396t vs. 396XT debate

[kb9hgi]

I'm glad this will give you guys something to complain about and give me
something to read.

 

[foxtrotyankee]

LOL thats what i was thinking. Its the same damn radio plus a couple of useless new features and sure to have bugs.

 

[KE4ZNR]

LOL thats what i was thinking. Its the same damn radio plus a couple of useless new features and sure to have bugs.

LOL no it isn't the "same damn radio"...the BCD396xt is a totally different radio than the 396t....might want to read up on it in the Wiki and see the mile long list of things that make it different than the 396t...and the new features are far from "useless"....you might think that features like Multi-Site Trunking, Fire Tone Decode, NAC decode, CC channel data output, EDACS ESK, and other features are "useless" but you would be in the minority...most radio geeks are looking forward to having these new features...and as far as bugs: both the 346xt & 396xt have been in beta testing for months so I doubt people will find many bugs...but if you want to sit on the sidelines while others enjoy having a scanner filled with "useless" features than be my guest

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[bonus1331]

I'm glad this will give you guys something to complain about and give me
something to read.

Hey, we'll be monitoring while some of the GRE folks change their filters and alernate their attenuator to handle the overload.

Seriously, I picked up the 396 when it first came out as well.
Other than not having the UASD ready at time of release (sound familiar?) there were no bugs found in that radio.
Yes, we did have the key print problem, but Uniden fixed at no cost..

My opinion is that there were enough new features that it made sense for me to sell the 396 and take a $100 hit to get the new radio.

 

[nova1010]

LOL thats what i was thinking. Its the same damn radio plus a couple of useless new features and sure to have bugs.

If its the same radio would the bugs not be worked out?

 

[KE4ZNR]

If its the same radio would the bugs not be worked out?

Good point Nova but the XT is a different unit with added features...but I think you can rest assured that the beta testers went through and took care of as many issues as humanly possible so that the end user would have the great unit they paid for...
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[foxtrotyankee]

LOL no it isn't the "same damn radio"...the BCD396xt is a totally different radio than the 396t....might want to read up on it in the Wiki and see the mile long list of things that make it different than the 396t...and the new features are far from "useless"....you might think that features like Multi-Site Trunking, Fire Tone Decode, NAC decode, CC channel data output, EDACS ESK, and other features are "useless" but you would be in the minority...most radio geeks are looking forward to having these new features...and as far as bugs: both the 346xt & 396xt have been in beta testing for months so I doubt people will find many bugs...but if you want to sit on the sidelines while others enjoy having a scanner filled with "useless" features than be my guest

Marshall KE4ZNR

Oh yeah i got those features with GRE 2 yrs ago. if you put lipstick on a pig its still a pig. Dont get me wrong i still like uniden i own 2 396`s and 996 along with my PSR`s. I just didnt see paying the extra cash for the same looking radio and features i already had from another scanner. But hey if you are a first time buyer buy it. LOL i`m sure i`ll end up buying one also before all is said and done.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Oh yeah i got those features with GRE 2 yrs ago. if you put lipstick on a pig its still a pig. Dont get me wrong i still like uniden i own 2 396`s and 996 along with my PSR`s. I just didnt see paying the extra cash for the same looking radio and features i already had from another scanner. But hey if you are a first time buyer buy it. LOL i`m sure i`ll end up buying one also before all is said and done.

Interesting considering that GRE has NEVER had Fire Tone Out Decode (the 346/396xt is the first scanner to offer that feature)...Oh and NAC decoding was not around either "2 years ago"....along with EDACS ESK support which was not available "2 years ago"...and funny: I don't remember seeing IF exchange on ANY models of scanners 2 years ago...
So before you post comments in the future you might want to check the accuracy of your statements...Hey, you have ONE thing right: the 396xt looks kind of similar to the 396t but that is where the similarities end...and again: the features I list above you did not (and have never had) have with your GRE's...and I wouldn't exactly call myself a "first time buyer" my friend And sooner or later you will get tired of that GRE (that mysteriously had features 2 years ago that no other scanner had before the 346xt/396xt) and will want to upgrade to the xt.

Again your biggest problem above is assuming that the 396xt is the same as the 396t and I can promise you it is far from the same rig...it is many times better!

Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[Highpockets]

Good point Nova but the XT is a different unit with added features...but I think you can rest assured that the beta testers went through and took care of as many issues as humanly possible so that the end user would have the great unit they paid for...
Marshall KE4ZNR

Just wondering, you say they are two different units, have you had both units open next to each other or maybe it's the same unit with a CPU or firmware change just to add the additions? And I would expect any new scanner to go through beta testing by any company to correct any issues before releasing it to the public, and if issues do come up, how fast the company comes out with a fix or updates is very important.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Just wondering, you say they are two different units, have you had both units open next to each other or maybe it's the same unit with a CPU or firmware change just to add the additions? And I would expect any new scanner to go through beta testing by any company to correct any issues before releasing it to the public, and if issues do come up, how fast the company comes out with a fix or updates is very important.

