Scanners › Uniden BCD436HP
Uniden BCD436HP: will it hear your police?
The BCD436HP is Uniden's TrunkTracker V digital handheld, and the BCD536HP is its base/mobile twin. Uniden covers both in one owner's manual. This isn't a hands-on review. We checked what they decode, from Uniden's own pages and manual, against the FCC licenses of every US county we cover.
The short answer
It decodes analog and P25 Phase I and II[1],[2]. In 638 of 3,198 US counties (20%), every voice mode on the main public safety licenses is one it decodes out of the box. In 720 (23%) it hears the analog and P25 channels, and the licenses also list DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade. In 1,838 (57%) it hears the main analog and P25 channels, and some licenses list digital codes we can't identify, which could occasionally be DMR or NXDN. It can't hear any of it in 1. In 1,319 counties the main licenses list P25 Phase II, which it decodes too.
From FCC licenses[8], which don't show encryption. No scanner plays encrypted channels.
Will the BCD436HP hear your city?
Type your city, county or ZIP code. The answer comes from the FCC licenses of your county's main public safety agencies.
What the BCD436HP decodes
- Conventional analog channels and conventional P25 digital channels.[1],[2]
- Trunked systems: APCO P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2, X2-TDMA, Motorola, EDACS and LTR (Uniden calls this TrunkTracker V).[1],[2]
- With Uniden's paid DMR upgrade: conventional DMR, MotoTRBO Capacity Plus, Connect Plus and Linked Capacity Plus, and DMR Tier III trunking. EDACS ProVoice is a separate paid upgrade.[3]
- With Uniden's NXDN upgrade, added in firmware 1.14.00: NXDN trunking and one-frequency trunking. Uniden sells the DMR, NXDN and ProVoice keys per scanner.[4],[5]
- Encrypted channels. Uniden says it mutes encrypted P25 voice automatically, and no scanner plays it.[2]
- DMR, NXDN and ProVoice without the paid upgrades.[3],[5]
Key specs
| Type | Digital handheld scanner (TrunkTracker V)[1],[2] |
|---|---|
| Frequency coverage | 25–512 MHz, 758–824 MHz, 849–869 MHz, 894–960 MHz, 1240–1300 MHz (31 bands)[2] |
| Setup | HomePatrol database of all known US and Canada radio systems, updated weekly by Uniden. Scan by ZIP code or GPS coordinates (GPS receiver not included).[1],[2] |
| Display | 192 × 160 dot-matrix LCD with white backlight[2] |
| Power | 3 AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (included) or 3 AA alkaline. Charges over USB.[2] |
| Recording | Audio recording, and instant replay of up to 4 minutes[2] |
| Fire tone-out | Alerts on up to 32 two-tone pages[1],[2] |
| Scan rate | 85 channels per second[2] |
| Size and weight | 2.8 × 1.5 × 6.3 in without antenna; 12.3 oz with antenna and batteries[2] |
| In the box | Scanner, 3 AA Ni-MH batteries, USB cable, rubber antenna, SMA-to-BNC adapter, belt clip, microSD card[2] |
Specs from Uniden's product pages, owner's manuals and upgrade pages, checked 29 Oct 2026. We list only what Uniden states.
Where to buy
Uniden BCD436HP (handheld)
Digital P25 Phase I and II handheld on AA batteries. Check your city first: if your police are encrypted, no scanner hears them.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change what you pay.
