BCD436hp Military air

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shabec

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Hello all. I have been thinking about getting the Uniden BCD436hp has anyone used this radio to listen to military air yet? If so I would like to know how well it does.

Thanks
Fred
Chicago, IL
 

N8IAA

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Save yourself a ton of money and get the 125AT. It has 500 frequency slots, and you could get three and still have money left over:lol: If you need to have digital, get a 396XT.

I see too many problems setting up Favorites Lists with the QK's, etc..
HTH,
Larry
 

aprswatcher

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I agree with Larry, if you strictly want to listen to aviation both military and civilian buy
the Uniden BC125AT they run about $140. I have one and it is easy to use and has a very good receiver.
Plus as Larry mentioned you will save lots of money!!!

73, Rex
 

storm777

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Fred, I just picked up a BC125AT on Friday for MilAir & ARTCC and so far I'm pleased. It has good sound quality and with the Radio Shack 320-006 telescoping antenna, I'm happy with the results from my apartment.

Another option if you are leaning towards a base model would be the BCT15x. I've read a lot of good things about it in these forums when it comes to MilAir monitoring.
 

shabec

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Thanks

I do listen mainly to Military and aircraft, but I do like to have something to listen to P25 stuff also. Base comms and so on. I was wishing this is the all in one radio for me.

Thanks all,

Fred
 

TedRHayes

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I use my BCD436HP for MILAIR (and many other things) here in SW Ohio. It performs very well; probably about the same on MILAIR and civilian VHF aircraft traffic as my BC125AT. It does help to use an external antenna (both at home and when I use it mobile). I can pickup comms from aircraft operating in the MOAs in Southern Ohio, some from the Atterbury Range in Indiana. Of course range is greatly a function of AC altitude.

So if you need the additional capabilities of the 436, you might find it worth it.
 

N8IAA

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I do listen mainly to Military and aircraft, but I do like to have something to listen to P25 stuff also. Base comms and so on. I was wishing this is the all in one radio for me.

Thanks all,

Fred

Fred, the 396XT would be the radio to go with. It does quite well on VHF/UHF air, and P-25.
Larry
 

nyair1

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Anyone have experience using the base model 536hp with a external antenna for milair use?? Not sure if the radio specs are the same as the handheld model? I listen to public safety stuff at night and a few have made the switch to P25. I was looking at the 996 XT but I'm wondering if it would be better to get the newer 536? I wonder if the new generation ones may be able to be upgraded with new features in the future? My main target is milair during the daytime so I don't want to give performance on those bands. Thanks
 

TedRHayes

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The 125AT is a good radio, just remember if your trying to listen to milair in the 137-150 MHz range, you can only listen in FM mode.

My favorite milair handheld is the PRO-164

I haven't had the 436 long enough to give an answer to your question, but check out this blog, he is a big tire milair listener:

My Take on the BCD436HP « KF4LMT's Radio Shack

You can only search 137-150 MHz range on the BC125AT in FM, but you can program channels in that range as AM.
 

abqscan

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The 436 and 536 are excellent in the Milair range (using an external antenna of course). Having the replay option comes in handy when a mush mouth pilot needs to be heard 10 times before figuring out what they said. While the speaker is okay on the 536, I do use external speakers on both radios to obtain better audio. The favorite lists makes it a breeze to have the scanners set up for home use, and also for the road.
 

nyair1

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The 436 and 536 are excellent in the Milair range (using an external antenna of course). Having the replay option comes in handy when a mush mouth pilot needs to be heard 10 times before figuring out what they said. While the speaker is okay on the 536, I do use external speakers on both radios to obtain better audio. The favorite lists makes it a breeze to have the scanners set up for home use, and also for the road.

I downloaded the manual online to check out all the features. Can you still setup your own scan lists of freqs that you program like a bc15x or 996xt? I was a little confused on the instruction manual! Lol! I'm not interested in have to scan through all kinds of stuff that the radio will download itself. I'm only interested if I can put in my own lists. Thanks
 

abqscan

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Yes, you can setup the scanner just like a bc15x and 996xt. The preloaded database data is there if you want it and is not the only way to have the radio function. I actually have mine programed like my 780's and 785's for mil air. Search ranges and "banks." I utilize the favorite function somewhat like the V-Scanner function on my Pro106/197.
 

nyair1

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Yes, you can setup the scanner just like a bc15x and 996xt. The preloaded database data is there if you want it and is not the only way to have the radio function. I actually have mine programed like my 780's and 785's for mil air. Search ranges and "banks." I utilize the favorite function somewhat like the V-Scanner function on my Pro106/197.

OK that sounds good. Thanks for the info. I try to set all my radios up the same that way I know what each bank or group has in it so I can just listen to certain things. I'm still learning how some things work on the 15x! That was a whole learning experience in itself! Lol
 

Hooligan

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If you get a 436/536 & plan to use it for military aviation searching, keep in-mind that the brain trust at
uniden, despite being informed of the issue a couple years ago with the 396XT/996XT line, & claiming that they listen to their users, still haven't fixed their military aviation service search to reflect the proper, well-known characteristics used by military aviation in that spectrum.
 

TedRHayes

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If you get a 436/536 & plan to use it for military aviation searching, keep in-mind that the brain trust at
uniden, despite being informed of the issue a couple years ago with the 396XT/996XT line, & claiming that they listen to their users, still haven't fixed their military aviation service search to reflect the proper, well-known characteristics used by military aviation in that spectrum.

Since the 436/536 do not have a "Service" search per se, then it won't be a problem! You can, however, set up costume searches just about any way you like.
 

eorange

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If you get a 436/536 & plan to use it for military aviation searching, keep in-mind that the brain trust at
uniden, despite being informed of the issue a couple years ago with the 396XT/996XT line, & claiming that they listen to their users, still haven't fixed their military aviation service search to reflect the proper, well-known characteristics used by military aviation in that spectrum.
What exactly are you referring to? 25 kHz search step?
 

ra7850

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Chris

Did you ever get either of the 436 or 536 HP radios? Im trying to make a good MilAir favorties list and wondered if you've tried this?

I downloaded the manual online to check out all the features. Can you still setup your own scan lists of freqs that you program like a bc15x or 996xt? I was a little confused on the instruction manual! Lol! I'm not interested in have to scan through all kinds of stuff that the radio will download itself. I'm only interested if I can put in my own lists. Thanks

Robert
 

nyair1

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Did you ever get either of the 436 or 536 HP radios? Im trying to make a good MilAir favorties list and wondered if you've tried this?



Robert

I haven't I ended up getting a 396xt handheld for my truck and I haven't decided what to get for a base yet. I may end up getting the 996 II that just came out. Its more like the 15x's that I have. I don't really care for the internet and WiFi on the 536.
 
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