So has anyone noticed the online availablity for the 2096 and the 162

[jack3756]

Both are now saying that they are in store only and not available online. Now I was expecting this at some point for the 2096 but the 162 surprised me. I hope that this is a mistake and not true with it being such a new model. Of course this might explain why RS has been not talking about the 160 at all. So we'll have to see if this changes or not

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

I believe the 162 is the portable version of the BCT15, and if it is, it doesn't surprise me as this is one FINE analog scanner.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

After testing one I can see why the 162 is so popular. Great radio. I really liked the clean and powerful sound, and they have great reception. Love mine. I checked online and they are gone, and I was lucky to find one. I see there is one on ebay but that's it. Good luck finding one if you can.

 

[spooney]

I believe the 162 is the portable version of the BCT15, and if it is, it doesn't surprise me as this is one FINE analog scanner.

The 162 is not a Dynamic Memory type scanner like the BCT15 is. It has 20 banks with 50 channels each. I bought the 162 mainly because it went on sale for $99.99. It' s a good scanner, but it has it's down falls. It only has a 2-second delay option, no ATT setting, no adjustable step settings for conventional freq's and no PC control. It was worth $99.99, but I wouldn't pay $219.99 for it.

 

[crippledchicken]

Yep, mine is a keeper! Tested against the pro-164 and, the pro-163 base there was no comparison on the VHF High band which is about all that's in my area. my usual (distant) frequencies brought in nothing but static with a slight bit of audio (sometimes) on the 163/164. the 162 pulls them in loud and clear with just a light hiss in the back ground. I was glad I took the 164 back the very next day and swapped while they were still $99.00. Out of the ten years I've lived in this same location, the 162 has given the best receive without overload of any hand held tested here and, is up to par with my pro-2006 and BC 9000xlt as far as the VHF High band. my jaw just dropped when I hooked up the 162 and everything just popped in so loud and clear after the 163/164 trial on distant frequencies. the extra 100mw of audio power vs the pro-164 made a lot of difference also. I wish I would have gotten two for $99.00 I tried, but they had no more darn it lol!

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

The 162 is not a Dynamic Memory type scanner like the BCT15 is. It has 20 banks with 50 channels each. I bought the 162 mainly because it went on sale for $99.99. It' s a good scanner, but it has it's down falls. It only has a 2-second delay option, no ATT setting, no adjustable step settings for conventional freq's and no PC control. It was worth $99.99, but I wouldn't pay $219.99 for it.

Yeah, I just tested it and found that it has the standard "banks" configuration. But that will be seen as a big plus to a lot of people who are used to the older scanners, and to those who do airband monitoring.

As far as attenuation, uniden scanners don't need it very often anyway. My BCT15 is hooked up to a rooftop antenna 40' above the ground, and we are located in on of the largest cities in America, and it never needs attenuation on any channel, and is has outstanding reception.

The 162 is a scanner built along the lines of the good scanners of yesteryear, and I think that is partly why it went so fast and is sold out online and in most stores.

 

[jack3756]

Now I see that the 162 and 2096 are gone from the radio shack. i'm surprised that RS got rid of such a new model (the 162). any word as to why this is the case?

 

[torontokris]

Maybe its going to be replaced by a current Uniden model 346XT???
Or a GRE model that is re-badged as a RS (PSR-300??)....