BCD436HP/BCD536HP: when is new firware coming

[wise871]

At this stage in the game what's a few more months. We're fast approaching the two year mark.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[MStep]

Thank You UPMan

http://forums.radioreference.com/2439984-post55.html

It looks like UPMAN and Undone are going to finally address the dim display issue. Of course we are going to have to wait another two months, or in Uniden's terms two to six months. But at least they have acknowledge the issue.

As I have said in several of my posts, I purchased my 536 just about 6 weeks ago because I have faith that Uniden would come through with something that would resolve the issues with the 436/536 series. I now feel comfortable going ahead and recommending these units to some of my friends who were also interested in Phase II scanners.

Much like an "automobile recall" (I've been through a few of those), it will take some time for Uniden to secure and test the parts before implementing the process of having the units returned and repaired.

While I am still suggesting that Uniden cover their "professional series" of scanners with a three-year warranty, I think that this is a good indication that Uniden is not going to abandon their customers and I want to commend Paul Opitz and the folks at Uniden for standing behind their products.

Well done Paul. And great work also by the folks who here, on the RR forums, helped keep these issues in the limelight--- the relative number of persons who contribute to the forums compared to the number of folks who actually read and follow our posts may be small, but I believe that our continued input here will help all of us achieve better products now and in the future.

 

[Boatanchor]

Fix the display please

At this late stage, I'm just hoping for an update to the 'beta' display format on the 436.

So much display real estate, yet such poor utilization..

I mentioned when the 436HP was released, that the display looked like a primitive, early pre-production version. My opinion hasn't changed after a year and a half.

 

[wise871]

MStep, just on the brief response from UPMan it sounds like your ready to celebrate the rise of Uniden from the dead and the world is a better place, LOL. We haven't seen anything in several months and things have been announced in the past just to sit dormant for months at a time. Seeing is believing and don't count your chickens before they hatch.

As stated any repair is still months out. And there is still the issue of the lacking analyzer, missing android app, incomplete apple app, remote features via the app which still requires Uniden to setup a server. Your still looking at another years worth of work on top of sending in your scanner for a possible RTC and display repair.

Glad you enjoy your 6 week old 536. Some of us have more than one x36HP since day one, 19 months and counting. So if were a little hesitant to jump for joy and praise Uniden on a job well done, you can't blame us. When they have fixed the problems and provided the initial features that were announced in 2013, than maybe we can celebrate.

 

[MStep]

MStep, just on the brief response from UPMan it sounds like your ready to celebrate the rise of Uniden from the dead and the world is a better place, LOL. We haven't seen anything in several months and things have been announced in the past just to sit dormant for months at a time. Seeing is believing and don't count your chickens before they hatch.

As stated any repair is still months out. And there is still the issue of the lacking analyzer, missing android app, incomplete apple app, remote features via the app which still requires Uniden to setup a server. Your still looking at another years worth of work on top of sending in your scanner for a possible RTC and display repair.

Glad you enjoy your 6 week old 536. Some of us have more than one x36HP since day one, 19 months and counting. So if were a little hesitant to jump for joy and praise Uniden on a job well done, you can't blame us. When they have fixed the problems and provided the initial features that were announced in 2013, than maybe we can celebrate.

I feel your pain--- not so much with my own 536 obviously, but I've been in this situation with other companies several times and I know how frustrating it can be. I would still like to see three year warranties on Uniden's "professional series" of scanners, and I'm not popping open any champagne bottles right now, but I think that, after months of folks saying the Uniden has failed to acknowledge the "dimming display" issue, that this is a major achievement at moving in the right direction.

The RTC issue has been around for a while--- I think the dimming display situation is RELATIVELY more recent (last 5 months of so)--- let's at least offer some encouragement--- nothing is going to happen overnight, and none of the wrongs of the world are going to be overcome in a week--- I'm just a little happier today than I was yesterday, and I hope that others can share in that sentiment.

 

[MStep]

At this late stage, I'm just hoping for an update to the 'beta' display format on the 436.

So much display real estate, yet such poor utilization..

I mentioned when the 436HP was released, that the display looked like a primitive, early pre-production version. My opinion hasn't changed after a year and a half.

It took me some time to get used to the 536 display after years of using the beautiful HP1 display. There's no comparison. The 536 (and the 436) certainly look primitive compared to the HP1 and HP2. But, in terms of a feature set, the HP1/HP2 can't approach the 436/536, so if I have to "suffer" with a display that's not so "pretty", so be it. It gets the job done, which is my primary concern.

