BC125AT: BC125AT "discontinued" rumors

[JoeBearcat]

There have apparently been some rumors floating around that the BC125AT is being or has been discontinued. While at some point it will surely be discontinued (as well all models eventually as they are replaced), this will not be for some time and the 125 has NOT been discontinued.

 

[Scan125]

Nice to know Joe.

Thanks for letting us all know.

 

[pb_lonny]

What about the Australian model (UBC126AT)? This has been out of stock everywhere for months....

 

[JoeBearcat]

No idea about Uniden Australia's products.

If it is based on the 125, I suspect they will continue to market that, too. Once the 125 is discontinued, they may or may not continue to market it.

 

[Scan125]

No idea about Uniden Australia's products.

If it is based on the 125, I suspect they will continue to market that, too. Once the 125 is discontinued, they may or may not continue to market it.

Yes the UBC125XLT, UBC126AT and the Albrecht AE125H (branded clone of the UBC125XLT) are all derivatives/based on the BC125AT.

The main difference I have tabled here: BC125AT / UBC125XLT / UBC126AT / AE125H differences

While we are talking Uniden products Joe then there are many of us European / AUS / NZ / World Trade Uniden product users and speaking to some of them we each have found that whilst Uniden US/North America have been contactable and user supportive the Uniden "rest of the world" operations have no presence or real support for users. These non US operations just appear to be marketing avenues for products shipped directly from the Uniden factory to dealer/distributors. This is certainly the case for the EU where there is no regional Uniden office. Kind of makes using Uniden products in the UK/EU frustrating at times. Not a problem you can solve but it would be nice if Uniden HQ Japan had a more global customer support operation. I once, a long time ago, tried asking Uniden US a support question and was just pointed to Uniden AU who pointed me back to Uniden US

 

[JoeBearcat]

I recently asked management about a contact for Uniden Australia. I never heard back.

I understand your frustration, and will continue to lobby for them to add counterparts in those other markets, but it ultimately is not my decision, as you have surmised.

 

[Scan125]

I recently asked management about a contact for Uniden Australia. I never heard back.

I understand your frustration, and will continue to lobby for them to add counterparts in those other markets, but it ultimately is not my decision, as you have surmised.

Totally understand Joe. My comments were a "bring to Uniden HQ attention" an not a Joe/Uniden US cage rattle. I'm sorry/sad that you too had issues and your are in a better place than I/we are

Needless to say we all appreciate your contributions and attention here on RR and you do Paul Opitz a great honour in voluntarily picking up here on RR. Thank you!

 

[ludek-brno]

And that's exactly why I only buy US versions of Uniden scanners.
For support !!!

 

[pb_lonny]

No idea about Uniden Australia's products.

And that is the problem. Imagine Apple saying that. If Uniden wants to sell its products in Australian, they should have a better support system in place and interact with scanner users. This is one of the reasons I got out of the scanning hobby, no support.

 

[Xray]

125AT, nice little scanner, except for being hobbled in the military air band.

 

[begoli]

And that is the problem. Imagine Apple saying that. If Uniden wants to sell its products in Australian, they should have a better support system in place and interact with scanner users. This is one of the reasons I got out of the scanning hobby, no support.

Absolutely correct. Uniden Australia is useless, they cant even put their spare parts and accessories on their webpage. I shouldn't have to email support to ask what price a battery or charger is. Its not exactly rocket science.

Its also a concern that there have been no firmware updates for the USDS100 since August 2019. No ongoing product development or bug fixes?

I never communicated with Paul O, but it speaks volumes about a company where a product can be released to a world wide market and no one can tell for sure what the second USB port was for? Speculation that its for some future release or function? I cant believe that no one else in the whole of Uniden knew what it was for except for one person?

 

[vagrant]

I understand that 380-400 MHz is for LMR. I could be wrong. Still, if the U.S. military is using P25 on 380-400 MHz the 125AT won't allow the user to discern what is being said. If the transmissions are encrypted, the 125AT will not allow the user to discern that either. Is the 125AT really hobbled, or simply does offer those features nor that 20 MHz spread?

I found this PDF linked below. Am I missing military aircraft transmissions from 380-400 MHz using the 125AT? I am an avid military air listener and I would like to know.

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/465010p.pdf?ver=2019-01-24-140331-937

125AT, nice little scanner, except for being hobbled in the military air band.

 

[jonwienke]

Milair can still be found between 380 and 400.

