BCD436BCD comments

[SCPD]

Whether anyone think's there is some type of connection between Uniden and RR, thank's to RR and other sites, East Central Florida Scanner page, who make information available to us. Thank's to those who take their time and effort to keep us informed on the latest changes. If your not pleased with your new purchase, send it back.

 

[dcriner]

Can you do better?
Marshall KE4ZNR

No, I don't think I could write a better manual, or, for that matter, any manual for the scanner - but Uniden is the one who designed the scanner, wrote the software, and wrote the manual that comes with it. All I did was buy the scanner for $500+. Why should my ability to rewrite the manual be relevant?

 

[lep]

You finally said something I can agree with, I don't think your writing ability is relevant at all.

 

[dcriner]

If your not pleased with your new purchase, send it back.

I may have to, but since this is my third Uniden scanner, I may wait a bit. But, the more defensive posts posted, the more this thread gets bumped up, which is probably not favorable to Uniden. Do you own the BCD436HP scanner? What is your opinion of the manual, which is what we're talking about?

 

[greggk]

Ouch !

I downloaded and printed every page of the manual to read before I bought my 436. I am NOT patting myself on the back; I am saying that each of us are responsible for more things these days as opposed to, lets say the 50's or 60's. A lot of companies only give you an online manual now.

I might be wrong, but I believe today it really is "buyer beware." Companies put the responsibility on us to know what we are buying and less responsibility on them.....right or wrong.

The Uniden manual is not very good; I feel bad for any newbie reading the manual. I am not aware of any Sentinel help from within the program.

There are, on the other hand, a great deal of other resources out there for learning and self study.

Greg

 

[LIScanner101]

Did it ever occur to any of you that the reason we do NOT own the scanner yet is exactly why we are "whining" (as it has been so eloquently put) about all the issues? All I can say is I am GLAD I didn't pay Uniden $600 to do their real-world field testing for them.

 

[LIScanner101]

Marshall,

I swear on my mother's grave that if what GRE comes out with proves to be as poorly launched as the x36HP's I will be as stern with them or maybe even MORE, as they will have the benefit of seeing pages of things NOT to do for their launch.

I have NO allegiance to Uniden OR GRE. However, I AM very loyal to the money in my wallet and exactly what it pays for. Paying for field testing is not my favorite way to spend my cash.

Anyway - we will never agree on anything here. I only came back to this thread to respond to some highly personal remarks against anyone who hasn't had a sip of the Uniden Kool-Aid. And I'm done

 

[Ghstwolf62]

With all due respects to the site administrators, it’s understood that you are of course required to walk a fine line between member’s comments and what Uniden says. I understand that. Be that as it may, I think you’re being a little harsh on dcriner. Let me explain….

He’s concerned that the new scanners are more or less “built around” the RR DB. You can deny that all you want – UPMan can say things like “the scanner does not rely on the database. It includes the database, but you can ignore the database completely and just program it like any other scanner with whatever you want”, but that’s just silly. Everyone KNOWS that the RR DB IS the source of data – UPMan says it, you say it, it’s all over the place. Please stop acting like that’s not reality. Funny how everyone here tells everyone else to download the RR DB to make favorites and use it as THE source for raw data, but the moment there is ANY pushback, ANY dissent, people like UPMan say things like “you can ignore the database completely”. To me, that is EXTREMELY poor customer service. It’s tantamount to saying “go screw”. Not good and while the Uniden water carriers will be unswayed I see many more disenfranchised people seeking scanners elsewhere as soon as they find another outlet.

I commend Paul for his recent responses to the plethora of issues that are plaguing this prematurely released product line, but it’s gonna leave a sour taste in many people’s mouths. I really DO want an x36HP but I’m gunshy about all the issues. Yes, yes, yes, Uniden is addressing all these problems, I get that, we ALL get that, but the fact that there are so many speaks to their product release process.

