robo21
Member
The following is based upon my listening to digital, non-trunked, conventional broadcasts in my area (Southern California) YMMV.
After researching the top 3 digital portable scanners over the last 45 days or so here is what I've found:
Radio Shack Pro 96 -
Pros: Very easy to program and use, fair sound quality. Cheaper, was on sale for $399.
Cons: Very much prone to frequent "motorboating" or buzzing which totally obliterates the broadcast. The only way to correct this is to go off channel and then back to that channel. This is the heaviest and largest of the 3 units. Less memory. No PC cable or AC adapter included - maybe not cheaper cost after all.
Uniden BCD 396T -
Pros: Small size and weight, good sound quality, lots of memory.
Cons: Very steep learning curve, cumbersome user interface, less info in the display.
By far the most annoying flaw was the constant dropouts during a broadcast causing me to miss out on lots of significant info during a broadcast. This alone renders this unit almost useless for my needs. This unit is also prone to "motorboating" or buzzing at the beginning of a digital broadcast, but at least here it clears after a couple of seconds.
GRE PSR 500 -
Pros: Good sound quality, easy to use, nice user interface, USB cable included with unit, lots of memory, no motorboating/buzzing/dropouts.
Cons: Squelch wheel is wrapped around volume knob.
For my purposes the PSR 500 is working out far better than either of the other two. I've only had it for 4 days and I'm clear that this is the keeper.
After researching the top 3 digital portable scanners over the last 45 days or so here is what I've found:
Radio Shack Pro 96 -
Pros: Very easy to program and use, fair sound quality. Cheaper, was on sale for $399.
Cons: Very much prone to frequent "motorboating" or buzzing which totally obliterates the broadcast. The only way to correct this is to go off channel and then back to that channel. This is the heaviest and largest of the 3 units. Less memory. No PC cable or AC adapter included - maybe not cheaper cost after all.
Uniden BCD 396T -
Pros: Small size and weight, good sound quality, lots of memory.
Cons: Very steep learning curve, cumbersome user interface, less info in the display.
By far the most annoying flaw was the constant dropouts during a broadcast causing me to miss out on lots of significant info during a broadcast. This alone renders this unit almost useless for my needs. This unit is also prone to "motorboating" or buzzing at the beginning of a digital broadcast, but at least here it clears after a couple of seconds.
GRE PSR 500 -
Pros: Good sound quality, easy to use, nice user interface, USB cable included with unit, lots of memory, no motorboating/buzzing/dropouts.
Cons: Squelch wheel is wrapped around volume knob.
For my purposes the PSR 500 is working out far better than either of the other two. I've only had it for 4 days and I'm clear that this is the keeper.