Looking for new scanner: small, portable, rechargeable

[jonnyrocket]

I currently have a Pro-164. I'm looking to see if there is something small(er), with the option to be rechargeable.

I've been toting around a Baofeng UV-5R to monitor some ham bands and for possible emergency use. It got the hamster in my head running: is there a scanner on the market yet that is roughly this size? Would be MUCH nicer for portability reasons. Bonus points if it is rechargeable.

Thanks.

[kc0wkp]

One question you might want to ask is, Are you going to need Digital either now or in the future?

The Uniden Portable Scanner line is probably what you are looking for. They are small compared to the Radio Shack scanners.
Uniden Bearcat BCD396XT Police Scanner Radio
Uniden Bearcat BC346XT Police Scanner Radio

If you don't need trunking, there are also the Alinco, Icom, and Yaesu receivers, but then you may as well just get a Ham Radio.
Communication Receivers

Hope this helps

[trsundstrom]

Wirelessly posted (Moto Droid Bionic: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.0.4; en-us; DROID BIONIC Build/6.7.2-223_DBN_M4-23) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)

The PSR-500/PRO-106 would fit your wants if digital is needed. I use 2400 mah rechargeable batteries in mine. HTH.

[MisterK33]

I use the same batteries in my 500. Make the rechargeable battery requirement the last criteria for you, since you can just pick those up for the radio at some later point (but sooner=better)

[Wyandotte]

I sometimes ponder how many portable scanners a manufacturer could sell if they made it look as close as possible to an actual two way, complete with a big lapel mike. I sometimes think they are missing the boat by not making a radio, even if it cost more, that the whackers would drool over, and want to profile with.

[jonnyrocket]

I'd like digital, I don't have a budget for one yet.

I've actually thought about going with a 2way that can handle some of the common bands, but they aren't really optimized for scanning. The baofeng woudl work in that aspect, but it's REALLY slow.

I'll look at the bearcats. Thanks.

[kc0wkp]

Originally Posted by trsundstrom

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The PSR-500/PRO-106 would fit your wants if digital is needed. I use 2400 mah rechargeable batteries in mine. HTH.

I do like the PSR-500/PRO-106, and i have a couple, but those radios are not going to be any smaller then the PRO-164 you already have. If want to have a smaller scanner.

[vagrant]

Here's a quick comparison.

1 Alinco DJ-X7T (2.4 x 4 x 0.7 inches 3.7 oz)

2 Icom IC-R6 (2.3 x 3.4 x 1.2 inches 7.1 oz)

3 Alinco DJ-X11T (2.4 x 4.17 x 1.5 inches 8.3 oz)

4 RS Pro-164 (2.55 x 6.3 x 1.77 inches 9.6 oz)

[jonnyrocket]

Oh I like the ICOM! Thanks for the help!

[jonnyrocket]

So I plan on using this scanner in my 'EDC': every day carry. I plan on mostly using it for my substantial commute. One of the key uses would be public services. As it turns out, my state police are on a Type II system. That rules out the ICOM, as much as I like the form factor.
I'm considering a bearcat BC346XT. Decent solution?

[jonnyrocket]

Well, I guess I'll find out. Just ordered the uniden. Will report back with my findings.

[UPMan]

I like that solution.

[jonnyrocket]

I think I screwed up. My state police are digital.

Is the Uniden still a better choice over the icom?

[UPMan]

iCOM cannot do digital trunking, so I'd say yes.

[jonnyrocket]

The uniden I got can't do digital either. It's basically a conventional scanner.

Since I don't have much in the way of analog trunk systems, is there really much of a difference, functionally speaking, between the iCom r6 and Uniden 346XT?

I'd imagine the Uniden would be a better scanner, but I'd be sacrificing size over the iCom, which is pretty important since I plan to have it with me quite often.

I'll grab a digital one down the line, when funds allow.

[Ronaldski]

396XT its on sale till the 9th for 399.99 at radio shack - Lowest cost even compared to online including tax!
Most likely you would use the ship to store as most stores don't yet carry them yet in stores.
Pay for it then a couple days later go back to pick it up.
Link for the radio Uniden BCD396XT Compact APCO 25 Handheld Scanner : Scanners | RadioShack.com

[Jakemcgraw]

Just an opinion,but i think you will like the bc346xt,,,I owned one a couple years back, and i must say it even recieved a little better than my psr-300 i had at the time and the gre was a very good scanner. I only had mine a few months and sold it due to our area, finally going digital. The form factor and build quality is very nice on the bc346xt as well as the audio quality and receiving.

[jonnyrocket]

Originally Posted by Ronaldski

396XT its on sale till the 9th for 399.99 at radio shack - Lowest cost even compared to online including tax!
Most likely you would use the ship to store as most stores don't yet carry them yet in stores.
Pay for it then a couple days later go back to pick it up.
Link for the radio Uniden BCD396XT Compact APCO 25 Handheld Scanner : Scanners | RadioShack.com

I'd love to, but it's double the price, even on sale. Just out of reach for the moment.

I'll give the 346xt a run, and see how I like it.

I'm really in love with the size of the iCom r6, I have to say.

[troshs]

Yeah, its tougher when you have to monitor digital. I'm lucky enough to still be in an area where they are using conventional systems. I want a 996XT base unit but I will save that food for when I have to chew it. Maybe by then that scanner will drop in price.
The 346xt I think is the one that I wanted to get my dad for Christmas. Let us know what you think