BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Attention Uniden!

[kd7ckq]

I look at it like this. We in the scanning hobby. Only have one manufacture who is putting out new product year after year. I am old enough to remember when you could buy a Rengency, Relm, Sony and more recently GRECOM. The field just keeps getting smaller. We
Keep this Uniden Bashing up and we could loose it. Uniden just might say "Screw it, Ungrateful little #$%^!" and then we all lose.
I was really happy to see Whistler pick up the torch for GRECOM. But, they have been kind of stagnant. Sure they add a keyboard and slapped a model number on something. But, we want innovation. Plus we want it to be affordable.
I was at a time a Uniden junkie. Then a GRECOM junkie. Now my stable has even mix of GRECOM based scanners as Uniden. I tend to lean towards my GRECOM scanners. But, for features. Uniden wins.
Better stop here. I got to put on my flame suit. =)

 

[Isaac-1]

The new ones have a slightly different color backlight, some of the old ones had problems with the backllight diming over time, and with the real time clock battery dying. Mine was one that suffered from the real time clock battery problem, I sent it in under the free repair program and when it came back it also had the new backlight. The difference between the old and new backlight is so slight that if you look at the message thread on the topic you will find people complaining about both. Some people like the older blueish white backlight, some like the new more yellow backlight better. Personally I think the contrast was better with the blueish backlight and the new yellower one is probably easier on the eyes.

 

[sparklehorse]

The new ones have a slightly different color backlight, some of the old ones had problems with the backllight diming over time, and with the real time clock battery dying. Mine was one that suffered from the real time clock battery problem, I sent it in under the free repair program and when it came back it also had the new backlight. The difference between the old and new backlight is so slight that if you look at the message thread on the topic you will find people complaining about both. Some people like the older blueish white backlight, some like the new more yellow backlight better. Personally I think the contrast was better with the blueish backlight and the new yellower one is probably easier on the eyes.

What he said! I'm not sure the OP hasn't gotten at least one of the new 'fixed' 436 units. Maybe all have been. I definitely have one of the older units, with a bluish screen. It's not the amazing screen I'd like to have, but it's what I do have, and I like it well enough. The whole reason for the 'fixed' screens is to address the dimming over time problem, not necessarily to make them any easier to read.

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[Citywide173]

Why is everyone referring to the LEDs as a screen issue, it is a lighting issue. ALL of the x36s use the same screen (individually different between the 436 and 536) and there has never been a screen issue.

 

[N7JGN]

Why is everyone referring to the LEDs as a screen issue, it is a lighting issue. ALL of the x36s use the same screen (individually different between the 436 and 536) and there has never been a screen issue.

Hi..You are right, but I was referring to the lighting brightness and readability.. thanks for your clarification..
Thanks,
Doug

 

[N7JGN]

What he said! I'm not sure the OP hasn't gotten at least one of the new 'fixed' 436 units. Maybe all have been. I definitely have one of the older units, with a bluish screen. It's not the amazing screen I'd like to have, but it's what I do have, and I like it well enough. The whole reason for the 'fixed' screens is to address the dimming over time problem, not necessarily to make them any easier to read.

.[/QUOTE
You could be right Sparklehorse.. maybe I did get the fixed version and figured it was bad because of the Dim Lighting.. maybe that is just the way it's going to be.. I will order another and see.. but I do want the scanner and i will have to adapt and get some better glasses.....
Thanks,
Doug

 

[sparklehorse]

You could be right Sparklehorse.. maybe I did get the fixed version and figured it was bad because of the Dim Lighting.. maybe that is just the way it's going to be.. I will order another and see.. but I do want the scanner and i will have to adapt and get some better glasses.....
Thanks,
Doug

Did you try adjusting the contrast settings? I assume you tried the highest brightness setting? On my older, bluish unit I think the brightest setting is plenty bright. I actually run it at medium all the time, which conserves battery and will hopefully prevent the dimming issue. Medium is bright enough for me.

.

 

[N7JGN]

Did you try adjusting the contrast settings? I assume you tried the highest brightness setting? On my older, bluish unit I think the brightest setting is plenty bright. I actually run it at medium all the time, which conserves battery and will hopefully prevent the dimming issue. Medium is bright enough for me.

.

Hi.. Yes, I tried contrast settings etc.. at medium brightness it was very DIM.. on high brightness it was not good at all.. I had to move it around constantly to avoid any glare and it was not good .. period.. and I really do have new glasses.. LOL.. I just got bad units, or my expectations are way too high.. but, honestly.. they both were unacceptable in my and my wife's opinion.. all I asked her the first time was, how do you like the screen and she said, can you turn up the lite some?
Thanks,
Doug

 

[Voyager]

And there will always be those who hate product X and will trash it.

As for the display, most feedback I've read says the display is more readable. There are pics in some of the threads that you can judge for yourself. Just search for: BCD436 display.

 

[CapStar362]

i love how people who have ZERO idea what it takes to make the tools and machines to build these things think they can just throw a number out to trash a particular brand.

yeah, you need better understanding of prototype builds, R&D factors and engineering costs.

THEN once a product is finalized, building the machines and tools to automate mass production. QC Staff on that line, Licensing ( for certain products )

just wow, Uniden has made some wonderful products. i have not owned a Uniden product since many many years ago, but back in those days, it was a kick rear product. i could pick up KATL Tower from 30+ miles away using a uniden base station and a 15 foot antenna in my attic that my father installed for me.

So what if there are product flaws in today's world? what product is PERFECT ? last i checked, NOTHING nor any person is PERFECT in this world.

do some research next time before dropping crazy guesstimates on something you have zero knowledge in.

 

[darunimal]

I just wonder, where do these people live, that the ambient light, is so dim, they need the "backlight" on all the time. I haven't seen many Alaskans complaining about the dim light on the screen, must be people are comparing it to there Pro-668 they got for $50 (at the Radio Shacks that closed, my computer monitor isn't like that "flashlight" of a display), but then they are the same ones that are complaining about 2hr battery life on those. The font is L E G I B L E at any contrast from 1 -15, if you cant see it, its time to get Cataract surgery and maybe bifocals too or maybe just glasses if you can't read it in a car's cup holder (That would benefit everyone on the road).

 

[coolderb]

i love how people who have ZERO idea what it takes to make the tools and machines to build these things think they can just throw a number out to trash a particular brand.

yeah, you need better understanding of prototype builds, R&D factors and engineering costs.

THEN once a product is finalized, building the machines and tools to automate mass production. QC Staff on that line, Licensing ( for certain products )

just wow, Uniden has made some wonderful products. i have not owned a Uniden product since many many years ago, but back in those days, it was a kick rear product. i could pick up KATL Tower from 30+ miles away using a uniden base station and a 15 foot antenna in my attic that my father installed for me.

So what if there are product flaws in today's world? what product is PERFECT ? last i checked, NOTHING nor any person is PERFECT in this world.

do some research next time before dropping crazy guesstimates on something you have zero knowledge in.

Exactly! I started out as a teen with a 4 channel Radio Shack scanner (GRE). I loved that radio! I still have that same model on my shelf. I've had many different scanners since that one and comparing the features that are on the 536 to that early Patrolman is mind boggling. I never would have dreamed that I would one day be able to whip out my phone, listen to live traffic AND control my scanner from anywhere

Sure there were technical hurdles to overcome (on my end as well as on Uniden's end) but they certainly have pushed the envelope and done it for a long time.