BCD536HP Discussion Thread

[N1SQB]

Both the 436 and 536 include the "Extreme" features in the purchase price. The $100 delta between models is primarily due to the Wi-Fi functionality (although the hardware itself, without the Wi-Fi, is a bit more expensive on the mobile than the handheld, and also accounts for some of the delta).

Thanks UPMan for clearing that up! It's a lot to take in all at once and it can get confusing! I just got off the phone with a retailer who is very hopeful that the January availability date holds true. I told him, "me too"!

Manny

 

[dispatcher812]

Thanks UPman for clearing that up! It's a lot to take in all at once and it can get confusing! I just got off the phone with a retailer who is very hopeful that the January availability date holds true. I told him, "me too"!

Manny

Is this a local retailer? After consideration a may go ahead and buy the new one. I am starting to like the features more and more and hopefully spending 200 extra dollars for the "just in cases" will pay off.

 

[N1SQB]

Yes a local retailer! I will PM you so this thread doesn't get off topic!

Manny

 

[policefreak]

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First off I would like to say good job and thank you Uniden and I wish you well on this new scanner. Thank you for being transparent and also listening to what we have to say. We are fortunate to have Upman around who reads this forum and points us in the right direction. I am excited about both these new radios. As for myself I may buy the 536 after all the kinks have been ironed out IF AND ONLY IF P25 reception on phase I and more importantly phase II and X2 TDMA is solid. I must say my county went to X2 TDMA this year and I have the GRE PSR 800 and many times I can hardly hear the audio at all, its all garbled up. Many in my area have complained the same thing regardless of antenna used, fiddling with settings, etc. It sounds like crap on that radio, yet mutual aid coming from several miles out of county can communicate with county flawlessly all day. I even heard it works in a bank vault! So this radio has got to do.a much better job than the GRE with this and phase I LSM issues as well or its no go for me and I will not recommend this radio to anyone else.

 

[policefreak]

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Also sorry if I missed it in this forum, but the OP mentioned an LED alert which makes it easier to determine what you're listening to. Can anyone tell me where it is on the unit and how it is supposed to work. I don't remember Upman mentioning it in the video and haven't really heard discussion on it, but I find this to be one of the essential features to my listening experience on other radios.

 

[N1SQB]

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Also sorry if I missed it in this forum, but the OP mentioned an LED alert which makes it easier to determine what you're listening to. Can anyone tell me where it is on the unit and how it is supposed to work. I don't remember Upman mentioning it in the video and haven't really heard discussion on it, but I find this to be one of the essential features to my listening experience on other radios.

The LED alert lets you select a light that coincides with the squelch opening. Almost like a carrier-on-indicator, with your choice of colors.I believe it is assignable per object. So in theory, you can have a blue light come on when a PD transmits a red light when an FD transmits, etc...
Now where it is on the 536HP scanner, that's a good question, I didn't think about it until you mentioned it! The light is just above the top left corner of the speaker on the 436HP. (see the image on the first page on the 436HP thread)

Manny

 

[scantime]

I've scoured the front of the 536 and don't seen an LED anywhere. Perhaps one of the keys below the display is backlit or lights up when an alert is rec'd...?

 

[bravo14]

I had a question on the wifi. Say if you have a closed wifi that requires password do you have to program it into the app itself or the radio?

 

[UPMan]

You would have to enter it on the scanner and in your smartphone (not in the app, but in the normal place you would go to connect your phone to Wi-Fi).

 

[SCPD]

new scanner

hey upman,how about a video with the new scanners decoding Phase 2 digital?
We all wanna see that,Im sure.

 

[dispatcher812]

Playing with the Sentinel program now, Very interesting. Are you able to scan more then 1 favorites list with this new scanner?

 

[Jay911]

Playing with the Sentinel program now, Very interesting. Are you able to scan more then 1 favorites list with this new scanner?

Yes; it's based on the HomePatrol, and I routinely scan 4 favorites lists plus the full database on my HP.

 

[dispatcher812]

Yes; it's based on the HomePatrol, and I routinely scan 4 favorites lists plus the full database on my HP.

Excellent, thanks Jay

 

[Oriley]

Garage Powered Speakers

WARNING! If you connect an external speaker to the scanner’s Ext. SP jack or headphone
jack, never connect the audio output line to a power supply and ground. This might
also damage the scanner.
BCD536HP Only - All audio output is Class-D amplified (PWM). Never connect Ext. SP
jack or headphone jack to an external Class-D AMP.

Without a 'rec out' on this one I'd have to connect to the external speaker jack I guess. Last year someone said I'd have to be careful not to turn the scanner up with the outside ones on, I could blow the speakers. I can get around that okay. I THINK I can use these without problems....correct???

Amazon.com: Altec Lansing VS2620 Speakers for Computers and MP3 Players (Black): Electronics


Thanks

 

[garys]

Playing with the Sentinel program now, Very interesting. Are you able to scan more then 1 favorites list with this new scanner?

Yes. You associate a Favorites list with a Start Up Key or Keys. Being able to affiliate a FL with multiple Start Up Keys is a big advance. As is being able to append systems to multiple Favorites Lists. Once you start to figure out Sentinel, there is a lot of flexibility available.

I used the Alert LED feature on the Pro 600 and Pro 197 radios that I programmed. Blue for PD, red for FD, orange (custom color) for EMS. I don't know if Sentinel allows for custom LED colors as the GRE radios did, but I haven't looked that closely in to that feature.

One thing I will caution people on is using that for portable scanners. It sucks up a lot of battery power in a portable.

 

[ofd8001]

With the WIFI connectivity at home, does this present the opportunity to program the scanner via the WIFI rather than physically connecting the scanner to a computer? (As in updating the database/favorites lists).

Part B of the question is to have some type of software that you could control the scanner from a PC, just as you would with the siren app.

I know a good number of folks have their scanners close to computers in their shacks. However I see some benefits having the scanner separated from the computer. (Less interference, shorter coax run if external antennas are used).

 

[diskmonger]

UPMan,

Do the new models display radio ID's on P25 conventional without having to set each channel up as a single trunked system?

 

[bear780ks]

Start Saving that loose change today

I don't know about you guys but I'v got the Penny the Dime's and Quarter Jars already started and by the time that 536 comes out my Poke will be kind of fat and ready for purchase of one pretty Radio. K-bear

 

[brennank]

With the WIFI connectivity at home, does this present the opportunity to program the scanner via the WIFI rather than physically connecting the scanner to a computer? (As in updating the database/favorites lists).

Part B of the question is to have some type of software that you could control the scanner from a PC, just as you would with the siren app.

I know a good number of folks have their scanners close to computers in their shacks. However I see some benefits having the scanner separated from the computer. (Less interference, shorter coax run if external antennas are used).

That is a fantastic idea. I would love a feature like that.
I keep my scanner mounted in my truck; but my garage has WiFi coverage. Then I could use my main WiFI connected computer to program instead of running a laptop out the to truck every week.

I did see something in the 'first start up' video that concerned me though. It was the fact that when you power off the scanner all the data has to be written back to the SD card. I have my scanner powered by the same ACC power as my factory radio (via upfitters plugs). So when I remove the key from the ignition the power is killed to the radio. I don't really want to have to remember to turn off my radio and allow it to save every time before I remove my keys. That is a BIG turn off to me. I really like being able to leave the power knob on and have the scanner turn on and off with the vehicle.

 

[UPMan]

It only writes back certain state changes that have recently happened. For example, it might not keep the backlight status or some other minor function. Major things are saved when you do them (since SD cards have limited number of write cycles, we don't want to use up those write cycles on minir things).