I just purchased a used BCD536HP and I’m getting good reception but the signal strength is not showing in the upper right corner. Any ideas? I have tried changing the line display but didn’t help. Thanks for any ideas.
Signal Strength
- Thread starter JoplinFossil
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Ubbe
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That signal are detected from the AGC function that regulates the gain in AM mode so that the modulation doesn't top out and gets distorted. Check if AM reception are working as it should in the airband or if it has severly distorted audio.
Try and refresh the firmware. Put the previous version firmware version 1.23.00 in the firmware folder on the SD card and power up the scanner and it should load it. Then either put the latest version there or let Sentinel do a firmware check and do that for you.
Firmware BCD536
/Ubbe
Thanks for the help but I’m mostly a newbie and most of what you are saying is over my head. I did check the 536 and it had version 1.25 so I updated the firmware. Now has 1.26. I still don’t have the signal strength on the display. I have a 436 with the very same setup, favorites, updated the same and it has the signal strength. The 536 comes in clear and no distorted audio. Something bad in the scanner? Not that big of a deal, just wondering if I had something wrong.
How many bars do you get on the 436HP while monitoring the same frequency(ies)? It is possible the signal could be very weak, I've had readable, albeit scratchy rx with no bars on my 536HP before but it shouldn't affect every signal you receive. Stock antennas on both scanners I'm assuming? Do you have access to an outdoor antenna or if not, can you try moving the 536HP to an exterior window facing the general direction of the transmitting site (if known)? Are all frequencies you've tuned into affected? What about your local NOAA weather frequency?
I setup both scanners side by side. Same WX channels on hold. 436 got 5 bars 536 got none. Both stock antennas. Volume was about equal on both. put the 536 next to the window, tried different locations. Still no signal bars. .???.
This might be precisely why the previous owner parted with the unit and it became available as used..
Just throwing it out there... Did it come from those refurbished/sold as is "you know who" guys?
No I didn’t know the guy. Seems to work fine, just no bars. Like I said no biggie, just odd.
If the price was right.. I could live with the issue. I don't suppose it's still covered by any warranty.. Repair is always an option, But that would set you back some green.. I doubt the behavior is something that you caused or could be fixed by an errant setting or firmware (assuming it's up to date).
An alternative, If you have software that enables PC control/logging of the scanner, The virtual display on the PC would/should show the signal strength in spite of the scanners' display.
This is the display for a 436, but the 536 would look the same using ARC536PRO. (I'm not a ProScan user but assume it would work similarly)
An alternative, If you have software that enables PC control/logging of the scanner, The virtual display on the PC would/should show the signal strength in spite of the scanners' display.
This is the display for a 436, but the 536 would look the same using ARC536PRO. (I'm not a ProScan user but assume it would work similarly)
No, warranty. Firmware 1.26. Only have a pc with Sentinel. Does anyone know does Uniden have a flat rate or is it by per issue? Thanks all for your comments, I’ll just live with it.
Eugene
Member
Older scanners never had signal bars and from what I have read, it is not that accurate. Can't speak for you but I could live with it if the audio is good and compares with your 436. Good luck.
Eugene KG4AVE
Eugene KG4AVE
You could do a factory reset to see if that helps.
Here is how: turn off scanner, then hold 2-9 and department keys together and turn scanner on.
Here is how: turn off scanner, then hold 2-9 and department keys together and turn scanner on.
I might give this a try, after that I just update the firmware, database and reload again? Eugene commented that older scanners never had signal bars. I have no idea how old it is and maybe he was talking about old scanners before the 536.???
Eugene
Member
Yes I am......20+ years. Yes I'm an old goat.....
Eugene KG4AVE
Eugene KG4AVE
A factory reset won't change the firmware, If it has the latest already installed you don't need to reinstall it after a reset. It also won't remove any upgrades that are installed (if any) AFAIK.
It's likely due a hardware issue, Possibly a loose connector inside, or that portion of the display went bad somehow..
But worth a shot..
It's likely due a hardware issue, Possibly a loose connector inside, or that portion of the display went bad somehow..
But worth a shot..
Hey I didn’t say that, if anybody’s an old goat it’s me, I’m going to be 74 next month.😂🤣😂Yes I am......20+ years. Yes I'm an old goat.....
Eugene KG4AVE
I tried that holding the 2, 9, and the department key and turning it on. Was it supposed to do something? Odd thing I did see was when it came on it said bcd436hp. Is that correct? I’m using a copy of my 436 in the 536.
I've never done a reset, IDK what would happen.. Wouldn't it wipe the SD card, like clear user data does?
The display is not an error, It's just showing what is saved in the 436 profile, You can add a new profile and change the start up message in Sentinel for the 536.
The display is not an error, It's just showing what is saved in the 436 profile, You can add a new profile and change the start up message in Sentinel for the 536.
Reset doesn't issue a special message, it just resets all of the settings to how the unit is shipped from the factory and erases (clears) all user entered info such as favorites, memory/frequency, custom searches, etc. Not sure why it said 436 unless that was the name you assigned to the Profile. Just write everything you have in Sentinel to the scanner including the database.
A post from several years ago suggested the user data will be saved, so I can say for sure since I don't own a 436 or 536. The owner's manual says all user data will be reset! Does it look like you still have favorites and did it help fix the screen?
A post from several years ago suggested the user data will be saved, so I can say for sure since I don't own a 436 or 536. The owner's manual says all user data will be reset! Does it look like you still have favorites and did it help fix the screen?
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Additional comment: There will still be a Profile in the scanner (it is required for the scanner to boot) after a reset, however the Profile can be there but show no user data, in other words it doesn't know anything about favorites or custom searches because they were erased. That might be where the "436" your saw on the screen, i.e. the name of the Profile.
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