Requires re-programming of Zip Code every few hours

[VistaListener]

I just purchased a BCD536HP and I'm using the WiFi dongle with the Siren App. I leave the scanner on all the time. However, it seems like every few hours or so my Siren App goes silent. I see nothing but signal null on the iPhone and when I go to the scanner I see "nothing to scan." It's as if my scanner lost it's programming. I re-enter the zip code, it reloads my data and the scanner works. Then I restart the Siren App.

Is this normal? Or, is it because of the Siren App and WiFi dongle? Or, could it be a bad scanner?

Thanks for helping.

 

[troymail]

It could be a firmware problem related to the Wifi. Others have indicated they've seen the radio hang and/or reboot when they try to use certain features like analyze.

Or it might be an SD issue. When the radio starts having problems writing to the SD card, the firmware solution is to reboot the radio.

One way to find out - enable recordings FUNC-Replay

When you find the radio in Nothing To Scan mode and re-enable things, see if recording has stopped/been disabled also.

If so, try a new/different SD card.

Or consider just trying a new/different SD card as a first step.

 

[ofd8001]

I too see the sig null indicator on a sporadic basis. Some days it happens often, other times I can go for days and not see it.

However, I haven't encountered the scenario you describe: "Nothing to Scan" whenever the sig null shows up.

I use the Siren App in both configurations - Infrastructure (scanner in house) and Access Point (scanner in vehicle). The sig null happens to both of them, vehicle more often than house, but I'm using the app more often in the vehicle.

Also both scanners have "after market" SD cards.

Usually when I see sig null more than I want to, I'll clear the app on the iPhone and re-start it. That seems to settle it down for a couple of days.

 

[VistaListener]

I'm trying troymail's recommendation to see if the SD card is the issue. I like the Siren App, as it seems to do a good job so far. One thing bad I find about the Siren App is the way to stop it. I'd like a simpler way, such as a button icon to shut it down rather than the home button and swiping out.

 

[ofd8001]

Going with a higher capacity SD card is good, regardless of whether there are issues. Plus it gives you a spare "just in case".

I think the shut down "thing" is in response to something we users asked for after the first release. We found the app shut itself down if we wanted to do something, check e-mail for example. So we asked that it be "kept alive".

From my perspective, what we have now is better than what we had in the beginning.

 

[VistaListener]

It's not so bad to stop by multiple presses, but most of my other apps close on demand with a button icon, or close when navigating away.

I'd like to set up one of my cars with a 536 in the trunk and the Siren App on my phone. Is that what you have? Do you have any links that might provide some photos or instructions? Also, in access point mode, there are no data charges adding up since your phone is only communicating with the scanner in the trunk, right?

 

[ofd8001]

Yes, that's what I am doing on my vehicle's scanner. The downside is you cannot control the scanner's volume from the app (hopefully future releases will allow this).

Yes - no data charges as the phone is connected to the scanner with no internet involvement.

Link: SirenAppTips < UnidenMan4 < TWiki
Connecting in Access Point Mode

1. On the scanner, select: MENU --> Wi-Fi Setup --> Set Connection --> Access Point Mode
2. Input the desired SSID for the access point (this is the name of the hotspot as it will appear on your mobile device), then press E. (I leave it at the default setting)
3. Select either OPEN (no security for the access point) or WPA/WPA2 (password protected access point). (I leave it open)
4. If you selected WPA/WPA2, then enter the password you will use on your mobile device to access the hotspot and press E.

Determine Your Scanner's IP Address

On the scanner, select MENU --> Wi-Fi Setup--> Show Wi-Fi Information. The scanner displays the name of the access point used, the IP address of the scanner, the scanners MAC address, and the wi-fi dongle's firmware version. Make a note of the IP address, then exit the menu back to scanning mode.


Go to your iPhone's settings for wifi. Look for the scanner (if you leave it as default, you will see something like "BCD-----". Choose that for your wifi. (This tells your iPhone to communicate with your scanner).



From there, go to the App. Go to Settings>Connection and enter that IP address noted from above (probably 192.168.1.1) and press Accept. (Sometimes I find I have to repeat this process).


One frustration I have and hopefully Uniden will work this out, is that whenever the scanner is shut down, I have to go through the set-up process to get it going again.

 

[VistaListener]

OFD8001, thanks for the info. I'm anxious to start the install. Thanks again.

 

[ofd8001]

You may want to experiment with the scanner in your house in Access Point before you do the vehicle install. Might help you get the hang of it before vehicle installation.

 

[VistaListener]

Good idea, will do just that. I'm looking for antennas now. I'd like to find something that is unobtrusive, that looks like a regular car antenna. My worry is advertising to the car burglars that the car contains extra electronics. Maybe a motorized antenna or an antenna that can be mounted inside the car's trim. I'm not going for long distance range, just okay range, so I don't need the best.