Uniden HomePatrol-2 Color Touchscreen Simple Program Digital Scanner, TrunkTracker V and S,A,M,E, Emergency/Weather Alert, APCO P25 Phase 1 and 2! Covers USA and Canada, Quick Record and Playback

Bought this to listen to local police/fire, as my old Bearcat scanner seemed like it was a thing of the past and I was intrigued with the HomePatrol product line and its user friendliness. Took it out of the box, plugged it into my PC for quick freq updates via Sentinel, punched in my ZIP code and I was up and running in no time. Getting analog 800MHz trunked traffic from my local PD well along with some P25 Phase I. The P25 Phase I I could only get with help of a cheap Tram 1094 external antenna which I mount outside. P25 Phase II TDMA (which is used by one local precinct in my area) is still a challenge as I believe this unit does not handle it well - I can pick this traffic up but not well and antenna has to be in a very specific spot (believe this is due to Simulcast Distortion Going to try a directional antenna eventually to handle that. Overall the P25 Phase II TDMA is a small subset of what I want to listen to so Im ok for now. I love the touch screen display on this thing and how it displays channel/precinct info on the screen in laymans terms. Works well mobile in the car as well even with the stock antenna. The USB charging interface is a great idea as I can use same charger I use for my phone. Note that others have complained about not being able to charge and listen at the same time - all you need to fix this is a $10 USB charger that is capable of the higher 2.1 Amp capacity instead of the lower 0.5 Amp - these 2.1 Amp chargers can be found for less than $10 from Anker, etc. Bought it refurbished here and saved a good chunk of money , the unit works just fine. It did have to run to Wal Mart to get some rechargeable AA batteries but otherwise all is good.

You can get setup and scanning in minutes. Scanning can be a huge project or with this unit it can be very easy. I highly recommend this unit. The record and replay functions are cool. It automatically found all the channels in my area that I wanted. Very nice system. The only thing is I am not sure about the charging....it seems to just have a timer and not a real check on the batteries...not sure...overall a GREAT unit.

Expensive ... maybe ... but you do get your monies worth. I have had this radio for about 2 years now and have showed it to many people in my area who tell me they wish they could listen to police channels again. They tell me that the police now encrypt everything and you cant listen to them anymore. Well imagine their surprise when I say Oh really? and turn on my HP2! Yes LEO folks do encrypt some channels and this unit will not of course decrypt them. What it will do is digital trunking and do it well with very easy programming. I enjoyed adding the Extreme Upgrade software upgrade that because I am a ham radio operator I found easy to use and worth it. I would suggest that before anyone buys the Extreme Upgrade they review some Youtube videos showing you what it does because not everyone would need it or perhaps even understand what it does. One thing that EVERYONE should have is the Sentinel program software that is free and requires no additional cable or hardware. That software makes creating favorite lists easy and will even let you modify the Alpha names of the frequencies you have in your favorites list. If you have any doubts about performance you can find plenty of HP2 owners who have put videos on Youtube.

THE BAD: I will start by saying I think my unit is faulty. It has little to no traffic when the online scanner has lots of traffic. THE GOOD (and bad): This Uniden Home Patrol-II is certainly easy to program. Turn it on, put in your zip code and it starts scanning. The Sentinel software is a free download, but be forewarned! If your frequency is not list listed in the database, you can only add one additional channel to this unit without additional software. Even with additional software, the channels you are able to add are limited. You cannot upgrade this unit with NXDN or DMR. (A lot of law enforcement use these. So you wont be able to pick them up). the touch screen is a nice feature and seemed responsive without being overly sensitive. RECOMMENDATIONS: If you want a scanner, spend the extra money and opt for the Uniden 436HP, 536HP or top of the line would be Uniden SDS100 (portable unit) or Uniden SDS200 (Desktop or vehicle mount).

It is an awesome awesome scanner once you get through the learning curve and the software its an Breeze highly recommended

My own fault for not reading closer when ordering. Not being tech smart I thought hell just buy the chip put in the zip code and start listening to digital channels and analog. Picks up analog channels great. So requested and purchased another sim card that was to pick up digital both card were the same. I do not own a computer so can not download anything like the instructions tell you to do. If I would have know the trouble it is to program it I would just stayed with my old Uniden Bearcat. Maybe Ill luck out and someone from Uniden will see this and offer some help after all I am over 70 and technology is not my thing.

works great

THE BAD: I will start by saying I think my unit is faulty. It has little to no traffic when the online scanner has lots of traffic. THE GOOD (and bad): This Uniden Home Patrol-II is certainly easy to program. Turn it on, put in your zip code and it starts scanning. The Sentinel software is a free download, but be forewarned! If your frequency is not list listed in the database, you can only add one additional channel to this unit without additional software. Even with additional software, the channels you are able to add are limited. You cannot upgrade this unit with NXDN or DMR. (A lot of law enforcement use these. So you wont be able to pick them up). the touch screen is a nice feature and seemed responsive without being overly sensitive. RECOMMENDATIONS: If you want a scanner, spend the extra money and opt for the Uniden 436HP, 536HP or top of the line would be Uniden SDS100 (portable unit) or Uniden SDS200 (Desktop or vehicle mount).

I bought this scanner used in ‘good condition’. Actually arrived in like new condition and saved a couple of hundred bucks. Works perfectly. Type in your zip code and you are scanning. No programming required. Tons of features. The best scanner I have ever used. I have other uniden scanners that are 25 + years old. I hope this one is as durable.

Its easier to set up, using a zip code, rather than programming it myself, but it does require some patience, because it is not EASY to use. I found it was more than just powering it up, and entering my zip code, to be able to use it. There are several steps that must be followed, using a windows computer, before it will work correctly on trunked radio networks.