BCD436HP/BCD536HP: UpMan violating his own RoC?

[ShyFlyer]

Regarding analog vs digital, I have a fairly recent (2015 production) 436HP and the only difference I notice is that volume on analog systems (trunk; conventional) is lower than comparable digital transmissions. Reception quality is just fine. Put another way, with my 396XT, I didn't need an external amplified speaker in the car, but with the 436 I do.


With regards to UPMan and his ROCs, I've always taken them to apply to him personally, not to the whole of Uniden. As his employer, Uniden controls what he can/can't say about Uniden. I'm sure there is a lot he would like to say, both good and bad. He just doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds him.

 

[phask]

Is the 436 even sold in Europe?

 

[kc5igh]

This makes zero sense The same receiver circuitry is used regardless whether the signal is modulated with a digital format or analog FM. Any scanner flaw that negatively affected analog FM reception would negatively affect digital reception as well--not as background hiss, but as decode errors--dropouts or garbles.

If you're having problems monitoring UHF analog, but digital stuff is receiving OK, then the tower broadcasting the analog traffic is either farther away or outputting less power.

Hello, jonwienke.

I too have noticed that digital reception is generally much better than analog reception on all my digital-capable scanners. Like you, I don't think this is a receiver-circuitry issue.

I suspect that the FCC's 2013 narrowbanding directive is one of the major reasons for this because, in general, the narrower bandwidths seem to have had a greater negative impact on the volume and clarity of analog signals than they've had on digital signals.

Two other potential factors to consider are: 1) many digital radio systems, like their cell phone cousins, have signal-enhancement capabilities built into their circuitry and data streams, and 2) many radio systems seem to have cut back on their output power due to regulatory pressure and technology developments such as Linear Simulcast Modulation (the real consumer-grade scanner killer, IMHO).

If there is a receiver-circuitry factor in all this, it may be that most consumer-grade scanners simply don't or can't process narrowband signals very well. (I think I read somewhere that the BCD436HP is one of the few receivers out there with "true" narrowband filters.)

The good ol' days of radio systems blasting away on wide channels at full-strength seem to be a thing of the past.

My two cents . . .

-Johnnie

 

[SOFA_KING]

Radio is radio, and interference is interference. Digital hides the problem, as (in this case) wide band white noise can't be heard (analog it CAN be heard), but it's still degrading reception. Digital error correction makes up for some of the loss, but that has limits. Error correction is implemented to address multipath and fading while moving, so if you are stationary it might (probably does...to some extent) help the EMI issue. But if you are moving, that error correction is going to max out sooner dealing with two issues (EMI and multipath), making it less effective.

Masking the problem in the digital domain is not the solution. Fixing it with the proper bypass techniques is, and that is what should have happened from day one. The prototype units would have gone through the FCC requirement for EMI/RFI testing, and that noise should have been observed at that juncture. SOMEONE had to make a decision and "sign off" the results of that testing. Whoever made that decision should have been fired. The fact that they continued production and sales on the flawed circuit board design, then later released a corrected circuit board design, says they knew about the issue and decided to release it anyway. I remember very early reports about the 436 receiver not being as good as the 396 models, and now we know why. Evidently, so did Uniden, but money was more important to Uniden then customer satisfaction. What...did they think us stupid customers would never notice? Uniden has underestimated their customers several times over now. It's bad "corporate policy"!

Clearly Uniden has made some calculations on quality, design and marketing that has backfired on them. Have they learned anything? I would say no by the way they are handling all this. But we have learned a lot about Uniden, and it's not all good. Sort of a mixed bag. I'm just glad we have some sharp people around here to bring all these issues to light...and call Uniden out. Public relations people may, and often do, try to cover up truth. We'll keep the record straight!

Phil

 

[RoninJoliet]

Personally I do see a little better decoding or maybe less drops on the two new Uniden models 996P2/325P2.....Maybe others do not on there systems.....

 

[wise871]

I would be happy if they just finished the stupid Siren app and the Analyzer modes on the x36. Every year I watch the Nov 16, 2013 announcement of the new scanner and features that still, after 4 years, have not been completed. When you ask a X36 question on there Uniden America Facebook page they will delete and avoid all questions concerning the X36 scanners. Even now the visitors page says "No more posts to show right now".

