BCD325P2 Thoughts/Observations

[KevinC]

First, it has the same issue with P2 as the BCD996P2 as discussed here...

http://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-bug-reports/311496-multiple-units-trouble-phase-2-audio.html

Battery life listening to a busy P25 P2 system only, with backlight set to "Squelch" and volume at 8-9 is around 7 hours using Eneloop XX batteries.

Audio is quite good even on simulcast P2, maybe even better than the BCD436HP.

The display, while overly simple compared to the 436, is easy to see and provides just the right amount of information (in my opinion).

The form factor is just right for me.

Sensitivity seems good, but I haven't taken it for much of a drive yet. A 500+ mile roundtrip tomorrow will solve that.

Overall I'm impressed. You can find them for under $350 if you shop around.

My only complaint is the above mentioned P2 issue while scanning more than one system...sort of defeats the purpose of multiple system scan. But I'm sure it will be rectified at some point.

 

[W8RMH]

Battery life listening to a busy P25 P2 system only, with backlight set to "Squelch" and volume at 8-9 is around 7 hours using Eneloop XX batteries.

Thanks for this info I couldn't find a straight answer. I never use the squelch light so I should be good for 8 hours, thanks.

I am also wondering how the audio is with two batteries, say compared to the BCD396XT.

grtlks1, a Uniden dealer on ebay has them for $346.95 free shipping.

 

[retropcdos]

The BCD996P2 is a pretty good scanner. Love the form factor and does great on analog and p25 decode sound great on it. Audio quality is good overall. Display is easy to read and quite sensitivity. Plus is bottom heavy and won't tip over easy. The 436hp is long and narrow. Drawbacks are doesn't have true narrow FM filters like the x36 series and runs off of 2 AA battery, but get about 7.5 hours on low volume off Eneloop pro's on listening to mostly analog traffic, which is more then then I expected, as I figured I would only get around 5 hours. You don't get to change the color of the backlighting like the 396xt.

The only thing is wish they would drop the price some on it, so a bigger gap between the 436hp and the 325p2, like around $75 buck different, to close in price to the 436hp and as a mid range scanner, sure be priced as one. .

 

[KevinC]

Thanks for this info I couldn't find a straight answer. I never use the squelch light so I should be good for 8 hours, thanks.

I am also wondering how the audio is with two batteries, say compared to the BCD396XT.

grtlks1, a Uniden dealer on ebay has them for $346.95 free shipping.

I no longer have a 396XT, but my guesstimation is it may have a little less audio output.

 

[KevinC]

Sensitivity seems good, but I haven't taken it for much of a drive yet. A 500+ mile roundtrip tomorrow will solve that.

Completely unscientific, but on my trip today the 325 caught the same frequencies about the same places using Close Call as the 436 did (I used several NWS and TRBO frequencies for this comparison). It also started receiving programmed frequencies about the same location as the 436 did (several 7/800 trunked systems and several data frequencies).