Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner. TrunkTracker V, Simple Programming, S.A.M.E. Emergency/Weather Alert, Covers USA and Canada

Make sure you read the review item next to the name of the user. Amazon mixes reviews of different units in one.Before I get into the scanner I would like to address some complaints in general on scanners and the frustration of programming and using them and resulting in a bad review and complaints about a scanner be it a simple scanner or a complex one. Radio systems (simplex, trunking, digital, etc) and all the frequencies assigned worldwide is a complex matrix. It's not a simple as scanning every frequency under the sun to find some activity, its more complex.And truth be told 95% of scanner enthusiast like the complexity as it adds to the hobby. Learning and gaining knowledge and always figuring out new tricks, etc. If it was simple it would not be a fun.But there are some who want quick and easy. So you must to 1 of 2 things. 1: Make sure any scanner you purchase you can hook up to the computer (some use serial so be patient) and use FreeScan software (free) and subscribe to a frequency database. It's cheap and worth it. I paid 30 a year that's pennies a day to have an awesome database at your fingertips. This will load and label all the systems in your area and put them on the scanner.2: Purchase a more expensive with a built in database and other features (like this Uniden 436HP). Even if you do #2 it's always good to do #1 also. And be patient. While watching TV or hanging out, mess with the scanner nightly and learn little things as you go. Watch some videos on YouTube like Scanning 101, etc. Enjoy the process and do not get frustrated.On to my quick review of the BCD436HP. I had purchased the BC346XTC and used it for a week. Great unit highly recommend if you want analog with trunking. I wish the display was bigger so you can see more of the 3 areas system, dept and channel. But it worked great and I rated it 5 stars. But I wanted something digital with a larger display so I plunked out more than double the price of the BC346 for the BCD436HP.Love the large display, it really shows a lot. A separate line for the system, department and channel which you can hold each one and scan subs of them. When I first turned it on I entered my postal code and was scanning in minutes. The BC346 I had to manual scan or load it with FreeScan to get it really working. I have not hooked the BCD436HP to the computer yet but will this week to load detailed databases.This has a ton a features and essentially has unlimited channels (no cap). Firmware will future proof this unit. It pretty much does everything (trunked, digital, etc). The Micro SD card is a great feature to load a ton of databases and this unit will record and playback transmissions.Some users commented on the cheap feel of the unit. That's a slippery slope with a lot of opinions. Its light weight and feels good to me, the plastic is not super tough industrial but Uniden most likely weighed the pro and cons.Example: A Motorola VHF 2 way 99% of the time will be used in a work environment and be dropped, thrown on a dash or ledge, etc. That is why they also do not put displays on most of them for durability. Now a scanner is typically a hobbyist device and I can imagine 95% of the time it would not be used in a rugged work environment, so to me Uniden chose well with light weight plastic.The display screen plastic seems like it may get scratched easy but I have not had it long enough determine that. Some people do not like the Uniden clip on the back since it sticks out, but if you see why they did that it nice. It's basically the same CB mic mount to when you take the clip off it slides real nice into a CB mic mount. I bought a CB mic mount and use it in my van. Very nice feature.Battery life is dependent on processing, led, etc. I have not used it long to determine but if I had to charge it every night no big deal.Bottom line with anything you buy there is always things some people like and others do not. Is this unit a little pricey, probably but then it has a lot of R&D in it and they do not sell tons of them so there has to be a price point to make money. So I am ok with the price. You basically have a little computer in your hand ready to scan the RF Spectrum and should be future proof for a long time.If your trying to figure out if you like scanning buy a smaller Uniden or Whistler and program it via your computer and check it out. If you want to move up into the full spectrum (trunking, digital, etc) then you need something like this. I would recommend this to someone who knows what they want and ready to shell out a few bucks. For a beginner maybe start smaller.I had a chance to mess with hooking this up to my computer. Turns out the FreeScan does not support this unit. BUT Uniden makes free software for this called Sentinal which has a real good database with it. Its all installed on the 436 already so you really do not need to use the software unless you want to make easy edits or import stuff from freescan, etc. Sentinal software may not be as in depth for the hard core seasoned scanner users but for me its good.So in reality the BCD436 is a unit that will have you scanning in minutes with little to no programming and has the capability for the seasoned users to program till the cows come home.Update: I love this scanner. The screen showing all the info is great. The hold for each area is awesome I cannot say enough about that.I have NOT needed software like on other scanner I have used. Maybe I will one day but Uniden shipped this will ALL the frequencies in my area and nationwide for the most part!

