Review on Uniden BCD536HP HomePatrol: Digital Phase 2 Scanner with Wi-Fi, TrunkTracker V, Emergency/Weather Alert - Covers USA and Canada! by Joe Jordan

I love how easy it is to program this scanner by just typing in your zip code, but it can also overload you with channels you don't really need, resulting in scanning all channels takes much longer and you can easily skip parts of a conversation or news about an event. So you still have to learn how to scroll through the channel list and block the ones you don't need so you don't miss the important things you want to hear (like the police band or the fire and emergency services). Only). Otherwise, you may hear the dispatcher say something, then it takes so long to come back to that channel and you miss the answer. Another major drawback I have with this scanner is that it doesn't have an automatic volume control. They turn the volume up to a normal level and then these very loud traffic cops show up and kick you out of the room. You turn it off so it doesn't disturb everyone in the house and you don't hear anyone. The extreme difference in volume of the same conversations on the same channels is more than annoying and a very good reason not to buy this scanner, it becomes obsolete very quickly, especially at night when other people in your house are trying to sleep. Almost everything on the market these days, TVs, stereos, etc. has a very simple feature known as auto volume control or auto equalization for the output audio stage, so the volume level stays fairly constant when you change channels or input sources . it is usually enabled by default. I thought maybe I accidentally turned it off somehow but after searching many forums it seems like this is a very common complaint about most of these scanners, this feature just doesn't exist and the company doesn't seem to care . about fixing the problem. I find it hard to believe that such a technically advanced scanner would not have this very simple and much needed feature, but think about it before you buy. The only solution I've found so far is to route the audio output from this scanner through another device ($500 extra you spend) that controls the audio output level and makes it consistent. All in all, if you can live with extreme volume differences, it's not a bad scanner, but there are other brands that work just as well and don't have these persistent unresolved issues. I would say. You pay a lot for this scanner compared to the price of an analog scanner or even digital scanners from some other companies. It's nice that they've released a product that you can use now that has a built-in feature to update the firmware while they keep working on it, but actually the software is still a work in progress and you have to pay dearly to get it to get it. other features that will be added to your scanner as they are completed. I thought I was paying a lot for a well supported product but right after I spent my money on it I found out that there were a few upgrades to it but I would have to pay even more to get them. I thought I researched all of my scanners before making this purchase, but knowing what I'm getting into now I think the other choice would have been the one I looked at instead. For reference, the previous scanners were the Radio Shack Pro Base Station (remaining), 2 Bearcat Mobiles (remaining 1), 3 Bearcat Handhelds (remaining 1).