.

 

[ofd8001]

I too have my 536's backlight on 24/7 with no issues. It was one that went through the repair campaign as it did get dim before the repair. Works fine after that.

The steps above are for the 436 I believe and the 536 is a little different.

Menu>Display Options>Set Backlight>Set Dimmer>Manual and choose (High/Middle/Low)

 

[eastofottawa]

I too have my 536's backlight on 24/7 with no issues. It was one that went through the repair campaign as it did get dim before the repair. Works fine after that.

The steps above are for the 436 I believe and the 536 is a little different.

Menu>Display Options>Set Backlight>Set Dimmer>Manual and choose (High/Middle/Low)

Oh my bad! I didn't read the thread title. I assumed it was a question for a 436. There we go, instructions for both!

 

[KA8BDD]

I would like to purchase the BCD536HP but reading the PDF manual looks like there is no option to leave the backlight on all the time. I want to use this at home on the bench, so I want the backlight on all the time. How is that done?

 

[bob550]

The backlight for the 536, mobile/base unit, will remain on as long as the scanner is powered up. There are three levels of brightness as well as a squelch-operated setting.

Are you referring to the 436 handheld scanner?

 

[KA8BDD]

BCD536 Backlight

Yes, I was referring to the BCD536. I haven't bought a base scanner since the BC895XLT, but there have purchased plenty of HH Scanners since then to take on the road. Now I'm retired and was considering the best base scanner I could find. This seems to be it, and I like the looks of the display, seems easy to read. I do see in the manual now that you pointed it out, that the backlight will remain on if wanted.

Thanks much,
Rick