Product Comparison: Whistler WS1088 vs Uniden BCD436HP

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Whistler WS1088 Handheld Digital Scanner Radio

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Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner

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General Specifications

Brand

Whistler

Uniden

Model

WS1088

BCD436HP

Origin

China

About the Product

The Whistler WS1088 is a handheld multi-system adaptive Digital tracking trunking scanner with Motorola P25 Phase I, X2-TDMA and Phase II capabilities. All USA/Canada frequencies are pre-programmed onto the included SD card making it ready to use out of the box. This model features an easy to use navigation with a multifunction keypad and includes a PC program for easy customization. It also includes a USB cable and PC software.

The BCD436HP is the first scanner to incorporate the HomePatrol-1’s ease of use in a traditional handheld scanner. Plus, Uniden’s exclusive Close Call® RF Capture feature, GPS Connectivity, Extra-Large Display, Radio System Analysis and Discover Modes put the most advanced scanner features ever right in the palm of your hand.

Key Specs

Receiving System

Triple conversion PLL super heterodyne

Receiving Modes

AM, FM, LTR, CTCSS, DCS, NAC on P25, EDACS wide/narrow, P25-Phase II, P25-Phase I, X2-TDMA

AM, NFM, FM, WFM, FMB, APCO25 Phase 1&2

Frequencies

137-174 MHZ, 216-300 MHz, 300-406MHz, 406-512 MHz, 764-960 MHz, 1240-1300 MHz

25-512 MHz, 758-824 MHz, 849-869 MHz, 894-960 MHz, 1240-1300 MHz

Search Rate

80 steps/sec.

Scan Rate

70 channels/sec.

85 channels/sec.

Scan Delay

2 sec.

Search Rate
Scan Rate

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Whistler WS1088 Handheld Digital Scanner Radio

Receives nearly all digital modes in use today (excluding ProVoice and NXDN).
Really impressed - and I'm a Bearcat person. But programming for this scanner is really easy and the packaged software is top notch. Great features and the audio quality is impressive for a hand-held scanner.
Good audio quality on P25 phase 1 and 2. Very nice.
The new 1088 has better volume control louder , clear transmissions on both conventional and P 25 . the unit is easier to charge faster , and the new design key pad is nice for manual programming and favorite listing great purchase !
This radio is hard to program even with the zip code feature included.
Had since May and still have not been able to figure out how to program the thing. For me it is just a waste of money so I plan to put it back in the box and stick in the closet unless I can sell it.

Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner

I even pick up a NOAA station almost 100 miles away. Trunking is really good for a scanner. Very satisfied.
The 436 sets up easily and I was scanning within 2 minutes of putting in the batteries. The pre-programming takes all the work out of scanning. Because the 436 can receive Project 25 Phase 2, it can be used anywhere in the US or Canada
You can do some editing but for the most part you select where you are, how much distance from where you are that you want to hear, it imports it and you are scanning. Very easy to use, the screen is quite readable.
Scanning setup has gotten incredibly complex these days and I have been using scanners for 35 years. The basic complete frequency database for USA and Canada
Within 10 minutes after all the downloads you should be scanning the emergency departments in your area. The audio booms on this scanner.

Size & Weight

Height

5.31 in.

6.3 in.

Width

2.12 in.

2.8 in.

Depth

1.06 in.

1.5 in.

Weight

0.46 lbs.

0.77 lbs.

