The Uniden BCD160DN is a compact, feature-rich digital scanner designed for hobbyists and casual monitoring alike. Released in 2024, it strikes a solid balance of capability, portability, and value, ideal for daily carry and on-the-go listening.
✅ Positives
🔹 1000 Channels / 10 Banks
The unit supports 10 banks with up to 100 channels each, giving you a total of 1,000 programmable slots. It makes organising different services and bands intuitive. As an example, all the 80 UHF CB channels fit neatly in one bank.
🔹 DMR and NXDN Built-In
DMR and NXDN decoding comes preloaded, so you can monitor these digital modes out of the box. This is a big plus for anyone listening to non-P25 digital traffic.
🔹 Band Scope
A standout feature is the built-in band scope, incredibly useful for visually spotting active frequencies and quickly finding signals without manually scanning each channel. I find myself using this feature a lot and it really brings another element to monitoring the bands.
🔹 PC Programmable
You can program the scanner using Uniden’s own software or use 3rd-party tools. Programming via PC makes handling large lists far easier than keypad entry. Both ProScan and the Butel software work well.
🔹 Small, Portable Size
This handheld is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry on patrols, hikes, or trips. Fit it in a pocket with ease.
🔹 Uses 2 x AA Batteries
The scanner runs on standard AA batteries, easy to swap, cheap to source, and convenient to recharge or replace in the field.
🔹 Excellent RF Performance
In daily use it offers great reception and sensitivity across its covered frequency ranges. It performs as well as, or better than, similarly priced scanners I’ve used for searching and general scanning duties.
❌ Negatives
⚠️ Lack of CloseCall
Unlike higher-end Uniden models, this unit does not include the CloseCall™ RF capture feature that can automatically detect and lock onto nearby signals.
⚠️ Battery Life Can Be Short
Running off AA cells means convenience, but battery life can be limited, particularly with frequent use of the band scope or searches.
⚠️ No Auto Store Function
The scanner does not have an auto-store mode. If you like automatic population of active frequencies, you’ll miss having this functionality.
⚠️ Some VHF High-Band Overload
In areas with strong signals, the front-end can show signs of overload on VHF high band, common in many handheld scanners at this price. This is something I have had to manage by locking out a bunch of frequencies in my search ranges.
📊 Summary
Overall, the Uniden BCD160DN is a very good handheld scanner for its price point, especially if you want digital decoding (DMR/NXDN) but don't need P25 trunking (such as for the TASGRN), lots of channels, and the convenience of a band scope in a small package. It won’t replace a high-end trunking or P25-capable scanner, but for everyday monitoring across conventional analog and digital systems, it’s solid and reliable. It’s now my daily carry scanner.
Highly recommended for hobbyists and general users.
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