Does anyone have a Bearcat digital scanner?

[fixer27]

I'm thinking about buying one of the Bearcat Digital line of scanners (BC 396 or 996). Does anyone own one and what is your impression of them?

 

[Mike G]

A good place to look at reviews would be here:

www.radioreference.com

The 996 is a brand new unit, and it has been getting mixed reviews. The 396 seems to be a solid performer so far. I have the non digital version of the 396, which is the BR-330T, and I like it a lot.

The Radio Shack digitals get good reviews, so they are worth a look as well.

 

[mycroftt]

I haven't made comparisons of recent models but I have done so in years past. In every instance I have chosen a Radio Shack scanner over a Bearcat, and I have had 3 or 4 myself and picked out a couple as gifts. In my opinion (in years past) you simply got more scanner for your buck at RS.

 

[fixer27]

I haven't made comparisons of recent models but I have done so in years past. In every instance I have chosen a Radio Shack scanner over a Bearcat, and I have had 3 or 4 myself and picked out a couple as gifts. In my opinion (in years past) you simply got more scanner for your buck at RS.

The problem with the Radio Shack (pro 96 or 2096) is the coming rebanding of the 800mhz band. The steps are going to be changed from 25khz to 12 khz and RS software doesn't support that were Uniden is going to offer software updates to enable their equipment to pick that up.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Rebanding

 

[kinzli]

I have a BC785D, I like it, I think it's the best one out there (Bearcat) but then again that leaves some room for improvement. I think their UI could use help, but overall it works as advertised. We don't have any trunking traffic so I don't use that part of it, nor do we have any digital traffic, so a large portion of the radio is wasted on me, but I still like it because it covers MilAir, which many scanners don't...

 

[DaveH]

Thanks for the site reference. I keep thinking I'll buy a new scanner someday, I currently have a Pro-43 from aloooong time ago.

 

[fixer27]

I have a BC785D, I like it, I think it's the best one out there (Bearcat) but then again that leaves some room for improvement. I think their UI could use help, but overall it works as advertised. We don't have any trunking traffic so I don't use that part of it, nor do we have any digital traffic, so a large portion of the radio is wasted on me, but I still like it because it covers MilAir, which many scanners don't...

My only Uniden scanner was a sport cat twin turbo, I liked it but thought that programming it was a pain.

Right now I'm running a pro 93 with a Radio Shack mobile antenna with a line into an ancient Gateway solo 2100 (50 mb 1 gb) laptop running vox recorder to monitor those odd ball frequencies.

Vox recorder works well and is free http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_6_229_18904.html

If I knew that RS was going to update there software I'd go with a pro 96 Ehh, the 396T is getting good reviews.

 

[kr1]

I have a BC250 with the BCi25 card, a 396 and a BCT15 as well as much older scanners. The 396 is the best scanner I have ever had if you must decode APCO 25 signals. If you are looking for desktop and don't need the APCO 25 then the BCT 15 is a spectacular scanner. If you have any specific questions I'll be happy to try and answer them.

KR

 

[fixer27]

I have a BC250 with the BCi25 card, a 396 and a BCT15 as well as much older scanners. The 396 is the best scanner I have ever had if you must decode APCO 25 signals. If you are looking for desktop and don't need the APCO 25 then the BCT 15 is a spectacular scanner. If you have any specific questions I'll be happy to try and answer them.

KR

Do you have the GPS tracking unit on the 396T? The 996 supposedly has the ability to show "where" the transmission is being generated from.

I'm leaning towards the uniden 396, I like the mobility as long as it has the same features as the 996.

 

[kr1]

Do you have the GPS tracking unit on the 396T? The 996 supposedly has the ability to show "where" the transmission is being generated from.

I'm leaning towards the uniden 396, I like the mobility as long as it has the same features as the 996.

The 396 doesn't have the GPS option. The BCT15 and I believe the 996 has the GPS function. It does not show where the transmission is. What it will do is automatically switch to different received frequencies as you are moving based upon the location that is given to it from the GPS. At least that is my understanding of how it works. I don't use the BCT15 mobile yet so I haven't read that section real well.

KR

 

[wiredgargoyle]

I've got a couple Bearcat scanners, I prefer them over the Radio Shack models primarily for their more compact size. The one thing I'd recommend getting is the associated software from BuTel. Just do a search for BuTel, it makes programming so much easier especially if you get a nice cheap registration from RadioReference. With that you can dump their frequency database for your location into your scanner.

 

[victory]

The problem with the Radio Shack (pro 96 or 2096) is the coming rebanding of the 800mhz band. The steps are going to be changed from 25khz to 12 khz and RS software doesn't support that were Uniden is going to offer software updates to enable their equipment to pick that up.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Rebanding

My county still uses good old fashioned non trunking radio for fire, police and ems. All the volunteers won't let them switch because no one wants to drop a ton of money on new scanners.

 

[kr1]

I've got a couple Bearcat scanners, I prefer them over the Radio Shack models primarily for their more compact size. The one thing I'd recommend getting is the associated software from BuTel. Just do a search for BuTel, it makes programming so much easier especially if you get a nice cheap registration from RadioReference. With that you can dump their frequency database for your location into your scanner.

Absolutely. I have copies (purchased) for all three of my scanners. Well worth the investment.

KR