Home Patrol YES OR NO?

[Jake68111]

Heres the deal. In the next few weeks, I will be in the market for a Home Patrol. Between various websites (Radio Reference, Home Patrol Website, ect.) I have read that there have been issues, haven't been issues, yada yada yada. I have read the reviews...........

If I pass up on the unit, I may have to wait a long time to get one. However if I choose to get one, I will be getting it in the next few weeks. I would call myself an "intermediate" when it comes to scanning. I've been using one since I was about 14, now I'm 30. I own the radios listed in my signature.

All reviews set aside, in my position, would you go ahead and get the unit? Yes or no?

I don't know why I'm so torn on this. Maybe somewhere in my mind, I'm thinking that there will be something better coming out soon. On the other hand, Uniden can possibly do extraordinary things with the unit as far as the capabilities of the updates and such.........

Ughhhhhhh....... I'm at war with myself! Please help! LOL

 

[rdale]

If you travel a lot - YES. If you are a complete novice at scanning - YES.

If not, I'd never say NO to it, but look at the features and see if it does what you want.

 

[KWs]

HP .. YES, YES, YES.

As long as you have other scanners to scan in "Search" mode to find new TGs for new systems .. you will be VERY happy with the HP.

I have 396, 996 and 2 older Unidens in the house .. the HP is the best.

Order ARC Patrol when you get your HP ... then you can do so much more with your HP.

 

[rugercpl]

I love mine and I don't travel with it. It works great. I'm within 15 miles of two ski mountains, plowers, police, everything. I'm lucky enough to live at about 2200 feet in elevation and get kickbutt reception for 50 miles around me

 

[ka9rxk]

If you are going to get it for mobile use, definitely get a GPS antenna for it.

I have owned many different scanners over the years, and have always tried to set up banks to turn on and off as I travel. My focus was always on monitoring the area that I was driving through. Now with the Home Patrol and GPS, the scanner does all the work.

I also recommend getting the ARC software so that you can customize your favorites the way that you want them.

-Don KA9RXK

 

[scannerfreak]

Lets make it a poll

You may want to check this out as well:

http://forums.radioreference.com/gre-scanners/200314-gre-psr-800-pre-release-thread.html

 

[rocket1956]

Heres the deal. In the next few weeks, I will be in the market for a Home Patrol. Between various websites (Radio Reference, Home Patrol Website, ect.) I have read that there have been issues, haven't been issues, yada yada yada. I have read the reviews...........

If I pass up on the unit, I may have to wait a long time to get one. However if I choose to get one, I will be getting it in the next few weeks. I would call myself an "intermediate" when it comes to scanning. I've been using one since I was about 14, now I'm 30. I own the radios listed in my signature.

All reviews set aside, in my position, would you go ahead and get the unit? Yes or no?

I don't know why I'm so torn on this. Maybe somewhere in my mind, I'm thinking that there will be something better coming out soon. On the other hand, Uniden can possibly do extraordinary things with the unit as far as the capabilities of the updates and such.........

Ughhhhhhh....... I'm at war with myself! Please help! LOL

I went through the same thing last month. After going to my local Radio Shop and saw the HP in action. I had also been looking at the BCD996XT which are priced about the same but after reading about both I went with the BCD996XT. It seemed to me they wanted a lot for the HP and I did Not feel it was worth it.

 

[rwier]

Lets make it a poll
................................................................................

I suspect that most (means more than half) of the detractors to the HP-1 are "expert/advanced" scanner users who have never handled an HP-1. Instead, I suspect they get their expert views from reading other forums' "expert/advanced" scanner users who are getting their info from other forums' "expert/advanced" scanner users who are getting their info from .............and on and on, ad infinitum, chasing the tail of no real knowledge, so to speak.

If, by using purchase records of Uniden, ScannerMaster, and others, you limit the poll to purchasers of 30 days extant, I bet the 4 and 5 star ratings together would approach 95%.

Can't prove any of the above, just a strange feeling I have.

Rob

 

[captncarp]

Home patrol yes or no.

Tried the HP-1 off and on for a month........have taken it out-of-service and put it back in it's box. Just not my cup of tea.

But having said that I also tried the GRE PSE-700 and that is out-of-service also.

I just felt I was spending too much time locking out the things I do not want to listen to. Neither one impressed me with there sensitivity compared to my Pro-96, PSR-300.

I guess I am just old fashion.

 

[rwier]

Tried the HP-1 off and on for a month........have taken it out-of-service and put it back in it's box. Just not my cup of tea.

But having said that I also tried the GRE PSE-700 and that is out-of-service also.

I just felt I was spending too much time locking out the things I do not want to listen to. Neither one impressed me with there sensitivity compared to my Pro-96, PSR-300.

I guess I am just old fashion.

Aye Aye Capt'n!

Time factors, yes, I didn't consider that. I am retired and have already spent many very comfortable hours locking out (called "avoiding", with the HP-1) while setting comfortably at the computer indoors. 98% of those "avoids" are systems, departments, and channels, of various agencies, located out of my area, and mostly out of my state.

Now if you meant spending a lot of time "avoiding" while actually trying to listen, the time spent should not exceed that needed to similarly Hold, LO, Pause, Scan, etc., using several other well known competitor scanners. I have set up about a dozen favorite lists just for a 50 mile radius circle centered on my house.

Changing fav lists require just a few taps on the screen, so even with no GPS hooked up, serious channel control can be setup pre-cruise.

I expect and desire, if I should live long enough, to travel to areas that I have never been to, all the while scanning ONLY the channels/frequencies that I am interested in for THAT particular area. And I expect to drive continuously through those areas and not have a need to touch the scanner.

