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Technical Observations on the Uniden MR8100 Firmware and Programming Software Author Unknown

• Only 16 characters of the 20 character display can be programmed. The first 4 characters are reserved as follows:
  • character 1 – shows ‘P’ for a priority channel indicator, otherwise it is blank
  • character 2 and 3 – shows channel number “ 1” to “10”
  • character 4 – is always a blank separator
  • There is no indication of the bank number in the display.
• The text shown when enabling a bank for scanning such as “     BANK 1     ” is programmable via the computer software. Something more descriptive might be: “2m HAM    BANK 1”
• It is not known at this point whether the text “       SCAN      ” or “   TURBO SCAN   ” can be changed.
• There is a 16 character text message (not visible) programmed via computer during the assignment of the priority channel. Uniden’s software uses “UNIDEN CORP 1989”. Other text may be substituted by custom software for identification purposes, such as date of last download, etc.
• Cellular phone frequencies in the range 824 to 849 MHz and 869 to 894 MHz can only be programmed by software (not front panel). There may be a hardware or software solution to enable this range via front panel. Clue: a flyer states “Control of field programming options”… “field accessibility to cellular phone band”. This has not been confirmed. Uniden’s software protects this range via password, requiring the signing of a non-disclosure agreement.
• The hardware does not restrict frequency range. The scanner can be programmed for TV audio, FM broadcasts, aviation bands, etc. via custom software. Unfortunately the scanner only receives in FM-narrow mode. FM-wide signals such as broadcast, or AM signals such as aviation thus can not be clearly discernable. The only practical benefit of this “unlimited” range may be the reception of the 222 – 225 MHz HAM band adn perhaps military communications is the 225 – 406 MHz range.
• The manual claims a scanning rate up to 100 channels per second. A flyer claims a top speed of 93 channels per second “depends on how channels are programmed”. There is no clue offered by Uniden as to how to optimize scanning speed. This has to be investigated.
• The 2 second scan delay (resume scanning) might be programmable to other delay times. This has not been confirmed.
• Specifications in the manual list 5 kHz and 12.5 kHz channel spacing. This spacing was thought to be irrelevant since the scanner can be programmed for any frequency to a 1 kHz resolution from the front panel. At least the text display shows that. In reality, the frequencies entered are rounded to the nearest channel spacing. The display is misleading.
• There is no way to determine the frequency of programmed channels unless the 16 character text message shows it. This is not a problem for frequencies entered from the front panel as the text is automatically set to contain “nnn.nnnn MHz    ”. However, for frequencies programmed via computer where the text message could contain other information such as station call sign or city of origin, the user can not extract the actual frequency using the front panel of the scanner. This is perhaps a security feature which prevents unauthorized identification of pre-programmed frequencies.
• The manual warns of birdies. No list of known birdies is supplied by the manufacturer. However, through exhaustive testing one was obtained. See Birdie List.
• Confirmed available and theoretically available frequencies:

  Frequency Range		Front Panel	UNIDEN software	Custom Software	Band Bits
  Lower	Upper				<3:2>	<1>
  0.0000	28.9950			Y
  29.0000	54.0000	Y	Y	Y	0	0
  54.0050	117.9950			Y	0	?
  118.0000	135.9950	Y	Y	Y	0	1
  136.0000	174.0000	Y	Y	Y	1	0
  174.0050	405.9950			Y	?	?
  406.0000	512.0000	Y	Y	Y	2	0
  512.0050	805.9950			Y	?	?
  806.0000	823.9875	Y	Y	Y	3	0
  824.0000	848.9875		password	Y	3	0
  849.0000	868.9875	Y	Y	Y	3	0
  869.0000	893.9875		password	Y	3	0
  984.0000	956.0000	Y	Y	Y	3	0
  956.0125	1649.2250			Possibly (see note)	?	?

  The firmware in the receiver microprocessor enforces the front panel limits. The firmware can probably be modified.
  The data format can in theory support frequencies up to 1.6 GHz. The RF section in the scanner receiver probably limits this.
  
  
• Uploading the entire file to the scanner should take 39 seconds minimum. In practice, it takes 63 seconds. (UNIDEN software takes 87)
• (111 x 21 x 2) ÷ 120 = 39 seconds
• Downloading the entire file from the scanner should take 22 seconds minimum. (UNIDEN software takes 24)
• (111 x 24) ÷ 120 = 22 seconds

This page originally posted on 03-Jan-2008