I currently have a 996XT that was purchased several months ago, and I'm looking for another radio to use when portable and at home, so I'm looking at the 396XT. I was looking at the thread about the new HomePatrol and there was some talk about people waiting for the 396XT replacement to come out before making any decisions, so my question is, are they working on an updated 396 model scanner? Is there any talk about when it will be released? If it's only a few months away I can wait, since I'd rather not spend $500 on a scanner and have a new one come out shortly after.
New 396XT Replacement?
- Thread starter geoff5093
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If you mean my post in that thread, that was only wild guessing. I would presume that once this new technology in the Home Patrol is rolled out and proves functional, that a scanner for the "power user" (instead of the market that the Home Patrol is aimed at) will come out with that technology in it, and that scanner would certainly be the successor to the x96XT line IMO.
In my opinion you are safe with getting a 396XT.
Marshall KE4ZNR
Marshall KE4ZNR
AZScanner
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Why would there need to be an x96XT replacement based on the technology behind HomePatrol? Power users could (theoretically) install new firmware into the existing HP-1 that gives more access under the hood and HAVE their x96XT replacement.
It seems silly to spend time and money developing an entirely new hardware platform when all that's needed is an updated firmware that gives power users more access to things than the stock "joe public" version.
-AZ
Highpockets
Member
I for one hope that future scanners don't all come in a case like the new one, I'd like to see a replacement for the 996 in a little bigger case with a touch pad screen, and give you choices on what you want on each line of the display, have a choice to delete what is programmed in it when you purchase it and re-program it the way you want it using software and RR if you choose to do so, with a few new features that are available, memory card you can remove and replace for other programming, and if possible more types of systems to receive, etc.
Firmware for "power users", I like that idea AZ!
Maybe not, but a handheld version with GPS would be great.
Agreed - you can't stack them!
I for one like my stack of mobile scanners!
That depends on the clip arrangement for the HomePatrol chassis. You could make a tree :lol:
Scanners don't grow on trees my arse 
While it is true that firmware could be updated to enable features in the Home Patrol, vs coming out with a completely new piece of hardware, past practice has illustrated that it's not likely to happen unless a significant shift in thinking has taken place at Uniden.
AZScanner
Member
Speaking as someone who was pretty close to the software protocol design process behind the 780XLT and the 785/250D, believe me - a significant shift in thinking HAS occurred there since then. Back in those days, proposing a scanner you could update over the internet via firmware to add new features and such was a one way ticket to Work for Food land. We couldn't even convince them to put software in the box back then (and I was a very vocal advocate of that at the time, because it would have been MY software in the box if they had said yes.)
Side note: In retrospect, I'm glad it didn't happen. Creating scanner software was a huge pain in the butt, and supporting it was even more aggravating with all the different configurations of computers and comm ports people have - really strange stuff, like Comm 10 for a serial port, and some still running Windows 3.11, and all sorts of outright insanity. At one point I was so fed up that I just authorized refunds for anyone who couldn't get it to work because I literally spent hours and hours on the phone with very untechnical people who hadn't paid me all that much money and were now monopolizing nearly all of my free time - and some were even threatening to sue. SUE! Over a $30 scanner program! Unreal!
If Uniden had put our stuff in the box, I'd probably STILL BE getting phone calls about it. Ugh. Glad those days are over.
Anyway, trust me. Paul is lightyears ahead of previous product managers over there. The XT (and now the new HP) scanners are proof positive of that.
-AZ
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