Uniden BCD426HP Charging Annoyance

[kandrey89]

When the unit is off and you plug in a USB cable for charging, who in their right mind decided to add a prompt for the user "Do you want to charge?" Y/N or something like that.

This prompt should be removed, it serves no purpose since the unit is off and generally since the only time you can charge the batteries are when the unit is off, then it is simple in that the intention is to charge every time the unit is off and a cable is plugged in!

Why wouldn't you want to start charging everytime without a prompt?
If there's a reason for some people to semi-permanently not charge the batteries through the internal charger for whatever reason, you can add a setting that sets the charger to "OFF" always.

 

[mancow]

Do you don't burn up non rechargeable batteries or overcharge others.

 

[AZScanner]

This prompt should be removed, it serves no purpose since the unit is off and generally since the only time you can charge the batteries are when the unit is off, then it is simple in that the intention is to charge every time the unit is off and a cable is plugged in!

Right, but as Mancow said you have to be careful not to overcharge. Suppose you had just charged your scanner or were using alkalines and then plugged it in not thinking - you'd fry the batteries and probably your scanner too. Maybe even start a fire that ends up burning the house down. At least the prompt is a stopgap measure that might prevent such a thing. I actually prefer that it asks me as I do use alkalines in it sometimes. But it could be a setting you could change. From a risk mitigation standpoint though, I'm sure the lawyers at Uniden would insist the choices for that setting would be ON (Prompt to charge) or OFF (don't prompt to charge and don't charge). There likely wouldn't be a setting that would just let you charge it every time without a prompt.

-AZ

 

[Voyager]

Because maybe you want to program the scanner and didn't turn it on first? Because you want to operate the scanner without charging the batteries? Those are only two alternatives to charging that come to mind.

 

[mitbr]

+1 on the prompt not being removed.

 

[kandrey89]

Voyager, do you even own one? It doesn't charge the batteries while the scanner is on, which sucks ***!

Overcharge? What is this the 90's? Their internal charger should have all these things built in, to charge the battery up safely and then shut off.

The scanner should work like a cellphone, you plug it in, it starts charging. It should also charge WHILE the scanner is on.

Do you want your cellphone to ask you whether you want to start charging it every time?

For those that don't give a crap about alkalines and never plan on using them in the radio, give us an option in the setting to turn off this stupid prompt!

 

[AZScanner]

Overcharge? What is this the 90's? Their internal charger should have all these things built in, to charge the battery up safely and then shut off.

You'd be surprised how much of that scanner is still stuck in the 90's. But for such a niche product such is to be expected - they don't have the R&D budget that Apple had for the iPhone. They can't afford to reinvent the wheel and still sell the scanner at a price mere mortals can afford.

The scanner should work like a cellphone, you plug it in, it starts charging. It should also charge WHILE the scanner is on.

As I've said before, I prefer the prompt but I agree with you on the second point. I was kinda befuddled by that too - why shouldn't it charge while it's on? Other devices do that, so why not this one? With you all the way on that.

Do you want your cellphone to ask you whether you want to start charging it every time?

You'll laugh, but yes and mine does exactly that (well not EXACTLY, it asks if you want it to be charged, connected like a USB drive or connected as an external camera). You can set a default of course, but I like being able to select based on what I intend to do when I plug it in as I have used all 3 modes before.

For those that don't give a crap about alkalines and never plan on using them in the radio, give us an option in the setting to turn off this stupid prompt!

I feel ya, but I honestly don't see Uniden doing that. Why would they? Think of all the returns and support headaches explaining over and over again to people why they should have left that prompt on instead of turning it off and frying their poor scanners. Yuck. I wouldn't want to answer THAT phone call or email. I've done scanner support for software, and believe me, if you think you have heard it all, try working support sometime. You would be amazed at how boneheadedly stupid some customers can be.

-AZ

 

[Voyager]

Voyager, do you even own one? It doesn't charge the batteries while the scanner is on, which sucks ***!

Overcharge? What is this the 90's? Their internal charger should have all these things built in, to charge the battery up safely and then shut off.

The scanner should work like a cellphone, you plug it in, it starts charging. It should also charge WHILE the scanner is on.

Do you want your cellphone to ask you whether you want to start charging it every time?

For those that don't give a crap about alkalines and never plan on using them in the radio, give us an option in the setting to turn off this stupid prompt!

Yes, I own one. In fact, I have one of the first ones. And from your post you don't appear to know much about electronics. So, here is a little bit of an education:

Doesn't charge the batteries when on: USB can deliver 500 mA MAXIMUM (while there are USB devices that CAN deliver more, you can't assume all USB devices do). It takes nearly that much to operate the scanner. It takes nearly that much to charge the batteries. So, if you can figure out how to get 1000 mA from a device that can deliver 500 mA without damaging it, PATENT that idea. I will wager good money it won't happen, BTW.

