Uniden BCD396XT v GRE PSR Scanners

[radios4bill]

Hi Group; Well I want to ask the members a question. I have had every Digital scanner out there and like my BCD396T because of the display and size but as every one knows the error correction on P25 was bad. So I switched to GRS 500 on 600 and they are GREAT on received but the display leaves alot to be desired. The new GRE that is being released I have been told will have the same display. That is the reason for this post, I am looking at the newer Uniden BCD395XT and would like options on the error correction and if they improved the antenna and anyother improvements that have been made. Thanks, Bill

 

[puzzleriddle]

What new GRE scanner are you referring to??

 

[DaveIN]

Hi Group; Well I want to ask the members a question. I have had every Digital scanner out there and like my BCD396T because of the display and size but as every one knows the error correction on P25 was bad. So I switched to GRS 500 on 600 and they are GREAT on received but the display leaves alot to be desired. The new GRE that is being released I have been told will have the same display. That is the reason for this post, I am looking at the newer Uniden BCD395XT and would like options on the error correction and if they improved the antenna and anyother improvements that have been made. Thanks, Bill

Bill, you mentioned the BCD396XT vs. the GRE PSR Scanners in the title, yet you refer to the BCD396"T" model having problems. I feel that the "XT" model has much improved on P25 over the "T" model, which by the way the classic "T" model can be adjusted manually for P25 decode, sdo you may want to try that first. I think the BCD396XT and the PSR models (500/600) are about equal on P25 decode now. As for the GRE display, that would most likely change on whatever the next model happens to be.

Perhaps you were referring to the BCD396XT when you typed BCD395XT?

 

[W6KRU]

I think the BCD396XT and the PSR models (500/600) are about equal on P25 decode now.

Nope, not on the simulcast system I listen to. The PSR-500 is quite a bit better than the 396XT.

 

[DaveIN]

Then in Cleveland this could be a problem. The city is using a Simulcast system and you may want to look at the PSR500 and also ask others in your area in the Ohio forum how well the radio performs there versus the BCD396XT.

 

[radios4bill]

Thanks

Hi; I was talking anout a BCD396T that I sold to get the GRE. I am thinking about purchasing a BCD396XT because the new digital GRE (Don't know what the model number will be? touched it at Dayton Hamevention) has the same display as the old GRE's. Can anyone comment on the antenna on the new 396XT? I thought I would have received more input about the P25 Decoding? Thanks, Bill

 

[W6KRU]

Can anyone comment on the antenna on the new 396XT? I thought I would have received more input about the P25 Decoding? Thanks, Bill

I can't say much about the antenna because it is still in the box. I have various other antennas that I use on the 396xt.

The P25 decode on the XT is good except for the issues caused by the simulcast system that I usually listen to. At times the simulcast causes severe multipath distortion which causes the XT to go digital making the audio unintelligible.

 

[jcpd9720]

I rapidly gave up on my rubber duck (396xt) antenna for the p25 800 simulcast system MetroSafe (Louisville, Ky) switched to, and went to a RadioShack 800 mhz antenna. IMHO the scanner doesn't handle p25 simulcast very well. I have adjusted it thousands of times in the settings menu, and it still sounds fairly horrible. For an all around scanner, I love it, but there is much left to be desired when it comes to our new system (that virtually EVERYBODY is either on, or going to).

 

[jimg]

Hi Group; Well I want to ask the members a question. I have had every Digital scanner out there and like my BCD396T because of the display and size but as every one knows the error correction on P25 was bad. So I switched to GRS 500 on 600 and they are GREAT on received but the display leaves alot to be desired. The new GRE that is being released I have been told will have the same display. That is the reason for this post, I am looking at the newer Uniden BCD395XT and would like options on the error correction and if they improved the antenna and anyother improvements that have been made. Thanks, Bill

I had the 396T, as you said, the digital was not good! So I traded it in for a GRE 500, which is a good scanner, especially on 800 mhz, but I have found that it is too sensitive on conventional frequencies. This year, I purchased the 396XT, and so far, it has proved to be an excellent scanner on both digital and conventional. It is also easier to manually program than the GRE 500, and the display is very good, especially with the different colors to select from.