So, any particular reason Uniden decided to not include 'Bearcat' on the face of the 150? Inquiring minds need to know!! Lol. It just doesn't look right without it.
SDS150: Where's the 'Bearcat?'
- Thread starter NWI_Scanner_Guy
- Start date
Doesn't really answer your question, but this is from a SDS200 FW update in October...
- Removed "Bearcat" at startup screen to align with model name consistency.
Where is Bearcat on the SDS200, 436HP or HP2 and others? The question should be why is it on the 100.
The Bearcat name is an Electra thing from back in the 70's.
Uniden kept it when they acquired Electra.
Uniden kept it when they acquired Electra.
Good point. 👍
I guess the Bearcat fans will have to live with the Bearcat shown on boot up..Since most of the worst scanners I've ever owned had Bearcat on them, I don't miss it being on the front.
Merry Christmas,All!
Bored waiting for relatives and dinner to arrive, so.....
Radios without the Bearcat logo: All SDS Series, Both Home Patrols, and the BCD436HP
With Bearcat logo: BCD536HP. BCD325 and 996P2, BC15x,BC125,BC75, SC230, BC365CRS,
and the 980SSB.
Bored waiting for relatives and dinner to arrive, so.....
Radios without the Bearcat logo: All SDS Series, Both Home Patrols, and the BCD436HP
With Bearcat logo: BCD536HP. BCD325 and 996P2, BC15x,BC125,BC75, SC230, BC365CRS,
and the 980SSB.
SDS100 has it
It’s on my BC125AT.
This from Perplexity AI. Not sure of it’s accuracy:
Uniden’s Bearcat brand name for scanners is generally understood to come from the classic Stutz Bearcat sports car, not from an animal mascot, even though the logo uses a bear‑paw motif.[2]
## Name origin
- The Bearcat scanner line originally belonged to Electra Company and was later acquired by Uniden in 1984.[2]
- A long‑standing account in radio‑hobby literature states that Electra’s owner, Al Lovell, chose the “Bearcat” name because of his enthusiasm for the Stutz Bearcat automobile; this is specifically noted as the supposed origin of the name.[2]
## Logo and imagery
- Despite the car‑based name origin story, the Bearcat brand has commonly been represented with a stylized paw or “bear paw” symbol, visually tying it to an animal rather than the automobile.[7][2]
- The coexistence of a car‑derived name and animal‑style paw logo has led some hobbyists to speculate about an animal connection, but available historical notes only firmly link the name to the Stutz Bearcat and not to a specific animal mascot.[7][2]
Sources
[1] Evolution of the Bearcat, University of Cincinnati - UC Magazine Evolution of the Bearcat
[2] Bearcat/Uniden - RigPix Database RigPix Database - Bearcat/Uniden
[3] Uniden - Wikipedia Uniden - Wikipedia
[4] Introductory Information on Uniden equipment - Repeater Builder® Introductory Information on Uniden equipment
[5] About Us – Uniden America Corporation About Us
[6] Why Bearcats? - University of Cincinnati Athletics Why Bearcats?
[7] Background of "Bearcat" | Page 2 | RadioReference.com Forums Background of "Bearcat"
[8] What is the country of origin? – Q&A - Best Buy https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questi...question/d1b33deb-7636-3ff0-bf72-f63573c54599
[9] Maison Kitsuné Men's Black Polo With Logo polo shirts https://ta3llm-edu.com/136834300
[10] Background of "Bearcat" | RadioReference.com Forums Background of "Bearcat"
This from Perplexity AI. Not sure of it’s accuracy:
Uniden’s Bearcat brand name for scanners is generally understood to come from the classic Stutz Bearcat sports car, not from an animal mascot, even though the logo uses a bear‑paw motif.[2]
## Name origin
- The Bearcat scanner line originally belonged to Electra Company and was later acquired by Uniden in 1984.[2]
- A long‑standing account in radio‑hobby literature states that Electra’s owner, Al Lovell, chose the “Bearcat” name because of his enthusiasm for the Stutz Bearcat automobile; this is specifically noted as the supposed origin of the name.[2]
## Logo and imagery
- Despite the car‑based name origin story, the Bearcat brand has commonly been represented with a stylized paw or “bear paw” symbol, visually tying it to an animal rather than the automobile.[7][2]
- The coexistence of a car‑derived name and animal‑style paw logo has led some hobbyists to speculate about an animal connection, but available historical notes only firmly link the name to the Stutz Bearcat and not to a specific animal mascot.[7][2]
Sources
[1] Evolution of the Bearcat, University of Cincinnati - UC Magazine Evolution of the Bearcat
[2] Bearcat/Uniden - RigPix Database RigPix Database - Bearcat/Uniden
[3] Uniden - Wikipedia Uniden - Wikipedia
[4] Introductory Information on Uniden equipment - Repeater Builder® Introductory Information on Uniden equipment
[5] About Us – Uniden America Corporation About Us
[6] Why Bearcats? - University of Cincinnati Athletics Why Bearcats?
