HP-2: I think my HomePatrol 2 is dead.

[jgrosby]

Thank you, good thought on cleaning - as best one can - the reader contacts and the card. Unfortunately, did not help.
I always try the full format first as it can pull errors out that the fast format might not.
No change in status.
Jim

 

[dmfalk]

Make sure the card is formatted to FAT32. No "default" or "EXFAT".

 

[jgrosby]

Excellent thought, that would certainly make it go to sleep...but...I have picked the default FAT32 for each format both short and long.
Jim

 

[Ubbe]

Not sure which file to which you refer. The '.hpe' config file? I behaved the same with or without that file in the root

It's the actual name of the SD card that he refers to, but that probably doesn't matter.

I don't have a HP2 but a HP1 and my file structure are the exact same as other x36 scanners, but yours are not.
The first folder at the root for a HP1 are "HomePatrol" and for other scanners "BCDx36HP" and the opening and owner_info bmp are in the root and if you go into the "HomePatrol" folder or "BCDx36HP" it will hold the favorite list and all other stuff. Your SD card seems to be jumbled up and folders end up at the wrong place, at the root. Or have they decided to make the file structure so unique in HP-2?

It seems that the scanner can't find the needed files and throws an error, so probably that non standard file system are to blame.

/Ubbe

 

[hiegtx]

I'm seeing a WS1080 file, which are not the files you need. I'd reformat the entire card and start by deleting the WS1080 files, which is causing the issue.

That would be my recommendation as well.

It's the actual name of the SD card that he refers to, but that probably doesn't matter.

I don't have a HP2 but a HP1 and my file structure are the exact same as other x36 scanners, but yours are not.
The first folder at the root for a HP1 are "HomePatrol" and for other scanners "BCDx36HP" and the opening and owner_info bmp are in the root and if you go into the "HomePatrol" folder or "BCDx36HP" it will hold the favorite list and all other stuff. Your SD card seems to be jumbled up and folders end up at the wrong place, at the root. Or have they decided to make the file structure so unique in HP-2?

It seems that the scanner can't find the needed files and throws an error, so probably that non standard file system are to blame.

/Ubbe

The basic file structure for an HP-2's SD card is the same as for the HP-1. Mine looks like this:

If you select the "HomePatrol" folder, you would see this:

As per my note above, both the existing and new SD cards format without issue both with in the Win 11 formatter as well as the newly-downloaded tool "SD Card Formatter" - tried both methods multiple times and the card appears in the Windows file system after formating.

Either of the cards - when inserted into the scanner and connected to power immediately indicate "SD card error, turn off power and the retry 'clear user data'"...that step requires it to be mounted as a volume which is NOT the case. Therefore it doesn't appear in the computer file system or within Sentinel software, making it impossible to use tools located therein.
Once again, any additional wisdom gratefully accepted but it looks (to me) like the hardware card slot is not recognizing any card inserted therein, triggering the power-on message and stopping activity thereafter.
Thank you
Jim

You either are not running the "clear user data", linked from Sentinel, or you are then manually copying files to the card, and shuffling them around, instead of leaving them set as designated by the 'clear user data' utility.

Your card is named WS1080. Running the "clear user data" utility will not rename the card, but from your screenshots, either you have not run that utility, or you have tried manually copying files & folders to a card.

Looking at a correctly formatted & loaded card, you should see this:

Those other folders, 'activity log', 'discovery', and 'favorites lists', among others, are all contained within the HomePatrol folder. If, instead, you are seeing them when you select the root directory of the SD card, as your screenshot indicates, then your card is not correctly configured. You either have skipped steps, or have manually tried to move folders around and to a card.

 

[jgrosby]

Progress, I cleaned up the directory structure to reflect your screenshots (plus made an 'example' archive of how it it supposed to look. Thank you so much for that. BUT I am missing two files that might be critical in the root of the HomePatrol directory. Specifically:
discovery.config
profile.config

Any chance someone with a heart of gold could send me those from their systems and I can see if my system then rewrites or modifies as needed to at least get airborne so I can get the scanner mounted in Sentinel and proceed with the rest of the config? I realize that will make my system take on the characteristics of yours but I will just go thru the process from the 'clear user data' step.
I promise to archive for the future once it starts behaving!
Thank you!
Jim

 

[Ubbe]

Any chance someone with a heart of gold could send me those from their systems

That's a step that will mess up your scanner.

Do the format of the SD card and name it HP-2 and then in the special Sentinel version for HomePatrol scanners you do the Clear User Data thing and tick the box to view all drives. Then everything will be setup properly on the SD card and you will be guided to set the clock and select a zip code for your area and so on.

If you had some favorite lists done in Sentinel you can now load them to the scanner.

/Ubbe

 

[jgrosby]

Problem is, sd card doesn't mount so cannot access thru sentinel. I have formatted card and created directory structure but can't get it to mount. Still suspecting card slot failure

 

[werinshades]

Problem is, sd card doesn't mount so cannot access thru sentinel. I have formatted card and created directory structure but can't get it to mount. Still suspecting card slot failure

You can do all this via the SD Card reader on the computer, no need to put it into the scanner until you have all the necessary programming files and favorite list written to the scanner.

Once the SD Card is in the computer, it behaves as if you plugged in the scanner.

 

[jgrosby]

PLEASE PARDON my thick skull. Finally got the concept that I belated realize several folks were bringing to my attention: i.e. card can be written to regardless of which reader it is in! The penny finally dropped. Card reader in scanner is working, got a chance to 'clear user data', do the initial setup, set time, etc.

