BCD536HP Discussion Thread

[03msc]

... I wish I understood why there are so many people who are hell-bent on trashing these radios. If you don't like them, you don't like them. Give it a rest. Especially considering you have a few-minutes-long video to base all your information from, and not the software nor the manual.

Yes, there could be a few things done better. I've said some of them myself...

Agree.

 

[Highpockets]

I would have liked to see it more like the 996XT where you just pull the info you want from RR rather then the whole database.

Bigger screen is nice, and a few of the other features. Looks like a nice unit.

Before I buy a new scanner I'll check out what Whistler has to offer.

Marshall, the nay/yea post was the best one you ever made on RR.

 

[Highpockets]

IMO If you would not have closed the the Uniden is having an Online Party thread down less than an hour after the broadcast, both the 536HP and 336HP threads would have been more on topic.

Pros and cons are on topic, if sure UPMan is taking notes, it helps for future features or additions he can add before it hits the market.

 

[gtaman]

I wonder if you could ever update the firmware to cover DMR? That would be awesome.

 

[KE4ZNR]

I would have liked to see it more like the 996XT where you just pull the info you want from RR rather then the whole database.

It appears that the Favorites Lists feature with Favorites Lists Quick Keys, System Quick Keys and Department Quick Keys will allow you to do this. Scan just what you want
or scan it all. The choice is yours

Bigger screen is nice, and a few of the other features. Looks like a nice unit.

It does appear that the display screen is much larger with a lot more info.

Before I buy a new scanner I'll check out what Whistler has to offer.

Not a bad idea. I too will be looking to see what Whistler brings to market and I am sure I will be adding their radios to my collection as well. Competition is awesome for us the consumer. What Uniden does not offer hopefully Whistler brings to market and vice versa.

Marshall, the nay/yea post was the best one you ever made on RR.

I will take that as a compliment.
All the best to you and yours over the Thanksgiving holiday Steve!
Happy Monitoring to all
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[georgebill]

Looks like a great evolutionary step in scanner technology. Thanks, Uniden, for continuing to support this hobby!

 

[E-Man]

Pros and cons are on topic, if sure UPMan is taking notes, it helps for future features or additions he can add before it hits the market.

I disagree, I do not see how complaints and what the Scanner is not going to be, beneficial to anyone. Its not the info I care to wade thru. But whatever HP.

 

[PhillyPhoto]

I wish I understood why there are so many people who are hell-bent on trashing these radios. If you don't like them, you don't like them. Give it a rest. Especially considering you have a few-minutes-long video to base all your information from, and not the software nor the manual.

I'm not hell-bent on trashing it, it's something previous scanners had that I was looking forward to with the new one. I noticed the old connector was gone and was making an observation.

Since the base will have ad-hoc WiFi, Uniden could release a WiFi remote head that would work with it. You wouldn't have to run extension cables either. Then with the option of running the speaker from the head or base would finish it out nicely. Nothing I saw in the presentation or what I read says anything about a remote head either way, so it's all speculation at this point whether there will be one or not.

 

[Jay911]

I'm not hell-bent on trashing it, it's something previous scanners had that I was looking forward to with the new one. I noticed the old connector was gone and was making an observation.

Since the base will have ad-hoc WiFi, Uniden could release a WiFi remote head that would work with it. You wouldn't have to run extension cables either. Then with the option of running the speaker from the head or base would finish it out nicely. Nothing I saw in the presentation or what I read says anything about a remote head either way, so it's all speculation at this point whether there will be one or not.

It's clear that Uniden intends the operation of their "Siren" app on a tablet or phone to take the place of a "remote head". Given that, I don't see why they would spend money on R&D and production of a wifi-enabled facepiece to satisfy what I suspect is a very small slice of the market (those who want a "real" remote head).

 

[kman]

Wifi

it sounds like the Wi-fi is not build in but more of a dongle and as such it's a surprise you could not build this in. as putting the scanner in the dash and connecting on USB will mean that at some point it will come loose.

Unless other add-ons will come out for it like updated usb GPS

 

[troymail]

X2-TDMA I thought that was the same as phase ll? .

Nope - two different things. X2 was delivered for some systems in advance of the TDMA (Phase 2) standard. The one and only X2 system in my area just recently upgraded from X2 to Phase 2. I expect X2 will only be a short-lived thing at this point.

 

[Highpockets]

I disagree, I do not see how complaints and what the Scanner is not going to be, beneficial to anyone. Its not the info I care to wade thru. But whatever HP.

There is still time to add things before it's release. When the HP came out it didn't have the 3-4 second delay, that was added because someone mentioned it in a post in the HP Thread. And that could happen with this model also.

 

[Jay911]

I can't find it, but somewhere in the thread, someone was wondering about whether or not the radio was DIN-sized. The manual shows the same DIN-E sleeve that came with the 996T/996XT, so that should handle that concern.

 

[rbm]

I'd be interested in knowing if there's a way to clone or import frequencies from the current generation of scanners.

I have over 12,000 frequencies in my current configurations.

I want to be able to preserve my current 'Systems', 'Groups', etc.
I can now use my favorite txt editor to do global changes etc.

I don't mind giving that up if I can 'port' them to the new scanners. I sure wouldn't want to start all over again.

I wouldn't want to have to manually input all of those again AND I don't want to be 'stuck' using whatever format RR decides is 'right'.
I know what I want and I want to keep using it.

Rich

 

[HDMechanic]

I haven't seen any mention of discriminated audio out. That's one of the things I would like to see. Then you can at least listen to turbo and ect with DSD

 

[Ersin]

Hopefully it is a 1DIN scanner aswell so I can easily slide out my 15x and slip this right in. Looks amazing. Nice work Uniden.

Good news. It is. See bottom of page 7 in the manual (http://info.uniden.com/twiki/pub/NEWSCANNERS/WebHome/BCD436-536HPOM_EN_10182013.pdf).

 

[jvdet]

wasted bandwith I agree I dont see this as a flagship radio,
however it will be a replacement when or if my 396 dies - maybe
Phase 2 is good but as others have posted Mototrbo is making head way into Public Safety - by me there are 2 counties going trbo as edacs dies out. And dozen of local agencies switching to trbo as they upgrade to 'narrow' band.
The downloading from RR on to the SD card seems like a good improvement - what some of you have tags do not accurately lable TG/ channels correctly IMHO - and this means alot of manually re-entering most labels-names ....
but hey this is just a hobby lets calm down

 

[cherubim]

The manual is a bit vague and reads more like a draft copy. There is no clear outline of frequency bands and even talkgroup limit per trunked system.

 

[Boatanchor]

No longer have any interest in a PSR-900 or whatever Whistler will call it.

Not sure if this is a statement or a question. But hell, I would buy the 900 just for the remote head ability!
Phase 2 in a Uniden scanner just ain't that big of a carrot for this little rabbit.

Uniden still don't appear to have fixed the all important simulcast problems that users have been screaming about for over 5 years now.

And, who really wants to mount an Android tablet to their dash just so they can remote control their scanner in the trunk?

If Whistler can produce the 900 with a little more functionality (they have an opportunity now to tweak the firmware and match or even exceed the new Uniden scanners in function and performance) and retail it for $50 less than the 536HP, Uniden will have some very serious competition for mobile/base scanners. There are certain things that the GRE/Whistler scanners do better than the Uniden scanners and it remains to be seen if Uniden have fixed these issues in the new models too.

 

[Jay911]

I'm sure the manual is indeed a draft. The frequency bands are outlined on page 79, and since this appears to use the same DB architecture as the HP1, I would wager that the talkgroup constraints are the same as with that radio.