[ScanIndiana] Fw: Uniden Scanner Firmware Update Info

[Mark Thompson]

--- On Mon, 8/25/08, Karl E. Simonson - KS9E <ks9e at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Karl E. Simonson - KS9E <ks9e at yahoo.com>
Subject: Uniden Scanner Firmware Update Info
Date: Monday, August 25, 2008, 6:01 PM

 
August 25, 2008
Updates are On the Way
In This Issue 
	* Rebanding Update 
	* Update Schedule 
	* What’s Next? 
	* Until Next Time 
 
Rebanding Update
 
Well, a couple of Motorola Analog systems have now rebanded, so we are hard at
work on firmware updates for all our current Trunk Trackers (as well as a couple
of older models). These updates will give you the ability to enter custom band
plans for 800 MHz Motorola systems, which will allow you to set up the scanner
for rebanded systems, whether they are “normal” rebanded systems as are the
few that have recently switched over, or “inverted” rebanded systems which
use a variation of the channel assignment method. So far, no systems have
switched to the inverted type, but we’ll be ready when they do.
 
I know that many of you have wanted more features in the current models. So, we
are also taking this opportunity to put a few more treats into this update.
Here’s a quick rundown of the new goodies:
 
Hidden Menu Items: These will all be incorporated into the main menu structure.
No more keyboard tricks to get to these tweaks. (BCD996T/BCD396T)
 
Close Call DND: I sure wish I had thought of this mode earlier so that we could
have included it in the BC246T, BR330T, and BCD396T, but this update takes care
of that.
 
Extended Tone-Out Delay: We’re adding the much-requested 30-second option to
the Fire Tone-Out Delay feature (BR330T, BCD396T, BCT15, BCD996T)
 
RSSI Reporting Improvements: I’ve been very surprised that none of the
software developers have taken advantage of the improvements in RSSI reporting
(high speed, 1024 levels of RSSI), but I am hearing some hints that updates are
on the way. This would make for a pretty slick band scope feature, and we added
it to the PC protocol for the BCD396T and BCD996T with a previous update. This
update will extend it to the BC246T, BR330T, and BCT15.
 
EDACS ESK Support: We’ll be adding ESK support to both the BCD396T and the
BCD996T. Sorry, no ProVoice (or OpenSky, V-SELP, iDEN…).
 
Improved P25 Automatic Threshold Detection: This update should allow the
BCD396T and BCD996T to fully auto-adjust for P25 systems, even if those systems
are out of spec for P25 deviation, as we’ve found is the case in a number of
areas.
 
Now for the 2nd big question. How much is it going to cost you? Well, while
we’ll still need to use ESN control for this update for some models, this
update will cost you absolutely nothing (well, a little time, perhaps, and a
little patience).
 
Update Schedule
 
Now to answer the 1st big question: When will all this happen?
 
Since we’ll be working on updates for 9 models, we can’t get these all out
at the same time. So, we’ll be issuing updates with a goal of wrapping all
this up by early 2009. Our estimated release dates for these updates (remember,
we still have to recode, debug, test, and package all this, so it is possible
for an update to slip a bit if we need time to address problems found in
testing) are as follows:
 
BCD396T/BCD996T   9/30/2008 
BC246T/BCT15   11/20/2008 
BCT8/BC898T   12/31/2008 
BC296D/BC796D/BR330T   1/31/2009 
 
What’s Next?
Watch your in box for a major announcement on 9/29/2008 . Can’t say more,
now.
Until Next Time
In closing, I want to recognize the great contributions Gene Costin (aka Gene
Hughes) made to the scanning hobby. His long-running “Police Call” series
made it possible for scanner hobbyists to program their scanners with local law
enforcement frequencies long before the internet … or even the widespread use
of trunked systems. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
His spirit lives on every time you help out a fellow “scannist.” No
manufacturer would last in this business without the kind of community help and
support that he epitomized.
Paul  Opitz
Product Manager
Uniden  America Corp. 
No statement contained in this message may be construed as a guarantee of
performance.
All update details are subject to change prior to release.
All company and product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
© 2008. All rights reserved.