niden recently sent out a news release to its scanner users regarding some new scanners. UPMan over at the RadioReference forums posted the details there as well.
You can read the post here: http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120243
BC396XT
- Trunk Tracker IV – follows trunked traffic on APCO 25, Motorola, LTR, and EDACS systems (including EDACS systems using ESK)
The EDACS ESK support is new for Uniden. GRE has it available already in PSR-500/600 scanners, but it was not originally available – rather it was added as part of one of the more recent firmware updates.
The GRE PSR-500/600 have provided support for all other types of systems listed above from day #1 – and so have high end Uniden scanners. This isn’t a groundbreaking feature.
- 25,000 total channels
This is pretty impressive. Having not used a Uniden scanner for a while, I forget just how this would compare to previous BC396T/996T scanners or how it would compare with PSR-500/600s. But I’m thinking this is substantial.
Personally though, I think that for most users there is a practical limit to the amount of storage of systems, frequencies, etc. Sure there are people who would program in every trunked system in the US if they could, even if they would never use 99% of them… but most people have more than enough room in their 396/996s and 500/600s.
- NAC Decoding – allows specific agencies to be monitored on P25 conventional channels
This is a new feature for Uniden scanners, but GRE has been doing it for a year. Can you say coattails?
- P25 One-Channel Trunking – supports P25 conventional systems that include both NAC and TGID access control on a single frequency
This is a new feature for Uniden. I’m not sure if it is something GRE scanners already do or not have any P25 conventional around here to monitor. I bet GRE can do it though – or if they can’t, they likely will in a future firmware update.
- Automatic P25 Threshold – fully automates the optimization of P25 reception
I’m not sure if this is a feature or not. I’ve never monitored a P25 trunked system on a Uniden scanner before. On a GRE scanner I’ve never had to manually tune any P25 – it always sounded fabulous out of the box. So I would expect this as a defacto standard in a scanner and wouldn’t call it a ‘feature’ at this point.
- Multicolor Display Backlight – allows the selection of backlight color to meet the user’s own aesthetic taste
I’m sure the diehard Uniden users will get their rocks off on this feature. Me? One color is fine. I don’t need a psychedelic scanner. I’m more concerned with function. The PSR does not do this though.
- Visual Alert Notification – lets alerts be assigned to specific display colors, flash patterns, audible tones, and volume levels
This is new for Uniden. This is not new for GRE. Gre has had alerts that will flash a light on the top of the scanner in a particular color, etc. I’m not sure about different volume levels. To me this ranks right up there in importance with the multicolor display…. not very high.
- 500 TGID Channels per trunked system – doubling the number of channels that can be programmed into a trunked system
This is new for Uniden, doubling the number of TGIDs per system. GREs aren’t this limited as far as TGIDs.
- Temporary Lockout – allows a channel or system to be locked out for a single session and restored by cycling power
GRE already does this. Coattails.
- 100 System/Site Quick Key’s – provides a way to quickly turn on or off scanning for groups of systems…a feature that provides users of Uniden scanners the most flexibility in programming and operation
GREs and 396/996s already do this. This is not new, but its a significant increase in quick keys. Of course, Sites on a Uniden have always been better than the GRE counterpart. On a GRE, you can’t lock out individual sites in a multisite system – but in Unidens you can. Nice increase.
- Startup Configuration Keys – lets specific systems be locked or unlocked automatically when the scanner is powered on
Unique to Uniden as far as i know. I can think of circumstances where this would be useful. Nice addition.
- System/Channel Number Tagging – makes it easy to jump to a specific channel
I don’t remember if this is new for Uniden or not. It is a nice feature though. I don’t remember if GRE has an equivalent… I don’t think they do. To be fair, on a GRE you can jump to a specific TGRP, TSYS, CONV object – if you remember it’s unique number. It’s convoluted and I never use it because it’s easier most of the time to just manually go through rather than try to remember a unique number. Good move for Uniden.
- Multisite Systems – includes support for large systems such as those being installed for statewide operation in some areas.
This is nice and was definitely needed. Coattails. Hopefully this will work similar to GRE scanners in that you can set it up to scan each site in a system if sequentionally for a period of time, or you can set it to lock on to the strongest CC in the system, or you can set it to stop on the first active CC and monitor that until that signal no longer exists. I’m unsure of the completeness of this in the new Unidens yet though. If they are wise, it will work at least as well functionally as the GREs do. This is really great in GREs and I use it all the time.
- Priority ID Scan — lets the scanner apply priority to channels as they become active on the system
Unsure if GREs already has this or not. I don’t fully understand this at this point, but it’s a plus either way for Uniden.
