IowaGuy1603
Member
You can upload the frequencies by Zip code to the PSR 800
Is that what you mean by Home Patrol?
Is Whistler teasing us?
- Thread starter jasonhouk
- Start date
- Status
You can upload the frequencies by Zip code to the PSR 800
Is that what you mean by Home Patrol?
N8IAA
Member
Not true. The PSR-800 gets the same updates from the RR database as the HP-1. I own both radios. I do my updates the same way for each updating the database in both the Sentinel and EZScan software programs. Then I update the SD cards in both scanners.
I, then can update my Favorite List/and/or Scanlist.
So, where is the difference?
Larry
stingray327
Member
Well Uniden makes a separate Home Patrol base scanner. Now they have the 436 and 536 out with Home Patrol features. So all 3 of these scanners are on sale. Just trying to decide which two to get. Need one base and one mobil/handheld.
stingray327
Member
I don't know about p2 it just depends on what I monitor but that is the most up to date feature to have which would prove to be very useful when mobile especially going through areas I am not familiar with..
It also depends on HOW you want to use the unit. The 436 is a portable. The 536 is a mobile. The HP1 is a psudo-combination that is ideal for hotel rooms (a portable base). Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on your intended use. I would say the most versatile would be the 436 since you can use it portable, mobile, or base, and on any system types any scanner receives (decodes).
Also, most new systems sold will be P25 Phase II, so you may as well make the leap now.
Joe M.
cherubim
Member
The display on the BCD436HP looks terrible. It reminds me of an old monochrome CRT monitor from the 80's.
LIScanner101
Completely Banned for the Greater Good
I think you answered your own question.
If you think you will definitely need P2, then you HAVE to get either the 436HP, 536HP, a GRE PSR-800 or wait for one of the rebadged Whistler scanners that have P2.
But if you do NOT need P2, then you can use an HP-1, 396, 996XT etc.
It depends upon what you want.
LIScanner101
Completely Banned for the Greater Good
I think that's going to be the real hinging factor. I'm currently looking into the area I live in as well as an area I travel to for business quite a bit (CA Bay Area) to see if P2 is going to be dominant.
LIScanner101
Completely Banned for the Greater Good
I've only seen pics and Youtube videos but it does leave something to be desired. They should bring back the 780XLT display - that was one of my favorite scanners and the display was AWESOME.
Dafe1er
Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
- Messages
- 817
- Reaction score
- 20
@stingray327
To me, newer is always better but, what is better for my pocket is the way I go.
I see that for SF you have P25 Phase 1 systems and also Motorola type 2 systems. This could all change on the P25 side of things sometime in the future to a Phase 2 system(s). Just never know.
San Francisco County, California (CA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
If you know for sure nothing is going to change in your area as to the Counties going to phase 2 then you can look at the HP-1 and the others mentioned. The HP-1 is a good unit and you can get them at a decent price.
My best advice would be this. Wait.
Wait until the new Whistler products roll out (If any for phase 2 decoding come) and see what is going on with them.
I personally have the HP-1 and now the BCD436HP units. There is a couple places out here where I am that do the Phase 2 but for the most part things are Phase 1. I bought the 436 thinking that if anyone of those on the Phase 1 side upgrades to the Phase 2 I will be ready.
I really do not need the 436 but wanted to find out for myself if I could bring things in that others were not able to do.I read so many negative reviews and rants that I just could not take the wait anymore. I have been lucky with this unit so far, it has been a GOOD investment and this weekend I get to test the 436 against the Phase 2 system some out here are having issues with.I might have issues like them but might not. That is the fun in getting something new to me. Put it to the test. Plus this Phase 2 system I am testing out is really NOT that important to me as the location is about 80 miles one way from me and at home I do not need to hear them.....lol
In ending, It is all about what YOU want. If you want new and shiny then you know your answer. If you want to wait and see then the same as the latter. either way I wish you luck and happy scanning in the future.
To me, newer is always better but, what is better for my pocket is the way I go.
I see that for SF you have P25 Phase 1 systems and also Motorola type 2 systems. This could all change on the P25 side of things sometime in the future to a Phase 2 system(s). Just never know.
San Francisco County, California (CA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
If you know for sure nothing is going to change in your area as to the Counties going to phase 2 then you can look at the HP-1 and the others mentioned. The HP-1 is a good unit and you can get them at a decent price.
My best advice would be this. Wait.
Wait until the new Whistler products roll out (If any for phase 2 decoding come) and see what is going on with them.
I personally have the HP-1 and now the BCD436HP units. There is a couple places out here where I am that do the Phase 2 but for the most part things are Phase 1. I bought the 436 thinking that if anyone of those on the Phase 1 side upgrades to the Phase 2 I will be ready.
