Looking into Base/Mobiles.

[far342]

Got into scanning earlier this year and started with a BC75XLT and eventually got a BCD325P2 in August. Been able to scan just about everything I've wanted to and had great performance. But now I've been wanting to get a base scanner for desktop use at home as I don't travel that much. Just looking for some tips/advice/info anything of the sort.

First I started looking into the 996 as it's the counterpart to my 325, but quickly my eyes went towards the 536HP as it seems to have a lot more features including better Unit ID support which is something I very much like to use. However I'm not so enthusiastic to the pricing I typically see for the 536. Amazon seems to be random depending on the account and always on the higher end, and I'm not so sure on any good websites besides ScannerMaster to look for. I got my 325 used on eBay for a decent price and great condition but that always feels like a bit of a gamble and luck to even find one being sold for low and good condition. Do scanners ever go on sale on major websites for the holidays?

Even though I've only used Unidens so far, I wouldn't be opposed to try out a Whistler. I'm just not so informed on the differences between the two. Any specifics I should know about going from Uniden to Whistler?

Just any helpful info or recommendations about base mobiles would be very helpful and appreciated. I don't wanna go above $600

 

[hiegtx]

Got into scanning earlier this year and started with a BC75XLT and eventually got a BCD325P2 in August. Been able to scan just about everything I've wanted to and had great performance. But now I've been wanting to get a base scanner for desktop use at home as I don't travel that much. Just looking for some tips/advice/info anything of the sort.

First I started looking into the 996 as it's the counterpart to my 325, but quickly my eyes went towards the 536HP as it seems to have a lot more features including better Unit ID support which is something I very much like to use. However I'm not so enthusiastic to the pricing I typically see for the 536. Amazon seems to be random depending on the account and always on the higher end, and I'm not so sure on any good websites besides ScannerMaster to look for. I got my 325 used on eBay for a decent price and great condition but that always feels like a bit of a gamble and luck to even find one being sold for low and good condition. Do scanners ever go on sale on major websites for the holidays?

Even though I've only used Unidens so far, I wouldn't be opposed to try out a Whistler. I'm just not so informed on the differences between the two. Any specifics I should know about going from Uniden to Whistler?

Just any helpful info or recommendations about base mobiles would be very helpful and appreciated. I don't wanna go above $600

Keep an eye on the Uniden Prospective Owners forum to see if anyone has found a really good, if temporary, deal.Threads like this one will pop up if someone has stumbled on sale pricing.

I'm in Texas, so the "penalty" of 8.25% sales tax usually wipes out their discounted prices, but Main Trading, in Paris Texas often has good sales prices. Sometimes, these show up if you add the target scanner to your shopping cart. At the moment, Main Trading lists the 536HP @ $649.00, but if you add the scanner to your shopping cart, pricing drops to $571.12, well under Amazon's $649.98. No idea if that is about to expire soon or not.

Amazon adjusts pricing up & down, depending on whether another online source has a great deal. Amazon often matches that, until the sale or promotion ends, then pushes the pricing back up to pre-sale cost.

I don't know if there are some, as et unannounced, "Black Friday' sales lurking out there, but you never know for sure if one is coming.

Regardless of whether you purchase a 996P2 or 536HP, if you purchase (or already have) ProScan software, it will allow you to "import" a programming file for one model Pro-Scan supports, then modify it for use in a different Uniden model. I have the 325P2, but not the 996P2. I do have both the 436HP as well as the 536HP, and both the SDS100 & SDS200. If simulcast is not a problem in your area (if your 325P@ is not having simulcast issues), then either the 996 or 536 would work for you. There is more flexibility with the 536HP, in that you can have several different Favorites lists available on the memory card, and swith between them, or any combination of them, without using a PC. For the 325P2 & 996P2, other than using a larger programming file, divided between several "start-up keys", you need a PC to swap ut a complete programming file.

 

[bearcatrp]

I would suggest the SDS200. Your area may not have simulcast issues now but it’s coming. The display is great. The added waterfall display is a good tool to see if a frequency your listening to has another frequency close by causing issues. I had the 436. Was a good scanner but the display was hard to see at times. Keep an eye out for Black Friday sales on a SDS 200 then jump quick if you find one. I also have a 325P2. Good scanner but has its issues with simulcast. Good luck with your decision.

 

[K4EET]

The Uniden BCD536HP is an excellent choice as long as you don’t run into Simulcast Distortion issues. I am in a multi-site simulcast area but my Uniden BCD536HP performs just fine. If you do have issues with Simulcast Distortion, then the Uniden SDS200 would be the best choice.

The other thing you want to look at is software for your scanner to program systems in as well as many other features. That software would be ProScan by @ProScan which I have and simply love. If you don’t have that software, take the fully functional software for a FREE 30-day spin to see firsthand what all it can do. I think you will agree that ProScan is very powerful.

 

[far342]

Keep an eye on the Uniden Prospective Owners forum

Amazon adjusts pricing up & down, depending on whether another online source has a great deal. Amazon often matches that, until the sale or promotion ends, then pushes the pricing back up to pre-sale cost.

Regardless of whether you purchase a 996P2 or 536HP, if you purchase (or already have) ProScan software, it will allow you to "import" a programming file for one model Pro-Scan supports, then modify it for use in a different Uniden model. I have the 325P2, but not the 996P2. I do have both the 436HP as well as the 536HP, and both the SDS100 & SDS200. If simulcast is not a problem in your area (if your 325P2 is not having simulcast issues), then either the 996 or 536 would work for you. There is more flexibility with the 536HP, in that you can have several different Favorites lists available on the memory card, and swith between them, or any combination of them, without using a PC. For the 325P2 & 996P2, other than using a larger programming file, divided between several "start-up keys", you need a PC to swap ut a complete programming file.

