Bashing Uniden

[nr2d]

My Uniden 780xlt STILL performs top notch since the year I bought it new before 2008 or so. Haven't even had issues with the display yet. Ok... back to the bloodbath . 73, n9zas

I have a 780XLT sitting next to me here at work and it works great for what I need it for, aircraft, analog FM trunking and APCO P25 Phase I.

 

[KevinC]

I have a 780XLT sitting next to me here at work and it works great for what I need it for, aircraft, analog FM trunking and APCO P25 Phase I.

How did you get that 780 to work on P25?

 

[nr2d]

haha, it is indeed _not_ necessary to purchase a professional radio to reliably receive P25 Phase II/TDMA.

Nonetheless it's quite fascinating you should mention it...


73

Max

The only reason I mentioned it because I have mentioned in another area here on RR about sometimes having a problem, very rarely though, receiving 1 or 2 Phase II transmissions on my local fire/EMS system. I received a comment that the only way to to receive Phase II transmissions 100% all of the time is to use a professional radio. I'm not sure if the commentor is in the Public Safety business or just a listener. "Are you listening on a scanner or a commercial grade radio? There is a big difference between the two." "Came in perfectly on my APX7000. It sure beats the hell out of any scanner that I've tried on that system. It cost me $3,000, but was well worth it with everyone planning to go 700/800 phase 2..." are 2 other quotes from a different commentor. These are all related to a P 25 Phase II system.

I would say the reliability of receiving Phase II transmissions on my BCD536HP is about 99%. 9 times out of 10 if I have a problem receiving a transmissions the other receiving station, dispatchers or field units, report the same problem.

 

[frazpo]

I have a 780XLT sitting next to me here at work and it works great for what I need it for, aircraft, analog FM trunking and APCO P25 Phase I.

My 890XLT I got new for Christmas in the mid 90's is still the best scanner I have owned. Wish they made more with the large dial like this one has. Great for analog and aircraft monitoring. Glad I never sold it.
Very easy to tap for decoding software also.

 

[gewecke]

How did you get that 780 to work on P25?

. Wow, I'd like to know that myself, since the 780xlt is a Analog scanner and NOT a P25 capable scanner? 73, n9zas

 

[phask]

. Wow, I'd like to know that myself, since the 780xlt is a Analog scanner and NOT a P25 capable scanner? 73, n9zas

Not
BC780XLT

According to the WIKI - plus I have one


500 Channels/10 Preprogrammed Service Searches/2 Line Alpha Display/TrunkTracker III/S.A.M.E. Weather Alert


Contents

[hide]

• 1 General Specifications
  • 1.1 Features
  • 1.2 RR System Compatibility
  • 1.3 Power Requirements
• 2 Owner's Manual
• 3 Modifications
• 4 Reviews and User Opinions
• 5 Related Pages
• 6 Supporting Software
• 7 Mailing lists and web forums
• 8 eBay Listings

General Specifications

Features

• Can be updated to support Rebanding? NO
• Coverage:
  • 25-512 MHz
  • 806-956 MHz
  • 1240-1300 MHz
• TrunkTracker III

This scanner is compatible with the following Trunking System Types and System Voices used in the RadioReference Database, of course you must verify that the scanner will cover the appropriate frequency range:

• System Types:
  • Motorola Type I
  • Motorola Type II
  • Motorola Type IIi Hybrid
  • Motorola Type II Smartnet
  • Motorola Type II Smartzone
  • Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink
  • EDACS Standard (Wide)
  • EDACS Standard Networked
  • EDACS Narrowband (Narrow)
  • EDACS Narrowband Networked
  • LTR Standard

 

[N8IAA]

Could it be a 796?? The 780 does not do P-25 in any shape or form. Used to have a 780, best analog aircraft receiver I ever owned, next to the Pro-43 from decades ago.
I, also, agree about the old design from Uniden. Used to have a 895. Large screen and an honest to goodness tuning dial. Didn't need a PC to program either.
Larry

 

[gewecke]

Could it be a 796?? The 780 does not do P-25 in any shape or form. Used to have a 780, best analog aircraft receiver I ever owned, next to the Pro-43 from decades ago.
I, also, agree about the old design from Uniden. Used to have a 895. Large screen and an honest to goodness tuning dial. Didn't need a PC to program either.
Larry

. Agreed larry that's what I wondered too, or perhaps he meant a 785D which also looks very similar 73, n9zas

 

[nr2d]

. Wow, I'd like to know that myself, since the 780xlt is a Analog scanner and NOT a P25 capable scanner? 73, n9zas

You all are correct. The scanner I use at work is a BC796D and not a BC780XLT. Thank you for correcting me. They do look similar though.
I did have a BC870XLT prior to buying the BC796D. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Citywide173]

I'm thinking the database is wrong with the "D" designation.

