Official BC-RH96 Remote Head Pre-Release Thread

[Freqed]

Speaker is driven by the scanner, no connection on the RH. There are way to many speaker options out there to lock you into a tiny speaker that we could fit into the RH, and why clutter up the front with more wire runs? So:

a) Use the scanner's speaker (if it is in a convenient place for hearing the audio), or
b) Run the audio up to a dedicated speaker, or
c) Connect the audio to your stereo's AUX input, or
d) ...

I have the SM remote head for my 796D and it is mounted in the trunk, mounted a speaker to the A pillar on the drivers side that directs the sound right into your ear and lets you run it down low to keep from annoying the others in the car. I like that the speaker wires from the main unit and keeps wire clutter to a min. at the RH unit.
You did have the option W/SM head to hook up a jack at the RH but it did away with the main units speaker hook up and if you ever removed the unit to take it inside for a programming update it would be useless to test without it.

 

[hotdjdave]

The decision for red was made months before this thread started, so that would certainly predate post 100.

Sorry, I should have written "the reason for the decision." I was a joke anyways...:lol:

 

[wise871]

It looks great. However, if it is $200, I would purchase another BCT15.

I was hoping for a lower price point so that you could use it with the BCD396T or BR330T. You can easily take the handheld in and out but have the Remote Head mounted.

Can't have it all.

I'm with you one this one. I would pay the extra $30 and just get a BCT15. The RH does give everyone more mounting options then trying to mount a full size scanner. There would be less cutting and you could easly mount it using velcro or small screws. I will have to think hard on this one becauses I thinking about mounting a BCT15 in my Tahoe and if I decided to use the RH, I wouldn't have to cut into my lower dash and I could tie it in with my 396.

 

[Shrike]

Grove Enterprises is taking orders at $199.95. I just ordered mine. No word on delivery.

Mike
Casper, WY

 

[safetyobc]

Grove Enterprises is taking orders at $199.95. I just ordered mine. No word on delivery.

Mike
Casper, WY

In my opinion, that is too much. I think that they will still sell these, but I won't be one of the customers on this unit. $125 would have been my limit. $150 would be stretching it a bit. But $200 is unrealistic when you can buy a "real" scanner for that price. I think Uniden overpriced themselves on this item. But that is only my opinion.

 

[jonny290]

It's a rough decision between this and a BCT15 for me in February. I need a 'base' scanner - I'm sick of trying to program a 396 with four wires attached at home - but I don't know, yet.

 

[Dubbin]

I'm sick of trying to program a 396 with four wires attached at home - but I don't know, yet.

Why do you need 4 wires attached to it just to program it?

 

[800crazy1]

thanks , that was my next question, ?

 

[AndrewC75]

Antenna, power, serial, headphone.

Of course, only one of those is required for programming, and none of them will be eliminated with THe RH96.

 

[hotdjdave]

In my opinion, that is too much. I think that they will still sell these, but I won't be one of the customers on this unit. $125 would have been my limit. $150 would be stretching it a bit. But $200 is unrealistic when you can buy a "real" scanner for that price. I think Uniden overpriced themselves on this item. But that is only my opinion.

Agreed. For almost the same price, you get the BCT15, as others are writing; and it is basically the same face, but with a scanner behind it. And none of this "the retailers make up the price" malarkey; the retailers base their price one the MSRP, so the manufacturer sets the base price. If Uniden's MSRP was $140.00, there is not a rational retailer around that would try to sell it for $200.00.

 

[Dubbin]

Antenna, power, serial, headphone.

Of course, only one of those is required for programming, and none of them will be eliminated with THe RH96.

You mean that none of those are "required" for programming

 

[garys]

You mean that none of those are "required" for programming

He said "only one", not NONE.

That's what happens when you try to reply at 1 O'clock in the morning!

 

[trido]

This is entirely controlled through the serial port (mini connector). No hardware modifications are needed to the scanners. RH needs only the serial connection and power. If the scanner is very remote (as in in the trunk), you'd also need to run a seperate remote speaker up to a suitable location or interface it to an existing audio system.

how will it get power?

 

[UPMan]

12V cigarette-lighter adapter into a barrel plug.

 

[jpjohn]

I'm not trying to spark a big discussion on what dealer is the best, etc. That discussion can be held somewhere else. But regarding pricing on the RH96......

The only dealers that I know of right now that have advertised the RH96 for sale are Grove and Scannermaster for $199.95. Considering they want about $25-$30 more for the BCD996T then CEI (usascan.com) does, it will be interesting to see what CEI ends up selling the RH96 for. I've got an email in to them to advise pricing and when preorders will be accepted.

I'm looking forward to the release. I'm hoping it is still on schedule (UPMan ?) for sometime in February.

 

[Dubbin]

He said "only one", not NONE.

That's what happens when you try to reply at 1 O'clock in the morning!

I know what he said but apparently you're missing my point

 

[garys]

12V cigarette-lighter adapter into a barrel plug.

So I take it there won't be the auto dim option as on the 996T/BCT15/

Gary

 

[garys]

I know what he said but apparently you're missing my point

Wouldn't be the first time!

Gary

 

[me714]

I'd have to agree with an earler post. $200.00 is waaay too much for a remote head, especially one that doesn't turn the unit on and off. Luckily, my BC-996 will fit under the CD player in the dashboard of my truck, so that solved that. BUT - I had hoped to use the remote with the 396 for trips in my wife's car.

Guess it'll just have to continue to flop around in the cup holder...

 

[wm8s]

I'm not sure of the effect of the POF command on the 996. I'm sure if it doesn't work correctly, I'll hear about it from Engineering, if not from one of you guys. Of course, our definitions of "correctly" might differ...

All POF does (not documented in the protocol manual at all for the 996, BTW) is reboot the scanner. It goes through the power down machinations, but then doesn't power off and immediately goes through the power-on cycle. It's kind of POF-NOT!

...R