BCD536HP Discussion Thread

[W5RGP]

quick question on using gps

i just purchased the uniden gps for my 996xt and love the way it turns systems on and off have a question though

on the 536 what happens if there is no gps data on some systems? like right now i am sitting docked at a reciever and programming all the Bethlehem, pa systems but the county systems have no gps info

so how will the 536 handle this when i come to this rx like i do a few times a month if hooked to gps it wont turn this system on unless i enter the zip code correct?

thanks and didnt mean to be so round about with the ?? just trying to be real clear at what im asking hope i did so

 

[ShyFlyer]

I believe you can input the GPS data yourself.

 

[Jay911]

Almost all of the systems in the RRDB (and thus in the 536) have location data. If you do come across one that doesn't, or build one such yourself, the scanner treats the location as North 0 degrees, West 0 degrees, which is technically a valid location (off the coast of Africa). You can tell an entire favorites list to ignore GPS, but not just one system.

 

[W5RGP]

I just downloaded Northampton and lehigh county's and neither have the GPS data using pros can so for now I'm just listening to Allentown and Bethlehem a lot of traffic so I'm hood for now but was just wondering how the 536 would handle it since no hps data is in the rrdb I guess it would have to be turned on manually till it gets updated in the db
thanks

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[UPMan]

I just checked, and those counties both have GPS data in RRDB that is brought in with Sentinel. It isn't very precise (all departments use the countywide location settings) but it is there.

 

[W5RGP]

I just checked, and those counties both have GPS data in RRDB that is brought in with Sentinel. It isn't very precise (all departments use the countywide location settings) but it is there.

Humm wonder why proscan didn't bring it in I'm gonna fire up laptop again and re download and see
Thanks

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[W5RGP]

ok must be a problem with proscan then as i see it with the sentinal software but not in proscan
ok back to the topic at hand thanks

 

[stingray327]

ok must be a problem with proscan then as i see it with the sentinal software but not in proscan
ok back to the topic at hand thanks

So it is necessary to have a computer to get these new scanners operational?

 

[troymail]

So it is necessary to have a computer to get these new scanners operational?

To get operational? No. You can see this through UPMan's YouTube videos showing unpacking and initial setup......

To keep current/operational - absolutely.

I think UPMan stated a while back that the first thing early adopters should do when they get their new radio (on Christmas in January ) is to update the firmware. Apparently improvements were made after production started - which isn't unusual.

Additionally, in order to take advantage of the weekly RRDB library updates, you'll need a PC and internet connection.

Now, having said that, if you choose to live with the factory/production firmware and do all of your own programming manually via the scanner's keypad, perhaps you won't need a computer.... but I can imagine why you'd limit yourself that way.

 

[Boatanchor]

Here's one for UPMAN..

For those of us that don't want to or can't (for some reason) use the full RR database, is it possible to disable the main/full database and only boot up the personal favorites list by default?

This would presumably speed up the boot process every time the scanner is switched on.

There are some of us who only need to scan 50-100 known local conventional channels and maybe one or two trunking systems.

 

[wise871]

Here's one for UPMAN..



For those of us that don't want to or can't (for some reason) use the full RR database, is it possible to disable the main/full database and only boot up the personal favorites list by default?



This would presumably speed up the boot process every time the scanner is switched on.



There are some of us who only need to scan 50-100 known local conventional channels and maybe one or two trunking systems.

Yes, you can boot favorites only.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jay911]

Here's one for UPMAN..

For those of us that don't want to or can't (for some reason) use the full RR database, is it possible to disable the main/full database and only boot up the personal favorites list by default?

This would presumably speed up the boot process every time the scanner is switched on.

There are some of us who only need to scan 50-100 known local conventional channels and maybe one or two trunking systems.

Because the scanner is built on the HomePatrol architecture, its behavior can be applied to these questions.

- You can choose to monitor only the full database, or the full database and favorites lists, or only your favorites lists.
- You can choose any combination of your favorites lists (i.e. one, some, or all).
- You can't "not" have the full database in the radio. It's going to be there. You can turn off monitoring of it, but you can't get rid of it.
- You can even have the full DB enabled and avoid (lock out) certain systems so that you can have a modified version of that system in your favorites list.