 

[Voyager]

The only way a 780 works on P25 is with a discriminator tap. But it is one heck of a MilAir scanner.

 

[Voyager]

I prefaced that with "It ends when one of two things happen:".

What that means is that the guessing will end when one of those conditions is met -

The second condition may now have been met:
http://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-tech-support/326429-bcd436hp-screen-color-issue.html

Although no serial number has been mentioned yet. It's surely a late 5800 series unit if it does have the production line changes.

 

[desert-cheetah]

As for the x36 owners, you have my deepest sympathies. Good luck.

I like my 436 just fine and haven't had a single issue with it so no sympathies or luck are needed. But thanks.

 

[KE0GXN]

I like my 436 just fine and haven't had a single issue with it so no sympathies or luck are needed. But thanks.

Your welcome and I am happy for you, I am all about a fellow hobbyist enjoying their equipment. But any amount of reading on this site, will show that you are in the minority.

Best of luck in the future and happy scanning.

 

[WQPW689]

Your welcome and I am happy for you, I am all about a fellow hobbyist enjoying their equipment. But any amount of reading on this site, will show that you are in the minority.

Best of luck in the future and happy scanning.

I don't see that at all and I've been doing quite a bit of reading since I'm a member. Certainly the x36 line had it's issues both in features promised and certain production deficiencies. The material deficiencies are in the midst of being addressed with the (free) recall and repair program. The software features are slowly being addressed. Will all the software features be settled to everyone's satisfaction? Hard to say.

But with that note, both my 436 and 536 perform pretty much flawlessly for what I bought them for, namely receiving radio signals. I have a Whistler WS-1080 and it's a fine radio in it's own right, particularly with the built in discriminator tap. But the x36's have better reception, both selectivity and sensitivity in my particular case. YMMV depending on a myriad of circumstances.

Unhappy people are much more likely to make noise on a forum. Satisfied customers have no reason to complain on the boards. And I've noticed it seems to be the same relative few. Don't mistake quantity for quality.

The x36's are fine scanners and there's more than a few posters have attested to that with hands on experience. Are they perfect? No. Are the majority of users dissatisfied with them to the point where you can claim it a fact and wish them all sympathy and luck?

Sorry, I'd have to see something more concrete than some of these forum complaints.

 

[KE0GXN]

I don't see that at all and I've been doing quite a bit of reading since I'm a member. Certainly the x36 line had it's issues both in features promised and certain production deficiencies. The material deficiencies are in the midst of being addressed with the (free) recall and repair program. The software features are slowly being addressed. Will all the software features be settled to everyone's satisfaction? Hard to say.

But with that note, both my 436 and 536 perform pretty much flawlessly for what I bought them for, namely receiving radio signals. I have a Whistler WS-1080 and it's a fine radio in it's own right, particularly with the built in discriminator tap. But the x36's have better reception, both selectivity and sensitivity in my particular case. YMMV depending on a myriad of circumstances.

Unhappy people are much more likely to make noise on a forum. Satisfied customers have no reason to complain on the boards. And I've noticed it seems to be the same relative few. Don't mistake quantity for quality.

The x36's are fine scanners and there's more than a few posters have attested to that with hands on experience. Are they perfect? No. Are the majority of users dissatisfied with them to the point where you can claim it a fact and wish them all sympathy and luck?

Sorry, I'd have to see something more concrete than some of these forum complaints.

Like you said YMMV.....

At the end of the day we are all entitled to our opinions.

My preference is to not dismiss the dissatisfied experiences of others based on my positive experiences.

Glad everything is great for you.

73

 

[Fireboat03]

picked up another BCD996P2 today from Amazon for 302.99 and shipping for FREE. Sometimes when you hit Amazon sometimes and you can pickup quick deals like this. There was only 3 available. Once I bought it and clicked back to maybe pickup another for the steal of a deal they were all gone.

Got it from a company named BLINQ

 

[nr2d]

picked up another BCD996P2 today from Amazon for 302.99 and shipping for FREE. Sometimes when you hit Amazon sometimes and you can pickup quick deals like this. There was only 3 available. Once I bought it and clicked back to maybe pickup another for the steal of a deal they were all gone.

Got it from a company named BLINQ

I picked up a 3rd 536HP at the beginning of December for $375 from Amazon. Sometimes they have good deals.