396XT on RWC

[AZScanner]

Now that these radios have been out for a while I thought I'd ask once more....

Can anyone share their experience listening to the RWC on the new Uniden? I finally got off my butt and made the antenna repair my PRO-96 needed but it still won't receive anything - I'm afraid my constant use and abuse of the poor thing simply killed it. I've crashed it into car doors, squished it in chairs, scraped it along walls, dropped it, sat on it, you name it. No wonder it doesn't work anymore. I don't think I would either if I was treated like that.

Now I know the GRE/RS radios do VERY well on the new system, thanks to Astrak's feed, but I'm worried about getting one simply because as I've stated above, I'm hard on scanners and the GRE's are fragile radios. The Unidens I own are built like tanks, and that's what I need in a handheld because I'm a total clutz. I'll certainly try to be careful with whatever radio I get, but I just know it's going to get beat up - everything of mine eventually does. I know the Uniden will hold up better to my clumsiness, but what I don't know is how well it'll work on the RWC. Right now my 796 works like this:

"Emergency traffic is a {pththththth}unk dri{pthththth} last seen heading {urk, sputter, scan, scan, long pause, NFM, DAT, NFM, P25, more silence, oh hey I got something} switch to c deck {bonk, gurgle pththth}" (And no, peanut gallery, I haven't beaten THAT scanner up yet, so that's not why it does that.)

If my shiny new 396 does that too I think I'll scream. Scratch that. I know I will. Right after I've thrown it at the nearest wall and headed to the kitchen for the whiskey bottle.

Save me the agony guys. Someone out here has to have one of these by now. How does it work on the system, and if you could go back in time to the day you bought it, would you keep it or get the GRE instead?

Thanks,
-AZ

[APSN556]

I cant answer your question directly, but perhaps give some slight insight. Ive owned 3 GRE-500's and can positively say that it would NOT withstand the conditions you described for more than a week. If you so much as drop this radio, in most cases, it will die.

My uniden 346XT (the 396XT little brother) has been left on top of a moving car and dropped from 6 feet at a speed of 60 mph and still works. My dog has used it as a chew toy... it still pulls in signals better than any scanner I have. While I cant vouch for the performance of the 396 on digi systems, I can say that the XT series of uniden scanners, do in fact seem to be much more sensitive than the non XT versions.

Have you thought about purchasing one and "evaluating" it? If you dont like it, send it back before your warranty expires?

[cellphone]

I have had an XT for around 2 months now. You can check out my comments toward the end of this thread.

BC396XT performance on RWC

To summarize, my experience is that decoding quality on the RWC is the same as the 396T. I do enjoy some of the added features, but if you are concerned with audio quality on the RWC, stick with the PSR 500 or Pro-106.

Comparing audio to the 796, you will hear less of the strange noises. However you will hear silent cutouts and less annoying burps. With the 396XT, I would say that an average transmission only properly decodes with about 60% of the message intelligible on the RWC. Other digital systems (Glendale and MCSO) sound great.

--Joe

P.S. That is a great interpretation of the 796 audio!

[AZScanner]

So the consensus seems to be buy the PSR-500 or PRO-106 and then just don't touch it.

Thanks for the input. My mind is definitely made up now. I'll just have to be VERY CAREFUL with the GRE/RS.

If money permits, I might get a 396XT for a knockaround scanner and just use the GRE for the RWC stuff. It'd be nice to actually be able to have TEMPE on my Tempe Police feed again, LOL....

-AZ

[Mike_G_D]

AZ,

I strongly recommend the hard leather case with swivel belt loop for the PSR500 that Scannermaster sells. It is described here: GRE Hard Leather Case with Swivel Belt Clip.

I believe they also have a version for the PRO-106 as well.

It won't completely protect the radio from heavy abuse, of course, but it will at least protect it to some degree. It is a tight fit for the radio which is good, really, as it prevents the radio from falling out along with the loop around antenna cord (which you don't have to use if you don't want to but it does offer an extra measure of protection).

So, at least, if you really slam the radio against something and break its case at least the hard leather case will keep all of the pieces together rather than having them all flying off in various directions;-).

I should add that the swivel belt clip is well made and easy and secure to use. The radio will not easily fall off of your belt but you can easily remove it by swiveling it upside down and pulling up. The only real problem with the hard leather case is that you can't stand the radio up while in the case unless you prop it against something. For me it's a small price to pay for the good protection the case provides.

-Mike