Second 436 or a 536

[Awz1287]

right now I have a bcd436hp, that I have been moving between the house and the truck. I have one of those cell phone vent holders. I plan on getting a second scanner to keep in the truck, one less thing I to have to carry back and forth and remember to bring.
I plan on installing an external antenna for either one. I like the 436hp for the house because I don't have a dedicated place where I listen, I have a living room downstairs and a game/TV room upstairs, so I move it with me. But that isn't an issue in the vehicle, as I will be in one place.

My question is besides size difference, are there any benefits/differences to the 536hp vs the 436hp?
Is the 536hp more tolerant to being left in the hot vehicle being it is meant to be installed in a vehicle?

 

[ofd8001]

I've had a 536 in my truck since they came out. It has been through two pretty hot Kentucky summers with no issues.

A mobile scanner is preferable to me for permanent vehicle use. In addition to better security (someone wanting to steal it will have to really want to, especially if you use hex head type bolts to mount it to the bracket) there isn't an issue with battery charging.

 

[Voyager]

The 536 has more audio. It's also nice to not have to connect or disconnect anything like power cords or antennas.

Unless you have a specific reason for the second 436 (like a backup), I would recommend the 536 for the above reasons.

 

[safetyobc]

The 536 will be easier to hear (louder audio). It's made for mobile/base operations. The LCD is a little bigger and easier to read while mobile IMO because of the layout. Also if you don't have an external antenna yet, install one to use with the 536 and it'll improve your reception. Also you won't have to worry about batteries going dead with the 536 being hard wired into the vehicle.

I'm not sure if it would make any difference being left in the vehicle one versus the other.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[SCPD]

My question is besides size difference, are there any benefits/differences to the 536hp vs the 436hp? Is the 536hp more tolerant to being left in the hot vehicle being it is meant to be installed in a vehicle?

Hello

I have the 536HP and live in Texas where it has not been terribly hot this year yet. My radio is in a Havis console system and I noticed last week that it was taking some sort of heat conflict. When I powered the unit on the radio locked up on the info screen. I had to remove it from the console, unplug it and plug it back in to then get it to reset and work. I am using the supplied three pin cable not the cig lighter plug. When the temp cooled down with recent rain, the problem seemed to vanish.

I have since moved the unit indoors for a new favorites list write and it has not been an issue. I have a 996P2 racked up in the Havis console and it has not experienced this issue either.

My unit was purchased 2 weeks after the x36 series was launched. It has suffered the same trauma such as the internal battery issue others have - while I have not seen any other heat complaints, my issue could be an isolated incident. But seeing your post I wanted to comment in the event that it is a new issue that just hasn't materialized on a large scale yet.

 

[Awz1287]

Thanks, I will be going with the 536, because of the louder speaker. Right now I have a hard time hearing at times, over the car noise. It's turned up to 15 all the time.
As soon as I finish my cb project, I will start on the scanner install, when my funds allow.
Anyone know if they make a mount that can hold a 536 and a 980 cb, on top of each other? I am planning on putting them on the center "hump" of my truck.

 

[ofd8001]

You might look at the following link:

http://jottopublicsafety.gojotto.com/consoles.html

There are other manufacturers of consoles.

Also worth considering is an amplified speaker to help overcome road noise.

To round out the list of other mobile scanner accessories is a GPS device if you regularly travel more than 50 miles (or so) from home.

 

[Awz1287]

You might look at the following link:

http://jottopublicsafety.gojotto.com/consoles.html

There are other manufacturers of consoles.

They don't make one for my truck. They only have the full sized pick ups.

 

[ofd8001]

They have a "chat" feature on the page noted above (business hours). You might contact them via chat, describing the vehicle you have and see if they have any ideas.