I agree that the above goal will necessitate many hours of pre-trip scanner preparation. However, I cannot foresee achieving the same result using a different scanner with anywhere near the ease as with the HP-1.

I tried with my 996t, but it was far too frustrating (mental handicap on my part). Too much dancing from a mapping program (City names, Lat/Long, and radius sizes) to scanner programming software, bad user manuals, etc., I just gave up.

For me, with what amounts to unlimited time to waste, the HP-1 has thrown me a big pile of scanner fun that I never expected. For me, the primary improvement comes while monitoring the Maricopa County, AZ, P-25 digital simulcast system. For the first time since analogue, I am hearing 20-30 second complete PD transmissions without signal break-up.

OK, I agree, it's not for everyone, but it sure hit my sweet spot!

Rob

 

[eaf1956]

Agree

If you travel a lot - YES. If you are a complete novice at scanning - YES.

If not, I'd never say NO to it, but look at the features and see if it does what you want.

I agree with rdale, if you travel extensively in many areas then get the HP-1 with a GPS. I tried it it wasn't for me, but then I rarely travel outside the local area. And in the area I do travel I have my 996XT all set up to work with GPS.

 

[MarMatthias]

I suspect that most (means more than half) of the detractors to the HP-1 are "expert/advanced" scanner users who have never handled an HP-1.

I am a complete novice in the area and still prefer the 396XT over the HP-1.

First, to me the HP-1 defeats the entire purpose of being a hobbyist. You can go to the store, buy a model car already built, you can't call yourself a "model car" hobbyist. I am all in favor of not having to build the radio from scratch, but at least I put a little effort into my expensive hobby.

Second, I see the HP-1 as an overpriced version of getting a cell phone app and connecting to an RR stream. The later would certainly be cheaper and has less work involved.

Third, I suspect the HP-1 will have the same flaws as the PDAs with the touch screens...

In another thread, someone said something like this, if you want a radio, the HP-1 isn't it.

 

[Xray]

Sure, why not ?
What are you waiting for, the HP-2 ?
If I went by taking negative reviews as binding, I never would have signed up with Sprint [been a happy customer for 12 years] never would have signed up with Comcast [been signed up for well over that], never would use ebay or paypal, never would have got a Dodge Ram.
The list goes on - This radio can't possibly please everyone.
I got one last week, it works as advertised, I like it.
It has its high points, and low. I think some of its low points will be rectified with software revisions, others will have to wait to the HP-2.
A bit pricey perhaps, all of the top of the line scanners have always been.
I paid around $500 for my then top of the line AOR1000 handheld almost 20 years ago ,,, Never regretted that.
I say, why wait weeks, get it NOW !

 

[rwier]

Sure, why not ?
..............................................................
A bit pricey perhaps, all of the top of the line scanners have always been.
I paid around $500 for my then top of the line AOR1000 handheld almost 20 years ago ,,, Never regretted that.
I say, why wait weeks, get it NOW !

Yep, I look at it this way:

Some folks I know spend $300/month on cigarettes, others spend more than that drinking in bars. I figure that avoiding both like the plague gives me about $600/month to buy/try/play with just about any radios (or other toys) that I want.

 

[Jake68111]

Lets make it a poll

You may want to check this out as well:

http://forums.radioreference.com/gre-scanners/200314-gre-psr-800-pre-release-thread.html

Well this is just great! Scannerfreak! Why? Why do you do this? LOL If it wasn't bad enough!

No release date on this yet? Just sometime in the first quarter?

This would probably be more of what I would want........

HP-1? PSR-800? Both?

My "war" has just gotten more intense! What next? LOL

To all who have responded so far, I thank you. The feed back is clearing things up for my difficult decision!

Jake

 

[Sundog33]

I feel your pain...

I feel the same pain. I would love to get a Homepatrol in a BCD396XT body.

That is the main thing that is holding me back. The case is awkward doesn't everyone agree?


Also I have a question here.
I am just finally upgrading from a RS PRO-94 as I hardly get anything from my own neighborhood anymore.
But when I look up the PD Frequency for my town it says:

CINNAMINSON, TOWNSHIP OF
900 MANOR ROAD
CINNAMINSON, NJ 08077-2336
Attn: CINNAMINSON TOWNSHIP POLICE
E-Mail: RMARTENS@CINNAMINSONPOLICE.ORG
5855.00000

5855.00000? What kind of frequency is that? Looks like its off the charts??

 

[scannerfreak]

Well this is just great! Scannerfreak! Why? Why do you do this? LOL If it wasn't bad enough!

Hehe, just trying to give you options and make sure you were informed

 

[blantonl]

I feel the same pain. I would love to get a Homepatrol in a BCD396XT body.

That is the main thing that is holding me back. The case is awkward doesn't everyone agree?


Also I have a question here.
I am just finally upgrading from a RS PRO-94 as I hardly get anything from my own neighborhood anymore.
But when I look up the PD Frequency for my town it says:

CINNAMINSON, TOWNSHIP OF
900 MANOR ROAD
CINNAMINSON, NJ 08077-2336
Attn: CINNAMINSON TOWNSHIP POLICE
E-Mail: RMARTENS@CINNAMINSONPOLICE.ORG
5855.00000

5855.00000? What kind of frequency is that? Looks like its off the charts??

Radar Gun.

 

[scannerman5555]

go buy the BC 346 XT or the BC 15 XT it's just as good as the home patrol !

 

[recon20]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it was built like a traditional handheld and cost $100 less than it does.

Other than that, it seems perfect for someone who travels a lot or for those who don't want to be bothered with the time involved or complications of programming.