Which is preferred the 996P2/536 scanner?

[safetypro79]

Which one of these is more sensitive?

I am considering another scanner and would be using it’s existing telescopic antenna.

Both have great features and eBay sellers have some at reasonable prices.

 

[IAmSixNine]

I have not owned a BCD536. I do have 3 996P2 on my desk at work and have 2 436 units.
From what i tend to see in the forums i have noticed (just my opinion) more users seem to like the sensitivity of the 996P2.

Hopefully others will chime in to give you more of their thoughts.
I prefer the interface of the 436 over the 996 but its what they gave me at work.

 

[doctordialtone]

more users seem to like the sensitivity of the 996P2.

I only own 996, 396 and 325P2 scanners.

I love them all and never have issues like I read about with the 436/536 scanners.

 

[N9JIG]

I have both in my truck right now. I have not noticed much of a difference in sensitivity or selectivity between them. AFAIK the receivers are pretty similar although I think the 536 has an additional filter so it might have better selectivity if measured with proper test gear.

I pretty much use the 996P2 for CloseCall and the 536 for routine scanning.

 

[allend]

Hands down the BCD996P2 for price and the durability.

 

[ka3aaa]

with an outside antenna installed on it, rocks

 

[doctordialtone]

with an outside antenna installed on it, rocks

You're right!

I have a Discone for the 996, mounted on 10 ft mast (30 ft above ground) and it rocks!

 

[K2KOH]

I do not own the 996P2, but I do have the 536 and two 436's...to me, the 536 has the best receiver I have even.

 

[sibbley]

I can't say I've really noticed much difference between either receive wise.

 

[UnidenSupport]

Once programmed, they are going to be very similar with how they run, it's just getting to that point that should influence your decision. The 536 has the sentinel software which makes things quite a bit easier out of the box, and I find it to be much easier if using GPS

 

[blue5011]

I have three 996xt's and one 396xt.

I will keep what I know works well for me.

 

[ka3aaa]

996p2 by a long shot hands down.

 

[PriorMike]

I've never used a 536, but for what it's worth I've never had an issue with the performance of my 996P2's.

Like posted above, some folks like Sentinel and the fact the 536 has all the data on an SD card, but I like mucking around in ProScan so that isn't a deal breaker for me.

 

[iMONITOR]

The display & fonts are much larger on the 996P2 than the 536HP, however the display & smaller fonts on the 536HP allow longer text per line than the 996P2. Receive / scan performance I find to be about equal. The 996P2 has a nice choice in background colors where the 536HP has only one. I prefer the 996P2 over the 536HP.

 

[wbswetnam]

I keep my 996P2 on my desk at home, and the 536HP in the car because of the GPS. I do think that the 996P2 is more sensitive, but that's just my anecdotal experience.

 

[fenderblue]

I have 3-996XT's and 2 536HP's. 996 will pick up more channels and faster. The 536 is good for the road because the search feature and I have gps on it too. On another note, I would take the 396xt over the 436 any day. It is compact and easier to operate.

 

[doctordialtone]

I would take the 396xt over the 436 any day.

Totally agree!