- Preemptive Priority (Motorola only) – monitors for priority traffic, even when the scanner is receiving a transmission on the system.
I don’t think GREs do this at this point – I could be wrong. Judging by what some say on the RR forums, it sounds like many would find it useful. I wouldn’t though.
- Assignable Search Keys – give quick access to favorite search modes
Unsure if there is an equivalent on GRE scanners. I like the idea though.
- IF Exchange – lets the scanner use an alternate IF (intermediate frequency) to help avoid interference sources.
I’m not sure of the details on this. If it is what it sounds like, it could be very useful in many instances. Add this to the win column for Uniden.
- Negative dropout delays – resume scanning after the selected time to keep the scanner from hanging on stuck mics or other continuous transmissions
I don’t think there is a counterpart for this in GRE scanners. I like the idea of this feature. A win for Uniden.
- Close Call® Temporary Store – buffers the most recent Close Call hits and scans them conventionally
Not sure if you can do this on the GREs or not. I don’t use the signal stalker stuff much. It’s a nice feature though and I think it will be useful.
- Location-Based Scanning – when a compatible GPS unit is connected, turns on and off systems, sites, and channel groups as the location changes
I can think of very rare circumstances where this would be extremely useful. Otherwise it’s fluff that 99% of the people will never use. This isn’t available on a GRE, and it has been available, at least in some sense or another, on the 996 I believe. Interesting one.
- Location Alert Systems – allow location-specific alerts to be programmed for such things as dangerous intersections, dangerous roads, or general points of interest.
Interesting feature. I don’t know if i’d ever use it, but it’s nice enough.
- Band Scope – gives a rapid graphical display of the strength of signals within a specified range of frequencies
GRE doesn’t have this. Big win for Uniden in my book. I’d find it useful.
- Key Safe Mode — prevents naïve users from accidentally changing programming … a feature that has been a big request from public safety and media radio system managers
I don’t think GREs have this… not sure. It could be useful for some. I could care less.
- Private Systems — prevents a system from being modified or read by PC, to help protect confidential radio system programming
I can think of a shitload of RR people who would completely cream themselves over this… It certainly would be useful for agencies who use scanners to have the ability to protect others from reading the details. Average Joe has no need for it though.
- Control Channel Data Output – allows the analysis of control channel data without the need to perform invasive modifications to the scanner
GRE did it first, and probably does it best [although I have no way of comparing]. It’s a great feature, and Uniden users deserved it. Not everybody likes to open up a brand new $500 scanner and add a discriminator tap. With this feature, you don’t need to modify your scanner to monitor control channel data. The data is converted internally to a sensible output suitable for various programs to take that data from the serial port and display trunked system details. Again, great feature – and kudos for Uniden. But to be fair, GRE did it first 
- Volume Offset – lets individual channels be programmed with a volume offset to help balance between channels that are louder or softer than other programmed channels
This is certainly useful. You can already do this on a GRE, at least to some extent. On a GRE this would be audioboost. The GRE may not have the level of adjustability that the Uniden does – I don’t know. GRE has two settings, OFF/ON.
- EDACS ESK Tracking – tracks systems that have implemented EDACS System Keys
Big deal for a very few, insignificant for most people since they don’t have any ESK systems to listen to. GRE did it first, and it was available as a firmware update.
- Fire Tone-Out Tone Search – identifies tones used by agencies using two-tone paging for alert signaling
I’m sure a lot of whackers will find this useful. I am unclear on whether you can only search for FTOT or if you can actually use what you find to only play the audio when the scanner hears a certain FTOT. So I’m unsure if it’s useful or not.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t have one of these, nor do I plan to any time in the foreseeable future. I’m stuck on GREs. Their support is excellent and their scanners have insane sensitivity [which of course can mean trouble in areas with high power local signals]. I’m happy with the GRE. If I were to get another Uniden scanner, it would be a BCD996T again. I love that scanner as well. I don’t want a handheld. And it appears that there will be no 996XT.
I also don’t work for either company or get any compensation from either one. I feel that I have spoken as objectively as possible considering I have owned a Uniden BCD396T and BCD996T before and currently own a PSR-500 and prefer it over either of the Unidens.
You should consider keeping up to date with regard to this new scanner by reading the threads on RadioReference. Discussions of all scanners are very detailed at RR.
You are TOTALLY wrong saying that location based scanning is “fluff” and “99%of people would never use it”. A lot of people I know on discussion boards use this feature a lot. We have 996’s installed in our cars and hooked to GPS’s and even if you only drive around 20 or 30 miles on a regular basis there are a lot of systems that you go into and out of range of. With this feature enabled I NEVER look away from the road to fiddle with a scanner to switch on or off banks etc. I just program everything under the sun that is in my area and let the scanner do the switching for me.
