BCDx36HP Sentinel Software & Siren App Discussion

[wise871]

BCDx36HP Sentinel Software & Siren App Discussion

All my questions were answered in the video. Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[scannerowner]

Upman I thank you and your team for making Uniden always stand apart from other manufacturers... I can't wait to see what you guys have for years to come!

 

[ofd8001]

This is interesting. I was messing around with the Sentinel a few minutes ago and came up with some questions. So I went to this site and danged if Upman hadn't posted a video which pretty much answered those questions.

Was also kind of neat how he did his naming conventions, which was how I've done my other stuff, so that tells me if I'm in left field doing it that way, I'm not alone.

I still have a few questions, however and mostly to confirm what I think:

"Avoid" is like the old "Lockout" and "Department" is like the old "Group"?

Also Upman's video said he's going to do one on quick keys. If he could be sure to describe how site quick keys interact with system quick keys, that would be helpful to me.

Lastly what happens if I rename something, such as adding "Fire" to a channel name on my favorites list and do a database update download. Would the refreshed database wipe out what I did and revert the names back to whatever the database has?

Here's a suggestion. Different alert tones can be selected, but there is no way of knowing what the alert tones sound like. It might be kind of neat to have something in the software that gives a sample of what the tones sound like. (Perhaps the WAV files/samples could be on the Uniden TWIKI). When I used to program fire pagers, the different alert sounds could be heard somewhere.

 

[wise871]

My favorites from my HP-1 have been imported and configured. Now all I need is the radio, LOL

 

[hiegtx]

This is interesting. I was messing around with the Sentinel a few minutes ago and came up with some questions. So I went to this site and danged if Upman hadn't posted a video which pretty much answered those questions.

Was also kind of neat how he did his naming conventions, which was how I've done my other stuff, so that tells me if I'm in left field doing it that way, I'm not alone.

I still have a few questions, however and mostly to confirm what I think:

"Avoid" is like the old "Lockout" and "Department" is like the old "Group"?

Also Upman's video said he's going to do one on quick keys. If he could be sure to describe how site quick keys interact with system quick keys, that would be helpful to me.

Lastly what happens if I rename something, such as adding "Fire" to a channel name on my favorites list and do a database update download. Would the refreshed database wipe out what I did and revert the names back to whatever the database has?

Here's a suggestion. Different alert tones can be selected, but there is no way of knowing what the alert tones sound like. It might be kind of neat to have something in the software that gives a sample of what the tones sound like. (Perhaps the WAV files/samples could be on the Uniden TWIKI). When I used to program fire pagers, the different alert sounds could be heard somewhere.

"Avoid" is the equivalent to "Lockout". And "Department" is the same as the "Group" in the DMA scanners such as the 396XT, among others.

Any changes you make in your Favorites list (tweaking System, Department, Site, or Channel/Talkgroup names or data) is unaffected by updating the main database. Favorites lists are not updated or overwritten by that.

 

[ofd8001]

Cool! Thanks. . .

If "Avoid" is like lockout, is there the same permanent/temporary status as there were with lockout?

 

[hiegtx]

Cool! Thanks. . .

If "Avoid" is like lockout, is there the same permanent/temporary status as there were with lockout?

If you are doing it on the scanner itself, yes (at least with the HP-1; I'm guessing the new scanners will be the same). When you "Avoid" a System, Department, or Channel/Talkgroup, you have the option to either make it Temporary (until next power off/power on cycle, like the XT series), or Permanent (stays avoided out until you reset it manually). In the software, that would only be a permanent avoid, since there is no power cycle to deal with there.

 

[SCPD]

Max,

Yes, you can re-write system names, talkgroup or conventional channel names (they use the longer 'description' field instead of the 12 character "display" name field listed in the database), as well as rename "Departments", which are basically the same as groups in the DMA scanners (396T or -XT, etc).

You can also create a completely new system, trunked (in any 'flavor' the scanner supports), or conventional.

All of this is done at the Favorites list level. You can't edit the main RadioReference database; that's updated weekly anyway, so any changes there would be overwritten.

If you like, I'll forward you an email, with screenshots, I created for another member, showing that, also has a favorites list for Dallas. pm me if interested.

Thanks man, I did finally find that screen to write new, operates much like FreeScan or ProScan. So far I have Grayson, Fannin and Cooke all written the way I want them.

I am curious however, I don't see the "Record" option Like I have on ProScan, where I can control what transmissions leave the radio. Does the 536 not have two outputs like the XT's?

 

[redburgundy]

Writing to a microSD card

I'd like to be able to use Sentinel to write the full database and my favorites to a microSD card that is in my computer, rather than in the scanner. Is that possible? When I try "Write to Scanner," Sentinel doesn't seem to find the card in my computer.

 

[nosoup4u]

Looks like there is only a 1MB limit for the favorite lists (as with the HP1)

 

[puzzleriddle]

is the 1 meg limit for 1 list or all of em (100). also how many fave list can you monitor at 1 time?

