BCD536HP Post-Release Thread

[gonzalu]

Here she is. Thanks Ham Station!!

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[del1964]

Let's see some YouTube videos now! LoL. Still waiting for my local electronics store to get these in

 

[joej67]

Not so impresswd with the 536hp. My area switched over to Project 25 Phase II TDMA. some are enc and some are not. The one as per RR, I want to lisen to is NOT ENC.Tried to use the sentinel BUT UNABLE to change the radio type to project 25 to Project 25 Phase II TDMA., also looked on the scanner for this change and was unable to do so. How to do it manually? IDK, My 996xt does just the same as receiving. Oh I almost forgot, where is the app for the wifi? connected to my wifi and updated the firmware. I am not an expert on radio scanning but above average..is there something I am missing here?

 

[nr2d]

Got my new BCD536HP up and running yesterday. Thought I would post a photo of it and my BCD996T.

 

[gonzalu]

Preliminary Report - Unboxing, First Power On - Required Updates

First off, the packaging is super tight. Absolutely no space has been spared in the box. Everything is nicely wrapped and organized into individual cubbies inside the package. All scratch able surfaces are covered in film for protection.

The power brick is not labeled Uniden BCD536HP or even just Uniden. Will be easy to misplace in a move / re-org of the shack. Connecting to power and power on took just seconds. Ports are easily identified.

The front panel layout is not excellent. It is usable and functional but far awkward for Right Handed users with the unit positioned to the right of the operator. Using the main control knob blocks the screen which is a real pain.

When the USB and Headphone cables are attached, use if the E/. Key and Volume Control knob is difficult.

Initial boot up set up can't be any easier. Wizard driven step by step interface for time date etc. is great.

Once on, scanner has nothing to scan (known) and entering my Zip code (10463) downloaded the entire collection of CT, NJ, NY, and PA. Took about 35 to 40 seconds (not scientific).

Since I have very poor reception in my apartment, using an indoor 1/4 wave dipole tuned for Aviation band, only strong signals come through.

Took about 10 seconds for the scanner to go through most of CT and NJ before locking on NYPD which sounded absolutely perfect as expected.

Time to do updates as suggested by Paul

I am a geek and work in IT. I also have experience with my Home Patrol so Sentinel is now easy to me.

Downloading the latest firmware and main database was simple and straightforward. Wi-Fi dongle FW update was just as simple. Note: there is no need to run the Wi-Fi dongle FW Updater in Compatibility Mode on Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64 but you will need to run it as Admin.

Took about :30 seconds to complete the dongle update from start to finish.

Reconnected the dongle to the BCD536HP and cycled the power. Reconnected to computer and pushed a new set of favorites lists imported from my HP-1

Configured the Wi-Fi for my home network on Infrastructure Mode and now connected to the network. I wish there was a computer control option via USB as entering my WPA2-PSK key was a *****

So far so good. I have only a Test Phase II system here in NYC and so far it has had no transmissions.

I never used the recording feature on my HomePatrol so time to learn how to use it

Screen is indeed white but very heavy blue cast for those who are still wondering.

Thank you.




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[DaveIN]

Not so impresswd with the 536hp. My area switched over to Project 25 Phase II TDMA. some are enc and some are not. The one as per RR, I want to lisen to is NOT ENC.Tried to use the sentinel BUT UNABLE to change the radio type to project 25 to Project 25 Phase II TDMA., also looked on the scanner for this change and was unable to do so. How to do it manually? IDK, My 996xt does just the same as receiving. Oh I almost forgot, where is the app for the wifi? connected to my wifi and updated the firmware. I am not an expert on radio scanning but above average..is there something I am missing here?

P25 Trunk is the correct setting to monitor Phase II. Encrypted should be muted. Is this the correct system? New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) Trunking System, Statewide, New Jersey - Scanner Frequencies

The WiFi app Has been delayed, but may become available as a public beta soon, per UPMan's post yesterday.

