I thought I would share my very positive experience as a brand new HP-1 owner.
I have been into scanning since the very old crystal/tunable thing that went between the car's (AM) radio and antenna (darn close to 50 years)! When I got my 396T and 996T they were somewhere around my twentieth units to own, so I have been in the thick of things as radio systems have advanced. I was one of Paul's beta testers as Uniden fine tuned the firmware for 396/996T units and P25.
I wasn't sure about what to get, a 396XT or the HP-1. The decision was made for me as I received the HP-1 as a gift. I have been extremely impressed with this radio. Its ease of operation, the reception range and the clarity of P25 decoding. {if it would only do Phase II, I would be in heaven!}.
I travelled from the southern edge of Montgomery Co. MD (near DC) to the northern fringe of MD, almost into PA, and covered 4 counties enjoying the spring weather this past weekend. I took the central zip code of the Northern County (Frederick) with me (but really didn't need it) and later, I manually programmed the GPS coordinates of part of the trip (and really didn't need to do that either). The unit sat on the console between the front seats using the factory antenna, and was able to receive trunked and conventional systems from 1 to 3 counties away! (40-60 miles) even in the hills and valleys of North Central MD. It was almost sensory overload for the amount of varied radio traffic it received (State, County and Local Police, Fire/EMS, Federal, Dept of Natural Resouces (-there was a multi-agency water rescue-) and I was hearing things I never usually programmed into my other scanners, but will probably add now.
The only things I can think of that might be negative are the multiple and repetative steps required, while driving, to "avoid" systems you don't want to hear, and not knowing exactly what some definitions of system types are in the database that might make it easier to avoid some of those systems. Also, the fact that there is not a vehicular mounting bracket included with a unit designed to be both desk top and portable, although a 12v power cord is included.
Over all, however, I am extremely impressed with this radio and give Uniden a big "thumbs up".
I should note that this is an unsolicited and unpaid endorsement, although if Paul wants to send me a 396XT to play with I wouldn't refuse it!!!
JK
I have been into scanning since the very old crystal/tunable thing that went between the car's (AM) radio and antenna (darn close to 50 years)! When I got my 396T and 996T they were somewhere around my twentieth units to own, so I have been in the thick of things as radio systems have advanced. I was one of Paul's beta testers as Uniden fine tuned the firmware for 396/996T units and P25.
I wasn't sure about what to get, a 396XT or the HP-1. The decision was made for me as I received the HP-1 as a gift. I have been extremely impressed with this radio. Its ease of operation, the reception range and the clarity of P25 decoding. {if it would only do Phase II, I would be in heaven!}.
I travelled from the southern edge of Montgomery Co. MD (near DC) to the northern fringe of MD, almost into PA, and covered 4 counties enjoying the spring weather this past weekend. I took the central zip code of the Northern County (Frederick) with me (but really didn't need it) and later, I manually programmed the GPS coordinates of part of the trip (and really didn't need to do that either). The unit sat on the console between the front seats using the factory antenna, and was able to receive trunked and conventional systems from 1 to 3 counties away! (40-60 miles) even in the hills and valleys of North Central MD. It was almost sensory overload for the amount of varied radio traffic it received (State, County and Local Police, Fire/EMS, Federal, Dept of Natural Resouces (-there was a multi-agency water rescue-) and I was hearing things I never usually programmed into my other scanners, but will probably add now.
The only things I can think of that might be negative are the multiple and repetative steps required, while driving, to "avoid" systems you don't want to hear, and not knowing exactly what some definitions of system types are in the database that might make it easier to avoid some of those systems. Also, the fact that there is not a vehicular mounting bracket included with a unit designed to be both desk top and portable, although a 12v power cord is included.
Over all, however, I am extremely impressed with this radio and give Uniden a big "thumbs up".
I should note that this is an unsolicited and unpaid endorsement, although if Paul wants to send me a 396XT to play with I wouldn't refuse it!!!
JK
Last edited: