BCD325P2/BCD996P2: USB Cable / ProScan

[Coolant113]

I have been having a lot of problems with 2 of my 996P2's staying connected to ProScan with the USB cable. What happens is, I will connect it to ProScan using a USB cable, the display will show up on ProScan and then a few days later or even hours the display no longer shows on ProScan. I also cannot get the Com Port to even recognize the scanner after ProScan loses it.

Just looking to see if anybody else has had similar problems. I am thinking it may be the type or brand of USB cable I am using or something completely different.

 

[GTR8000]

The front USB port on the 996P2 sucks, it constantly hangs up requiring a power cycling of the scanner; rebooting the PC has no effect on it.

Buy one of these cables and connect to the back of the scanner, problem solved.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008634VJY

You will still need a USB cable in the front port for firmware upgrades, but for everything else like uploading programming and ProScan remote control, the USB to Serial Null Modem cable works just fine.

 

[ka3aaa]

its been a common problem ever since the 996p2 came out and the front port was converted over to a mini usb port, it was not one of unidens finest hours. Mine does the same thing frequently so i just unplug the scanner and plug it back in after restarting proscan. I dont like it and just learned to live with it beinga PIA.

 

[WoodburyMan]

Same problem on the SDS100's as well.

If my Desktop reboots, it will see the USB-Com port from the microUSB going to the SDS100, but nothing will come over the connection. It's a firmware problem on the Uniden, or RS232-USB Chip Uniden uses, where the cable needs to actually be unplugged and plugged back in to start communicating again.

The solution, as GTR8000 said, is to use a seperate USB-RS232 adapter, or for other models that have network connectivity (like the SDS200) use the LAN port, and have ProScan connect over the network to it.

Ultimately, it's a Uniden issue that's unresolved.

 

[datainmotion]

Thanks for sharing the info you have, guys. Unfortunately, I bought a 996P2 today so it'll be going back tomorrow. The rear port is not an option for me as that's used for GPS and the scanner is remote mounted, so cycling power every time is not practical.

 

[buddrousa]

You can use the rear port for PROSCAN I use the 9 pin on all 6 of my 996P2's with PROSCAN no problem.

 

[datainmotion]

You can use the rear port for PROSCAN I use the 9 pin on all 6 of my 996P2's with PROSCAN no problem.

Unfortunately, that's not an option for me since the rear port is used for GPS.
However, I did bench the scanner and I found cutting the power to the scanner will reset it. Guess I'll be running a switch up to the dash.

 

[datainmotion]

An update (for anyone who cares):

Since I didn't really explain it before, my laptop is mounted in my vehicle and its dock will power down after 15 mins of IGN low. When I restart the vehicle, no connection to the scanner via the software.

Switched the scanner 3-wire harness red over to IGN from BAT (timed) - No joy, same problem
Used the included Aux power (plugs in AC port on scanner) connector wired to ignition - That works!

It will not work through a reboot, which I suspected, but works just fine through an ignition cycle, which is all I care about.

The other option I suppose, is to use the USB on the laptop, rather than the dock, but I'd rather not have cables hanging off the laptop itself, since it comes on and off the dock so often.

I realize I am in a very small minority of scanner users (scanner not mounted within reach, controlled via software on mounted laptop, utilizing GPS port) but good grief - USB? Give us the legacy serial connection back. Never had this issue with the 996T or 996XT

 

[alphaacres]

Go to Device Manager - Universal Serial Bus controllers (I do all of them) click on each go to Power Management uncheck allow this computer to turn off this device to save power its checked by default.

 

[datainmotion]

Go to Device Manager - Universal Serial Bus controllers (I do all of them) click on each go to Power Management uncheck allow this computer to turn off this device to save power its checked by default.

Been doing that (disabling selective suspend) for years (since Windows XP). That doesn't solve this issue, unfortunately.

 

[WoodburyMan]

Been doing that (disabling selective suspend) for years (since Windows XP). That doesn't solve this issue, unfortunately.

Yep. This is ultimately a problem with the USB/Serial controller in the Uniden scanners themselves not resetting and allowing communication until the cable has been physically unplugged, or the unit power cycled. It's beyond the scope of a firmware update I believe and would require a update to this serial/USB adapter.

 

[datainmotion]

In my case, the scanner starts with the ignition, as does the dock. Once the laptop is booted up and I'm logged in, I disconnect the power from the dock for 30 secs, reconnect it and then start the scanner software. Works every time. Every time I cycle the ignition after that, the scanner reconnects to the software within 5-10 secs.