Uniden released new hp2? What about fixing the models you already released!

[jonwienke]

You are right, but in both posts I qualified my comments with "think"

Not in this one:

So from an average consumer's point of view the fact that a piece of equipment needs an additional piece of equipment to work as expected is not a very acceptable expectation from a manufacturer.

The fact is that there are many amplified speakers and other audio devices that will accept a balanced input just fine without grounding one side of it. The fact is that if you connect one of these devices to the scanner, it will work just fine with no problems. The only time issues arise is when you use an accessory the manufacturer does not recommend, and don't RTFM to find out why.

I would never condemn anyone for being ignorant based on their opinions.

Not even these people???

 

[jonwienke]

Which again the lack of a discriminator on this unit really doesn't make sense at the price point. Even if only an IF discriminator.

There's a solder pad on the 536 circuit board clearly marked "DISC" so you can easily connect a discriminator tap if you so desire. If you poke around these forums a bit, you can find posted photos.

 

[nbarco]

Do you honest think the average consumer that reads the manual, knows the difference between a class D amp and a class a or b? Is it fair to expect that? Why shouldn't it work with any consumer grade external speaker or aux port?

 

[nbarco]

I have 436 not a 536

 

[jonwienke]

Do you honest think the average consumer that reads the manual, knows the difference between a class D amp and a class a or b? Is it fair to expect that? Why shouldn't it work with any consumer grade external speaker or aux port?

That's a stupid argument. You can't just connect random consumer-grade devices with 3.5mm ports together and expect them to work. Some are mono, some are stereo, some expect mike-level signal level, some expect line/headphone-level signals. Any time you're hooking audio components together, you have to RTFM to make sure you're matching inputs and outputs, unless they're all the same brand and marketed specifically as being compatible. Connecting a scanner to a mixer, computer, or speaker is no different.

 

[kellykeeton]

That's a stupid argument. You can't just connect random consumer-grade devices with 3.5mm ports together and expect them to work. Some are mono, some are stereo, some expect mike-level signal level, some expect line/headphone-level signals. Any time you're hooking audio components together, you have to RTFM to make sure you're matching inputs and outputs, unless they're all the same brand and marketed specifically as being compatible. Connecting a scanner to a mixer, computer, or speaker is no different.

uhh what do you think they call it consumer for.. if the plug fits in the hole.. then it should work.

 

[Citywide173]

uhh what do you think they call it consumer for.. if the plug fits in the hole.. then it should work.

I hope that's sarcastic....

Page 10 of the manual for his scanner specifically states:

Earphone Warning
You can use an optional 32Ω stereo headset or earphone with your scanner. Use of an incorrect
earphone or headset might be potentially hazardous to your hearing. The output of the phone jack
is monaural, but you will hear it in both headphones of a stereo headset.

http://www.uniden.com/content/ebiz/uniden/resources/ownersmanuals/BCD436HPom.pdf

If it isn't 32Ω, it's the consumer's fault, plain and simple.

 

[jonwienke]

uhh what do you think they call it consumer for.. if the plug fits in the hole.. then it should work.

You wish. Uniden aside, there's a good chance it won't. I have "consumer-grade" non-Uniden devices with 3.5mm jacks that fall into all of these categories:

* Video camera with a 4-conductor output jack that has unbalanced line-level stereo audio out and composite video out

* Cell phone with 4-conductor jack with unbalanced headphone stereo audio out and unbalanced mic-level mono audio in

* Computer with 2-conductor unbalanced mono mic-level audio in

* Computer with 3-conductor unbalanced mono mic-level audio in and condenser mic power lead

* Computer and mixer with 3-conductor unbalanced stereo line-level audio in

* Audio mixer with 3-conductor balanced mono line-level audio in

* Video camera with 3-conductor unbalanced stereo mic-level audio in

I could go on, but I think I've made my point. If you think there is a universal standard for what a 3.5mm "consumer-grade" device jack does, you're sadly misinformed. You need to know whether it is a 2, 3, or 4-conductor jack, whether it is an input, output, or a mix of inputs and outputs, whether it is carrying audio or video, whether the audio is balanced, unbalanced, line level, mic level, stereo, or mono. The only way to know what the jack does, and what cables & devices you can connect to it, is to RTFM. If you don't, you're going to have problems, regardless of the manufacturer.

 

[Chrisnantucket]

But you can't blame the middleman (Uniden) because the source hasn't delivered yet.

YES YES YES you can! This thing NEVER EVER worked. The box says UNIDEN on it. It should have NEVER been released claiming these features. The ultimate responsibility lies on Uniden's shoulders. Period. They STILL have "With WIFI" in the TITLE of the 536 on the UNIDEN web site. STILL. After a YEAR. STILL!!!

 

[Voyager]

The scanner hasn't been out a year. It's amazing how many people can't tell time. As for the rest of your temper tantrum...

So, let me get this straight, you believe Uniden should deliver something they don't have. Exactly how many companies do you know that can do this? Are are you living in sci-fi land? Because you're certainly not living in reality. In reality, it works as follows: You get the product from the manufacturer, THEN you distribute it.

Yes, Uniden thought they would have it several months ago. At release? NO - they said as much prior to release. Should it be on the box? Well, the boxes were designed prior to release (another reality-based limitation), so it's not possible to make them change after they are in the field.

