Product Comparison: Whistler TRX-2 vs Uniden BCD536HP

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Whistler TRX-2 Base Digital Mobile Radio Scanner

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Uniden BCD536HP Digital Phase 2 Base/Mobile Scanner

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General Specifications

Brand

Whistler

Uniden

Model

TRX-2

BCD536HP

Origin

China

About the Product

The Whistler TRX-2 is multi-system adaptive digital trunking scanners with Motorola P25 Phase I, X2-TDMA, Phase II and DMR making it capable of monitoring the following unencrypted channels/systems: Conventional DMR (Entered as a DMR trunked system, NXDN™, Hytera XPT, MotoTRBO™ Capacity Plus, MotoTRBO™ Connect Plus, and MotoTRBO™ Linked Cap Plus systems and NXDN.

The BCD536HP continues Uniden’s tradition of leading innovation. HomePatrol Programming makes it the easiest-to-program mobile professional scanner we’ve ever made. Plus, the Wi-Fi feature lets you use the exclusive Uniden Siren App on your smartphone or tablet to access your scanner from anywhere in your home or vehicle+.

Key Specs

Receiving System

Triple conversion PLL super heterodyne

Receiving Modes

AM, FM, FM-MOT, LTR, CTCSS, DCS, NAC on P25, P25-Phase I, EDACS wide/narrow, X2-TDMA, P25-Phase II, DMR, MotoTRBO™ Tier II

AM, NFM, FM, WFM, FMB, APCO25 Phase 1&2

Frequencies

137-174 MHZ, 216-300 MHz, 300-406MHz, 406-512 MHz, 764-960 MHz, 1240-1300 MHz

25-512 MHz, 758-824 MHz, 849-869 MHz, 894-960 MHz, 1240-1300 MHz

Search Rate

70 steps/sec.

80 steps/sec.

Scan Rate

80 channels/sec.

85 channels/sec.

Scan Delay

2 sec.

Search Rate
Scan Rate

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Whistler TRX-2 Base Digital Mobile Radio Scanner

I purchased this radio to receive NXDN, and after the firmware upgrade, to allow decoding, NXDN reception works well. I haven't tried DMR, but assume it works just as well.
I live in an area with P-25 simulcast which is intolerable to older generation receivers. The TRX-2 does a very good job of reception with very little digital garble.
The Digital Trunking Scanner Programming System is more polished than Uniden’s and makes it easier to upgrade all components from a single interface.
This radio, like any other P-25 trunking scanner is not easy to program correctly. YOU WILL SPEND HOURS becoming familiar with digital trunking, frequencies, talkgroups, software, and programming (and re-programming).
Too easy to accidentally edit config since clicking on something will automatically save config.

Uniden BCD536HP Digital Phase 2 Base/Mobile Scanner

The best way is a DSP receiver, and you can only obtain that by buying a Motorola, Harris radio (which you cannot legally program properly), a Pricey Unification Pager, or set up a software defined radio (for geeks).
Simply enter your zip code and it will find many frequencies used in your area.
If you're a 'newbie' to scanning, setup is remarkably simple: power it up, set the time and date, and insert your zip code...and in seconds, after it loads in the appropriate information, you're scanning local traffic...fire, police, EMS, utilities, HAMs, railroads, you name it..
The good stuff comes when you load the FREE Sentinel software that also come pre loaded on the removable micro SD card. It provides the ability to easily program in "Favorites' of channels you group to listen to according to taste.
Very slow scan rate, expected better for computer priced scanner.

Size & Weight

Height

1.75 in.

2.2 in.

Width

7.125 in.

7.2 in.

Depth

5.31 in.

5.9 in.

Weight

2.1 lbs.

3.39 lbs.

