BCD160DN/BCD260DN: Is this a new Uniden model? BCD260DN

[JoeBearcat]

Joe Bearcat defaulted to his "above my paygrade" answer on price and availability.

Do you know what that means? It means it is not my decision. I have not even heard an estimated MSRP yet. I imagine it will be determined by the bean counters who - literally- get paid way more than I do.

 

[JoeBearcat]

My last comment is that for a guy that had his for two years he doesn't seem all that familiar with some of the features.

Testing ended about 18 months ago. Yes, some of us do not have perfect recollection. That includes both Jonathan and myself.

so does anyone think this scanner was pushed for just the rail roader? i personally think this sunk uniden

There is a progression to releases. Not every release is for the high end user. There are three or four models BELOW the 160, and they all sell well enough to be produced. OK, this one does not fit your needs - there will be others. How many questions do you see here about the SR30C?

 

[JoeBearcat]

As a railroader I do not see why people are saying this is for the railroader. Very few railroads use NXDN, I do not believe any use DMR. Most transmissions are conventional VHF. I liken this to a comment I saw in the maritime monitoring about that going digital. Too many radios to make that happen in any timely manner.

Is it better to have a model available before it's needed or wait until after it's needed? Every RR is equipping their trains with NXDN-capable radios. At some point a switch will be thrown and there would be cries of "why was Uniden late on this?"

There are other segments that do not need trunking, too - like hams. How many trunked ham networks exist?

While railfans and hams and airbuffs (civil and MilAir) may not seem like a big segment, they are not to be ignored either. Even the SR30C sells and that is analog only. I bet few in this thread would want one of those. The BC125AT (also analog only) is hugely popular, but some railfans want to be ready or already have NXDN users in their areas.

Too often people are under the mindset "I'm not interested in that, so nobody is".

 

[JoeBearcat]

Here we have some conventional DMR channels. But there is a huge DMR T3 network in my city. Very sad to see there is no trunking.

There are a number of models that support trunking.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Its not for me but I see where Uniden is going with this scanner. A lot of trunking systems for fire and police are going encrypted, so why bother offer it if you cant listen to it? Experienced hobbyists already probably have scanners to fit their areas needs. My question is if these new scanners are DMR and NXDN ready to go, or do you have to pay extra to unlock them.

They decode them out of the box - no upgrades required.

 

[lx2005]

There are a number of models that support trunking.

Yes I already have one. Just think of getting another scanner that supports DMR T3.

 

[03msc]

Too often people are under the mindset "I'm not interested in that, so nobody is".

Nailed it.

 

[JoeBearcat]

I would have no way of knowing that.

That was a not-so-subtle hint.

 

[JoeBearcat]

So they are basically like the TRX scanners in functionality?

I'm not that familiar with the TRX although I have wanted one to try for years. So I can't comment on that comparison.

Think of it as a non-trunking, non-P25, no-Close-Call BCD325AT/BCD996P2. That gets you close.

 

[JoeBearcat]

I misread his post, thinking he was telling us to continue the discussion there rather than here, thanks for clearing it up.

Didn't think it was censorship, just a misunderstanding.

Sorry - I did mean to continue it here, as we don't need duplicate threads.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Sorry - I did mean to continue it here, as we don't need duplicate threads.

Thanks, my mistake, and you are doing a great job sharing what you can when you can.

 

[werinshades]

As it's been mentioned before , the 2 new scanners will not be a replacement for the SDS series. So, that means, it's not going to be made with the same chip they use on the SDS scanners. It looks like a 996P2, probably with that "revised hardware" we kept hearing about firmware upgrades accommodating, Like it's 996P2 predecessor, it will probably be able to have DMR/Cap+ and NXDN capabilities as well as P25 Phase 2 Trunking. It might come included, and could be sold at a higher price to offset the licensing fees Uniden has to pay. If the handheld version looks similar to the 325P2, then you'll have a pretty good idea.

