The Uniden HomePatrol Scanner Series is one of the most popular on the market today because of its consistently high quality, value, and overall performance and durability. Choosing the best Uniden scanner for your needs can be tough as all the models have rich feature sets and great performance, so it’s really about identifying which model best fits your specific needs as a scanner user. In this review of the best Uniden HomePatrol Scanners, we’ve identified the main features and use cases for each scanner to help you find the perfect model for your needs.
Table of Contents
Overview of the Uniden HomePatrol Scanner Series
The four main models in the Uniden HomePatrol Scanner family are the:
- Uniden HomePatrol 1
- Uniden Home Patrol 2
- BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Scanner
- Uniden BCD536HP HomePatrol Series Scanner with Wi-Fi
Uniden BCD436 Home Patrol TrunkTracker V Scanner Review
The Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol TrunkTracker V is an excellent digital scanner which combines some of the best features on the market with a price point which makes it a great investment. The BCD436HP is handheld and can be easily be used by anyone, and is also straightforward to set-up as all you need to do is provide your zip code and the device will calibrate itself. If you’re looking for a top of the line digital handheld police scanner option, the Uniden BCD436HP TrunkTracker V is hard to beat if you’re looking for a handheld digital scanner, as its the only one in the Uniden HomePatrol series and one of the best overall models on the market.
- Scanner knows what frequencies to scan from your ZipCode
- Interfaces with GPS to update scan frequencies from your location
- Easy to connect to a PC for programming and software updates
- Screen can be hard to read in bright light
- Some people may find the volume not to be loud enough
When you pay for top quality, you expect a lot. The BCD436HP comes through with a suite of features which fits the needs of even the most demanding police scanner users. Many folks are familiar with Uniden products because of the first HomePatrol 1 scanner. While the HomePatrol 1 has a great feature set, it is limited by its portability because it is designed as a desktop scanner. The BCD436HP HomePatrol is a step-up from the HomePatrol 1 because it is handheld and can be taken on the road. You thus get a lot more accessibility and versatility with this device for a similar price point.
The BCD436HP uses Close Call RF which allows it to easily acquire nearby transmissions even if you aren’t initially familiar with them. We love this feature as it allows you to easily explore new channels when you enter a new area. You also get weather alerts which can keep you safe during an emergency, as well as channel alerts. These allow you to configure a notification that will play whenever you receive an alert, get a new channel, or a variety of other events. This can be helpful for finetuning your device exactly how you want to use it and to get the most value out of it.
Like most other popular scanners the Uniden BCD436HP allows you to set your favorite channels for easy access. One other feature which really sticks out positively for us is the large and dynamic screen. It’s bright and clear, and is one of the biggest on the market for handheld scanners. The varying display light levels allow you to customize it for your environment and thus achieve optimal performance. You’ll have no issue with lighting or ease of use in bright sun or nighttime which we like.
Overall the Uniden BCD436HP is one of the best, if not the best, digital handheld scanners on the market today. There’s a reason it costs what it does, as it has insanely high performance, a great design and screen, and a feature set which allow you to use it in so many different ways.
We highly recommend the Uniden BCD436HP to beginners and veteran scanner users who are looking for a well-designed premium scanner option.