 

[phask]

I'd like to be able to use Sentinel to write the full database and my favorites to a microSD card that is in my computer, rather than in the scanner. Is that possible? When I try "Write to Scanner," Sentinel doesn't seem to find the card in my computer.

AFAIK - no way, not with the similar, HP-1 again AFAIK.

Why would you need to? It's already all in Sentinel. Once you have the radio you could always copy from it, but again unnecessary unless I'm missing something.

 

[NHdave]

AFAIK - no way, not with the similar, HP-1 again AFAIK.

Why would you need to? It's already all in Sentinel. Once you have the radio you could always copy from it, but again unnecessary unless I'm missing something.

Many reasons, not the least of which is you wouldn't have to take your laptop out to your car to program a mobile installation.

 

[n3617400]

I'd like to be able to use Sentinel to write the full database and my favorites to a microSD card that is in my computer, rather than in the scanner. Is that possible? When I try "Write to Scanner," Sentinel doesn't seem to find the card in my computer.

it's possible.

- insert in PC SD-card or any removable memory drive. (Ex. "E:\")
- create dir "E:\BCDx36HP"
- in dir "E:\BCDx36HP" create file "scanner.inf"
- this file should contain five fields separated by tabs (\t)

Scanner BCD777HP 77777-000000000-000 2.04.01 02

this is all the conditions that the program has defined your card.

 

[brennank]

I'd like to be able to use Sentinel to write the full database and my favorites to a microSD card that is in my computer, rather than in the scanner. Is that possible? When I try "Write to Scanner," Sentinel doesn't seem to find the card in my computer.

That would be a really nice feature for those of us who have a permanent install. Like how I have mine mounted in the truck. It would be really handy to just bring the SD card in rather then the laptop out.

EDIT: Just noticed the post above mine. Although that seems like kind of a 'hack job' solution. It would be nice if it was officially implemented in the Sentinel software.

 

[UPMan]

Yes, you can (I just did).

 

[redburgundy]

it's possible.

- insert in PC SD-card or any removable memory drive. (Ex. "E:\")
- create dir "E:\BCDx36HP"
- in dir "E:\BCDx36HP" create file "scanner.inf"
- this file should contain five fields separated by tabs (\t)

Scanner BCD777HP 77777-000000000-000 2.04.01 02

this is all the conditions that the program has defined your card.

That almost works. It crashed when looking for the file hpdb.cfg.
I had to copy the file hpdb.cfg from the Database folder on the computer to the O:\BCDx36HP\HPDB folder on the microSD card in order to get the favorites onto the microSD card. But that didn't copy the database itself. I had to select "Force Write Full Database" to accomplish that.
Although that does not seem to copy the MasterHpdb file.

 

[MarkWestin]

I have a rather large concern. Its great that those people who have the Home Patrol 1 can transfer their favorites list(s) to the new BCDx36HP software, but what about those of us that don't have a Home Patrol 1 unit? I have four other Uniden units that I have been programming and updating with a combination of Freescan and Butel's ARC software. I need a way to import and export my current programming to and from the new software. Re entering the over 100 systems in the new scanners is possible but would be very annoying to say the least. Some of these systems have several hundred frequencies or talkgroups not to mention UIDs. Also a one way conversion would not be a solution because none of my older units will be going away any time soon. I normally have been making programming changes on my main unit and then transferring the same programming to the others. Most of what is in my scanners is not in the RR database and I don't want to upload it for various reasons including that I really don't want the world to know. I'm sure that eventually all the things that I have discovered will make it into the RR database, but that could take a very long time.

Mark

 

[LIScanner101]

OK, I'm new to Sentinel, having only had a BCT15X that I've programmed with FreeSCAN. I downloaded Sentinel today and I've been playing around with it, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a new BCD536HP in the spring.

With that said:

Is there any way I can convert my analog-only FreeSCAN files to a Sentinel file ahead of time, then add-in the digital stuff? I have several nice files I've put together that I'm very happy with, complete with customized alpha tags and I'd hate to have to start all over again from scratch.

BTW, what is the alpha tag character limit on the BCD536HP?

 

[fxdscon]

I'd like to be able to use Sentinel to write the full database and my favorites to a microSD card that is in my computer, rather than in the scanner. Is that possible? When I try "Write to Scanner," Sentinel doesn't seem to find the card in my computer.

Easy to do....

Blank formatted card in computer....
Start Sentinel.....
From the top tool bar in Sentinel, Home Patrol ---> Clear User Data...
Check the box that says "Display all drives"..
Select the drive assigned to the card (should now be showing)..
Click "OK"
After that finishes, Home Patrol ---> Write to Home Patrol.
Check the card now, master DB and favorites should all be there.

Just checked..... works with BCDx36HP_Sentinel also. Substitute "Scanner" for "Home Patrol" in above instructions.

.