Uniden BC355N 800 MHz 300-Channel Base/Mobile Scanner, Close Call RF Capture, Pre-programmed Search “Action” Bands to Hear Police, Ambulance, Fire, Amateur Radio, Public Utilities, Weather, and More, Black

Im a beginner when it comes to police scanners and am glad this was very easy to set up. You just literally plug in the power and plug in the antenna and you are good to go. Thanks to earlier reviews I bought an aftermarket antenna and used it at the get go so i havent run into the issues with reception that other reviewers have mentioned. Also thanks to another earlier review I was able to (fairly) easily program my local police departments channel into the private bank. Although it did take a little extra time because for one I couldnt input the channel directly and for two the search arrows have to be pushed over and over again for each channel change instead of being able to simply hold the button down and have it scroll through quickly to the channel I wanted. This lead to me having to hit the scroll up botton I kid you not 150 times before I got to the station I wanted and was able to save it into the private bank. But now that its in there it is super convenient. The built in speaker is adequate and quite loud when turned up all the way. It is a tad fuzzy but its hard to tell if that is due to the quality of the speaker or the quality of my local polices radio equipment (I live in a small town that is kind of behind the times when it comes to technology). That being said, even though its a little fuzzy, I am still able to understand almost all of what is being said.

Is it a great scanner? No. Is it a decent scanner in an area with only analog comms? Definitely. Dont expect the world from it, but it works well for what it is.

brought to listen to local fire and rescue and they went digital, which it doesnot recieve

Difficult to program.

I gave this item a bad review when I first got it (for static and transmission interruptions). Since then I found that this item is fine, it was the recommended external speaker that was the problem ( in a review the speaker was recommended and was sold as a package deal when I bought the Scanner). Once I removed the speaker (as I was going to return/replace the scanner) a broadcast came over PERFECTLY clear and uninterrupted. AND the built in speaker for the scanner was fine.......no external speaker needed. Just so you know, when an external speaker is attached, it by-passes the internal speaker completely. When I was purchasing and reading review it was suggested that the scanner NEEDED an external speaker........NOT TRUE!!!! The scanner works beautifully without the external speaker and I am now very pleased with this scanner. Sometimes reading reviews hurt you, I hope this one helps you. This is a really good scanner for what I needed and I am very happy with it now that I removed the external speaker.

I compared this new model,BC355N, to my older model BC147XLT, at least 30 years older. I found that the 355 was great for discovering new frequencies in my area, but comparing the scanners side by side, squelches just above white noise,with both scanners parked on the same frequency the 355 received the transmission less than half the time of the 147. Some frequencies not at all. Ill be keeping the 355 to keep searching for new frequencies, but I wont be retiring my 30 year old BC147XLT, which has been spectacular, never a problem.

This receiver was purchased to replace a mid-80s BearCat 20/20 scanner that had provided outstanding service for nearly 35 years. Unfortunately, the BC355N does not measure up to the high standard set by its much older sibling. The audio is weak and the optional BC23A amplified speaker is required if you want to hear an intelligible broadcast from across the hangar (40 feet). On the plus side, reception with an external VHF antenna is very good.

Definitely need to know about scanners before buying one. The new platforms are not like 20 years ago! Some changes have happened but now makes things more difficult for home listening. With me being in the fire department I enjoy having a at hime scanner and a pager but I wanted a base at home one instead of having my portable sitting and getting knocked over. This will pick some about 4% of my local fire ems police channels. On the police side I can only get 1 and it wont stop with the static!!! I was able to pick up 3 or 4 other fire and ems but like 1 call not every call so that part I dont understand. Come to find out this scanner doesnt pick but BOTH digital and antilog

Product was very easy to set up in my vehicle and I use it see you at the traffic flow is then talk with Truckers

I program scanners all the time and I needed the manual for this one. It is not very easy to use and very tedious to program. I bought it to monitor 3 specific local analog frequencies and because of its small form factor. For my purposes, it’s adequate. However, even for beginners, spend a few extra few dollars as there are much more capable, and less frustrating, entry-level scanners available from Uniden.