Pros: Wide coverage, small lightweight, many features.
Cons: High price, complicated programming.
The bottom line: Feature rich scanner in a small package.
I've owned a few Uniden scanners over the years and have always been very happy with the quality and functionality of Uniden's products. This scanner was no exception.

At roughly $500, it is on the high end of most traditional scanners but with all of the features it offers, it's worth it.

The BCD 396 covers a wide range of frequencies including Trunktracking and digital. There is also a Close Call feature that can pick up the closest signal to your location. The memory is dynamic which means you can utilize every bit of the memory which is large enough to store hundreds of talkgroups and frequencies. More than enough than most people will need.

The unit is very small, light and easy to hold in one hand. With the small size you lose easily accessible button functions. Many of the menus and features must be accessed using button combinations that are not intuitive.

The display is an easy readable blue lit one. The batteries are user replaceable and you can use alkaline or rechargeable.

Programming the unit is not very user friendly and takes some extensive reading and practice but this is facilitated by the ability to connect it to your computer and program with the help of free software available from Uniden.

If you have the desire to listen to digital frequencies, this scanner is for you.