matthewtomek
Live Audio Admin
Does anyone have the Uniden Remote Head Scanner? What are the pros and cons, etc????
Thanks,
Matthew
Thanks,
Matthew
Remote Head Scanner
- Thread starter matthewtomek
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I just saw one on here the other day. I think the biggest con is the friggin price of the thing. It cost more then what the radio does.
matthewtomek
Live Audio Admin
Voyager said:
I am in fact asking that anyone who has one to post their thoughts on it. What do they like and dislike about it. I checked out the scanner master website and I think I want one!!
matthewtomek
Live Audio Admin
Dubbin said:
Yeah, it is a little pricy, but depending on what kind of vehicle you have and what kind of install you want to do, it may be worth the money. I have a Chevy Tahoe, and there is just not a lot of room, so I think it will fit my needs. It is custom retrofitted, so that's where the price jumps up. I'm not electrionic enough to do it myself!
b7spectra
EMS Dispatcher
If you are using it for a specific band, instead of spending $1000 for the setup, I would look at getting a remote head Motorola Spectra off of e-bay. I have 3 Spectras in my truck & the total of them was less than the price of the Uniden with remote head!
MarkWestin
Member
Another Option
Hello,
If you don't need Digital, You might want to consider one of the many dual band mobile ham radios. Many of these have have optional (or standard) remote head mounting. These tend to be a lot less expensive than you might expect, for example a Yeasu FT-7800R is about $245.95 plus $59.95 for the separation kit. Icom and Kenwood also have many comparable units. The only disadvantage that I can think of is that they may not scan as fast as a "scanner".
Mark
KA1TIV
Hello,
If you don't need Digital, You might want to consider one of the many dual band mobile ham radios. Many of these have have optional (or standard) remote head mounting. These tend to be a lot less expensive than you might expect, for example a Yeasu FT-7800R is about $245.95 plus $59.95 for the separation kit. Icom and Kenwood also have many comparable units. The only disadvantage that I can think of is that they may not scan as fast as a "scanner".
Mark
KA1TIV
One of my friends bought the remote head unit from Scanner Master and promptly returned it . He said it was a "pceie of jnuk".
I myself made one of these remote units from scratch and well Scanner Master didnt like my idea as it worked and was less than 50$ to build. But it took some very careful soldering. No sorry I dont have any plans I can give on how to build it as it was a one time thing never to be repeated.
I do agree that the way to go is with a Ham radio unit or mfg like Motorola or MaCom. But it does depend on what you intend to use it for.
I myself made one of these remote units from scratch and well Scanner Master didnt like my idea as it worked and was less than 50$ to build. But it took some very careful soldering. No sorry I dont have any plans I can give on how to build it as it was a one time thing never to be repeated.
I do agree that the way to go is with a Ham radio unit or mfg like Motorola or MaCom. But it does depend on what you intend to use it for.
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Performance of the BCD-396T handheld (even on an external antenna) is good enough that I'd consider forgoing the mobile scanner and using a handheld on a decent (eg: Panavise) mount.
Ham rigs are typically crappy scanners, unfortunately.
Spectras are cool, but use big cables and are bulky. Also not very convenient to program.
If money wern't an object, I think I'd go with a 396 w/a small laptop to control it.
Ham rigs are typically crappy scanners, unfortunately.
Spectras are cool, but use big cables and are bulky. Also not very convenient to program.
If money wern't an object, I think I'd go with a 396 w/a small laptop to control it.
matthewtomek
Live Audio Admin
edmscan said:
What kind of problem did your friend have with the scanner? I'm going to need 800 digital so the ham radio option is out.
A buddy of mine just installed a remote kit on his 780. He loves it. Said it was easy to convert the radio and even easier to install in his vehicle. He's had his since Scanner Master first released them and hasn't had a day of trouble with it.