 

[joej67]

East Brunswick Township
Project 25 Phase II East Brunswick Trunked Radio System

Boro of Spotswood law talk is not showing enc

 

[mondaro]

Here is something interesting, I live in Harrison NJ, I have Newark Fire programmed its one of those 700 MHZ TDMA II systems, here is the crazy thing it will work with the stock antenna that came with the radio but it won't work with any of the outside scanner antenna's any ideas ? Thanks

Tony

 

[policefreak]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.1.2; en-us; LG-LS720 Build/JZO54K) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)

Any nearby cell towers? Are you getting overload?

 

[rma0100]

For the new BCD536HP does anyone know who's using P25 Phase II or X2 TDMA in Mass or NH???

 

[DaveIN]

For the new BCD536HP does anyone know who's using P25 Phase II or X2 TDMA in Mass or NH???

There are currently 67 identified Phase II or X2-TDMA systems in the dB: Project 25 TDMA/X2 Trunked System Report

 

[garys]

For the new BCD536HP does anyone know who's using P25 Phase II or X2 TDMA in Mass or NH???

The only systems in MA that currently have the capability are the MSP P25 system in Troop B and the greater Boston 700Mhz overlay. Well, maybe the Cambridge and MassPort P25 systems. I don't know that anyone is actually running Phase II yet, but the capability exists.

 

[RF23]

Here is something interesting, I live in Harrison NJ, I have Newark Fire programmed its one of those 700 MHZ TDMA II systems, here is the crazy thing it will work with the stock antenna that came with the radio but it won't work with any of the outside scanner antenna's any ideas ? Thanks

Tony

Some possibilities to check:

1. Do any of your other radios pickup up a signal in the 700 MHz arrange with the outside antennas?

2. What kind of coaxial cable, how old & how long a run are you using? (SMR-400 is the bare minimum for 700 MHz (I think).

3. Do you have more than one adapter (BNC-SMA) to try out?

4. Are you using a Scantenna SC-2 they have to be unfolded completely for 700-800 MHz, I have found several locally that the owners did not do this and they performed poorly on 800 MHz until they were properly unfolded.

Hope some of this is helpful.

 

[mondaro]

Some possibilities to check:

1. Do any of your other radios pickup up a signal in the 700 MHz arrange with the outside antennas?

2. What kind of coaxial cable, how old & how long a run are you using? (SMR-400 is the bare minimum for 700 MHz (I think).

3. Do you have more than one adapter (BNC-SMA) to try out?

4. Are you using a Scantenna SC-2 they have to be unfolded completely for 700-800 MHz, I have found several locally that the owners did not do this and they performed poorly on 800 MHz until they were properly unfolded.

Hope some of this is helpful.

Thanks for the help.

Tony

 

[mondaro]

What would be the best Base Antenna and coax for the new 536 ?

Thanks

 

[NHdave]

What would be the best Base Antenna and coax for the new 536 ?

Thanks

The 536 doesn't need anything other than what you're using now. There is no best antenna, it depends on your location and what you're listening too. What works well for one person may not for another.

 

[teknishun]

LED ring Alert Light

It's the clear ring around the Function knob on the left Uniden BCD536HP Alert Led - YouTube

Well, isn't that special !!!

Would be nice if Uniden mentioned that in the Operator's Manual
instead of relying on YouTube videos to explain everything.

 

[teknishun]

I am quite surprised at how the 536HP performs indoors with just the stock telescoping antenna.
It is even doing a fair job with the P25. None of my other scanners perform this well!
I am scanning the full database for my state/county and I am hearing stuff I never knew was possible with the indoor antenna. I also found Houston Fire Dispatch (HFD bot) being transmitted in a new place that I did not know was there. I am still looking for that inside the RR databases.

So far I like the 536HP much better than the 996XT.

One strange thing though. The 996XT came with the external DIN sleeve included.
The 536HP says it is optional (have to pay more money to get it).
I wonder why it wasn't included?

 

[chuck_e7]

What kind of mount are you using in that pix? Is it homemade or commercial? tls.

 

[Seymourmtn]

Wine and Sentinal

Take a look at Wine. It may be worth a try.
WineHQ - Run Windows applications on Linux, BSD, Solaris and Mac OS X

I downloaded wine and Sentinel with no problems, to my Mac Air
However, am having problems connecting to my 536.
Sentinel doesn't recognize my MicroSd card.
Anyone else?

Doug