Thanks for the info. I have not been having any simulcast issues with the main systems I monitor so I'm very happy about that. I keep flip flopping on 996 or 536 but right now I'm leaning 996 for obtainability but the 536 is still very appealing for the features it has. I'll probably be able to decide as Christmas gets closer. I've been using ProScan for quite a few months and it's a really nice program. I love using it for figuring out UIDs especially.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks for the info. I have not been having any simulcast issues with the main systems I monitor so I'm very happy about that. I keep flip flopping on 996 or 536 but right now I'm leaning 996 for obtainability but the 536 is still very appealing for the features it has. I'll probably be able to decide as Christmas gets closer. I've been using ProScan for quite a few months and it's a really nice program. Iy as your 325P2, so any of your current fprolove using it for figuring out UIDs especially.

At the moment, Amazon shows the 996P2 @ $377.45. ScannerMaster is @$499.99. Of course, as we know, Amazon pricing flexes up and down based on prices elsewhere. But at this time (obviously subject to change without notice), you can purchase the 996P2 at the $377.45 price, but spread the cost out to 5 monthly payments of about $76, with no interest charges.

As you already have ProScan, the 996P2 is programmed exactly the same way as your 325P2, so you already have some program files that can be used as is, no conversion required.

Both the 996P2 and the 536HP are solid performing scanners, without a lot of chronic issues reported. The 536 (and its 436HP sibling) got off to a rough start initially, with the OTC battery and fading displays, but those issues were resolved years ago. If you do not currently need (or want) the additional features of the database 536HP, the 996P2 should work well for you.

 

[tvengr]

It would help to know your city or town, county, and state so we can take a look at the database to determine if there are any simulcast sites in your area.

 

[far342]

It would help to know your city or town, county, and state so we can take a look at the database to determine if there are any simulcast sites in your area.

Albany, Linn County, OR. The main site I use is the Benton County Simulcast Site on the SW7 TRS. I haven't had any issues with it and the performance is good. There is also another site I can use which gives most of the same traffic as the Benton site (Albany Police, Linn County Sheriff, Benton County Law, etc.) known as the Scott Mtn. Site. Note that I tend to have better reception on the Benton County site than I do on the Scott Mtn site, which is why I use it more.

 

[hiegtx]

Albany, Linn County, OR. The main site I use is the Benton County Simulcast Site on the SW7 TRS. I haven't had any issues with it and the performance is good. There is also another site I can use which gives most of the same traffic as the Benton site (Albany Police, Linn County Sheriff, Benton County Law, etc.) known as the Scott Mtn. Site. Note that I tend to have better reception on the Benton County site than I do on the Scott Mtn site, which is why I use it more.

Looking at the SW7 TRS system in the database;

SW 7 County Interoperable Public Safety Radio Partnership Site: Benton County Simulcast

SW 7 County Interoperable Public Safety Radio Partnership Site: Benton County Simulcast Details

www.radioreference.com

Look at the site map for the link above.

The Benton County Simulcast site has a sub-site (transmitter location) in Albany, near Linn County S. O. Since, based on your comments, you are in Albany, that sub-site location is very near to you, and quite possibly has a strong enough signal to your location that it overrides the slightly out of sync signals from other transmitter sites. Close proximity to a specific sub-site, with a strong signal, is one of the factors that can negate simulcast issues.

Bottom line: If you are not having simulcast problems with your 325P2, odds are you would not have problems with the 996P2, since their capabilities are very similar.

I should add that, if instead you elect to move up to the 536HP, it’s performance on simulcast is somewhat better than the P2 series scanners, so that swap would be of little to no consequence for that site location.

 

[far342]

The Benton County Simulcast site has a sub-site (transmitter location) in Albany, near Linn County S. O. Since, based on your comments, you are in Albany, that sub-site location is very near to you, and quite possibly has a strong enough signal to your location that it overrides the slightly out of sync signals from other transmitter sites. Close proximity to a specific sub-site, with a strong signal, is one of the factors that can negate simulcast issues.

That makes sense. Thank you!

One thing I forgot to mention is that I've been having trouble optimizing my scanning on my 325. I very often find it missing transmissions from analog because it takes about a second to scan a P25 Site. I looked through various forum posts and found some slightly helpful tips but nothing that could solve it fully. I have all the Linn County conventional analog stuff in it's own one system simply called Linn County and most of the time I only scan that and the SW7 Benton Site. I did see that having PL/DPL tones programmed can cut off the beginning of transmissions, especially on one frequency that I listen to (Lebanon Police), so I just set it to search for tone on most of them.

I also set the Linn County system hold time to 1 second to match it with the SW7 Site. This helped somewhat but I still had times where I'd miss good portions of transmissions. Another thing I've tried on top of the previously mentioned is setting the delay of the system to 5 seconds. However, this is just barely too long of a delay time as some frequencies don't need it to be that long (mainly the County Fire Tone-Out Dispatch) so they will just linger on those for too long. With the 325 you cannot set the delay time to any amount of time between 2 - 5 seconds the options for delay just go straight from 2 Sec to 5 Sec and it must be on the entire system and cant be set to a single frequency or group. Having the delay be that long creates the same issue of missing transmissions but on the SW7 system instead.

I installed Sentinel just to see what options the Database Scanners have for programming and on those it lets you change the delay of a single frequency AND it can be set to an amount of time between 2 - 5 seconds. Unless there are any other ways to better optimize the scanning on the 325, just the delay option alone on the 536 would be a big selling point for me.

 

[bearcatrp]

If your spending most of your time on analog, why not shut off digital to see if scanning analog improves.