996xt digital decode in NH?

fosters · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 11:37 AM

A couple questions for you all. Has anyone used a 996xt on our digital systems in nh? I'm fighting the urge to buy one possibly this weekend and I'm wondering how the decode quality is compare to my PSR 500 on our systems here. As I understand it the 996xt adjusts itself and decodes automatically for the best quality setting, which I guess is great. It makes me alittle nervous that I can't tweak it myself though, that's why I ask.

Also as I understand it on the 996xt you can set the volume level for each individual freq, is that correct? If so that might help with peace in the household, atleast that is going to be my selling point to the wife for a new toy.

Thanks!
Fosters

NYRHKY94 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 07:59 AM

Good questions Fosters. I've been wondering the same thing myself and don't want to take the plunge until I hear some reports from the guys in NH. Thanks for posting this!

bmlure · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 08:48 AM

If you turn on the radio and press hold while turning it on it will flash colors. Then go into setting to p25 level adj where you can adj the threshold. It will have a 50 and adj to your likings

N3LLO · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 07:51 PM

Regarding the volume for each individual channel, yes. Specifically you set a volume offset between -3 and +3 to compensate for abnormally quiet or loud systems.

Hope that helps,
- Matt

fosters · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 01:54 PM

Good to hear on the audio boost, sounds like a good idea. I get some Maine freqs that are faint so the boost would be good. How's the digital decode quality on our systems? I have a GRE 500 which is real good in my opinion on decode so I was hoping that it's atleast as good.

Thanks
Fosters

geoff5093 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 06:18 AM

I just picked up a 996XT and it does a great job with both digital and analog systems. A few frequencies are either very quiet or loud, but it's great that you can set the audio. I also noticed that the Federal Protective Services seems to be a bit off frequency, so I'll have to check it out.

NYRHKY94 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2009, 05:29 PM

Hi Geoff:

Good to hear. Can you provide a comparison of the digital decode of the 996XT versus the GRE models (500/600) or the RS models (96/2096/106/197) by any chance? I've always found the digital decode on the GRE & RS models to be very good right out of the box, but my 796 & 996"T" always needed to be hand tweaked. Wondering if the 996XT is better "out of the box"?

Thanks in advance!

geoff5093 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 06:58 AM

I've had the Pro-96, Pro-2096, Pro-106, PSR-500, 396T, and now the 996XT. First I can say that the Pro-106 and PSR-500 were far better then the 96 and 2096 that I have had in the past, it picks up many more signals and has a more sensitive receiver (let alone lots of new features). The 396T was a huge disappointment for me, I bought it about a year ago and I could never get it to work right. It picked up analog signals pretty good, but digital was horrible. After that I decided to never go back to Uniden and stick with RS/PSR, so I bought another PSR-500 and it was just as good as the first one I bought and also identical to the 106.

Now as for the 996XT, it seems far better then the 396T I had, much better then the 96/2096, but it's a hard comparison between the 106/500. The 996XT has great audio and a really loud speaker, I actually haven't heard any motorboating yet, so I would say that they are very similar in terms of performance. I choose the 996XT mainly because of the display, aesthetics, and that it was a brand new model (versus the 500 which has been out for a while).

I did not change any settings out of the box on the 996XT, I loaded up a few frequencies and it picked it up great!

DaveIN · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoff5093

I just picked up a 996XT and it does a great job with both digital and analog systems. A few frequencies are either very quiet or loud, but it's great that you can set the audio. I also noticed that the Federal Protective Services seems to be a bit off frequency, so I'll have to check it out.

Check your Mode setting, it's most likely in Auto, you may need an FM setting for those frequencies.

geoff5093 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveIN

Check your Mode setting, it's most likely in Auto, you may need an FM setting for those frequencies.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it!

NYRHKY94 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 07:43 PM

Thanks for the reply Geoff! That's exactly the type of comparison I was looking for. I've had a very similar experience as you, absent the 396. My Uniden 796D and 996T are nice scanners, but my PSR-600 & Pro-106 win hands down when it comes to digital decode (no tweaking necessary). I have been considering taking the plunge on the 996XT and your post is very helpful. Appreciate it!

geoff5093 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 11:10 AM

You're welcome! I've had more time to use it now, and with the GPS now connected it makes me like this scanner even more! No more switching banks or QK's when I drive from city to city, it switches automatically based on the radius I give each group. Although I had some issues getting it to work correctly, that might have been an issue with FreeSCAN. Digital and analog stations are coming in great, and I just tried out CC for the first time last night and picked up some signals that were new to me.

For programming, I was very used to using Win500, but after a little time I quickly became adjusted to programming the 996XT with FreeSCAN, and it has lots of nice features.

NYRHKY94 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 08:33 PM

Thanks again Geoff. Putting money away right now for a future purchase of a 996XT. "But"....if RS does that grand daddy of an F&F sale again this fall, I mgiht have to grab the Pro-197 instead. I was one of the lucky ones to get a new Pro-106 for $279 last year when they ran that super F&F deal :-)

geoff5093 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYRHKY94

Thanks again Geoff. Putting money away right now for a future purchase of a 996XT. "But"....if RS does that grand daddy of an F&F sale again this fall, I mgiht have to grab the Pro-197 instead. I was one of the lucky ones to get a new Pro-106 for $279 last year when they ran that super F&F deal :-)

I bought one as well, but sold it. If they do it again this year I will probably also pick up a 197 for monitoring at home.