Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner, 500-Alpha-Tagged Channels, Close Call Technology, PC Programable, Aviation, Marine, Railroad, NASCAR, Racing, and Non-Digital Police/Fire/Public Safety.

Bought a used one here on Amazon. Came with everything that would normally be inside the box, except they included the wrong kind of charging cable. I had an extra, so it was no big deal. It took me a few hours if messing with the scanner, watching YouTube videos and skimming the instructions to totally understand how it works. I went from having no idea what I was doing, to being able to use all its features in just a few days. Bummer that my local PD went digital, but I can still pick up some emergency services sometimes, government channels and of course railroad chatter. The range is a little more weak than I thought, but for an extra $20-40 you can get some real good antennas to improve that.

This scanner is an excellent choice if you want to listen in on railroad, maritime, aviation, or racing activities. Its also a superb tool for monitoring the police/fire/EMS systems that have not yet become digital. The ability to alpha tag (i.e. label) the display so that you immediately know WHO you are listening to is my favorite attribute of this scanner. You will DEFINITELY want to use your computer to do the labeling and programming as it is SO much easier than trying to accomplish programming via the scanner keypad. The Uniden software is easy to download and pretty intuitive. It basically loads a spreadsheet looking document that is clearly labeled with fields. You just pick a blank field (bank/channel) and fill in the frequency and your custom label. You then export your data right to the radio (write to scanner) via the USB, and the scanner is programmed in a matter of seconds. I also love the functionality of the backlight on this thing. On my 20 year old scanner, the backlight would come on for just 10 seconds and then go off. You also had to hunt for the backlight button in the dark. The BC125AT backlight can be set to either (a) Be on all the time (b) come on when a transmission is received (c) come on anytime you push any button on the unit (d) both options c and d....which is my preference. Very useful. Its small and discrete. Great for carrying around near airports and train stations without looking like a big dork. I was worried the speaker would be tinny on a small unit, but the speaker is every bit as good as the speakers on my older, larger scanners.

Manual is only for experienced radio operators.This scanner is incredibly tricky to learn and operate.Dont count on Uniden for support,they longer offer phone support.When I called thats what they told me.They also told me that someone would contact me via email.Ive never heard a thing.I might have done better if I was lost in the desert and someone handed me a book of matches.Im just blown away by Uniden/Bearcat.If you like Japanese stuff that is impossible to figure out.Buy this one!

Ignore all those it’s too difficult to operate reviews... it’s down right simple! I’m mildly dyslexic when it comes to number punching. People who have previously complained, more than likely have problems putting in batteries or swapping out light bulbs, or boiling an egg! This scanner is ridiculously simple to use. Just watch some YouTube videos to get you started, and learn the sub menus and functions keys and by the next day or two, I promise you will be whizzing around the scanner like an expert! Anything new is daunting at first, like a new car, couple of spins around the block, you will remember which lever is your indicators and which lever operates your screen wipers! The more you fiddle with it, the better you become accustomed! This is a must buy analogue scanner. Works absolutely perfectly with the free “scan125” software. The software controls the scanner via your laptop or PC, with the usb cable supplied with your purchase! Your can even power off the Bearcat BC125AT within “scan125” program, it’s that powerful! Search “Nick Bailey Uniden scan125. I cannot stress enough to get this free software, which is HIGHLY recommended for your Bearcat BC125AT. Get it! Get it! Get it! The BC125AT scanner locks on better than my whistler 1010. The Close Call feature is powerful and has found more frequencies than my WS1010 ever did! So to those good folk who sent back their BC125AT, it’s very unfortunate you never spent time viewing those YouTube videos explaining this fastest seller! Otherwise you would be enjoying it as much as I am right now! Don’t hesitate... get it now! For the price, it’s worth it! Otherwise go for the more expensive digital brands. More time will be required learning the many sub menus of those high end scanners! I am very chuffed and delighted with my purchase from Amazon USA.

This is just an average scanner for an average price, which is what I should have expected. The item was introduced around 2012, so its already old technology. It works, and it scans pretty fast, but theres nothing outstanding about it. One disappointment is the relatively short battery life. Im sure that I dont use it for more than an hour per day, but it seems that I have to charge it at least once per week. I have another scanner that this was supposed to replace (the LCD screen is dying on that one), and Im sure the batteries last twice as long between charges.