Uniden's only fault here is believing the manufacturer when they said they had a workable product Uniden could sell with the scanner. Does it say Uniden on it? Yes, it does. Was it MADE by Uniden? No, it wasn't - it was made by a subcontractor.. Uniden is in the same boat we are - waiting for a working product. Or do you believe this is all some elaborate plot by Uniden to tick off the customers and they have everything sitting in a warehouse somewhere?

 

[Citywide173]

The scanner hasn't been out a year. It's amazing how many people can't tell time. As for the rest of your temper tantrum...

I know you're not referring to me, as I constantly refer to it being over a year since the release announcement.

In reality, it works as follows: You get the product from the manufacturer, THEN you distribute it.

Yes, that is how it should be done. The radio NEVER should have been released. You don't announce the product, realize you can't deliver the product you advertised, put a small disclaimer on your website without demanding the same of your distributors, then sell the product at full price. I can't think of any other company that would have stuck with the original vendors a year after realizing they couldn't produce for the target date, let alone a year later.

Yes, Uniden thought they would have it several months ago. At release? NO - they said as much prior to release. Should it be on the box? Well, the boxes were designed prior to release (another reality-based limitation), so it's not possible to make them change after they are in the field.

It is VERY possible- produce disclaimer labels that could be placed on the boxes-would have saved headaches for a lot of people.

Uniden's only fault here is believing the manufacturer when they said they had a workable product Uniden could sell with the scanner. Does it say Uniden on it? Yes, it does. Was it MADE by Uniden? No, it wasn't - it was made by a subcontractor.. Uniden is in the same boat we are - waiting for a working product. Or do you believe this is all some elaborate plot by Uniden to tick off the customers and they have everything sitting in a warehouse somewhere?

I don't believe it's an elaborate plot, that would be giving too much credit. I firmly believe it is a comedy of errors. The vendors for not supplying what they promised, Uniden for releasing an incomplete product, Uniden for not fixing the marketing issues, Uniden for not having backup vendors for when it became obvious the current vendors could not deliver in a timely fashion, Uniden for allowing marketing materials to go out without the disclaimer, almost a year later. While the vendors do have some blame, the majority of the blame is on Uniden, and no matter how you try to defend them, it is their debacle and they need to step up and make it right with the consumer.

 

[nbarco]

Yes it is Uniden's fault. No they can't deliver what they don't have. Then they shouldn't advertise that they do. Screw a concession suit that gives rebates. They stand to get a multi-million dollar suit for false advertising, on two product lines. If they can't fix it within a reasonable time period then they need to eat it. Who they make deals with is their problem. I bought an item with the Uniden trademark not the whoever makes whatever from them. If I had time in my day, I would pursue this further. Luckily, I bought an extended warranty with accidental spill and damage coverage. So when something better comes along from any company I will have an out. But for those that have a legitimate $500 invested. You are got screwed, whether the missing features are important to you or not. The boat that Uniden is in is their problem not ours. They can fight that battle which should remain transparent to us.

 

[Voyager]

I know you're not referring to me, as I constantly refer to it being over a year since the release announcement.

It is VERY possible- produce disclaimer labels that could be placed on the boxes-would have saved headaches for a lot of people.

Announcement is not the same as release. Whistler announced their WS1095 a year ago (roughly). And GRE over 2 years ago.

As for the sticker, how many people are going to apply a sticker they are sent by a manufacturer vs just toss it or ignore it? Also, how do they know who has the boxes unless everyone registers their scanners?

 

[nbarco]

Voyager, you either work for Uniden...or you are the dream customer that settles so easily for corporate mediocrity. If you bought a car from Ford and the radio had features that didn't work, and the dealer told you that they were waiting for Denso to release an update. Would that be acceptable? 6 months later?

 

[Voyager]

Voyager, you either work for Uniden...or you are the dream customer that settles so easily for corporate mediocrity. If you bought a car from Ford and the radio had features that didn't work, and the dealer told you that they were waiting for Denso to release an update. Would that be acceptable? 6 months later?

I don't work for Uniden (and never have), and in the case of Ford, if they are waiting on the update from Denso, then I would have to wait. Ironically, I do have a Ford and have an issue with the paint peeling off. They won't cover it. When I purchased, I expected the paint to stay on. That said, I do look forward to a day when I can use the SIREN app.

 

[nbarco]

Is it Fords responsibility to stand behind the product regardless of who made the paint?

 

[nbarco]

Maybe Baofeng should start knocking off scanners. Their radios work as advertised and better than expected.

 

[jonwienke]

If the paint was made by Paintco, and Ford gets sued over defective paint, guess who Ford is going to go after to recoup their loss?

Pretty sure it would be Paintco...

Note: "Paintco" is a fictitious name.

 

[nbarco]

My point all along...Uniden needs to eat the **** sandwich and do what they have to with oem vendor afterwards.

 

[phask]

What about Ford and "Sync"? It never did work correctly and AFAIK - there was never any settlement.

Ford is now dumping the entire system and going with something by Blackberry!!

A federal class action has been filed in the U.S. District Court in Central California demanding "compensatory relief" on behalf of motorists who have been frustrated by the Ford infotainment systems—in particular, with the problems involving their touchscreen interface and generally software programming issues.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100896791#.