Received my new BCD325P2 yesterday...WOW!

[iMONITOR]

I bought a BCD325P2 to compliment my 996XT & 996P2. I wanted to have to have compatibility between the hand-held and the base/mobile scanners for both control/use as well as programming.

In a word, "REMARKABLE!" Once again, even though I'm monitoring a 9-site simulcast P25 system, it works flawlessly! It's amazing they can duplicate the 996P2 in such a small package!

I'm sure at some point in the not too distant future I'll end up with the new SDS-100, but for now all my scanners are meeting my needs and doing it nicely!

 

[lou9155]

i wish i considered the 325 before buying my 436

 

[tumegpc]

I sold my 436HP and kept the 325P2. If you want it to be a little more stealthy, use the R/S Stubby Racing antenna. If performs really nice.

 

[pinballwiz86]

I couldn't get over the fact that I'd be paying a premium for a 396XT (with Phase II support) in the body of a BC125AT.

 

[wbswetnam]

It was because I was so impressed with the sensitivity of the BC125AT that I decided to buy the BCD325P2 instead of the 436HP. I am VERY pleased with my little 325 workhorse! Now if I could just get... ummm... NXDN for it?

 

[Alrib123]

It was because I was so impressed with the sensitivity of the BC125AT that I decided to buy the BCD325P2 instead of the 436HP. I am VERY pleased with my little 325 workhorse! Now if I could just get... ummm... NXDN for it?

That would be awesome, if it’s even possible on the 325 hardware wise

 

[Voyager]

From what I've heard/read, there isn't enough room in the memory.

 

[iMONITOR]

It was because I was so impressed with the sensitivity of the BC125AT that I decided to buy the BCD325P2

How does the 325P2 compare to the 125AT for aircraft?

 

[94caprice9c1]

I can't agree more! I have had the 325p2 for a couple of weeks now and am totally impressed! The reception is far superior to the 436 and 536. Great radio!

 

[Voyager]

I have test equipment that actually could not measure the sensitivity of a BC125 (or was it a BCD325P2...) on 800 MHz - it was THAT HOT!

(test equipment could not generate low enough on its own, and I didn't bother adding an attenuator inline. I just figured: "OK, this thing will hear a flea sneeze" and moved on.)

 

[scannersnstuff]

I am so overly happy with my bcd325p2, that I may consider another one. The sds100, look's promising, but may be too much scanner for me. LOL.

 

[Skypilot007]

My 325P2 is far from flawless when it comes to monitoring simulcast systems. I've tested two of them on the systems near me and both units are not very good at all handling simulcast. It is well documented on this site as to why. Glad yours works for you.

 

[gil_ford]

It was because I was so impressed with the sensitivity of the BC125AT that I decided to buy the BCD325P2 instead of the 436HP. I am VERY pleased with my little 325 workhorse! Now if I could just get... ummm... NXDN for it?

If Uniden follows suit, we might actually get it as we did with Provoice and DMR. As you know, the 436 and 536 got them first.

 

[iMONITOR]

My 325P2 is far from flawless when it comes to monitoring simulcast systems. I've tested two of them on the systems near me and both units are not very good at all handling simulcast. It is well documented on this site as to why. Glad yours works for you.

All simulcast environments are different, and not everyone's results will be as good as mine. But after trying various locations in my home and 'minimal' antennas, not high-gain yagi's, I found the sweet spot. Same applies to my 996XT & 996P2. I haven't had a chance to try it outside and in different areas due to illness. But when I do, I'll report back.

 

[jonwienke]

Using that antenna is a form of signal attenuation. It can help in a simulcast environment if all of the following contitions are met:

1. The strongest simulcast signal is several dB greater than all other simulcast signals, but the weaker signals power levels are still great enough to cause interference.

2. Attenuation pushes the weaker simulcast signals below the receiver's noise floor, but not the strongest simulcast signal.

You can get lucky using a fixed attenuator or an antenna with poor reception, but in most cases a fixed attenuator will either not attenuate the signal enough, or attenuate the signal too much for condition #2 to be true.

No amount of attenuation will work if the power levels of the two strongest simulcast signals are too close together (condition 1 is not true). Either the signal will be received with interference, or it will not be received at all.

 

[milcom_chaser]

How does the 325P2 compare to the 125AT for aircraft?

The 125AT in the UHF Mil Band is clipped from 380-400Mhz
The 325P2 has full coverage - 225-400 UHF Mil Band...

 

[iMONITOR]

The 125AT in the UHF Mil Band is clipped from 380-400Mhz
The 325P2 has full coverage - 225-400 UHF Mil Band...

That's what I was looking for, thanks! I knew I head/read something but couldn't remember exactly what the difference was.

 

[iMONITOR]

Using that antenna is a form of signal attenuation. It can help in a simulcast environment if all of the following contitions are met:

1. The strongest simulcast signal is several dB greater than all other simulcast signals, but the weaker signals power levels are still great enough to cause interference.

2. Attenuation pushes the weaker simulcast signals below the receiver's noise floor, but not the strongest simulcast signal.

You can get lucky using a fixed attenuator or an antenna with poor reception, but in most cases a fixed attenuator will either not attenuate the signal enough, or attenuate the signal too much for condition #2 to be true.

No amount of attenuation will work if the power levels of the two strongest simulcast signals are too close together (condition 1 is not true). Either the signal will be received with interference, or it will not be received at all.

I understand all of that. I didn't feel like typing all that right now. Like I said it works very well for me in my situation. Macomb County has nine tower sites, and I'm pretty much in the center of them. Some closer than others.

My scanner sits very close to my steel computer tower, and behind it there is a large metal air duct inside the wall. More shielding/attenuation. Few years back I tried yagi antennas, even an expensive corner reflector antenna. They all made things much worse.

I seem to recall it wasn't always this good. One of the radio techs in the area talked about the importance of setting up the sites properly. Something to do with timing and synchronization. After they did some tweaking of the transmitters things improved considerably.

 

[Voyager]

The 125AT in the UHF Mil Band is clipped from 380-400Mhz
The 325P2 has full coverage - 225-400 UHF Mil Band...

Keep in mind 380-400 is no longer MilAir, so since his interest is aircraft it would not matter.

 

[sibbley]

It was because I was so impressed with the sensitivity of the BC125AT that I decided to buy the BCD325P2 instead of the 436HP. I am VERY pleased with my little 325 workhorse! Now if I could just get... ummm... NXDN for it?

Exact same reason I bought a 325P2. I am so impressed with this scanner.