Uniden BCD536HP USB Cable

[GargoylesRus]

Hi,
I have a problem with the USB cable missing from my new unit.
I called Uniden technical support and they told me they are out of the USB cable that I need for this unit. That being said I will go there and apply for a cable for my scanner.
Ok, on to another problem, I went to walmart to get a USB cable, none to be had, so I cruised on over to my local Ace Hardware and low and behold they had a USB cable that would work. It is a Monster 141096-00 6 foot USB cable. I thought that would work fine, no dice!
I called technical support again to see if I was doing something wrong or what, explained what I just stated above, the man tells me we can't do anything about it because you Need the USB cable that is provided with the unit. I asked him why and he just repeated the same thing that he already told me.
I guess my question(s) would be, Why will this very good quality cable not work for the scanner to be recognized by my pc.
PC info, It is a new ASUS PC as of about 6 months ago, I was told it would load Win 10 when I initially started the pc, well it loaded Win 11 instead, I really didn't want Win 11 yet but said what the hell I guess there is no turning back now. So that is where the pc is as far as OS if that makes a difference.
Another question is when am I going to be able to get ahold of one of these USB cables?
I went into the scanner and pulled out the version and such which is as follows. Ver: 1.28.14 , SN: 37503018002847 , Sum: 0D2,M-Ver 1
I'd sure like some insight and help if possible, another question that comes to mind before I close is that Uniden supplied cable a jumper? something other special.

Thanks in advance
Gar

 

[ChrisP]

There is nothing special about the USB cable for the 436/536 radios.It is a standard USB to USB-mini cable. I find them at any office supply, hardware store or such. Granted, they are not as common as they were a few years ago, as everything seems to be heading to USB-mini or USB-C.

- Chris

 

[freqseeker]

A quick search and I find you have a USB A to USB A cable. As Chris stated you need a USB A to USB Mini like this one USB Mini cable
You should be able to find one locally, but as Chris also stated they are not as common. I looked for the one I have on Amazon and it says unavailable.

 

[donc13]

As @freqseeker mentioned, you have the wrong cable. So no, that will not work. You need a USB-A to USB-mini, NOT USB-A to USB-A (what you have) nor a USB-A to USB-micro.

Please read your manual. Please install Sentinel from Uniden. You must also install Windows dotnet 3.5 (which includes dotnet 2.0) via adding it as part of Windows Features.

The database supplied with the radio is old, the first thing you need to do is update it. And read the manual!

 

[GargoylesRus]

Thanks for all the prompt replies.
I discovered in the literature here that was the cable that I needed USB A to Mini B. It of course doesn't call that out in the owners manual that came with the scanner. The word here for me would have been Assume, and we all know what that can lead to.
I did not realize that this cable plugs into the front of the unit. I as of yet have no idea what the USB a is for on the back of the unit, but I will likely figure that out too. I did go back to walmart with that information and purchased a 3 foot cable that has several adapters with it.
My next question is do any of you think that I am taking a chance using this as I'd hate to ruin my new scanner?
I always thought USB was USB, in whatever formfactor they were in.
Thanks
Gar

 

[ChrisP]

The USB on the back is for the WiFi dongle that usually comes with the 536 scanner.

- Chris

 

[nosig55]

Check the local thrift stores , I always find them there. Some are are charge only, needs to be data also.

 

[freqseeker]

My next question is do any of you think that I am taking a chance using this as I'd hate to ruin my new scanner?

It shouldn't damage your radio and should work as long as it passes data. Some cables are charge/power only for other devices.

 

[fxdscon]

I have a problem with the USB cable missing from my new unit.

-
If you purchased a brand new scanner from a legitimate dealer, check all of the packing material very carefully in the box that your scanner came in. New 436/536 scanners always come with a cable, but it might be hidden under or in the folds of the box or other materials.

 

[GargoylesRus]

Ok, lets get caught up here.
fxdscon: I must confess I bought this scanner from Amazon Warehouse, which I have bought from before with no issues, no scratches, no dents, all parts were there, so I'll redact that comment that I made from frustration. I got what I paid for.

freqseeker: I am going to give it a whirl today with this USB Cable that I purchased yesterday, I'd just had enough for one day. I'm optimistic that it will perform correctly. There is alot of reading to be done yet too.

nosig55: I'm going to go on the hunt for a better cable that the one that has all these adapters I just don't like all of that stuff to deal with and I want a cable that is longer than three feet.

ChrisP: I have not gotten to look over much of the info for that dongle, I'm not sure how much I will be using it I'm not very cell phone friendly and really don't like them much to start with. No Privacy. Thank You.

I will say in finishing this thread that I really like this scanner, I got to sit and listen to it lastnight, Wow! It picks up alot of stuff that I have never heard before with my old analog units from the ancient past of scanning. It has great sound, the backlighting is great. I can't believe how much information is displayed on that tiny screen and clearly. Overall I am going to like this scanner very much.

Thanks to all for helping, I'm sure I'm going to have more questions as I go.

One comes to mind right now and that is, Can I use the 1/8 headphone jack to put sound into my home theater amp without hurting either one. Probably off topic but since I have this thread open I might as well use it.

