Announcing the BCD396XT and BC346XT Scanners

[khoelldobler]

slightly confused

The best scanner is the one you can use to monitor something. The 396XT is probably going to be an excellent piece of equipment, but the PSR-500 and the BCD396T are available now. If there are things you want/need to monitor now, then waiting for the next big thing will prevent you from ever monitoring them.

Im not really sure what you meant in your last sentence... almost sounds as if your saying that the 396XT is never coming, or that it doesnt receive what the current available models recieve right now. Ya might need to rephrase that. From gathered info on the 396XT that I have, I believe that I will wait for its arrival... I hope its soon. Some scanners available now would most likely suit all of my current needs, but I was hoping that this new rig would bring me into the next generation of scanning. If there is one. You dont think that the current top of the line scanners are maxed out in terms of capabilities, do you? I would like to see how high the newest scanners can go as far as limitations, and what they could possibly be programmed to. Take care,

 

[DaveNF2G]

Some scanners available now would most likely suit all of my current needs, but I was hoping that this new rig would bring me into the next generation of scanning.

That is precisely what I meant. If you keep waiting to buy until you are sure that you have the best possible scanner, then you will never buy a scanner at all.

 

[khoelldobler]

That is precisely what I meant. If you keep waiting to buy until you are sure that you have the best possible scanner, then you will never buy a scanner at all.

now I understand what you meant. Thanks for the clarification. Maybe I will go shopping today for a rig I can use now. I know what features I need, why put it off any longer.

 

[Chris-KH2PM]

I certainly wish it did resume scan when it detects a Encrypted transmission. This is a much needed update! Is UPMAN listening?

The State system in NC has encrypted and unencrypted transmissions on the same trunk group IDs and the BCD396T stays locked on the channel when receiving an encrypted channel. It's able to display it's encrypted, why can't it resume scan when it detects ENC ?

Try changing the " EDIT SYSTEM OPTIONS/SET STATUS BIT" to "YES". The Wake SO is running ENC on VIPER TalkGroup 32304 as I did some testing a few minutes ago. When I set the STATUS BIT to IGNORE, the scanner stops on that Encrypted TG. With it set to YES, it ignores the ENC TG. See if that works for you.

Regarding the new XT, I plan on getting one and keeping my 396T which I'm really happy with. It's been my main scanner when I fly out of town (airline pilot..stay overnight in many cities around the US). My PRO96 stays in my mobile and gets used once in awhile. Mainly because it's such a brick compared to the small 396T.

 

[Universaldecoder]

ooooh...396xt....gimmmeeee, gimmmeeee, gimmeeeee!

 

[Viper43]

lol, you have time to save your $$, or use your tax check.........

V

ooooh...396xt....gimmmeeee, gimmmeeee, gimmeeeee!

 

[KD4UXQ]

Try changing the " EDIT SYSTEM OPTIONS/SET STATUS BIT" to "YES". The Wake SO is running ENC on VIPER TalkGroup 32304 as I did some testing a few minutes ago. When I set the STATUS BIT to IGNORE, the scanner stops on that Encrypted TG. With it set to YES, it ignores the ENC TG. See if that works for you.

Regarding the new XT, I plan on getting one and keeping my 396T which I'm really happy with. It's been my main scanner when I fly out of town (airline pilot..stay overnight in many cities around the US). My PRO96 stays in my mobile and gets used once in awhile. Mainly because it's such a brick compared to the small 396T.

The problem is that I've heard VIPER maintenace use encryption on one side of the conversation and the other side was in the clear, so wouldn't that traffic have to be all on the same ID. The concern is agencies like the SBI could use encryption and clear traffic on the same ID. I haven't seen it yet, but on the VHF frequencies they often use DES and non encrypted on the same VHF repeaters often. The way around that has been to use the CTCSS decode on those channels. When they transmitted DES the CTCSS tone was not decoded and the scanner resumed scan.

But, I will certainly try setting the status bit to YES and see what happens.

Thanks for the suggestion! Still, the scanner should ignore anything encryted since it cannot decode it.

 

[yaesumofo]

I definitely think that these new units fall short when it comes to the GPS functions. GPS chipsets are so sensitive and inexpensive that they could both have a GPS receiver embedded into the radio. Why not? Hell it is a $500.00 radio don't say it is related to cost GPS is a cheap technology these days.

How many and which of the new features in these new radios will become available to the 396 and 346? I seem to remember a much publicized firmware system allowing for new and improved technologies for these radios ..for a price.

I was wondering why uniden chose not to create all new radios? Too easy to revamp current production? Wouldn't this form of product development reduce cost dramatically? Why not pass this cost savings on to the loyal Uniden customer?
Looks like this is all about making money for uniden (which I really have no problem with) BUT since the old radio is the base for the new radio shouldn't the cost reflect a LOWER price ? I think so.
Time will tell But this looks like a half baked .5 update to old hardware.
Serial? Who cares about compatibility? The companies who create the operating systems certainly do not. Why should the majority of users be held back by a few people who refuse to move into the 21st century?
Yaesu Mofo

 

[suttles1972]

