home patrol 1 problems

[MaritimeMatt]

Home Patrol 1 bought new about 7 months ago. Been problem free til now. Unit is on and then decides to revert back to the set-up screen. Batteries test fine. Range is on my normal 8 miles. Was never set-up on Sentinel software but never had any issues til now. What gives ??? Unit does me no good if it can't be relied on.

 

[Cepheid]

Is there a reason that you never set it up with the Sentinel software? Perhaps you could try downloading the software and update to the newest firmware to see if that solves the problem.

 

[MaritimeMatt]

As purchased, it worked right out of the box so I didn't want to get involved with it. Like i said, 7 months and no issues, now out of the blue, it decides it wants to no longer function.

 

[QwKiE]

So you are saying you never updated the firmware or the hpdb that is the problem I bet.

 

[QwKiE]

Also I see there system has recently changed to New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) phase ii home patrol 1 will not receive this

 

[WoodburyMan]

Is the setup screen you're talking about asking to set the date and time?

This could be similar to the RTC clock battery on the BCD scanners and HomePatrol II scanners have, factory defects.

 

[jonwienke]

Was never set-up on Sentinel software but never had any issues til now. What gives ??? Unit does me no good if it can't be relied on.

The database that ships with the scanner is several years old, and if you don't update it periodically, any change(s) to the system(s) you're monitoring can make the scanner stop receiving. The first thing you should do is update the database and firmware through Sentinel.

 

[captncarp]

I never up date scanners. I use a Chromebook and they don't work with Sentinel.
I guess that is why I prefer GRE/radio shack and Whistler scanners.
If a scanner doesn't work with what was installed in it when I bought it than shame on Uniden et all.
DMC, ex USN RM2.

 

[W8RMH]

I never up date scanners. I use a Chromebook and they don't work with Sentinel.
I guess that is why I prefer GRE/radio shack and Whistler scanners.
If a scanner doesn't work with what was installed in it when I bought it than shame on Uniden et all.
DMC, ex USN RM2.

Software and firmware are updated to correct bugs and other issues. The HP scanners use the RR database which has to be updated to remain accurate.

You bought the unit 7 months ago but the programming was probably 5 or 6 years old, done when the unit was manufactured, and it sat on the shelf for many years, so it was definitely outdated.

 

[MaritimeMatt]

Is the setup screen you're talking about asking to set the date and time?

This could be similar to the RTC clock battery on the BCD scanners and HomePatrol II scanners have, factory defects.

That be correct. Just as if I first powered it up out of the box. It askes about setting it up with Sentinel software, date/time etc. I let it sit powered off all day while I was at work and just switched it on now at 220 am and it scanned my stations no longer than 30 seconds and it reverted back to the start-up screen. Really? My old Uniden bc125xl never needed updates of any kind.

 

[mancow]

I never up date scanners. I use a Chromebook and they don't work with Sentinel.
I guess that is why I prefer GRE/radio shack and Whistler scanners.
If a scanner doesn't work with what was installed in it when I bought it than shame on Uniden et all.
DMC, ex USN RM2.

That makes no sense. GRE and Whistler will be outdated just the same.

It's like buying a rotary phone and *****ing because everyone is on cellular.

It's not necessarily the radio that's outdated (hardware wise) it's the environment around it. If that changes and you don't update then it doesn't know what to do.

 

[JamesO]

Home Patrol 1 bought new about 7 months ago. Been problem free til now. Unit is on and then decides to revert back to the set-up screen. Batteries test fine. Range is on my normal 8 miles. Was never set-up on Sentinel software but never had any issues til now. What gives ??? Unit does me no good if it can't be relied on.

Probably a battery/power issue? Could also just been a bug as well.

Even though the batteries seem fine, there could be a problem with a battery and the Voltage dropped too low and caused the unit to revert to the initial set up process.

The SD card could also be starting to fail or is partially corrupt as well.

