Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner, 500-Alpha-Tagged Channels, Close Call Technology, PC Programable, Aviation, Marine, Railroad, NASCAR, Racing, and Non-Digital Police/Fire/Public Safety.

So far, I haven’t explored all the features of my scanner. That said, it’s full featured and provides a very generous storage capacity for channel frequencies. Everyone complains about battery life, however, I have an extra set of batteries and a stand-alone charger which does a better job of charging the batteries anyway. By swapping out the batteries, they are always ready to go and their life isn’t shortened by using the internal charger on an overly long charge time (charging isn’t limited except to the time set for charge cut off). Of course, the receiver can be operated using the cable provided and a USB charge brick which eliminates the need for changing batteries.Sensitivity is great. A local (not geographically) weather channel comes in with full bars (signal strength indicator) and the audio is loud and clear considering the small speaker and my using it indoors with the provided antenna. I purchased a separate antenna for the bands I want to use (aviation) for even better performance. Programming is daunting at first (and I mentioned that I’m still learning), but straight forward if one reads the manual (which was supplied with my unit and is also available as a downloadable PDF). Many on-line videos are available detailing the programming and operation of this unit and the XLT version which is nearly identical in operation. The unit is pocketable and compact, and fairly lightweight for its class, although some (long) antennas may need removal to make it practical to pocket. The shorter antenna provided isn’t that obtrusive though. Don’t believe those who say the programming is overly hard. Once done a couple of times, it becomes easier and easier with use and is really pretty simple. The number of adjustments available is what makes it a bit overwhelming at first so it is best to go with the default settings and learn the features one at a time (slowly) as most aren’t that essential for basic operation but are valuable later on.

I have been using scanner-type radios for more than 40 years — I am a newspaper editor whose job requires them. I have also been a ham radio operator since 1958.While I own even a Uniden Homepatrol — arguably the top of the line, I consider the BC125AT to be the most remarkable value of any radio of this type I have ever seen. The quality of this unit, its performance, the ability to configure it many ways, the scores of features, and the FREE programming software make this an excellent value.WHAT I ESPECIALLY LIKED:* Low price: You get an awful lot for $119 (or whatever the current price is).* Free programming software: It’s no-frills, but it does everything I want, include setting tone codes and text tags, without all the fuss of using the keypad and “scroll control.” Setting up the drivers confused me a bit, but Uniden’s help service responded within two days with very detailed instructions — that worked. Virtually every other scanner that’s programmable requires one to purchase software to program it. This feature alone is a substantial value.* The volume: Many lower-end scanners do not push out much sound. This one is as loud as I would ever need, even in noisy circumstances, such as a fire scene or parade.* Ability to find channels: This unit has several ways of finding active frequencies in your community, including “Close Call” detection for finding nearby activity and scanning predetermined regions of the spectrum (Marine, Air, railroad, ham, etc.) to find more distance channels by checking thousands of channels that have been preprogrammed in.* CTCSS and DCS squelch: Most people may not care about this, but if you have a distant police department using the same frequency as the local police department, and you’re using an external antenna, programming in the squelch code will prevent you from hearing the interference from the distant department. You hear only station you have provided a code for on that frequency (codes can be gotten from Radioreference.com or you can scan for them using the radio).* Adjustability: The unit is very configurable, right down to the contrast on the screen. You will need to study the manual, but you will be rewarded doing so.* Manual: It’s extensive, it’s clear, and it’s pocket size. Best of it, it exists! So many things today come without manuals — you have to download information or read it on a screen. This has a REAL manual, and it is really useful. And it’s not written in broken English!* The build: It’s sturdy, well-designed. It would be nice if it could be a bit smaller, like some newer transceivers, but it’s certainly not chunky like Radio Shack and Uniden scanners of the recent past.* USB rechargeable: The unit uses standard AA nicads (included) that can be charged in the radio with a USB cable (included). Not included is a five-volt USB power supply “brick.” However, everyone has those already; they come with cell phones and other gear. Just plug the charger cable into one of these transformer blocks — or into your computer. Smart move by Uniden because you don’t have to pay the added cost of transformer you already have. The unit can also use standard alkaline AAs — making it very flexible.* Frequency range: It’s got just about every frequency range you would want, including CB.WHAT I DON’T LIKE:* One rotary control: One knob, called a scroll control, is used to change channels and to program, adjust volume and adjust squelch. The priority use is channel changing (and other functions requiring scrolling). To me it should be volume first. In the many situations in which I use a scanner, I am always turning up or down the volume. I need quick access; with this unit, you have to push and hold down while turning to adjust volume. One learns to do that, but it’s still cumbersome. I believe that volume adjustment is the most frequently used purpose of a rheostat-type control. Even better would be TWO rotary controls, one for volume/squelch and one for channel changing, etc. There is room on the top for a second control.* No digital: Well, for $119, I guess you can’t expect digital coverage. (Fortunately for me, most of my local services are still analog.) But it still irks me that when you can walk into a supermarket and buy a throw-away cell phone for $10, you have to pay nearly $500 for a digital portable scanner. That $10 phone is a digital two-way radio transceiver. It’s not only a scanner receiver, it’s a multichannel transmitter, too! It’s time for technology and price to catch up with radio scanners.