Well, If you are asking if I have opened up one of both units and inspected each capacitor and resistor looking to see what the differences are between the 2 units that way then nope...I have not...but I have put a 396t head to head with the 396xt and I can tell you that although the xt looks alot like the 396t there are enough differences to warrant the statement that the xt is NOT a 396t with a "couple of minor extra features"...
Now, those that have used a 396t will feel at home with the XT but the added features bumps it up to a whole new level.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[K7CB]

Hey, you have ONE thing right: the 396xt looks kind of similar to the 396t but that is where the similarities end...and again: the features I list above you did not (and have never had) have with your GRE's
Marshall KE4ZNR

For that matter, I haven't seen a lot of differences between the various models of GRE scanners over the past couple of years.

 

[foxtrotyankee]

Interesting considering that GRE has NEVER had Fire Tone Out Decode (the 346/396xt is the first scanner to offer that feature)...Oh and NAC decoding was not around either "2 years ago"....along with EDACS ESK support which was not available "2 years ago"...and funny: I don't remember seeing IF exchange on ANY models of scanners 2 years ago...
So before you post comments in the future you might want to check the accuracy of your statements...Hey, you have ONE thing right: the 396xt looks kind of similar to the 396t but that is where the similarities end...and again: the features I list above you did not (and have never had) have with your GRE's...and I wouldn't exactly call myself a "first time buyer" my friend And sooner or later you will get tired of that GRE (that mysteriously had features 2 years ago that no other scanner had before the 346xt/396xt) and will want to upgrade to the xt.

Again your biggest problem above is assuming that the 396xt is the same as the 396t and I can promise you it is far from the same rig...it is many times better!

Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

Oops sorry i dont live out in sticks, moderen FD`s dont use tone outs , they use alphanumeric digital paging, ESK no use for it in Florida. Hell the 396 had tone out so for extra 500 bucks you get IF and ESK , cool whatever floats your boat. Did Uniden forget about radio id`s?

 

[KE4ZNR]

my post below says it all

 

[scannersnstuff]

i do seem to remember that palm beach county fire rescue use's 2 tone sequential on a uhf frequency to page out their station's <?>. i think pbc is still in florida .LOL.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Oops sorry i dont live out in sticks, moderen FD`s dont use tone outs , they use alphanumeric digital paging, ESK no use for it in Florida. Hell the 396 had tone out so for extra 500 bucks you get IF and ESK , cool whatever floats your boat. Did Uniden forget about radio id`s?

LOL..oh where, oh where to begin?

1) You got me: Central NC is considered "The Sticks"...I mean what do we have here except UNC, Duke, NC State, 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes, Billions of dollar$ in companies that are part of Research Triangle Park, etc? I mean that is not considered the sticks I don't know what is!

2) Darn those "Moderen" (I guess you meant Modern?) FDs & EMS Units that actually use Tone Outs AND alpha paging such as EVERY METRO FD IN NC? Or most FDs these days? Yep, everyone quit Tones loooong time ago and just get dispatched via alpha paging only...that means Moto Moto can quit making Minitors, right?

3) Nope, No one in Florida using ESK...No one at all...oh, except for that pesky little SLERS...but no one uses that right?

4) RIDs? Sure that might be nice but I will take all of the added features in the XT's over unreliable RID reception on the GRE's any day of the week...

So, you win...I was totally off base and you were 100% correct in your statements...gee golly I am so glad I learned something new today

Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[ILMRadioMan]

I am no scanner guy, I just grabbed a RS 2056 as my first scanner.

However, I am a radio guy, and can say very comfortably that there are many major metro areas across the country that still use tones.

 

[foxtrotyankee]

SLERS you cant monitor its provoice , not even the same ball park as ESK. Well in florida the only FD`s that use tones are podunk Vol FD`s in the sticks. Why would you tie up the almighty 396xt waiting on a fire tone out? Wouldnt you want to use the scanner for its full capabilites. Geez guys if you want to monitor a fire tone buy a mintor programed with the tones you want. Then you can actually use the scan option on the scanner.

 

[foxtrotyankee]

Dont get me wrong like i said i`ll be buying one. Uniden and GRE both have options that are great and both have options that are completely useless. Thats why i own both. Just for example when it comes to the PSR-500 i can stand in my yard and pick up trunking systems clear as day from about 20 miles away,with the same antenna i try the same with the 396 , well i`m sure you know not a chance. On the other hand the 396 is a more sturdy better made radio in my eyes. I`ll say this if i could get the same reception on the 396t as my PSR , i would most likely not even buy GRE anymore. Then again maybe i would for the useless blinking led light.

 

[rdale]

Why would you tie up the almighty 396xt waiting on a fire tone out?

Because at night I don't want to be bothered with ambulance calls, I turn on FTO only.

 

[scannersnstuff]

hey foxtrotyankme, this may come as a surprise to you.some of us own more than 1 scanner or radio.we can tie 1 up doing fto only.