Advice and opinions on BC396

[powerhouse]

I am quite confident that I will be purchasing a BC396 in the very near future and would like advice and opinions from other Maryland users on this radio.
I live in Carroll county,have family/friends in Baltimore City and County and work in AnneArundel county so I will be programming those areas into the unit.
Are there any BC396 users who are in this area and could offer advice as to the programming and planning of these listening areas into the BC396 ?
Also are there any BC396 users that can offer advice and opinions on the BC396 radio it self?
I have been reading everything I could on this unit and the Pro96 and I think the BC396 has the features I want in a radio.
I currently own an AOR 8000 and love it's features but it doesn't track trunked systems.
I also own a Pro93 which does analog trunk tracking but not digital and it doesn't have the features of the AOR 8000.
I have an OptoElectrictronics scout model 40 frequency counter that will reaction tune the AOR 8000 and I have used this feature alot in the past.
With all of the features built into the BC396 including periodic firmware releases and the projected release of the remote head unit in February, I'm confident that the BC396 will meet or exceed my expectations in a scanning radio but I do welcome any and all advice/opinions.

[bc780l]

Check the Uniden-specific forum at http://www.radioreference.com/forums...splay.php?f=82 for comments on 396 performance and issues. Briefly summarizing my 1 year experience with a 396: great features/size, poor AM sensitivity and audio, average factory antenna, occasional intermod and image problems with high performance antennae, overall average sensitivity (which is fine in high density areas!), and seems to eat batteries easily in loud high traffic duty-cycles. With the features and frequency range, I'd likely buy one again vs. a Pro96 (which may have better sensitivity, P25 decoding, and audio, but not as feature rich). The free Uniden USAD software works just fine for me, too.

[powerhouse]

Sorry it took me so long to reply back. Been busy with the Holidays and all.
I will post on the Uniden specific forum. The reason I posted in the Maryland forum was that I was hoping there was/is a user in my area with a similar radio that could give me guidance as to how they set up their radio with specific frequencies and talk group id's that I would want to program into mine.
I haven't purchased the unit yet but hope to in the next week or two.
I have a Pro93 and an AOR8000 and I enjoy tweaking and programing them so I am really looking forward to pushing the BC396's buttons.
I also have an OptoElectric Scout model 40 frequency counter that will reaction tune the AOR8000 so I'm really excited about the "close call" feature in the Bc396.
I'm sure after I get the unit I'll have many questions to post so I do appreciate your response and am looking forward to becoming a frequent and perhaps contributing member to these great forums.
Thanks again

[buttsrob]

I recommend you join the Yahoo BCD396T group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCD396T/

All you need is a free MyYahoo account.

You can download an impressive amount of data files there. (in the "Files" area under "Software files USAD and MEM" there's a Maryland directory. Very good!)


My 396T works great in the area. Ft Meade is really the only P25 system in the immediate area that I listen to. Works great.

The one challenge that I've found here is that there's TOO MUCH traffic on the trunked systems. Managing talk groups is key otherwise the garbage men and road crews will prevent you from hearing the police and fire calls you're probably more interested in.

Good luck!