Uniden BCD325P2 Handheld TrunkTracker V Scanner. 25,000 Dynamically Allocated Channels. Close Call RF Capture Technology. Location-Based Scanning and S.A.M.E. Weather Alert. Compact Size.
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T. Scott, Minneapolis, MN
> 3 dayFair warning to the people who consider themselves smart and capable when using tech tools and may be a little concerned after reading about how difficult it is to learn how to use this device. I dont shy away from learning any tech tool but after three weeks using this I gave up and returned it. Heres a few of the problems you will run into: --There are no actual instructions for setup and use. It comes with a small booklet with several pages of details on the multiple programming features but that wont walk you through how to make the device work for your needs in your area. -- There really arent any YouTube videos that will walk you through the essential features of the device and how to set it up. There are videos that may show you a few features on this particular device, and lots of videos that show you how to work with other scanner devices (which are definitely not the same), but so far nothing that will take you through a starters set-up and programming this radio for use in your area. -- If you are serious about using the device and programming it on your own, you will likely have zero success unless you subscribe to a website such as RadioReference.com where you will actually find a much better version of the the device instructions and web boards with FAQs that will help you with your questions. There, you will at least find the frequencies that you need for programming the radio for use in your area and the people who manage the site are very friendly. But... -- You will still need to download and learn how to use a not-so-intuitive software application called FreeSCAN that will gather the multiple frequencies you will likely need to program your device and transfer the frequencies onto your new radio. It is confusing, but there are some good YT videos that will walk you through this process. --If you get this far, you will have the correct frequencies programmed on your new device and then you will be confused as hell about actually trying to use the insane amount of features and feature menus in the small mobile device. You will have some basic questions like what is squelch and how do I manage it so I can understand what is coming over the radio, and some more complicated questions like, how do I program quick menu buttons or stay on one frequency, or get back to the frequency I was listening to five minutes ago. And unless you have an experienced person who can help you learn all that, you will be frustrated about how far you got into this radio thing and you still cant listen to your local police, fire or EMT calls with any regularity. I strongly recommend if you are at all thinking of purchasing this device and learning how to use it that you find an experienced radio hobbyist in your area who is will to help you program the device and give you some personal training. If you have that, and you are willing to look at this as a project and a hobby that requires some skill you may have some success and I wish you the best of luck. For me, I concluded that using a digital scanner radio in a trunk system is no longer a hobby for someone who wants to casually listen in. No disrespect for the serious radio enthusiasts but this device was not for me. Good luck!
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Tina McAlister
> 3 dayjust got this a couple of days ago. love it !! its an aweome little scanner. with a subscription to radioreference.com and freescan application loaded I had my local area programmed in no time at all. our area has an old Motorola trunked system that will be replaced soon with a new P25 II system so dont know how itll work on the new system. I havent tried VHF yet, going to borrow the antennna on my BCT15x (best scanner ever !!) and give it a whirl. it likes AA batteries so if you dont have a charger and more batteries Id purchase some also. you know uniden comes so close to making great stuff but they need to take it up a notch....the USB connector is a mini USB....a mini? not micro like every thing esle has been for the last ten years !! and you cant charge it while listening, you have to turn off the radio to charge the batteries?!?! is it 1998?? and the manual they provide is for serious scan buffs, I am not a scan nerd so the manual gave me a headache ! great portable scanner that Id recommed.
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Marlen Batz V
> 3 daythis scanner is not for beginners. I have used the older scanners, and this one has a steep learning curve. The GPS unit BR-355S4 should be ordered with it along with the Uniden BC-UTGC cable.
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Kat
> 3 dayDad got it as Christmas present for my mom. We used to have an analog one, and would listen during storms or if something was going on in neighborhood. My uncle set it up for her (though it is really easy). They picked through which areas/channels she wanted to be able to listen to. She loves it! My dad was trying to decide between much cheaper one and then this one, I forget what his final reasoning was but he went for this one and is very happy.