I'd love to buy the kit but it is way too expensive. It's a shame since it looks like the perfect solution to a problem I'm having mounting my 780 in my new vehicle. My father just gave me his 1996 Ford Explorer. This thing looks like it just rolled off the factory floor and I absolutely refuse to drill any holes in the interior. It has the center console that runs all the way up to the dashboard. If I can get another console from the dealer or a junkyard I'll modify that for the radio. That way I'll be able to convert the truck back when it comes to time to get rid of it. Working for a police department I have access to many different emergency vehicle supply catalogs and the few items for the Ford Explorer are for those 2000 or newer. Some pieces look like they could be modified....but for the money they cost there's no way I'm going to cut/modify them to my vehicle.
Let me tell ya....after having a scanner in my car for the last 18 years I really do miss it. Not only do I just enjoy listening while I'm driving but since it's about a 15 mile drive to my dispatch job it allows me to have a heads-up as to what's going on before I get there. Same for my FD responses. I live between both firehouses in my department so I often respond to the scene. My pager doesn't always receive the the portables or HQ but the scanner did. Oh well......I guess I'll just have to pry the money out of my wallet and get that kit!
I'd love to buy the kit but it is way too expensive. It's a shame since it looks like the perfect solution to a problem I'm having mounting my 780 in my new vehicle. My father just gave me his 1996 Ford Explorer. This thing looks like it just rolled off the factory floor and I absolutely refuse to drill any holes in the interior. It has the center console that runs all the way up to the dashboard. If I can get another console from the dealer or a junkyard I'll modify that for the radio. That way I'll be able to convert the truck back when it comes to time to get rid of it. Working for a police department I have access to many different emergency vehicle supply catalogs and the few items for the Ford Explorer are for those 2000 or newer. Some pieces look like they could be modified....but for the money they cost there's no way I'm going to cut/modify them to my vehicle.
Let me tell ya....after having a scanner in my car for the last 18 years I really do miss it. Not only do I just enjoy listening while I'm driving but since it's about a 15 mile drive to my dispatch job it allows me to have a heads-up as to what's going on before I get there. Same for my FD responses. I live between both firehouses in my department so I often respond to the scene. My pager doesn't always receive the the portables or HQ but the scanner did. Oh well......I guess I'll just have to pry the money out of my wallet and get that kit!
I have just bought and installed the remote kit for my 796 from ScannerMaster. It took about 20 minutes to retrofit the 796. The instructions are eay to follow and the photos included really help. The trickiest part was to install the circuit board on the head portion of the unit.
I then installed the head on top of the dashboard in my new Honda Odyssey (of which the wife forbid me from drilling). I used some heavy duty black velcro and it seems to hold just fine. It also allows me to angle the control head toward me whether I am driving or in the passenger seat. I snaked the Cat5 thru the glove box, and that allows me to toss the control head there when not in use.
The radio itself is behind the passenger seat. On long trips I can crash in back when the wife is driving and grab the control head from the front, unplug the installed Cat5 and using a second cable put the control head in back. This makes it easy to use the radio in front or back.
This remote kit also allows for an optional (included) external speaker jack to be installed on the control head. While I chose not to use it for my install, it is a neat thing to have if you want to install a speaker near the control head.
If you can afford the cost or if the cost is worth it to you then this is a great improvement.
I then installed the head on top of the dashboard in my new Honda Odyssey (of which the wife forbid me from drilling). I used some heavy duty black velcro and it seems to hold just fine. It also allows me to angle the control head toward me whether I am driving or in the passenger seat. I snaked the Cat5 thru the glove box, and that allows me to toss the control head there when not in use.
The radio itself is behind the passenger seat. On long trips I can crash in back when the wife is driving and grab the control head from the front, unplug the installed Cat5 and using a second cable put the control head in back. This makes it easy to use the radio in front or back.
This remote kit also allows for an optional (included) external speaker jack to be installed on the control head. While I chose not to use it for my install, it is a neat thing to have if you want to install a speaker near the control head.
If you can afford the cost or if the cost is worth it to you then this is a great improvement.
K4APR
Member
I bought the 785/796 version at Dayton this year. YES, I did get as*rammed on the price. But I love the thing, I can't lie. it works great and really made the 796 work in my Chevy S-10.
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