Uniden BC355N 800 MHz 300-Channel Base/Mobile Scanner, Close Call RF Capture, Pre-programmed Search “Action” Bands to Hear Police, Ambulance, Fire, Amateur Radio, Public Utilities, Weather, and More, Black

This is a no frills basic scanner that works great for anyone in an area that has police and fire still on analog frequencies. Really simple to program; dont believe the naysayers that say it isnt. A simple 3 minute youtube video showed me how to do it. Its a bit time consuming and repetitive but very very easy once you know how. If you plan to listen to over 25 or so frequencies right of the bat, you might want to invest in a programming cable and download programming software. Also, it does have a TOTAL of 300 slots to program frequencies BUT 200 of these are under the Air/Marine slot. It is a bit confusing and if you want to listen to more than 100 frequencies and have to spill over to the Air/Marine presets, you will have to set the scanner to scan your private frequencies along with both the Air and Marine band presets. Its confusing I know, but it DOES have 300 memory slots. If some folks read the free downloadable user manual before purchasing, they would have known that. If you are listening to that many frequencies though, you should probably invest in a better, higher end scanner that has a larger custom memory bank. Its pretty small and takes up very little space on my nightstand and workbench. Worthwhile if you are like me and only listen to around 15 or 20 of the local police/fire/EMS frequencies. If that is all you are looking for out of your scanner, this will do the job. Upon arrival, the box included the scanner, a base telescopic antenna that plugs straight into the back (works well for me, your results may vary with location), a mobile mounting bracket with several feet of fused power wire, a DC cigarette power adapter for quick plug and go mobile installation, and finally a second antenna. The second antenna is basically a copper wire with suction cups on both ends and several feet of coax attached to it. According to the directions, you basically suction cup the antenna to the inside windshield on the passenger side of the vehicle or to the rear widow if you drive a standard cab truck. I currently use it in my basement window to gain better reception during the evening when I am working downstairs in my concrete surrounded shop space. Having an additional antenna stuck up in the window really helps improve the reception. Overall, its simple, it works, and its not crazy expensive because of too many bells and whistles I wont use.

I purchased this scanner for my car. It came with everything you need car adapter, plug, etc the concern I have is on the back of the scanner it states 13.8 volts and is going to be plugged into a 12 volt adapter. Although most cars I know of are 12 volts but because my vehicle which is a Subaru is very sensitive I called customer service at Uniden to explain the 13.8 volts, One agent said he did not know then referred me to email in which I did with no response, I called again and the agent indicated wire it to the battery. What was strange to me is that both agents stated this scanner is not for a car even though the manual states you can use it in a vehicle with the plug in adapter or hard wire it. Bottom line, my questions where not answered completely and will have to hard wire it to the battery even though I did not want to do that.

Definitely need to know about scanners before buying one. The new platforms are not like 20 years ago! Some changes have happened but now makes things more difficult for home listening. With me being in the fire department I enjoy having a at hime scanner and a pager but I wanted a base at home one instead of having my portable sitting and getting knocked over. This will pick some about 4% of my local fire ems police channels. On the police side I can only get 1 and it wont stop with the static!!! I was able to pick up 3 or 4 other fire and ems but like 1 call not every call so that part I dont understand. Come to find out this scanner doesnt pick but BOTH digital and antilog

Do a search online for what frequencies your town uses for fire and police. radio reference dot com is the one I used. Go down the list and find your town, to the right of your town , in the mode section if it says P25= this scanner will NOT work. means its Digital/private. This is a analog machine. If however it says FM under mode area for your town, you WILL get that station just fine, meaning its analog. You can buy scanners that pick up the P25 digital mode but they are alot more money. Hope this helps new customers in deciding as my town has the police in p25 mode and i cannot listen with this machine, but the fire is in fm so i can listen. ..........im still learning, but as for trying to GET TO A SPECIFIC STATION=... hit the band button and toggle it to the basic area you want say 100 to 200 , now hit scan, soon as your near the number you looking for hit the HOLD BUTTON, and use the up or down arrows to get to it. thats all, when someone talks on that , it will come on automatically. ........ as for saving a favorite to your bank... same deal as above, go to Bank, select the area you want example 100-200, search, soon as near number hit HOLD, use up down to get to number you want...Now hit the PROG button, then hit the PRIVATE BUTTON..there you can put it in the bank you want(it blinks to select a bank think you ca nstore 100 on here or something) now Hit PROGRAM again , and it saves it ..so next time you can just hit private and your saved banks of liked frequencies are over there, .. mine just wont work right with my saved ones but im not sure if it will listen to all my saved ones when one is activated or what yet as still learning this machine(grumbles lol) also that cc weird thing on bottom left I read will go to any live talk or something, non stop?, in reviews above, but i havent tried it out yet. Well thats all for now, if I figure anything more , ill update this post if need.

The BC355N is perfect for those who desire a simple easy to setup and operate radio. Ability to key pad frequencies into unit would make it a 5++. I have owned a significant number of radios over the years and must say this is a great unit for the $. I will also say that a scanner is only as good as the Antenna which is attached to it so before you give up on a radio add a better antenna first. Phil Tee Staten Island NY

It came on time it works I am still working on getting some of the channels I live down the road 1 to 2 minutes from my local frie department have not been able to pick them up but can pick up other fire department far away

Easy to program once you figure it out sounds great no issue receiving transmissions.

I gave this item a bad review when I first got it (for static and transmission interruptions). Since then I found that this item is fine, it was the recommended external speaker that was the problem ( in a review the speaker was recommended and was sold as a package deal when I bought the Scanner). Once I removed the speaker (as I was going to return/replace the scanner) a broadcast came over PERFECTLY clear and uninterrupted. AND the built in speaker for the scanner was fine.......no external speaker needed. Just so you know, when an external speaker is attached, it by-passes the internal speaker completely. When I was purchasing and reading review it was suggested that the scanner NEEDED an external speaker........NOT TRUE!!!! The scanner works beautifully without the external speaker and I am now very pleased with this scanner. Sometimes reading reviews hurt you, I hope this one helps you. This is a really good scanner for what I needed and I am very happy with it now that I removed the external speaker.

I was initially dissappointed with the reception using the included metal antenna. Connecting an outdoor dualband magmount antenna to my metal roof allowed the radio to receive aircraft as they fly by. The receiver works best with a outdoor antenna.

This receiver was purchased to replace a mid-80s BearCat 20/20 scanner that had provided outstanding service for nearly 35 years. Unfortunately, the BC355N does not measure up to the high standard set by its much older sibling. The audio is weak and the optional BC23A amplified speaker is required if you want to hear an intelligible broadcast from across the hangar (40 feet). On the plus side, reception with an external VHF antenna is very good.