Uniden BC72XLT Handheld Scanner (Black)

This was my first scanner and I have been pretty happy with it. After reading the instructions, it's very simple to program things in and get listening quickly.The CloseCall and priority channel functions are neat. They check for really strong and close signals and a priority channel per bank respectively, but they both create almost a second of break in the audio every few seconds to scan for signals, which is annoying.I've also found that the 100 programmable channels go quickly. I've got almost all of them full and find myself wishing I'd gotten the BC92 with 200 channels.Other than that, it's worked really well for me. The small antenna isn't the greatest, but for its size it pulls in signal very well and seems very sturdy. I got the scanner mostly for the air band. I live about 4 miles from our local airport, and the antenna just barely brings in the tower. ATIS if you hold it right and listen hard. Pretty much nothing on the ground. It's picked up airplanes almost 100 miles away, though, talking to the ARTCC, but couldn't hear the controllers there. I can hear the police and fire broadcasts from town, as well as the rural paging. One city I live near has gone digital, but the other has not (twin cities... kind of odd), so I can hear half of the public safety traffic. Local ham repeaters and NOAA also come in well.[...] is a great place to go to find lots of local radio frequencies (and a good place to check to make sure you don't need a digital scanner to hear what you want to).I got a Scan-Force-Tele Section antenna to use with it, with mixed results. Better signal strength than the stock antenna, but it has FM interference on the air band.I haven't used the batteries for more than a couple hours before recharging, so I can't say much about the battery life. They haven't died on me yet, so that's pretty good. I do have to take the batteries out of the scanner after a bit of charging, because they start getting really hot. I don't think that's a good sign. I think it's trying to overcharge them.I may have more testing information this summer, with vacation and maybe an air show.So all in all it's a good basic scanner. I'm considering getting a digital scanner to pick up a wider frequency range as well as trunked signals.

I have owned this scanner for 3 years and it has been able to meet all of my expectations. Primary uses have been for freight train riding and police channels. The light weight and simple design make it ideal for storing in a back pack. When needed for quick use it fits well in a flannel shirt chest pocket with the antenna broken down. I have travelled across the country on one set of AA batteries but that is when only turning it on for a few minutes at a time. The scan feature on the Uniden Bearcat is easy to program. I have it set to the range of railroad frequencies for which it rotates through in about 2 seconds. Useful to know what the train is doing on those random long stops in the middle of nowhere. Multiple times this scanner has saved me the cost of a ticket. Well worth the investment.

While this is my first handheld scanner, I have access to various benchtob/lab scanners (with price tags going above the $30000). Of course, direct comparison is not possible, and while we're not speaking about sensitivity or features, this unit lacks very critical function - this is not "scanner", a device where you can turn knobs, adjust various parameters, such as frequency, wideness of filter, attenuation and so on. This unit is very unpleasant for use while "programming" when all frequencies stored, it starts working pretty fine and will provide you with pure enjoyment. Now it stands in the corner of my garage and provides me with background ambient, while I'm working.If you going to take this unit to live event, then please note, IT EATS BATTERIES LIKE HOG! So, couple of plain AAs won't last you more than 3-4 hours. Consider this when going to live event, and take pair of spare batteries with you. Pair of lithium batteries will provide you with about 2 days of active usage, but 10 pack of such batteries will cost you same as this toy. So your first action when buying this scanner - get yourself at least pair of high capacity NiMH rechargeables. This unit can recharge them, while working from AC outlet.

I've had Bearcat scanners in the past that have far outlived what most people would consider a useful life...so another Bearcat scanner made sense. I only needed one with a few channels to scan so the BC72XLT fit the bill perfectly.PROs: excellent audio quality, sensitive reception using the stock flexible antenna, not susceptible to external interference, uses AC/regular/NiCad batteries (only the AC adapter is included), large easy-to-read display, bright orange backlight, lightweight.CONs: there is a short learning curve to the programing but once you figure it out, it's pretty easy, although not exactly intuitive; multi-function buttons take a little getting used to.Would I buy this scanner again? Definitely! It's a great value.

it is very refreshing to purchase a product that does every thing you could reasonably expect of it. it scans radio signals reliably and stores them if you wish. The interface is a bit obtuse,. but is easy enough to master if you spend the less than ten minutes it takes to learn all the commands.,

uh,,it came fast,,no arguments there,,BUT the 1st week I got it all the normal frequencies went digital and private so basicly I listen to hobbiests mostly so its kinda useless,,but I`ll hold on to it