The charger should have all the protections built in: The unit requires 3-4.5V to operate. This pretty much mandates AA cells in series unless you want to change to a proprietary battery and incur the wrath of about 90% of the users out there. As the cells are in series, you cannot reliably detect a full charge of an individual cell. Even if you could, there is no way to stop charge one one series cell without stopping the charge on other two. If you can figure out how, PATENT that idea. I will wager good money it won't happen, BTW.

The cellphone issue was covered in the last paragraph. (I would wager your cellphone doesn't use AA cells unless you're using a DPC550 (which, ironically, IS a 90s device). But, phones don't use AA cells anymore. In fact, many of them don't even have user-replacable batteries. BTW, your cellphone doesn't consume nearly as much current as a scanner, so your charging while operating comparisons don't hold water.

Your alkaline comment makes even less sense, as you say you don't care about them and that's the ONE valid point you would otherwise have, as alkaline use is the one reason to not have the prompt. But, I know the scanner won't even try to charge alkalines, and it's quite possible it won't prompt when you use them. I'm not sure about this one, as I don't use very eco-unfriendly alkalines.

No charge for the Electronics 101 lesson.

 

[Voyager]

You'd be surprised how much of that scanner is still stuck in the 90's. But for such a niche product such is to be expected - they don't have the R&D budget that Apple had for the iPhone.

Wait until you find out how to replace the battery in that iPhone. You have to sacrifice the display and replace that, too! (NO KIDDING)

Can you imagine the comments if Uniden designed a scanner with THAT flaw? And that was a design decision, not a result of poor purchasing.

As I've said before, I prefer the prompt but I agree with you on the second point. I was kinda befuddled by that too - why shouldn't it charge while it's on? Other devices do that, so why not this one? With you all the way on that.

Simple physics. You can't get 1000 mA out of a device that can supply 500 mA maximum. IF you do have a high current device AND it identifies itself as a high current device, I believe the scanner will operate and charge at the same time. I know the HP series does that. I think the 436 might as well, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[kandrey89]

Voyager, I knew that when I was writing the post and I had an inkling that that's why they may have done it like that but it's stupid because they should have used what the some companies call quick charge, for cellphones, exactly what you mention in your last post.

No, they don't have quick charge in their device.

NiMH has a predictable charge to voltage curve, set the overprotection based on that, though there's probably other ways, I'm not that familiar with battery charging methodologies. I wasn't suggesting what you were talking about re:single battery charging in a serial circuit, lol.

If you own one, then why did you say that BS? Before you go knocking, I'm a systems characterization engineer and have a bit of experience in electronic engineering.



ANYWAY, if you like your prompt so much, be quiet, otherwise the people who know wtf they are doing should be able to choose whether they want that annoying crap to be displayed or not everytime.

Annoyed that every time I hop in my car, and connect the scanner, I have to click that stupid No button for charging. What's ever worse is that while this prompt is displayed, it stops scanning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's only 1 button? Yeah, like I don't have other stuff to connect like the cellphone with an app for the radar scanner and a few other items.

 

[Voyager]

Voyager, I knew that when I was writing the post and I had an inkling that that's why they may have done it like that but it's stupid because they should have used what the some companies call quick charge, for cellphones, exactly what you mention in your last post.

As I said, most people would have a fit if they changed from standard AA cells to something proprietary. That's why they changed TO AA cells about 15 years ago because people were fed up with the proprietary battery packs and the cost associated with them.

No, they don't have quick charge in their device.

NiMH has a predictable charge to voltage curve, set the overprotection based on that, though there's probably other ways, I'm not that familiar with battery charging methodologies. I wasn't suggesting what you were talking about re:single battery charging in a serial circuit, lol.

Never said they did have a quick charge circuit. They can't because it is not possible to reliably detect the signature peak that happens when a single cell reaches full capacity. Hence, they have to use standard charging. Personally, I hate the charging and wish they would simply remove it, but again most people would have a fit if they did that. In fact, that's exactly what they had to do for the BC346XTC when the CEC sent them a nasty-gram for their charging circuit in the BC346XT. Uniden had to redesign the scanner at a considerable cost, I'm sure. I like Uniden's solution for the latter models - simply omit the charging adapter which anyone can get for a buck or two.

If you own one, then why did you say that BS? Before you go knocking, I'm a systems characterization engineer and have a bit of experience in electronic engineering.

Exactly which comments are you talking about? Do you mean the reasons of why you might want the charging prompt?

ANYWAY, if you like your prompt so much, be quiet, otherwise the people who know wtf they are doing should be able to choose whether they want that annoying crap to be displayed or not everytime.

I understand. You don't want anyone to disagree with you. That's understandable. Unreasonable, but understandable.

Annoyed that every time I hop in my car, and connect the scanner, I have to click that stupid No button for charging. What's ever worse is that while this prompt is displayed, it stops scanning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's only 1 button? Yeah, like I don't have other stuff to connect like the cellphone with an app for the radar scanner and a few other items.

So your main point is your portable scanner is not ideally suited for mobile use but you don't want to use mobile scanner which would not have that issue. Ooops! There I go spouting that logic again. :wink:

BTW, I *think* if you remove the batteries, it won't display the charging question. Problem solved.