I've tried previous Unidens including the 396 and the HP1, along with a GRE PSR800, and the '436 is the only scanner so far that reliably decodes my local P25 simulcast system using a 800mhz duck. I'm very happy with the performance of this radio. To echo the other replies here, kind of ridiculous to base an impression of a radio via some online stream.
Whether Still Junk, UPMan?
- Thread starter janetball1994
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I've tried previous Unidens including the 396 and the HP1, along with a GRE PSR800, and the '436 is the only scanner so far that reliably decodes my local P25 simulcast system using a 800mhz duck. I'm very happy with the performance of this radio. To echo the other replies here, kind of ridiculous to base an impression of a radio via some online stream.
For what ever reason they think they (the haters) are the majority because they are the only ones crying that no one is happy I would say less than 5% are unhappy and they have not given the x36's a fair test
PiccoIntegra
Member
I don't expect the ignorant to understand the problem.
Speak for yourself your the one calling names. I hope that makes you feel like a big man as I am educated in electronics, medical, and have plenty of certifications work in firefighting, twoway radio, security. Listen to PROVOICE on your great Whistler.
KE0GXN
Member
If folks would just realize we all fellow hobbyist trying to enjoy are scanners, instead of downplaying another hobbyist gripes/complaints because everything is kittens and puppies with their scanner, I think a lot amore would accomplished in regards conversing about the issues.
In my opinion, its not like the alleged 5% percenters on here are making the stuff up. Even the alleged 95 percenters admit the issues, they just choose to accept the long awaited fixes or Uniden's continued lack of response to it's customer base and then they quickly deflect the issue entirely by stating how well the their scanner works otherwise.
I don't need to own an X-36 to know that it has issues, as 99% (got to account for that 1% in Uniden bliss, no matter what their scanner does) of the owners admit there are issues but...like I said, some just choose to accept it.
In my opinion, its not like the alleged 5% percenters on here are making the stuff up. Even the alleged 95 percenters admit the issues, they just choose to accept the long awaited fixes or Uniden's continued lack of response to it's customer base and then they quickly deflect the issue entirely by stating how well the their scanner works otherwise.
I don't need to own an X-36 to know that it has issues, as 99% (got to account for that 1% in Uniden bliss, no matter what their scanner does) of the owners admit there are issues but...like I said, some just choose to accept it.
Some people are just miserable, and can only feel better by trying to make everyone else miserable, too.
Some are disgusted because they don't know the scanner, and refuse to learn how to use it. They think scanner knowledge should just "come to them" and want instant gratification. Then, they end up being the above type.
Then there are those who hate Uniden no matter what. They still complain about issues that are being fixed at no cost to them, and will likely complain for years if not decades to come. Then they argue that it's all Uniden's fault - like Uniden made all the parts they used in the scanners. News Flash: They don't. In fact, few of the parts are actually made by Uniden. Same with Whistler. I'm not playing favorites here - I'm being realistic (no Radio Shack pun intended). But, not everyone lives in reality. Some people think Uniden actually makes all the parts in their scanners.
Personally, my scanners (all of them) are "junk" because they don't let me hear a system I want to hear. Forget that it's 200 miles away. They should just improve them so I can hear what I want. Sounds like just as reasonable an argument as the others, doesn't it?
Some are disgusted because they don't know the scanner, and refuse to learn how to use it. They think scanner knowledge should just "come to them" and want instant gratification. Then, they end up being the above type.
Then there are those who hate Uniden no matter what. They still complain about issues that are being fixed at no cost to them, and will likely complain for years if not decades to come. Then they argue that it's all Uniden's fault - like Uniden made all the parts they used in the scanners. News Flash: They don't. In fact, few of the parts are actually made by Uniden. Same with Whistler. I'm not playing favorites here - I'm being realistic (no Radio Shack pun intended). But, not everyone lives in reality. Some people think Uniden actually makes all the parts in their scanners.
Personally, my scanners (all of them) are "junk" because they don't let me hear a system I want to hear. Forget that it's 200 miles away. They should just improve them so I can hear what I want. Sounds like just as reasonable an argument as the others, doesn't it?