When I turn on my HP1 with only a favorites list enabled and not the full DB, it doesn't have to prepare anything. It just goes from the boot screen straight into scanning. That may be where the x36 differs from the HP1.

 

[Boatanchor]

Because the scanner is built on the HomePatrol architecture, its behavior can be applied to these questions.

- You can choose to monitor only the full database, or the full database and favorites lists, or only your favorites lists.
- You can choose any combination of your favorites lists (i.e. one, some, or all).
- You can't "not" have the full database in the radio. It's going to be there. You can turn off monitoring of it, but you can't get rid of it.
- You can even have the full DB enabled and avoid (lock out) certain systems so that you can have a modified version of that system in your favorites list.

When I turn on my HP1 with only a favorites list enabled and not the full DB, it doesn't have to prepare anything. It just goes from the boot screen straight into scanning. That may be where the x36 differs from the HP1.

Thanks Jay911.

It's a bit hard for us XT users to get our head around the whole HP concept and UI - something like old dogs trying to learn new tricks etc

 

[KE4ZNR]

Thanks Jay911.

It's a bit hard for us XT users to get our head around the whole HP concept and UI - something like old dogs trying to learn new tricks etc

Once you actually get a BCD436/536HP into your hands it will make more sense.
The Number Tags feature is what really makes the radios awesome.
You can quickly pull up any channel out of all of your favorites lists in a heartbeat.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[N8IAA]

So it is necessary to have a computer to get these new scanners operational?

Absolutely! Firmware updates and database updates can only go through the Sentinel software. These are not the scanners from 20 years ago.
But, they do so much more than what those oldie but goodies did
Larry

 

[KE4ZNR]

Absolutely! Firmware updates and database updates can only go through the Sentinel software. These are not the scanners from 20 years ago.
But, they do so much more than what those oldie but goodies did
Larry

Due to the radio systems most public safety agencies use these
days one could make the argument that ANY scanner requires some type of
computer interaction to keep the scanner operational. Out of the box the HomePatrol
line of scanners can get you started listening to local agencies but to keep the radios
operating at peak performance you really need to pair it to a computer.
Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[stingray327]

Absolutely! Firmware updates and database updates can only go through the Sentinel software. These are not the scanners from 20 years ago.
But, they do so much more than what those oldie but goodies did
Larry

Yep not scanners 20 years ago for sure. I have some of those and have been using them up to now since agencies I monitor used the simple old tried and true way. Locally have now switched and disappered. So I'll need to catch up.

 

[stingray327]

Due to the radio systems most public safety agencies use these
days one could make the argument that ANY scanner requires some type of
computer interaction to keep the scanner operational. Out of the box the HomePatrol
line of scanners can get you started listening to local agencies but to keep the radios
operating at peak performance you really need to pair it to a computer.
Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR

So then I also have to keep computer upgraded along with cellphone that needs replacement every few years as those are disappearing too. (No Smartphone for me too many monthly bills).
You are correct I will have to go with the Home Patrol features.

 

[Jay911]

So then I also have to keep computer upgraded along with cellphone that needs replacement every few years as those are disappearing too. (No Smartphone for me too many monthly bills).
You are correct I will have to go with the Home Patrol features.

The RadioReference database (from which the HP-1 and 436HP/536HP draw their internal databases) is updated constantly by users - see the green highlighted states/provinces/counties/systems in the database.

The RRDB is downloaded weekly by Uniden so that you can have the latest update in those scanners mentioned above. But in order to keep that database updated, the Sentinel software package must be installed on a computer with an Internet connection, and the radio must be connected to that computer periodically (i.e. once a week or so) to deliver the latest updates.

You CAN operate a modern scanner without a computer. I have several HomePatrol-1s; one I update very frequently (several times a week, with both my own favorites edits and the weekly RRDB update), and one at the other end of the extreme hasn't been connected to a computer since around the end of May. However, if I were to try to use that one to listen to any other comms except the specific favorites list I have put into it, I'd likely be out of luck, since the programming is so far out of date.

 

[HIP]

Looking forward to the new bcd536hp model I just like that style, I plan to put my HP1 in my work van and connect it to the GPS and use the 536 for my home base. Wondering if a version of Sentinel will be made for the Mac IOS platform? I have a very old windows based computer that I can use but would rather us the MAC....
Thanks,
HIP5 KC8RRM