Anyone who has been following me for awhile knows I’ve been testing the Uniden BCD436HP VS. The Whistler TRX-1. I’ve written multiple posts about them and how good the decode DMR, how quickly they pick up signals, and what not. Today while messing around I stumbled on a feature of the Uniden that puts in the top spot for you digital scanner and SIGINT tool.
I have been having a bunch of discussions on Instagram about the use of scanners other than listening to local LEOs. I was making multiple short videos about what they were asking. I was discussing about using 2 scanners scanning different bands searching for the Baofeng Brothers. In the video I was using the Whistler TRX-1 on UHF and the Uniden BCD436HP on VHF. To do this on the Uniden you have to use the Discovery mode. You set your limits. I set mine to 136 MHZ to 179 MHZ which is what the Baofeng UV-5R will cover. So when the Uniden captures a frequency in Discovery mode it logs it so you can go back and see what frequency it was that it got a hit. What I didn’t know was it also records the audio of that hit!! This is HUGE!!
So let’s say you are in your Listening Post and you are getting your instant coffee ready. While you are pouring the sugar the scanner picks up part of a PSK31 transmission. You spill your hot ass coffee in your lap trying to get to the scanner to at least catch the frequency it was on but you’re unable to because your crotch is burning from the hot coffee you spilt all over yourself. Yeah with the Uniden BCD436HP you don’t have to worry about that since it logged the frequency AND recorded what audio it picked up.
I don’t know what else to say. It decodes DMR, logs the frequency, AND records the audio for you to review later. Its hard to ask for much more in a SIGINT tool
Wyoming Survival 
I’m pretty new to the comms side of things. Do you have an article or a post discussing best options for a relatively basic and reasonably priced hand held?
Primarily it will be used for pretty short distance. Say a half mile. But there will be times I’d like to test them further.
I’d really appreciate your advice.
Sincerely,
Tracy Lewis
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Anytone AT-D878UV is my reccomended radio. Its price is high but it’s value meets the price.
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Interesting.
Any idea how it compares to the Uniden SDS-100? That’s what I’m using to monitor PD these days, but sigint and whatnot is something I’m interested in.
I have a TRX-1, but honestly I haven’t spent enough time with it to figure it out. It just seems way different that what I used to use all the time.
One thing I can never figure out is how slow modern scanners are compared to things like my old PRO-34. They just seem to crawl through the frequencies…
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The SDS-100 should do pretty much everything the BCD436HP does. I did read though that the BCD436HP does scann faster than the SDS. I have the TRX-1 as well and have spent alot of time with it. I liked it better at first but now I’m really liking the Uniden better because of the features and ease of use.
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Can you program this in by hand or does it need to be programmed in on a computer?
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It comes with a database of frequencies already installed. You just put your zip code in. There is a way to add frequencies by hand also but I haven’t needed to do it.
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The only advantage of the TRX-1 that I can see is that it’s “Close-Call” equivalent can pick up DMR which the 436 will never be able to do (it is a hardware limitation.) That said the 436 can still decode DMR in regular scanning. Also, the 436 when connected to a tablet/laptop running Butel Software’s ARC536Pro software will also do the recording ALONG WITH logging all of the pertinent information. This is sucjh a game-changer for a SigInt station! Whistler has stated they won’t support third parties for such things.
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I actually did have the 436 Close Call Motorola DMR radios once but hasn’t since. I drive by a place everyday that runs them. It got them once. Lol never again thou
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It was a fluke. The reason it won’t work (typically) was explained a few years ago by “Uniden Man” (the main programmer at Uniden who went Silent Key a few years ago.) The problem is that DMR transmits 27.5 mS per Time Slot, alternating TS1 then 2, with a 2.5mS break in between switches. The actual chip that Uniden uses requires at least a 30mS signal to register the transmission. That’s a hardware limitation and not firmware. So, for the 436 to “get it” either the transmitter is running out of spec, or the 436 has its own hardware issue. From what I remember the 536 has the same chip unfortunately.
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Ok well that makes sense. I was wondering why it wouldn’t Close Call DMR. Now I know. Thanks!
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Great information. Been trying to figure out which digital scanner to get. This helps. Thank You
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