Sensitivity (12db Sinad) Nominal

VHF Low Band

0.2 μV

0.4 μV

Aircraft Band

0.4 μV

0.3 μV

VHF High 1 Band

0.3 μV

0.2 μV

VHF High 2 Band

0.4 μV

0.3 μV

UHF Low

0.8 μV

0.4 μV

UHF/UHF-T

0.4 μV

0.3 μV

UHF High

0.5 μV

0.3 μV

1200MHz Band

0.5 μV

0.3 μV

VHF Low 2 Band

0.6 μV

What customers say about "Sensitivity (12db Sinad) Nominal"

Whistler TRX-2 Base Digital Mobile Radio Scanner

This scanner has excellent sensitivity and lots of features. I haven't had any problems. There aren't many of these around due to their expense, which is probably why there are very few encrypted digital stations.
Compared to handheld scanners that I have used and owned, this is a sensitive scanner with clear audio.
Mobile VHF P-25 works well, 850 MHz is much more prone to multipath distortion. If you are planning on going mobile, the TRX-2 would be the more appropriate choice for digital scanner radio.
I Like that it scans nxdn. Works great on digital channels. Find that compared to my Uniden, it is a little less responsive to weaker 400 and 800 mhz fm signals. For the most part though, it is alot of radio for the price.

Uniden BCD536HP Digital Phase 2 Base/Mobile Scanner

Very sensitive receiver Receives analog and P25 digital and capable to upgrade the common digital modes Provoice and DMR at small cost.
VHF sensitivity is better than I expected it would be based on user comments I’d read. The radio looks and sounds great!
Their sensitivity at VHF and UHF is comparable to the GRE units that they replaced. I use one of these in my base station and one in my mobile. So far they are working GREAT!
It Has good receiver sensitivity even with antenna attached to rear of receiver.
Very sensitive as well. Living in central Florida, I can monitor service from both coasts, using a discone style antenna.

Features

Extras

Programmable audible alarms, Date and time stamp recorded audio files, A built-in Discriminator Output, Functional keypad and backlit LCD display, USA/Canada Radio Reference database on SD Card, Quick Location based Programming (City, Zip, County), Detects and masks encrypted voice audio, Decodes Radio ID/Talkgroup ID data, Upgradeable CPU Firmware, DSP Firmware and Database Library

Simple Programming, TrunkTracker V, S.A.M.E. Emergency/Weather Alert, Covers US and Canada, Quick Record and Playback, Close Call RF capture with 4GB of memory. Audio AGC

Type

Base/Mobile

Frequency Range

25 - 1300 MHz

Display

132 x 65 Full dot matrix bitmap LCD

64 X 288 Full Dot Matrix LCD

Internal Speaker

5 W

Antenna Impedance

50 Ohms

Power Requirements

13.8 VDC

DC 11.0 V - 16.6 V

Weather Channels

7 Channels

Type
Internal Speaker

What customers say about "Features"

Whistler TRX-2 Base Digital Mobile Radio Scanner

Whistler provides frequent free updates to the radio firmware and the programming software and is easily downloaded.
I also purchased the TRX-2 for the detachable control head for mobile operation. This is a great feature as well and only requires a standard 8 conductor LAN patch cable (included) to connect with the radio portion.
The included programming software is quite good with some room for improvement.
The ability to store different configurations via V-scanner is a nice function.
The LCD display is not as "polished" and smaller as compared to the BCD536HP display.
The radio lacks an automatic shut-off. (Sleep timer) This could be solved with a firmware upgrade.

Uniden BCD536HP Digital Phase 2 Base/Mobile Scanner

Screen is larger and displays more details about target; has 32 larger font characters across another 4 for HOLD status.
The radio itself is built well and has a nice display. With the reviews I have seen about the backlight, I'm running it at less intensity than full.
Love the large rich contrast display that shows tons of info on what you're hearing. It is actually VERY intuitive to use if you have any experience using scanners.
There are more problems, the back light on some displays are fading over time.And another issue that I recently confirmed with my last 536HP is the rear speaker jack has a constant background noise.
Nice radio, but my display is just way too dark. Even on highest brightness with best contrast, it's way too dark. And it never should have been advertised as Wi-Fi enabled before it was perfected.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications

FCC