Uniden Home Patrol 2

[RClary11]

I am thinking of getting this scanner. I wonder if anyone here has this model of scanner? And can you use the zip scanner feature in Canada?

 

[rangerrick1994]

I am in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario and I have a home patrol 2 and a BCD436hp. I typically listen to fleetnet and I can confirm the enter your zip works in Canada (postal code) I would recommend you look into antennas for it.

Cheers

 

[RClary11]

I am in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario and I have a home patrol 2 and a BCD436hp. I typically listen to fleetnet and I can confirm the enter your zip works in Canada (postal code) I would recommend you look into antennas for it.

Cheers

I was eventually going to ask about antennas anyway. Specifically one that is good for an apartment balcony. One of my scanners uses a mobile antenna, which is pretty good, but I'd like to get one that clears the roof for better reception.

 

[rangerrick1994]

Hopefully others can help as I don’t recall what kind of antenna I have is, I got an antenna from amazon and it was a shot in the dark for sure...

 

[RClary11]

Hopefully others can help as I don’t recall what kind of antenna I have is, I got an antenna from amazon and it was a shot in the dark for sure...

Does it automatically find the fleetnet talk groups when you enter the postal code?

 

[mciupa]

Does it automatically find the fleetnet talk groups when you enter the postal code?

There is a little more to it, of course. It will scan through all Conventional, then Trunked systems that are preloaded into it.

The default Service Types when you first purchase a HomePatrol 2 are Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch.

If you look at the FleetNet system in the database. There are many more service types, so you will have to select them to ensure nothing is missed. Also, you may want to modify the range to extend the listening area.

You can use the Full Database, but what I have done is to append the Full DB to a Favourite List. You can modify a Favourite List, not the Full Database.

 

[RClary11]

There is a little more to it, of course. It will scan through all Conventional, then Trunked systems that are preloaded into it.

The default Service Types when you first purchase a HomePatrol 2 are Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch.

If you look at the FleetNet system in the database. There are many more service types, so you will have to select them to ensure nothing is missed. Also, you may want to modify the range to extend the listening area.

You can use the Full Database, but what I have done is to append the Full DB to a Favourite List. You can modify a Favourite List, not the Full Database.

I just ordered the unit and can't wait to see what happens when I enter the postal code in my area. lol I did get a mobile type antenna that I am going to put out on the balcony, which should work well, since I am on the top floor of my apartment building.

 

[W8RMH]

I love my Home Patrol 2. I have been into scanners for some 35 years and it is my all-time favorite. Below is an Easier-To-Read Manual for you. You can also build and customize Favorite Lists to program into your scanner, using the software, Sentinel, even before your scanner arrives. Enjoy.

Easier to Read HomePatrol-1/HP-2 Digitall Scanner and Sentinel Manual

 

[RClary11]

What I wonder is, when it comes to OPP programming, do I have to program in the base spacing and offset numbers?

 

[W8RMH]

What I wonder is, when it comes to OPP programming, do I have to program in the base spacing and offset numbers?

Using the built-in database everything you need should already be included. You can append systems from the database to create your Favorite Lists.

When you receive the radio the first thing you want to do is update the database using Sentinel to assure you have the latest programming available.

 

[RClary11]

I finally got the scanner, but it seems to take forever to charge the batteries.. I with I had known that it didn't come with an AC adapter or an adapter to hook to a mobile or base antennae or I would have gotten those ahead of time.

 

[jonwienke]

The scanner should have come with a sma-BNC adapter. You can use any USB wall wart to power the scanner.

 

[RClary11]

The scanner should have come with a sma-BNC adapter. You can use any USB wall wart to power the scanner.

I guess i could use the charger that came with my android phone. Would that work? I put the scanner in front of a window, and the stock antenna isn't too bad, but I am definitely getting and adapter for the mobile antenna I have on the balcony.

 

[jonwienke]

I guess i could use the charger that came with my android phone. Would that work?

Yes, any USB charger can be used.

 

[RClary11]

I found something rather disappointing in this scanner, in that you can't save multiple frequencies that you enter yourself. I looked at a wiki on how to program it, and if you program another frequency, it over writes the previous one. This is rather surprising that Uniden would has such an insufficient function in an otherwise sophisticated scanner.

 

[jonwienke]

Not true. You can save thousands of frequencies if you so choose. You're doing somethiong wrong.

 

[RClary11]

Not true. You can save thousands of frequencies if you so choose. You're doing somethiong wrong.

I am just going by what that wiki says. Though I am glad I am wrong about that. I'd hate to think that you couldn't enter your own frequencies if that was the only scanner I had.

 

[UPMan]

Sounds like you are just doing a quick tune, not actually programming a channel into a Favorites List.

 

[jonwienke]

The wiki is wrong. Try this instead:
Easier to Read HomePatrol-1/HP-2 Digitall Scanner and Sentinel Manual

 

[UPMan]

Wiki is probably OK, but confusion between quick tune and programming a channel. You can only quick tune to one frequency at a time.