BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD996P2 lost in the deep....

[mindbender]

Hey,
So I just got this 996p2 scanner. Stent hours running around the net trying to figure out how to get anyplace with it! I've been programing and using scanners for over 30 years! This has to be the worsted NON setup I've tried to install! 3rd party should not be a thing! I finally apparently updated my usb Win drivers! Still no scanner! it did show "install icon" when plugged in but still doesn't show up. I installed the Firmware update but now needs a virtual serial driver. (nothing to do with usb) I have the FreeScan software installed. The problem seems to be getting my computer to see the scanner... It's nothing like my BCD436HP. That took no time to setup!

Where am I lost?
Edit: Is this scanner suppose to ship with nothing on it?

Thanks!

 

[scanbc780]

Yes, it doesn't come with a database like the others. You program it yourself, from scratch.

 

[mindbender]

Yes, it doesn't come with a database like the others. You program it yourself, from scratch.

So Uniden has the code to put in some scanners but can't copy and paste it in this unit? That's just greedy evil! lol

 

[wtp]

for the first little thing.
this is to just listen to any frequency the radio can get.
hit hold, type in a frequency, hit hold, so.
HOLD, FREQ, HOLD.
you can even try an FM radio frequency to get the hang of it.
as soon as you can get a personal message i can send step by step for bare bones programming.
just start with little steps and then move on.

 

[mindbender]

for the first little thing.
this is to just listen to any frequency the radio can get.
hit hold, type in a frequency, hit hold, so.
HOLD, FREQ, HOLD.
you can even try an FM radio frequency to get the hang of it.
as soon as you can get a personal message i can send step by step for bare bones programming.
just start with little steps and then move on.

I need to hook it to the computer at least to update the old firmware. I've been using and programming scanners for over 30 years. This can't be that hard!
EDIT: So I just talked to my son who just got a new scanner... I couldn't connect to this laptop either but his connected to his system...
I guess I will use a different computer that I never use online and try that.... Thanks!

 

[hiegtx]

Hey,
So I just got this 996p2 scanner. Stent hours running around the net trying to figure out how to get anyplace with it! I've been programing and using scanners for over 30 years! This has to be the worsted NON setup I've tried to install! 3rd party should not be a thing! I finally apparently updated my usb Win drivers! Still no scanner! it did show "install icon" when plugged in but still doesn't show up. I installed the Firmware update but now needs a virtual serial driver. (nothing to do with usb) I have the FreeScan software installed. The problem seems to be getting my computer to see the scanner... It's nothing like my BCD436HP. That took no time to setup!

Where am I lost?
Edit: Is this scanner suppose to ship with nothing on it?

Thanks!

If you have not already done so, you can find a link to the serial driver you need on this page. (The page is for a different scanner, but the driver is the same for multiple scanners.)

http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/UnidenMan4/BCD996P2/uniden_usbser.zip

Download the file, and extract the contents to your PC. If, after connecting the scanner to your PC, the PC does not automatically find the downloaded file, go to the Device Manager via the Control Panel.

If you see the a Com port with a yellow icon, with an exclamation point, open that up with a right-click, & select 'update driver software'. If needed, browse to where you downloaded & extracted the file so that the PC will install the correct driver.

There is a User Guide for FreeSCAN in the Wiki.
FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[mindbender]

If you have not already done so, you can find a link to the serial driver you need on this page. (The page is for a different scanner, but the driver is the same for multiple scanners.)

http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/UnidenMan4/BCD996P2/uniden_usbser.zip

Download the file, and extract the contents to your PC. If, after connecting the scanner to your PC, the PC does not automatically find the downloaded file, go to the Device Manager via the Control Panel.
View attachment 102337
If you see the a Com port with a yellow icon, with an exclamation point, open that up with a right-click, & select 'update driver software'. If needed, browse to where you downloaded & extracted the file so that the PC will install the correct driver.

There is a User Guide for FreeSCAN in the Wiki.
FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

Thanks, I don't understand why I would need a serial driver for a usb port. But thanks anyway! it will stay on my mind just in case...

 

[tvengr]

So I just got this 996p2 scanner.

What is your city, county, and state and which systems and agencies do you want to monitor?

 

[tvengr]

Thanks, I don't understand why I would need a serial driver for a usb port. But thanks anyway! it will stay on my mind just in case.

It is a driver for the Uniden scanners.

 

[wtp]

what is the firmware version ?
when a radio is shipped out it works, the updates help 'tweak' some things.
the latest is 1.08.01
press MENU. Scroll to ‘Settings’ and press E/. Scroll to the settings and options below (in Blue) and press E/ .
then scroll to firmware version

 

[donc13]

Thanks, I don't understand why I would need a serial driver for a usb port. But thanks anyway! it will stay on my mind just in case...

USB stands for Universal SERIAL Bus

That's why you need drivers.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks, I don't understand why I would need a serial driver for a usb port. But thanks anyway! it will stay on my mind just in case...

For your 436HP, when you connect the scanner to your PC, with the USB cable, the scanner can then be put into Mass Storage Mode, so that the PC sees the SD card as a USB drive. That let's you download programming to the scanner, or read from the scanner to capture any changes you made through the keypad, as well as download recordings, if you so choose. But if you, instead, wanted to connect the 436HP to your PC, so that you could log activity with ProScan, or ARC536Pro, then the serial port driver is required. That way, your PC sees the scanner as a device connected via a serial port.

Your 996P2 does not have a memory card, nor a memory system that the PC would treat as a drive. The only way for the PC to connect to the 996P2 is via a serial connection, even though the cable being used is connected via USB. If you decline to set up the serial port driver correctly, then you will be unable to program the 996P2 via your PC and software.

 

[Blackink]

For instructions on installing drivers for the Uniden USB programming Cable, see this link: Drivers
For information on updating the firmware, go to this link: Firmware

For clarification on the Firmware update, read this below:

The Uniden Web site instructions aren't too clear. The Web site says:

These are the installation Steps from the Uniden Web site:
Download BC_VUP3 Firmware Updater for DMA Scanners, unzip the file, then run the installer to install this utility. Then, run the utility and follow the on-screen prompts to select the scanner model and firmware version to apply.


When I unzip that folder, I see a folder labeled BC_VUP_V3_03_00. Inside that folder is a setup.exe file and a Setup_BC_VUP.msi file.

The only reason I selected the Setup_BC_VUP.msi file is because it was the closest match to what the instructions say to select: Run the BC_VUP3 utility (not the .msi file).

It would have been nice if the instructions mentioned selecting the Setup_BC_VUP.msi file rather than to Run the BC_VUP3 utility.

I think it would be a bit clearer for people if it read: Installation Steps-
Download and unzip BC_VUP_V3_03_00.zip. Find the extracted files and open the BC_VUP_V3_03_00 folder. Click on the BC_VUP3.msi file, select Install. Once the utility is installed, go to your Start Menu and select BC_VUP3 to run the utility and follow the on-screen instructions.

And once this utility is installed on your computer, it doesn’t need to be downloaded for future firmware updates. Some people don’t realize this software only needs to be downloaded once.

To upgrade/download any future firmware is done by running the BC_VUP3 software right from your computer and follow the instructions.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Use this link:

InstallingBC_VUP < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

info.uniden.com

 

[Blackink]

Use this link:

InstallingBC_VUP < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

info.uniden.com

Very nice!!
That should help others when they need to download and install the software.
Thanks Joe...

 

[JoeBearcat]

Very nice!!
That should help others when they need to download and install the software.
Thanks Joe...

I've been trying to get approval to make those public, but I think it will just 'happen' to go public soon. (not that it's not public with that post...)