Right now, I share in some of the sentiments of wise871, as he mentioned in his post above. I too am more interested with getting the feature set of the 436/536 at least on par with what the HP1's and HP2's can do, particularly with the Analyze functions. And of course getting the SIREN function working with Android devices would be wonderful. There is a lot of work that still has to be done.

 

[Theo]

http://forums.radioreference.com/2439984-post55.html

It looks like UPMAN and Undone are going to finally address the dim display issue. Of course we are going to have to wait another two months, or in Uniden's terms two to six months. But at least they have acknowledge the issue.

Doug, Its nice that UpMan put a little sentence on a post about the display Really? That's it! Come on This is a known problem for over 1.5 years after spending over 3K on just BCDx36HP's we deserve better than that! Now I will be inconvenienced for months sending one by one in for repair! It's all about timely communication with the customer. I've been a loyal customer since the early 70's ! I'm very Disappointed!

 

[afdscan]

Along with repairing the backlight issue, It would be great to have the ability to adjust the size of the font. Even cheap burner phones offer a larger font. I would gladly trade less info in the display to be able to see the basic data.

 

[MStep]

It's clear that Uniden may have lost some loyal customers over this entire situation, like Theo for example. Lessons have been learned all around. Uniden clearly has to be more timely and more responsive to issues as they arise. They have to be more conscious of sourcing and quality control if they're going to keep their customers happy.

On the other hand, consumers who are going to be the first in line to purchase new products have to understand that there comes a certain risk with being the first on the block-- this is true with Uniden, but it's also true with a number of other companies that make electronic products, especially for a very esoteric group of hobbyists. And this is especially true when the product hasn't even been finalized yet--- the faulty electronics are one issue, and then you have the whole other issue of folks waiting months and maybe years for feature sets to be completed. You make a purchase on a promise that something is going to be delivered, and if it's not done in a timely manner, or not done at all, sometimes your only recourse is to never trust or purchase from that company again.

Let's face it folks, there is not much competition out there. Ain't many companies making scanners. And at least for me, in the final analysis, the 436/536 (and the HP1/HP2) are really great machines when they work right.

The OP here asked about firmware. I'll ask again, as I did several posts ago, what are we expecting? Yes, we want completion of the Analyze functions. We want enhancements in the Apple IOS Siren functions and introduction of the Android Siren function, and the early implications were that Uniden was going to provide the infrastructure to make this all possible. There have also been some interesting suggestions about enhancements to the existing feature set. Is it possible to improve Phase I or Phase II performance at this price level? I'm not sure.

It would be interesting to hear what others are expecting in terms of any new firmware.

 

[signal500]

Doug, Its nice that UpMan put a little sentence on a post about the display Really? That's it! Come on This is a known problem for over 1.5 years after spending over 3K on just BCDx36HP's we deserve better than that! Now I will be inconvenienced for months sending one by one in for repair! It's all about timely communication with the customer. I've been a loyal customer since the early 70's ! I'm very Disappointed!

I agree 100%. I also have been a loyal Uniden Bearcat customer since the early 80's. I have made many videos on the operations of the BCDx36HP line of scanners. I have helped and continue to help hundreds of BCDx36HP customers/owners with their new scanners (they have even sent me their scanners for me to program). I have no affiliation with Uniden, I just enjoy helping folks with this fun hobby.

With that said, I'm at least a little encouraged that UPMAN has acknowledge the fact that there is an issue. I too will need to send in three BCD536HPs along with my BCD436HP to have the display fixed again. (yes, I already sent in two of my BCD536HPs for the display repair and they are dim again) As all of us here, I bought these scanners to use and enjoy, not to have to continue to send them in for repair. I have spent thousands of dollars over the years with Uniden and to say I'm disappointed would be an understatement.

My solution (that should have been done a long time ago) would be to have UPMAN and RadioReference team up and make a sticky forum just for UPMAN to post updates for the BCDx36HP line. This would give us timely (every two or three weeks) updates and would be beneficial to their customer base.

Just my 2 cents here and that is about what its worth.:roll::lol:

 

[Boatanchor]

Honestly, remote access of any kind, has never been high on my list of priorities.

