One ring to rule them all?

[Rred]

It seems that the Uniden BCD436HP and the Whistler WS1080 or 1088 are the closest thing to "one scanner that does everything" and fits in the hand.

Does anyone have experience with both, to compare their pros and cons? Or did I miss something that shames them both?

How well the software available on both works? If things have to be purchase as extra? Whether a GPS really will automate changes on a long road trip?

Or if there are limits on memory, kludgy things about programming, etc. that set either apart? Quality control issues, low audio, anything else that makes one or the other much superior?

It seems like both will work all modes, all frequencies (except cell phones, that's fine) including P25, and that a new model of either should be able to handle P25 phase 2, without extra purchases or configuration. But without buying two and spending a week comparing, I thought I'd ask for some opinions from the crowd.

First purpose will be to monitor local P25 public service traffic, second and much lesser purpose to keep an ear out on interstate trips.

 

[popnokick]

Usually wedding rings rule all.

 

[jonwienke]

I'd vote for the 436. The receiver is better at rejecting adjacent-channel interference, and the unit supports GPS-based scanning, unlike the Whistler. It's slightly better at handling simulcast, but neither are perfect in that regard. It's been out long enough that the quality control issues have been ironed out for over a year.

I've done GPS scanning on multiple cross-country road trips, and it works pretty much as advertised. There are occasional glitches due to database errors (usually errors in location coordinates or service ranges), but it's about a 98-99% automated solution. The main things to keep in mind are being selective about what Service Types you enable (just law, EMS, fire, and Multi dispatch, talk, and maybe tac), and keep Range set to 5 miles or less. If you're the adventurous type and don't mind voiding the warranty, you can have a GPS installed inside the 436. Once you've tried scanning with GPS, you'll never go back to manually toggling stuff on and off while traveling.

Sentinel does pretty much everything you need for programming, but some of the functions are labeled oddly.

Memory limits are not an issue, given that the internal database has pretty much everything in the USA and Canada. The 1MB limit for Favorite Lists will accommodate the largest multistate trunked systems, and you can scan up to 256 Favorite Lists.

 

[Rred]

Thanks, Jon. I can appreciate some of the shortcomings (i.e. simulcast) because sometimes the answer is "That's why the real radios cost xx thousand dollars" and sometimes you've gotta pay to play.

Can you point me to any links about adding an internal GPS? I suspect there's already a prototype of that built, and they're just sitting on it until they feel a need a release a "reason to buy a new radio" since even ham h/t's have been shipping with internal GPSes for some time now. SIRF4 chips happened a long time ago, IIRC qualcomm and others sell a combo gps+wifi+bt chip set for all of $5, as used in cell phones. The rest is all politics. Ergh, Marketing.(G)

On mildly corrupt databases and accuracy while traveling, you know the old punch line: The miracle is that the dog talks at all.

 

[jonwienke]

Can you point me to any links about adding an internal GPS?

https://forums.radioreference.com/u...nal-gps-mod-tech-support-q-4.html#post2872142
PM me for more info if you'd be interested in having me do the mod for you.

 

[Rred]

Thanks. Interesting mod, but I'll wait until I've got a radio and it is out of warranty, before I think about doing that.(G)