Q's about BCD396T

[Kumba]

Had a couple of questions about my BCD396T that I've had for a few months now, and with the upcoming new firmware, thought now would be a good time to ask them.

1. I can't verify this at all, but I've heard reports that the county north of me, Prince George's County in Maryland, will, at some point, switch to some new 700MHz-based trunking system. I know no details, nor can I corroborate where I heard this (it was on some forums somewhere, but I can't recall where). Can this scanner handle trunking systems in that frequency range?

2. With the upcoming move of Television to digital frequencies in 2009, I assume this means that the frequencies stored in the built-in "TV Broadcast" system will no longer be useful. Can a BCD396T tune into the new digital frequencies that will be used and decode them? If so, does anyone know a list of such frequencies to hand-program in, since I don't think one can normally alter the built-in systems.

3. I've noticed this is a symptom of dynamically-allocated channel memory, but when using the Wx Priority Alert (and I believe Close Call can trigger this too), there's that notorious air gap that happens every few seconds as the scanner has to tune away from the active frequency to check the NOAA bands for SAME signals and what not. Is this something that is ever remotely addressable in these particular models (i.e., maybe some handy workaround in a firmware update), or is that something that can only be addressed in whatever model will eventually succeed the 396T?

4. My county (Charles County, MD)'s trunking system, I've noticed this odd issue where sometimes before (and I think after as well) a transmission, I'll get a blast of the digital channel (the running motor sound). I think this is what everyone refers to as Motorboating (if not, correct me). My understanding is, to fix this, I need to work on tweaking the P25 decode levels, correct (F-button, double-tap knob)? Wasn't sure, as there doesn't seem to be an explicit definition of motorboating in the Wiki, so it's one of those terminology things that one just has to grasp I believe.


Thanks!

 

[LEH]

Had a couple of questions about my BCD396T that I've had for a few months now, and with the upcoming new firmware, thought now would be a good time to ask them.

1. I can't verify this at all, but I've heard reports that the county north of me, Prince George's County in Maryland, will, at some point, switch to some new 700MHz-based trunking system. I know no details, nor can I corroborate where I heard this (it was on some forums somewhere, but I can't recall where). Can this scanner handle trunking systems in that frequency range?

As best I recall, the answer is yes, it will support the move to 700 MHz. There are none near where I live for me to have become totally concerned with this. Yet.

2. With the upcoming move of Television to digital frequencies in 2009, I assume this means that the frequencies stored in the built-in "TV Broadcast" system will no longer be useful. Can a BCD396T tune into the new digital frequencies that will be used and decode them? If so, does anyone know a list of such frequencies to hand-program in, since I don't think one can normally alter the built-in systems.

That is correct. There have been a couple of threads on this in the wasteland over the past couple of weeks. Read up.

3. I've noticed this is a symptom of dynamically-allocated channel memory, but when using the Wx Priority Alert (and I believe Close Call can trigger this too), there's that notorious air gap that happens every few seconds as the scanner has to tune away from the active frequency to check the NOAA bands for SAME signals and what not. Is this something that is ever remotely addressable in these particular models (i.e., maybe some handy workaround in a firmware update), or is that something that can only be addressed in whatever model will eventually succeed the 396T?

That is a trade off you will have to decide which you want. Close call and/or weather priority with the break as the scanner checks for activity. Or clear conversations without them. Currently you cannot avoid the interruption.

4. My county (Charles County, MD)'s trunking system, I've noticed this odd issue where sometimes before (and I think after as well) a transmission, I'll get a blast of the digital channel (the running motor sound). I think this is what everyone refers to as Motorboating (if not, correct me). My understanding is, to fix this, I need to work on tweaking the P25 decode levels, correct (F-button, double-tap knob)? Wasn't sure, as there doesn't seem to be an explicit definition of motorboating in the Wiki, so it's one of those terminology things that one just has to grasp I believe.


Thanks!

You may also want to check the firmware version on your 396. Make sure you have the latest one which is 2 something. In order to upgrade the firmware you will have to register your scanner with Uniden to get an ESN. This is needed for all future firmware upgrades.

