AOR Japan announces delay of releasing AR-DV10

AOR Japan comments "DIGITAL RECEIVER AR-DV10 that would be released by 2017 is being delay for some reasons."  on their website.

- Notice for delay of releasing AR-DV10 and the apology (Japanese)

AOR AR-DV10

ICOM IC-R30 also has been delayed to be released. ICOM does not officially say anything about it.

ICOM IC-R30

These handheld Digital mode receivers will be released within this year(2018) and will be displayed in next Xenia Hamvention.

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.

Whistler adds NXDN feature to TRX-1/TRX-2

Whistler announced a good news as previously claimed.

+ Whistler to Update TRX-1 _ TRX-2 Scanners with NXDN™ – Whistler Group

The picture of the TRX-1 is at final Dayton Hamvention this year (2016).

The announcement says that
“At this time we are very excited to announce that we will be releasing the NXDN upgrade for the TRX-1 and TRX-2 on Thursday, December 15^th, 2016 at 12:00 Noon CST,” said Wendy Taylor, Marketing Manager for the Whistler Group.

Now Whistler has kept his promise for us and the TRX-1 and TRX-2 is to equip the NXDN decoder. In other words, the TRX-1 is the first handheld digital scanner which is capable of NXDN in the world, I think. Their new firmwares will be available at the download page or the product page. Today is a happy day!

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.

Whistler announced digital scanners TRX-1&TRX-2

As announced at Hamvention2016, TRX-1 and TRX-2 will be released by Whister Group.

<> TRX-1 - Radio Scanner - Whistler Group Inc

<> TRX-2 - Radio Scanner - Whistler Group Inc

TRX-1

A new handheld digital scanner. The appearance is not same as WS1080 and WS1088 because "Case and 2 colord inserts(Green and Gray)" are equipped with that are included. When put off them, the look is same as WS1088.

Internally,"The Whistler TRX-1 is a handheld digital scanner capable of DMR and Motorola TRBO." as described. As mentioned here on May 17, 2016, "Motorola P25 Phase I, X2-TDMA, Phase II and DMR" "Hytera XPT", "MotoTRBO™ Capacity Plus", "MotoTRBO™ Connect Plus", "MotoTRBO™ Linked Cap Plus systems" (unencrypted channels/systems only) can be heard. Plus, they say " the TRX-1 and TRX-2 will include NXDN as a FREE upgrade when available."  I also heard WS1080 and WS1088 cannot be upgraded at the Hamvention.

The price is about $650, that is $50 higher than WS1088. It means the value $50 is available of DMR and NXDN (will be supported) and the cases supplied.

TRX-2

A new base/mobile digital scanner. The appearance is almost same as WS1098. The differences between WS1098 and TRX-2 are same as those between WS1088 and TRX-1 as above. TRX-2 looks like an internal upgraded WS1098.


The price is about $730, also $50 expensive like TRX-1 than WS1098.


BCD436HP and BCD536HP from Uniden America can also upgrade DMR decoder for $50 and NXDN format not announced yet.
TRX-1/TRX-2 seem to be superior to BCD436HP/BCD536HP so far.

Whistler said they would release on the market on June 2016 but currently not released yet. Universal Radio says "they will be released on August". We(I) must wait until they are available. By the way, why Whistler change the products name WS**** into TRX-* ? Why not WS1089/WS1099 ?  The suffix of "TRX-" reminds me of CQ Publishing(Japan)'s SDR transceiver DIY kit TRX-305A/TRX-305B(here). It costs about $2000 of total.

I already built the kit and have one of course. And now my TRX-305 is in my garage next to JUNK box of course! May pick up here someday.