BCD436HP/BCD536HP: UBCD436-PT Aerial

[pb_lonny]

Hi.

I have very recently purchased a UBCD436-PT (Australian version of the BCD436HP) and have noticed the standard aerial is VERY poor at picking up signals, has anybody else also noticed this?

I programmed in about 350 VHF / UHF frequencies plus three 800MHz EDACS sites and was not able to hear very much, to the point that I thought the radio was faulty, I swapped over to another aerial, with the radio in the same location it now works much better and how I would expect. I know that handheld aerials are a compromise but is the standard one really THAT bad?

 

[questnz]

Paul, yes of course you can improve reception by replacing standard rubber duck with better antenna, there is plenty info on the subject just search the forums, start here https://forums.radioreference.com/scanner-receiver-antennas/

 

[pb_lonny]

Thanks.

I am well aware of the improvements that better aerials provide. My question was if the standard aerial is THAT bad. I am sure if somebody purchased this radio and only used the standard aerial they would not actually pick up very much at all.

 

[marksmith]

It actually is not bad when compared to other standard portable antennas. It's probably better in 800mz and UHF than it is in low or high VHF, but so is the radio.

536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[pb_lonny]

It actually is not bad when compared to other standard portable antennas. It's probably better in 800mz and UHF than it is in low or high VHF, but so is the radio.

536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

Thanks Mark.

My test of searching for 800MHz EDACS trunking control channels produced 4 usable ones on the standard aerial (1 was iffy) on another VHF / UHF aerial I have I got 7.

 

[Air490]

Apparently this is a known issue with the Australian version. My understanding was Uniden Australia released a software update and a better aftermarket antenna (more suitable to the Australian bandplan). There was a lot of discussion about this on other Australian sites.

 

[marksmith]

I don't know if you can get your hands on a Remtronix 800mz antenna there or not. If 800mz is your main listening, it's one of the best, and they make an SMA version.

Also understand the Aussie default antenna might be different than US, so my previous comment might not be entirely accurate as I am referring to the standard US antenna.

536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[pb_lonny]

Thanks to both of you.

I have been playing around with radios for 20 years so have a good understanding of what is normal for my area. My UBC126AT in the same spot was killing the UBCD436, both with standard aerials. Now with an after market it is working more how I would expect.

I have done the firmware upgrade and worked out I needed the latest version of the programming software too.