Uniden 396 and 996 firmware updates

[SCPD]

Uniden just released firmware upgrade a couple of days ago. I updated my 396 and 996 radios and I strongly suggest you do the same. For those in Edmonton who montior EPS/EMS/EFR EDACS system, you will notice that annoying trailing buzz after most transmissions is all but gone.

For those in Calgary who monitor CPS, the P25 audio certainly sounds better, not as good as GRE, but darn close.

 

[Jay911]

My experience has been limited to the 396, as, as I've said elsewhere, the power cable on my 996 has taken this opportunity to fail. However, on the 396, conversations are actually intelligible now, and CPS is worth monitoring again.

I need to figure out if I have some other cig lighter adapter that will give the 996 the same juice that the stock one will.. I need to hear this with a real antenna and multi-site trunking...

 

[SCPD]

Uniden just released firmware upgrade a couple of days ago. I updated my 396 and 996 radios and I strongly suggest you do the same. For those in Edmonton who montior EPS/EMS/EFR EDACS system, you will notice that annoying trailing buzz after most transmissions is all but gone.

For those in Calgary who monitor CPS, the P25 audio certainly sounds better, not as good as GRE, but darn close.

Uniden's firmware update test:

I put 5 radios side-by-side. A 996T with firmware update and one without. A 396T with firmware update and one without and for a real comparison a GRE DSR 500

The first test I performed I had all radios scanning a list of 20 CPS talkgroups monitoring site 004 - Fishcreek. I basically counted 100 transmissions.
Only a tranmission without any hiccups or burbs or warble were counted as successful

Radio 1) 996 without firmware update 73 out of 100
Radio 2) 996 with firmware update 92 out of 100
Radio 3) 396 without firmware update 62 out of 100
Radio 4) 396 with firmware update 89 out of 100
Radio 5) PSR 500 95 out of 100

My second test I put a CPS talkgroup on hold and counted 100 transmissions and...

Radio 1) 996 without firmware 81 out of 100
Radio 2) 996 with firmware update 96 out of 100
Radio 3) 396 without firmware update 76 out of 100
Radio 4) 396 with firmware update 92 out of 100
Radio 5) PSR 500 98 out of 100

I was testing near Southport Drive and DeerFoot trail using stalk antennas.

Out

 

[SCPD]

My experience has been limited to the 396, as, as I've said elsewhere, the power cable on my 996 has taken this opportunity to fail. However, on the 396, conversations are actually intelligible now, and CPS is worth monitoring again.

I need to figure out if I have some other cig lighter adapter that will give the 996 the same juice that the stock one will.. I need to hear this with a real antenna and multi-site trunking...

Yesturday in Edmonton I did the following test:

Uniden's firmware update test: Edmonton EDACS System

I put 4 radios side-by-side. A 996T with firmware update and one without. A 396T with firmware update and one without.

The first test I performed I had all 4 radios scanning a list of 5 EPS talkgroups. I basically counted 100 transmission.
Only tranmission without any post trailing buzz or delays were counted as successful

Radio 1) 996 without firmware update 93 out of 100
Radio 2) 996 with firmware update 100 out of 100
Radio 3) 396 without firmware update 96 out of 100
Radio 4) 396 with firmware update 100 out of 100


My second test I put a EPS talkgroup on hold and counted 100 transmissions and...

Radio 1) 996 without firmware 97 out of 100
Radio 2) 996 with firmware update 100 out of 100
Radio 3) 396 without firmware update 92 out of 100
Radio 4) 396 with firmware update 100 out of 100

Done from North Edmonton using stalk antennas.

I did one more test (mobile) traveling along a heavy RF congestion zone testing only two radios scanning 5 EPS talkgroups and counted roughly 100 transmissions

Radio 1) 396 without firmware 76 out of 100
Radio 2) 396 with firmware update 98 out of 100

I really noticed the difference between updated firmware and not while mobile

Out

 

[torontokris]

I noticed a great improvement post-firmware as well..

But the PSR-500 was that great? I dont have one I wouldnt know
In ur test it out performed all units...

Hope you dont mine a Torontonian jumping in the topic

 

[SCPD]

I noticed a great improvement post-firmware as well..

But the PSR-500 was that great? I dont have one I wouldnt know
In ur test it out performed all units...

Hope you dont mine a Torontonian jumping in the topic

Although the PSR-500 does a better job decoding P25, I hate that radio. The one I used for testing did'nt belong to me, thank-god,
!!!welcome west!!!

 

[EdmontonFireRadio]

Very interesting read. Thanks for posting your findings.