BCD996P2 vs. BCD536HP

[AA6IO]

I have tjree 536HPs at different locations and two 996P2s. I have repeatedly posted on these forums that the 536HP is probably the best scanner out there from a feature standpoint, but the dimming displays and RTC issues are annoying. I saw the post by Paul Opitz advising that perhaps some kind of fix is in the works in the next few months.
In the meantime, the more I use the 996P2s, the more I like them. These are pretty much like the 996XT, which most of us would agree, is a pretty solid and reliable scanner. Of course, the 996P2 has P2, but I also find the P25 decode to be better than the 996XT (same is true for 325P2 vs 396XT). I realize the 996P2 doesn't have the same bells/whistles as the 536HP, but it pretty much works like it should. I like a nice bright display, and the color options of the display, are a nice feature. The 436HP and 536HP, for all their great feature, have pretty bland screens, and that's when you can see them.
Am I the only one drawn (so to speak) back to the workhorse features of the 996XT (now 996P2)? I know several forum members have the 996P2 together with the 536HP, and I wonder what your thoughts are. I still advise folks who are new to programming that the 536HP is easier to get going, but for those who are experienced with scanner programming (trunking and all), it is still hard to beat the 996XT/996P2 features.
Any comments appreciated.

 

[phillydjdan]

I have both and IMO the 996P2 is FAR easier to navigate systems/scan lists than the 536HP. The nice bright display is also a nice feature. I personally think the 996P2 sounds a little better and handles LSM slightly better although in my area LSM makes mobile scanning impossible on ANY scanner.

 

[Voyager]

The 996P2 is built on a proven platform. The reason it decodes better than the XT is the newer VOCODER. I expect the next generation to be even better with respect to decoding. Although I don't expect P25 Phase III to be out for several years.

One thing I find "annoying" is the small display of the 996 series once you are used to the text tags of the HP/x36 series. It reminds me of using non-trunking scanners after using trunking scanners (makes you wonder how you lived without them).

 

[walter900]

After surfing these boards..............I have come to several conclusions....... Just about everyone on here loves the multi color display options and alert display options of the 396xt, 996xt, and 996P2...... Everyone,,,,,,, except Uniden, as they are now not listening and moving backwards with bland white or orange single color displays..... Just a bad decision IMO....... If it ain't broke don't try to fix it, but jeeeeeeesh take a way a feature people like (multi color display) just foolish... I'm sorry but it is.... The 325P2 should have been based off the 396XT and not the 125.... Atleast they got the BCD996P2 100% right.... Good move, but fail on the 325P2 for folks looking for a BCD996P2 in a HH..... It just does not exist... And sadly, that is exactly what I am looking for.

 

[Voyager]

Maybe they should just add these features to the BCT15X? And P25 decoding with Phase II, and recording, and a better display, and.....

Seriously, you can't expect the top line features in a mid-tier product, and the 325 is the first mid-tier product Uniden has released. Yes, it's based on the 396XT, but it's not intended to be the top-line product. So, it won't have all the best features. I'm surprised the 996P2 has the color display, but then you could argue that the WiFi, recording, large display, etc features of the 536 put it far enough above that they can add the color backlight without competing with the 536.

(queue smart donkey comments by the haters)

 

[MStep]

I took me a few days to acclimate to the "primitive" display of the 536 after having used the HP1 extensively for several years as my primary scanner. One can certainly get spoiled. Nevertheless, the feature set on the 536 won me over, and for mobile use, the 3-line display on the 536 can be switched on to make the on-screen text much more readable.

The HP1 and HP2, having been highly praised for their displays, should convince Uniden that we're looking for better displays on any new top-of-the-line scanners that might be introduced down the road. Perhaps a better display on the 436/536 would have priced the units too high for what Uniden would have considered acceptable to generate the number of sales they had projected.

So many factors come into play with the design and manufacture of new products that it is almost futile trying the second-guess what the manufacturers had in mind. For my money, the 536 is the best scanner out there right now, even if it doesn't have the "pretty face" of an HP1 or HP2.

 

[Voyager]

A 536 with color touchscreen display (AND keeping the tactile buttons) would have really kicked butt.