Key Specifications
Prime Delivery • 30-Day ReturnsUniden BCD996P2 Digital Mobile TrunkTracker V Scanner, 25,000 Dynamically Allocated Channels, Close Call RF Capture Technology, 4-Line Alpha display, Base/Mobile Design, Phase 2
The BCD996P2 is a high‑end digital radio scanner (base/mobile) designed to monitor a vast array of radio communications including public safety: police, fire, EMS, weather and more. It supports both analog and digital trunked radio systems — including the modern standard APCO Project 25 (P25) Phase 1 and Phase 2 — via the scanner’s built‑in digital decoding capability. It offers up to 25,000 dynamically allocated channels and continuous frequency coverage from 25 MHz up to 1.3 GHz (excluding UHF TV and cellular bands), giving expansive coverage across many potential systems.
Key Features
The BCD996P2 is a high‑end digital radio scanner (base/mobile) designed to monitor a vast array of radio communications including public safety: police, fire, EMS, weather and more. It supports both analog and digital trunked radio systems — including the modern standard APCO Project 25 (P25) Phase 1 and Phase 2 — via the scanner’s built‑in digital decoding capability. It offers up to 25,000 dynamically allocated channels and continuous frequency coverage from 25 MHz up to 1.3 GHz (excluding UHF TV and cellular bands), giving expansive coverage across many potential systems.
Key Considerations
System Compatibility & Digital Decoding: Ability to receive both analog and modern digital radio systems (e.g., P25 Phase II) — critical if local authorities have moved from analog to digital.
Channel Capacity & Frequency Coverage: Number of channels, dynamic allocation, and broad frequency range determine how many agencies / services you can monitor.
Trunking System Handling & Signal Tracking: Support for trunked systems and the ability to follow communications even when voice hops across frequencies (via TrunkTracker technology).
Signal Detection & Nearby Transmission Capture: RF‑capture technologies (like Close Call) that can detect transmissions even when you don’t know their frequencies — helpful for unpredictable or mobile transmitters.
User Interface, Memory & Organization Features: Ability to tag channels, use quick‑keys, custom naming, band‑scope visualization, and manage many channels — vital when you monitor many systems.
As many public‑safety agencies have migrated from analog to digital trunked radio (e.g. APCO‑25), having a scanner that can decode P25 digital transmissions is essential if you want to keep hearing police, fire, EMS, and similar services. The BCD996P2 supports these standards out‑of‑the‑box.
These factors represent the most critical aspects that will impact your satisfaction with this product.
Customer Reviews
Excellent, solid construction, could be complicated if you are new to scanning. The newest update of the excellent bct15/996 lineup, uniden really has a good system there and being a Phase 2 digital this scanner be good for the foreseeable future.
This scanner is capable of receiving the majority of everything (not encrypted) in the Police/Fire/Public Service/Military Air/Gov/Misc bands in either analog or digital modes. It receives APCO P-25 digital (both Phase I & II) signals great for me with a stock antenna but I am in a good location to receive two actual P-25 trunk radio "system site" towers with good signal levels.