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

I have had this scanner and it is the replacement for the Home Patrol 1. For simple scanning and the novice, it is perfect. It can be used as a mobile as well as a base, and not only does it receive APCO 25 Phase 1 and 2, but will handle all forms of conventional and trunked frequencies in your area as well. The Home Patrol 1 is virtually identical, but does not have Phase 2 capabilities. Whether that is important depends on where you live and whether the local public service agencies have decided to go to Phase 2 to reduce band crowding. I do find that it has a few shortcomings versus the Home Patrol 1, however. First, unless you have a larger power supply, it cannot be listened to while charging. So that means if you use the USB to your computer you either charge or listen, so get a good power supply. In a pinch you can use the one from your cell phone or iPad, but a separate one is best. Secondly, the charging light is bright and annoying if you have this in a bedroom. Maybe a piece of electrical or masking tape would help dim it. Overall, it is a good scanner with the ability to pick channels simply with inputting your ZIP Code. It comes with the Home Patrol Sentinel software and all frequencies in the US and Canada pre-loaded on a micro SD card.

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.

I have had many scanners over the years, but this by far is the best. I have it a few weeks now. You get what you pay for. It took a little while (very little) to get used to how it works, but it is really good. Just using the antenna that comes with it I do get a good deal of contacts further then I expected. If you want a good scanner mainly for local info, you cant go wrong. As a bonus, you will get info out of your general area. If you use regular batteries, expect about 5 3/4 hours before the screen comes up saying that the batteries are low. I am available for any questions. By the way - this is the very first feedback that I have written. I have ordered items for many years from Amazon and while I never had a complaint, I never felt the need to write about a product until now.

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.

Did not come with a USB cable. Scanner did pick up county and state traffic, but I wanted it for my city. My city is in the list and it would pick them up sometimes, but after comparing it with the free online phone app scanners, I was not getting 90% of the city traffic. I know it worked because it was picking up some traffic, but in order for me to keep it I would want it to pick up almost all.of it...for the price. Anyhow, the missing USB cable, antenna was odd as it didnt swivel to point in the direction I wanted, and inability to pick up the traffic is why I decided to return this unit. I would have kept it if it was cheaper, but for the price it needs to be better.

This is a fantastic radio. So easy to use! The unit is heavy/sturdy and built well! I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in scanner listening.

Nice to find a Smart scanner designed for the modern generation. Wanted something that was easy to program and update. Also portable. Was very easy to update and program with their software. I was using a Uniden BCD 996T I got from my grandfather who was no longer using it. That could not hold in its memory all the local stations/IDs. A pain to program. This HomePatrol 2 Model...completely different design than the normal DIN style scanners. The DIN style units are much more durable and metal construction. Those are meant to be mounted . This is a plastic portable unit and very much is like using one of those old portable car GPS units (like a Garmin or TomTom). It doesnt feel nearly as sturdy and premium product price worthy as the DIN style scanner. I think this could be a bit cheaper in price. The LCD itself is very much the type of screen u see on older portable car GPS units. Not at all like modern smartphones. Resolution is quite low. Colors are a bit washed out and the touch response is not as good as I would like. The power and volume controls are on top of the unit(the only physical buttons), causes me an issue as i normally kept my BCD996T slid under my computer monitor stand on my desk. All the controls on the DIN style unit are easy to reach, but this HomePatrol design, i have to slide the thing out to adjust volume or turn it off. No on screen volume adjust that i can find. The built in speaker is not that good. Quite tiny and trembley. Not as good and clear sounding as the speaker built into my BCD996T. The UI is ok. I do like how it displays the 3 lines of broadcast info...something i did not have before. Easy to lock channel by pressing the screen However, this UI seems to be missing the more precise features of the DIN scanner...like manual System/Service search. (It was easy to just have the scanner search one system or service on my 996T.) I can lock it on a system or service, but have to tap the arrow, then the Next option to go to the next station, but then it starts scanning. Miss the wheel on the DIN style That is much easier for manual control. The charging on this unit is not intelligent. In the settings, the Set Charge Time is based on the mAh u enter. The max u can enter is 2300mAh 14hrs. You plug it in...it asks do you want to charge, then it starts this countdown timer(from the Charge Time setting). The batteries I put in were already full. It still is counting down 14hrs until fully charged. You can use the unit while charging. It uses older MINI USB??? Havent had any device that uses mini usb in years. Micro is the the standard these days. Have to have a separate cable now...or just get a micro to a usb micro to mini adapter. Unlike the 996T, I had software that allows my PC to display and control the scanner. That doesnt seem to be possible with this Home PAtrol 2 unit. I guess if you want the more traditional and professional control on a scanner, get the DIN style models. But you want a easy to use scanner that pretty much is just on Auto(and is portable)....get this. The Antenna that comes with it is short range...suitable for portable or traveling use. But I recommend a better antenna if you want to use it at home on a desk.

If youre looking for an easy to use scanner, look no further. Simply turn it on and put in your zip code. You can then tell it which types of transmissions you want to hear and how far away. Awesome little unit. There are some complexities involved with how various agencies utilize radio channels and they are always evolving, so no system is perfect or will work in every area. But this Uniden covers the most up-to-date types of radio frequencies. The unit takes rechargeable batteries which are included. If you plug it in to a usb outlet or computer, you can recharge the batteries. It only charges via a micro usb port, but you can plug it into a wall charger if you have a usb converter.

I am very happy with this scanner. I debated purchasing it for a few months due to the cost. Seriously, this thing is expensive! We moved to Galveston recently and I thought it would be great to know what is going on and it is. This is the type of scanner that I had to have to hear the broadcast here. I was a little disappointed in the beginning because I was only getting a few channels but I discovered it was user error. I needed to make some adjustments like making sure EMS-Talk and the other Talk options were highlighted. It is now giving me what I expected. We were full-time RVers and I wish we would have had it when we were traveling because it is so easy to change the location. It is easy to use. My only complaint is the price.

I got this because my local police recently upgraded their radio system to an unencrypted Project 25 Phase 1 system. This raised my awareness to how many local systems are now digital, and I was looking for a quick solution. The HomePatrol 2 is a nice solution. It was very easy to get going using the ZIP code location setting. The connection with the RadioReference.com database works nicely--it automatically pulled up a LOT of frequencies, and the ability to select by service is very handy. It takes some getting used to if youre an old-school scannerist like me because Im so used to doing all the work! Be aware that, for amateur radio use, this receiver will only decode AM or FM signals in the VHF and UHF amateur bands. If you need something for HF amateur work, this is NOT the unit for you, but it WILL automatically load local repeater frequencies for you. Im not keen on the landscape device format, but the color touch screen and included desk stand are very nice. I also like the ability to pause reception by System, Department or Channel with a single touch. This is great for limiting the scanned channels on-the-fly, but you can also set up favorites for doing this more permanently, The right-angle antenna is a slight annoyance, especially being SMA, but the included SMA-BNC adapter will allow you to connect your favorite scanning antenna. In that case, youll need a right-angle BNC elbow (NOT included) if you want to use a vertical antenna directly on the unit. Although this unit is pretty nice, I decided to return it and get the Uniden BCD436HP instead, which is very similar in functionality to the HP-2, but in a more conventional handheld format with a few extra features (and slightly less expensive). I still recommend the HomePatrol-2 as a great general modern scanner with plenty of capabilities, especially if you like a desktop format (and it can be mounted mobile as well).