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

This scanner is fabulous. I love not having to enter all the system info. I can just let it scan. It even works well with my Mac using Parallels desktop for Windows. Syncing isa very easy. The only things I wish it had were easier way to manage favorite lists from the scanner itself and the ability to set priority channels. I miss not having it switch to a priority channel when theres activity.

This is a really great scanner. Favorites lists are easy to create. I still havent figured out how to program Custom Service types. I hope this is not a part of the Upgrade feature. If any knows let me know. The receiver is extremely sensitive. I find using the Attenuate feature helps a lot in the Los Angeles Area. The record feature works great. Even though the scanner has a complete database in it. I still refer back to Radio Reference to help choose the correct group of frequencies for any service desired when creating favorite lists. I have not purchased the Upgrade feature. For now I do not need it. It was definitely a huge upgrade from my last scanner.

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).

works great

This is my second one. I havent figured out how to hook an external antenna to it for when I am living in my basement vacation home but in my urban area, you cant beat it. I personally think it is one of the easiest to use and best on the market. I bought because my 2010 model died and just for kicks, I loaded the new software on my old unit and now I have two units that both work. I bought my sister one when I got my first one and we are both very happy with the units.

The listing on Amazon says just put in your zip code and its ready to go. That is so misleading, and when I tried to comment on Amazon where it asks to let them know if the description is wrong, the send link wont send. Also the description does not say for PCs, you will need additional support for MACs. You dont have a clue until you are told it will take nearly $300 to program it! Since we are a MAC household, we have no ability to do so, and the Sentinel software that will supposedly help says they have no intention of making a MAC-compatible software. I planned on taking this with me when I go camping but right now, it would just be useless dead weight to carry. STOP saying how easy it is to use and NOT informing people right up front that it is a PC product and how expensive it will be to get it programmed. My ancient Radio Shack scanner works better than this.

This is my second radio scanner,(My first was a whistler TRX-1). This unit is super easy to use and program. Gets great reception and seems to pickup better and faster than my TRX-1. The speaker is louder and having the replay option is really nice so you can listen to the last transmission that came through if you missed somthing or want to make sure you heard correctly.

Why in the world would you spend $450 for a scanner that wont even allow you to put in your own channels manually - something a $20 one can do. Loved the zip code thing. I tried to check out the Extreme upgrade, if thats what I need to accomplish this manual entry feature, but the link is always broken on the Uniden site. Not to mention most of the links for help and support are also broken. I wish I had sent it back. It was a Christmas Present for my husband, and he hates it.

I love this thing! After I had help setting it up, but after that I listen to local police,fire,and EMS. The channels come in clear and the display is easy to recognise which emergency frequency you are on. I would recommend a battery charger to charge the batteries.

I purchased a bearcat scanner a few months ago not knowing how radio scanners worked. I wanted to get police transmissions but it only picked up fire and EMS. Turns out there is a new digital signal type called P25, which the HomePatrol 2 picks up! Check the radio reference website (google it) to see channels in your area. If your police has P25 next to it, this scanner will pick up those signals. If it says P25E next to it, then your police use encrypted radio signals and no scanner out there will pick it up. HomePatrol 2 is extremely easy to use. It picked up over 300 channels automatically on first boot. I modified my channels down to about 10 (police/fire/EMS) and Im a happy camper.