BCD536HP Discussion Thread

[RF23]

A detachable face for remote mounting would've made this scanner a 10 out of 10 for me. I can't understand why such a simple option like this could not have been incorporated into the design. Nearly every decent amateur radio for mobile use and commercial mobile radios are designed like this.

Here in the lovely state of NJ the police just love hammering folks for distracted driving. Using a smartphone or tablet while driving to control a scanner most certainly qualifies for this and would earn the driver a $300.00 ticket. A remote radio head can be mounted and operated more inconspicously. Sure this can be distracted driving also but it would not be as obvious as using a smartphone or tablet. For an amateur radio operator in NJ it would be perfectly legal to operate the remote head control. If the smartphone and tablet is Unidens suggestion/solution for remote mounting it is very irresponsible. In fact it's against the law in most states.

In NJ amateur radio operators have an exemption in the law to operate their equipment and other states probably have similar exemptions. I can guarantee that the exemption would not cover using a smart phone or tablet to control your scanner.

Other than that I like what I see. Hopefully thay bumped up the audio output power on the external speaker. Its been lacking on the 996XT model and previous models to that.

The best I can tell the 536 is 8 ohms @ 5 watts, the HP-1 is 8 ohms @ 2 watts, 996T is 8 ohms @ 2.6 watts but it has nominal after it and all the others have (Max) for audio out. You might compare your 996XT audio output to these other radios.

Unfortunately this same switching of units happens with the scan rate, namely both of the new radios have 85 channels per second (nominal) and the HP-1 has 100 channels per second (Max).

Hope this helps.

 

[kruser]

Anybody know what the frequencies the new scanners will cover?

That info as well as the physical size that others have asked for are printed in the specs in the PDF manuals that two users nicely uploaded to dropbox or a personal website. Read the thread several posts earlier and you will find the links for the pdf manual which covers both models.

Uniden's site was still not working last I checked so grab the manual from one of the links provided earlier in this thread.

 

[ion_op]

Hear, hear

Jay911: I would suggest treading lightly here. It's perfectly fine for members to express their opinions about the new models, including their disappointment regarding features/functionality. If it's annoying to you personally.....oh well.

Hear, hear.

 

[kma371]

Anybody know what the frequencies the new scanners will cover?

Same as old

 

[kbehning]

Uniden website

OK, Uniden's new scanner info website is not working again during a period of heavy use.

Come on Uniden, its 2013, the internet has been pretty mainstream for 20 years, and you're a big boy company. You produce a cordless phone every 3.2 seconds (seriously they do). You've got to get this website thing figured out, this is ridiculous. I mean, even for a week during these busy periods, host the new part of the website on a professional host like godaddy or something.

 

[mkewman]

host the new part of the website on a professional host like godaddy or something.

Dude. GoDaddy isn't a professional host. No company worth their salt would ever host with them. LOL

Major companies and government institutions (think Obamacare's website) all have issues with traffic spikes. Calm yourself, and check in a little later.

 

[codblackops2]

So with these new Uniden scanners coming at the first of the year does that mean the 996XT's are gonna drop in price now or are they gonna stay in the 400+ range that there at right now?

 

[Skypilot007]

The best I can tell the 536 is 8 ohms @ 5 watts, the HP-1 is 8 ohms @ 2 watts, 996T is 8 ohms @ 2.6 watts but it has nominal after it and all the others have (Max) for audio out. You might compare your 996XT audio output to these other radios.

Unfortunately this same switching of units happens with the scan rate, namely both of the new radios have 85 channels per second (nominal) and the HP-1 has 100 channels per second (Max).

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that info.

 

[W4ELL]

So with these new Uniden scanners coming at the first of the year does that mean the 996XT's are gonna drop in price now or are they gonna stay in the 400+ range that there at right now?

I'd say the price will remain roughly the same on new XTs (396 and 996) but EBAY will be filled with used ones for much less... especially as January approaches.

 

[RadioDitch]

This is excellent news. Thanks to UPMan and all the development guys at Uniden for putting up with all of us, and especially for listening. The fact that we got pretty much everything we asked for as customers just reaffirms my belief that Uniden is still king.

Especially P25 Phase II TDMA. I'm a news guy. At our agency we use exclusively Uniden. From as far back as old BC785's (we call them Super Bricks for their life longevity) to HP-1's. the news desk has 25 of em, plus the 2-3 we keep at our desks in the offices. They all still serve us well. But in New Jersey several high profile agencies, especially Newark Fire and Palisades Interstate Police, and most of Rockland County NY have gone Phase II. The GRE PSR800 one of our guys brought on loan for them is horrible! This should do the trick.

I also get the feeling, despite the criticisms of some, that these were engineered to handle a future firmware update for the DSP to be able to decode MOTOTRBO and NEXEDGE/IDAS. Give UPMan and his minions time...I'm sure they're scheming.

I do hope though one of the third party guys will develop a FreeScan style software for these though. Sentinel is great, but it's not as productive as FreeScan, which has a better work flow when programming IMHO.

Huge kudos for a screen that will allow practically the entire name of systems and unabbreviated alpha tags. And the wifi will make getting everyone in the office onto those big breaking news stories easier since we all phone smartphones or iPads.

We will benefit, customers will benefit. Great job Mr. O and the gang. I think we'll take 15. lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[K4NNW]

I also get the feeling, despite the criticisms of some, that these were engineered to handle a future firmware update for the DSP to be able to decode MOTOTRBO and NEXEDGE/IDAS. Give UPMan and his minions time...I'm sure they're scheming.

