Bearcat...

[Rusty_Nail]

Afternoon all.

I have a Uniden Bearcat UBC 248clt 50 channel scanner. I'm looking for a new one with a hight frequency range (mine only covers 66mhz-512mhz). I dont know enough about scanners to decide which one is best to get. looking for something with shortwave aswell (in the khz range up to the ghz range)... Any idea's?

I have been looking at a few new models on prestige communications
www.prestigecom.net.au
It's too hard to choose, theres so many. Price isnt really an issue, as long as it doesnt go above around $500/$600 mark.

Cheers

Rusty Nail - WYC681 - Channel 7 repeater Mandurah

[vk6hgr]

Afternoon all.

I have a Uniden Bearcat UBC 248clt 50 channel scanner. I'm looking for a new one with a hight frequency range (mine only covers 66mhz-512mhz). I dont know enough about scanners to decide which one is best to get. looking for something with shortwave aswell (in the khz range up to the ghz range)... Any idea's?

There's not a lot that's interesting above 512Mhz to be honest, especially down south of Perth. At best, a bit of trunking stuff and lots of undecodable data services.

For shortwave I'd get a dedicated shortwave receiver by Sangean or Grundig and keep the scanner for VHF/UHF stuff.

[Rusty_Nail]

Yeh. Cheers mate.

Im stuck between a few scanners i'm looking at...

1 - Uniden BC246T - http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.a ... openmenu=8

2 - Yaesu VR 120D - http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.a ... openmenu=8

The first has a lot more featurs, and the 2nd has a bigger frequency range...

Really stuck. Anyones opinion would be great.

Cheers

[vk6hgr]

Yeh. Cheers mate.

Im stuck between a few scanners i'm looking at...

1 - Uniden BC246T - http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.a ... openmenu=8

2 - Yaesu VR 120D - http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.a ... openmenu=8

The first has a lot more featurs, and the 2nd has a bigger frequency range...

Really stuck. Anyones opinion would be great.

Hmm. I like the Yaesu. It's smaller and has a great frequency range.

What does the Uniden do that the Yaesu doesn't?

[Miklos73]

I'm thinking of picking up either the UBC 72XLT (or the 92XLT) by Uniden. I am blown away by the price of the 72 XLT, and am very excited by it's 'close-call' feature, something which I am amazed they hadn't thought up sooner- it makes scanners so much more useful and interesting.

I agree with VK6HGR, there is nothing but crap above 500 MHz, mainly encrypted data, and who wants to listen to that? Of course, there are the mobile phones but they are encrypted too, and unless you have $800,000+ to spare on a special receiver to listen to them, you are out of luck. All the times I have scanned the 800-1300MHz band I have heard absolutely NOTHING (unless you count birdies, or station harmonics).

So what about the UBC 72XLT? Is it a good buy (from Prestige Communications for less than $200)? I think it's a damn good buy!

[Steve]

At the $200 mark the 72XLT is great value: you get police/fire/ambulance and the VHF aviation band, it's got (finally) the 12.5khz spacing between 60 and 88 megs and a good number of memories. Unless you're specifically after trunking, digital decryption or want to listen to military aircraft between 225-400mhz, it's a good deal for a basic but versatile scanner.

I bought a handheld Realistic scanner in 1986 for $549. It had 16 memories and one programmable search range. The 72XLT would outperform it every respect (especially price!)

[Miklos73]

So Steve, what do you think would be the better buy, the 92 or the 72 XLT (the 92 has the extra UHF band 800-960 minus cellular)? Is it worth picking up the 92 for that extra band?

[Steve]

From my reading the 92 is another $100. You do get an extra 100 memories as well, though.

I understand that in the 800-900mhz band, it's pretty much all trunked and the 92 does not 'trunk track' so actually receiving anything worthwhile in that range could be frustrating. I've been scanning for 20 years and everything I listen to is below 520mhz.

If you want to spend the extra $100, buy a good quality amateur radio dual-band (2m/70cm) handheld antenna (or external antenna if you want to use the radio in your car) and attach it to a 72XLT. The quality of the antenna is about the biggest determinant of radio performance.