Thanks
Gar

 

[tvengr]

Can I use the 1/8 headphone jack to put sound into my home theater amp without hurting either one.

Use a stereo cable and an audio isolator. If audio level is too low, use the external speaker output.

 

[donc13]

Ok, lets get caught up here.
fxdscon: I must confess I bought this scanner from Amazon Warehouse, which I have bought from before with no issues, no scratches, no dents, all parts were there, so I'll redact that comment that I made from frustration. I got what I paid for.

freqseeker: I am going to give it a whirl today with this USB Cable that I purchased yesterday, I'd just had enough for one day. I'm optimistic that it will perform correctly. There is alot of reading to be done yet too.

nosig55: I'm going to go on the hunt for a better cable that the one that has all these adapters I just don't like all of that stuff to deal with and I want a cable that is longer than three feet.

ChrisP: I have not gotten to look over much of the info for that dongle, I'm not sure how much I will be using it I'm not very cell phone friendly and really don't like them much to start with. No Privacy. Thank You.

I will say in finishing this thread that I really like this scanner, I got to sit and listen to it lastnight, Wow! It picks up alot of stuff that I have never heard before with my old analog units from the ancient past of scanning. It has great sound, the backlighting is great. I can't believe how much information is displayed on that tiny screen and clearly. Overall I am going to like this scanner very much.

Thanks to all for helping, I'm sure I'm going to have more questions as I go.

One comes to mind right now and that is, Can I use the 1/8 headphone jack to put sound into my home theater amp without hurting either one. Probably off topic but since I have this thread open I might as well use it.

Thanks
Gar

No on the output of the headphone jack to your home theater amp. Audio amps typically require "line out" or optical connection input from the device that's being amplified and pumped out the speakers. That being said, there are audio amplifiers that take "speaker" (headphone jack) input that can be used with the cavet that the volume knob on the scanner will raise/lower the volume on the whole system.

 

[GargoylesRus]

I'm not sure if I should continue here or not but and going to proceed.

Yesterday I tried to install the Sentinal software on the machine that I am on now and it would not.
When it failed to install it put up a small window telling me that I needed dot net 2.0 and gave me a button with a link to the dot net page.
I went searching for what they advised me I needed, not there. Then oldest version I could find was 3.0 so I proceeded to install the newer version and tried it again. I got the same response from the software. I tried again after restarting my Sentinal software, no dice.
This machine I am on now is running Win 11 22H2 that I just upgraded to yesterday. The previous version was 21H2.
Well I disconnected the scanner from this pc, fortunately I have my old laptop us stairs. It is running Win 10 all updated. I hooked up the scanner to it and went to mass storage device like I had done before, it went right in so I could see the folder. The first round of that installation went ok, but it came up with the message that the installation was interrupted and installation failed.
I tried it again, and it installed. I did the update on the Sentinal software and it went ok.
After all this Sentinal is up and running on my old pc. Woo Hoo!

I guess after all of this I just wanted to let someone know that Sentinal is not playing well with Win 11. I am not good enough with this technology to figure out what is going on but I am sure someone has the answer. That being said I would like to know if I am in error the OS or what?
The pc with Win 11 is an ASUS that was purchased at Best Buy in February 2022.
Thanks
Gar

 

[jtwalker]

Works fine with windows 11. Search here on RR forums for “.net” and “sentinel” and you’ll find the solution.

 

[jtwalker]

SDS100/SDS200: - sds100 setup

i recently purchased a uniden sds100 and am not able to install the .NET framework which is necessary for the sentinel app. anyone have any suggestions?

forums.radioreference.com

 

[fxdscon]

When it failed to install it put up a small window telling me that I needed dot net 2.0 and gave me a button with a link to the dot net page.
I went searching for what they advised me I needed, not there. Then oldest version I could find was 3.0 so I proceeded to install the newer version and tried it again. I got the same response from the software. I tried again after restarting my Sentinal software, no dice.

-
Very quick and simple fix...

In Windows go to…..

Control Panel --> Programs and features --> Turn Windows features on or off (in the upper left corner)

Once that window populates, click in the box that says ".NET Framework 3.5 (Includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)”, and .NET 4.8.....

Click OK, and they will be installed. Then Sentinel will install on that computer.

 

[GargoylesRus]

SDS100/SDS200: - sds100 setup

i recently purchased a uniden sds100 and am not able to install the .NET framework which is necessary for the sentinel app. anyone have any suggestions?

forums.radioreference.com

BCD536HP

 

[jtwalker]

BCD536HP

Same Sentinel, same .net.

 

[GargoylesRus]

-
Very quick and simple fix...

In Windows go to…..

Control Panel --> Programs and features --> Turn Windows features on or off (in the upper left corner)

Once that window populates, click in the box that says ".NET Framework 3.5 (Includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)”, and .NET 4.8.....

Click OK, and they will be installed. Then Sentinel will install on that computer.

I'm working on it as I'm writing. Thanks

 

[PhillyPewPew]

Here's what I got on Amazon. Works like a charm!

Amazon.com