Motorboating will probably never really go away, but each of the scanner manufacturers has put out updates that have helped.

I haven't had a major problem with it around here, so I have not done the manual tweaks. I'm sure someone will post the procedure.

 

[n4yek]

edit..

 

[n4yek]

That is a trade off you will have to decide which you want. Close call and/or weather priority with the break as the scanner checks for activity. Or clear conversations without them. Currently you cannot avoid the interruption.

The new firmware release coming soon will have 'Close Call DND' (do not disturbe) which will solve this when activated. It will only search close call when not actively receiving a signal.

Also here is the release from Uniden explaining the current released firmware and adjusments in .pdf format.

 

[Kumba]

As best I recall, the answer is yes, it will support the move to 700 MHz. There are none near where I live for me to have become totally concerned with this. Yet.

Ahh, that's good to know. Is that already an option perchance? I see "UHF" and "VHF" in my list when creation a new Motorola system, but I'm behind on my frequency knowledge (Still learning!), and don't know what frequencies these are in.

That is correct. There have been a couple of threads on this in the wasteland over the past couple of weeks. Read up.

I assume you mean this thread?: http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118815

If so, that would seem to indicate a negative. I think the 396T meets the 6MHz requirement, but it sounds like a bit of extra hardware would be needed to decode the DTV audio data, right? Meaning this would be something in a future model.

That is a trade off you will have to decide which you want. Close call and/or weather priority with the break as the scanner checks for activity. Or clear conversations without them. Currently you cannot avoid the interruption.

That's what I thought. I wasn't sure whether this was just the way the software was written or whether it's a design limitation of the hardware (the Wx stuff feels like it was an afterthought anyways). I have a full weather radio at home (WR-300 by Midland), so I'm not at all concerned, but I figured, a scanner that can tune into police bands (or even Skywarn Nets) while listening in the background for new alerts w/o disrupting communications would be a nice feature...

You may also want to check the firmware version on your 396. Make sure you have the latest one which is 2 something. In order to upgrade the firmware you will have to register your scanner with Uniden to get an ESN. This is needed for all future firmware upgrades.

Motorboating will probably never really go away, but each of the scanner manufacturers has put out updates that have helped.

I haven't had a major problem with it around here, so I have not done the manual tweaks. I'm sure someone will post the procedure.

The firmware is all good. I might even give the beta stuff a try and see if this motorboating goes away or not. It does seem to me to happen only when a specific TGID for my county lights up, but I'll have to see. Maybe I do need to tweak things a little.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Kumba]

The new firmware release coming soon will have 'Close Call DND' (do not disturbe) which will solve this when activated. It will only search close call when not actively receiving a signal.

Is it known if this feature will apply to the Wx Priority stuff as well?

 

[n4yek]

Is it known if this feature will apply to the Wx Priority stuff as well?

Unknown, hopefully it will.

 

[UPMan]

It will not apply to Wx Priority. You must check for a weather alert at least every 8 seconds or you could miss it (the 1050 Hz tone is only 8 seconds long). We check every 5 seconds (as do all others that I know of).

 

[Viper43]

See responces between your questions...

Had a couple of questions about my BCD396T that I've had for a few months now, and with the upcoming new firmware, thought now would be a good time to ask them.

1. I can't verify this at all, but I've heard reports that the county north of me, Prince George's County in Maryland, will, at some point, switch to some new 700MHz-based trunking system. I know no details, nor can I corroborate where I heard this (it was on some forums somewhere, but I can't recall where). Can this scanner handle trunking systems in that frequency range?

Yes, it can handle 700Mhz...... as long as it isn't Open Sky etc......

2. With the upcoming move of Television to digital frequencies in 2009, I assume this means that the frequencies stored in the built-in "TV Broadcast" system will no longer be useful. Can a BCD396T tune into the new digital frequencies that will be used and decode them? If so, does anyone know a list of such frequencies to hand-program in, since I don't think one can normally alter the built-in systems.