I do hope though one of the third party guys will develop a FreeScan style software for these though. Sentinel is great, but it's not as productive as FreeScan, which has a better work flow when programming IMHO.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hope you're correct. TRBO would be nice. NXDN would be even better. Without those, I'll keep my 996 and 396.

 

[bear780ks]

W4ELL

The Last i seen this was Friday the 396 and 996 were $399.99 were I buy mine and they had a few on hand.. But as soon as they get them in,, there pretty much gone in week or week and Half..



To Add: It been long Day yesterday and now morning, I think it's time for a Klondike bar

 

[troymail]

The GRE PSR800 one of our guys brought on loan for them is horrible!

Can you elaborate on this? I'm interested in knowing the horrible parts and some type of feedback from "those in the know" (while we all wait) as to whether or not these horrible issues you raise are truly addressed in these new radios.

The only two that come to mind for me are:

(1) digital simulcast distortion
(2) TDMA talkgroups much louder than the FDMA talkgroups (should be easily addressed)

Thanks

 

[bear780ks]

R.D. That with the Display is what's making me want one so bad, I mean there are the things that I like about the radio, but that display O wow.. Just seeing it setting on or under a shelf or in a car Heck the hole front of it Looks better than any after market Radio I'v seen and I if had a Car with an After market radio in the Dash out it would come and the 536 would go in there in a second..

Either that or I would mount it in one of the custom manufacture Rigs that fits in between the Seats..

 

[mondaro]

I'm glad I waited to buy a new scanner. Many of the things I was hoping for have been included, plus that WIFI feature is really interesting. So I'll be making a purchase when able to. I don't know if I'll pre-order - might just wait and see if we'll see the old-fashioned "milk price wars" going on.

Like many others, I was a little disappointed that TRBO and Nexedge wasn't included. I'm speculating that Uniden probably tried their best to add these formats but there are valid reasons why this wasn't meant to be right now. Perhaps these could be part of the future enhancements. Uniden may have wanted to get these units on the streets for business purposes now and have a little time to "perfect" the two other formats.

Perhaps Upman could at least comment on the TRBO/Nexedge topic just so's we know.

You Kidding, I doubt that UPMAN is going to comment on anything when it comes to the " TURBO or LTR or Passport Issue, He made us wait for months for simple answers to simple questions. Sorry but I am in the court that of Uniden fell short on this one for what I was looking for. Sorry, Paul am just disappointed.

 

[dispatcher812]

Butel software

How soon after a release of a new scanner does Butel put out software for it? I played with Freescan and the Arc software for the 996XT and prefer the Arc software. I am debating one of these scanners and the software would be nice.

 

[RF-Burns]

If it is a Phase 1, Phase 2, or EDACS System these will work just fine. If it is a Open Sky System it will not. Seeing that you are in Batavia it appears you guys are going to the same system we are here in Monroe County. So, Yes these scanners will work. Even the older 396 and 996 will work as of right now because the system has not gone to Phase II yet. I am currently listening to the Harris System in Monroe and Ontario Counties but then again it is currently only in Phase 1 not Phase II. I can't wait for these to come launch so I can listen when we all switch to Phase II.

Motoman55

So I'm still not clear -- will this system be compatible with the new Harris system? When I first saw the announcement, I thought it was great news until reading this thread and some references to Harris patents.

Our county (Genesee, WNY) switches to Harris on Feb. 1.

Also, am I to understand the app is droid only? That makes it vaporware as far as I'm concerned.

 

[N8IAA]

I also get the feeling, despite the criticisms of some, that these were engineered to handle a future firmware update for the DSP to be able to decode MOTOTRBO and NEXEDGE/IDAS. Give UPMan and his minions time...I'm sure they're scheming.

Just to make a point that has been posted multiple times, in multiple posts: MOTOTRBO, and NEXEDGE cannot be loaded up to a scanner via a firmware update. Period. It requires hardware installed in the scanner to work.

The updates UPMan was referring to are to the WiFi for the 536HP. Not once did he mention firmware updates in the infomercial yesterday.

I think that the new format of the scanners is innovative, but incomplete. Most states now have on the rule books that operating a phone, tablet, laptop while driving is a distraction and if caught levies a hefty fine. I do like the idea of being able to access the scanner while away from home.

Since I have a scanner that does Phase II and XTDMA, these are not the next scanners in my collection. There is only one county in my area that is going Phase II. Most have gone to MotoTrbo and Nexedge.

I do want to say, that UPMan and his crew created nifty new scanners with plenty of great features

Just not my cup of tea.

Upman, when Uniden makes a scanner that does MotoTrbo and Nexedge, I'll be one of the first in line to buy!

Larry

 

[teebee]

Not sure if this question was asked, too many post to go through. Will this new scanner be able to monitor the Houston Police and Fires new radio system

 

[Jay911]

Just to make a point that has been posted multiple times, in multiple posts: MOTOTRBO, and NEXEDGE cannot be loaded up to a scanner via a firmware update. Period. It requires hardware installed in the scanner to work.

Not true. What was said was that it can't be added to any of the older scanners (XT line, HP1, etc) because of hardware limitations. What that meant was that either the processor or the architecture of the radio was insufficient to decode those protocols.

Paul's statement early in the video where he says "We could have just slapped a bigger processor in the 396 and called it a day" leads one to believe that there is a bigger processor in the x36 line.