 

[JoeBearcat]

I never communicated with Paul O, but it speaks volumes about a company where a product can be released to a world wide market and no one can tell for sure what the second USB port was for? Speculation that its for some future release or function? I cant believe that no one else in the whole of Uniden knew what it was for except for one person?

Yes, other people know parts. I have been researching to put those pieces together. We know some, but not all (I think - maybe we do know all and it's not as involved as I believe it might be). And it is not unusual for a designer to not document the nuances of his ideas - especially when he is not expecting to pass away suddenly. We know that the second port is for additional features. We are not speculating about that.

 

[Xray]

I understand that 380-400 MHz is for LMR. I could be wrong. Still, if the U.S. military is using P25 on 380-400 MHz the 125AT won't allow the user to discern what is being said. If the transmissions are encrypted, the 125AT will not allow the user to discern that either. Is the 125AT really hobbled, or simply does offer those features nor that 20 MHz spread?

I found this PDF linked below. Am I missing military aircraft transmissions from 380-400 MHz using the 125AT? I am an avid military air listener and I would like to know.

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/465010p.pdf?ver=2019-01-24-140331-937

Seems to me that every other scanner [including Bearcat SDS series] receive over 380. It may be true that segment is not oft used but I know for certain Blue Angels/Tbirds have show comms in that region, big handicap for an air show guy not being able to receive it. I've had probably half a dozen receivers mil air capable, including the very first handheld that was mil air capable decades ago [AOR 1000] and various RS models, this is the only receiver that is clipped like this, I view it as a flaw.

 

[03msc]

There have apparently been some rumors floating around that the BC125AT is being or has been discontinued. While at some point it will surely be discontinued (as well all models eventually as they are replaced), this will not be for some time and the 125 has NOT been discontinued.

Thanks for sharing here on the forums, we do appreciate the interaction!

 

[N4DJC]

Seems to me that every other scanner [including Bearcat SDS series] receive over 380. It may be true that segment is not oft used but I know for certain Blue Angels/Tbirds have show comms in that region, big handicap for an air show guy not being able to receive it. I've had probably half a dozen receivers mil air capable, including the very first handheld that was mil air capable decades ago [AOR 1000] and various RS models, this is the only receiver that is clipped like this, I view it as a flaw.

I recently read the DoD 380-400 frequencies are trunked, did you hear non trunked transmissions? The Blue Angels are scheduled to be in Rome Ga in late October.

 

[Haley]

Been following this thread. A few things first I am VERY glad the 125 is going to be around a while. I’ve had my since 2012 , which is a pretty good run for ANY model or brand. 9 years and counting , not many scanner models make it that long.

For what it does , it is probably the best. I use it for Mil-Air primarily, and the one glaring weakness , which I never understood , was the omission of 380-400. I mean both ( all 3 ?) overseas models have it , so why not the 125? And before everyone says P25 trunking I do know that and understand. BUT , believe it or not , some of us do have AM analog Mil-Air in that range. I have an ART here that uses 396.2 and I still get traffic on 381.3000 (matter of fact , just 2 hours ago). Now do I expect Uniden to have that range because I would like it ? No, I knew the coverage when I bought it. Of course I had always hoped maybe ,someway it could be added. I use a 396T , and 396Xt for the missing range.

Anyway I really appreciate Joe posting on here!

 

[N4DJC]

@Haley the UBC-125XLT covers from 225 to 512 continuously, as well as 806-960. It can be done....

 

[Xray]

I recently read the DoD 380-400 frequencies are trunked, did you hear non trunked transmissions? The Blue Angels are scheduled to be in Rome Ga in late October.

Yes, they use standard AM freqs in that range, as do some CG units. Not a huge complaint but a glaring omission for a military aviation nut.

I usually take 2 scanners to a show, since I most often camp outside the airbase and stay by my vehicle. My base gets the freqs I miss with the 125, and I'm pretty well covered with the 125 if I decide to walk around a bit for a better view or to chat with others. I could take the SDS handheld but for one, a bit bulky and heavy for my liking to carry on the hip half a day. For another, am not all that confident in its air reception abilities, and the audio does not sound very "crisp" shall we say. Also a beast to hand program in the field and Finally, no option to change batteries when it dies, I really don't have a place for it at airshows, and in fact use my trusty decades old Pro 2006 for base reception hooked up to a blaring bluetooth speaker - I am the envy of every scanner guy who walks by with that setup.