No, it won't decode the digital unless they use a format the scanner is designed for....doubtful at best...

3. I've noticed this is a symptom of dynamically-allocated channel memory, but when using the Wx Priority Alert (and I believe Close Call can trigger this too), there's that notorious air gap that happens every few seconds as the scanner has to tune away from the active frequency to check the NOAA bands for SAME signals and what not. Is this something that is ever remotely addressable in these particular models (i.e., maybe some handy workaround in a firmware update), or is that something that can only be addressed in whatever model will eventually succeed the 396T?


Any time you use CC it will do this, nothing you can do unless the DND is added to the firmware, and that isn't written in stone yet.


4. My county (Charles County, MD)'s trunking system, I've noticed this odd issue where sometimes before (and I think after as well) a transmission, I'll get a blast of the digital channel (the running motor sound). I think this is what everyone refers to as Motorboating (if not, correct me). My understanding is, to fix this, I need to work on tweaking the P25 decode levels, correct (F-button, double-tap knob)? Wasn't sure, as there doesn't seem to be an explicit definition of motorboating in the Wiki, so it's one of those terminology things that one just has to grasp I believe.

If you don't have 1.0.17 (I think thats the one...too many to keep track of) you should update. Then while turning the scanner on hold HOLD which will open a hidden menu where you can adjust P25 wait time. The latest firmware is 2.90.05 and available through the Yahoo group BCD396T only. It really helps with most motorboating issues.
Thanks!

V

 

[ka3jjz]

A point here - the thinking is that when PG county moves to 700 mhz, it will do so using APCO P25 Phase 2, which is a protocol no scanner can yet handle. As this move is not going to happen anytime soon, it should be of little concern, frankly. In the interim, things can and often do change.

This was briefly discussed in the Maryland forum some time ago. Use the search tools for more on this

73 Mike

 

[Kumba]

If you don't have 1.0.17 (I think thats the one...too many to keep track of) you should update. Then while turning the scanner on hold HOLD which will open a hidden menu where you can adjust P25 wait time. The latest firmware is 2.90.05 and available through the Yahoo group BCD396T only. It really helps with most motorboating issues.
Thanks!

Oh, I've been on the 2.00.07 firmware for quite some time. That was the first thing I did as soon as I got the scanner (even before programming stuff into it). I'll be trying the 2.90 beta later on just to see if it makes a difference w/o any further tweaks. If not, I'll play with things like the wait time and all and see if that makes any differences.

A point here - the thinking is that when PG county moves to 700 mhz, it will do so using APCO P25 Phase 2, which is a protocol no scanner can yet handle. As this move is not going to happen anytime soon, it should be of little concern, frankly. In the interim, things can and often do change.

That did it, searching for APCO Phase 2 brought up the thread discussion on this. They talked about 3 towers being converted to 800Mhz, including Brandywine. That's close enough to where I live (Waldorf) that I should pick up something on the EDACS system they have (South County I think it's called), but I can't tell if that's in use yet. RR has no TGID data on it, and it's silent right now while the conventional system has chatter all over it.

Of course, maybe I'm not inputting these EDACS systems in properly. I can't pickup St. Mary's either from where I'm at.

But anyways, assuming for a moment that should PG ever go with this 700MHz APCO Phase 2/TDMA, are we talking new hardware needed in a scanner, or is it a firmware thing?

 

[ka3jjz]

Dunno Kumba. The newest firmware release coming out in the next couple of weeks is supposed to add EDACS ESK decoding, so why not Phase 2 TDMA? I'm not an engineer, sadly.

73 Mike

 

[Kumba]

The latest firmware is 2.90.05 and available through the Yahoo group BCD396T only. It really helps with most motorboating issues.

"helps with" should be "fixes completely". The motorboating I was hearing for the Charles County, MD TRS is gone completely. Listened to it all night and part of today; no motorboating. I used to get the occurrence about once an hour, sometimes more. The audio quality is noticeably improved, and when holding down Func and tapping the knob twice to bring up the values for the P25 stuff, it actually looks like it's auto-adjusting and compensating very well. This is something I didn't see on the 2.00.07 firmware (the three values always stayed static, even when changing the number).

