First Look: Uniden BCD996xt

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KE4ZNR

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And sorry I missed it does the keypad light stay one colour? or change with all the colours?

You set the backlight to be one color then you can also set each channel/Talkgroup to "Alert" with a sound and or different color backlight and whether the backlight will flash slow or fast.
As an example:
My normal backlight is Cyan.
I have Raleigh FD Alert channel set with flashing fast red.
I have Wake County FD Alert channel set with flashing slow red.
I have Wake EMS Alert flashing slow green.
So even when the radio is turned down I know which TGID is active from across the room.
Marshall KE4ZNR
 

K5RYA

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You set the backlight to be one color then you can also set each channel/Talkgroup to "Alert" with a sound and or different color backlight and whether the backlight will flash slow or fast.
As an example:
My normal backlight is Cyan.
I have Raleigh FD Alert channel set with flashing fast red.
I have Wake County FD Alert channel set with flashing slow red.
I have Wake EMS Alert flashing slow green.
So even when the radio is turned down I know which TGID is active from across the room.
Marshall KE4ZNR

I think he mean does the back light change colors to match the LCD screen or is it a single color independent of the LCD.
 

SquierStrat

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the keypad color, not the screen.......

does the keypad (the buttons) change colors with the screen, or is it the same color all the time?
 

KE4ZNR

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the keypad color, not the screen.......

does the keypad (the buttons) change colors with the screen, or is it the same color all the time?

The keypad backlight is always white but if memory serves me right will flash on/off alongside of the display backlight when alert is activated.
The display backlight can be changed to any of the 7 colors.
Marshall KE4ZNR
 

GTO_04

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My present 996 sounds a bit "tinny"...any comment on the sound quality from the 996xt. And how does the automatic AGC seem to be working with various channel reception. Trying to get as much info before upgrading from the 996t
Thanks

Is there a change in the speaker grille from the 996T to the 996XT? That will probably tell you how much different the audio will be on the XT. They changed the speaker grill from the 396T to the 396XT and it made a HUGE difference in the audio.

I also am interested in any comments about the audio of the 996T. I have a PRO 197 and the audio is nice, but the volume adjustment is very "touchy." The volume adjustment on my 780 and and 796 is much easier to work with.

GTO_04
 

KCoax

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I've been using mine for the past couple days. I gotta say the audio on the digital P25 systems is way better than on the 396T. Better audio even with 396T at full bars! The 396T digital often sounded like a nextel 2 way underwater in a microwave oven. 9 times out of 10 digital sounded crisp and clear. I've also had improvements with conventional UHF and VHF bands. Currently, am using the Radioshack 800mhz rubber duckie. Tried the telescope, but seems the RS is working all around better. My purchase was based primarly on the amount of TGIDS (500) per trunked system, better APCO P25 digital decoding, and Preemptive Priority Trunking. I have not owned a 996T, therefore, I cannot make a comparison. Overall, I am happy with the upgrade. Now I just have to learn the other features.
 

RoninJoliet

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I plan on a purchase of the 996XT soon, i livein ILLINOIS and monitor the new Starcom 700/800 digital P25 system...On my 396XT and i presume the 996XT SYS-QK-28 has 78-Sites for Starcom most being in the 800mgz band...This past two weeks many 800towers were rebanded so those buyers of the 996XT will have to change most of the 800 freqys 15mgz lower in SQK-28 in ILLINOIS....
 

JLM7424

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Although I agree the GRE "clone" from radio to radio is SUPER FAST

The Uniden has 300% the capacity of the GRE (in main memory / channels) so yes the 996T will be slower uploading 85% of the Unidens memory (still 280% of the GRE memory size).

The XT will now have 1300% memory of the GRE (main memory / channels) so be ready for an even longer wait.



Please Elaborate how does the memory work on the new Xt models is it 25000 mems all in one group or is it broken into virtual files of smaller quanity ? I thought their were some kind of virtual filing system ?

I hate to say it But Does'nt the Gre psr600 technicaly still have more memory ??

The Psr 600 Reload reloads 1800 mems and reboots in 45 Seconds
 

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UPMan

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The BCD996XT has 25,000 channels available all the time. It isn't broken up into parts like the GRE.
 

KE4ZNR

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Hello...

How is the receive and sensitively on the new radio ?

Thanks

Tony M.
Harrison, NJ

Very good but that is a subjective question which is difficult to answer due to a number of factors including antenna used, system being monitored, location of radio, etc.
But if you live in Central NC I can pretty much guarantee that you will be happy. :)
Marshall KE4ZNR
 

GTO_04

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Is the speaker mounted on the bottom? Does it have a built in bracket to raise it above the flat level, like the 796?

GTO_04
 

kb8rvp

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Is the speaker mounted on the bottom? Does it have a built in bracket to raise it above the flat level, like the 796?

GTO_04


The speaker is on the bottom but you can go into the menu and change the screen settings to flip the screen 180 degrees so it will then be on the top which is a cool Uniden feature.

Mike
 

kb8rvp

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Unfortunately, their online order reciept states:

"Our shipping department is closed on Tuesday."

I listened to that message too but when I asked the guy on the phone about that message he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about saying they were open every day.

Mike
 

K5RYA

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The speaker is on the bottom but you can go into the menu and change the screen settings to flip the screen 180 degrees so it will then be on the top which is a cool Uniden feature.

Mike

Ya, then all your buttons are upside down. If your concerned about speaker volume get an external speaker.
 

scannersnstuff

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my buddy bought a 996t. he has it sitting on a wood kitchen stool. he had it held by the bracket.never really payed much mind to where the speaker grill was. he said he was not thrilled with the audio. i turned him on to an external speaker.he had never really thought he needed one. he can't believe the difference in audio. i'm using 2 old computer speaker's hooked up to my 2 bct-15's.excellent sound quality.
 

wdz

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You can always use the bail bracket it comes with as it's base to give it some elevation. The bracket even has rubber feet now so it doesn't scratch up your stuff!

Also I can't believe how good the P25 is! I used to to own a 796d which I sold a long time ago because the digital was so unintelligible that it was pretty much worthless. They sure have come a long way!
 
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