Where the BCD436HP works: 3,198 counties, 9,191 cities
| What the BCD436HP hears | Counties | City pages |
|---|---|---|
| Fully: every licensed voice mode is one it decodesAnalog and P25 only on the main licenses. | 638 (20%) | 1,206 (13%) |
| Partly: analog and P25, plus DMR or NXDNIt hears the analog and P25 channels. DMR and NXDN need Uniden's paid upgrade. | 720 (23%) | 1,554 (17%) |
| Hears the main analog and P25 channels. Some licenses list digital codes we can't identifyThe analog and P25 channels on the main licenses are ones it decodes. Some licenses also list digital emission codes that don't name a mode; those could occasionally be DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade. | 1,838 (57%) | 6,430 (70%) |
| Can't hear: no analog or P25 licensedThe main licenses list only other digital modes. | 1 (0%) | 1 (0%) |
| No voice channels on file | 1 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
How we counted. For each county we take the same main licensees the county and city pages use for their analog-or-digital answer, and read the emission designators on their FCC licenses: analog FM, P25 Phase I or II, DMR, NXDN, or another digital code that doesn't name a mode. Each channel is also checked against the scanner's frequency coverage in Uniden's manual, and trunked channels against the trunking it follows. A city counts with its county. Licenses show what a channel may use, not whether it's encrypted or which channels are busy. The BCD436HP and BCD536HP decode the same modes, so the numbers are the same for both. Source: FCC ULS license file of 18 Oct 2026, as of 27 Oct 2026.
Big cities where every licensed mode is one it decodes
Knoxville, TN · Brownsville, TX · Warwick, RI · Lynchburg, VA · Bowling Green, KY · Kalamazoo, MI · Eau Claire, WI · Harlingen, TX
Big cities with DMR or NXDN on the licenses (paid upgrade)
Omaha, NE · Durham, NC · Winston-Salem, NC · Sioux Falls, SD · Birmingham, AL · Warren, MI · Fargo, ND · Sterling Heights, MI
Biggest cities where it hears the main analog and P25 channels, with some digital codes we can't identify
New York City, NY · Los Angeles, CA · Chicago, IL · Houston, TX · Phoenix, AZ · Philadelphia, PA · San Antonio, TX · San Diego, CA
The rest of the digital codes on these licenses don't name a mode. They could occasionally be DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade.
BCD536HP: the base/mobile version
The BCD536HP is the same TrunkTracker V scanner in a base/mobile case, for a desk or a vehicle. Uniden covers both in one manual, with the same decoding, frequency coverage and paid upgrades[2],[3],[6]. It adds a Wi-Fi dongle for control from a phone, tablet or computer, and mounts in most vehicles with an optional DIN-E sleeve or a standard ISO mount[2]. On what it decodes, our coverage numbers are the same for both.
| Type | Digital base/mobile scanner (TrunkTracker V)[6],[2] |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi dongle included, for remote control from a phone, tablet or computer[2],[6] |
| Power | DC 11.0–16.6 V. AC adapter and cigarette-lighter cord included.[2] |
| Display | 64 × 288 dot-matrix LCD[2] |
| Speaker | 8 ohm, 5 W max[2] |
| Size and weight | 7.2 × 5.9 × 2.2 in; 54.3 oz without accessories[2] |
| In the box | Scanner, AC adapter, cigarette-lighter cord, DC cord with orange wire, USB cable, Wi-Fi dongle, mounting bracket, telescopic antenna, microSD card[2] |
Where to buy the BCD536HP
Uniden BCD536HP (desk)
Base/mobile twin of the BCD436HP: the same decoding, plus Wi-Fi control.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change what you pay.
BCD436HP or SDS100?
Both decode analog and P25 Phase I and II, with DMR, NXDN and ProVoice as paid upgrades[2],[3],[7]. The SDS100 has Uniden's True I/Q receiver, which Uniden says improves digital performance in simulcast and weak-signal areas[7]. Uniden doesn't list True I/Q for the BCD436HP[1],[2]. Licenses don't show simulcast, so for digital and mixed counties our city pages lead with a scanner built for it.
Built for simulcast
Uniden SDS100 (handheld)
Same decoding, with Uniden's True I/Q receiver for simulcast areas.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change what you pay.
Who the BCD436HP is for
- Most of the US. In 3,020 of 3,198 counties the licenses are not all analog, so an analog-only scanner would miss part of it. The BCD436HP hears analog and P25 alike.
