[guruerror]

I like the BCT8 a lot. I had a BC355C prior and it was a bit of a pain to use, because it was difficult to program...but it worked well for an entry level scanner.

The BCT8 was definitely worth the upgrade, mainly because you can program it from a computer and just upload all the frequencies. The clarity and range seems good...no real complaints there. I've got it connected to a 3' Firestick on the rear tire carrier. I also purchased a whip to switch out for road trips, but haven't had a road trip yet this year. I'm sure that will further improve the clarity and range.

Could I live without it?...absolutely. It's great if you wanna know what's going on with traffic or nearby emergencies, but I mostly use it to entertain myself. Some of the stuff you hear when driving through the rural counties is just hilarious.