Each time you update the HP1 scanner using Sentinel it will revert to the initial set up and will require date, time and other info to be inputted, so this is not really an unexpected process when either the batteries or SD card may have an issue.

I would not worry about it unless it happens again or more frequently.

I would however buy a back up SD card and get the most current Sentinel load on the card so you have a back up. If you do not have a PC to do this, you might reach out to a friend or the members of the forum, anyone with the Sentinel program installed could not only get you the most current database but could also side load the most current firmware so when you powered up the scanner the newer firmware would install as well.

 

[jonwienke]

I guess that is why I prefer GRE/radio shack and Whistler scanners.
If a scanner doesn't work with what was installed in it when I bought it than shame on Uniden et all.

How exactly do you propose Uniden pre-program your scanner with a system that wasn't built until 2 years after they shipped the scanner from the factory? It's impossible. If a county replaces an old analog system with a P25 trunked system, if your scanner programming isn't updated with the new system, then you'll hear nothing, regardless of what brand the scanner may be. Radio systems change on a regular basis, and if you don't update your scanner programming on a regular basis, then you will gradually lose the ability to hear what's going on around you.

Pretty much any Windows computer with a USB port and internet capability can run Sentinel. Get a cheap used netbook and install Sentinel on it, and update your scanner. Updating the programming periodically is just part of what is needed to successfully operate a scanner.

 

[KK4JUG]

Pretty much any Windows computer with a USB port and internet capability can run Sentinel. Get a cheap used netbook and install Sentinel on it, and update your scanner. Updating the programming periodically is just part of what is needed to successfully operate a scanner.

I've done it that way for years and it works. I have an old Acer netbook and that's about all I use it for. I've programmed scanners, mobiles and portables with no trouble whatsoever.

I bought the computer new in 2009. It has a 10" screen and Windows 7. The battery lasts over 6 hours. I charge it only every 6 months or so. Because of it's age and speed, it's probably not worth more than $25-30, if that much, but I'm not letting it go.

 

[captncarp]

How exactly do you propose Uniden pre-program your scanner with a system that wasn't built until 2 years after they shipped the scanner from the factory? It's impossible. If a county replaces an old analog system with a P25 trunked system, if your scanner programming isn't updated with the new system, then you'll hear nothing, regardless of what brand the scanner may be. Radio systems change on a regular basis, and if you don't update your scanner programming on a regular basis, then you will gradually lose the ability to hear what's going on around you.

Pretty much any Windows computer with a USB port and internet capability can run Sentinel. Get a cheap used netbook and install Sentinel on it, and update your scanner. Updating the programming periodically is just part of what is needed to successfully operate a scanner.

If Uniden or any mfg. did proper R & D before releasing a unit there would be no need for update other than freq. changes after market sale.

 

[JamesO]

Sorry, but updates are a way of life now. Firmware updates are no more difficult than database updates.

You chose a Chromebook so you have limited yourself. I probably has over 25 old laptops laying around and dedicate the. To different tasks as needed.

 

[mancow]

Or, just get an old laptop from a garage sale.

 

[KK4JUG]

If Uniden or any mfg. did proper R & D before releasing a unit there would be no need for update other than freq. changes after market sale.

You just don't get it, do you? The technology is in a constant state of flux.

That's OK. Stick with your crystal scanner and everything will be OK, Oh, wait! That won't pick up most of the signals out there. Gosh, the technology must have changed.

 

[bob550]

I'm leaning toward an SD card, or other hardware, error as the cause of your problem. If you had no troubles for the first 7 months of use, and the HP 1 suffered no physical harm in the interim, I doubt the failure to update either the firmware or the database would cause the scanner to revert to the setup screen. You may even want to remove the SD card, blow out the card slot with compressed air, and reinsert the card to see if that resolves the problem. Failing that, copy the contents of the card to your computer and reload the database on a new card.

 

[mancow]

If Uniden or any mfg. did proper R & D before releasing a unit there would be no need for update other than freq. changes after market sale.

Still makes no sense.