436HP vs 325P2

[ArkTex]

Heya folks,

I'm in the market for another scanner to finally get around to having a pure "fire" scanner.

I'm looking between the 325P2 and the 436HP. I already have an SDS100.

My only question is, in 2023, which would y'all recommend? I can find 325P2's for around 250 to 300 used, and 436's for 400 up. I am getting this to replace my 796D, which is finally starting to show its age.

My main systems I want to continue to monitor are Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State , PAWMCo P25 Trunking System, Plano/Allen/Collin County, Texas, Frisco Trunking System, Frisco, Texas , North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN) Trunking System, Various, Texas and North Carolina VIPER Trunking System, Varies, Multi-State .

I understand that the 325 needs to be programmed for each time that I'll switch states, and the 436 has the same working concept as the SDS100.

I'll mainly be in Arkansas. The BC796D holds it's own with little to no issues on a supposedly "simulcast" site, so I'm not worried about simulcast issues.

Thanks.

 

[Bob1955]

Heya folks,

I'm in the market for another scanner to finally get around to having a pure "fire" scanner.

I'm looking between the 325P2 and the 436HP. I already have an SDS100.

My only question is, in 2023, which would y'all recommend? I can find 325P2's for around 250 to 300 used, and 436's for 400 up. I am getting this to replace my 796D, which is finally starting to show its age.

My main systems I want to continue to monitor are Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State , PAWMCo P25 Trunking System, Plano/Allen/Collin County, Texas, Frisco Trunking System, Frisco, Texas , North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN) Trunking System, Various, Texas and North Carolina VIPER Trunking System, Varies, Multi-State .

I understand that the 325 needs to be programmed for each time that I'll switch states, and the 436 has the same working concept as the SDS100.

I'll mainly be in Arkansas. The BC796D holds it's own with little to no issues on a supposedly "simulcast" site, so I'm not worried about simulcast issues.

Thanks.

Arktex-Go with the Bearcat BCD325P2 as it has great reliability.
Happy Father's Day.

 

[ArkTex]

Arktex-Go with the Bearcat BCD325P2 as it has great reliability.
Happy Father's Day.

Thanks Bob. I appreciate the setiment. I'm guessing the 436's are still having the same issues all the x36's have been having for awhile?

 

[morrisr3nd]

This is available in Classifieds: Used BCD 436 with (2) antennas (short and 8") these are aftermarket. Desktop stand. New belt case, USB charger cable, owner's manual. Free shipping to lower 48.
$375.00 UNIDEN BCD436HP

 

[Bob1955]

Thanks Bob. I appreciate the setiment. I'm guessing the 436's are still having the same issues all the x36's have been having for awhile?

Yes! I had one here and the audio and sensitivity was horrible compared to the 325P2. It is a great handheld just like the base version BCD996P2 and LESS money too.

 

[ArkTex]

This is available in Classifieds: Used BCD 436 with (2) antennas (short and 8") these are aftermarket. Desktop stand. New belt case, USB charger cable, owner's manual. Free shipping to lower 48.
$375.00 UNIDEN BCD436HP

I found a 325P2 for 350 on Amazon. Is it worth the extra $50 (after shipping) to get the 436?

 

[morrisr3nd]

I have 4 436s and 1 325P2. You can find better deals if you look hard enough. I never paid over $300 for any of my 436s. Got most off of eBay.

 

[CommRX]

I have / had all radios all radios mentioned. My deciding factor would be do you think you would need the record / replay function on the 436. If the 325P2 had a replay function, it would be the ideal backup scanner to the SDS100, at roughly 60% the size of the 436. My only gripe would be I cannot directly dump the 100 programming to the 325, whereas you can do so with a 436. While the 436/536 may have internal battery/ clock concerns, the 325 has a lower quality silkscreen on the keypad. Does it affect function? Not after you learn the keys. Its all a matter of what your needs are and OCD level is.

 

[ArkTex]

I have 4 436s and 1 325P2. You can find better deals if you look hard enough. I never paid over $300 for any of my 436s. Got most off of eBay.

Would 308 for a 325p2 be worth it?

It seems like most are going for upwards of over $350 even used.

 

[ArkTex]

I have / had all radios all radios mentioned. My deciding factor would be do you think you would need the record / replay function on the 436. If the 325P2 had a replay function, it would be the ideal backup scanner to the SDS100, at roughly 60% the size of the 436. My only gripe would be I cannot directly dump the 100 programming to the 325, whereas you can do so with a 436. While the 436/536 may have internal battery/ clock concerns, the 325 has a lower quality silkscreen on the keypad. Does affect function? Not after you learn the keys. Its all a matter of what your needs are and OCD level is.

