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

[bearcatrp]

After reading the english manual that just came out, looking at the modes, WTF is FMB? My current radios will take care of my needs so won't be buying this radio. Still waiting on the new Icom handheld coming out manual before I decide on that one. Can't wait for folks who buys this radio the users report. Could be interesting.

 

[belvdr]

After reading the english manual that just came out, looking at the modes, WTF is FMB? My current radios will take care of my needs so won't be buying this radio. Still waiting on the new Icom handheld coming out manual before I decide on that one. Can't wait for folks who buys this radio the users report. Could be interesting.

FM Broadcast

 

[bearcatrp]

Thanks. Though WFM was for FM broadcast. Thanks again.

 

[JCar24]

I have just read the manual, no auto store rules it out for me.

No auto store, No close call, and from reading the manual, no ability to save a found frequency from band scope mode.
No setting for backlight for both keypress and squelch like the 125. Just a dumbed-down 325. I hope the manual for the 160 is not the final draft.

 

[Coffeemug]

Even though, we're discussing UNIDEN's newest scanners, I just wish these radios were transceivers for GMRS as well. I'm sure both radios will be popular with Railroad enthusiasts and Aviation enthusiasts. I kind of wish UNIDEN or Whistler would come out with a radio that can monitor DMR IDAS/ NXD and P-25 Conventional and a GMRS radio with all 30 channels, at least on a handheld. Of course, I know that would probably drive cost of manufacturing up, but you have to admit.
Having one radio to monitor Railroads or Aviation while staying in contact your Family or Friends would sure be nice. I rather invest in one radio for two purposes.

 

[JvdK]

Even though, we're discussing UNIDEN's newest scanners, I just wish these radios were transceivers for GMRS as well. I'm sure both radios will be popular with Railroad enthusiasts and Aviation enthusiasts. I kind of wish UNIDEN or Whistler would come out with a radio that can monitor DMR IDAS/ NXD and P-25 Conventional and a GMRS radio with all 30 channels, at least on a handheld. Of course, I know that would probably drive cost of manufacturing up, but you have to admit.
Having one radio to monitor Railroads or Aviation while staying in contact your Family or Friends would sure be nice. I rather invest in one radio for two purposes.

yeah, I guess there will be a high demand for that kind of handhelds. Especially now you can buy those really cheap Chinese Baofeng or Quansheng radio’s, Uniden or Whistler will for sure get their investments back…..

 

[Coffeemug]

yeah, I guess there will be a high demand for that kind of handhelds. Especially now you can buy those really cheap Chinese Baofeng or Quansheng radio’s, Uniden or Whistler will for sure get their investments back…..

Hey, I do realize that manufactures, such UNIDEN and WHISTLER need to keep cost reasonable for consumers and to make a profit, so I won't be wasting my breath waiting a radio like that any time soon. Besides, I'm sure those manufactures must get approval from the FCC and meet the necessary requirements that goes along with that approval.

 

[mmckenna]

Besides, I'm sure those manufactures must get approval from the FCC and meet the necessary requirements that goes along with that approval.

They do.

Keep in mind that Uniden tried something similar (similar as in not the same) with the BearTracker 885, a combination scanner/CB radio.
While it does what it says, it's not the best CB and it's not the best scanner. So, consider a GMRS/Scanning receiver that would suck at both.

And someone would complain that it doesn't support amateur radio, or MURS, or something else.

 

[KevinC]

And someone would complain that it doesn't support amateur radio, or MURS, or something else.

Or Part 90, you know...just in case.

 

[Akuriko]

i was just looking at the specs and i did some stupid research, so the scanner is conventional with 1000 channels yet if you google nxdn and dmr it says its digital, so its half conventional and haf digital then? so a half and half hybrid?

 

[sallen07]

i was just looking at the specs and i did some stupid research, so the scanner is conventional with 1000 channels yet if you google nxdn and dmr it says its digital, so its half conventional and haf digital then? so a half and half hybrid?

"conventional" and "digital" are not opposites.

Conventional means "not trunked".

ANALOG is the 'opposite' of digital.

 

[KevinC]

i was just looking at the specs and i did some stupid research, so the scanner is conventional with 1000 channels yet if you google nxdn and dmr it says its digital, so its half conventional and haf digital then? so a half and half hybrid?

What???

