BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD536HP where is "mass storage"

[Mogman]

I am trying to update the data base in a newly purchased BCD536HP, the first step is "select mass storage" but for the life of me I cannot find it, it is not in the menu, also I do not get any reaction when I connect it to my PC, I already have the drivers for the 436 loaded and have no issues connecting to that radio.
The radio did not come with a USB cable but I do have an A-A cable

 

[KevinC]

I am trying to update the data base in a newly purchased BCD536HP, the first step is "select mass storage" but for the life of me I cannot find it, it is not in the menu, also I do not get any reaction when I connect it to my PC, I already have the drivers for the 436 loaded and have no issues connecting to that radio.
The radio did not come with a USB cable but I do have an A-A cable

Is your cable a "charge only" cable? You should get a prompt on the scanner when you plug the cable into your computer.

 

[nessnet]

I am trying to update the data base in a newly purchased BCD536HP, the first step is "select mass storage" but for the life of me I cannot find it, it is not in the menu, also I do not get any reaction when I connect it to my PC, I already have the drivers for the 436 loaded and have no issues connecting to that radio.
The radio did not come with a USB cable but I do have an A-A cable

Try a different cable...?

 

[Mogman]

I will have to look for another cable, this came from a USB/IDE adapter so I am pretty sure it is a full cable.
I have dozens of A-B and tons of "micro" cables, this is the only A-A cable I have found so far.
Is there a way to load the data base onto the SD card with an adapter?
OR can I use an updated card out of the 436?

 

[GTR8000]

The radio did not come with a USB cable but I do have an A-A cable

Yeah, that's not going to work. The USB A port on the back of the 536 is for the WiFi module only, not for programming.

You need a Mini-USB cable for the front of the 536. Yes, old school Mini, not Micro. Any standard Mini-USB to USB A cable will work.

 

[GTR8000]

Is there a way to load the data base onto the SD card with an adapter?
OR can I use an updated card out of the 436?

Yes and maybe. Best to pop the microSD card out and use a USB adapter in the PC to program it directly, then pop it back into the scanner. That's how I program my 536, that USB port hasn't seen a cable in years.

 

[Mogman]

Yeah, that's not going to work. The USB A port on the back of the 536 is for the WiFi module only, not for programming.

You need a Mini-USB cable for the front of the 536. Yes, old school Mini, not Micro. Any standard Mini-USB to USB A cable will work.

OK, that is what I get not to read the manual, THANKS!!
I also did manage to update using the 436 radio, but now see the same USB jack on the front of the 536 DOH!!!

 

[fxdscon]

The radio did not come with a USB cable but I do have an A-A cable

If your newly purchased scanner was brand new, from a reputable dealer.... check all of the packing material in the box. The BCD536HP ships with the correct USB cable in the box.

 

[Mogman]

If your newly purchased scanner was brand new, from a reputable dealer.... check all of the packing material in the box. The BCD536HP ships with the correct USB cable in the box.

Not new, but happy with my purchase!
I just also picked up a Uniden BCD325P2, will be interested to see how it compares to the BCD436

 

[Mogman]

Interestingly enough, I have the range set for 10mi and am getting traffic from 40mi or more away, all non trunking using ZIP

 

[fxdscon]

Interestingly enough, I have the range set for 10mi and am getting traffic from 40mi or more away, all non trunking using ZIP

To get a better understanding of how range and location based scanning works, check under the heading of "UNDERSTANDING LOCATION, RANGE, AND SERVICES" starting on page 17 in this manual:

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/SDS200om.pdf

That manual is for the SDS200, but location works the same in other Uniden scanners.... the map version of location help wasn't included in the BCD536HP manual.

Check here also:

https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/LocationBasedScanning

 

[RMason]

Interestingly enough, I have the range set for 10mi and am getting traffic from 40mi or more away, all non trunking using ZIP

The range you receive is defined by the scan range setting plus the programmed range of the Departments and Sites. I think of it as two overlapping circles.

From Understanding Range: https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD436HPom.pdf

You will receive Departments/Sites that have a range equal to your scan range setting plus the programmed range of the Departments and Sites. For example, if your scan range is set to 10 miles and a Department/Site range is set to 30 miles, and that Department/Site is less than 40 miles away from your current location setting, it will be enabled in your Favorites List according to both range settings.​

 

[Mogman]

Thanks for the responses, looking back at the manual it is actually very poor, it does not even have an graphical explanation of the front and rear panels and what everything is for (ports, buttons etc.)

 

[fxdscon]

Thanks for the responses, looking back at the manual it is actually very poor, it does not even have an graphical explanation of the front and rear panels and what everything is for (ports, buttons etc.)

Have you seen the easier to read manual for your scanner:

Easier to Read BCD436/536HP Digital Scanner Manual

 

[Ronaldski]

Stay tuning in the full database option as IMHO might be too much for you at this time. Look at these videos though-

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=436hp+tips

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=436hp+update

 

[Mogman]

How can I tell if my BCDx36 radios have the DMR upgrade?

 

[hill]

Go to upgrade menu on the scanner and if you click .click on DMR if it already has the upgrade it will show you.

 

[Mogman]

I do not see upgrade anywhere at the moment, will consult the manual when I get out of the back 40, doing a little dozer work.

 

[jtwalker]

I do not see upgrade anywhere at the moment, will consult the manual when I get out of the back 40, doing a little dozer work.

https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/DigitalMobileRadioUpgrade

 

[Mogman]

https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/DigitalMobileRadioUpgrade

I did find that on the Uniden site, still do not see how to tell if it is upgraded, some good info o how to upgrade though.
Since that upgrade looks like it came out in 2014 I wonder if the later radios had it from the factory