I’m not 100% convinced that I WON’T “go Uniden” for my first digital scanner, but I’m going to continue to be in a holding pattern.

First of all I am a long time proponent of GRE. I have not purchased a Uniden scanner in many years. So I'm not on any Uniden bandwagon.

Second of all before I spend 500 or more dollars on something I really give it a good look. I mean a really good look. I don't have a lot of spare income to waste on something so I spend time checking it out.

Third when doing basic checking you easily find that this scanner uses and for automated work is dependent on the RR database. As Upman pointed out you can manually enter things which doesn't rely on the RR DB but for all intents and purposes besides manual entry it goes with the RR DB.

Fourth if you have been on this site more than a week you know at least the basics of how it works. Especially this holds true for database updates. People send things in to add to the knowledge base and that is how the DB is updated.

So finally the issue is that you know what RR is and how it works, you can easily discover what the scanner is and should have by the time you buy it. So you shouldn't be on here *****ing after getting it about things you should have da*n well known before you bought the thing in the first place.

If you are then that's just too bad for you. It indicates a complete lack of doing even the most basic research into a product before purchase and that is your fault not any scanner manufacturer's.

I have been checking things out. I downloaded the software and have spent the last week and a half experimenting with it. The scanner is very complicated especially when compared to GRE and you have a great deal to learn.

I'm still finding things I've screwed up. But I am also keeping on with it and trying to get it right. After the first I am also going to be purchasing one of them which says just how much I think about it. My last scanner purchase was a few months after the 600 came out.

I am sitting back watching the comment sections and learning by reading. Most are complaints but there are tweaks which get written about which I keep track of to help me out later.

Coming on here to ***** and moan because you can't operate it or use the software correctly or just want to blame someone else about whatever your pet peeve is gets old upon seeing it real fast. Because none of that is Uniden's fault and its also completely unfair. (To any scanner manufacturer)

KE4ZNR's comments are right on track IMO

 

[wnjl]

The Uniden kool-aid drinker comment is simply hilarious. The 436 is the first Uniden-manufactured scanner I've bought since the RS Pro-90 (1998?). It's been all GRE for me since. I'm very happy with the scanner. Some aren't. That's the way it goes. The forum would be a lot better without post after post trying to prove to everyone you made the right decision by not purchasing it.

 

[Ghstwolf62]

LIScanner makes some very cogent points regarding this issue that many here want to say, should have said, or may be saying more about in the future. The problem is that those with viewpoints contrary to the Uniden Kool Aid drinkers are treated with contempt and run the risk of an admin abruptly closing a thread as no longer relevant.

I love the HP 1 scanners, and wished for a portable hand held version using a similar screen, etc.

I WANT my scanner to revolve around a database such as RR as I am lazy and do not want to manually enter all the information necessary to monitor today's complex radio systems. Quite frankly, who does - really....

The portable I had hoped for has not yet been released, and instead we have the 436 / 536, and quite frankly again I will agree with LI Scanner in saying there are a multitude of problems with these scanners.

While the early adopters will convince themselves the 436 is the greatest thing since salted peanuts, those of us hoping for a product matching the $500.00 price tag continue to wait and watch what Uniden does here....

And than there's Whistler....

Every time a new scanner is released and I stress EVERY time there is nothing but complaints about each one from a lot of people.

Most all fall into six basic categories and a distant seventh which consists of actual real problems.

The problem is the manufacturer gets blamed for the "Multitude of problems with these scanners" which land in those first six categories and none of them are actual defects or real problems with the actual radios and therefore not the fault of the scanner manufacturer.

No one is going to be 100% happy with any scanner. I just don't believe it'll ever happen. If you don't like it don't buy it. But also don't accuse people of being on the whatever manufacturer Kool aid bandwagon just for defending them against ridiculous accusations.

 

[Ghstwolf62]

Valid points. I was also not happy loosing the touch screen from the HP-1 among other things.

