Uniden HP-1 or BCD996XT?

[scannerfreak21]

Hello to all,

I would like an opinion as which unit has more options and best performance on analog, P25 and trunking

systems. As well as reliabilty.


Merry Christmas!! and Good Scanning for 2011!!

Troy C.

 

[dsleigh]

Hp-!

The home patrol-1 is in a category of 4 stars plus for quick use. While it is a technology wonder it does have its drawbacks. Among others see the review at eHam.net

 

[scannerfreak21]

thank you! dsleigh

 

[MarMatthias]

Hi,

I'm personally not sold on the HP-1. I have several reservations regarding the HP-1. I would go for the 996XT first if I had to choose between just these two otherwise I'll stick to the 396XT (I like the portability of it).

 

[scannerfreak21]

Thanks MarMatthias

 

[mully95]

I'm curious myself. I got my mom a BCD996T for Christmas and have been listening to it up to this point. I now have to wrap it for Christmas. Boo Hoo!

I have a 396 and now in the market for a base model.... HP or 996xt? I don't mind programing the 996... its sort of the hobby to me. I do know the 996 works for all of my needs here at the house so I'm mainly looking for any drawbacks of the HP that might cause me grief.

You might find this a little useful.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9287

 

[eaf1956]

996XT vs HP1

For HOME use (assuming programming isn't a problem) I'd opt for the 996XT. The ONLY thing the HP1 does better at (IMO) is mobile use with a GPS. The HP1 seems to have problems with the SMA connecter and there have been serious problems with the DATABASE and Sentinal software. One of the reason I don't own a HP1...

 

[N1AGH]

I have a 396XT and the HP 1. I like both, and each have their strong points. Overall, I think if you are going to have one, I would go with the HP 1. It is much easier to program, and if using the ARC software, you can set it what you want to hear and not hear very easily. Updating the HP 1 is easier than updating the 396XT. I have had no problem with either working as advertised and no problems with the database or SMA connection on the HP 1. I think that with reasonable care, the SMA connection for the antenna will function well.

 

[mully95]

For HOME use (assuming programming isn't a problem) I'd opt for the 996XT. The ONLY thing the HP1 does better at (IMO) is mobile use with a GPS. The HP1 seems to have problems with the SMA connecter and there have been serious problems with the DATABASE and Sentinal software. One of the reason I don't own a HP1...

Yeah I would use it for home use only so the 996xt gets the vote.

 

[scannerfreak21]

ok then thank you all I'm now not sold on the hp-1 due to the fact that it only uses RR mostly but RR is a great help so don't get me wrong!

 

[mully95]

I just purchased a brand new BCD996XT. Please don't ask how much I paid for it!!! LOL

I'm just not sold on the HP-1 right now.... maybe on down the road after it has been in service for a couple more years and has proven itself.

 

[SOFA_KING]

I dont have a 996XT or 396XT. Heck, I don't even have my HomePatrol yet, but it is on the way. For what I plan on using it for, (travel all over the country and want to know what is going on around me) I think this is a "no-brainer". The GPS feature is slick. I can concentrate on driving and let the scanner open and close the stuff I want to hear as I drive. Form factor? At first I didn't like it that much, but I found a great mounting location over my closed ash tray door. It will fit perfect there! So even the form factor works.

And to the person who is not up on all the tech stuff, but still wants to hear what is going on around their area, it is a great idea. These are the two main markets where this thing shines.

The fact that I could program my own stuff in, with 3rd party software, was the final YES factor for me. There will be stuff I want to hear that is not in the RR database, so this is a "must have" feature. I would have liked to have seen PL/DPL/NAC info, but that is not such a big deal. I have my GRE scanners for that type of searching.

Overall I think you can't go wrong with the HP. It would have been nice if this HP type database loading was feature was on the 996XT, though I would bet that future scanners will all have the database loading features included in them. ...Just as long as they still have all the advanced full programming and control features in them, as well. After all...someone has to have a scanner that can search out new stuff so the database gets data updates in the first place. Oddly enough, the HP type scanner may be the death of tech savy people who would have learned "how to" search for stuff, and that may cause the database to decay in growth. You can't provide information if you don't do the leg-work to find new stuff. That is why I think the advanced scanners will still be needed...Just add the DB features (and MotoTRBO plus D-STAR while you are at it).

 

[lowboy654]

I have a 396XT and the HP 1. I like both, and each have their strong points. Overall, I think if you are going to have one, I would go with the HP 1. It is much easier to program, and if using the ARC software, you can set it what you want to hear and not hear very easily. Updating the HP 1 is easier than updating the 396XT. I have had no problem with either working as advertised and no problems with the database or SMA connection on the HP 1. I think that with reasonable care, the SMA connection for the antenna will function well.

Thanks even though you are new here, your post is from someone that owns both and your point should be well taken, I myself own the HP-1 and it is a great scanner I would think of myself as a power user I own a 500,600,163,164, 97,96,2051 and alot of older scanners some of them from the 70's that still work, the only scanner that hes been on here is The HP-1 and my 97 for my online scanner feed from time time I turn on my 2051 for the local PD.

