Bcd996t

[roadman1977]

This is my review of the BCD996T. I just picked up the BCD996T today and this is one neat scanner!! I have been using the BCD396T scanner and the BCD996T blows the BCD396T out of the water in terms of audio and sensitivity. This scanner pulls in signals that the handheld version can't touch. The BCD396T would altogether miss these signals while the BCD396T pulls them in like a champ. In terms of audio the BCD996T wins again. I have been using the BCD396T with an external speaker and had to crank the volume way up and even then it sounded like a tin can compared to the base unit. The internal speaker is okay but kind of weak sounding to me. Even though I loved the portability of the BCD396T I would rather have a base unit....they just seem to perform better than the handhelds. The BCD996T reminds me of the good old days with my BC796D. The only thing I did not like about the BC796D was the fact that it used banks.....the BCD996T comes to the rescue with dynamic programming!!

Does anyone else notice a performance decrease with handhelds when compared to base units??

I am not knocking the BCD396T...it is just not what I am looking for in a scanner.

 

[KE5BCP]

What antenna were you using on each scanner?

 

[K7TKR]

That's a little wierd, the 396 and 996 are esentially the same radio, with few minor differences-the major one being the site management and GPS capability with the 996. I use a mobile antenna in the truck and the "rubber ducky" that came with 396 when off the truck( using the 396). Of course the mobile antenna draws in more then the rd on the 396. Basic common sense there. But, side to side, one seems to work equally as well as the other. And of course there's always location-one's proxcimity to the tower, transmitter etc to consider.

Pretty sure I won't give up eithor or of my scanners. Both have thier niche and both fulfill that niche quite well.

My opinion.