I only use a scanner at Nascar races once a year so just enough to be frustrated every 12 months by having to relearn programming it all over again! So when I saw this scanner had a PC upload option with the included USB cable and free software I was in! Just used it now and it’s a breeze! I donwloaded the software free from Uniden site (link located in the manual) copy and pasted the 96 frequencies and drivers names from the Nascar roster and pasted them into the softwares spreadsheet like data page and pressed upload. There was a little tweaking of the data as some of the drivers names were too long for the tag field but other than that it was a 5 minute job. On other scanners you have to painstakingly muddle through a myriad of 10 button sequences to put in a single frequency and that doesnt include the drivers name being tagged on the display like I have now! It is a thing of beauty. I can easliy scan all the drivers or jump to any one directly by name that I have stored in memory locations 1-96 as there names show up next to the frequency and channel number. WOW this is going to make using this scanner so much more fun at the race!. I also bought the Rigged race talk intercom push to talk headsets to allow conversation and scanner audio all at the same time while protection our heaaring. In the 4th row at the finish line at the Daytone 500 you got to love this setup!

I mainly purchased this to monitor aircraft frequencies which it does well. I hear many airborne aircraft, but not much from the ground unless I am near an airport.Except for fire paging and ambulance to hospital comms, it does not receive police and fire services in my area for two reasons;1. Most of those are above 512 Mhz, and2. Those that are below 512 Mhz are mostly digital which sound like a loud buzz on this radio and any other radio that is not equiped to decode digital.The radio has 3 main modes to chose from;1. Scan mode scans 10 banks of 50 frequencies each plus a close call bank. The active banks show up at the bottom of the screen, and pressing a corresponding number on the keypad turns each bank on or off.The two search modes allow searching for CTCSS (subaudible tones) and DCS (Digital Coded Squelch). Active frequencies can be saved along with the privacy code.2. “Service search” allows searching for activity on 10 different pre-programmed frequency ranges / lists. Similar to the scan mode, the different ranges can be turned on or off by pressing a number. Service search bank 3 is ham radio and includes 6 and 2 meters and 440 Mhz. Service search bank 9 includes FRS / GMRS / and MURS frequencies (mostly UHF and a few VHF).3. “Search” gives you 10 different frequency ranges that you can program yourself – low and high limits.The close call technology works in all 3 main modes and has three options;1. “Do not disturb” turns off close call when the scanner is receiving a signal2. “Priority” mode has close call turned on all the time, and will interrupt reception of other signals. However, unlike turning a priority channel on, normal reception is unaffected while receiving other channels. With a priority channel enabled, other channels are briefly interrupted every few seconds while the priority channel is checked.3. “Close call only” listens only for close callsTemporary lockout is a nice feature. When the power is reset, all the temporary lockouts are reset. To permanently lock out a channel, press the lockout button twice. This also works for close call channels. Cons – there are a limited number of lockouts – 100 temporary and 100 permanent. If you decide that you do not want to monitor a permanent channel, it is easy to delete it.The weather alert is a nice feature if you do not have a dedicated weather alert radio. It even alerts you if it can no longer receive your local weather service channel.The computer interface works well which allows you to input information into a sheet similar to a spreadsheet. It allows you to read information from the radio or save information to the radio. Rows or blocks of rows can be copied and pasted to easily move frequencies around within a bank or put them into other banks (tabs).

Really a great scanner provided you don’t want to listen to police or fire on digital or trunking systems. Small town, analog transmissions are easy, railroads, civil air, maritime, etc… are all in reach and once you get the hang of programming this it gets easy.Beware though when buying for police or fire listening that your local systems are not digital or trunkingThe bad: Bought this on a day when the Amazon price was low ($99) rather than the usual $129 and got an open box or customer return that was already partially programmed. A great bargain buy but NOT what I expected to buy as an advertised new product.