Great job to the Uniden programmers and UPMan! Can't wait for the final release of this firmware!

 

[torontokris]

Where abouts is the 2.9.xxx firmware. I cant seem to find it on the BCD396T group.

"helps with" should be "fixes completely". The motorboating I was hearing for the Charles County, MD TRS is gone completely. Listened to it all night and part of today; no motorboating. I used to get the occurrence about once an hour, sometimes more. The audio quality is noticeably improved, and when holding down Func and tapping the knob twice to bring up the values for the P25 stuff, it actually looks like it's auto-adjusting and compensating very well. This is something I didn't see on the 2.00.07 firmware (the three values always stayed static, even when changing the number).

Great job to the Uniden programmers and UPMan! Can't wait for the final release of this firmware!

 

[Kumba]

Where abouts is the 2.9.xxx firmware. I cant seem to find it on the BCD396T group.

Do a message search for "FTP". That should bring up the particular message thread w/ the info.

 

[jerk]

Where abouts is the 2.9.xxx firmware. I cant seem to find it on the BCD396T group.

It is only on the Uniden Flash Yahoo Group, and it is ONLY available to those who (reported) problems with some of the V2 earlier releases. It is not publicly available, and Viper mentioning it here only confuses people.

Upman I'm sure will let people know when the new firmware is official released.
If you are having trouble do a search here for Uniden flash or on Yahoo Groups.

 

[torontokris]

no problem, thanks for the info

 

[Viper43]

Glad it helped, I thought it may but you never know about these things, what works one place may not in another due to timing issues.

V

"helps with" should be "fixes completely". The motorboating I was hearing for the Charles County, MD TRS is gone completely. Listened to it all night and part of today; no motorboating. I used to get the occurrence about once an hour, sometimes more. The audio quality is noticeably improved, and when holding down Func and tapping the knob twice to bring up the values for the P25 stuff, it actually looks like it's auto-adjusting and compensating very well. This is something I didn't see on the 2.00.07 firmware (the three values always stayed static, even when changing the number).

Great job to the Uniden programmers and UPMan! Can't wait for the final release of this firmware!

 

[Viper43]

#1: He was having those issues
#2: If I hadn't told him about it he'ed STILL be having those issues
#3: It fixed his issues
#4: If he'ed have done a search he "might" have found any number of threads where the Uniden Flash group is mentioned, it's not like it is a big secret that there is the Unidenflash group......

Oh, and now Upman knows it will help that system as well....


Basically my mentioning it didn't confuse him, but in fact helped him out...... nothing wrong with that. And being on a number of groups I gave the wrong one..... that happens once in a while, even you aren't perfect NewsAlan......

It is only on the Uniden Flash Yahoo Group, and it is ONLY available to those who (reported) problems with some of the V2 earlier releases. It is not publicly available, and Viper mentioning it here only confuses people.

Upman I'm sure will let people know when the new firmware is official released.
If you are having trouble do a search here for Uniden flash or on Yahoo Groups.

 

[jerk]

The last thread that started with people saying I have 2.xx.xx had to be closed because it confused to many people. And Viper you helped in causing some of it.
See here: http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116910&page=7
That's all I pointed out. Beta means not available to everyone.
And yes, there was only one perfect man. And I’m not Him.

And second there is a (proper) way to get the available (still being tested) firmware.
Searching trying to sneak a copy is not it. Contacting Upman is the correct way.

And third, Upman asked that all references to the beta go through uniden flash so that he and the one that are working on it can see it. This is not the proper place, even if you feel otherwise. But ultimately I don't care, but I think Upman is working with a loose cannon. I just hope you can see the flaws and report them instead of hoorah, everything’s great attitude you seem to have.

And fourth, I'm done, this should have been IM, (If I can help IM me) or you, Viper, have the option of just ignoring me.