Uniden Bearcat UBC 9000 XLT

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Jack VK2CJC

2006-12-02 08:05:58 UTC

I'm thinking of buying a Uniden Bearcat UBC 9000 XLT.

Can anyone offer any advice? Anything I should look out for? Common faults?
Any reasons why they are a good or bad buy?

Thanks
Jack

goldfish

2006-12-03 07:40:09 UTC

Permalink

Problems include:

1. no trunking
2. only one search range
3. only 500 channel memory

You would be alot better getting the UBC 780xlt. It has 500 channels,
analogue trunking, 10 programable search ranges and 5 default search ranges
(15 in total) such as police, uhf cb, marine, air and railroad. Just with
the default searches you save having to use stacks of memories, eg 40 uhf cb
and 56? marine channels.

Post by Jack VK2CJC
I'm thinking of buying a Uniden Bearcat UBC 9000 XLT.
Can anyone offer any advice? Anything I should look out for? Common
faults? Any reasons why they are a good or bad buy?
Thanks
Jack

Andrew

2006-12-03 11:40:35 UTC

Permalink

either that or upgrade to a UBCT8

You get trunking
you don't get alpha tagging
you get inbuilt searches

its basically a cut down version of the UBC780 but not as cut down as a
9000XLT...

Andrew

Post by goldfish
1. no trunking
2. only one search range
3. only 500 channel memory
You would be alot better getting the UBC 780xlt. It has 500 channels,
analogue trunking, 10 programable search ranges and 5 default search
ranges (15 in total) such as police, uhf cb, marine, air and railroad.
Just with the default searches you save having to use stacks of memories,
eg 40 uhf cb and 56? marine channels.

Kev

2006-12-03 13:03:46 UTC

Permalink

Other than the fact that to get either of these you pay a lot more than
a 9000

assuming that the 9000 you are looking at is secondhand(do they still
sell them new?)
for general scanning they are a very good radio

not heard of many problems
getting a CTCSS decoder card for them is almost impossible(the others
mentioned have it built in)

the 9000 can be compared to the Pro2005/2006 Realistics, it has the edge
over these radios in a couple of areas(scan speem for one)

Kev

Post by Andrew
either that or upgrade to a UBCT8
You get trunking
you don't get alpha tagging
you get inbuilt searches
its basically a cut down version of the UBC780 but not as cut down as a
9000XLT...
Andrew

R1rob

2006-12-05 02:10:06 UTC

Permalink

But not programmable searches.

Rob

george power jnr

2022-06-28 14:35:19 UTC

Permalink

Post by goldfish
1. no trunking
2. only one search range
3. only 500 channel memory
You would be alot better getting the UBC 780xlt. It has 500 channels,
analogue trunking, 10 programable search ranges and 5 default search ranges
(15 in total) such as police, uhf cb, marine, air and railroad. Just with
the default searches you save having to use stacks of memories, eg 40 uhf cb
and 56? marine channels.

ther not 500 channel memory ther 1000 channel memory becos i have one

Brian

2006-12-04 00:05:12 UTC

Permalink

The 9000 xlt isn't a bad radio to use as a conventional scanner. 500
channels (only 250 of them can be alpha tagged though), can have a CTCSS
board inserted in them (yes the CTCSS board is still available. I sold one
the other month).

* No it doesn't have trunking
* Yes it only has one search range
* Yes it is a bit big and bulky
* It does have a nice VFO dial on the front
* Heaps of room inside the case for modifications

The audio was always reasonable from it, but I still preferred to use an
external speaker.

Considering they were sold from around 1995 till 1997 they are getting on a
bit, but these things tend to kick on forever.

The MAJOR problem I had with mine was getting a decent signal out of the
discriminator tap. I tried everything and in the end couldn't get a level
anywhere near good enough to decode a trunking system or a pager system.

So basically if your not going to use it for data decoding, and you only
need a basic features scanner then they are still a very good radio,
provided you get it for a good price. Keep in mind the flagship above this
radio (newer) was the UBC780xlt. You'll be expecting to pay between $250
(that's a real bargain) and $500 (getting ripped off) for these radios.
That should give you some room to work out what to pay for a 9000.

Regards,

Brian Lea
Emcom Communications
1300 79 89 66 (Sales Hotline)*
0425 368 598 (mob)
02 8569 1726 (fax)
***@emcom.com.au
www.emcom.com.au

Barry OGrady

2006-12-04 04:36:51 UTC

Permalink

Post by Brian
The 9000 xlt isn't a bad radio to use as a conventional scanner. 500
channels (only 250 of them can be alpha tagged though), can have a CTCSS
board inserted in them (yes the CTCSS board is still available. I sold one
the other month).
* No it doesn't have trunking
* Yes it only has one search range
* Yes it is a bit big and bulky
* It does have a nice VFO dial on the front
* Heaps of room inside the case for modifications
The audio was always reasonable from it, but I still preferred to use an
external speaker.
Considering they were sold from around 1995 till 1997 they are getting on a
bit, but these things tend to kick on forever.
The MAJOR problem I had with mine was getting a decent signal out of the
discriminator tap. I tried everything and in the end couldn't get a level
anywhere near good enough to decode a trunking system or a pager system.