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Scott Bachman
> 3 dayAfter a 32 year career in LE and retired for 6, my oldest son is on the job now as well with my agency. So, I finally jumped on this. It takes a bit of patience to program it as my agency is large with hundreds of trunked channels. However, through the benefit of friends who have this model, it worked out. The instruction manual is hard to read, with especially small print as well. I added a beefier antenna and when at home, use desktop speakers to enhance the sound quality. For the money it is an excellent purchase and does what it should.
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ElmoC
20-11-2024Uniden used to be a good name in radios. Based on this and the previous scanner I got, there is no quality in the products. Had another scanner sitting next to this and it would not pick up transmissions the other scanner would get loud and clear. What was worse is when I went to return it, they did not offer the UPS pickup service like all my other returns have. Would not recommend purchase of *ANY* Uniden products.
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Michael Butterfield
> 3 dayCombined this with ProScan programming software (worked the best $50) and a Radio Reference subscription (online frequency database that works with ProScan $15/6 months) to program the device. Software also allows you to create multiple backups and/or configurations. Only negative I see is the battery recharging is a little weird. Charges on a timer that is settable and doesnt turn off when battery is charged. Seems to run off battery when plugged into USB port and does not recharge until turned off. If you remove batteries, it runs off USB power. Im a little new to the device...this part seems to have not been thought through.
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Rick R
19-11-2024Nice small size and covers all the new freq without an issue. Easy to use.
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michael watson
Greater than one weekIts the handheld version of the desktop BCD996P2, which I love. Now that both models have EDACS ProVoice and DMR software loaded, I can monitor over 95% of the public safety systems in my area. The 325P2 is a great size to fit in your hand and its volume is strong. I have two earlier models - BCD396T and BCD396XT - and the BCD325P2 is my new favorite.
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RF Guy
> 3 dayI have both this unit, the BCD325P2 and also the BCD436HP. This scanner is a more user friendly model based on the awesome Uniden 396XT scanner. But this BCD325P2 scanner adds P-25 (Phase 2) Digital reception. This unit does not use an SD card for memory, it has internal memory only. But it is plenty. You cant record/playback things, nor does it have the full RadioReference database included in the memory. But it is more user friendly. The display is a standard size but the font is Big and Bold thick letters which you can easily see from a few feet away. The backlight is orange only but really, it is the best display you could ask for. The other BCD 436HP scanner display you cant read good from a few feet away, Any of you past 40? You can program this model a bit easier (by hand) if you want to, you Do Not get free software with it, but can use other vendors software. I tried to program it with the USB cable in Win7 and it works, but you have to download the specific driver for it from the Uniden site and set this up in your Windows Control Panel/Device Manager/Add Driver install screen. It is a bit confusing at first, you wont see the file to add at all. And you still need the programming software to get the channel frequencies into this. As far as reception, the digital P-25 (Starcom21 my area) sites are incredible, it receives just as good as the BCD436HP, I would say it equals or exceeds the BCD436HP in digital reception of phase 1 in terms of signal strength and actual voice quality at the speaker. It receives digital signals like an upgraded version of the 396XT, which has ears like the NSA. VHF/UHF reception is about the same as the rest of my scanners. I used the stock antenna and it works fine for me, but the RS 800 mhz will give you optimal digital signals. You dont get backlit buttons on this unit and it uses only 2 AA batteries, which give me about 6-8 hrs with 2400 NiMH. It is a Handy size scanner. The BCD325P2 also has a true Band Scope function which acts like a mini spectrum analyzer for checking signal strength of an individual frequency or a frequency area, very useful for graphically seeing how much trunking signal that youre receiving at the scanner. With digital scanners, this is gold, as moving the scanner just an inch or two will be like going from full signal to no signal with the stock antenna. Whered my signal go? Run the Band Scope and see it disappear and come right back as you move the scanner a whole two inches on the table. Now you can see signals like the engineers do and find the best place to set your scanner. A wonderful feature for the hard core scanner fans. The BCD325P2 is a digital scanner with P-25 (Phase 1 & Phase 2) that receives digital signals incredibly well. It offers a ton of features for the size and a Great Display. While digital scanners nowadays are not easy to setup, I find this one less challenging than the BCD436HP. This is a more user friendly digital scanner with really good ears for hearing digital P-25 stuff.