Database Update Timeout Error

[JoeinAK]

First, let me say that this forum is a wealth of knowledge on most subjects Uniden-related. I purchased my BCD536HP about a month ago, and since then have been around and around with the typical issues of SD card "file errors" and software install problems - most of it user error and all have been resolved by reading these forums. The scanner is working great now, except that I'm unable to update the database.

Here in the more remote parts of Alaska, we don't have MB or GB internet. We are using Hughes Net over satellite, which is plenty fast enough for everything we do. But we have latency to deal with. Whenever I open Sentinel and try to "Update Master HPDB" it opens the typical box "checking Uniden server". I can see the network traffic, but the connection times out in 9-10 seconds and says "The Operation Timed Out" and closes without updating. The same thing happens if you try to update firmware.

To test my theory that the timeout was too short, I drove 80 miles to the nearest 4GLTE tower to test the update on a faster system and it worked just fine. I'll spare you the details on how difficult "driving" 80 miles was just for a software test.

I can ping the update server but latency is about 800 ms typical. Evidently the timeout in the software is too short to allow a satellite connection to come back. Is there a way to lengthen the timeout? Driving 80 miles for an update is not an option. No other software has any issue with updates or timeouts, as normally they seem to have 60 second timeouts. Is there another way to manually update the database without Sentinel?

Thanks in advance,
Joe in AK

 

[VE3RADIO]

seems like the uniden server is down.. i cant get it either and I normally can.

 

[phask]

This is a known / common issue - unfortunately - I've never seen a work around. Neither here or on the Uniden forum.

Recent Topics - Community


I'm unsure if anyone has been able to FTP directly , id so they could forward the DB updates.

Lucky for you - I'd chance that actual DB updates are few for your local area.

edit
Agree - seems like it's currently down - However - your issue is with Hughes Net.

edit2 - UPman - resident Uniden guru may have some solutions, but currently is at CES for the duration.
Some users have resorted to a local wifi, library, McDonald's - what , if anything do you have available?

 

[joeuser]

Until they resolve the issue, I would try updating in the wee hours, when usage is lowest. I used to schedule my FTP downloads for around 2-3 AM when I was on dial up. Speaking of which, dial-up might be a better option. While you wont have the bandwidth, you will have better latency. Should have anyway!

 

[Voyager]

I updated the file in a PC last evening around 9 PM.

Check your Internet Security settings. Sometimes they are set too high to DL the datafile.

 

[KevinC]

I updated the file in a PC last evening around 9 PM.

Check your Internet Security settings. Sometimes they are set too high to DL the datafile.

You must have Secret Squirrel access as neither Sentinel will update for me.

 

[Voyager]

I just checked now, and it's not connecting, so the server is likely down. Maybe they are processing the new update.

And my update was at 9:57 Eastern last evening.

 

[JoeinAK]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I've tried at all times of the day, including what would be the very early hours of morning down there. Its the same each time. And this has been going on for a few weeks now, not just the past couple of days.

All firewalls and anti-v are turned off, and I've tried different things with no luck. Dial-up is not an option, as the nearest phone line is 80+ miles away.

Phask - your probably right, there will be very few database updates for Alaska I'm sure. But the one in the unit is from Sept. 13 currently. Be nice to at least get the most current version to use from now on. But since this problem also keeps me from updating firmware, in the future I won't be able to update anything on the scanner without an 80 mile drive.... bummer.

Hughes Net has latency, yes. 800ms on average which is likely 100x what DSL users have. But still, we run dozens of programs all of which update all the time. Never ever had an issue with updates until now. It just seems like the timeout is set too low (9 seconds?). Seems like it should be an easy fix in a future software version. Or, give us another (manual) way to upload the database. Uniden must have a program to convert the .csv database file on this website into multiple .hpd files to upload to the scanner. I can't imagine them doing that manually each time. If we could get the database files, it would be easy to copy and paste them directly to the SDcard. In my case, I only need one file! LOL

Hopefully UPman has some ideas when he gets back.

Thanks again,
Joe in AK

 

[JoeinAK]

I updated the file in a PC last evening around 9 PM.

Check your Internet Security settings. Sometimes they are set too high to DL the datafile.

Voyager, how big is the complete database file anyway?

 

[Voyager]

Voyager, how big is the complete database file anyway?

