BCD536HP Discussion Thread

[Voyager]

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?

Typically, the previous model scanner will be $100 less due to the fact it's an older model. But, that will depend on the street price of the new scanner. I haven't seen any prices yet, but the suggested price is $100 more than the current model, so that may keep the price of the 996XT near the current prices.

To compound the issue is the fact that the 396XT is more compact, so it may well stay around it's current price even for a used one.

Joe M.

 

[fredva]

Since everybody else seems to be offering their impression, I'll give mine: Some of the features of the new scanners, especially the wi-fi connectivity, are impressive. However, in terms of decoding signals, Uniden has caught up to last year's PSR-800. There was no great leap forward in that area.

 

[RF-Burns]

I only have a few words and they are, "What a Jerk!"

Yes, we do need scanner with WIfi, that is an awesome idea. I am sure their are reasons why Uniden did not include Mototrbo, and NXDN. What they are none of us know right now. Their is no reason to be so rude for such a nice product. Just because this role out did not include what you need in a scanner it does include what many of us need in a scanner which is Phase II. There is far more Phase II Systems going up for Public Safety than Mototrbo and NXDN. I think that might be their thought process. People want scanner for Public Safety rather than hearing the local towing company. I'm not saying MOTOTBRO and NXDN aren't used in Public Safety because they are but it is not the standard radio format yet.

Again no reason to be so damn rude.

TOTAL BS just like I had thought!

We do not need WIFI, a scanner to work with a phone or tablet, multiple colors or anything like that. WHAT we need are scanners able to have a real discriminator tap ,decode the CURRENT and FUTURE bands (MOTOTRBO, NXDN ) and actually have SERVICE updates regularly!

I am glad I did not buy into all the HYPE some of you have created...........COME on Whistler for some REAL SCANNERS!!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you Uniden for making a lot of us just throw money out the window with the HP-1. Maybe SOMEDAY you corporate people making all this money for crappy slow moving products will ACTUALLY listen to your consumers!

Dafe.

 

[dispatcher812]

I saw somewhere that this new scanner is dependent on the Database here. Does that mean it can not be user programmed from scratch? While having certain systems already in is a plus, I do not want to listen to everything.

 

[KE4ZNR]

I saw somewhere that this new scanner is dependent on the Database here. Does that mean it can not be user programmed from scratch? While having certain systems already in is a plus, I do not want to listen to everything.

You can program from the front panel of the scanner (from scratch) or use Sentinel to program. Either/or/both. You are only dependent upon the database if you wish to be.

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[KE4ZNR]

And with Favorites Lists Quick Keys, System Quick Keys and Department Quick Keys you can listen to any combination of what you have stored into memory.

Also add in the Channel Tags feature carried over from the XT Scanners that allows you to quickly pull up one channel/talkgroup out of everything in memory.

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[Jay911]

You also don't have to listen to 'everything' - you can set 'avoids' (lockouts) on that which you don't want to hear, plus you can choose what to hear by service type.

 

[garys]

I saw somewhere that this new scanner is dependent on the Database here. Does that mean it can not be user programmed from scratch? While having certain systems already in is a plus, I do not want to listen to everything.

After playing around with the Sentinel software for a while, I'm confident that I could program the scanner from scratch using it. It would be nice if the software allowed importing .rsf files from ARC XT or other programs, but that's not a necessity.

You can cut and paste frequency data from any program, but audio type and CTCSS, DCS, or NAC can not be pasted. At least I haven't figured out how to do that. Considering that yesterday I couldn't figure out how to do anything with Sentinel, I won't say that it can't be done.

You can either start with the DB information or replace it totally.

 

[vindictive42]

unboxing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrtC4qLQhek

 

[Jay911]

You can cut and paste frequency data from any program, but audio type and CTCSS, DCS, or NAC can not be pasted.

It can, but it has to be in the format the program expects. I suggest copying a line from the software into Excel or a text editor so you can see what to expect. You may have to copy all your data that way - copy it first into Excel, 'massage' it to Sentinel's standards, then copy it into Sentinel.

 

[exkalibur]

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.

This is simply not true. TRBO and NXDN use the /exact same/ vocoder as Phase 2 P25 and X2-TDMA. Since the scanner supports Phase 2 and X2, it is already licensed for the half-rate vocoder that TRBO and NXDN use. There is NO hardware changes required - it can all be done with firmware. Just the same as a 996/396 could get a firmware update to include ProVoice. But, for whatever reason, Uniden refuses to innovate.

 

[exkalibur]

Yes, we do need scanner with WIfi, that is an awesome idea. I am sure their are reasons why Uniden did not include Mototrbo, and NXDN.

You don't need a scanner with WiFi. We've managed just fine thus far without it.

If there are reasons, Paul should post them to shut us up. Until then, they're just being irresponsible.

 

[bgav]

You don't need a scanner with WiFi. We've managed just fine thus far without it.

If there are reasons, Paul should post them to shut us up. Until then, they're just being irresponsible.

I thought it was pretty clear how Wifi will be used: Remote scanner smartphone/tablet app over Wifi in infrastructure and ad-hoc modes. Turns a smartphone or tablet into a wireless touchscreen remote head. Access, monitor and control the scanner from anywhere over the internet without having it connected to a computer. Just because you don't find this feature useful doesn't mean it isn't for anyone else. Enough with the "irresponsible" hyperbole.

Just speculation on my part, but how about a future update that allows the scanner to receive alerts feeds from Broadcastify that are outside the listener's range with no computer needed? I could imagine that being a useful feature that would only be possible using Wifi for an internet connection.

Sent from my iPad Air using Tapatalk

 

[vindictive42]

BCD536HP: First Power On - YouTube

 

[pyteen]

As many people around the wolrd i waiting new uniden scanners.
- And what i have?
- Nothing.
My old GRE 800 have all new features of uniden 1 years ago.

 

[troymail]

BCD536HP: First Power On - YouTube

Interesting in case you didn't watch or hear what Paul said -- the screen/display "looks blue" to the camera but he says it's WHITE.

That's good.

 

[SCPD]

new radio

I think they should post a video of this thing decoding a Phase 2 system ,so we can see how Uniden decodes this!

 

[scnnr]

BCD536HP: First Power On - YouTube

That was an embarrassment.. :roll:

 

[ScanFanEd]

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.

This is simply not true. TRBO and NXDN use the /exact same/ vocoder as Phase 2 P25 and X2-TDMA. Since the scanner supports Phase 2 and X2, it is already licensed for the half-rate vocoder that TRBO and NXDN use. There is NO hardware changes required - it can all be done with firmware. Just the same as a 996/396 could get a firmware update to include ProVoice. But, for whatever reason, Uniden refuses to innovate.

Can anyone confirm this? If this is accurate, I assume that it may be *possible* that at some point we will have TRBO and/or NXDN capabilities with the 436/536??

 

[W4ELL]

Can anyone confirm this? If this is accurate, I assume that it may be *possible* that at some point we will have TRBO and/or NXDN capabilities with the 436/536??

It is true that NXDN and TRBO use the same AMBE+2 vocoder present in both of the new scanners. I can't confirm that adding these capabilities is possible via firmware update, however.