Sensitivity (12db Sinad) Nominal

VHF Low Band

0.2 μV

0.4 μV

Aircraft Band

0.4 μV

VHF High 1 Band

0.3 μV

0.4 μV

VHF High 2 Band

0.4 μV

0.3 μV

UHF Low

0.8 μV

0.4 μV

UHF/UHF-T

0.4 μV

0.3 μV

UHF High

0.5 μV

0.3 μV

1200MHz Band

0.5 μV

0.4 μV

VHF Low 2 Band

0.7 μV

What customers say about "Sensitivity (12db Sinad) Nominal"

Whistler WS1088 Handheld Digital Scanner Radio

The sensitivity is very good and the value is among the best as it comes with programming/power cable, programming software and all the US and Canada radio frequencies which a lot of manufacturers charge for making this an exceptional value.
Sensitivity seems good withthe the supplied antenna, but there are better choices available.
The Whistler WS1088 portable scanner is a good radio for people like me who are tech challenged. You can enter your location (I used my zip code) and you can also manually enter local frequencies. Between those two options I'm able to get local broadcasts.
My only negative with the scanner is the tone of the speaker is higher than I like (to much treble).

Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner

This scanner is VERY sensitive in comparison. I can hear Birmingham Alabama APCO25 system at home now almost 30 miles away where I live on the outskirts!! And that's with a 800Mhz rubber antenna!!
I also have GRE 500 scanner and the sensitivity of both that one and the 436 seem pretty similar. Great that the database from Radioreference is already preloaded, so fun to listen to sites I would never enter myself.
This handheld scanner covers just about anything you might want to listen to. Trunking operation is great. Good sensitivity. Feature rich.
A few draw backs that all have mentioned is that it doesn't charge the batteries while in use and the speaker could be louder. I also don't feel that the sensitivity on the unit is as good as other radios I own.
This scanner is very good. The only problem I have with it is that the receiver is not very sensitive.

Features

Extras

Programmable audible alarms, Record received audio from selected objects and searches to the Micro SD card, A built-in Discriminator Output, Date and time stamp recorded audio files, Predefined service search ranges make it easy to find activity in your area, The WS1088 detects and masks digital voice audio, Scans most common trunked radio system signaling formats, Quickly sweeps the WS1088’s frequency ranges for transmissions from nearby sources, Functional keypad and backlit LCD display

Simple Programming, TrunkTracker V, S.A.M.E. Emergency/Weather Alert, Covers US and Canada, Quick Record and Playback, Close Call RF capture with 4GB of memory. Audio AGC

Type

Handheld

Frequency Range

25 - 1300 MHz

Display

132 x 65 Full dot matrix bitmap LCD

192 X 160 Full Dot Matrix LCD with white-color backlight

Internal Speaker

4 W

0.8 W

Antenna Impedance

50 Ohms

Power Requirements

5V DC

3 X AA Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries (2300mAh)

Weather Channels

7 Channels

Type
Internal Speaker

What customers say about "Features"

Whistler WS1088 Handheld Digital Scanner Radio

Huge amounts of memory, the entire RadioReference database onboard the SD card.
Charges/runs off MiniUSB port (NOT MicroUSB, which most phones use). Makes it easy to power from any USB charger.
The scan is super fast, the build quality is good and so is the sound. It eats AA batteries for lunch so I'm going to purchase rechargeables and an AC wall unit (it does not come with one).
The larger the SD Card, the longer it will take to boot, regardless of how much space you have actually used for recordings, systems, and frequencies.
When scanning, the unit will chew through batteries. Better get a few sets of Eneloops and a charger, or keep a simple USB charger and cord handy.

Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner

Programming is easy with the supplied sentinel software. The scanner has more features than the BCD325p2. The DMR upgrade works well with the sites I have programmed.
Like all smaller portable scanners the speaker is a little weak but, with earphones or light headphones the sound is really good. Back in the saddle again! Love to listen on road trips.
This is a very easy scanner to use that can accomplish very complex scanning tasks. Easiest use of all the scanner's features benefits from using a computer software package.
I was impressed at the fact that when I turned on my scanner it started scanning my area of Ohio just like the tech on the phone said it would. My husband and I have a good time, drinking tea and listening to the scanner.
I have owned several handheld scanners and this one is my favorite. Why? because I didn't have to program it! And program it again every time I go somewhere! Wherever I go I just punch in a zip code and I am scanning

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications

FCC