BCD-996T how good does it rcv 145-450mhz

[videorov2]

I wonder how well it receives in the 145 to 148mhz and the 420-450 mhz and other uhf ham radio
freqs? I have a Pro-2096 right now for digital and it works great for that but not good for my
ham vhf-uhf freqs. The signal have to be real strong for it to pick them up and I use a outside
diamond discone antenna up 35ft.
I can receive better on one of my old Pro 2052 scanners from the same antenna for the ham vhf-uhf
bands.
Does the BCD-996T work any better on the ham VHF-UHF bands I wonder?????????
If it does Im thinking of going over to one of them and also have the ability to control the scanner
from the PC aswell. I just wonder why the 2096 doesn't receive better in the VHF-UHF ham bands?
Maybe the BCD-996T would be my answer to receive well on all freqs. with it if that is possible.
It would be nice to have one scanner that does well on all freqs? If not I might have to just keep
using my old Pro-2022 for the ham vhf-uhf freqs and be happy with that.

 

[2ManyToys]

I'm recently back in to the scanning hobby & by no means an expert. But I can tell you that it seems that my BCT15 pulls those freqs. in better then my BCD996.

For instance on weather (162.XXX), the 996 has about 3 bars of signal strength on my local weather freq. & won't clearly pull in the next closest station. The BCT15 pulls 5 bars on the local & a strong 3-4 bars on the next closest.

To me the 996 isn't the best receiver for those frequencies. But its fine if your trying to pull strong local stuff.

(test done with the same indoor antenna on both radios)

 

[kinfolk]

Just a couple of personal observations. I have two 996s and two BCT15s and all 4 receivers are hooked to a Diamond discone through a Stridsberg multicoupler. One of the 996s always shows about a bar less signal than the other three but it is not less sensitive, the signal strenghth meter just does not show as much signal for some reason. The real measure of a receiver's sensitivity is it's ability to pick up a weak signal. All four of my scanners receive very close the same and of course are operating off the same coax and antenna. A very weak signal will break squelch about the same on all four. Sometimes when comparing two receivers on the supplied whips indoors, just the foot or two of difference in positioning can make a difference. I am very satisfied with my four Uniden scanners.

 

[2ManyToys]

Just a couple of personal observations. I have two 996s and two BCT15s and all 4 receivers are hooked to a Diamond discone through a Stridsberg multicoupler. One of the 996s always shows about a bar less signal than the other three but it is not less sensitive, the signal strenghth meter just does not show as much signal for some reason. The real measure of a receiver's sensitivity is it's ability to pick up a weak signal. All four of my scanners receive very close the same and of course are operating off the same coax and antenna. A very weak signal will break squelch about the same on all four. Sometimes when comparing two receivers on the supplied whips indoors, just the foot or two of difference in positioning can make a difference. I am very satisfied with my four Uniden scanners.

Understand kinfolk, but I have the two units stacked on top of each other & used the same external antenna for this non-official test. The actual antenna is a WPN-97 Nomad Base Antenna hung near the radios & connected w/ supplied coax. In other words the antenna placement did not change. I guess the fact that I couldn't even receive the 2nd weather channel on the 996 would show to me that its less sensitive? Actually tried it again this AM with similar results.

Again, I'm a n00b & just relaying my .02 cents

 

[kinfolk]

2ManyToys,

As I reread your message I wondered if you may have had the 2 units hooked to the same antenna. Some have posted on the forums before that their 996 was not as sensitive as they would like it to be. Guess I was fortunate to get a couple of good ones.

 

[2ManyToys]

2ManyToys,

As I reread your message I wondered if you may have had the 2 units hooked to the same antenna. Some have posted on the forums before that their 996 was not as sensitive as they would like it to be. Guess I was fortunate to get a couple of good ones.

FYI, didn't have the two units hooked to a single antenna. I switched the coax from one to the other, one antenna, one scanner.

 

[kinfolk]

I understood that, maybe didn't explain myself plainly.

 

[WX5JCH]

I can receive over 45 miles on my 996 with an indoor antenna. Your reception may vary...

 

[ten78]

I dont get anywhere near the reception on 154. with my 996t as i do with my Icom 2m radio that's been modified to receive/transmit out of band. Most of the time the reception of the Sheriff radio traffic when i'm in county is very scratchy w/ the 996. My Icom picks it up perfectly 50 miles away at the N. end of an adjascent county. Don't understand it.