BCD436HP/BCD536HP: UHF Reception Issues due to Noise from Battery Compartment

[bako88fan]

Before paying Uniden a flat rate $80 just to have a part installed that costs less than $1, open the unit up and see if you have the old front board that needs replacement. If so, Uniden will change it out for free under the RTC/display repair campaign. If you have the newer board, but C1 is missing, you could send the scanner to me and get an internal GPS installed along with C1 for pretty much the same money Uniden would charge you.

I may do this. I did look at the board and it appears there's no C1. I do have an old 2015 board and went to the website for the repair program. I would like "on board" GPS.

In the meantime, I cut to fit some of x layers of foil around the foam pad and, along with the new antenna, the change in UHF reception is significant. For now, it'll work.

 

[jonwienke]

Please don't send the scanner to me for a GPS install until it's been to Uniden to get the board replaced.

 

[heytae]

Before paying Uniden a flat rate $80 just to have a part installed that costs less than $1, open the unit up and see if you have the old front board that needs replacement. If so, Uniden will change it out for free under the RTC/display repair campaign. If you have the newer board, but C1 is missing, you could send the scanner to me and get an internal GPS installed along with C1 for pretty much the same money Uniden would charge you.

I've got mine on the way to TX for the real time clock repair campaign. Does anyone think that that repair may or will result in me getting a new board that'll then have the C1 capacitor installed? or at least the pad for me to install a capacitor? Mine was bought in Aug 2014, so it's one of the original board I'm guessing.

 

[jonwienke]

You will definitely get a new board with the pads for C1. At this point I think the odds are very good that the replacement board will have C1 installed.

 

[rbrtklamp2]

I'll be sending mine in next week, I'm going to add a note in the box about rhe reception issues to make sure they address it. Haopefully the turn around isnt to long since this is a old issue by now for Uniden.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[bako88fan]

I did the same for the RTC issue. Hopefully the new board fixes my UHF issues, too

 

[heytae]

Via email, their support person told me that the RTC fix is free but since mine is out of warranty, the "weak reception issue requiring C1 capacitor" will incur a cost. I told them to skip the C1 capacitor fix then and just do the RTC repair campaign since the board I should get back should at least have the solder pads if not the C1 on it already. Worst case, I can solder it in myself...as long as I can get my hands on one still. As jonweinke advised, I'll wait and see what I get back first, then decide what the next steps should be. They should have just received my scanner, so the quoted ~3-4 weeks countdown has started. Those of us who've sent ours in for the RTC fix should post updates here so that others too can benefit from our experience. Thanks all.

 

[troymail]

Via email, their support person told me that the RTC fix is free but since mine is out of warranty, the "weak reception issue requiring C1 capacitor" will incur a cost.

Seriously?

That's BS.

 

[jonwienke]

It's probably a non-issue, given that the replacement board will most likely have C1 installed. But the support people should know this.

 

[k3fs]

Via email, their support person told me that the RTC fix is free but since mine is out of warranty, the "weak reception issue requiring C1 capacitor" will incur a cost..

Wow! That is some poor customer service.
Honestly, it's not an issue. The C1 will be on the board they are replacing to fix the other defects (light dimming, and RTC battery) of the 436. C1 is now installed on those boards. The shame is, those who had their radios fixed under the repair program (recall) early on, did not have C1 installed. They seem unwilling to fix it in those instances. Despite Paul admitting that there is a problem, on the DFW Scanning group, and suggesting that they would fix it.

When there is a problem, admit it as soon as possible.
Customers are not stupid. Ignoring or denying a legitimate problem is not the way to handle it.

 

[heytae]

It sounds like that they're trying to get an extra $90 out of me, then when they fully know that the RTC repair will address my 2nd concern about the weak reception. Sigh.

 

[jonwienke]

More likely the person you talked to didn't know the replacement board already has C1 installed. But still pretty stupid on Uniden's part.

 

[heytae]

That same support person has replied back to my "are you serious, you're going to charge me?" email, with an apology that his repair dept has told him that the RTC repair will include the C1 capacitor at no charge. Phew!
Thank you all for informing me of this info, encouraging me to push back on that $90 charge. I'll verify what I get back and post an update here. Much appreciated.

 

[troymail]

That same support person has replied back to my "are you serious, you're going to charge me?" email, with an apology that his repair dept has told him that the RTC repair will include the C1 capacitor at no charge. Phew!
Thank you all for informing me of this info, encouraging me to push back on that $90 charge. I'll verify what I get back and post an update here. Much appreciated.

Good to hear - unfortunately, alot of us already had the "recall" work done before the capacitor problem was known -- so, since they aren't "recalling" for that defect, if we choose to send it in, it will cost us each out of pocket - one way or another....

 

[Fidgety9996]

Did Uniden admitted the C1 capacitor problem whatsoever? Do they still try to charge for fixing this?

 

[Fidgety9996]

Seriously?

That's BS.

I demanded escalation and they fixed it at no charge. Serious BS that was not obvious from the vary beginning.

 

[troymail]

It is one of many reasons I won't be purchasing an SDS-100 anytime soon.... I'll let others pay maximum price, find the problems that can't be solved with firmware, and let Uniden solve them in future production runs like they did with the x36 models.... then, perhaps I'll consider one...