Should I get it?

[HoDo]

I am a newbie and I have a 296D. I use to have a office in Baltimore City but now I am in Baltimore County. I have been busy moving and I just logged back on today and saw Uniden came out with a 396T. I am not sure how much digital I am going to do, but I was thinking isnt it smarter to get the digital scanner so I have the capabilities incase other counties switch to digital or is a 246 good. I just always like to have the newest products and most up to date. Also how will I know if I buy a 396T with the silkscreen problem? Any thoughts...

 

[ray smith]

No

No dont get it I have every scanner uniden has and I dont like this thing a bit. In fact Im thinking of returning it.

 

[HoDo]

What do you dislike about it?

 

[mancow]

You're high!

The 396 is the best thing that's happened to the scanner market since synthesized radios were developed.

I think 99.9% of people would agree that it's worth the $$. The features are almost endless and they aren't just the regular fluff. Features such as the control channel only searching with the ability to automatically ID trunked system ID's and track them while displaying the names are incredible.

 

[jpm]

I've had mine for a month and its a great scanner. I like the compact size unlike the BC250d, Bc 296d, and the pro96 bricks. I also like the belt clip as well. All in all this is but far the best scanner on the market. Also the silk screen issue has been addressed and no problems with these current scanners released.

 

[HoDo]

I have the 296D now and my coworker wants it bad so I thought I would sell it to him and buy the 396T. I am not in the city anymore just the county so my other question is, will baltimore county ever go digital or should I get a 246? Or if money is not the issue, is it better to have the 396 and have ALL the frills incase I want to listen to digital at some point?

 

[TinEar]

HoDo, Baltimore County will no doubt go digital at some point in the future - as will almost everybody in this area that isn't already on it. They all have plans to do that but dates are anybody's guess. Unless you want to lock out Baltimore City, Harford and Howard Counties and all of Delaware from BaltCo, you can go with a 246 but I can't imagine being without digital capability in this area. You can get all of that with your present 296 but the 396 does have a lot of frills that no other scanner has - including the ability to program more than 10 trunked sysems which is the limitation with any other scanner. If you're determined to get rid of the 296, my opinion would be to jump on the 396 and forget the 246 unless you're absolutely intent on only listening to BaltCo and willing to change somewhere down the road when make the change to digital.

 

[HoDo]

Thanks TinEar, I will call and order the 396 today. What type of batteries does it come with, the battery packs like the 296?

 

[groftcc]

It comes with 3 AA batteries and the AC adaptor/charger. You will love the 396. By far the best scanner I have ever owned.

Craig