Troy,
I realize this is hard to compare all of them based on what they're designed to do, what you're wanting to monitor, and the area you're in but from your testing which do you say is the better value? The 436 or the 536?
They program 99.9% exactly the same. I took a backup SD card programmed for my 536 and put it in the 436 and it worked fine. Later, I made same 436 specific changes (backlight, keypress, etc.).
If I could go back (or be more patient), I would have stuck to my plan to get/try the 436. I only got hte 536 because it was hard to find a 436 at the time. I like being mobile and the radios receive pretty much the same thing. This isn't to say their perfect.... as I've told others - each of the radios I have serves it's own purpose. They are each good at one things or another and not so good for some other things.
I wouldn't buy an x36 to listen to VHF or UHF conventional or trunked systems - particularly if I had a radio that works already. I also wouldn't buy an x36 to listen to Motorola digital systems. It's best at P25 for simulcast issues -- but still not perfect. The days of listening to conventional or trunked analog simulcast systems are long, long gone.
So which is better buy? That's up to you and the features (or promised but yet to be delivered features)..... Me? 436. In fact, the 536 is likely to go up for sale really soon... still waiting to see what that "app" does.....
And how is the programming for both? I have the 996XT and the 396XT right now and I'm considering the 436. Any easy way to get everything I have in my 396XT over into the 436 or am I looking at a headache trying to go through everything to get it in there?
I don't see any way to migrate programming from x96 radios - at least not in Sentinel. Butel's product
might let you but I haven't really looked at that. Sentinel works well for creating favorites lists from the Sentinel/RR database. It's a bit of a pain to tweak the settings for sites, departments and channels but you can do it.
I'm having fun maintaining programming and libraries for various radios at this point - PSR500, PSR800, x36s (same programming in both), and now a new addition - a PRO96. Talk about switching gears.....