If you mean the complete RR database, I don't know. The HP database is about 75.8 MB (on the PC - in memory it takes about 750 MB to DL)

I would try a different DL location if you can. Some ISPs are finicky.

 

[phask]

There have been several discussions on this same issue on the Uniden forum - it dates back to the early days of the HP1.

This link might be a start - Categories - Community

Don't remember how good the search is, I also don't remember if anyone overcome the issue.

Voyager, how big is the complete database file anyway?

 

[fxdscon]

The complete x36HP database downloaded from Sentinel to the SD card in the HPDB folder is around 40MB. When zipped, it's less than 8MB.

If you have a friend somewhere with a non-satellite ISP, you could ask them to install the free Sentinel software (he doesn't actually need to have a x36HP scanner), download the update to an SD card in their computer (it will only recognize and download to a removable drive), and post the file somewhere where you could download it using your own FTP software that wouldn't have the time-out restriction. If both his and your ISP support email attachments of that size, he could just email it to you. Or he could even snail-mail the actual card to you.

Once you have enough posts to be able to send private messages, PM me and I will post the current file and give you a link so you can try to download it.

Note: This will update the database in your scanner, but not in your copy of Sentinel. You still wouldn't be able to work with the latest database in Sentinel for creating favorites lists etc.,


.

 

[phask]

Firmware files can also be done the same way - however I don't know of a place to grab them .

There is someone who has all the HP1 firmware - all the current and former. Unsure if he has any for the xseries Hopefully someone will find it.

 

[fxdscon]

Firmware files can also be done the same way - however I don't know of a place to grab them .

You can download the firmware file to the SD card in a card reader also by "updating" the firmware to the card. The firmware file will stay on the card as long as you don't put it in the scanner.... as soon as you do and the scanner boots up, the firmware loads into the scanner, and the file is deleted from the card.

This only works for the current firmware release available from the Sentinel update function.

.

 

[Voyager]

The complete Home Patrol database downloaded from Sentinel to the SD card in the HPDB folder is around 40MB or less.

Interesting. On the PC, it's twice the size due to a file that is not DLed to the scanner. I wonder what that file is. Maybe it's the whole dB which Sentinel then extracts into each state dB.

 

[fxdscon]

Interesting. On the PC, it's twice the size due to a file that is not DLed to the scanner. I wonder what that file is. Maybe it's the whole dB which Sentinel then extracts into each state dB.

Check this post, and UPMan's reply just below it:

http://forums.radioreference.com/un...tware-siren-app-discussion-2.html#post2074226

.

 

[Voyager]

OK, so I was right. Thanks.

Now, I wonder why it takes 700 MB of memory to DL it...

 

[JoeinAK]

The complete x36HP database downloaded from Sentinel to the SD card in the HPDB folder is around 40MB. When zipped, it's less than 8MB.

If you have a friend somewhere with a non-satellite ISP, you could ask them to install the free Sentinel software (he doesn't actually need to have a x36HP scanner), download the update to an SD card in their computer (it will only recognize and download to a removable drive), and post the file somewhere where you could download it using your own FTP software that wouldn't have the time-out restriction. If both his and your ISP support email attachments of that size, he could just email it to you. Or he could even snail-mail the actual card to you.

Once you have enough posts to be able to send private messages, PM me and I will post the current file and give you a link so you can try to download it.

Note: This will update the database in your scanner, but not in your copy of Sentinel. You still wouldn't be able to work with the latest database in Sentinel for creating favorites lists etc.,


.

I was thinking of trying something along those lines. But at this point, it seems that changing the timeout in the software is not an option so I'll probably make a trip back to town later in the month and give it another try over landline again. Once this latest update is done, I'll probably leave it alone for a while - can't imagine many changes to the database up here for Statewide systems. Since I only monitor about a dozen systems that I'm in range of, there is no use in having the entire nationwide database, or most of the State database. So working with the favorites list is a must!

It would be great if Uniden or somebody posted the firmware and database files on an external server somewhere anyhow. That way, if someone wanted to revert to an older firmware version or an older database version - for whatever reason - it would be available for download. Also a good backup when the main server goes down (like now). But, I can only imagine the tech support required to get folks familiar with this process!

Thanks so much,
Joe In AK