I thing the only way they could improve this feature would be to enable the scanner to communicate with Bluetooth GPS recievers so you don’t have to fiddle with hooking up cords and the like. Not an issue with my 996 since it is permenantly installed but would be nice for the handheld that the user would be removing from their car from time to time.
Sounds like you must populate some crappy message boards. Take that as an insult if you wish, but the percentage of people who have a legitimate need for this is very very low. The rest of the people who would cream themselves over this feature are just fantasizing. I’m still convinced that although many people might find the feature intriguing and an interesting addition, they aren’t likely to use it.
1. Not all scanners are installed in vehicles
2. Not many scanners installed in vehicles have GPS’ hooked to them
3. Not many people want to spend $500 for scanner, additional cabbage for a GPS, and then dedicate that to an automobile.
Glad you like it though. I certainly don’t hold it against you
Point is for sure more than one percent of people use it. Have seen tons of posts with people looking for the right GPS to hook to it. The puck GPS can be had for way under $100. Most people do not “dedicate” their scanner to the car as I have. They use the bracket and take it in and out. Tons of people on the message boards are simply salivating for the new BC396XT which is adding GPS support. It is not “fluff”, it is actually a great safety feature. You hook it to the “puck” GPS that has no display of any sort and you don’t have to mess with the scanner when you are driving. I will take a poll on the boards that I frequent and get back to you. Cheers.
Well I was going to let the polls run for ten days but could not resist posting up some results. Not sure if you may access the Yahoo Groups but here is a link and it is only a few clicks to sign up if you want.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCD996T/surveys?id=2139217
As you can see from there, when I last looked, 19% use the GPS at least some of the time and 12% have it permanent.
And in this poll:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129761
51% of voters use it at least some of the time and nearly 38% have it permanently attached.
Absolutely not scientific polls but I think the results are accurate enough to prove that saying “Otherwise it’s fluff that 99% of the people will never use” is grossly inaccurate. I was actually surprised at the number of respondents that said “Permanent in car with GPS”. I only expected it to be in the 5% range.
Even if you were to combine the two polls you get 28.7% that use the GPS at least some of the time, and 19.4% permanent in car with GPS attached.
Are you UPMAN’s personal jester? Seems like it. Creative license applies in my posts – after all, they are my own. The point was that the _majority_ of people with scanners capable of location-based scanning do not use it – and even if they had a GPS to hook up to it they wouldn’t bother. I’ll go so far as to say “vast majority” even.
I see the RR poll – I’d venture to say that out of all of those who completed the poll, at least one who posted in favor of using GPS is a friend of yours that you urged posting in your favor, at least five are major whackers who drive around thinking they are some public safety person (when they don’t hold down a job, are on welfare, have a few kids, and have spent supposedly $600 to feed their scanner fix instead of feeding their kids), and then some who just selected whatever the hell they happened to click first.
As far as the Yahoo link – gayness ensues [hats off to fark]. Anybody message board that requires you to be a member before posting isn’t worth a pot to piss in. Yahoo is to message boards as AOL is to Internet access. Those people on Yahoo are still using crystal scanners and BC210s.
We could have avoided all of this had you simply recognized my post for what it was – my thoughts, with some creative license thrown in for good measure. I never said that the statement was based upon data pulled from a scientic poll rofl.
At any rate, your post is here, and if need be somebody can use it along with my post to form a more balanced opinion for themselves. – M
I am nobdy’s jester and am offended by the description. You can be as creative as you want I guess I was trying to pass along a little info based on real world situations, not creative fiction. Majority not using it would be an accurate description since the polls showed about 30% occaisonal use and about 20% permanent use. I do not know anybody personally on RR and sent no messages urging anybody to vote any specific manner, just the last public post urging everybody to participate. You seem to be using lots of that creative license again describing everybody on RR that I suspect you don’t know either. That is a pretty rude description of the Yahoo Group. Of course you have to be a member to post, it keeps out the spammers, take a look at the un-moderated groups, all spam. I have learned a lot from the groups. If you notice the crystal radio users have their own group, it is called Vintage Scanners.If you notice the RR boards require membership to post, I had to sign in here to post comments!!!!!!!! I stand by the idea that the GPS is a safety feature and wanted to pass that along so people have some real world info to base their decisions on. I did recognize what your post was, extreme bias about the GPS feature. I specifically commented that I did not think the polls were scientific either, just real people answering a question. Maybe not perfect but less biased than calling it “fluff”. That was my intent after all, to balance out the info available.
Cheers