Keep BCD436HP or return?

[slowbalt]

Hey all,
I am coming back to the hobby after a few years hiatus. I already own a 396T and a 72XLT. I ordered a BCD496HP on Amazon to try out and am now at the return or keep point. I must say I am torn, and could use some opinions. Now for my situation; I am in a pretty rural area, and am really only interested in emergency related stuff, I also don't travel much so what I get here is all I really listen to.

Police: Currently on Analog, with on demand AEGIS encryption (about 80% clear and 20% encrypted) They are to be moved to a fully encrypted P25 Phase 1 system in the future (no timeline, could be tomorrow or four years from now).
EMS: Currently on the aforementioned P25 system, fully encrypted, no listening potential whatsoever.
Fire: One large department on the P25 system, but in clear. Most smaller dept. are in clear analog (with a possibility that some may be on an NXDN system which could be encrypted or not, didn't get to figure that one out yet, not sure I want to spend $$ on an upgrade which would be lost if I return it).
My thoughts on the 436: It's a nice radio, doesn't seem to have any perceptible reception advantage over the 396T. Love the ''standard'' charging port. Scan seems sightly slower than my 396T.

So for the final word: I like it but not sure I like it 600$ worth (Canadian Pesos here). I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to go straight to the SDS100 as future proofing, although the road ahead looks like more and more encryption and the fewer listening opportunities. Also the SDS100 is 1000$ here. 400$ more, but then again don't want to spend 600 now and shell out an other grand down the line.

 

[georgesharpe]

If you are in K/W Region, once that P25, Ph. I system is fully operational, you will be SOL for receiving ANY public safety at all. If you are in AB, all you may still have is fire, but if I were in your shoes, I'd keep my money. I have been mostly into air band, rail, bus, etc. The Police here have been on the big "E" since 2003. I find Whistler is the best for any future needs. If you find a TRX-1 on sale, buy that one.

 

[hitechRadio]

Besides encryption..600 dollars or even 1k is absolutely ridiculous money for a scanner.

Get an nooelec SDR, RTL-SDR for cheap..less than 50bucks. Need some computer skills, but you will have much more enjoyment..IMO

 

[hiegtx]

Hey all,
I am coming back to the hobby after a few years hiatus. I already own a 396T and a 72XLT. I ordered a BCD496HP on Amazon to try out and am now at the return or keep point. I must say I am torn, and could use some opinions. Now for my situation; I am in a pretty rural area, and am really only interested in emergency related stuff, I also don't travel much so what I get here is all I really listen to.

Police: Currently on Analog, with on demand AEGIS encryption (about 80% clear and 20% encrypted) They are to be moved to a fully encrypted P25 Phase 1 system in the future (no timeline, could be tomorrow or four years from now).
EMS: Currently on the aforementioned P25 system, fully encrypted, no listening potential whatsoever.
Fire: One large department on the P25 system, but in clear. Most smaller dept. are in clear analog (with a possibility that some may be on an NXDN system which could be encrypted or not, didn't get to figure that one out yet, not sure I want to spend $$ on an upgrade which would be lost if I return it).
My thoughts on the 436: It's a nice radio, doesn't seem to have any perceptible reception advantage over the 396T. Love the ''standard'' charging port. Scan seems sightly slower than my 396T.

So for the final word: I like it but not sure I like it 600$ worth (Canadian Pesos here). I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to go straight to the SDS100 as future proofing, although the road ahead looks like more and more encryption and the fewer listening opportunities. Also the SDS100 is 1000$ here. 400$ more, but then again don't want to spend 600 now and shell out an other grand down the line.

If you think Simulcast is in your future, then one of the SDS scanners (handheld or base/mobile) would be the best 'future proof' choice.

While the 396T was, and still is, a good scanner (I have one as well), you are handicapped by some of it's limitations. For the 396T, you do not have Multi-Site capability, so if a system that you can hear (and monitor (not fully encrypted)) is a trunked system with more than one site, you'd have to duplicate the system with talkgroups for each site that you expect to encounter. Plus, other than using start-up keys, or careful programming along with quick keys, you can't readily change the programming set-up in the 396T without a computer. Also, the 396T cannot utilize NAC codes for conventional but digital channels, and the 396 is not capable of Phase II (no idea whether any system in your area is leaning to convert to Phase II).

For the 436HP, you have both Phase II and Multi-site capability. While you may not use it every day, you do have the option of recording (on the scanner) a major incident of any type. Whether it's a train derailment, with haz-mat complications, a major weather event (severe storms, or massive snowfalls scrambling traffic as well as creating power failures, or any number of other things, you have the option of recording it. I recorded multiple hours, on two different scanners, when we had the incident in Downtown Dallas where five police officers were shot and killed, and the the suspect was eventually taken out with a bomb robot carrying a charge of C-4.

With the 436HP, or SDS100, or another database scanner, you can have multiple Favorites lists on the scanner, which can be activated with a few presses on the keypad, if you need to change monitoring focus in a different direction in a very short time. If any agency in your area is using (or thinking of switching to) DMR, the 396T cannot be upgraded for that. My 396T, which I purchased shortly after the introduction, is showing it's age somewhat. The scroll function is getting erratic. But it's not worth sending in for repair. I have not opened it up to try contact cleaner on the scroll control, because I have only a few frequencies loaded in it, so it's not a problem. I have other scanners that I can use as well.

I see that George suggested a TRX-1. As you indicate that you are in a rural area, that might be an option. I have the TRX, but it's severly handicapped by the Sherwood Forest of cell towers around me. While the GRE/Whistler scanners, including the TRX-1, are generally more sensitive than their Uniden counterparts, they are more likely to overload & desense due to strong transmitters near them,

An SDR dongle, as suggested by hitech, is a different option to monitor the newer system types, but that's not a portable setup.

 

[bgav]

Besides encryption..600 dollars or even 1k is absolutely ridiculous money for a scanner.

Get an nooelec SDR, RTL-SDR for cheap..less than 50bucks. Need some computer skills, but you will have much more enjoyment..IMO

Apples and oranges, especially when comparing to a handheld digital scanner like the 436.

To the OP: it's solely your decision based on your own cost benefit analysis, you'll get other people's opinions that are biased towards their own needs which are completely irrelevant to your decision.

 

[sfb88]

Since there seem to be some questions about SDS conventional monitoring capability ( sensitivity, interference, etc.) it might be optimal to buy an SDS, test it in your location and for your needs and send back the SDS, the 436 or both based on your results. Just make sure your vendor has a good return policy.

 

[tumegpc]

Definitely not the SDS100. The 436HP or TRX-1 will do a lot better.

 

[IC-R20]

I would return it and get the TRX-1. I was at the same point as you a while back and now I regret it everyday. The decode as well as the analog sensitivity on this thing is not very good. It was a real pain having to work around it's many shortcomings and now tends to sit on my shelf all the time while the WS1040 and TRX-1 see everyday use now.

 

[mitbr]

If your existing scanner works ok for you on the non public service systems than send the 436 back. get your money back. It appears that the public service stuff in your area is going encrypted so that is my advice.
Tim