I did however get tired of reading the issues some where having from my area with the x36's and decided to break down and get the 436 to find out what is what for myself. It has really worked well so far on everything I tested it on. The only test I have left is a Phase 2 system. This will be done next weekend. Hopefully.

I was and still am a little negative on Uniden and the way they went with these new units and also for bringing known problems from the HP-1 to the new units. If the 436 was a touch screen, had the app to work with it, the analyze mode was functional and was better on battery life I would be 100% happy.

I have been working the 436 for a week now and and still cannot wait to see what IF anything Whistler does.

Not to attack you but that is kind of a personal thing on the touch screen. For instance I hate touch screen devices, they don't work well and every one I've tried is a pain somewhere to operate.

But that is my personal preference which isn't the manufacturer's fault or a fault in the device its just not what a person may or may not like.

I'm getting one in a week or so and can't wait but like you am extremely interested in what W may come out with in the future as well.

 

[WILSON43]

"The HP1 is no more attached to the RR database than the new scanners are."

Oh, so how does one program an HP 1 without the RR database?

 

[AK9R]

I feel bad for any newbie reading the manual.

In my opinion, the BCDx36HP scanners are not for people new to scanning. That's what the Home Patrol-1 is for.

 

[AK9R]

deleted

 

[dcriner]

The radio can be completely customized by the user 100%. Nothing from the database has to be used.

Can you tell me where in the manual it tells how to do that, step by step? Or, please, just post the instructions.Thanks.

 

[dcriner]

In my opinion, the BCDx36HP scanners are not for people new to scanning.

Probably true, but it's my third Uniden scanner, and I started with RR 7+ years ago. And, I've been going around in circles with the manual and the software for the x386.

 

[Dafe1er]

Not to attack you but that is kind of a personal thing on the touch screen. For instance I hate touch screen devices, they don't work well and every one I've tried is a pain somewhere to operate.

But that is my personal preference which isn't the manufacturer's fault or a fault in the device its just not what a person may or may not like.

I'm getting one in a week or so and can't wait but like you am extremely interested in what W may come out with in the future as well.

No worries! You will enjoy the HP=1. I do.

"The HP1 is no more attached to the RR database than the new scanners are."

Oh, so how does one program an HP 1 without the RR database?

Everything is programmable through the HP-1 without having to use the software. The unit is 100% touch which makes it MUCH easier to program by hand if need be. It is really self explanatory.

In my opinion, the BCDx36HP scanners are not for people new to scanning. That's what the Home Patrol-1 is for.

The HP-1 is actually a little harder for those coming from analog scanners (NON PC programmable scanners) and do not know how to navigate the scanner or software. I know, I was there three years ago when I got the HP=1. Now I can program the unit faster than ever.

 

[phask]

"The HP1 is no more attached to the RR database than the new scanners are."

Oh, so how does one program an HP 1 without the RR database?

OPenSentinel - create new FL - input data - write to scanner.

No DB needed - but a hell of a lot more easier.

I have several FL for Ham and some Business that are not part of R I also did several of the nationwide systems, before they became part of the db.

How would you program NASCAR team freqs.?? They are not in the db.

 

[SCPD]

[QUOTE
How would you program NASCAR team freqs.?? They are not in the db.[/QUOTE]

NASCAR - The RadioReference Wiki
and outside of rr
Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2013 Scanner Frequencies/Equipment Links

Just FYI if anyone wants or needs them.

 

[lep]

Do you own the BCD436HP scanner? What is your opinion of the manual, which is what we're talking about?

1. Yes, I do,.
2. I read the online version of the manual before my purchase. With the XT series there was NO printed manual. only a twiki online. Many of us complained to Uniden about the lack of a printed manual. So, I was pleased that this time they provided a printed manual. With the HP-1 you could download the manual but a printed version was NOT packed into the box. So, having a printed manual in-the-box, IMHOP was a big improvement.

My opinion of the manual is that it is a good first effort, yes, it needs improvements. So what?