I've been looking at various sources to try to figure out EXACTLY what gets done and what doesn't get done if I select the Reconstruct option. I didn't find anything useful in Mark's Scanner on this topic. I couldn't find anything on a google search, either. Maybe I'm not looking in enough corners of cyberspace. In any event, I'm hoping SOMEONE here shares what they KNOW about this rather than just guessing.
Sentinel: What EXACTLY is meant by "reconstructing the database" within Sentinel?
- Thread starter jjn555
- Start date
Updating database to latest version. If I am not mistaken they pull from the RR database every Sunday night.
I'm not sure about that. There already IS an option in the Update menu called "Update Master Database", and as you say, it only really does anything about once a week if the database has been updated on Uniden's side. Then, if I wanted to send that database to my radio, there's a checkbox in the Scanner->Write To Scanner menu that says "Force Write Full Database". I have a hunch what it MIGHT do, but I wouldn't bet much money on it.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Messages
- 6,851
If the master database listings in Sentinel (that are stored on your computer) get corrupted for some reason and you see some strange or missing data in the master database listings in the Sentinel program, using "Reconstruct Full Database" will access the latest update file that was downloaded to your computer in a compressed format and rebuild the database in Sentinel from that compressed download file. It does not do anything to the database in the scanner.
If the database in the scanner becomes corrupted for some reason, that's where you use the "Force Write Full Database" checkbox when you are writing to the scanner from Sentinel. See my post at this link for info on that...
BCD436HP and Morris County 700 Simulcast System
Hello. Relatively new to digital scanning, so bear with me, please. I have a Uniden BCD436HP scanner. Up until about 2 weeks ago, it was picking up Morris County (Morris County Trunking System, Morris County, New Jersey) just fine. Lots of action in Randolph, Morris Plains, Morrsitown, etc...
To see that compressed download file, look in "C:\ProgramData\Uniden\BCDx36HP_Sentinel\Updater\" and there will be a file there named "MasterHpdb[_month_date_year].gz.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Messages
- 6,851
The Sentinel menu listing for Update ---> Update master database" is used for weekly database updates.
Was just trying to help. Sorry for offending the populace yet again.
a417
U+0000
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2004
- Messages
- 3,960
you're fine, don't worry.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Messages
- 6,851
No one took offense, just trying to answer the OP's question.
- Update Master Database(HPDB) = Check the Uniden server for the latest version (pulls from the RRDB late Sunday, usually ready by Monday morning)
- Reconstructing Full Database = Applying the latest changes to the MasterHpdb.hp1 database file that Sentinel stores the data in
- Force Write Full Database = Cleans out all of the full database files (not your Favorites) from the microSD card and overwrites them with the latest version of the files that were created during the reconstructing of the full database
Clear now?
I like this answer. Thank you. I HAVE seen times where my Sentinel reported my database being corrupt. At the time, I wasn't sure what to do, so I just reformatted the flash rom and rebuilt the whole thing. I'll put your reply in my notebook for this radio. Thanks.If the master database listings in Sentinel (that are stored on your computer) get corrupted for some reason and you see some strange or missing data in the master database listings in the Sentinel program, using "Reconstruct Full Database" will access the latest update file that was downloaded to your computer in a compressed format and rebuild the database in Sentinel from that compressed download file. It does not do anything to the database in the scanner.
If the database in the scanner becomes corrupted for some reason, that's where you use the "Force Write Full Database" checkbox when you are writing to the scanner from Sentinel. See my post at this link for info on that...
BCD436HP and Morris County 700 Simulcast System
Hello. Relatively new to digital scanning, so bear with me, please. I have a Uniden BCD436HP scanner. Up until about 2 weeks ago, it was picking up Morris County (Morris County Trunking System, Morris County, New Jersey) just fine. Lots of action in Randolph, Morris Plains, Morrsitown, etc...forums.radioreference.com
To see that compressed download file, look in "C:\ProgramData\Uniden\BCDx36HP_Sentinel\Updater\" and there will be a file there named "MasterHpdb[_month_date_year].gz.
Sort of. The first item is clear, but from what you are saying, it's not sufficient to just Update the Master Database? The user ALSO has to reconstruct it, or nothing will change the next time you were to send the updated database to the radio?
The reconstruction part is automatic and is part of the Update Master Database(HPDB) process. If you watch the status bar after updating, you'll see the message as part of the process.
You really should never need to use the standalone "reconstruct" tool, unless something is very corrupt and not working properly when trying to scan the full database. The weekly update takes care of it.
