Price of Uniden BC72XLT Handheld Scanner (Black)

Amazon.com Product Description
Versatile, compact, and easy to use, the Uniden BC72XLT handheld scanner offers a simple way to monitor the "action" bands, including police and fire channels (including rescue and paramedics), NOAA weather transmissions, business and industrial radio broadcasts, utilities, marine and amateur (ham radio) bands, air bands, and more. In short, the scanner keeps interested parties in the information loop. Of course, scanning the 32,000 available frequencies can be time-consuming and frustrating, which is why Uniden added such functions as Close Call capture technology, which instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters to help you detect and identify local signals, and a comprehensive memory that holds up to 100 programmed channels (10 per bank).

The scanner also offers six preset service banks, with preset frequencies for police, fire/emergency, aircraft, ham, marine, and weather, making it easy to locate specific types of calls. And should you want to regularly monitor a few specific channels, you can designate them as "priority" channels. The BC72XLT will then check those channels every two seconds while it scans each bank, so you never miss an important transmission. Other scanning functions include 10 programmable search ranges for finding unlisted frequencies in your area and a two-second scan delay that lets you hear any replies to the original transmission before moving on.

A scanner is fairly useless if you can't decipher the transmission, which is why the BC72XLT is outfitted with triple-conversion circuitry. The technology virtually eliminates any interference from IF images and clarifies the selected frequency, so you needn't strain to pick up certain words or phrases. And thanks to the key lock, you won't accidentally change the programming while carrying the scanner in your pocket. Add in a memory backup that preserves stored frequencies even if the scanner loses power and an easy-to-read, backlit display and you're ready for virtually any scanning situation.

The scanner comes with a flexible antenna with a BNC connector, ensuring adequate reception in strong signal areas (a separately sold external antenna will further improve reception), along with an AC adapter. As an alternative, you can power the scanner using two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (the latter can even be recharged while in the scanner). The unit measures 2.75 by 4.5 by 1.25 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Scanner, AC adapter, flexible antenna, belt clip, frequency guide, user's manual.

From the Manufacturer
The Uniden Bearcat BC72XLT handheld scanner is designed to monitor police and fire departments (including rescue and paramedics), NOAA weather transmissions, business and industrial radio, utilities, marine and amateur (ham radio) bands, air bands, and more. The versatile scanner is compact and easy to use, and includes such features as Close Call capture technology, which instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters to help you detect and identify local radio signals, and 10 programmable search ranges so you can find unlisted frequencies in your area. The scanner also offers six preprogrammed service searches--for public safety, railroad (by channel), air, marine (by channel), CB (by channel), GMRS/FRS (by channel), weather, news media, ham radio, and special.

Users will have no problem reading the scanner thanks to the backlit display, which illuminates only when there is channel activity. And users who want to focus their searches will appreciate the priority scan function, which frequently scans the channels they've designated as priorities. The scanner runs on two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (the rechargeable batteries can be recharged while in the scanner).

Customer Reviews

small size, big performance
As they say, "a little bit of knowledge goes a long way..." If you live in or near a big city, this scanner will do absolutely no good because large metropolitan police forces use a trunk communication system due to the large number of units at work at one time. These systems aren't actually scrambled, but due to high volume of calls, it would be hard of a single scanner unit to keep track of them so while you might be able to hear one end of the converstaion, you won't necessarily be able to hear the other.

This unit is perfect for smaller cities which use frequencies betweem 153.0000 and 169.0000 for their police communications. The unit is also good for tracking airport traffic and, as you know by now, NASCAR events. The best thing to do when scanning for new frequencies is to have access to a code book for your area so you'll know what you're listening to at the time.

If you're technologically-challenged in any way, you're better off letting someone who knows what they're doing program the basic channels for you. I like the fact that's it's a lot smaller and not as heavy as its predecesors. It's a conspicuous as a mobile phone and a lot easier to carry on your belt without it getting in the way.

A real disappointment
My #1 use for this scanner is for public safety scanning - I have family in law enforcement & we like to listen in.

I own a Uniden BC248CLT, & for years I owned a BC80XLT handheld. My BC80XLT was recently damaged & needed replaced. I ordered this BC72XLT, & am ready to return it also. It is not anywhere near the quality my prior Uniden handheld was. My 80 picked up as well or better than my 248 does here at home. This 72 picks up maybe 50% of the traffic of my others--whether in the house, outside, or even right in town. The buttons on this are awful, too. I have to go through multiple steps to do things that took only 1 button press on the 80. The reception, though, is my biggest concern AND complaint. I never had to purchase any extra antenna or such for my other Uniden handheld to get the better reception. Also, the volume, even at max output, is only "normal" listening level--so if I am in a noisy environment, I cannot turn it up to hear it better. My old BC80XLT had much better volume.

An additional warning - Uniden's Support has gone down the toilet. I thought Uniden was a company that would at least *acknowledge* my complaint, and maybe even have some suggestions of a better product - all I got was an auto reply that I should hear from Customer Service in 2-3 business days--and then I never heard a thing. I checked my support question on their site, and it was marked "closed." Good luck!

o.k scanner
This is a good scanner if you do not mind having the 800 mhz unavailable. Easy to use. Good price. Long wait time if you need to return this item to Amazon. BC92XLT from J&R Electronics has the 800 mhz for $30 more.