Please help with scanner model selection

[theTastyCat]

Hi all - let me say in advance how much I appreciate all of your expertise.

I've had an older, dinky, non-trunking Bearcat in my truck for about five years now. It served me well in the small town I used to live in, but now that I'm in Nashville, I'm aware of how much I'm missing not having a trunking scanner. So - I did my homework and the BCT 15 looks just glorious. Here's the problem: I had a beautiful custom overhead console made for my truck to house my Uniden PC68XL CB and my old Bearcat. However, I wasn't very forward-thinking, as the console can only accommodate radios which are 6 3/4" wide or less - and the BCT 15 is 7 1/4" wide. I've decided that it's impossible to modify my console without it looking completely ridiculous, so I've been looking for a similar scanner that will fit. The next-best thing I could find seems to be the Pro-2055. It looks pretty sad next to the BCT 15, but the best scanner in the world isn't the right one if it won't fit.

I've been a bit scared of the Pro-2055 due to everyone's displays failing, and it sure isn't the eye candy of the BCT 15. But, it fits. So - if you were in my position, would you get a Pro-2055 or is there a better model that's 6 3/4" wide or less?

Thanks so much,

Gerry

 

[DaveIN]

If I'm not mistaken, the PRO-2055, 2096, and 2054 are the same DIN-E size as the BCT-15 and 996. It looks to be the standard these days.

 

[theTastyCat]

According to radioshack.com, the pro-2055 is 5.3 inches wide and 7.2 inches long, as opposed to the Uniden, which is 7.24 inches wide and 6.06 inches long.

Oh, how I wish the BCT 15 were 5.3 inches wide...

 

[rchalupajr]

The RS Pro-2055 is a good scanner. If you are worried about the display problem, stay away from any manufactured in 05. Dave is correct, the models he mentioned are true DIN- E size. While the BCT-15 has a few more features, sound like the 2055 is more what you need for your situation.

 

[theTastyCat]

Perhaps I'm reading the numbers wrong - believe me, I'd jump at the BCT-15 if I knew it would fit in my console - but when it says the width is 7.24 inches wide, surely that means the measurement from side to side...I have read that the BCT-15 is DIN-E sized, but that 7.24 inches is 1/2" too wide for my console *sob*.

Here's the site for the BCT-15 specs:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...sories&productId=2476543&support=support&tab=

Same site, Pro-2055 specs:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...oductId=2123168&support=support&tab=techSpecs

So, if the max width I can fit is 6 3/4", is the Pro=2055 still the best choice?

Thanks,

Gerry

 

[rchalupajr]

The pro-2055 is also 7-1/4 inches wide, so looks like neither one will fit your application. what about mounting in or under the dash?

 

[theTastyCat]

According to the above link and all the rest I've found, the Pro-2055 is in fact 5.3 inches wide. Where does it say it's 7 1/4" wide??

 

[rchalupajr]

On the tape measure that I measured mine with... The unit measures 7-1/4 wide, 5-3/8 deep, (from front face) and 2-3/16 tall.
Obviously, the 5.3 is the depth, not the width. Radio Shack referes to the length, which is actually the depth. they have the length and width
mixed up.

 

[theTastyCat]

Great, thanks for clearing that up. Man, oh man - now I gotta think hard. Darn it! Oh well. Perhaps I'll conceive a way to fit it in.

Thanks again - you saved me two trips to Radio Shack!