 

[commstar]

HP-1 vs 996

The HP-1 is a interesting product, but due to its reliance on a single database (limiting its flexibility), I believe that the HP-1 is too limited to be characterized as a power-user class radio.

I say it is more akin to the Ronco Showtime Rotisserie where you can "set it and forget it".

If you want a good simple radio and will be happy with whatever you get from the RR DB then its a good choice.

My contention is that the flexibility to do as you please with the 996 would make it more appealing to a power-user who understands radio and wants to listen to systems outside the wonderful and always accurate cornucopia of listings in the RR Database.

If the number of radios that one has, but does not use, makes one a power-user then Ken may have the brass ring. Plenty of folks in Washington State have a collection of yard cars, but, that does not make them hot-rodders.

I would also view Kens review as fundamentally biased as he is the RR DB in his area. So Ken can control what goes into his HP-1 where you will not have that capability.

Just making note that Ken did not disclose his high level of access which very pertinent fact in my view that underscores the fundamental difference between you/me and him and our relationship to the HP-1.

So I would frame the question in this manner: Do you wanna Cook with Ron Popeil (and Ken) or make Gumbo with Justin Wilson?

That said, I returned my HP-1 and had a beer with Justin.

Merry Christmas and Respectfully,

Mike

 

[lowboy654]

Mike, my views are just that my views.my high level of access here is just great, members submit info for Washington State i look it over and then add it to the database, very high level I forgot I do work Idaho to, for this i get free Premium Subscription, but I get that perk for being a audio feed provider to.so as you can see my access level is just more then anyboby has the right to dream of, so a point of fact here the only payment that I get is the kind word's of nice people like you thanks for your support of what I do for free for years now.

 

[lowboy654]

P.S. when is the Gumbo gonna be ready.

 

[commstar]

The Gumbo is ready now....set you a place?

 

[MarMatthias]

The HP-1 is a interesting product, but due to its reliance on a single database (limiting its flexibility), I believe that the HP-1 is too limited to be characterized as a power-user class radio.

Even for a regular user, I find the HP-1's reliance on a single point of failure (some form of internet connectivity) to be a major problem. I bought my 396XT full well knowing that I live in the middle of "Tornado Alley". Having it is a hobby is nice, but I had to consider that there may be a day that it saves my life (by the information I can receive from it). The money is cost me didn't come easily and would certainly preclude me getting it except for the fact that I can use it in an emergency situation.

I see the HP-1 as a failure without any internet. Its a little too late to discover you need a frequency and not be able to put it in quickly. With the 396XT/996XT, that isn't an issue. While the 396XT's portability was a major factor for me, I could easily hook up a solar/wind/gas generator and power a 996XT (it doesn't rely on a single point of failure).

The HP-1 seems completely counter productive to the base reason of even owning such an expensive device for what seems (from what I've read about it) to be a very limited situational usability factor. As far as I'm concerned, the HP-1 is nothing more then an over priced "toy" Uniden built to appeal to a bunch of "children" on the radio reference "playground." I see no practical long term value in it.

 

[randybcd396t]

Even for a regular user, I find the HP-1's reliance on a single point of failure (some form of internet connectivity) to be a major problem. I bought my 396XT full well knowing that I live in the middle of "Tornado Alley". Having it is a hobby is nice, but I had to consider that there may be a day that it saves my life (by the information I can receive from it). The money is cost me didn't come easily and would certainly preclude me getting it except for the fact that I can use it in an emergency situation.

I see the HP-1 as a failure without any internet. Its a little too late to discover you need a frequency and not be able to put it in quickly. With the 396XT/996XT, that isn't an issue. While the 396XT's portability was a major factor for me, I could easily hook up a solar/wind/gas generator and power a 996XT (it doesn't rely on a single point of failure).

The HP-1 seems completely counter productive to the base reason of even owning such an expensive device for what seems (from what I've read about it) to be a very limited situational usability factor. As far as I'm concerned, the HP-1 is nothing more then an over priced "toy" Uniden built to appeal to a bunch of "children" on the radio reference "playground." I see no practical long term value in it.

Do you have an HP1?

I've been scanning for 25+ years and think it is a great scanner, not a toy built for children.

I also do not worry about the internet as a single point of failure. Almost all electronics today are connected via the internet.

 

[MarMatthias]

Do you have an HP1?

I've been scanning for 25+ years and think it is a great scanner, not a toy built for children.

I also do not worry about the internet as a single point of failure. Almost all electronics today are connected via the internet.

I've spent a considerable about of time reading about them, but no, I do not own one. I also spent at least two years reading about other scanners before I purchased my 396XT. It and the 996XT do not rely on the internet.

When the possibility of no internet or electricity exists, which is the case for where I live, the HP-1 is simply an unacceptable choice for me. I've been fortunate to only experience being without electricity for two weeks once, but as many is Nebraska and Iowa can attest, the possibility of a month or so does exist.

The reference of a "toy for children" was in regards to the HP-1 being specifically slanted to the radio reference readers, not as a general product to a general market, as the 396XT or the 996XT.