Uniden UBCT-9

[SteveO]

I am looking to get a base scanner and I think I will be settling for something like this Uniden UBCT-9.

Anybody have any comments? Good .....Bad? Let me know what you think.

My dollars aren't going to stretch to getting a more expensive one so is there anywhere around Brisbane to grab one?

Thanks for your input.

[Finch]

They're OK, I mainly use mine for 800MHz trunking and does a fine job. The RF performance is a let down. Below average on VHF mid, average on VHF hi and good on UHF. The selectivity is a little bit of a let down on 800MHz.
It only has 250 channels, no CTCSS, no alpha tagging, only 5 scan banks etc. It has it's birdies around on the VHF bands and it suffers alot from images above 800MHz.
However it is a great middle of the range radio, not too bad for the price. It's easy to use and program. I would recommend it (and I’m thinking about getting another for myself too) but if you want to get serious then this isn't the best piece of equipment for it.

I found if you visit a few dicksmiths they have them cheap as old stock (or at least in NSW they are cheap). At a DSE I saw one for $250 (they were open to offers too) as old display stock.

[Scannersplitterguy]

I have a T9 and I think it's great.
I like the fact that it can be controlled/programmed from a PC.
Uniden includes the serial cable and CD with the radio.
My only wish is that it had more memory channels. 250 is barely enough for me.
It has pre-programmed frequencies for police/ambulance/fire and you can select which state you are in so it scans the right bands.
The close-call feature has come in handy at times. I've been able to find frequencies of nearby cops talking car to car etc.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Scannersplitterguy]

They're OK, I mainly use mine for 800MHz trunking and does a fine job. The RF performance is a let down. Below average on VHF mid, average on VHF hi and good on UHF.

That's interesting, as I have no sensitivity issues with mine.
I had the opportunity to test it with a Motorola RF test set lately.
The mute would open at 0.5uV on VHF FM low, 0.4uV on VHF FM hi and 0.25uV on UHF FM @ 470MHz.
I don't remember what the upper UHF sensitivity was like but it certainly didn't show a problem.

[Stretch]

I've got two of them and I absolutely love them. Was my first scanner and that was years ago and i recently bought another to put in my car. They aren't Unidens top scanners (the 780xlt and the 396/996 are better but they do cost a lot more) but for the price I think they are well worth it. You can connect it up the computer and program the scanner through that. The down side is it's only got 5 banks of 50 channels each. Thats the one think I like about the 92xlt is that it has 10 banks of 20 channels. And its got close call

[Finch]

They're OK, I mainly use mine for 800MHz trunking and does a fine job. The RF performance is a let down. Below average on VHF mid, average on VHF hi and good on UHF.

That's interesting, as I have no sensitivity issues with mine.
I had the opportunity to test it with a Motorola RF test set lately.
The mute would open at 0.5uV on VHF FM low, 0.4uV on VHF FM hi and 0.25uV on UHF FM @ 470MHz.
I don't remember what the upper UHF sensitivity was like but it certainly didn't show a problem.

My 396 is a little bit better on VHF mid and hi, I haven't tested low between the two yet. When the ducting is in I can't get very many Victorian sites on the T9 but with my 396 it's much better. VHF midband don't get me started. I can physically see a site and it's scratchy and hard to read but with a 8025 it's clear as day on the same antenna. On my 8025 I can get sites I could only dream about with my T9 or the 396. I didn't even know the TFS used talkaround until I got my 8025 because it was so weak on my T9.
I remember testing my 73XLT against my T9 on VHF low, the 73 on the same antenna was so much better.
I don't listen to UHF very much any more so I can't tell you much about it on UHF.

[AIRMAN]

I bought mine from Prestige Comms last year. It has never given me any trouble and does all the things it is supposed to do.
I haven't used the trunk Tracker III feature as we don't have any out here in the boondocks.

Here are my ratings:

UHF 4/5
VHF (Airband) 4/5
Ease of operation 5/5
Memory channel size 2.5/5
Accesories incl 5/5
Reliability & Constr 4.5/5
Close Call feature 3/5
Value for money 4.5/5

Summary:
A great scanner for anyone starting out in this hobby wanting a desktop/mobile

[SteveO]

If anybody is looking to get one of these you better get in quick. Most of the suppliers have run out and Uniden aren't supplying them anymore. I found a place in NSW called RYDA. Monday afternoon they had two left so I ordered one online at 5.30 pm and got it this morning. Pretty good service.

[rochedalescan]

I can vouch for Ryda ive had stuff from them before

[jaskel]

whats ur budget?? I can do ya a good deal on a digital UBCD 996T!

[SteveO]

and how is that relevant to my thread! please keep it on topic thanks!

[jaskel]

lol...it is kinda relevant if he has a budget i may be able to accommodate