The vehicle 'remote' functionality of the BC536HP is never going to work right no matter what Uniden does with IOS or Android because they failed to provide any ability to remotely turn the unit on or off.

Remind you of anything? Yes, the old RH96 remote head that failed to thrive, partly because of the same problem

Personally, aside from the obvious hardware fixes to the display and RTC, I would like to see:
* Improved display layout on the 436HP, with larger fonts, larger 'S' meter, scrolling display for longer aliases.
* P25 RID decode on conventional channels
* Control channel scan (as per the x96XT).
* Trunking analysis features like the HP-1/2 extreme

There are other little, niggling issues that I have with the 436HP, but we probably shouldn't overload Uniden with requests at this point in time

 

[MStep]

........My solution (that should have been done a long time ago) would be to have UPMAN and RadioReference team up and make a sticky forum just for UPMAN to post updates for the BCDx36HP line. This would give us timely (every two or three weeks) updates and would be beneficial to their customer base............

+100 on that signal500. I have been suggesting for months that UPMan and Uniden provide more timely informational updates. And while it seems more focused on the HP1, even their own website (HomePatrol) could be utilized to provide this information.

 

[wise871]

* Improved display layout on the 436HP, with larger fonts, larger 'S' meter, scrolling display for longer aliases.
* P25 RID decode on conventional channels
* Control channel scan (as per the x96XT).
* Trunking analysis features like the HP-1/2 extreme

All are very reasonable request and possible with a firmware update. Should have been part of the original release.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

Yes, all those updates would be nice but if you can't see the Damn Display what good is it !

The major reason I dumped my 436 a couple of months back. As far as displays goes, the HP-1/HP-2 can't be beat!!

 

[MStep]

The major reason I dumped my 436 a couple of months back. As far as displays goes, the HP-1/HP-2 can't be beat!!

No doubt NWI_Scanner_Guy that the displays on the HP1 and HP2 units are the best. It would be wonderful if a future firmware upgrade to these units could somehow incorporate a priority function and a close-call feature, although I'm not sure the hardware can support those functions.

The main reason I got the 536 was because of the feature set, particularly the close-call ability. It's very handy to have in the mobile environment, and the 436 with close call is great for scoping out those mall and department store security channels.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to get the 436 with an HP2 type display? Perhaps in a couple of years, we'll have something like that. But display aside, the 436/536 have come pretty close to giving you everything you need in a scanner.

Quick question for you NWI_Scanner_Guy--- what was your impression of Phase II reception on the 436 vs the HP2. You don't have to get too technical in your answer--- just a quick response would be appreciated.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

No doubt NWI_Scanner_Guy that the displays on the HP1 and HP2 units are the best. It would be wonderful if a future firmware upgrade to these units could somehow incorporate a priority function and a close-call feature, although I'm not sure the hardware can support those functions.

The main reason I got the 536 was because of the feature set, particularly the close-call ability. It's very handy to have in the mobile environment, and the 436 with close call is great for scoping out those mall and department store security channels.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to get the 436 with an HP2 type display? Perhaps in a couple of years, we'll have something like that. But display aside, the 436/536 have come pretty close to giving you everything you need in a scanner.

Quick question for you NWI_Scanner_Guy--- what was your impression of Phase II reception on the 436 vs the HP2. You don't have to get too technical in your answer--- just a quick response would be appreciated.

At the current time, there are no Phase II systems in my area, so i never had the opportunity to compare how they would sound on either of them.

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

 

[MStep]

At the current time, there are no Phase II systems in my area, so i never had the opportunity to compare how they would sound on either of them.

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

Thanks NWI_Scanner_Guy--- can you give a very quick comment on Phase I at all ? 436 vs HP2 ?

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

Thanks NWI_Scanner_Guy--- can you give a very quick comment on Phase I at all ? 436 vs HP2 ?

Pretty comparable on both the Indiana SAFE-T system and the Illinois Starcom system but I'd give a slight edge my HP-1 and HP-2 radios.

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

 

[MStep]

Pretty comparable on both the Indiana SAFE-T system and the Illinois Starcom system but I'd give a slight edge my HP-1 and HP-2 radios.

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

Thanks for that info.

 

[brscomm]

A couple comments on the 436HP. Not allowing the scanner to charge while on is a pain. Even when charged, battery life isn't spectacular. Why not use two or three Lithium AA cells. 3.7 volts and better than double run time per charge.