Uniden BCD996P2 Digital Mobile TrunkTracker V Scanner, 25,000 Dynamically Allocated Channels, Close Call RF Capture Technology, 4-Line Alpha display, Base/Mobile Design, Phase 2, Location-Based Scanning

As expected

Recieved in the mail quickly and the scanner works well. Sound quality of the radio is good. It is however a bit tedious programing the scanner via the menus but have downloaded the radio reference free software and the scanner is now up and running with all of my local frequencies. I am getting good reception from PDs 30 miles from my home with the stock antenna. I am however going to give this product four stars, not because the radio lacks quality but because I did not recieve the mounting hardware. Am planning to mount this scanner in my vehicle but the package seems to be missing the twist nuts for the mount and mounting screws. It wont be hard to drive down to my local hardware store to pick up to screws that will work, but at the price point of 350, it is disappointing not to have recieve the radio with all of its intended contents.

Ive owned two homepatrols and had reception trouble with both. I thought the home patrol would be easier to program. It is not! The preprogrammed part loads hundreds of unwanted frequencies. The software that comes with it is so confusing to use its crazy! But on to the B996P2. This scanner has great reception with included antenna. Between Radio reference and freescan, programming it was a breeze. Just watch some YouTube videos to get familiar with freescan. And its highly suggested to pay for at least 6 months of radio reference to obtain the correct frequencies in the order and format that the scanner requires its $15. Well well worth the money! The people who give bad reviews of this scanner have no patience or interest in learning a few things. My only gripe is updating the firmware and installing the drivers. I had trouble with it but maybe I was doing something wrong? I dont think so but maybe. It might be a USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 compatibility issue. Once that was completed the rest was easy.

While the product itself its top notch, it desperately needs to come with an available programming software. While there are free options this scanner will take hours to program even the simplest database without a bulk import. Very good for APCO but if you are looking to receive a simulcast system, buy a directional antenna or look elsewhere because it struggles with it. I am happy with the purchase but wanted to be blown away.

I’m sure this is really a great product, but it’s defiantly NOT easy to set up. Lots of add-in’s to pay for. Apparently so difficult to set up, they offer an option to send your new scanner into the service shop to have it programmed by the experts. I don’t see that as a plus.

You will have to have some scanner programming knowledge and prowess to program it. If not have it programmed before its shipped to you or you will be struggling to get it properly programmed for your area. Its not impossible but if u dont know your way around scanners you will find it difficult to do. This scanner is excellent. The weather alerts will cause u to piss yourself because they are really loud. You can adjust it. I recommend this scanner highly.

This radio works great! This was an upgrade for me from a 396T. I still use the 996T, but I got this to prepare for when Michigan switches to APCO 25 phase 2, currently the U.P. is still in Phase 1 as I write this now in 2016. 2017 looks like phase 2 will come here. Do yourself a favor, get freescan. Very easy to program with that free software. Also, subscribe to radio reference premium. With premium you can import the frequencies using the freescan software, its cheep enough, and well worth it. Depending on what system you are monitoring, I suggest getting an 800Mhz yagi antenna. That will only work for your area if you monitor 800 Mhz in simulcast. Otherwise you are only going to pick up whatever comes off of the tower you are aiming at. Use radio reference as a guide to help you, it can tell you in the forums, or in their database, what type of system is in your area. The scanner even comes with a programming cable, house adapter, and a car adapter.

I bought a 2nd one. this is a p25 digital analog rig. compatible with the new Oregon Radio Project p25 700mhz system in my home state.

Havent bought a new scanner for since the analog days (Over 20 years ago). Im super happy with this scanner. With the old analog scanners, you bought a frequency book and spent hours working the keys plugging in all the frequencies. That wasnt very easy. Although trunking systems are more complex, using RadioReference.com and Freescan software make it much easier to program these scanners. If you dont own and operate a PC and think you can program these scanners through the buttons on the front, I say good luck and God bless. I did a little reading, and actually downloaded the Freescan software and programmed my channels before the scanner arrived. You have to get comfortable with the Uniden way of creating Systems, then Sites and finally Talkgroups. Multi-site trunking scanning: read about it, learn it, its not that friggin hard. When my scanner arrived, I unboxed it, installed the driver on the PC and loaded my data; within 15 minutes and I was up and running.

This unit is an upgrade to Unidens BCD996XT. A feature I really like about this P2 unit is that a written owners manual was provided in the shipping box. Both of these units, which I own, are top-notch scanners. The P2 model will pick up some of the newer systems/channels that many agencies are now using. I strongly recommend that users consider purchasing subscriptions to Radio Reference and Pro Scan so that programming their scanners can be made so much easier by using a computer, although they can be programmed manually if one desires. External outside antennas also add to users ability to pick up distant broadcasts.