BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Bcd436hp sensitivity

mainetrunk

Member
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
1,589
Location
York county Me.
I got the bcd436hp last fall, and never checked it's uhf reception cause the trbo tower I wanted was just fine. Now, I see the uhf sensitivity is 1/2 compared to the 396xt.. I checked connections, got uhf yagi, and still - uhf is not so hot.
I checked settings, 12.5 step, fm, or nfm. Same thing. Am I missing something, or get a default scanner?
Nice dvd though.
 

lamarrsy

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Mar 12, 2003
Messages
188
Location
Rimouski, PQ, Canada
No you don’t have a defective unit…

the 436 when used as intended and on analog signals, as portable with its rubber duck antenna, performs worse than the 396xt, worse than the BCD325P2, worse than the Whistler scanners, in fact, worse than most portable scanners on analog fm.

And before being flooded with other answers that say that the 436 is as good as its base/mobile version (536hp) connected to an outside antenna, I repeat here what I’ve just said : « when used as intended and on analog signals, as portable with its rubber duck antenna ».

But forget the intended portable use and connect it to an outside antenna (base or mobile), and it will perform superbly on those analog fm signals.
 

IC-R20

LoBand Nation
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
511
Yeah no it's well known to be a bit of a deaf radio, and though you have to sift through tons of delusional fanboy postings it does get admitted regularly even though they wanna hide it. It's got a high internal noise so you want to drive a strong signal into it especially for analog use. I retired mine from portable use in 2018 when I got a better radio and it sits on my shelf as a base station for trunk system recording and analysis connected through a pre-amp to my grounded discone. Before that I had the small battery powered GRE-Super Amp I found at a hamfest for portable use with the BNC adapter.
 

mainetrunk

Member
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
1,589
Location
York county Me.
10-4, I saw the scanner on eBay, and trbo key unlocked. $425 later, I got the entities I wanted...
Every scanner has a use, and I'll use it for what I wanted.. Trbo..
Thanks all
 

lamarrsy

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Mar 12, 2003
Messages
188
Location
Rimouski, PQ, Canada
10-4, I saw the scanner on eBay, and trbo key unlocked. $425 later, I got the entities I wanted...
Every scanner has a use, and I'll use it for what I wanted.. Trbo..
Thanks all
As an aside… I see that you are from Maine and from York county… we were supposed to go camping in your area (OOB) but Covid caught us. We cancelled, but are re-planning for August. I may have a few questions about dmr and the 436 for your area, i may drop you a pers message.
 

Ubbe

Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
9,698
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
uhf sensitivity is 1/2 compared to the 396xt.. got uhf yagi, and still - uhf is not so hot.
I'm also using yagis and splitters to support several scanners and don't see much difference between a 436 and 536, HP-1, SDS100. Lamarrsy have the same experience. Maybe 396XT are so much better, perhaps better strong signal handling that are important when using big antennas to not desense the receiver.

/Ubbe
 

richardbritt

Member
Database Admin
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
524
Location
Northeastern NC
Hi, I just bought a bcd436hp last week and I read the post regarding it being slightly deaf. I just used my IFR 1500 signal generator to check the sensitivity of my new bcd436hp and I compared it to my (2) Ws1040, (2) pro-2096 and my Pro-96 scanners. I tested all these on 151.50 mhz, 171.5 mhz, 453.0 mhz and 465.0 mhz. The bcd436hp sinad is .2, whereas the other scanners are above .4 - .6 sinad using FM analog signals. The other scanners are what I would consider the equivalent sensitivity receiver wise to a commercial 2 way radio, and the bcd436hp is the more sensitive of the models tested. I suspect that the user who said it was not as sensitive might have a portable antenna issue. It's not the scanner sensitivity. My IFR is calibrated and I worked as a senior bench 2 way radio technician for years. It's a sensitive receiver. Hope this helps anyone thinking about getting one of these scanners. The only negative thing I can find is the dark display.

Regards

Richard in Northeastern NC

(Advanced class licensed amateur licensed as well over 50 years)
 

Ubbe

Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
9,698
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
It was one revision of the motherboard in 436 that where missing a capacitor and then emitted interferencies out into the room that then had an impact if its rubberducky antenna where used.

Sensitivity are usually not so important as strong signal handling, especially if using a better antenna. I have a Icom R2 that have something like a 0.12uV sensitivity, twice better than other receivers I have, but do not receive as well as those other scanners as it desense quickly receiving even low level signals.

Many people say that their RadioShack Pro2006 are the most sensitive receiver they have, when it's only measure a 0.6uV sensitivity and it is instead its strong signal handling that makes it receive better than most other scanners. A radio like TYT MD380 have something like a 0.25uV sensitivity and its strong signal handling are excellent so still that sensitive when using big antennas and are the receiver that picks up weakest signals the best of my receivers.

/Ubbe
 

mainetrunk

Member
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
1,589
Location
York county Me.
Outside antenna attached, and WOW... 935:s, and uhf are finally getting distant signals.. I'm between 2 -- 935 con - sites, and getting it good. Perfect reception now..
Hope this helps everyone..
Dmr search continues
 

richardbritt

Member
Database Admin
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
524
Location
Northeastern NC
Very true. And I have 2 of the Pro-2006 scanners I use daily for aircraft and vhf fire departments. They work well, and my TYT md-uv380 does as well but I mainly use it on my Hotspot in my house, and I have another Hotspot that I carry mobile and use with my cell phone on trips.

73 Richard in Northeastern NC
 

Unidener

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2012
Messages
248
Very true. And I have 2 of the Pro-2006 scanners I use daily for aircraft and vhf fire departments. They work well, and my TYT md-uv380 does as well but I mainly use it on my Hotspot in my house, and I have another Hotspot that I carry mobile and use with my cell phone on trips.

73 Richard in Northeastern NC
Sounds great....gonna have to break out my Pro-2006.....even modded it to upload/download from my computer. Thanks....gonna put it to some good use!

73 Randy in Southeastern NC o_O
 

Ubbe

Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
9,698
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
The Pro-2006 doesn't have a NFM mode and its bad sensitivity and slow scan rate might not make it suitable for todays radio systems. But marine and air are pretty much the same systems as it always have been. Sensitivity in AM mode are nominal 2uV with limit at 5uV according to its service manual.

/Ubbe
 

mainetrunk

Member
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
1,589
Location
York county Me.
Update
I just got the new antenna on the roof, and the 1st thing I hear is a p25 system at least 40 miles away. Then, the locals started checking in. Perfect reception "now"... Now I have an analog system that never comes in the way it is now.
I give this scanner an A...... Borderline A+...
It's" good enough "..
Thank you UNIDEN!!
Never thought I'd say that 😂😂
 

richardbritt

Member
Database Admin
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
524
Location
Northeastern NC
What antenna did you get? What coax are you using? I need to get something outside antenna wise myself. Thanks

Regards Richard
 

mainetrunk

Member
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
1,589
Location
York county Me.
RG8X 2957m cable / uhf to uhf connection with uhf female to bnc male, with sma to bnc female on scanner antenna mount.
Tram antenna with 8 uhf elements, and 8 vhf elements.
It takes talent, strength, and patience to put a chimney mount mast with antenna on the poll - and not drop ANY nuts while securing.
Me? I had " luck " .. Lol..
Or pay $300 - 500 for a bucket truck, which ruts up the lawn..
Good luck, stay safe, and don't look down...
Ps - I got 34feet of cable, and barely reaches.. No slack at all.
Measure carefully
 
Top