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

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.

When something is supposed to be programmed ready to use them I shouldnt have to spend hours and hours trying to figure out how to set it up. I will just be upgrading my old crystal units to ones that I have to program. This unit picks up plenty of air traffic miles and miles from my jurisdictions but nothing at all local. The few bits that were picked up from the local fire department were terribly garbled. Lesson learned for trying to take the easy road. Luckily the local departments are open about frequencies and even offered to help program a newer unit properly.

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.

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.

The home patrol ll scanner is very easy to use compared to most. I love that is shows the department that is transmitting instead of just a frequency code. The touch screen makes it easy to adjust and displays in color. I’ve only had it a few days and I’m very happy with the scanner.

it love We

Easy to use. Much better than a cell phone appams it is about 20 seconds faster than a delayed cell phone scanner app. I was hesitant to spend this much money on something like this knowing that a cell phone as an app that can do the same thing, not true whatsoever this thing is great, it’s faster than a cell phone and when you’re on a cell phone you’re only picking up one channel the scans them all this is a definite must buy I absolutely love it

Touch controls are excellent. Really like zip code programming off of my computer using downloaded s/w from Uniden. Having a computer is important. Charging and Non-Charging mode is harder than it needs to be… Mobile use needs a special mount.

I have owned many scanner radios over the years, including Regency crystal type. I have a 396xt which has been THE scanner to receive most digital signals, in my county. Cincinnati Police are partially encrypted so most reception is Hamilton County Sheriff as well as surrounding counties. This is the scanner to own, for the majority of users. As to install, it literally took me 1 minute to getup and running. At this time, im going with the factory firmware and not connected to a laptop. The display is superb, finish and build quality very good, and the reception of digital signals very clear. The one thing I miss is the loss of search function. You cant set a lower and upper scan range looking for new frequencies. The signal strength meter is way to small in the upper right corner. Setup is very easy. Punch in your zip code.. The scanner will load all local frequencies from a 4 gig micro sd card, located under the right side batteries. 2300 Mahr nimh AA batteries are included. After loading your frequencies, you then can go into the meny and adjust distance from transmitters to your home and pick what type of freq. to load. When doing setup just go past the page asking for user info, either attach USB to computer to download Sentinel off Unidens web site. I did not use Sentinel. A better choice would be Scancat. Sentinel will not run properly in XPpro, especially if you have a lot of drivers loading. I strongly suggest you install into Win 7-8.1. I have seen issues involving corruption of the sd card, especially if nimh batteries are nit loaded. An AC failure seems to corrupt some cards. Honestly,the radio is fine with original firmware. So, if you have no laptop handy, use as is. The clarity of digital signals is better then on my 396. Now the bad- get an extendable whip antenna and toss the rubber duckie. Universal has a fine antenna with the correct sma connector and swivel. Consider getting a Uniden extension speaker, especially in autos. The gps option automatically changes freq. depending on location. Be gentle installing the two connectors to the radio. Jacks have been reported to fail when excessive presure is applied. The gps uses a very clunky interface needing a separate power connection. I would recommend not leaving scanner on dashboard in summer. I have not encountered any software bugs with original firmware. The ver. 2 has a charge indicator on the front panel. The scanner is currently overpriced. If you dont need it now, wait until the prices come down. For the average listener, the zip code feature issuperb. I had to pay to program previous Unidns. They were terrible even using scanning software. I wouldve given five stars, except for the price. ADVOCATE USE REPORT- after living with the HPII, I become more impressed everyday. The scanner was so easy to setup. No computer required. Tone quality superb even on APCO 25 phase one. The scanner also decode phase 2 being used in some large cities. This is first trunk tracking HP. Graphics in color are EXCELLENT. Sensitivity excellent. Setup SUPERB. If you use matching speaker, sound is fantastic. You can alter to exact mile away from transmitter that you will receive. Start with zip code. Then go into menu and fine tune distance. All the negative issues concerning jacks failing is not really correct, at least on my sample. You do not have to immediately use a computer. You dont have to enter your info. Bypass these screens and enjoy. I was particulary impressed by clear reception from other counties. I do recommend you dump the rubber duckie. Universal sells a superb telescopic whip that cones with a swivel sma plug. You can use and charge, if you AC adapter is rated 1 amp @5v. Next use test will be new uniden trunking five handheld.

The replacement unit is a very nice table top scanner that sets in my living room. Picks up 99% of what I wanted to listen to with just the zip code has a great reciver! I will go in and tune the channel list with the software when I get time. Im very impressed this is not my first scanner its the one that will set by my chair in the living room and will probly get more use then all the other radio equipment in my radio room upstairs! Great for a first time user or and advance user.