Uniden BC72XLT Handheld Scanner (Black) by Uniden
|
List Price: Our Price: $74.99 You Save: $5.00 (6%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $66.80 (click here) Category: Car Audio or Theater See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
Digital camera reviews of Uniden BC72XLT Handheld Scanner (Black)
Digital camera Review: Good First Scanner
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first scanner to purchase for myself. I've played with them before, having a friend in a voluntary fire dept. I have had some experience with two way handhelds, CBs, and even company radios. My main interest is the aircraft band as I'm an aviation enthusiast so I wanted a scanner that picked up that band but wasn't too complicated. After reading reviews of many products, I chose this one. Of scanners that are equipped to pickup the aircraft band, this one was the most affordable. It is made for NASCAR fans, so its ease of use is superb. If you've used radios before, you'll figure this thing out pretty quickly. A quick read of the manual about channels, banks, functions, and tuning and you'll be looking for nearby broadcasts. Anyone who's had a scanner before probably won't even need to read anything.
For the price, it picks up quite a few bands and I am very satisfied with what I can hear on it. If you're into police and emergency radio, it's not for you though. It does not get 800Mhz frequencies or trunked systems. For that, it's bigger brother, the BC92XLT is the answer. But for an amateur wave surfer like myself, or a particular enthusiast of something, this is a perfect first scanner. It gets all major bands (citizens, company, air, marine, etc) and service bands (WX, HAM, etc), and can provide you with plenty of listening entertainment.
The only downside, as with most scanners, is the tiny mobile antenna that comes with it gets pretty poor reception. If you really want good range, I recommend you hook it up to a CB mobile antenna, or if you're really hardcore, a custom mounted outdoor antenna. Most likely you will need a "PL259 to BNC" converter for that, so keep that in mind.
Digital camera Review: Good basic scanner
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first scanner and I have been pretty happy with it. After reading the instructions, it's very simple to program things in and get listening quickly.
The CloseCall and priority channel functions are neat. They check for really strong and close signals and a priority channel per bank respectively, but they both create almost a second of break in the audio every few seconds to scan for signals, which is annoying.
I've also found that the 100 programmable channels go quickly. I've got almost all of them full and find myself wishing I'd gotten the BC92 with 200 channels.
Other than that, it's worked really well for me. The small antenna isn't the greatest, but for its size it pulls in signal very well and seems very sturdy. I got the scanner mostly for the air band. I live about 4 miles from our local airport, and the antenna just barely brings in the tower. ATIS if you hold it right and listen hard. Pretty much nothing on the ground. It's picked up airplanes almost 100 miles away, though, talking to the ARTCC, but couldn't hear the controllers there. I can hear the police and fire broadcasts from town, as well as the rural paging. One city I live near has gone digital, but the other has not (twin cities... kind of odd), so I can hear half of the public safety traffic. Local ham repeaters and NOAA also come in well.
[...] is a great place to go to find lots of local radio frequencies (and a good place to check to make sure you don't need a digital scanner to hear what you want to).
I got a Scan-Force-Tele Section antenna to use with it, with mixed results. Better signal strength than the stock antenna, but it has FM interference on the air band.
I haven't used the batteries for more than a couple hours before recharging, so I can't say much about the battery life. They haven't died on me yet, so that's pretty good. I do have to take the batteries out of the scanner after a bit of charging, because they start getting really hot. I don't think that's a good sign. I think it's trying to overcharge them.
I may have more testing information this summer, with vacation and maybe an air show.
So all in all it's a good basic scanner. I'm considering getting a digital scanner to pick up a wider frequency range as well as trunked signals.
Digital camera Review: Good price but not ready to use
Summary: 1 Stars
I am sure it is a good product. I like to listen to the police and fire calls. Now if I could just find someone to set it up so I can use it.
I have read the book and tried to follow the directions. At this time I am very frustrated and disappointed. Spend my money and time but have nothing I can get any use out of. Maybe some day I can find someone to set the radio up.
Digital camera Review: Good product
Summary: 5 Stars
This scanner my first is my friend for my night travel. I avoid some jam on the road. Usefull for listening the police and fireDigital camera Review: Good scanner
Summary: 5 Stars
Good hand held scanner for the money. I bought it for Christmas for my father who likes listening to the local police at night. I went online and found out local frequencies and plugged then in for him and he could not be happier. I know he wouldn't have been able to program it himself, so it is a little tricky there. Overall a good scanner at a good price.