The New UNIDEN 796D Digital Scanner

[NORCAL]

The Uniden 785D digital capable scanner has been replaced by the new Uniden 796D digital scanner. Uniden upgraded the i25D card (digital card) for the 796D. The new card is the APCO Phase 1 Digital System (including 3600 bps and 9600 bps control channel systems) with support for C4Fm and CQPSK modulation. Uniden will not make this card available for the 785D that has barely been on the market for two years. If you are planning to buy a digital scanner, do not purchase the 785 --- it is obsolete with respect to the newer digital card. The 785D digital card will work only with 3600 bps systems. With the 785D, you had the option of buying the digital card separately. Most people did exactly that. The card sold separately listed for approximately $249. If you leaved near a digital communication site, you might go out and purchase one. The 796D comes already installed with the digital card. Prices range from $520 to over $600 for the 796D compared to the 785D that listed around $336 (not including the digital card).

Comments:
Uniden’s decision not to provide the new card for the 785D makes one wonder if they plan the same thing for the 796D. Most people who bought the 785D figured that when Uniden made the card (the card can be insert in back of the scanner in less than 5 minutes) they planned to support the 785 with new replacement cards when upgrades became available. Uniden’s marketing strategy dictates otherwise. Is this going to be a trend for Uniden?! Bottom line, the price to purchase a Uniden digital scanner went from roughly $330 to over $500. There is no guarantee that Uniden will not change their digital scanner again and leave their customers high and dry.

The source of the above information was from Uniden Customer Support regarding my request for an upgrade i25D for the Uniden 785D scanner.

 

[K2KOH]

You can bet your scanner that if there is an improvement, Uniden will do the same thing. Why will they do it? I know this sounds crazy, but because they can. Bottom line, they have you by the short hairs...you want to listen to it, you'll buy their scanner.

The RS Pro 96 is the first real competition with Uniden I've seen; unfortunately, they do not to LTR and EDACS narrowband.

 

[scannerfreak]

The Uniden 785D digital capable scanner has been replaced by the new Uniden 796D digital scanner. Uniden upgraded the i25D card (digital card) for the 796D. The new card is the APCO Phase 1 Digital System (including 3600 bps and 9600 bps control channel systems) with support for C4Fm and CQPSK modulation. Uniden will not make this card available for the 785D that has barely been on the market for two years. If you are planning to buy a digital scanner, do not purchase the 785 --- it is obsolete with respect to the newer digital card. The 785D digital card will work only with 3600 bps systems. With the 785D, you had the option of buying the digital card separately. Most people did exactly that. The card sold separately listed for approximately $249. If you leaved near a digital communication site, you might go out and purchase one. The 796D comes already installed with the digital card. Prices range from $520 to over $600 for the 796D compared to the 785D that listed around $336 (not including the digital card).

Huh?

People have had more than ample time to purchase the i25 cards. Also, the i96 cards will work with the older models and they are not being discontinued. There is no need for two cards. I don't see anything wrong with eliminating one of the two.

Bottom line, the price to purchase a Uniden digital scanner went from roughly $330 to over $500. There is no guarantee that Uniden will not change their digital scanner again and leave their customers high and dry.

Huh again?

How has the price gone from $330 for a digital scanner to over $500? Both the card and the scanner retailed for a hell of alot more than the newer models. Even now you can still only find them (older models) for $450 at best. Where are you getting them for $330?

If anything, the price has come DOWN on Uniden digital scanners!!

 

[JoeyC]

Uniden will not make this card available for the 785D that has barely been on the market for two years.

The 785 won't/can't track 9600 systems even if it did have a card update and it was never implied that it would.

With the 785D, you had the option of buying the digital card separately. Most people did exactly that.

I think most people that bought the 785 were waiting for digital, so they purchased the card also.

Comments:
Uniden’s decision not to provide the new card for the 785D makes one wonder if they plan the same thing for the 796D.

Plan what same thing?

Most people who bought the 785D figured that when Uniden made the card (the card can be insert in back of the scanner in less than 5 minutes) they planned to support the 785 with new replacement cards when upgrades became available.

Uniden made no such claim. The 785 was never marketed to be upgradable to do 9600 and it was no secret, I've been reading that for as long as the scanner has been out. The 250/785 probably came out to beat GRE in the digital scanner market.