[7] Background of "Bearcat" | Page 2 | RadioReference.com Forums Background of "Bearcat"
[8] What is the country of origin? – Q&A - Best Buy https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questi...question/d1b33deb-7636-3ff0-bf72-f63573c54599
[9] Maison Kitsuné Men's Black Polo With Logo polo shirts https://ta3llm-edu.com/136834300
[10] Background of "Bearcat" | RadioReference.com Forums Background of "Bearcat"
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Additionally from Perplexity AI:
The “Bearcat” name is omitted from some newer Uniden radios and scanners because Uniden has been gradually consolidating branding and repositioning product lines, so not every model is marketed under the legacy Bearcat sub‑brand anymore.[1][2]
## Brand and product repositioning
- Uniden’s corporate and consumer‑facing material now emphasizes the Uniden name and model numbers (for example, “HomePatrol,” “BCD536HP”) more than the Bearcat wordmark, treating “Bearcat” as a legacy or selective badge rather than the default label for all scanners.[2][1]
- Some current radios and scanners (such as certain CB models) still carry the Bearcat name in marketing copy, while others are sold solely under the Uniden marque and series designations, indicating a shift toward a streamlined, unified brand identity.[1][2]
## Likely reasons for selective use
- Companies often retire or downplay older sub‑brands when they refresh design language, move into new market segments (for example, digital and networked scanners), or want consistent global naming across regions.[2][1]
- Over time, Uniden appears to have decided that the core **Uniden** name and technical series codes carry more weight with buyers than the nostalgic Bearcat label, so newer or more mass‑market models may omit it entirely.[1][2]
Sources
[1] Uniden - Wikipedia Uniden - Wikipedia
[2] About Us – Uniden America Corporation About Us
The “Bearcat” name is omitted from some newer Uniden radios and scanners because Uniden has been gradually consolidating branding and repositioning product lines, so not every model is marketed under the legacy Bearcat sub‑brand anymore.[1][2]
## Brand and product repositioning
- Uniden’s corporate and consumer‑facing material now emphasizes the Uniden name and model numbers (for example, “HomePatrol,” “BCD536HP”) more than the Bearcat wordmark, treating “Bearcat” as a legacy or selective badge rather than the default label for all scanners.[2][1]
- Some current radios and scanners (such as certain CB models) still carry the Bearcat name in marketing copy, while others are sold solely under the Uniden marque and series designations, indicating a shift toward a streamlined, unified brand identity.[1][2]
## Likely reasons for selective use
- Companies often retire or downplay older sub‑brands when they refresh design language, move into new market segments (for example, digital and networked scanners), or want consistent global naming across regions.[2][1]
- Over time, Uniden appears to have decided that the core **Uniden** name and technical series codes carry more weight with buyers than the nostalgic Bearcat label, so newer or more mass‑market models may omit it entirely.[1][2]
Sources
[1] Uniden - Wikipedia Uniden - Wikipedia
[2] About Us – Uniden America Corporation About Us
Was working off a photo of it, as I don't own one. My bad. Plus I missed the BCD160DN and BCD260DN. They have the Bearcat logo.
Granted I despise corporate branding and advertising (Yes, I’m THAT GUY that owns seam rippers and other stuff to remove branding marks and ad patches from my clothes) so I’m not the target. I never noticed it is on my 100 and not the 200. And of course one of the first things I do is change the boot up screens to add a custom boot up which also removes the marketing and branding so it’s on none of my SDSs or x36’s there anymore, either.
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KC9NEG
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Interesting, I always assumed “Bearcat” had something to do with “bear” being a slang term for a police officer.
Or a denizen of the University of Cincinnati….
ecps92
Member
or a tactical vehicle for Military and Law Enforcement
Exactly. 60's actually - the original Bearcat scanner was introduced in 1969. According to the old Betty Bearcat frequency guide I have, Electra's owner, Al Lovell, loved the Stutz Bearcat automobiles. The original Electra Bearcat scanners only said "Bearcat" and the model number on the front panel. Electra was found only on the rear panel. Consumers only knew the scanners as "Bearcats".
If Uniden wants to retire the Bearcat moniker, it's their prerogative. I'd hate to see it go, but it's not the end of the world.
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Still have my 210XW. Still works. You bring up the word bearcat scanner, you think uniden scanner. Times are changing so if uniden wants to stop using it, that’s their call. Hate to see it go.
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