[vk6hgr]

If you want to spend the extra $100, buy a good quality amateur radio dual-band (2m/70cm) handheld antenna (or external antenna if you want to use the radio in your car) and attach it to a 72XLT. The quality of the antenna is about the biggest determinant of radio performance.

I second that.

Further, if you listen mostly at home, far better than a handheld antenna is an external antenna on as tall a mast that you can get away with

[Miklos73]

If you want to spend the extra $100, buy a good quality amateur radio dual-band (2m/70cm) handheld antenna (or external antenna if you want to use the radio in your car) and attach it to a 72XLT. The quality of the antenna is about the biggest determinant of radio performance.

I second that.

Further, if you listen mostly at home, far better than a handheld antenna is an external antenna on as tall a mast that you can get away with

I triple that. A good antenna is all-important. The bigger the better I say (providing you don't exceed the desired wavelength of what it is you want to pick up). I will buy the 72XLT now. The 72 does not come with the charger/power pack but you can easily get a 6 volt powerpak from the markets so cheaply. And rechargeable NiMH batteries are cheap, and a good investment. And yes, you can recharge the batteries right through the radio, which is a nice idea (you just have to flick a switch to the right position).

[Steve]

Let us know what you think of the 72 once you've got it up and running - I think a lot of people would be keen to hear your impressions.

[Miklos73]

I picked up the 92XLT instead, because of the 900 MHz band, plus it has a charger and batteries. An even better buy than the 72...

I find there is virtually nothing in the 25-31 MHz band anymore, or is it the rubber ducky just can't pick these signals up from more than 20 metres, I don't know. I have to get an outdoor antenna for this job.

Picks up VHF well, and UHF. The scanner has this band (417-420MHz) and it sounds like 477 MHz CB, there is so much swearing going on. I look on Uniden's scanner site and it states these frequencies are used by Telstra(?). Still have yet to pick up anything on the 800MHz band.

About the close call, it works just like a frequency counter. And like frequency counters you have to be very close to the transmitter for it to register. I have to take this thing outdoors, where I live it's a dead spot for UHF.

[vk6hgr]

I picked up the 92XLT instead, because of the 900 MHz band, plus it has a charger and batteries. An even better buy than the 72...

Picks up VHF well, and UHF. The scanner has this band (417-420MHz) and it sounds like 477 MHz CB, there is so much swearing going on. I look on Uniden's scanner site and it states these frequencies are used by Telstra(?).

Thanks for the quick review Miklos73

You'll find that frequencies between 417-420Mhz belong to trunking networks. (except for a slab of Westrail frequencies at the 420Mhz end)

Basically, the frequencies are owned by Telstra but the actual users subscribe to a service which only activates the repeater when they dial in a number into their microphone. It works very similarly to mobile phones, so one minute the repeater could have a tow truck company, the next moment, plumbers etc

Have a look at this for more info.

http://www.radioreference.com/wiki/inde ... ing_Basics

[Always RX]

I have been running the 92xlt for a little while and have found its performance to be excellent. I am an aviation enthusiast and therefore i spend most of the day listening to air coms and have found the rubber ducky quite sufficient when in close proximity to Jandakot. When im at home it is hitched to a standard whip on top of a 6m pole and i have no problem receiving police , fire and ambo comms from Two Rocks to Mandurah and out to Kalamunda. 2 Nights ago i was getting clear comms from Narrogin police base too! ( is this common guys? ).
Actually one gripe would be the actual sound reproduction of the speaker in this model..i find the sound quite light and 'tinny' when compared to my old xlt20 bearcat. I guess they were trying to save weight using a lighter magnet speaker....I now have the unit hooked to a remote extension speaker and the result is a little better.
I also found the close call function quite useful at Subiaco oval on AFL game days.

[Millsy]

Yeah i just bought the 92 also and i think its a great little unit ... The Close call function has suplied me with no end of joys ... and when u get withing 1km of maccas or HJ's U can pick up them aswell .... Brilliant little unit buy uniden