396T Software from Uniden

[criten]

I'm just wondering what operating systems others have used to reflash the firmware on their 396T's?

I've tried XP SP3, Vista and Windows 7 - all of which say:

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ERROR: Cannot open "COM20" port.
Port may be used by other software.

Nothing I do seems to be able to change this. However applications like ARC396, Hyperterminal and PuTTy can communicate with the COM port no problems at all. The problem is with both the Uniden scanner control software and the firmware loader software.

I've raised a complaint with Uniden about this bug - no response received yet.

[soupbones]

You tried changing the com port in the firmware software to something a bit lower? I doubt your computer has a com port 20

[centralcoastscanman]

criten,

i am assuming your using a serial to usb convertor ?

If so its interesting its chosen com20 as my convertor defaults to com3 or com4

[criten]

Yes - I'm using the USB-1 cable with the driver from Prolific (the driver from uniden is extremely unstable on Win7 x64)

I did change it to COM2 and magically it works. It really shouldn't make any difference! For a stab in the dark I'd say its a bug related to the number itself - uniden perhaps support COM1-9 and no further?

Apparently COM3-19 are in use on my machine... ya, rly.

Thanks!

[centralcoastscanman]

i'd say your right with that criten, as lets face it uniden aren't the best at writing software and testing it

what would be interesting to confuse the issue with them is if you had a multiport io card connected to your computer such as a stallion board and had your scanner connected to one of those ports...

[soupbones]

You should be able to see what com ports you have in use in any windows machine in device manager. I always pick a low number, and never have any com port issues much with USB converters.

[criten]

You should be able to see what com ports you have in use in any windows machine in device manager.

Yep, certainly can. There is also the ability to change the numbering as I did - if you open the properties window of the COM port.

Ports 1-19 are now occupied.

I do have a number of USB->serial convertors for various Point of Sale and UPS gear, and apparently my E169 HSPA modem uses several COM ports. Kind of amazes me that so many are in use considering serial is supposidly dead.

[Chrisco]

You can get PCI card with two serial ports

[criten]

Yes, I'm aware. USB Convertors are actually cheaper.

<-- owns a PC store

[centralcoastscanman]

agree there criten, far cheaper unless you buy some cheap and nasty asian import pci serial card which is going to probly cost $2 or $3.00 from ebay