Favorite and Least Favorite Scanners?

[KQ4VKM]

I am simply curious about everyone's opinion given the wealth of experience here: Everyone, what is both your favorite and least favorite scanner that you have ever owned? I'll go first: my favorite scanner would have to be the Uniden SDS100. While I concede the battery life is less than stellar and the controls can be a bit complicated at times, that thing hears **everything**. It is incredible how many new options I have for new things to listen to since I upgraded to it. My least favorite scanner would have to be the old Radio Shack Pro-107 "iScan". Their mission of making scanning a more easily accessible hobby was admirable but who on Earth thought the control layout on that monstrosity was a good idea?! It picks up what is advertised on the tin just fine but I cannot force myself to wrestle with its awkward "iPod style" control layout to use it anymore.

 

[KevinC]

Seems like we've had multiple threads like this in the past, but the absolute worst scanner ever made was the Regency HX-2000, second would be the JIL SX-200.

 

[mule1075]

Seems like we've had multiple threads like this in the past, but the absolute worst scanner ever made was the Regency HX-2000, second would be the JIL SX-200.

Agree on those but tied 3rd in my opinion is the Uniden 8500xlt and 2500xlt. And right up there is the Electra Bearcat 350 which I have 2 one works when it wants to the other not so much at all.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I've never met a scanner I didn't like, just some I wouldn't buy !

 

[Hit_Factor]

Over the last 50 years I've had many. My favorite is Unication G4, simulcast P25 is the only thing I monitor. Sold off all of my other scanning kit. Bluetail was high on my list, but Todd is Bluetail and he is gone now.

 

[K9KLC]

Over the last 50 years I've had many. My favorite is Unication G4, simulcast P25 is the only thing I monitor. Sold off all of my other scanning kit. Bluetail was high on my list, but Todd is Bluetail and he is gone now.

Same reason I have 2 G5's however occasionally I use one of those for VHF analog and P-15 conventional, depending on where I'm at. I still occasionally use my old Relm 180 for some analog stuff and while at home I have a BCD 536 that handles the one system I listen to at home that is bothP-25 and dispatched on analog.

Also the the one Missouri system I monitor is both 700/800 and VHF both, and I just take the amplified base ( for the external antenna hookup) and put it in the car and it scans MOSWIN great!

 

[KQ4VKM]

Seems like we've had multiple threads like this in the past, but the absolute worst scanner ever made was the Regency HX-2000, second would be the JIL SX-200.

Ah, my apoligies if I posted something that’s already been posted in the past. I admittedly didn’t check, I just suddenly had the idea to post that question this afternoon.

On your worst scanner ever, though, I’ve heard of the HX-2000 (I’ve seen them go for $20 on eBay recently as I’ve been looking for some new toys lol). It has a pretty poor reputation and I’m sure it is absolutely deserved.

 

[KQ4VKM]

Over the last 50 years I've had many. My favorite is Unication G4, simulcast P25 is the only thing I monitor. Sold off all of my other scanning kit. Bluetail was high on my list, but Todd is Bluetail and he is gone now.

I’ve been looking into the Unication pagers recently. I’m very interested in the G5 but I can’t get myself to pull the trigger as I’d like to get a few other things first. I’m glad to hear they perform well, I may bump the G5 up a few notches on my “to-buy” list after that recommendation lol

 

[KQ4VKM]

Same reason I have 2 G5's however occasionally I use one of those for VHF analog and P-15 conventional, depending on where I'm at. I still occasionally use my old Relm 180 for some analog stuff and while at home I have a BCD 536 that handles the one system I listen to at home that is bothP-25 and dispatched on analog.

Also the the one Missouri system I monitor is both 700/800 and VHF both, and I just take the amplified base ( for the external antenna hookup) and put it in the car and it scans MOSWIN great!

I almost got a BCD 536 a few weeks ago, but I ended up settling for the BCT15X as it was on sale and most of what I wanted to monitor was analog anyway. It lives above my old Pro-2006 on my desk now, and I’m pretty satisfied with it. I’ve never heard of the Relm 180, though.

 

[K9KLC]

 

[K9KLC]

Photo from the internet. I'm not home at the moment.

 

[K9KLC]

I’ve been looking into the Unication pagers recently. I’m very interested in the G5 but I can’t get myself to pull the trigger as I’d like to get a few other things first. I’m glad to hear they perform well, I may bump the G5 up a few notches on my “to-buy” list after that recommendation lol

It's important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Unication pagers. Quick answer for monitoring "one site at a time", there's nothing better unless you have a subscriber radio. If you need to monitor different sites at the same time or a combination of trunking and conventional at the same time it's not the device for that.

 

[frazpo]

396XT, BC200XLT, and the PRO 2006 are faves that at one point I've owned.

 

[GlobalNorth]

BC-300. It was very prone to failure in an office setting.

 

[rf_patriot200]

BC-300. It was very prone to failure in an office setting.

Hmmm... the display gave up on mine.

 

[Blackswan73]

Bluetail Nano is my number one. My worst scanner was a Midland 4 channel crystal scanner.

B.S.

 

[RichardKramer]

Hmmm... the display gave up on mine.

Do a search for Uniden BC300 scanner display issues. Usually due to a bad capacitor.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Do a search for Uniden BC300 scanner display issues. Usually due to a bad capacitor.

If I still had it, I would have explored it more. Back then I had a lot less electronic training than I do now. The fluorecent display became so dim, to the point of not being readable.

 

[RichardKramer]

The AOR1000. Terrible intermod, but did rx weak stations. I had one of the early models that kept drifting off frequency when going in different temperature areas. It was due to not having a temperature compensated oscillator. So, having 1000 channels, the first 500 channels I programmed when the radio was in temperatures that kept on frequency; the other 500 channels programmed with the same frequencies but 10KHz off is where it drifted to in colder air.
AOR did offer repairs to fix the oscillator with an oven compensated one at no charge except for shipping it to them. I did send mine back and when I got it back, it stayed right on freq no matter the temperature.