BUT, I am faced with a puzzlement which actually started this whole flail. At startup, it loads the entire CA database and says 'no favorites list' even tho I have a favorites list carefully crafted and told it to 'write to homepatrol'.

I am betting (based on my prior exhanges/fumblings) that I am missing something simple.
Many thanks to all on this site that have put up with my ramblings. The level of user's patience and help is truly impressive. Hat's off from here!
Jim

 

[jgrosby]

Please disregard above. Got Favorites List added, dealt with a puzzling 'all stations are avoided' even tho none were and now getting at least some traffic on SD City 700 and 800 MHz ranges. AGAIN-many thanks to all for your help along the way.
Jim

 

[mc48]

Check the Service Types you have enabled in the profile.

 

[jgrosby]

Thank you for your time
Jim

 

[LisaSteiner]

Huh? We are "Radioreference support" . Not sure who you talked to to begin with...Welcome to the forums!

Still trying to fix this problem. Here is the exact reply from Support:

Lisa Steiner Jan 13, 2025, 18:57 CST I posted this question to the Tech Forum as directed. It would've been helpful, if you want me to post the issue there, if a suggestion was made as to which forum it should be posted in. I used my best judgement so I hope I was right. I'm a little frustrated that support can't help me with this—it seems to me that a long time ago, I rec'd help from support without hesitation and I think I remember sending the scanner in for service. Shame this appears to not exist anymore. ________________________________ From: RadioReference Support <support@radioreference.zendesk.com> Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 1:01 PM To: Steiner, Lisa Kay <lsteiner@iu.edu> Subject: [RadioReference Support] Pending request: Scanner does not read SD card You don't often get email from support@radioreference.zendesk.com. Learn why this is important<Protect yourself from phishing - Microsoft Support>

RadioReference Support (RadioReference Support) Jan 12, 2025, 11:00 CST This help request is not able to be solved by the RadioReference staff because it involves one of the following types of help requests. Scanner Programming Local area information question Troubleshooting a specific scanner model It's not that we don't want to help you, it's just that these types of help requests are best handled by posting a message in our discussion forums where someone local to you can better assist: http://forums.radioreference.com For location specific questions, please post in the regional forums. For troubleshooting equipment and programming, please post in the vendor specific forums. Thanks,

 

[LisaSteiner]

I have:
Purchased a new card.
Formatted using the recommended format program.
When I use Sentinel, there is no card or drive shown when I click "show all drives"
I can't select anything to clear when trying to clear all data.
I have cleaned everything I can find to clean, and it was a brand new card.
I've tried 3 other cards. Same issue.
New rechargeable batteries, and verified outlet connection is working (it turns on, gives error message, then shuts off)
There is obviously a disconnect between the card and PC, but I don't know if it can be fixed.
I'm tired of working on it. Thought today I'd try again because we have nasty weather coming, but still nothing.
If I could afford a new scanner that would be a solution, unfortunately, no.

 

[EAFrizzle]

If you're running Windows 11, it can be squirrelly with all kinds of radios.

Try putting the card in a card adapter/dongle and bypass the scanner altogether. You can update the firmware, DB, and favorite lists on the card, then insert into the scanner. I had to do that for a bit until I got Windows 11 to behave.

 

[hiegtx]

When I use Sentinel, there is no card or drive shown when I click "show all drives"
I can't select anything to clear when trying to clear all data.

With the scanner turned on, connect the USB cable to the scanner and your PC. You should get a prompt, on the scanner, asking if you want to use "mass storage mode". Yes, that is the mode you want.

Start Sentinel (the version for the HP series). With the card, in the scanner, and it set to "mass storage mode", then select the 'clear user data' option. With the scanner, in mass storage mode, select 'show all drives' before proceeding. Select the card.

Proceeding with the 'clear user data' will initialize the card to be used in the scanner,

If you have a card reader, you can use it instead of the scanner, to access 'clear user data' in Sentinel (after making sure the card is correctly formatted), and then write your programming files, as well as the database, to the card before putting it back into your HP2.

 

[donc13]

That's

Still trying to fix this problem. Here is the exact reply from Support:

Lisa Steiner Jan 13, 2025, 18:57 CST I posted this question to the Tech Forum as directed. It would've been helpful, if you want me to post the issue there, if a suggestion was made as to which forum it should be posted in. I used my best judgement so I hope I was right. I'm a little frustrated that support can't help me with this—it seems to me that a long time ago, I rec'd help from support without hesitation and I think I remember sending the scanner in for service. Shame this appears to not exist anymore. ________________________________ From: RadioReference Support <support@radioreference.zendesk.com> Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 1:01 PM To: Steiner, Lisa Kay <lsteiner@iu.edu> Subject: [RadioReference Support] Pending request: Scanner does not read SD card You don't often get email from support@radioreference.zendesk.com. Learn why this is important<Protect yourself from phishing - Microsoft Support>

RadioReference Support (RadioReference Support) Jan 12, 2025, 11:00 CST This help request is not able to be solved by the RadioReference staff because it involves one of the following types of help requests. Scanner Programming Local area information question Troubleshooting a specific scanner model It's not that we don't want to help you, it's just that these types of help requests are best handled by posting a message in our discussion forums where someone local to you can better assist: http://forums.radioreference.com For location specific questions, please post in the regional forums. For troubleshooting equipment and programming, please post in the vendor specific forums. Thanks,

because you tried to get RADIO REFERENCE support. If you believe your scanner itself has an issue... you should contact UNIDEN support.