Uniden BCD396XT Handheld TrunkTracker IV Digital Police Scanner

Comment: I am a first time scanner user and took my Uniden BCD-396XT to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. After a couple days of confusion over how to program this thing, I discovered it's a lot easier to use the computer and cable to fill in the frequencies in the regions where I'm traveling. I loaded up the trunked frequencies using FreeScan software plus a subscription to the Radio Reference database. And, listening was FUN!

I picked up conversations on race course preparations from our condo a couple miles away. There was some interesting chatter about fixing icy spots on the course, racer timing intervals, and coordinating the camera coverage. I was able to rely on the scanner to find out whether our events that we had tickets for were going to be on-time or delayed. Just having this info made it a worthwhile purchase! I also picked up several different ski teams and heard Lindsey Vonn giving advice to her team mate while watching from the adjacent public ski run.

The 396XT proved itself as a durable traveling companion with good battery life. Without digital trunking I would have been able to pick up about half of the interesting conversations (e.g. non-trunked would have worked for the race teams but not for the course preparation crew), so I am glad I went for the digital trunking model.

Comment: I bought the analog version last year this time, and enjoyed it for a month before I returned it. It was too much money for what it did. This year, I tried again, but stepped up to the digital version. This scanner picks up everything in my area (except my encrypted county). Once I added an external antenna, things came in loud and clear. It takes a LOT of practice. it is very complicated and your knowledge of radios will have to increase. After over a month, I am still practicing daily.

Anyway, its very well organized, picks up the signals well, and is easy on the batteries. Does exactly what its supposed to. Haven't found any bugs either. Finally, this year they have an actual manual. The website that tried to be a manual is horrible.

This scanner has helped me navigate traffic on the interstates many times. I won't send this one back. Eventhough I think its overpriced, I'll be keeping it.

Comment: I've owned scanners since the mid-'70s and this little beast is the finest one I've ever owned, hands down. It has more features than I'll ever use (or comprehend), but it's tidy, compact form factor, superlative audio, and superb built quality puts it in a class all its own.

If you decide to get one, please do yourself a huge favor and get a decent USB programming cable...yes, a serial cable comes packed with the rest of the goodies, but how many people have access to serial ports on their computers these days? Don't toss the serial cable, with the optional GPS rig and a null modem, you can enjoy GPS-enabled scanning wherever you go!

And there are several excellent programming programs available; I use Freescan which makes programming ridiculously easy, especially if you subscribe to a site like radioreference...programming digital modes is a cake walk.

Yes, I am delighted with my 396XT and have become a 'true believer' .

Thanks for reading!

de KC5JLA

Comment: You will find this scanner hard to use if:
1. You don't know how to use a computer
2. You don't use freescan software
3. You don't know what trunking is and APCO-25

If you do know 1,2, and 3 then the scanner works great, as advertised! I listen to 2 trunked system, one analog the other APCO-25. I figured scanning between 2 systems let alone APCO-25 would be bad but it's quick and very usable. Some forward thinking needs to be done on how you want to program systems and talk groups. Once you have a plan, try it out using freescan.

-OUT

Comment: was to complicated to use,no instruction booklet, only on cd that took you internet,to hard to follow