My only comment about the new 396xt is spending $500.00 to a function that may only cost $100.00 to apply to the existing 396t. And I speak of the multi-site trunking. This is the scanner's greatest selling point to date, for trunking systems are growing to a capacity that multi-site trunking is near a bear necessity. But because I will result to shelling out another $500.00 in less than 1 year, for a feature that the 396t should share with it's base/mobile brother, the 996t, it's a bit, disturbing. Now don't confuse my comment as a gripe, for I'm saving my money now, just for this feature. However, one of the previous posters did state that this new release announcement is about money. And that, I strongly agree upon. It appears evident in the new features and the cost value of those new features. What you have here is just another "Joe The Plumber" (actual fireman, lol), trying to make it in a world that's in a financial mess. And all in the name of a hobby, I must sink or swim in order to survive it. And under the present economic circumstances, the survival rate is becoming bleak. Where I'm going here is, as features are added to hardware, it will always require purchasing new hardware to receive them. And under the present financial conditions, the hobby's survival rate will slowly diminish, unless we plan for future releases, by applying an additional nest egg to the existing household and automobile budget.
Before departing, I like to give kudos to all hobbyist who are staying strong and keeping the hobby alive. It is you that makes this board exist and keeping the interest of 2-way communication and scanning, priority one.
Happy Holidays
Signing off.

 

[bonus1331]

Oh the horror...the horror...
So much fun happening over at the Radio Shack camp this weekend with the sale and Friends and Family discount going on.
Early X-mas for the RS crowd, as I sit impatiently hoping I can avoid leaving the house and blowing my cash on a 106....
must resist temptation.

 

[RoninJoliet]

I am eagerly awaiting the 396XT, i already have a GRE500 (RS106 in disguise), it is a fantastic scanner but, i also have a Uniden 396 , i like the Uniden way of "SQK" and "GQK's" much better but im "stupid" with a computer and may be leaning more to GRE-RS because of Uniden's poor audio and digital sound, registration of a scanner that i find impossible to do (ok call me a idiot), there last five firmware downloads that did not work (so im still on 1.11.03) on my 396 which works very well on the ILL-Digital Starcom...Im a BIG Uniden fan but there every week firmware changing ways and registrations got me going in the RS store more often like the 50-60 other guys with there coupons on the other board...Thanks for listening....PS: Been in this hobby for over 40 years...

 

[jimg]

I am eagerly awaiting the 396XT, i already have a GRE500 (RS106 in disguise), it is a fantastic scanner but, i also have a Uniden 396 , i like the Uniden way of "SQK" and "GQK's" much better but im "stupid" with a computer and may be leaning more to GRE-RS because of Uniden's poor audio and digital sound, registration of a scanner that i find impossible to do (ok call me a idiot), there last five firmware downloads that did not work (so im still on 1.11.03) on my 396 which works very well on the ILL-Digital Starcom...Im a BIG Uniden fan but there every week firmware changing ways and registrations got me going in the RS store more often like the 50-60 other guys with there coupons on the other board...Thanks for listening....PS: Been in this hobby for over 40 years...

I too have the GRE 500 and 600, as well as the Uniden 996. I had a 396, but traded it in for the 500 simply because the 500 received digital much better than the 396, in my opinion, however, I liked the display and the size on the 396 better than the 500. So, I am hoping that the 396XLT will receive digital transmissions as well as the GRE 500 does. If it will, I plan to buy one. I also like the idea of being able to change the color of the display. Does anyone know when these will be available and what the price will be?

 

[KE4ZNR]

Does anyone know when these will be available and what the price will be?

From the very 1st post in this thread:

Both models are expected to be released in early 2009 at prices comparable to the models being replaced.

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[jimg]

Does anyone know if the improved 396 will receive as well, or even better than the GRE 500, on digital transmissions?

 

[TAS]

UPMan: sensitivity and selectivity question

Uniden has always been the leader when it comes to innovation by bringing firsts to the commercial scanner market. My first Uniden scanner was the BC760xlt back in '92. It was the first scanner to offer CTCSS (with the card). Then in '97 came the BC235xlt, the first to bring trunking to the market. It is this the type of innovation that has kept me coming back right up to my 396T. The only area I feel is in need of serious improvement is sensitivity and selectivity. Head to head the GRE PSR-500 is substantially more sensitive than the 396T. I would have them side by side on the same frequency with the same antenna and find that the GRE would be coming in relatively clear while the 396T would be static if anything at all (on weaker signals).

UPMan, has there been any effort to improve the sensitivity and selectivity on the new BCD396XT over the 396T? I would seriously appreciate if you could relay this suggestion to Uniden if they have not. I would certainly be happy to pay more for improved sensitivity and selectivity on my 396T or a future XT. It would essentially make it, for me, the perfect scanner. Over the years I have always felt that this was the main weakness in Uniden scanners.

I certainly like the NAC decode on the upcoming XT and especially like the TGID user differentiation (P25 One-Frequency Trunk). I look forward to the release of the XT. Thanks for your input.

TAS

 

[drdiesel1]

Wonder if a new table top/base unit of the BCD396XT is also on the way?

 

[rdale]

No, this announcement is for the 396XT / 346XT only.

 

[msradell]

No, this announcement is for the 396XT / 346XT only.

We know that! The poster was just wondering if it is possibly a 996XT (base version of the 396XT) might be coming out in the future.

 

[rdale]

Any announcement of that would be in a thread announcing that particular model... If you're trying to get UPMan to make an announcement before an announcement - it won't work

 

[thess416]

bluetooth

May I suggest a bluetooth transmitter?