Radio shack 106 VS uniden bcd436hp

[jonwienke]

I think programming your scanner for multiple sites is a major factor in potential problems. If you are listening to a conversation on site A, with sites B, C, and D programmed, you could very well miss a response or two while your scanner is checking sites B, C, and D for traffic.

That doesn't happen unless there is a pause in the conversation greater than the channel Delay setting. During the Delay period, the scanner doesn't wander off to other sites; it only looks for transmissions from the current site and current talkgroup.

 

[Canadabear07]

So I have a favorite list with 4 systems in it.
Clare
Isabella
Gratiot
Michigan public safety.

I copied my local stuff from the zip code database then deleted all the other systems I didn't want. Inside Michigan public safety is all sorts of departments from areas of Michigan not even close to me. Can I just delete the whole Michigan public safety system or do I need to keep it?

Also when I scan my favorite list at first it'll scan through all 4 systems but after a few seconds it just stops on Michigan public safety and doesn't scan any of they others. What is the reason for that?

 

[jonwienke]

You need to turn on location control in your favorite list or the scanner will scan every site in the state.

 

[Canadabear07]

You need to turn on location control in your favorite list or the scanner will scan every site in the state.

Thanks for the tip. But still why does it automatically hold on the public safety system instead of cycling through the 3 other systems in my favorites list?

 

[jonwienke]

Not necessarily holding, scanning over 100 sites in the MPSCS system. That takes a while.

 

[Canadabear07]

Not necessarily holding, scanning over 100 sites in the MPSCS system. That takes a while.

Finally got it, thanks. I had messed with the hold time settings the first day I got it and can't remember what the default settings were. Where specifically should I have that at? I think there were two different hold settings I had messed with.

 

[jonwienke]

Delay should be set at 5 seconds or so--the time the scanner. Site/system hold should generally be set to zero, or you'll slow down scanning.

 

[CcSkyEye]

Program it to your sites and talk groups. The zip code programming is cool but you tend to miss a lot and hear a lot that you may not want to listen to, such as transit.

 

[jonwienke]

Delay should be set at 5 seconds or so--the time the scanner.

This should read "the time the scanner stays on a channel after a transmission ends before resuming scanning."
Coffee first, then post

Program it to your sites and talk groups. The zip code programming is cool but you tend to miss a lot and hear a lot that you may not want to listen to, such as transit.

A lot of that depends on your Range and Service Type settings. If you set Range to 5 miles or less, and go through the Service Types and turn off stuff you don't want to hear (e.g. Transportation) you can eliminate a lot of the fluff. But of course making a custom Favorite List is best, it's just more work.

 

[buddrousa]

100% right on the COFFEE first.

 

[Canadabear07]

Honestly really not liking this uniden. I seem to hear a lot more with my 106. I can actually hear the full conversion unlike the uniden that likes to cut out parts. Anyone interested in a uniden bcd436hp?

 

[Bob1955]

The Pro-106 uses a design created more than a dozen years ago, whereas the 436HP was introduced in 2014.

While the 106 is more sensitive, hearing faint signals, it's also much more prone to overload and desense due to strong nearby transmitters. Nearby cell towers seriously affect the Pro-106. Although I'm surrounded by a forest of cell sites, the 436HP is unaffected.

The Pro-106 has a limit on the volume of frequencies and systems that can be programmed. While the V-folders are available, they only allow a different programming scheme. You're still limited as to what can monitored. With the 436HP, as well as the other HP series scanners, you can program a much larger number of systems, and monitor most any combination at one time.

If the OP does much traveling, the database on the memory card, and the use of a GPS, greatly enhances the ease of setting the scanner up for a trip. Also, if that trip, whether for business, vacation, or visiting friends or relatives, passes to or through a major urban area, the odds of running into a P25 Phase II system are nearly a certainty. The 106 cannot handle Phase II, whereas, the 436 can, and with the optional upgrades, can also deal with DMR and NXDN.

Radio Shack PRO-106 was made by GRE. Poor RF (intermod), forget it! I myself would buy the Bearcat BCD-996P2, it is a GREAT value at $349.95 at Bearcat Warehouse in Maryland, also free shipping and no sales tax. They can also set it up for you and upgrade the latest version for $70 so just call them at 877-568-7226 and ask for Paul there. You can also see his online YouTube video's. I'm sure Doctordialtone will agree with me too.

 

[krokus]

Honestly really not liking this uniden. I seem to hear a lot more with my 106. I can actually hear the full conversion unlike the uniden that likes to cut out parts. Anyone interested in a uniden bcd436hp?

That sounds like a scanlist issue, in that the scanner is scanning so many things, that it misses transmissions. Or it may be a sites issues, with checking for sites other than the one(s) you want to listen to, taking away from reception time.