BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD996P2 - ESN Needed?

[lakerats]

First, the facts:

1. Located in NW Travis County, TX
2. BCD996P2 purchased when it was first released.
3. The scanner sat in the box until last week when, after a long illness, I decided to bring it to life.
4. Upgraded the firmware (to Version 3 something-or-other)
5. With ARC-XT Pro and RadioReference helping, programmed several law, fire, and EMS groups within the GATRRS system and Sim 1 site along with a few VHF freqs. All seem to be working fine.
6. Registered the scanner's serial number with Uniden which, upon reviewing my registration, Uniden is implying I need to upgrade further to include the "ProVoice", "DMR" and "NXD" keys. There's nothing to explain what these are or why I might need them NOR does the site explain how to apply for and obtain an ESN.

The question: What are these "upgrades", do I need them and how do I obtain an ESN?

I could use some help here. Apologies if previously covered...I'm old, visually impaired and on a fixed budget. How old am I? When I first started messing with receivers, there was no "scanning" to be had and, in order to change channels, you unplugged one crystal and replace it with another.

Thanks in advance!

 

[enosjones]

Register at my.uniden.com, register all your scanners and enter the serial number for the scanner into the website. It will then give u options to upgrade each one for each scanner, it is over $60 per upgrade

 

[RaleighGuy]

The upgrades are different mode types used. looking at your county I do see a number of businesses using DMR, only one business on NXDN and no Provoice. The DMR and NXDN appear to be shared systems (multiple businesses renting space on repeater/system).

Each of the mode updates run $60-80 depending on where bought. If you are not interested in businesses then you probably don't need the upgrades, but you can add them later if you find you do want them.

Travis County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Travis County, Texas (TX)

www.radioreference.com

To find the ESN on the BCD996P2:

• Press Menu
• Select Settings.
• (If you do NOT see “Upgrade” as an item in the list go back and update the firmware and start over!)
• Select See Scanner Information
• Select Firmware Version
• The ESN will be listed as “SN37……”
• The SUM Code will be a 3-digit letter/number combination.
• You need both the ESN and the SUM Code

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Lakerats, These additional digital modes are completely optional. You do not need to purchase them unless you want to listen to systems near you that use these modes.

 

[fxdscon]

it is over $60 per upgrade

Purchased from my.uniden.com:

DMR = $60
NXDN = $50
ProVoice = $49.99

Plus tax if applicable in your location.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Purchased from my.uniden.com:

DMR = $60
NXDN = $50
ProVoice = $49.99

Plus tax if applicable in your location.

From Scanner Masters they are $75 each

 

[dave3825]

on a fixed budget

The last time I looked, Uniden had the cheapest price on the upgrade keys, and while typing this, @fxdscon just posted prices above.

 

[N9JIG]

They are always cheapest directly from Uniden. Retailers will charge extra to pay for the key itself they have to buy from Uniden plus for the time and effort needed to acquire the key and provide it to the customer. They also have to keep the lights on...

If you can get the keys directly from Uniden it is not difficult to install them, just be sure that you have the latest firmware. Once you get the key you use the radio keyboard to install it.

Also be sure to check that you actually need any of these updates. For police, fire and EMS in most areas you do not. The RR database will tell you if anyone in the area is using them and with that you can decide whether it is worth the expense. You can always add the update to a radio down the line if they switch or you move. For ProVoice systems check to see if they are replacing it with a new (usually) P25 system, the ProVoice system would likely be going away and it may not be worth buying the upgrade.

Always remember too that these feature updates are not transferable to another radio, regardless of whether you bought them directly or from a retailer. They are keyed to the radio's ESN and cannot be transferred to a new radio and will follow the radio if you sell it. If you sell your 436 with the DMR upgrade and buy an SDS200 to replace it you would need to buy a separate DMR code for the new radio.

If you send your upgraded radio to Uniden for repair make sure that they know you have the upgrade. They usually do not check for it and if they replace the radio with a new or refurb radio the key you have may not work unless they reflash it with the same serial number of the old radio. This can also happen if they replace certain parts. If they know ahead of time that the radio has had any of these upgrades installed they will be sure the radio returns to you with them, regardless of the serial number issue.

 

[RaleighGuy]

If you send your upgraded radio to Uniden for repair make sure that they know you have the upgrade. They usually do not check for it and if they replace the radio with a new or refurb radio the key you have may not work unless they reflash it with the same serial number of the old radio. This can also happen if they replace certain parts. If they know ahead of time that the radio has had any of these upgrades installed they will be sure the radio returns to you with them, regardless of the serial number issue.

Thank you for the additional info, very helpful to know this.

 

[lakerats]

My thanks to ALL for the fine help and advice! I checked the scanner info and found a Firmware version of 1.09.12 (Could'a swore the upgrade had a "3" in it somewhere).

Registered the ESN and Sum with Uniden - so it'll be there if I need it. After reviewing my programming - I don't need anything else right now.

Again THANKS for teaching an old dog a couple new tricks!