The AC adaptor doesn't seem to fit into the jack on my uniden 3216. It's very tight. Should I push it in more firmly?

normally the adaptor has a switch for converter 11oVac to 220vac. If you adaptor do not have, you must ask to the company to provide a new one. Otherwise you can not connect it. You can damage the base unit.

God bless you

Firstly check that there is power to the Ac adaptor, this can be done by seeing if the green power indicator light is on on the adaptor body.

If not, then you have a defective plug, blown 3 amp fuse or the adaptor is fried (not uncommon)
If you have a multimeter, you can set it to 20 volts DC and with the adaptor pligged into the mains, test the DC JACK end! by putting the red probe to the inner part of the jack and the black to the outer part, if no reading, then assume the adaptor is dead.

Best way to check is by testing with an adaptor (universal charger type) to see if that works.

Assuming the adaptor is putting out power, check the output with a multimeter as above and see if the voltage is at the correct level (think its 19 volts on that model). If it is, then move on to the DC jack connection on the netbook

Watch the power indicator on the adaptor, if it is not steady green (ie flashes on and off), ther power is not making a circuit in the alptop and is being "spat back", this can be anything from a blown circuit board in the power circuit, to something as simple as a motherboard main fuse.

If there is a staedy green light but no power at the netbook and the jack connection at the netbook is firm and not sloppy or loose, then you will need to have the netbook dismantled and the fuse checked ( this will also need to happen if the jack connection is loose.

Sometimes, removing the battery, pressing the power button on (with the adapator unplugged) for 30 seconds and repowering with the ac adaptor can reboot the system, but I'd be inclined to suspect the adaptor first

Remove battery and ac adaptor. press power button and hold for 30 seconds. Reconnect AC power only, try rebooting. If this fails, then you have a problem with the power switch, or the cut off switch which is located just by the screen hinge may be sticking.

Failing that, and assuming the DC jack is a tight fit, you could have a problem with the motherboard. In this case, I would advise you get it checked by a professional

Check the battery is charged first and that power is getting to the laptop by the DC Jack. You can test this by setting a multimeter to 20V DC and touching one probe to the inner part of the DC jack and the other probe to the Outer (earth) of the DC jack (red to inner black to outer). I'm assuming the fuse in the plug of the adaptor is ok...

If there is power getting to the DC jack, check the connection to the DC jack socket on the motherboard, if it feels sloppy or loose, this is where the problem may be.

If the fit is tight and the AC adaptor is supplying power, you could have a ram issue. Romove each ram module in turn and try to see if the laptop boots then, if one stops it booting, it needs replaced.

Failing this, you could have a fault on the motherboard which will need technical investigation

Unlikely as even with the power switch off the power led would show current from the AC adaptor was reaching the laptop. Try testing the AC adaptor first by plugging a volt meter into the DC jack, with one probe set to the inside of the jack and the other to the outside, set at 20 volts and see if you get a reading.

If the power is reaching the DC jack, then check the connection at the jack port for tightness and make sure the jack is a good fit

Try removing the battrey and using it on AC power alone, sometimes a failing battery will cause problems

If this fails, it is possible that the internal fuse on the motherboard has gone

Probably two years too late, but I recently got a used H4 and it was having this same issue. Upon reading the documentation, it seemed as though it required a specific type of AA batteries. If you update the firmware (mine was 1.3) to the latest version (currently 2.4), you can toggle the battery type under the menu (most likely alkaline is what you want). It also added lots of other great features!

Why did you have to buy a new adaptor? Did it suddenly stop working or was the problem intermittent?

It's my guess the adaptors are fine - very unlikely all three are bad - It's the connector in the laptop that's the problem - it's loose or was pushed too far in at some point so it can't make a tight connection. A good tech should be able to solder it on the inside. Hopefully, you can return at least one of the adaptors.

Good luck.

WELL, After a year I alone, without any help from UNIDEN, FIGURED IT OUT.
1. TURN IT OFF, UNPLUG AC JACK IN THE BACK!
2. REMOVE Backup battery cover "underneath" scanner! TAKE ALL 3 BATTERIES OUT.
3. I PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON TO BLEED ANYTHING OFF IN THE CAPACITORS, IF IT HAS ANY INSIDE?
4. PUSH THE"2", "9", AND "HOLD BUTTONS DOWN, THEN PLUG THE A.C. BACK IN ON THE BACK OF THE SCANNER.
5.You WILL notice while you are doing STEP#4 THAT THE DISPLAY SAY'S "CLEAR". ALL FREQUENCIES WILL BE CLEARED IN THE MEMORY!! THEN TURN Scanner OFF reinstall the BATTERIES, TURN BACK ON AND START PROGRAMMING!! THIS WAS FOR A "BC340CRS" SCANNER

1. push the adaptor's jack firmly
2. change the adaptor jack(after checking the power voltage with multimeter the out put voltage should be 32v and 16v)
3.replace the cartrige

You need one of these. . .