Some here don't have issues with simulcast, or their departments are encrypted and don't have interest in purchasing a more expensive SDS Simulcast capable scanner, that they can't monitor the local police and in some cases, fire departments. I know many say "well their is plenty other things to listen to", and marketing a scanner for those that are following that line of thinking, this might be the perfect fit. I don't see a market for a follow up SDS scanner unless suddenly laws change and we can monitor encrypted traffic. Firmware upgrades would be a plus, but that has been a long time coming too.

Looks like I was pretty close. The "DN" was a dead giveaway...DMR/NXDN included. I was just a little off on the trunking part. I guess we can look forward to those "long-awaited/on the list" firmware upgrades soon.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Thanks, my mistake, and you are doing a great job sharing what you can when you can.

Thank you. I know these models are not for everyone. They are not intended for everyone.

With that, and having been burning the midnight oil, I'll be back tomorrow at some point (well, later today technically) to answer more questions and perhaps address some other great things that are going on at Uniden. There is progress on several fronts including firmware, QC, and new features. Full disclosure: I can't talk about the new features yet, but it is very encouraging. Uniden is making a comeback after COVID, supply chain shortages, and a lot of other things some will blame on me.

 

[hiegtx]

This is Uniden's UGO

"I want a power adapter for my Ugo radio"
"OK, that's a fair trade"

 

[JoeBearcat]

Looks like I was pretty close. The "DN" was a dead giveaway...DMR/NXDN included. I was just a little off on the trunking part. I guess we can look forward to those "long-awaited/on the list" firmware upgrades soon.

Not soon enough, but there is progress. OK, I'll spill the beans. Currently being tested is an improvement for digital decoding of all digital modes (P25, DMR, and NXDN). I know we all want more ASAP, but updates are starting to roll out.

 

[Ronaldski]

Seems like these are trying to fill a very small niche out of the niche of people who want to listen in on scanners. Small customer market for sure.

What I see with these two models is this. I have worked with a LOT of people and media in my area with digitals since they are more complicated over the ole analogs people are used to programming.
I have had several dozen people who without knowing, buy just on cost, look at paying for a radio, $100 or $350+... well they buy the $100 model, i.e the current 125AT. Then they find out of course no 911 due to not able to do P25. Regrettably I have had quite a few who have bought the $100 ones including 75XLT's and current 125/sr30c and find out too late and they are out of the return window.
Granted this is the case in my area and almost all of Michigan, other areas are different. Although as times have gone on is that 911 agencies have been moving to P25 trunking.

Outside of a mere handful that like railroads, rest of them ALL want 911, including these railfans.

What is going to happen IMHO people see, oh wow this one is digital and it's less than the 325P2/996P2's, also they will be seeing they look just like those P25 models, so then they end up finding out no 911 due to no P25. The retailers will be getting a lot of returns.

My suggestion and hopefully is already going to happen is this, offer just like the current line to purchase addon digital formats.
Have it available to purchase the ability to enable P25 trunking. It clearly is capable of it appears since its able to do DMR/NXDN.

I think what has been said here and understand these are the scanner enthusiasts that on the surface, these aren't going to very popular, outside of hopefully enabling to purchase a p25 trunking addon.

 

[werinshades]

Not soon enough, but there is progress.

Beta releases before public releases?

 

[JoeBearcat]

Beta releases before public releases?

Yes. It is in beta testing currently. (to clarify, the decoding improvement)

 

[hiegtx]

They decode them out of the box - no upgrades required.

Joe,
Unless I skipped right over it without noticing, will the DMR capability allow entry of a slot or talkgroup? I know these are not 'trunking' radios, but I've seen quite a number of smaller towns where they use the same frequency, in DMR mode, for both PD & FD. A lot of them just use a generic (default) talkgroup of "1", but assign PD to, say, Slot 1, & FD to Slot 2.

For the TRX series, which we know does not actually trunk track DMR or NXDN, you can program, in a conventional channel, both the slot & talkgroup on DMR (with, of course, also the color code).

 

[battleflag]

I love my 125AT so I'm excited to see an updated model in that same genre. Most all the public safety around me is encrypted so I really can do everything I need with the 125AT. This new scanner will give me some added features without having to break the bank on a top of the line model.