I used tp3 with a pager program.

Post by Brian
So basically if your not going to use it for data decoding, and you only
need a basic features scanner then they are still a very good radio,
provided you get it for a good price. Keep in mind the flagship above this
radio (newer) was the UBC780xlt. You'll be expecting to pay between $250
(that's a real bargain) and $500 (getting ripped off) for these radios.
That should give you some room to work out what to pay for a 9000.
Regards,
Brian Lea

Barry
=====
Home page
http://members.iinet.net.au/~barry.og

Per H. Nielsen

2006-12-04 08:11:39 UTC

Permalink

Post by Brian
The 9000 xlt isn't a bad radio to use as a conventional scanner.

It's an excellent scanner and easier to operate than the more
modern menu based models like 780.

Post by Brian
The MAJOR problem I had with mine was getting a decent signal out of
the discriminator tap. I tried everything and in the end couldn't
get a level anywhere near good enough to decode a trunking system or
a pager system.

I have used discriminator output on several 9000's without
any problems.

--
Per H. Nielsen <***@dkscan.dkx>
My Danish Scanner Pages: http://www.dkscan.dk
To reply to this change .dkx to .dk in my address.

Brian

2006-12-04 10:26:21 UTC

Permalink

Maybe I should correct my post there. The discriminator tap may have been
OK (I don't remember that part or if I even tried anything back on a plain
old discriminator signal). My problem was I couldn't get anything to run
through a slicer coming off the discriminator tap. I tried three slicers in
the end, all of which worked on other radios and the same computer fine. I
also tried two different computers.

So the correct thing I should have said in my post was the Major problem I
have is using a slicer connected to a discriminator tap.

Regards,

Brian.

Post by Per H. Nielsen

Post by Brian
The 9000 xlt isn't a bad radio to use as a conventional scanner.

It's an excellent scanner and easier to operate than the more
modern menu based models like 780.

I have used discriminator output on several 9000's without
any problems.
--
My Danish Scanner Pages: http://www.dkscan.dk
To reply to this change .dkx to .dk in my address.

Jack VK2CJC

2006-12-04 10:48:36 UTC

Permalink

Thanks for the advise guys.

I bid for one on ebay at $205, but someone got it for $207 :o) Maybe should
have gone higher.

The lack of trunking isnt an issue. 500 channels is plenty. Sounds like this
rig is quite suitable for my needs. I am using a Realistic pro71 hand held
unit at present and want a larger base unit thats easier to see/use and has
better audio.

I think I'll go for one.

cheers folks
Jack

e***@gmail.com

2019-08-06 22:01:25 UTC

Permalink

Post by Brian
Considering they were sold from around 1995 till 1997 they are getting on a
bit, but these things tend to kick on forever.

It's been 12 and a half years and can confirm these 'kick on forever'. I've been looking for a service manual/users manual for the past few hours and spotted your post. It's been a lot of help, and I doubt you still have yours or even care about this article, but again it's been helpful and I've decided to keep my 9000 and incorporate it permanently.

Regards,

Ethan.

Lucifer

2020-06-26 12:27:02 UTC

Permalink

Post by e***@gmail.com

Post by Brian
Considering they were sold from around 1995 till 1997 they are getting on a
bit, but these things tend to kick on forever.

It's been 12 and a half years and can confirm these 'kick on forever'.
I've been looking for a service manual/users manual for the past few
hours and spotted your post. It's been a lot of help, and I doubt you
still have yours or even care about this article, but again it's been
helpful and I've decided to keep my 9000 and incorporate it
permanently.

I still have a 9000 and a 3000 and a PRO-2004.

Post by e***@gmail.com
Regards,
Ethan.

rob

2006-12-04 12:27:34 UTC

Permalink

Post by Jack VK2CJC
I'm thinking of buying a Uniden Bearcat UBC 9000 XLT.
Can anyone offer any advice? Anything I should look out for? Common faults?
Any reasons why they are a good or bad buy?
Thanks
Jack

The UBC-9000XLT is a pretty solid desktop scanner. Has Triple
conversion, good sensitivity, fast channel scanning but doesn't offer
continuous band coverage (their is a gap in the 550-760MHz range).

Only issues I've had with it are limitations with the alpha-tagging
and the LCD display - it's hard to read from a slight angle.

george power jnr

2022-06-28 14:38:06 UTC

Permalink

Post by Jack VK2CJC
I'm thinking of buying a Uniden Bearcat UBC 9000 XLT.
Can anyone offer any advice? Anything I should look out for? Common faults?
Any reasons why they are a good or bad buy?
Thanks
Jack

go & get one ther very very good u will not be sarry & ther not 500 ch ther 1000 ch how i no becos i have one