I recently got a new Uniden BCD-396XT and had a GRE PSR800 before that. I've had a lot of scanners over the years but I never owned this Uniden model before. Right out of the box I was so happy with the reception and digital audio quality.
When I had my GRE PSR800, I was constantly having trouble with getting the digital audio to sound clear enough to understand. I would always have to switch antennas and move it around. Even picking up more distant weak signals I would have to fiddle with the attenuator on the GRE, where the Uniden picks them up fine without any fiddling and using the stock antenna for both VHF and UHF digital systems.
I always heard Uniden scanners are less sensitive than GRE but now I see what they mean. I live in a very noisy area for RF noise. I live on the top floor of a apartment with a bunch of cell antennas right above me. The GRE always struggled where the Uniden acts like nothing is around me which is so nice.
I actually like the older style of systems and groups and how I can enable them with the numbers on the keypad quickly. On the GRE I had to go into the menu and found it to be a pain even though I could create more interesting groups by adding more than one type trunk system to a group. I miss audio recording on the GRE scanner a bit, but I still love this Uniden 396XT.
Being able to quickly hit a number to enable or disable a bank is so nice. Going into the menu and changing some settings is easily done. I love the size and how long the batteries last. Having gone from the GRE to Uniden though I realize now the differences in sensitivity and how big of a issue this is for me here. I see how where I live really has an effect on the scanner and its performance, and how its important to pick the correct scanner to match usage conditions.
I'm so happy to finally find a scanner that works for my location.
When I had my GRE PSR800, I was constantly having trouble with getting the digital audio to sound clear enough to understand. I would always have to switch antennas and move it around. Even picking up more distant weak signals I would have to fiddle with the attenuator on the GRE, where the Uniden picks them up fine without any fiddling and using the stock antenna for both VHF and UHF digital systems.
I always heard Uniden scanners are less sensitive than GRE but now I see what they mean. I live in a very noisy area for RF noise. I live on the top floor of a apartment with a bunch of cell antennas right above me. The GRE always struggled where the Uniden acts like nothing is around me which is so nice.
I actually like the older style of systems and groups and how I can enable them with the numbers on the keypad quickly. On the GRE I had to go into the menu and found it to be a pain even though I could create more interesting groups by adding more than one type trunk system to a group. I miss audio recording on the GRE scanner a bit, but I still love this Uniden 396XT.
Being able to quickly hit a number to enable or disable a bank is so nice. Going into the menu and changing some settings is easily done. I love the size and how long the batteries last. Having gone from the GRE to Uniden though I realize now the differences in sensitivity and how big of a issue this is for me here. I see how where I live really has an effect on the scanner and its performance, and how its important to pick the correct scanner to match usage conditions.
I'm so happy to finally find a scanner that works for my location.