Ok, so the TRX-1 I just got was a dud, looks like another customer returned it. Wrong SD card in it, scratches on screen, but worst of all, battery power issues. I hate the battery compartment cover on it, I find it very hard to remove. It's going back to Amazon. I paid 4 bills for it, would it be worth it to pay another $50 for the 436? ($450 on Amazon atm) Anyone have experience with both? Honestly if the TRX I got was new without battery issues I'd probably just suck it up and keep it despite hating the cover..but the display on the 436 looks way nicer. Decisions,decisions 🤔
TRX-1 or BCD436HP?
- Thread starter StoliRaz
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Owned the TRX for a bit and didn’t like it at all. Found it unintuitive, lacking in information I wanted to see on the display, audio was too quiet, side by side with similar programming to a 436 a friend had, wasn’t picking up nearly as much.
Also found it dreadful on my local analog trunked system, while the 436 picked up and was much clearer (set up in similar spots with the same antenna)
It was also overly difficult to get the case off frequently to change batteries. It’s bulky overall.
Been much happier with both my 436 and 325 over it.
Also found it dreadful on my local analog trunked system, while the 436 picked up and was much clearer (set up in similar spots with the same antenna)
It was also overly difficult to get the case off frequently to change batteries. It’s bulky overall.
Been much happier with both my 436 and 325 over it.
wizardofid
Member
I live in New Hampshire and I own both the Whistler TRX-1 and Uniden BCD436HP. My area does not have simulcast, and I find that both of the hand held scanners work well with no issues.
I'm down in SE MA, I think the only simulcast around here is the RISCON system in RI. Today I programmed in the control channels for each zone into my PSR-300 just to see if I get "repeater noise". The only zone I got any noise on was the north zone. I put just that zone into the TRX and never heard anything ☹
JD21960
Active Member
Those Whislers are terrible on P25 Simulcast. I spent too much time trying to save it ... gave up and got a G5, never been happier.
G5 looks really well built but pricey. Hopefully Unication sees how many people are using them as scanners and starts developing actual scanners that handle digital just as well
racingfan360
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I have experience with both the 436 and the TRX1. Also the Icom R30 and the AOR DV10. The Icom R30 is an excellent receiver, but doesn't do DMR. You will only be disappointed with the AOR DV10.
Note I am in Europe, so no such things as pre-loaded zip code scanning lists. Simulcast isn't an issue here, but will likely be a big factor for some in the US.
In short the TRX1 and the 436 are very similar and good scanners. In my view, the bigger differences are:
TRX is good for scanning a known set of frequencies but is a nuisance to program in the field.
436 much easier/better for searching for new frequencies: the TRX isn't intuitive on this
I find the TRX a bit more sensitive but much less selective vs the 436
436 much better on civil and milair vs the TRX
DMR simplex on the TRX is better than the 436
The TRX doesn't trunk track
Close call on the 436 much better than the equivalent on the TRX
Auto decode mode on the TRX doesn't work on several search techniques. Always works on the 436
Delay in opening squelch on the TRX is annoying
Volume on the TRX earphone jack is quite low on the TRX vs the 436
Recordings from the 436 easier to work with but the TRX 'always enabled' way of recording is much better/sensible
TRX is slow to startup.
Lack of ability to configure step size and mode per bandplan is a real constraint on the TRX
The ability to search a band by digital mode only is very helpful on the TRX
I have very few issues reading/writing data on and off the 436 SD card. I have more frequent issues with the TRX
I find the TRX display a bit clearer to read but the way it displays some digital mode info is annoying/limited
4 AA batteries in the TRX means it lasts longer than the x3 AA in the 436. Both eat batteries. Both can run happily off power to the usb port.
Software for the Uniden (eg ARC536) MUCH easier to deal with vs EZScan.
Both cover the same common digital modes, if you pay for them for the 436
If I had to decide on one vs the other, I'd be going for the 436 (largely because it is much better at/easier to search for new stuff - the TRX is good at scanning known stuff): My 436 is my main unit. But if I had the option to do so I'd still have both - I do and I have (and a few others too) !
These are my own views based on my experience.
Note I am in Europe, so no such things as pre-loaded zip code scanning lists. Simulcast isn't an issue here, but will likely be a big factor for some in the US.
In short the TRX1 and the 436 are very similar and good scanners. In my view, the bigger differences are:
TRX is good for scanning a known set of frequencies but is a nuisance to program in the field.
436 much easier/better for searching for new frequencies: the TRX isn't intuitive on this
I find the TRX a bit more sensitive but much less selective vs the 436
436 much better on civil and milair vs the TRX
DMR simplex on the TRX is better than the 436
The TRX doesn't trunk track
Close call on the 436 much better than the equivalent on the TRX
Auto decode mode on the TRX doesn't work on several search techniques. Always works on the 436
Delay in opening squelch on the TRX is annoying
Volume on the TRX earphone jack is quite low on the TRX vs the 436
Recordings from the 436 easier to work with but the TRX 'always enabled' way of recording is much better/sensible
TRX is slow to startup.
Lack of ability to configure step size and mode per bandplan is a real constraint on the TRX
The ability to search a band by digital mode only is very helpful on the TRX
I have very few issues reading/writing data on and off the 436 SD card. I have more frequent issues with the TRX
I find the TRX display a bit clearer to read but the way it displays some digital mode info is annoying/limited
4 AA batteries in the TRX means it lasts longer than the x3 AA in the 436. Both eat batteries. Both can run happily off power to the usb port.
Software for the Uniden (eg ARC536) MUCH easier to deal with vs EZScan.
Both cover the same common digital modes, if you pay for them for the 436
If I had to decide on one vs the other, I'd be going for the 436 (largely because it is much better at/easier to search for new stuff - the TRX is good at scanning known stuff): My 436 is my main unit. But if I had the option to do so I'd still have both - I do and I have (and a few others too) !
These are my own views based on my experience.
Reconrider
Inside the Galaxy
As someone who has the sds100 and the trx1, I one billion percent agree with everything you said. I want to add that I HATE the ARC software because it's confusing as heck to me. EZscan isn't bad after you take 10-20 minutes to learn it.
I would choose the 436(in my case the sds100) over the trx1.
Also the 436 is pretty good at simulcast as long as you're in between towers - the trx1 will literally crap the bed even trying to try.
racingfan360
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That's a really good point: if I were starting from scratch right now based on what I now know, the first unit I would be purchasing is an SDS100. It simply didn't exist when I got my 436. With no simulcast I can't really justify the addition of an SDS100 regardless of how funky the screen looks !
Reconrider
Inside the Galaxy
I wish I knew the same now lol. CT states trunk system, CLMRN, is like SUPER simulcast lsm crap. Towers all over the state(still dead spots lol) and the trx1 was good enough to listen to 1 tower. With the sds100 I can hear everything affiliated to that tower even if it's something on the other side of the state.
SDS is out of the question, too pricey for my budget (even $400 was tough to justify) and call me dumb but I really dislike the battery pack vs using standard AA batteries. If I ever do an SDS it'll be the 200. I returned the TRX today, I'm going to price watch for a while, see if I can get the 436 a little cheaper since I'll have to buy the DMR upgrade separate. Seems like a solid unit. Still lots of analog to listen to for me, no rush. Thanks everyone who chimed in for the help!
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