Having a tabletop radio is one thing, having a powerful channel scanner like the Uniden BC365CRS is a whole other ballgame. It’s not quite like the Tivoli Audio Model One, but still a good tabletop radio. If you’re looking for a machine with this kind of functionality, then you’ll see why it’s rated as the best channel scanner on our list of the best tabletop radio. You won’t have to scan long to find out why. If you have a few minutes to spare, also check out our list of the best speakers to see why they made the cut.
Why We Like It – Uniden BC365CRS Review
The Uniden BC365CRS is a radio enthusiast’s dream, and it has a ton of utility. You can search bands for emergency services that could give you crucial updates on things like weather conditions.
- Access emergency channels and updates
- Great scanning control
- Useful for marine and outdoor use
- Not great for carrying around
- Takes some learning to understand how to use
Performance
The Uniden BC365CRS performs best for use as a scanner. You can listen in on your local police scanner, fire, EMS, amateur radio, and other radio systems. Of course, you’ll be able to access your favorite FM radio stations and even use them as an alarm clock. It’s not really portable, so you’ll do better with the Libratone lt 400 NA 11001 loop wireless portable speaker and the Xtrememac Tango TRX 2.1 iPod dock speaker system.
But, again, its best use is as an analog scanner. The BC365CRS scanner is super easy to use as you can indicate a specific service search that you want to find (for example, police). It will then find local police bands you can listen to. It can scan a huge number of channels per second, so you have access to pretty much any FM broadcast you can think of. You won’t get the same sound quality as you do on more consumer radios like the Sangean WR-11 Wood Cabinet or Soundance SDY019 radios, but that’s not what you’re looking for here.
The Uniden BC365CRS is particularly useful if you want to receive the latest weather alert. You can easily access NOAA weather broadcasts.
Related: Also check out our Vizio SB3820 C6 review.
Design
This Uniden is extremely easy to use, especially considering its vast scanning abilities. The controls are organized in an intuitive layout and there’s a convenient, backlit LCD display to tell you what’s going on. It has battery power and AC adapter power functionality, which is nice versatility. You can also purchase it with an accompanying handheld scanner, the Uniden Bearcat BC365CRS, to give you even more flexibility to take it on adventures, like you would with the Panasonic RF-2400D.
Value
If you need a reliable emergency radio, then the Uniden BC365CRS is a fantastic option. You can expect to spend around $100 on a radio scanner. If you spend less you may get frustrated. This definitely gets the job done for you. If you’re a huge fan of radio, then this fits the bill as well.
See also: Our Tunebug Shake Portable Speaker review.
Uniden BC365CRS Review Wrap Up
This is one souped-up FM radio alarm clock. Of course, the Uniden BC365CRS is best served for weather watchers, emergency updates, and marine and outdoor use. It can be a fun toy for those curious about what’s going on around them or a serious piece of machinery that can save peoples’ lives.