- Digital P25 systems that aren't simulcast. It follows P25 Phase I and II trunking. Where a system is simulcast, Uniden's True I/Q SDS line is the one it builds for that.
- AA batteries. The handheld runs on 3 AA rechargeables or alkalines and charges over USB.
- A desk or a car. The BCD536HP twin runs on DC power, mounts in a vehicle and adds Wi-Fi control.
Who should skip it
- Your county is analog. In 177 counties the main channels are licensed as analog. An analog scanner like the Uniden BC125AT (Check price on Amazon for the Uniden BC125AT (opens store)) hears those.
- Your police are encrypted. No scanner plays encrypted traffic. Check your city or county first.
- You mainly need DMR or NXDN. The BCD436HP and BCD536HP need Uniden's paid upgrades for those.
- Your county runs a big simulcast system. Look at the Uniden SDS100 (Check price on Amazon for the Uniden SDS100 (opens store)), which Uniden builds for simulcast areas.
Questions
Is the Uniden BCD436HP digital?
Yes. It decodes conventional and trunked P25 Phase I and II digital, as well as analog. DMR, NXDN and ProVoice are paid upgrades.
Does the BCD436HP do P25 Phase II?
Yes. Uniden lists APCO P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 trunking, plus conventional P25 channels.
Will the BCD436HP work in my area?
Look up your city above. Across 3,198 US counties: in 638 every voice mode on the main licenses is analog or P25, which it decodes. In 720 the licenses also list DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade. In 1,838 it hears the main analog and P25 channels, and some licenses list digital codes we can't identify, which could occasionally be DMR or NXDN. Licenses don't show encryption.
What is the frequency range of the Uniden BCD436HP?
Uniden's default band coverage is 25–512 MHz, 758–824 MHz, 849–869 MHz, 894–960 MHz and 1240–1300 MHz, in 31 bands. The BCD536HP covers the same.
Can the BCD436HP hear DMR or NXDN?
Only with Uniden's paid upgrades. The DMR key adds conventional DMR, MotoTRBO and DMR Tier III trunking. NXDN came with firmware 1.14.00 as an upgrade. ProVoice is a separate key.
How do you program a BCD436HP?
Enter your ZIP code and it selects nearby channels from Uniden's US and Canada database. Uniden's Sentinel software on a PC manages Favorites Lists, database and firmware updates.
How do you update a Uniden BCD436HP or BCD536HP?
With Uniden's Sentinel software: connect the scanner by USB, then update the database and the firmware from Sentinel's Update menu. Uniden says to use only Sentinel to update the firmware.
What batteries does the BCD436HP use?
3 AA batteries: the included Ni-MH rechargeables, which charge over USB, or AA alkalines.
Is the BCD536HP the same as the BCD436HP?
Same decoding, frequency coverage and paid upgrades, in one Uniden manual. The BCD536HP is the base/mobile version, on DC power, with a Wi-Fi dongle and a vehicle mount.
Can digital scanners pick up police?
Where police radio is digital but unencrypted, yes: a digital scanner that decodes the mode in use, usually P25, hears it. No scanner plays encrypted channels. Look up your city above.
What's the best police scanner to buy for my home?
The one that matches your area's radio. Look up your city: if the channels are analog, a cheaper analog scanner is enough. If they're digital, you need a P25 scanner. If your police are encrypted, no scanner hears them.
Sources
- Uniden, BCD436HP product page (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Uniden, BCD436HP and BCD536HP owner's manual (PDF)
- Uniden, DMR upgrade for the BCD436HP and BCD536HP
- Uniden, BCD436HP firmware release notes
- Uniden, myUniden scanner upgrade keys (DMR, NXDN, ProVoice)
- Uniden, BCD536HP product page (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Uniden, SDS100 product page (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- FCC ULS license file of 2026-10-18 (public safety licenses, all US counties)