Uniden UBC-125XLT Handheld Scanner

The scanner design has been around for some years but is still considered by many as the best available in its price area. It is not difficult to setup and learn, but I would suggest you consider some programming software as it makes it very easy to program. The supplier provided an email with some very useful info, and a message in the package with a phone number to ring for help, should it be needed.

I bought this item after my previous scanner died on me, and I did quite a bit of research before deciding on this one. It is a great scanner and has many sophisticated features which are often only found on desktop scanners. The sound quality is excellent, as are its speed of scanning and its sensitivity - even with its own antenna. I had to override the built in frequencies in banks 1 to 3 in order to enter my own. (On reflection I should have used banks 7 to 9 for mine, but banks 1 - 3 contain pre-programmed frequencies i wouldn't normally use and, if I ever want to scan these ranges, there are other ways of doing it). One gripe: It took me an age to enter and save my own first three frequencies - the manual is correct, but over-helpful and a little confusing. I wrote down my own shortened version and after following that, entering the frequencies and the name I allocated, was easy. A feature I have yet to try is the Close Call feature - which looks interesting! One thing I am not sure about with my own scanner is the charging facility; I used it for charging the batteries for the first time - the screen displayed "Charging". When the batteries are charged, it should read "Charging Complete", and it has never yet done that, even after several hours. I fully charged the batteries by using a separate charger, re-inserted them, but still the screen read "Charging" (It may be that the supplied charger is only 1 amp, much lower than other USB chargers I use). Apart from these minor issues, I can recommend this unit

Very good for me - I use it mainly for listening to ATC. I live in north London and have it hooked up to an external Swedish-made professional airband rx/tx antenna and have no problems receiving LHR, LGW, STN airports, including ground traffic.Being able to add tags to the frequencies is so useful but is a bit of a palaver doing it on the scanner - much better to use programming software on your pc - the scanner has the older USB mini type B socket for connection using an appropriate cable. There's not much of a choice of software to do this, and you'll probably come across BuTel software, which is fine, if a little expensive - around €30 last time I looked. Whatever you do, do NOT try and get the software for free by using TrialPay - IT'S A SCAM!! I know as I got caught!Apart from airband I've only taken the scanner out to my local shopping centre to try the Close Call feature to identify local transmissions. It worked well, and in addition to picking-up security etc, it also picked up the local buses!The scanner is solidly built and has so many customisable options that it will take you a while to learn what it can do. Uniden provide a (~70 pages) printed manual in English, which is nice, not to say unusual these days, but if you prefer you can also download it as a PDF.The antenna connector is a BNC and there are many third party antennae available for it.Sound quality is good and clear for my purposes and having just tried it at max is more than adequate, but distorts a little, but I guess that's to be expected with a small speaker.I had a Uniden Bearcat UBC 100XL in the 1980s for airband reception and loved it. I worked at an airport then and occasionally took it into work with me, especially when on nightshifts, so that when I was out on the apron I could track my inbounds. It was brilliant which is why I chose Uniden again.I'm not sure the batter life on this is that great - it comes with a set of 2300mAh Ni-MH rechargeable batteries which are charged via the USB socket, but there's no auto-sensor circuitry to stop when the batteries are charged. Instead you have to set a charging time via the options, which is a bit cr*p in my opinion. As I use the scanner at home I simply removed the batteries and have it connected via the USB cable to my pc, which works well.Squelch is via the menu system - there's no knob, and the single knob on top is multi-function. Turn it and it changes channel/frequency, push it down first and it controls the volume. It functions differently depending on the mode you are in, and it clicks as it turns, which is nice, although to be honest the click feels a little lightweight, plasticky…or cheap.The rubber buttons however have a nice action to them and a positive click when pressed. You can have a beep too when they are pressed, and this can be turned off in the options.Anyway, this wasn't meant to be an in-depth review as I haven't used it that much, but sometimes when I start typing I can't stop!But for my purposes it fits the bill very well indeed.I hope this has been of some use to someone :-)

In terms of packaging, the scanner is delivered in impeccable condition, securely protected and well-packaged. The scanner's performance stands out with excellent sound quality, swift scanning speed, and impressive sensitivity, offering a reliable scanning experience.For user convenience, an abundance of guides and YouTube tutorials is available, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users to navigate and maximize the scanner's features.The scanner's display is noteworthy, featuring easy readability with a decent backlight. The alpha-tagging feature adds a layer of organization, enhancing the overall user experience.Despite its impressive features, the included antenna falls short of expectations, prompting users to explore aftermarket options for optimal performance.For an extended usage, it is recommended to invest in replacement batteries, ensuring uninterrupted performance.Additionally, charging the batteries outside the scanner is advised for a more efficient and streamlined experience, considering certain nuances in the charging process.In conclusion, the Uniden UBC-125XLT Handheld Scanner impresses with its performance, user-friendly resources, and thoughtful design. Despite a minor setback with the included antenna, addressing these considerations makes it a reliable choice for scanner enthusiasts.