I really do not need the 436 but wanted to find out for myself if I could bring things in that others were not able to do.I read so many negative reviews and rants that I just could not take the wait anymore. I have been lucky with this unit so far, it has been a GOOD investment and this weekend I get to test the 436 against the Phase 2 system some out here are having issues with.I might have issues like them but might not. That is the fun in getting something new to me. Put it to the test. Plus this Phase 2 system I am testing out is really NOT that important to me as the location is about 80 miles one way from me and at home I do not need to hear them.....lol
In ending, It is all about what YOU want. If you want new and shiny then you know your answer. If you want to wait and see then the same as the latter. either way I wish you luck and happy scanning in the future.
Last edited:
shotgundan
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2007
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 0
Anyone think that Whistler might release a firmware update for the Pro-18? Sure
would be nice to bring it up to PSR-800 specs.. I guess we can all be hopeful.
would be nice to bring it up to PSR-800 specs.. I guess we can all be hopeful.
LIScanner101
Completely Banned for the Greater Good
Very good post, excellent actually :wink: - thanks!
I THINK my areas of interest are going to be OK for now ("OK" being defined as P1 only). I found today that there is no P2 traffic on the current 500MHz Nassau County TRS system - it's a P2 system, but since its inception only P1 talkgroups have been logged on it. This means I can get away with a lot of older digital scanners. Of course, Murphy lives with me so of course you KNOW the moment I get a P1 scanner Nassau County will slam down that P2 switch.... :lol: Oh well, it's a decision I gotta make sooner or later. I still get to listen to a TON of stuff here on Long Island and even in the Bay Area but there are times that I wish I had a digital, as you mentioned SF has gone digital for a lot, and then there's East Bay which is all digital. Decision time - wait for GRE or buy a 996XLT now - gotta think about this. I know you recommended the HP-1 but I really like the 996's old-fashioned keyboard/DIN packaging and the HP-1 packaging doesn't really appeal to me.
Most likely I will just wait it out.
LIScanner101
Completely Banned for the Greater Good
Nobody knows for sure but if I had to guess I would imagine that would be VERY low on their priority list.
I know that in my area they are deploying P25 phase II to upgrade a SmartZone system. But the determining factor is getting the local radios changed over to APX units. Until then its phase I only.
Dafe1er
Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
- Messages
- 817
- Reaction score
- 20
If I was in your situation, I would wait for the big "W" to release what they might this year and make the decision off that. That is of course if you have another scanner already capable of picking up phase 1 and have the ability to wait a few more months.
Boatanchor
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2011
- Messages
- 991
- Reaction score
- 5
How to mess up a design & product release.
Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way
To me, it looks like some half arsed, messy, beta version with the fonts and field spacing all wrong.
Makes you wonder how engineers could make such a large display look so goddamned awful?
I prefer the 'clean' look of my 396XT over this new monstrosity.
So what if the name field is required to toggle some information.. All the important stuff is still displayed on the screen.
And, did the engineers miss the market research that would have told them that bigger ain't better when it comes to 'portable' devices?
The 436HP is bigger than my damned PSR500, which is already too big to carry around on my belt or tuck in a pocket - Unbelievable!
I'm still holing out hope that Uniden will release an updated 396XT style digital scanner in the same, or similar form factor.
Rick
Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way
To me, it looks like some half arsed, messy, beta version with the fonts and field spacing all wrong.
Makes you wonder how engineers could make such a large display look so goddamned awful?
I prefer the 'clean' look of my 396XT over this new monstrosity.
So what if the name field is required to toggle some information.. All the important stuff is still displayed on the screen.
And, did the engineers miss the market research that would have told them that bigger ain't better when it comes to 'portable' devices?
The 436HP is bigger than my damned PSR500, which is already too big to carry around on my belt or tuck in a pocket - Unbelievable!
I'm still holing out hope that Uniden will release an updated 396XT style digital scanner in the same, or similar form factor.
Rick
Second that Rick, it is a brick thingo ! My 346XT, 396XT and Icom R6 are preferred devices to take out of the house. GRE 310 always stay indoor and never even make to the vehicles. Just too big to clip on the belt. New Uniden being even larger is a no goer. After all Ho Ha and build up to the release it become a fizzier for lot of us. Nah, PASS.
Chris
Chris
Last edited:
LIScanner101
Completely Banned for the Greater Good
I am really starting to think that Uniden did NO or VERY LITTLE market research.
Oh wait, I'm supposed to be singing their praises! My bad :roll:
I returned my 436 and will now wait for Whistler to release their line of scanners. Always liked the size of the PSR800.
Ed6698
Active Member
Well I am definitely holding out for a while on a scanner. Lake County is going to be switching to a 700mhz P25 Phase II in a year or so. The ISP is on SAFE-T simulcast here. Since this area is going to be almost all digital soon for public safety for the most part, I want a scanner that excels at digital. I already know my PSR-500 is good at digital. I have been itchin to buy another scanner, but I have to wait and see what the new Whistler1080 is like. I am going with the one that works the best with Phase II in my area.
- Status
