Uniden BCD536HP HomePatrol Series Digital Phase 2 Base/Mobile Scanner with HPDB and Wi-Fi. Simple Programming, TrunkTracker V, S.A.M.E. Emergency/Weather Alert. Covers USA and Canada.

Received replacement within two days, thank you Amazon! One difference I noticed immediately between the replacement unit and the original unit received - on the original unit the front panel connector for the USB cable was loose/had slop; replacement unit snug fit with no slop. On the original unit, I started to experience the power recycling when I connected/disconnected the USB cable while the unit was powered on. On the replacement unit, could not initially access as a Mass Storage Device (whereas with my BCD436HP out of the box I could). I followed the number one recommendation from RadioReference, i.e. remove the SD Card, use SD card reader with PC, format the card, program (using Sentinel), place SD Card back in 536. Worked flawlessly. I am very pleased with the technical performance of the 536 - five starts. Overall though three stars for poor and inadequate OEM documentation, issue with initial unit, and not out-of-the-box ready like my 436. BCD536HP - factory defect. Unit continuously would cycle through the power on/boot up routine. Searching on RadioReference.com indicates this is a known issue that appears to initiate at various points in time. Once it starts, no clearing/reseting. There were no definitive solutions, lots of recommendations and suggestions. I own a BCD436HP so I am familiar with Sentinel, USB interface, etc. Also, I am an Electrical Engineer and have been involved in radio communications systems for a year shy of four decades. Returned for a replacement, will review replacement. I recommend prior to purchasing this model that you review the various feedback on the RadioReference forums regarding the BCD536HP.

I knocked off 1 star only due to the high price. This seems like a very high quality product and it seems to work great. I now regret paying extra for the home patrol version as I only used the zip code function for the first hour or so while I figured out how to use the software to create favorites lists from the database.

This unit is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, its got fantastic build-quality. It works as it should, scans channels and lets you listen. The buttons and knobs work well. Its a quality unit. Or is it? It might be me, perhaps Im old and stupid, but I cannot, for the life of me, understand how to use the favorites system. In a web browser, youre on a page you like, and you hit a button and save it as a favorite. Later, you can go back to it. But this thing has no such button. Instead, it has an elaborate and over-complicated favorite-list system which is impossible for me to understand even after watching countless YouTube videos. The problem is you cant just say Hey, this is interesting, fave it! For goodness sake, Im a computer programmer and I *still* cant understand how to operate the user interface of this thing. Why cant I, for example, just quickly set a frequency / operation mode of my choice like I can on a regular radio? So now it sits here gathering dust instead of being used because the UI is so annoying.

Absolutely awesome scanner! Very easy to get the wifi up and running, and the Siren app works perfect on iPhone and iPad. THe programming software makes this a VERY simple scanner to program. Just find your state, choose what you want, and make your list to send to the scanner. Was completely up and running in 30 minutes and have not used a scanner since the old analog only kind. This takes all of the mystery out of trunking and programming all of that so you can get on with listening. Best part is you can switch your lists very quickly and easily. Radioreference.com is a great site to use for seeing what is in your state and area. A definite recommend on this one.

Appreciate the unit; however sound and voices are not consistent. Varies from county to county, station

The easiest software programming interface and process that I have ever used. Have owned several Uniden/Bearcat scanners since the 90s and still have a BCD992 and BCD396XT. I would have preferred more display colors available- similar to my handheld 396 but the white background is fine. The stock telescoping antenna is functional could use a better dual band behind the set BNC connector unit. Just havent found one yet .

recently got back into scanning, but in my absence from the hobby my local police had went to digital, so had to get a digital scanner. the BCD536HP was the perfect choice. comes with software that makes firmware and database updates a breeze. makes a perfect base scanner, well worth the money!

Top of the line digital scanner including phase 2 digital, with a corresponding top of the line price. Have a lot of phase 1 and 2 systems in the area and the radio has clear p25 reception. The benefits of the HP-1 in terms of loading systems but still having the control over the system like the 966xt with a very similar menu system. Appears to be at least as sensitive as both of those radios (have both). Can create your own favorites listings of frequencies, systems etc regardless of whether they are in the downloaded regularly updating database. Have been using scanners since crystals and have a dozen of them. This is one of my favorites. Still waiting to find out what they do with the Wifi, which connects to my home network but doesnt do anything yet.

Works Great:I have had this for 3 months without a glitch. If you need to listen to a Motorola or Harris P25 public safety system this is the best way to go for most people. Previously I was using a Motorola Spectra to listen to this system in analog mode (I have skills). But the county switched to P25 and shut me out. So this Christmas after a long delay I treated myself to a BCD536HP. Pros: Very sensitive receiver Receives analog and P25 digital and capable to upgrade the common digital modes Provoice and DMR at small cost. Small, well appointed controls, WiFi connectivity for Android and IOS. Powerful audio (when used with an external speaker) Easy to upgrade firmware and channels using Sentinel. Cons; You will have to get latest firmware and channels using Sentinel to get started. Not hard to do, it requires a PC and a USB cable (supplied). Ditch the internal speaker, plug in an external communications speaker 3 or 4 inch diameter. Getting Started Programming can be somewhat frustrating for the newbie. I am used to programming commercial LMR radios and understand all the parameters. So I would say I am expert, however this experience turns out to be unneeded and perhaps misleads me. This radio is quite different in that Sentinel will download a fire hose full of nationwide channels. Your radio will require you to provide your Zip code (or connect optional GPS) and it will activate all the systems in a radius you provide. This will probably be way more than you need. The solution is to use Sentinel to create a Favorites List and use Quick Keys to activate only the channels or systems you wish. Otherwise you will spend a lot of time pressing the Avoid Button to ignore the dog catcher (no kidding). The database comes FREE from www.Radioreference.com Visit that site, the forums etc, and learn about the system you wish to monitor. Simulcast Systems You will hear a lot of favorable and unfavorable things about this receiver. The largest complaint is the reception of P25 simulcast systems. It is true that the scanners available today (Both Uniden and Whistler) use a discriminator to decode the P25 signal. This is not the best way to decode P25 in a simulcast system. The best way is a DSP receiver, and you can only obtain that by buying a Motorola, Harris radio (which you cannot legally program properly), a Pricey Unification Pager, or set up a software defined radio (for geeks). Personally my experience is that my radio works fine on my local simulcast system and I am in an overlap area. Occasionally the bit error rate is high and the audio garbles. P25 itself is not a perfect mode and you will find dispatchers and officers sound like the have marbles in their mouths. It is the nature of P25. If you have any concerns contact local users and ask them their experience with this scanner in your area. Encryption If your local agency uses encryption on some or all of their talk groups you will NOT be able to decode them. The radio lacks an encryption card and even if equipped you would NEVER be able to obtain the lengthy 256 bit key. It would be illegal as well. If I havent scared you off, you will be very pleased after you get it up and running. Uniden also makes a portable version of this radio, the BCD436HP. I bought the mobile/base version as then I do not have to worry about batteries and the BCD536HP has better shielding and so receives with less noise.

This is the coolest scanner I have ever seen. The negative reviews are definitely about how complicated it is to operate. Well, it is as complicated as you want to make it. I was listening to it within 2 minutes of plugging it in and entering my zip code. Have I done more to it since then? You bet. I added some channels from my local Jail. I made the different departments in my area show up with different colors. I have caught some new frequencies with it also and blocked out some frequencies that I didnt want. IF it is too hard for you to read the manual and learn about the features then you wont get that far. Buy something cheaper and live and let live. This is the coolest scanner I have ever seen. Worth the $ in my opinion.