BCD325P2/BCD996P2: Rehash: 996P2 or 536 - pro's/cons

[PJH]

I quickly looked, but with the amount of time since initial realeases, I'll venture on this.

I DO have a 536, in which is mounted in my ride. However, I am also considering a 996P2 - just because.

One of them will stay in my ride (which does a lot of cross county / regional driving) and one will be installing the desk at some point.

With all the current firmware updates, does one have any better general features than the other? I've looked at some online documentation - and the 996P2 appears to essentially do the same as the 536, but is more of a scanner's scanner.

Has any sensitivity increase between the two? (This I'd like to have the best of-I still monitor Sub 50MHz freqs)

I guess if having them side by side, is one really "better" or "featured" than the other?

The 536 is nice as it loads the entire database (hence in the truck right now) but the other will be a desk queen. I dunno. I find the lack good legacy search/discovery features of the 536 annoying - and the single color backlight, eh. I'd rather have multicolor being service dependent.

Or, is there a decent third alternative?

I looked quickly at the 436 vs 326(?) thread, but most were comparing portables which doesn't always equal apples to apples.

And I like black radios. Goes with the rest of the console.

 

[Voyager]

The sensitivity should be comparable.

As you mentioned, the database is very nice for distant travels. Depending on your journey you might not be able to fit everything in the P2.

 

[WQPW689]

I think you've talked yourself into your own solution. No need to pull the traveling 536 if you buy that gorgeous screened 996 for your desk. I have both. Neither for traveling, but at separate locations. If there's a difference to the ear, I put it down to the ear being old.

 

[sparklehorse]

I think you've talked yourself into your own solution. No need to pull the traveling 536 if you buy that gorgeous screened 996 for your desk.

I'd go the other way around. The screen of the 536 is really nice because there's a lot of info there, and you can use really long alpha tags if you're so inclined. It's a perfect desk queen as you say. I think the 996 is a better fit for a mobile install because it's got a simpler screen, with larger, easier to read display text. Plus like you say, the multi color display of the 996 can help indicate what service you're hearing at a glance. Another plus for mobile use.

.

 

[marksmith]

The 996 is a much more viewable screen, and both have about the same sensitivity. If you like the legacy features they are right there, and I think it sounds better. The only real material difference is recording to me. Once I have them programmed for non-mobile use, the database is not that big of a deal.

Mark
WS1095/536/436/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/325P2/396XT/PRO668/PSR800/PRO652

 

[K2KOH]

I don't have a 996P2, but I do have a 996XT, along with oth x36 radios as well as an HP 2. In all the years I've been scanning, I swear the radios I like the best, despite the problems, has been the x36 series. The receivers are hot...they do low band quite well. Their front ends are very tight, and the true NFM filter makes a hell of a difference. I pulled the 536 into the house because the new car didn't have the room for a 536, and put in the HP2. The HP2 is nice, but I miss the 536. The display is small, but you can change it to three line display to make it a little bigger. This old bastid had little problem reading the smaller display, however. Oh, and it does simulcast and Phase II VERY nicely. Hope that helps.

 

[Voyager]

Plus like you say, the multi color display of the 996 can help indicate what service you're hearing at a glance. Another plus for mobile use.

The 536HP has the Alert Light too.

I would think the argument that trumps all others is the one I mentioned - will all the travels FIT into the 996P2's memory? If not, it doesn't matter how nice the features are if it can't hold the channels.

 

[lu81fitter]

I too, have been contemplating going to a digital scanner. My BCT 15X is nice, but I would like to have digital. Most comments I have read have the 536 with better receive for mobile applications. I travel through areas that have simulcast, so that may be a plus. The larger screen text isn't a big issue for me, but I really would like to have adjustments to tweak and fine tune the digital receive in the different areas I go. The recorded audio is really not a factor either. I have really never had an interest in tinkering with that. Also, I don't mind programming. I currently use FreeScan for my BCT 15X, and I program it line by line in the software, not import from RR. I think it is very interesting to do research and find frequencies to listen to, although that may change when it comes to the daunting task of programming all the digital options.. I take my time and do plenty of research when I plan to make a purchase, so I'm really not in a big hurry. Are there any options that are coming out on later releases that I may want to wait for? What do you guys/gals recommend?