BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD996P2 - Hold button usage stops reception of transmission

[lhillin]

Hello all,

When I press the Hold button on an active frequency the scanner will stay on that frequency, as intended. However, the transmission will be interrupted, and I am not able to continue listening to the conversation. The transmission by the first party stops in mid-sentence. Usually, when the 2nd party responds I am able to continue listening to the conversation.

Does anyone know how to overcome this?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Is this a conventional frequency or part of a trunked radio system? Only one frequency in question or more than one? A little context about what is being monitored would be helpful...

 

[lhillin]

I am monitoring conventional frequencies. The issue occurs on analog and P25 frequencies. No trunking involved. It happens with both weak and strong signals, mobile units transmitting through a repeater and base units transmitting through a repeater. It is not limited to a particular agency or specific repeater.

 

[n1chu]

Time your pressing of the “Hold” button to when the transmission drops. The slight loss of audio will not be a bother if you do it between the two parties engaged in a conversation, when one drops his transmission so the other can take his turn to transmit. Make believe you are the one talking to the person you are listening to but instead of pressing a PPT button on a microphone, you are pressing the hold button on your scanner.

 

[a727469]

Interesting. I just confirmed on my 996 that there is a 1/2 second mute when I hold an an active analog frequency and then all audio comes through fine so not sure why the active conversation stops but the reply is ok as you said. How long have you had the 996? Did this just begin recently? Can you hold then manually go another active frequency and hear all conversations?

 

[lhillin]

I have had this 996 for about 4 years, prior to that I owned a 996P2 for about 3 years, but I accidentally dropped it and broke it. I have been a scanner listener for about 50 years, crystal units to today's modern gear. My current 996 has done this since I bought it. Yes, I can be on hold and manually tune to another active frequency with no issues.

I am familiar with the 1/2 second mute that you mention, however, sometimes the original speaking party is muted completely, I then pick the conversation back up when the second party begins transmitting.

Thank you everyone for the operating tips.

 

[a727469]

wish I could be of more help..I did the crystals too! Was easier in some ways, but issues like this with the 996 keep us engaged. Hopefully someone else can throw some light on this. It almost sounds like there is a component like a capacitor that is holding its charge too long and then it clears, but what do I know?! It could be just a quirk in your unit which may not be fixable unless you send to uniden, but that is a pain!

 

[Ubbe]

It sounds more like a firmware bug. When a key beep are generated it mutes the received audio and instead sounds the beep. It is supposed to unmute the received audio after that but miss to do that in the firmware code. When the active talker stops it mutes the audio, but it's already muted, and when the other party starts to talk it unmutes and operates normally again.

If the 996 have a function to disable key beep then try that to see if it still mutes the audio.

/Ubbe

 

[a727469]

ubbe, good suggestion. Yes you can disable the key beep on the 996..I just did and there is still that 1/2 second mute, but this might have a different effect on the posters unit. I assume the poster firmware was up to date, but if not he might try to update.

 

[Ubbe]

Yes you can disable the key beep on the 996..I just did and there is still that 1/2 second mute

Then it's definitely a firmware bug involved as disabling key beep should not activate the 1/2 sec mute function as if the beep where still there.

/Ubbe

 

[a727469]

Could be firmware but even with the short mute, I still never miss any part of the conversation. Again would like to know firmware #. Mine is 1.11.04

 

[BinaryMode]

Scanning and holding onto a conventional frequency (no trunking) with P25 modulation using my 325P doesn't exhibit this behavior. I'm using the latest firmware. I'll try my 996P2 latter. It's in the car. Both do have the latest firmware however.

 

[Randyk4661]

I have just tried this on my 996P2 and other than brief drop of the audio it works just fine.
I tried all the bands, analog and digital

 

[a727469]

Hello all,

When I press the Hold button on an active frequency the scanner will stay on that frequency, as intended. However, the transmission will be interrupted, and I am not able to continue listening to the conversation. The transmission by the first party stops in mid-sentence. Usually, when the 2nd party responds I am able to continue listening to the conversation.

Does anyone know how to overcome this?

Maybe we will hear from the original poster as far as firmware version or progress since no one else seems to have the same issue. There are some things we end up living with using these radios but, as I stated, this unfortunately might mean a trip back to uniden.👿to really fix it, or never Hold! 😉😉😉

 

[buddrousa]

@lhillin
I am running the new firmware on 9 996p2's right now and I do not see the problem you are having running the newest firmware on all 9.
Are you bumping the HOLD Button twice if you do that the scanner will stop then continue looking for a signal.

 

[Ubbe]

Are you bumping the HOLD Button twice if you do that the scanner will stop then continue looking for a signal.

When I press the Hold button on an active frequency the scanner will stay on that frequency, as intended. However, the transmission will be interrupted, and I am not able to continue listening to the conversation.
I am monitoring conventional frequencies. The issue occurs on analog and P25 frequencies. No trunking involved.

It seems his 996 are unique with this issue. Maybe a very old firmware are in use, the one installed from the factory.
It would be interesting to know if pushing function, that also makes a beep, will do the same muting/avoid anomaly.

/Ubbe

 

[BinaryMode]

I'll try my 996P2 latter. It's in the car. Both do have the latest firmware however.

BCD325P2/BCD996P2: - BCD996P2 - Hold button usage stops reception of transmission

Hello all, When I press the Hold button on an active frequency the scanner will stay on that frequency, as intended. However, the transmission will be interrupted, and I am not able to continue listening to the conversation. The transmission by the first party stops in mid-sentence. Usually...

forums.radioreference.com

Held onto a TRUNKED phase I talk group and no delay with the 996P2. Tried it several times.

So like was mentioned could be your firmware or perhaps the scanner its self.

 

[scanman1958]

Is your 'digital wait time' set to something higher than 400ms? I believe 400ms is the default setting. Change it to zero and see what happens.

 

[Ubbe]

Digital wait time are only a muting function for the audio, so you will not have to listen to the data audio before it switches to digital decode when you have programmed a conventional channel to use both analog and digital audio mode and it first lands on the channel during scan.

/Ubbe