Function differences & Impression : BCD436HP vs UBCD3600XLT

As I have said before, we check differences between Uniden BCD436HP and the UBCD3600XLT. Additionally, I will show the first operating impression for the UBCD3600XLT. The firmware version of my BCD436HP is 1.11.17 and of my UBCD3600XLT is 1.00.01.

Uniden UBCD3600XLT

MENU
“Manage Full Database” and “WX Operation” BCD436HP has were removed.

BCD436HP MENU1/2

UBCD3600XLT MENU1/2

BCD436HP MENU2/2

UBCD3600XLT MENU2/2

Set Your Location
“Enter Zip Code” and “Auto Locate” were removed.
Setting of “Set Range” can be selected from some preset items, whereas the BCD436HP can be set manually not having preset items.

BCD436HP Set Your Location

UBCD3600XLT Set Your Location

Settings
“Upgrade” option was removed.

BCD436HP Settings

UBCD3600XLT Settings

Settings > Band Defaults
Band Configuration of the UBCD3600XLT was divided into 28 while that of the BCD436HP was 27.

BCD436HP Band Default1/4

UBCD3600XLT Band Default1/4

BCD436HP Band Default2/4

UBCD3600XLT Band Default2/4

BCD436HP Band Default3/4

UBCD3600XLT Band Default3/4

BCD436HP Band Default4/4

UBCD3600XLT Band Default4/4

Srch/CloCall Opt
“Repeater Find” was removed.

BCD436HP Srch/CloCall Opt

UBCD3600XLT Srch/CloCall Opt

Srch/CloCall Opt > Broadcast Screen
Preset bands were removed. Only 10 bands can be preset by users.

BCD436HP Set Each Band

UBCD3600XLT Set Each Band

The label on the UBCD3600XLT says “POWER REQUIREMENT : 5V DC 1000mA”. The BCD436HP tells 5V DC 500mA. As far as I see the instructions of the BCD436HP and the UBCD3600XLT, receiver sensitivities of the UBCD3600XLT is lower than that of the BCD436HP and Close call sensitivity of the UBCD3600XLT is totally higher than that of BCD436HP. Perhaps, there are some modifications in the UBCD3600XLT. If it is true, battery would last only half of the BCD436HP.

As the instruction manual mentioned, receiver coverage of the UBCD3600XLT is 25-512MHz, 806-960MHz and 1240-1300MHz, which is narrower than BCD436HP (758-805.995MHz not covered with). I have succeeded to import a HPE file that I am using on the BCD436HP into UBCD3600XLT Sentinel software. Although DMR Tier III and EDACS PROVOICE seem to be equipped with the UBCD3600XLT by default without any expense, SYSTEMs that include out of the reception frequencies that has been preset are fully ignored by the UBCD3600XLT even if there are some frequency that can be heard in the SYSTEM . For instance, if a SYSTEM includes more than one 770MHz frequencies that cannot be heard on the UBCD3600XLT and more than one 144MHz that can be heard both BCD436HP and UBCD3600XLT, the SYSTEM is not recognized by the UBCD3600XLT itself (the SYSTEM name not displayed at all). But frequencies not received by the UBCD3600XLT can be input on the UBCD3600XLT Sentinel software (Version 1.00 revision 00).

UBCD3600XLT Sentinel software at outband SYSTEM imported

What I want the UBCD3600XLT to equip with is dPMR/NXDN/D-CR capabilities. I doubt why the UBCD3600XLT for the Euro market does not have dPMR digital mode.

The UBCD3600XLT is mostly identical to the upgraded BCD436HP. If you are in the US and have improved BCD436HPs, the UBCD3600XLT may not be attractive. If Uniden makes more effort to develop digital scanners to add much more digital mode with codecs, the ICOM IC-R30 might be disappeared.

Uniden UBCD3600XLT digital scanner

Will check sensitivity of the UBCD3600XLT and other differences from the BCD436HP.

First Look : Uniden UBCD3600XLT with BCD436HP

Uniden UBCD3600XLT

I have got my UBCD3600XLT Digital and Analog scanner. Let’s check appearances of the Uniden UBCD3600XLT first of all.



Appearances of the UBCD3600XLT for European market is almost same as BCD436HP for the US market. There are some minor differences as below;

• Bigger or smaller font on the keypads (bit a little)
• Characters "ZIP" -> "LIST", "WX"-> (removed) changed on the keypads
• Back label : simpler texts than BCD436HP

Front : BCD436HP (left) and UBCD3600XLT (right)

Keypad : BCD436HP (left) and UBCD3600XLT (right)

Back : BCD436HP (left) and UBCD3600XLT (right)

Battery &SD slot : BCD436HP (left) and UBCD3600XLT (right)

my BCD436HPs (left, right) and UBCD3600XLT (center)

Will compare functions between the BCD436HP and the UBCD3600XLT soon.

