Whats the difference??

[wyotrucker1]

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but. What is the differences between the BCD 396T and the UBCD 396T and also between the UBCD 996T and the BCD996T? I ask this because I own both the BCD 396 and 996, I am planning to move to Australia and would like to know if they will work there or if there is a firmware update I can do if they wont work down under? Or should I sell them both here and buy the UBCD versions?

Thanks in advance,
Ted

 

[joeynshelby]

Here is a thread that discusses some of the differences between the two scanners. Read down a little bit it is kind of buried in the talk about the BC246T.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/uniden-scanners/36531-bc246t-will-replaced-anytime-soon.html

Here is a website that goes a little more in depth:
Differences between Australian and US Scanners

Here are the frequency coverages for both models:

* (North American Model BCD396T)
* 25.0000 - 512.0000 MHz
* 764.0000 - 775.9875 MHz
* 794.0000 - 823.9875 MHz
* 849.0125 - 868.9875 MHz
* 894.0125 - 956.0000 MHz
* 1240.0000 - 1300.0000 MHz

* (Australia/New Zealand Model UBCD396T)
* 25.0000 - 512.0000 MHz
* 764.0000 - 775.9875 MHz
* 794.0000 - 956.0000 MHz
* 1240.0000 - 1300.0000 MHz

I think the main thing is that the channel structure is different in Australia then it is in the United States. As far as I know there is no firmware update that will make the American scanners work in Australia. If it were me I would sell the scanners you have and buy the "U" models.
One more thing. Here is a link to the website for Uniden Australia w/some more information on the UBCD396T scanner that may be helpful.
http://www.uniden.com.au/AUSTRALIA/p_ubcd396t_index.asp

Hope this helps!
Joey

 

[torontokris]

basically 800 cell band is not blocked and freq spacing.
As the article says don't mix / buy the one not for your area or you maybe disapponted in the results

 

[Air490]

The 800MHz "cell band" is no blocked on the U versions. If you have US models you can use in Australia.

The problem you will face is the cell block cuts off 1MHz of the Australian 880MHz trunking allocation. This makes these scanners not entirely effective if you want to listen to 800MHz business transmissions. All other services and users are unaffected.

 

[wyotrucker1]

I don't really care about listening to cell phones. The main use will be on a yacht with mostly marine frequencies programmed. I will probably have some others programmed, but mainly Marine freqs.