Customer Reviews

Uniden BC895XLT 300-Channel TrunkTracker Scanner

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If your local public safety/gov't agencies are on a trunking system, this scanner will allow you to follow those transmissions with no problem. Also scans conventional radio systems, although you can't monitor trunked and conventional systems at the same time. The BC 895XLT, though it looks complicated, is easy to learn how to use. Good sensitivity, and it doesn't overload from strong signals. Can be computer controlled with software available from a variety of third-party sources. And it DOES cover the aircraft band. And has a weather alert feature. If you are interested in how your community really works, you should get this radio and hear the news as it happens

The BC895XLT is the best scanner you could get, especially when PC controlled. It is super simple to get operational even for beginners. Just punch in the frequencies and there you go, they even include partial lists of them. Not to mention they come in crystal clear. But if yours is to break, be prepared for an enormous hassle. You'll never talk to a real person and you have to blindly send the unit in for repair. Bottom line: Uniden's product is the best you could buy; you're not buying any service though.

I have been using this scanner for about 3 weeks now. I own 4 other different models of scanners -- 2 from Radio Shack (PRO-92 / PRO-2067) and 2 from Uniden (BC 245XLT and BC 235XLT).

I like the BC 895XLT because:

- Fast scanning of 100 channels / second. The Radio Shack (GRE made) scanners that I own only go 25 channels/second. And while they are more technically sophisticated, I miss the scan speed which is desirable if you live in a busy area.

- CTCSS tone capability - What this does is let you enter in a special "code" that filters out different companies using a frequency. In busy urban areas it is not unusual to have three or four businesses on the same frequency. They use a special code called a "PL" code which allows their radios to only hear their broadcasts. The 895xlt supports the use of the PL tone through the CTCSS tone capability built in.

You might want to rethink your purchase if:

- You want to follow BOTH trunked and conventional frequencies at the same time. This scanner only follows one or the other --- and if you are following trunked frequencies you'll only be able to monitor one bank of them at a time.

- This scanner does not monitor a common type of trunked frequency called EDACS.

Overall:

I strongly recommend this scanner. Even though it has a few limitations, you cannot beat the price/performance. In reality I have found that I monitor very few trunked frequencies -- and that the bulk of my local action is the local PD and FD. Even if one town is trunked there is usually more than enough action to be heard on surrounding towns.

My one exception to the above advice is if I lived in NY or another big city that had LOTS of trunking, I'd probably wait for the 780xlt model.

This is by far the BEST base unit available at the current time. With computer control, excellent trunk tracking and clear 800Mhz. sound its a TRUE winner. The only thing we need in the next model is ALPHA TEXT so that instead of saying Trunk ID: 654321 it can be programmed to say: LA Police TAC 1

This is BY FAR the best scanner for the price. There are scanners out there that you can pay $1.000.00 and up for but for the average Joe 6 pack, this is it. The only problem with it here is that you can find it in a lot of places online for $199.00.

Good luck and happy scanning.

This scanner is excellent for local coverage in your area only. Understand, most local frequencies cover a certain area, so dont be heartbroken if your unit does not reach over long periods. A great start up for scanner enthusiasts. One more downfall, searching for trunked system can be time consuming. Be patient and have fun.

This is Uniden's base station equivalent of their popular first generation handheld Trunktracker scanner. The 895 can track ONLY one trunked system at a time and while doing so excludes all conventional frequencies you might have programmed. The Scan List function (memory for storing favorite trunking talk groups) is limited to 50 slots, and that may be too few slots to accommodate large metro area trunk systems.

This is one gadget that you will need to read the manual before using. They squeeze a lot of options into this scanner. If you need to monitor a trunked system this one will do it. The only problem is that it could take you a while to figure out how. Overall, I highly recommend this product.

This is one of the more well built scanners by uniden. I especially like the computer interface with the optional cable that you have to buy. I also like the built in CTCSS board. Over all this is a great buy!

I'd much rather have a sony scanner. This one stinks, but now after I've spent a few hundred dollars I'm stuck with it.