D
darunimal
Guest
Okay I might be ignorant, but if you don't explain if this is you scanner, I can only be left as ignorant, now doing the same thing and not doing better is the very definition of stupid because I can screw up plenty of settings on my BCD536HP and make PG County fire sound terrible on it; a few key presses in settings I can have all kindas of disfunctional audio come out of it or just disconnect the antenna
If this is your feed do you want help with the settings.
So you are trashing a scanner you do not own like I said. I read the reviews here and when the options I wanted became real I bought both scanners. I had to adjust the settings to suit my needs and get 99.9% decode rates. My scanners are 11 months old and have worked as expected just as the others here have done. How is the new Whistler that got upgraded to a keypad for 100 dollars and drove the 2 month old scanner down 150 dollars.
KE0GXN
Member
I see where you are coming from...
But it just seems like there is war going on in here and it's either you love Uniden or you hate Uniden.
There is no in-between.
I try to be in-between and try to see both sides of the conversation. Its not like we are some huge main stream community out there, (the actual scanner owning hobby has become a niche deal in my opinion), so why fight amongst each other, as is this the only site to my knowledge that even has a scanner/radio base of scanner owners who all want to achieve mostly the same goals.
Which in my case is, to find the best ways to enjoy my scanner.
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janetball1994
Member
Bingo, KE0 . . .niche market indeed, but so is amateur radio . . .just a bigger niche. Ever take the case off your Icom UHF and poke around? Ever look at the quality of the circuit board and components? Ever do the same for the x36's? Yeah, they're both Chinese, but the Icom (at least my collection) is a clearly superior product at approximately the same $500 price point. Geeez, even the $40 Baofeng has a better display than either x36.
So, Uncle Paul fanboys et al, kick back and enjoy that Gallo.
D
darunimal
Guest
Apples to Oranges, but obviously now we can see your orange colored glasses. Have you ever seen my $500 Iphone 6 plus vs your $500 amateur radio or vs your cheap BUVER $50.
My display is so much better. So is my network it supports 4g Lte, wifi, Bluetooth and has 1,000,000 Antennas it connects too.
My display is so much better. So is my network it supports 4g Lte, wifi, Bluetooth and has 1,000,000 Antennas it connects too.
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MStep
Member
Some folks were born to b*tch and complain. I run into them on my job, I run into them in the supermarket, the bank, on the street, amongst some of my best friends; it's just human nature. You do the best you can, but you do so realizing that some folks can never be satisfied.
Rather than sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying their radio equipment, they have to nit-pick at the slightest issue or provocation because that's how they were raised. They honestly don't know any better.
One of my very good friends, through some misfortune and death in his family, recently inherited close to 1.5 million. Prior to that, he had about 20 thousand in the bank, and he was miserable. Now that he has 1.5 million, he is still miserable. He is still buying TV dinners when they are on sale for 99 cents. He is still walking around in clothes with holes in them; he is a mess. But that's the way he was raised and that's all he knows.
In terms of radios, some folks will never be happy. Yes, I admit that some of my threads called for more action on Uniden's part to implement certain features, but at the end of the day, I relax, enjoy and appreciate my radio equipment. All-in-all, it works very well. A 536 radio marketed by Icom is not going to retail for 499.00. When the R7100's came out (and don't forget, no trunking), they sold for something like 1499.00.
The Baofeng with it's "better display" is no 436. And my recollection of the R7100 display is that it was not a whole lot better than the 536, IMHO.
Ok, I put in my 2 cents. Time to get back and do some listening. Let the complainers complain and the moaners moan. I'm going to enjoy myself tonight.
Rather than sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying their radio equipment, they have to nit-pick at the slightest issue or provocation because that's how they were raised. They honestly don't know any better.
One of my very good friends, through some misfortune and death in his family, recently inherited close to 1.5 million. Prior to that, he had about 20 thousand in the bank, and he was miserable. Now that he has 1.5 million, he is still miserable. He is still buying TV dinners when they are on sale for 99 cents. He is still walking around in clothes with holes in them; he is a mess. But that's the way he was raised and that's all he knows.
