BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Can't update firmware

[Algod]

When I attempt to update my firmware I get a dialog box to "select micro sd" The box is empty. I've tried to refresh, but to no avail. The instructions tell me to press "OK", but it's grayed out, and has no effect.
Any thoughts.

Al

 

[u2brent]

The radio has to be connected to the PC and be in Mass Storage Mode on the radio.

 

[Algod]

Yes, it was.

 

[u2brent]

Can you send and receive from Sentinel to the radio? The SD card may need replaced or reformatted.
If you have one, Try placing the SD card in a memory card reader, then see if you get the same results.
If available try it on another PC.

 

[Algod]

no, I cannot send or receive. I need to find my micro card adapter to check for data on the card. If I need to format it, should I use the Microsoft format? I have a camera that does its own formatting.

 

[fxdscon]

no, I cannot send or receive. I need to find my micro card adapter to check for data on the card. If I need to format it, should I use the Microsoft format? I have a camera that does its own formatting.

Windows formatting with "device defaults" usually works fine, but this is recommended by Uniden:

https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/index.html

.

 

[Algod]

Found my adapter and plugged it into my PC. All files are there. Do you think the issue is with the card or the scanner? Perhaps Sentinel?

Al

 

[Algod]

Off to work. I'll check back tomorrow.

Al

 

[fxdscon]

Found my adapter and plugged it into my PC. All files are there. Do you think the issue is with the card or the scanner? Perhaps Sentinel?

Al

More than likely the fault is with the SD card. Since you can see the card in the PC card reader, I would try to copy all of the contents from that card to a folder on the computer.

Then see if you can re-format the card while it's still in the PC and copy those files back to the card and put the card back in the scanner and see what happens.

If that doesn't work, try a new card.

.

 

[u2brent]

fxdscon may be right but if that does not fix the issue...

I would plug the radio into another PC and see if it is recognized. (If one is available)
Does the computer make a sound when a USB device is plugged in?
Does it appear in Device Manager?
Sounds like a pc issue; Unless your cable has gone bad or the USB connector is messed up at either the pc or the radio.
Assuming that you previously were able to program the radio using the pc.
Try installing the serial driver and starting over.
You can get it here.
BCD436HP < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

I'd try that next..

 

[Algod]

Ended up buying a new card, and put it in the radio. I now get a message to "clear user data" to initialize the card. When I attempt to do this I still get the dialog box that is empty. "OK" is grayed out.

Al

 

[buddrousa]

It sounds like you have a corrupted widows driver you may have to find it uninstall the driver and reinstall the driver for the scanner. You can try a different usb port.

 

[Voyager]

Was the card formatted as FAT32?

The driver sounds more likely, but the wrong format is still possible.

 

[Algod]

Yes fat32. When I have the original card in the radio, I don't get the "clear user data" message.

 

[Algod]

I guess because it's already initialized.
If I look in device manager my Prolific usb to serial device does not indicate an error.

 

[Voyager]

Are you running the latest firmware on the scanner? Also, can you try a card reader? You can use the CLEAR USER DATA on that as well as the firmware upgrade if it's not current in the scanner.

You don't want serial mode - you want MASS STORAGE mode. Make sure you are selecting that on your scanner. If you are, then your PC is using the wrong driver. If that is teh case, remove that driver and let Windows re-install the correct driver for MASS STORAGE mode.

 

[fxdscon]

Ended up buying a new card, and put it in the radio. I now get a message to "clear user data" to initialize the card. When I attempt to do this I still get the dialog box that is empty. "OK" is grayed out.

Al

Did you check the "display all drives" box when you were at the "clear user data" step with the new card?

.

 

[Algod]

If I check display all drives, the radio is not displayed.

 

[u2brent]

If I check display all drives, the radio is not displayed.

Should see a drive letter, not a radio id.
Did you try to Clear All User Data?

 

[Algod]

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. I've been playing with this for days. So, I shut down my PC, and traced all my USB cables only to find that my 436 cable ended at USB to AC power adapter. You guessed it. I plugged it into my PC and all is well. I now have a 16gig micro SD card if I ever need one. Thanks for all the support. And to think I started with a 4 channel crystal set.

Al