With over 700 reviews of this product, there is a lot of material out there. If you're like me and have limited time to read reviews, let me sum this product up for you:1. It is plug & play. Enter your zip code and it knows what frequencies to scan in your area. Game on!2. If you travel, buy the Uniden-brand GPS unit available on Amazon (Uniden BC-GPSK Serial GPS Receiver for Scanner and Marine Products). The reason to buy the Uniden unit is A) As you travel, the GPS feeds your location into the scanner and the scanner updates the frequencies it is scanning to those near you and B) because it is also plug & play. Mine arrived with the necessary cords to plug directly into the scanner, and it worked from that moment. Perfect!3. You can connect the scanner to your PC to update the firmware and the frequency database from Uniden. It is easy. No need to buy a third-party web database. Uniden regularly updates their database. I purchased my unit in 9/2014 and used it nine months before performing updates. It works fine out of the box.4. The scanner has two batteries, a main battery for scanning and a secondary battery for the clock. Charge the main battery first, then turn on the scanner to charge the secondary battery. Oddly, the clock battery charges when the unit is on.5. On trips, an external antenna will extend your range. I purchased a magnetic mount antenna on Amazon for about $30 (ASIN B004HM9RHE) and it works great. Almost a plug & play device, you do not need an SWR meter as it is pre-tuned. Plug & play caveat: You will need a BNC Female/SMA Male Adaptor (ASIN B00CLFFM4G) to plug the antenna into the scanner.6. When using in a vehicle, know the law. States may have laws restricting scanner use in a vehicle. UPDATE: As of May 1, 2006, a permit from the Michigan state police is no longer required to have a scanner in your vehicle on Michigan roadways. I have been told by the Ontario Provincial Police it is legal to have a scanner in a vehicle in Canada but have not been able to find the law on the books. UPDATE: March 7, 2021: A Spectrum Management Officer of the Canadian Innovation, Science and Economic Development department (Canada's equivalent to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission) wrote me that an amateur radio operator's license is required to use a scanner in a vehicle in Canada. Canada recognizes U.S.-issued amateur licenses, so if you're a licensed ham operator, you're set.7. That's it. This scanner is as simple or complex as you wish it to be. For a busy dad, the simplicity is welcome and the Plug & Play No Fuss Ready-to-Use attributes actually let me enjoy the thing without brushing off my kids to learn how to make it work. It reminds me of the original Apple MacIntosh computer: A product so smart you can turn it on and use it without devoting hours of study to get it to function :-)

You can get it up and working right out of the box but to get the most out of it you will need to spend a lot of time figuring it out. The zip code set up won’t give you all the channels available in your area and some you probably don’t want. Instructions supplied with it aren’t nearly good enough (they suck). The software program makes it a little easier but your best bet is to go to youtube. There are no instructions on how to use the software either. Definitely not a beginners scanner. The close call feature means just that. “Close”! I thought it would mean close as in miles but is more so in feet.It does have good range and starts scanning pretty quickly when you power it up. The programed trunking feature takes some of the hassle of figuring out the whole trunking system on your own. The priority channel feature interrupts listening to other transmissions too much even when it’s just checking the priority channel for traffic. It has a lot of good features but as someone who’s been scanning for 30 years it was still a challenge. If you’re up for a project and want to devote a lot of time to it, it’s a great scanner. I’ve had it for about a month and still have a lot to learn to get more out of it. So far, other than receiving more channels than my 25 year old radio shack scanner I still have more to learn.

This scanner was a good investment. There's a steep learning curve, but it's worth the frustration.It was between this model and the SDS100. I chose this one because I don't need a color display or a waterfall, and it takes three "AA" batts, although three rechargeable "AA" batts are included.You CAN use the power cord for it if it's sitting on the table, which is a plus.Highly recommended.

The last scanner that I purchased was in the 80’s. Man they’ve come a long way! The ease of use for basic features like zip code scanning is really simple. I didn’t need the book to tell me. You can choose the type of services that you want to receive press zip code entry set distance and sit back and enjoy. As you receive a freq that it stops at you can store it in a bank that you name yourself and if that isn’t enough you can temporarily avoid that one and move on. A huge upgrade to less functional scanners is that the 436 tells you what the freq belongs to, no more book or internet lookups for what it’s for. That’s basic features I have yet to delve into the complete features that the 436 is capable of. It’s very intimidating. Purchasing a longer range antenna, a Bluetooth transmitter as this scanner does not have Bluetooth built in. I don’t like to use corded ear phones and much prefer Bluetooth. Purchase 3 extra rechargeable batteries and a battery charger so that you have extra batteries to install when others die. The unit has a built in charger but it’s major downfall is that the scanner doesn’t charge when the unit is on. I hate built in chargers anyway. Don’t bother with non rechargeable batteries, even the best brand will die quite rapidly. The quality of the casing is of poor quality, if dropped it will surely break. Buy a leather covering for protection, I’ve already inadvertently knocked it over. The base is very small so it does not provide a substantial surface to stand up very securely fortunately it’s of good weight so it stands adequately. I’ve ran the buttons and knob through there paces and they’ve upheld well. UPDATE: The channel knob is failing. It loosened up and is so sensitive in the functions it’s used for that it has a mind of its own so the screen selection jumps anywhere it feels like it. Again the features are beyond my scope of knowledge. I’m looking forward to learning all of them. I’m glad that I waited to submit this review. I purchased the home base equivalent of the 436. It operates the same functionality with just a few button location mods. I also purchased the upgrade handheld, the SDS100. It’s a hundred dollars more than this one and it’s being returned. The SDS does not have the speaker quality the differences is water proofing, I don’t use them under water, the battery is unique of course so you’re pressured to purchase the exact battery. I just can’t get around the sound quality. I mentioned that the selection knob is failing which led me to the SDS. But I don’t like the SDS so I bought another 436. If you enjoy scanning and beyond features that this one has the I highly recommend the 436. The price is right for what it has to offer.