In terms of radios, some folks will never be happy. Yes, I admit that some of my threads called for more action on Uniden's part to implement certain features, but at the end of the day, I relax, enjoy and appreciate my radio equipment. All-in-all, it works very well. A 536 radio marketed by Icom is not going to retail for 499.00. When the R7100's came out (and don't forget, no trunking), they sold for something like 1499.00.
The Baofeng with it's "better display" is no 436. And my recollection of the R7100 display is that it was not a whole lot better than the 536, IMHO.
Ok, I put in my 2 cents. Time to get back and do some listening. Let the complainers complain and the moaners moan. I'm going to enjoy myself tonight.
Patronizing superiority went out with the Algonquin Round Table, so why don't you lose it.
KE0GXN
Member
Well, there in lies the problem. What incentive does Uniden have to produce a "superior" product?
Its a niche base, so they are going to only make so much profit regardless of what they produce. How many people you know own a cellphone? Then think about how many people you know that own a scanner?
Not hard to see why Apple and these other folks are constantly trying to put out the biggest and best phone, they know billions of people will buy it...
I just don't see billions of folks wanting to buy scanners. The truth is we are stuck with what we got and while I do not wish the demise of Uniden's scanner division, it is plain to see the scanner business is not booming nor will it ever be what it once was.
However, with that said, as a consumer I feel if you want my money and if you are going to market a product to me and willingly engage in commerce with me and except payment from me for said product. I expect to get what was marketed to me and what I paid for.
I should not have to have to run my product light on dim for fear of it malfunctioning. Once issues have been identified, as a potential consumer I want to know if current models are free of "identified/known" defects. An X-36 buyer at this point should not have to drop $500 dollars on the radio, with their fingers crossed hoping the display does not go out on them or the clock will quit working.
So, yeah I understand where you are coming from too. Problem is, from what I have gathered so far, Uniden is not listening nor do they care. So we are left we each other to figure it out.
Anyway, I checked into some nets tonight and I got my first issue of QST delivered to my house, so I am going to do some much anticipated reading and get a good nights sleep, got to get up and go to work in the morning and make some ham radio money...
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I see. I prefer to think they don't care how much the ongoing x36 recall and repair program is costing them.
Or perhaps it's not costing them anything? That's a first. Didn't cost me anything to send my 436 in. Nor do I think it's gonna cost me a nickel when I send in the 536.
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PiccoIntegra
Member
Sorry, I did not see your previous message, that feed is not mine.
I'm well aware of what those setting are, and how to tweak them. See my post here on how I visualize what's happening in real time. They are not in any way a solution to the problem though. If they would design a proper demodulator, these settings would be irrelevant. Thanks for the offer to help though...
D
darunimal
Guest
CO-rrect
KE0GXN
Member
Sorry, I should have been more specific...Uniden is not listening or does not care in regards to customer support as a whole (which in my case has nothing to do with warranty or defect repair) but everything to do with their dysfunctional un-supported "support" site, emails being ignored, calls made that when finally answered, are staffed by clueless people who can offer no meaningful answers to my questions.....
These have been my first hand experiences. And before anyone gets on here and makes it a point to tell me they have used Uniden's support resources with no issues and had every concern promptly and satisfactorily addressed. I say good for you in advance! However, that was not my experience and because of that I should not be labeled a hater or 5 % complainer.
Just saying...
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Notice how UPMan is not much on RR anymore. He has been pretty quiet lately since there is not much more he can say to make us happy anymore. His hands are tied while Uniden is pretty much dead now. After releasing PROVOICE now what?? Nothing anytime soon. Fixing anything with the BCD536HP is a waste anymore since the radio has hardware related issues that firmware release can't fix.
So not sure what more else to say at this point. I guess we will just have to wait and see what Uniden is going to do in 2016. Whistler ain't doing any better either with their new releases either. I see a little hope for AOR with their AR- DV1 radio.
So not sure what more else to say at this point. I guess we will just have to wait and see what Uniden is going to do in 2016. Whistler ain't doing any better either with their new releases either. I see a little hope for AOR with their AR- DV1 radio.
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