Still waiting for what UPMan said;
V1 = main scanning functions, LAN only
V2 = addition of Analyze
V3 = addition of Full Menu capabilities for all functions
V4 = WAN capability
V5 = still a secret

Looks like were still waiting on V3 - V4. What ever happen to the Uniden server that was suppose to make this whole wifi process seamless with out all the VPN workarounds. I would still like full siren app functions so I can interface with the scanner.

 

[seth21w]

I would be happy if they just finished the stupid Siren app and the Analyzer modes on the x36. Every year I watch the Nov 16, 2013 announcement of the new scanner and features that still, after 4 years, have not been completed. When you ask a X36 question on there Uniden America Facebook page they will delete and avoid all questions concerning the X36 scanners. Even now the visitors page says "No more posts to show right now".

Still waiting for what UPMan said;
V1 = main scanning functions, LAN only
V2 = addition of Analyze
V3 = addition of Full Menu capabilities for all functions
V4 = WAN capability
V5 = still a secret

Looks like were still waiting on V3 - V4. What ever happen to the Uniden server that was suppose to make this whole wifi process seamless with out all the VPN workarounds. I would still like full siren app functions so I can interface with the scanner.

Siren works on my galaxy note 3 android os

 

[wise871]

Siren works on my galaxy note 3 android os

I didn't say it does not work. The problem is it's not finished after all these years. I bet you can't access the full menu or discovery and analyzer modes? It's a basic release to say they released the software. The last Apple update was May 2015. Really Uniden you couldn't figure out how to add the missing features in the Siren App in the last 2 years. Pretty pitiful if you ask me. Hell, look how long it took them to get an Android release.

seth21w, since you quoted my post you should have seen that UPMan mentioned V3 = addition of Full Menu capabilities for all functions and V4 = WAN capability. Were still waiting. Again I didn't say anywhere in my post that it didn't work.

There will be those that say give Uniden time to fix the issues or look at the extras they have released to date with Provoice and DMR. Thats all great but in 2013 this scanner was advertised with certain features that have not been completed yet. I know, lets give them another 4 years .

As far as his Rules go for the x36 original announcement, than these were broken.

5. When there is a problem, admit it as so. <--Ok, why haven't we seen the app development move forward or the server access for wifi everywhere?
6. Under promise and over deliver <--Still waiting for original promise. You guys even went back and edited the original release video because you can't deliver. Than come out and say it's so, Rule 5.

 

[k3fs]

Uniden has had plenty of time to finish the advanced analysis features "a one hundred dollar value right there"
A quote from Paul, not my words. Not releasing advertised features is a problem.

Band scope is missing. Advertising features that a product does not have is a problem.

Uniden has failed to knowledge the noise issue that negatively impacts VHF and UHF reception. Yet, they made changes to the board, and eventually installed all of the components to fix the issue. Yet, another problem.

I have paid for features I still do not have.

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.

Uniden chose to put those rules of conduct on their site.

 

[wise871]

Uniden chose to put those rules of conduct on their site.

Those are actually UPMans rules. Doesn't really matter because he is just another voice for Uniden. Uniden promised but under delivered and there is nothing you as a consumer can do about it unless your going to pay $$$ to pursue the issue or social media dictates a change; "Airlines" and they know this. Visitors can't even post on Uniden America Facebook page anymore. I wonder why?

 

[ur20v]

Those are actually UPMans rules. Doesn't really matter because he is just another voice for Uniden.

Actually, he's the *only* voice for Uniden around here. And while those may be Paul's own rules and not Uniden's per se, they are published on Uniden's website. I find it somewhat hypocritical that he refers to these rules when interacting with us here, yet he apparently only selectively applies these rules, in this case rules 2 and 5. I really don't know how he can ignore a 43 page thread about a documented problem in which nearly every 436 owner participating took some sort of action to remedy, with some even going as far as soldering in a component they believe to be missing.

Wouldn't it be hard to claim you take the ethical high road while your audience watches it erode from beneath your feet?

 

[KK4JUG]

If his ethics bother you, don't read his posts.

 

[ShyFlyer]

I really don't know how he can ignore a 43 page thread...

The answer to that is rather simple, but one that you probably won't like to hear. UPMan is "ignoring" that thread because his bosses control what he can and cannot say with regards to Uniden Corporation's activities. He can't, and won't, admit fault on behalf of the people that sign his paycheck unless they specifically authorize him to do so.

The problem isn't UPMan. It's Uniden Corporation.