 

[Akuriko]

my dumb question is is the new scanners coming out a hybrid?

 

[sallen07]

my dumb question is is the new scanners coming out a hybrid?

A hybrid between what and what?

The new scanners are digital. Every digital scanner and radio of which I am familiar can also function as an analog device.

The new scanners will not trunk-track. They can pick up conventional analog, NDXN, and DMR traffic, and will also monitor the voice traffic on a NXDN or DMR trunked system, like the Whistler scanners do.

As I said in my last post, conventional and analog are not opposites. *Most* (but certainly not all) emergency services up until say 15 or 20 years ago used conventional analog frequencies, but there were (and still are) analog trunked systems too.

 

[03msc]

my dumb question is is the new scanners coming out a hybrid?

Your question was answered above.

 

[JvdK]

i was just looking at the specs and i did some stupid research, so the scanner is conventional with 1000 channels yet if you google nxdn and dmr it says its digital, so its half conventional and haf digital then? so a half and half hybrid?

if you read the specs you could have noticed that on the flyer and in the manual Uniden write in fat (orange) letters: DIGITAL SCANNER. Secondly the prefix BCD stands for Bear Cat Digital.

 

[10-43]

They do.

Keep in mind that Uniden tried something similar (similar as in not the same) with the BearTracker 885, a combination scanner/CB radio.
While it does what it says, it's not the best CB and it's not the best scanner. So, consider a GMRS/Scanning receiver that would suck at both.

And someone would complain that it doesn't support amateur radio, or MURS, or something else.

Agree. Also a do all radio may limit the ability to concentrate on a primary objective. Even scanning multiple systems and channels causes you to miss traffic using only one scanner. I primarily monitor North Carolina State Highway Patrol because I am most interested in what they do. In certain situations, I use 3 scanners to catch all the traffic related to one incident. Using one scanner for all three agencies that may be involved causes me to miss a lot of what is going on. For example, NCSHP gets involved in a chase or SHP dispatch advises troopers of a chase involving city or county. They don't all use the same system or channel for such an event. Then, if there is an accident, fire and EMS get involved. So, it takes 2 or 3 scanners to monitor most of the traffic. Now, incorporating a transceiver into a single scanner isn't going to help one bit with keeping up on any incident. However, I once tuned my FT-857D to the analog frequency of Wilkes County SO while monitoring a SHP chase because I could not listen to both very well with one scanner in the car, but I never use the amateur radio to scan for traffic. Just in case someone assumes so, my FT-857D is not opened up.
It can only transmit on amateur radio frequencies. It only receives out of band. I do not want to worry about accidental transmissions out of band.

 

[trp2525]

I came upon some interesting information today on the CB Distributing website (cbdistributing.com) regarding the new BCD160DN handheld and BCD260DN base/mobile scanners. Their website specifically lists the MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) for the BCD160DN at $249.99 and the MAP for the BCD260DN at $349.99. That explains why all 5 of the online sellers of the two new models that I have come across so far (Bearcat Warehouse, Scanner Master, Uniden.com, CB World and Zip Scanners) are all selling both models for the same exact prices.

What is MAP pricing? "Minimum Advertised Price or MAP is the lowest price at which a retailer can advertise a particular product. Set by the manufacturer, MAP pricing helps protect the brand's value and profits by ensuring that the products cannot be priced below a pre-decided amount."

 

[03msc]

All Uniden scanners sold by retailers these days must follow MAP.

I remember back when Paul (UPMan) was still alive and very active on here, someone posted that a seller on eBay had a certain scanner listed at the correct MAP but there was a coupon on eBay for a few days that would cut $75 off the price…and Uniden made that seller raise their BIN price so that the coupon didn’t make the final price below MAP unless he wanted to lose his dealer status. The seller actually told this.

In my option that was going too far but I bring it up to say they’re very picky about it.

 

[KevinC]

All Uniden scanners sold by retailers these days must follow MAP.

I remember back when Paul (UPMan) was still alive and very active on here, someone posted that a seller on eBay had a certain scanner listed at the correct MAP but there was a coupon on eBay for a few days that would cut $75 off the price…and Uniden made that seller raise their BIN price so that the coupon didn’t make the final price below MAP unless he wanted to lose his dealer status. The seller actually told this.

In my option that was going too far but I bring it up to say they’re very picky about it.

I believe that was WebTron-X.