Bottom line, the price to purchase a Uniden digital scanner went from roughly $330 to over $500.

The price of a "digital" scanner has always been well over $500 with regards to the Uniden models. While you could have purchased the 785 without the digital card at $330 as you stated, it would not have performed as a "digital" scanner. There isn't a $200 price difference as you seem to suggest.

There is no guarantee that Uniden will not change their digital scanner again and leave their customers high and dry.

The source of the above information was from Uniden Customer Support regarding my request for an upgrade i25D for the Uniden 785D scanner.

I don't doubt there will be new generations of digital scanners. Uniden is a business in business to make money as is any business. I can't think of any lucrative business (that remains in business) that put out their top-of-the-line product and never expanded, upgraded or came out with a newer model.

 

[Pro-95]

$529.00 Here

So do you guys like Uniden Products? I sell their phones and most are boom-a-rangs. I ask because I'm scanner shopping although I'd prefer portable.

 

[NORCAL]

Contrary to popular belief, most buyers purchased the 785D without the digital card. I know a couple of distributors that stated they sold very few cards. Some buyers did purchase it at later date. Many buyers wanted the new features of the 785 with the idea that they would add the card when digital communications became more common and spread across the country. Many location throughout the US do plan to add digital for a long time. The purchase price for the 785D without the digital as I stated goes for around $330 plus... there are several web sites that sale it for that price. I bought mind from Ham Radio Outlet. HRO has discontinue selling the 785 ... that should tell you something. With the card, it goes for over $500. With 785, the buyer had the choice of buying the card... no he/she doesn't.


The above is not intended discredit Uniden. But the buyer should be aware that Digital is still very dynamic. As one person stated, they are out to make money ... that's OK. Let Uniden make money, but support it's products.

 

[JoeyC]

HRO has discontinue selling the 785 ... that should tell you something.

It tells me that the 785 served its purpose being the first on the scene desktop/mobile digital scanner, now the 796 has taken over. As someone pointed out, you can still buy the other digital card which will work in your 785 if thats your pleasure, but it will always only be a 3600 baud control tracking scanner.

If forcing you to buy the more expensive "digital" scanner is your concern, they are coming out with the BC246 something or other that will NOT do digital. Certainly the 246 with digital is the next step.

Moral of the story, you have to research what you are buying before you buy it, to avoid little annoyances like those.

 

[NORCAL]

In one response from Sccaner_Freak, the following statement was made.

"People have had more than ample time to purchase the i25 cards. Also, the i96 cards will work with the older models and they are not being discontinued. There is no need for two cards. I don't see anything wrong with eliminating one of the two."

Are you saying that the new i96 card can be purchased from Uniden, and it will work with the 785D. That would be nice. I've looked for it on the Uniden Web site. I can't located it as an available accessory to purchase. I also asked Uniden's Support Center if a new card (i96) was available for purchase. Their answer was no. You have to purchase the new 796D scanner with the card already installed. Do you know a source to buy this card and know for a fact that it will work inside the 785D. I would appreciate any info you can provide.

 

[JoeyC]

There are numerous dealers still selling the BCi25D card, if that is what you are looking for.

Purchasing a BCi96D card, if it can be purchased separately, isn't going to do anything to your 785 that the BCi25D card can't already do.

 

[scannerfreak]

In one response from Sccaner_Freak, the following statement was made.

"People have had more than ample time to purchase the i25 cards. Also, the i96 cards will work with the older models and they are not being discontinued. There is no need for two cards. I don't see anything wrong with eliminating one of the two."

Are you saying that the new i96 card can be purchased from Uniden, and it will work with the 785D. That would be nice. I've looked for it on the Uniden Web site. I can't located it as an available accessory to purchase. I also asked Uniden's Support Center if a new card (i96) was available for purchase. Their answer was no. You have to purchase the new 796D scanner with the card already installed. Do you know a source to buy this card and know for a fact that it will work inside the 785D. I would appreciate any info you can provide.

You can purchase the i96 card from Uniden. Just call them. It will work in the older models as well. When the scanners first came out the card was on Uniden's web site.

I'm not sure why they took it off. But they have to sell them, I mean if your card goes bad what are you going to do, buy a whole new scanner?

JoeyC is right however, the new card does not "upgrade" the olders ones to allow 9600 trunking but they will work.....