I purchased this product for use when I go out railfanning, to be able to listen in on where trains are located on my local rail line. The scanner works really well and is able to receive radio signals from a pretty far distance away when youre close to an active rail line. The build quality is good for the product, its mostly made of plastic. But thats not a deal breaker in my opinion, since the product feels very durable and doesnt feel like it will fall apart the second it falls onto a concrete floor. I found the interface very easy to understand, all the button functions are clearly labeled and are very easy to figure out all of the functions. The programming software was very easy to use as well, its very similar to using Microsoft Excel. I personally prefer the BC125 over the BC75, because the 125 can store a lot more frequencies and you also get the ability to add in custom names/alpha tags. The only drawback to the product is the range is not very good... But that comes with using the antenna that is provided with the scanner, since its not very long. The scanner can receive signals from channels I programmed as far as 10 miles away from my local railroad mail line, but that applies mainly frequencies that are used on my local railroad. Overall the scanner works very well for my uses, I am very happy with the product, and I would recommend any railroad enthusiast to purchase a radio scanner to use while railfanning. Since it will make your railfanning sessions a lot more fun, since you will know ahead of time whats coming in your direction.

I got this scanner so I can train watch and know which train Im seeing. Programming the frequencies into the scanner was pretty easy for me after a little trial and error, but I figured it out. My one complaint would be that it doesnt have a whole lot of range beyond the tracks but a better antenna would probably do the trick.

I recommend finding a good you tube video to learn how to program the scanner out of the locked channels mode.. I spent hours trying to figure it out. You need to get on a computer, download a file to your computer, then go to Radioreference.com to program. The channels stay locked until you enter a frequency.... it was very confusing. I have a friend that was only able to figure out putting the police frequency in it... Once you do watch the video and figure it out its quite simple just time consuming. I also had to watch about 4 or 5 videos to find the right one that actually showed me how to program it.... once programmed, its a great scanner... would have given it a 5 star if it hadnt have been so time consuming to find out how to program and get out of the locked mode....

Bought this handheld scanner for my Dad on May 9, 2021. He is a Past Chief of our Fire Dept. and still enjoys listening to what’s going on. He noticed it wouldn’t charge and opened the battery compartment to find the rechargeable batteries from 2010 ( ELEVEN YEARS AGO) had deteriorated and melted the inner compartment. He cannot switch it over from rechargeable to AA batteries because the old rechargeables melted the switch and contacts. Very disappointed. I had not realized this handheld was released 2011. I never would have purchased such an OLD product!!! Now to see if the original retail warranty applies to me or the radio company that is selling these. I will update this review once I find out what course of action I have. We missed the Amazon return date because we lost my Mom recently and our minds were not on this scanner.

I mainly purchased this to monitor aircraft frequencies which it does well. I hear many airborne aircraft, but not much from the ground unless I am near an airport. Except for fire paging and ambulance to hospital comms, it does not receive police and fire services in my area for two reasons; 1. Most of those are above 512 Mhz, and 2. Those that are below 512 Mhz are mostly digital which sound like a loud buzz on this radio and any other radio that is not equiped to decode digital. The radio has 3 main modes to chose from; 1. Scan mode scans 10 banks of 50 frequencies each plus a close call bank. The active banks show up at the bottom of the screen, and pressing a corresponding number on the keypad turns each bank on or off. The two search modes allow searching for CTCSS (subaudible tones) and DCS (Digital Coded Squelch). Active frequencies can be saved along with the privacy code. 2. Service search allows searching for activity on 10 different pre-programmed frequency ranges / lists. Similar to the scan mode, the different ranges can be turned on or off by pressing a number. Service search bank 3 is ham radio and includes 6 and 2 meters and 440 Mhz. Service search bank 9 includes FRS / GMRS / and MURS frequencies (mostly UHF and a few VHF). 3. Search gives you 10 different frequency ranges that you can program yourself - low and high limits. The close call technology works in all 3 main modes and has three options; 1. Do not disturb turns off close call when the scanner is receiving a signal 2. Priority mode has close call turned on all the time, and will interrupt reception of other signals. However, unlike turning a priority channel on, normal reception is unaffected while receiving other channels. With a priority channel enabled, other channels are briefly interrupted every few seconds while the priority channel is checked. 3. Close call only listens only for close calls Temporary lockout is a nice feature. When the power is reset, all the temporary lockouts are reset. To permanently lock out a channel, press the lockout button twice. This also works for close call channels. Cons - there are a limited number of lockouts - 100 temporary and 100 permanent. If you decide that you do not want to monitor a permanent channel, it is easy to delete it. The weather alert is a nice feature if you do not have a dedicated weather alert radio. It even alerts you if it can no longer receive your local weather service channel. The computer interface works well which allows you to input information into a sheet similar to a spreadsheet. It allows you to read information from the radio or save information to the radio. Rows or blocks of rows can be copied and pasted to easily move frequencies around within a bank or put them into other banks (tabs).