Uniden UBCD3600XLT on sale around the EU countries

A Uniden scanner UBCD-3600XLT is now available in the EU region.

+ Uniden UBCD3600XLT in 2017 - Transmission1

Uniden UBCD3600XLT Digital Scanner

UNIDEN UBCD3600XLT which is similar to BCD436HP seems successor of UBCD3500XLT, EU version of BCD396XT. The appearance quite resembles BCD436HP.

The UBCD3600XLT includes DMR and EDACS Provoice by default without any upgrades. The frequency coverage is 25-512/806-960/1240-1300MHz, not same as the BCD436HP. Supplied accessories are not same. The UBCD3600XLT supplies USB Connection Cable and an AC Adapter.

As dedicated ZIP-Code Database from RadioReference.com to setup UBCD3600XLT at ease is not currently available, users need to input and customize databases manually. I managed to obtain the UBCD3600XLT Sentinel software and tried to find "Update Master HPDB" option but not found like below;

Console of UBCD3600XLT Sentinel

I also tried to update firmware for my BCD436HP with UBCD3600XLT Sentinel software. My BCD436HP was recognized by the Sentinel but a Time-out Error was occurred. Firmware of the UBCD3600XLT may differ from BCD436HPs;

Time-out Error at updating firmware to BCD436HP

Next, I tried to import HPE files for BCDx36HP Sentinel software into UBCD3600XLT Sentinel. The result was OK;

If the imported HPE files that BCDx36HP Sentinel had already created indicate outband of the receiver coverage of the UBCD3600XLT, the UBCD3600XLT Sentinel may display some errors.



Price of the new UBCD3600XLT is 499EURO, about $530-540 excluding TAX and so on. There is no official information about UBCD3600XLT because Uniden seems to have no EU sales/support chains directly and also seems no official website for the EU customers.

Some scanner enthusiasts have already got the UBCD3600XLT. Would look into differences between UBCD3600XLT and BCD436HP some day.

Uniden America releases CB Radio BearTracker885

A new concept radio is being released from Uniden.

+ BearTracker 885 - Uniden America

Uniden BearTracker 885

The Bear Tracker 885 is successor of the BearTracker 880. The new Bear Tracker has additional new features such as digital scanner and SD card slot unlike previous CB radios.

Appearance of the BearTracker 885 is very similar to BearTracker 880. Many features that the BearTracker880 has are built in the BearTracker 885. The noise-cancelling microphone supplied is too. But there is a SD card slot that other CBs not equipped on the upper side of the front panel.

Uniden BearTrackr 885

BearTracker885 can be operated not only a 40 Channels CB radio but also Digital and Conventional (Police, Fire, EMS, DOT) Scanner with BearTracker Warning System -- Legal alternative to Radar Detectors. Plus, the BearTracker885 is built on GPS to automatically select nearby scanner channels to monitor like BCD536HP.

Uniden BearTracker 885 back

Recording function? Close call? CTCSS/DCS rapid decoder? We will get details soon though the instruction manual has not been released yet.

I'm pleased with hearing the new two-in-one radio.

HPF-225 UHF Airband Filter

At last I got a band pass filter for UHF aircraft band listening at a ham shop near Yokota Air Base.

The instruction says "frequency range of the filter is 200-400MHz and VSWR is less than 2". The body size is 0.787"(30mm)W x 1.181"(20mm)H x 0.709"(18mm)D without SMA connectors.

Today we can find some UHF aircraft band filters but unfortunately they are heavy and not for SMA connectors. By contrast, the HPF225 is compact, light weight and fits for my Uniden BCD436HP scanner without adapters.

On my first look, though 880MHz RF power(3G/LTE digital cellulars) seems not to be eliminated, lower bands such as FM broadcasts, VHF aircrafts, VHF marines, VHF police bases-vehicles and so on look like working properly. No VHF TV broadcasts in my country because they had already moved to UHF band in 2011 for our countries' law.

It tends not to well eliminate high frequency more than 800MHz. I'll check the details.

Reply from Uniden America

Encountering the RTC problem of BCD436HP, I have requested the BCD436HP REAL-TIME CLOCK BATTERY REPAIR CAMPAIGN. Now Uniden America have just received my request.

Fortunately, Uniden America accepts outside US! He does prompt works, cool. I'm gonna start a shipping procedure to send my BCD436HP.

BCD436HP clock setting lost

Finally my Uniden BCD436HP scanner has come across...

"Clock Settings have been lost." like above.


I own two BCD436HPs and one of them always works through 24hrs using USB cable. The other had been shutting down for 1month. That is it! After that, now, the problem has been encountered. I have a feeling the BCD436HPs that RTC problem not updated should be powered on every 1week at least. In addition, my BCD436HP had not used up the batteries yet.


The time has come! It seems to have to apply for "REAL-TIME CLOCK BATTERY REPAIR CAMPAIGN"..... at last. This is my TURN.


OK, I have filled out the application form and submitted. Come on, Uniden's reply!