I don't need replay/record functionality. I record a couple TG's using my RSP1A and SDRTrunk hooked up to a PC if needed. I'm not really concerned about keypad quality since I'll just program it through a PC.

There also is a 436 on Amazon used that I could get, so I'm deciding between paying 304 plus tax for a 325 or 436.

 

[CommRX]

Sounds like a 325 would fit your needs then. Its a great little compact scanner.

 

[ArkTex]

Sounds like a 325 would fit your needs then. Its a great little compact scanner.

Yeah, that's what I've heard. I did look at the HomePatrol-II, and I did like the appeal of it, but I'm skeptical about the quality of the reciever.

 

[CommRX]

I've had both of those also. From my monitoring location, the 325 has better receive quality.

 

[ArkTex]

I've had both of those also. From my monitoring location, the 325 has better receive quality.

How's the audio on the 325? My experience's with the SDS100 have been mixed, the internal speaker on a $700 receiver shouldn't be this bad at higher volumes.

 

[CommRX]

I would love to hear others opinions, but IMHO, better. The 325 seems to have more bass and is less "tinny". I do not use it in a loud environment, so I cannot speak for that situation.

 

[ArkTex]

I would love to hear others opinions, but IMHO, better. The 325 seems to have more bass and is less "tinny". I do not use it in a loud environment, so I cannot speak for that situation.

My experience comes because I use an external speaker at my desk when I'm listening at home. The SDS100 cannot drive the speaker well at all.

Also, is $365 for a 325 with the DMR upgrade and ARC-XT Pro a good price?

 

[hiegtx]

I have / had all radios all radios mentioned. My deciding factor would be do you think you would need the record / replay function on the 436. If the 325P2 had a replay function, it would be the ideal backup scanner to the SDS100, at roughly 60% the size of the 436. My only gripe would be I cannot directly dump the 100 programming to the 325, whereas you can do so with a 436. While the 436/536 may have internal battery/ clock concerns, the 325 has a lower quality silkscreen on the keypad. Does it affect function? Not after you learn the keys. Its all a matter of what your needs are and OCD level is.

As you've noted, programming (Favorites lists) for SDS100 are interchangeable with the x36HP scanners. For that matter, if you export a Favorites list to an *.hpe file, you can in effect copy the exported lists from any of the x36HP, SDS series, as well as the HP-1/HP-2. A file from the HP-1 or HP-2 does not have the bells & whistles available in theX36HP or SDS series scanners, but the basic programming structure of Systems, Sites, and Departments are the same in all three families.

While you can't 'directly' dump an SDS series Favorites list into a 325P2 (or any of the other DMA scanners), ProScan lets you import the programming file, or Favorites list, for use in any of the DMA scanners (including the P2 series), and also lets you import programming files from the P@ or other DMA scanners, for use in the x36HP & SDS scanners.

 

[hiegtx]

My experience comes because I use an external speaker at my desk when I'm listening at home. The SDS100 cannot drive the speaker well at all.

Also, is $365 for a 325 with the DMR upgrade and ARC-XT Pro a good price?

Unless you already have ARC-XT Pro, you're better off with ProScan if you want logging and virtual control on the 325P2 or other DMA scanner. To get logging & control functions you'd have to go for the "Pro" version at about $70, instead of the basic @ about $40. ProScan, @ $50, supports logging & recording not only for the P2 scanners such as the 325P2, but also for the SDS & x36HP scanners, as well as older DMA scanners such as 396XT.

 

[ArkTex]

Unless you already have ARC-XT Pro, you're better off with ProScan if you want logging and virtual control on the 325P2 or other DMA scanner. To get logging & control functions you'd have to go for the "Pro" version at about $70, instead of the basic @ about $40. ProScan, @ $50, supports logging & recording not only for the P2 scanners such as the 325P2, but also for the SDS & x36HP scanners, as well as older DMA scanners such as 396XT.

There’s a 996P2 for 299, would that be a better option?

 

[CommRX]

While you can't 'directly' dump an SDS series Favorites list into a 325P2 (or any of the other DMA scanners), ProScan lets you import the programming file, or Favorites list, for use in any of the DMA scanners (including the P2 series), and also lets you import programming files from the P@ or other DMA scanners, for use in the x36HP & SDS scanners

I'm running both Butel and ProScan. My only issue really with that is I have to omit the 380-400 freqs the 325 cannot receive (yes, they are still active and not trunked) and best I remember, the 325 (or at least the 396XT) did not care for the large number of talkgroups I have for VIPER under one system, both of which the SDS can handle.

There’s a 996P2 for 299, would that be a better option?

Its has good audio, better buttons, and the same receive capabilities of the 325.