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Firmware · 2015-01-16

Uniden BCD536HP main firmware 0.31.12 (Wi-Fi beta test build)

Verified — manufacturer file

Download zip (2.1 MB) Manufacturer's page ↗

Pre-release BCD536HP firmware 0.31.12, posted by Uniden on its BCD536HP Wi-Fi Test page during the 2014-15 Wi-Fi beta test. It is the build the Wi-Fi Test page's instructions name for the scanner step (copy it to the FIRMWARE directory, then unplug USB).

Read before installing. Beta test build, superseded by every public release from 1.05.01 onward. Of historical interest only; installing it on a scanner that runs a later release is a downgrade.
Product
BCD536HP main firmware
Version
0.31.12 (beta)
Released
2015-01-16
Runs on
BCD536HP (file copied to the microSD card)
Applies to
Uniden BCD536HP / BCD436HP
Zip SHA-256
27de6a1bca9ce8d4999abd3255b420dcf75f07248ea69e2bf37bd0932f9c90b2

Contents

FileSizeSHA-256
BCD536HP_V0_31_12.bin2.1 MB77a1b1f4ebbdb9b1ed62a2f496d7ab25d4f0393f61d26340c16b8bf4c828c658
README.txtThese instructions
SHA256SUMSChecksums of the files above

Instructions

The complete README.txt included in the zip:

Uniden BCD536HP main firmware 0.31.12 (Wi-Fi beta test build)
=============================================================

WHAT THIS IS
------------
Uniden BCD536HP main firmware 0.31.12 (Wi-Fi beta test build).

Pre-release BCD536HP firmware 0.31.12, posted by Uniden on its BCD536HP Wi-Fi
Test page during the 2014-15 Wi-Fi beta test. It is the build the Wi-Fi Test
page's instructions name for the scanner step (copy it to the FIRMWARE
directory, then unplug USB).

Between September 2014 and March 2015 Uniden ran a public beta of the
BCD536HP's Wi-Fi features on a page titled "BCD536HP Wi-Fi Test". Testers
first reflashed the BC-WF1 dongle, then loaded a test build of the scanner
firmware, then used VLC and the RH-536HP mkII test program to stream audio and
control the scanner. The first public release with Wi-Fi remote control was
1.05.01. These beta files are kept for the historical record.

APPLIES TO
----------
The Uniden BCD536HP only (the files are named BCD536HP_...). Not for the
BCD436HP, which has no Wi-Fi dongle. Not for any other scanner.

BEFORE STARTING
---------------
- These are pre-release test builds. No reason is known to install one today;
  every public release from 1.05.01 onward supersedes them, and the current
  release is 1.28.24 through Sentinel.
- Loading one on a scanner running later firmware is a downgrade, and its
  effect on current Sentinel and database files could not be confirmed.
- Back up the whole microSD card and the Favorites Lists first, and keep
  external power connected.

CONTENTS OF THIS ZIP
--------------------
- BCD536HP_V0_31_12.bin (2,162,688 bytes), the unmodified Uniden
  file. SHA-256:
  77a1b1f4ebbdb9b1ed62a2f496d7ab25d4f0393f61d26340c16b8bf4c828c658
- README.txt, this file.
- SHA256SUMS, SHA-256 checksums of the files in this zip.

INSTALLATION
------------
Uniden's Wi-Fi Test page gave this procedure for the scanner step:

1. Plug the scanner into the PC and select Mass Storage mode.
2. Copy the .bin file to the FIRMWARE directory on the scanner.
3. Unplug the USB cable. The update should start and be applied.

Where this download is a zip, unzip it first and copy only one .bin file.
Later Uniden notes add: never put two main-firmware files in the folder at
once, and do not delete the two .dat files already there.

VERIFYING
---------
On the scanner, go to Menu > Settings > See Scanner Information > Firmware
Version. The screen shows the installed firmware version, the serial number
(ESN) and a checksum.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
-----------------------
- If the update does not start, check that only one main-firmware .bin file is
  in the "firmware" folder; Uniden's notes say that with more than one file
  the update will not start or will not load correctly.
- If the two .dat files in the "firmware" folder were deleted, the scanner
  will not start properly. Sentinel's Clear User Data restores them but erases
  all user data on the card; restore Favorites Lists afterwards with Scanner >
  Write to Scanner.
- If the card is corrupted, format it with the SD Association's SD Memory Card
  Formatter, run Clear User Data in Sentinel (tick Display all drives), then
  Update Firmware.
- Cutting power while the card is being written can corrupt it. Keep external
  power connected for the whole update.
- Uniden's firmware page warns: "ONLY use Sentinel to upgrade firmware. Some
  users have rendered their scanners non-functional using other update
  methods." A manual file copy is at the user's own risk; Uniden's own
  downgrade notes say it accepts no responsibility for damage.
- To leave the beta, run BCDx36HP Sentinel's UPDATE > Update Firmware, which
  installs the current release.

DOWNGRADING
-----------
Installing this build on a newer scanner is itself a downgrade and is not
recommended. Return to current firmware with Sentinel's UPDATE > Update
Firmware.

PROVENANCE
----------
- File: BCD536HP_V0_31_12.bin
- Downloaded from:
  https://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/UnidenMan4/BCD536HPWiFiTest/BCD536HP_V0_31_12.bin
- Retrieved: 2026-09-18
- Official page:
  https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BCD536HPWiFiTest
- Status: verified (the file was served by Uniden's own server and is
  byte-for-byte unmodified)

MORE INFORMATION
----------------
- BCD536HP Upgrades & Firmware (vol. 5):
  https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/uniden-bcd536hp/vol-5/
- BCD436HP/BCD536HP Owner's Manual in the Reference Library:
  https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/library/uniden-bcd536hp-owners-manual/
- All BCD536HP documents:
  https://scanners.fubsypoly.com/library?node=scanners/uniden-bcd536hp
- Uniden BCD536HP firmware change log:
  https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BCD536HPFirmwareUpdate
- Uniden BCD436HP firmware change log:
  https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BCD436HPFirmwareUpdate

Other versions of BCD536HP main firmware

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