SR30C Can't get connected to PC

[eddferrell]

I have a Uniden Bearcat SR30C. I've installed the drivers and software from Uniden. The PORT (COM4) shows up in DEVICE MANAGER when I connect it to the computer. Neither the Uniden software nor the Scan75 software can find the scanner on COM4 or AutoDetect it. Any suggestions? I've rebooted, uninstalled drivers, and tried 3 different cables, but I'm not sure I'm using the exact cable from Uniden. Is the Uniden cable different from a standard USB "Mini-B"?
Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Edd

 

[dave3825]

Not sure about that specific radio and cable but some cables that fit can be just for charging and may not have the wires for data transfer.

 

[ten13]

I'm not familiar with that radio either, but, along with the cable issue mentioned above, could it be that the drivers aren't compatible with the computer operating system? Some of those drivers are not compatible with newer versions of Windows.

 

[tvengr]

Try using this driver. It works with other Uniden scanners using a USB port. Also, check if there is a PC Control setting in the scanner menu. If there is, the data rate may be set to off.

 

[eddferrell]

Thank you all for the suggestions!
Dave3825 - I think this is my next step. The cables I've tried are from my "box of cables" and may not have data capabilities.
Ten13 - It's a Windows 10 PC. The drivers seemed to be installed without a problem.
tvengr - I tried this Uniden driver with the same result. Device Manager "sees" the scanner and assigns COM4 when I plug it in (even if the scanner is OFF) but no communication to/from either program:, Uniden SR30C SS or Scan75.
I'm going to try to find the original cable and give it another try.
Thanks again for all of your responses and I'll update the post when I find out the solution.
Cheers, Edd

 

[RandyKuff]

What Uniden software are you referring to...
Seems to me if connected to the computer and it gets assigned a com port number, I dont think it's the cable...
That says the cable has data lines...

There is different drivers here...

https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/SR30C

Is that the Uniden software your also using shown in the above link...

 

[eddferrell]

Hi RandyKuff, Yes I don't get it either. I thought maybe when I plugged in the cable from the scanner, the computer was just seeing SOMETHING (data or not) and was assigning a COM port.
I've looked through the manual and it doesn't say if the scanner has to be in a certain setting to "accept" the PC connection. I've checked the advanced port settings (baud, parity, stop bits, etc.) and they seem correct.
I'm still looking for the original cable, but I agree that it seems that the PC "sees" something.
The software I'm using is from Uniden in a zip file named SR30C_SS_V1_00_00 and the driver I'm using is CP210x_Universal_Windows_Driver, although I have tried Uniden_usbser.zip also. I've also tried Scan75 with the same error of no scanner detected.
Thanks for the reply,
Edd

 

[RandyKuff]

Thats the same software shown in my link above...
Did you try try the driver shown there?
Ok I see thats the driver you used (CP210x)

 

[RandyKuff]

Just a curious question...
You say the com port still shows with the scanner turned off...
Unplug the scanner (With it turned off) leaving the cable plugged into the computer and see if the port goes away...

 

[eddferrell]

With scanner OFF, when I plug in the scanner to the USB it is seen in Windows Device Manager (under Ports). When I unplug the scanner (still OFF) Windows Device Manager then removes the Port. I'm at a loss.
Thanks, Edd

 

[ten13]

Could this be any help? I recall having the same or similar problem as yours awhile back with a different radio and, as I remember, I found the solution at this link below ("Products"). It's in regards to the compatibility of the PL2303 Prolific drivers vs. Win 10 & 11. I still have the "revised" driver on my desktop, and I wouldn't have kept it if it didn't work...Just a guess on my part.....

Link:

Products

 

[eddferrell]

Could this be any help? I recall having the same or similar problem as yours awhile back with a different radio and, as I remember, I found the solution at this link below ("Products"). It's in regards to the compatibility of the PL2303 Prolific drivers vs. Win 10 & 11. I still have the "revised" driver on my desktop, and I wouldn't have kept it if it didn't work...Just a guess on my part.....

Link:

Products

I just tried the drivers on this page but no luck getting them to even assign a port.

 

[RandyKuff]

When scanner connected to computer whats the BAUD rate showing for the port...
Is there any settings in the software to set the BAUD rate?
I'm guessing here, Maybe a mismatch between the port and software...

I'm not familiar with that scanner and Unidens software for it...

 

[tvengr]

When scanner connected to computer whats the BAUD rate showing for the port...
Is there any settings in the software to set the BAUD rate?
I.m guessing here, Maybe a mismatch between the port and software...

The Uniden software does not have an option for setting the baud rate, only auto detect. The owner's manual doesn't show the menu options. If there is a PC Control option, the baud rate could be set to off.

 

[eddferrell]

The Uniden software does not have an option for setting the baud rate, only auto detect. The owner's manual doesn't show the menu options. If there is a PC Control option, the baud rate could be set to off.

I've tried 57600 Baud (as suggested from the Scan75 software) and the default 9600 Baud. 2 Questions...
Does the scanner need to be in a certain mode to recieve communication from the PC? (the manual doesn't say anything and there doesn't seem to be a Menu or Settings on the scanner itself)
Could the cable from Uniden be a very specific cable, different from a standard USB-Mini-B cable?
Thanks for your suggestions.
Edd

 

[wtp]

only a guess,
with the scanner on and plugged in,
turn the computer off and on.
ok i am out of ideas.

 

[eddferrell]

only a guess,
with the scanner on and plugged in,
turn the computer off and on.
ok i am out of ideas.

That's a good suggestion. I tried 4 times: 2 different cables and 2 different BAUD rates but no luck. I've even tried it on 2 different Win10 PC's. I think I'm going to have to program it manually. It's funny how if I had know when I started troubleshooting it was going to be so difficult I could have just started programming the frequencies manually and been finished with it. I think I'm going to order a new USB cable (with data), even though it doesn't make sense.
Thanks for your help.
Edd

 

[RandyKuff]

"Does the scanner need to be in a certain mode to recieve communication from the PC?"

When you plug the scanner in to the computer if the scanners screen doesn't prompt you to do something I would say no...
It is just a serial port connection... Which is used by most scanner software...

As @tvengr stated above, there doesn't seem to be anything in the manual for menu options... So I'm assuming it does not
have any kind of a menu system you can access...


"Could the cable from Uniden be a very specific cable, different from a standard USB-Mini-B cable?"

I highly doubt it...

 

[RandyKuff]

See if the computer will let you set the com port to 115200 baud and see what it does...

 

[eddferrell]

See if the computer will let you set the com port to 115200 baud and see what it does...

Hey RandyKuff, Thanks for the suggestions. I tried that baud with no luck. I'm going to go buy a new cable, against logic. It's odd to me the Device Manager "seeing" when I plug in the scanner (PORTS -Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge) even when it is turned off. The computer will recognize something being plugged in and out, assign it a COM port, but not be able to "talk" to the scanner.
Again, thanks for your time and I'll update the post if I figure something out.
Edd