[Scan-DC] Uniden Home Patrol First Impressions (was: Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197)
JOHN ANTONELLI
johnantonelli at verizon.net
Fri Nov 12 11:32:23 EST 2010
God I want one now!
The only thing is that you can't just say lock out everything in Arlington except the Fire department and have it stay that way when you turn the scanner off and on?
That seems strange since many just listen to FD Arlington Alex FFX....
--- On Fri, 11/12/10, Clegg, Andrew W. <aclegg at nsf.gov> wrote:
From: Clegg, Andrew W. <aclegg at nsf.gov>
Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] Uniden Home Patrol First Impressions (was: Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197)
To: "JOHN ANTONELLI" <johnantonelli at verizon.net>, scan-dc at mailman.qth.net, "Cathy Drzyzgula" <cathy at drzyzgula.org>
Date: Friday, November 12, 2010, 11:24 AM
According to the help screens, you hook it up to your PC via the
included USB cable, and it will update the frequency database (from
RadioReference.com) as frequently as once per week. In my opinion, it will be
easier to update this scanner than any other scanner on the market. With other
scanners, you would generally have to manually update the frequencies yourself
(most likely by copying them from RR), and/or do a firmware upgrade to deal
with rebanding. It appears that the Home Patrol does all of this automatically
and frequently.
Based on being able to scan Montgomery and PG counties’
systems from inside my RF-shielded office in Arlington, it seems to me that the
sensitivity is very good. As another data point, my BC895XLT is not able to
hear the 162.55 MHz NWS broadcast from Manassas (that’s how shielded my office
building is). The Home Patrol sitting right next to it receives the signal with
2 out of 4 bars. A bit noisy, but easily copyable.
Andy
From: JOHN ANTONELLI
[mailto:johnantonelli at verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 11:11 AM
To: Clegg, Andrew W.; scan-dc at mailman.qth.net; Cathy Drzyzgula
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Uniden Home Patrol First Impressions (was: Radio
Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197)
I am also interested in this scanner. Specifically the
sensitivity and how easy is it ti update since frequencies change and
rebanding is coming.
--- On Fri, 11/12/10, Cathy Drzyzgula <cathy at drzyzgula.org>
wrote:
From: Cathy Drzyzgula <cathy at drzyzgula.org>
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Uniden Home Patrol First Impressions (was: Radio Shack
Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197)
To: "'Clegg, Andrew W.'" <aclegg at nsf.gov>,
scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Date: Friday, November 12, 2010, 10:16 AM
Is it easy to lockout stuff you don't want to listen
to? That seemed to me
to be the possible downside of the "automatic programming".
I'm considering
getting one since I've gotten lazy about keeping up with programming the
scanners I have.
Cathy D
-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Clegg, Andrew W.
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 10:09 AM
To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Scan-DC] Uniden Home Patrol First Impressions (was: Radio Shack
Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197)
I just picked up a Uniden Home Patrol scanner yesterday. Wow. It is the
easiest, most logical scanner I have ever used, and the reception seems
unusually good (I can monitor Montgomery and PG counties from my
RF-shielded office in Arlington, using the stock antenna).
They have a demo unit that you can play with down at Ham Radio Outlet in
Woodbridge. You may want to check it out. I was hooked in the first 5
minutes.
There are some trade-offs with this unit in terms of being able to
custom program your own frequencies and systems, but in the first 24
hours of using it, my opinion is that the benefits far outweigh the
drawbacks. No doubt my opinion of this radio will evolve as I get more
experience with it, but my first impression is very favorable. I've
owned about 20 scanners in the last 20 years, and this one is the most
impressive so far for ease of use and excitement factor.
Here is my very early take on it:
Obvious Pros:
+Ease of use
+Built-in nationwide location-specific frequency database (Canada too,
eh)
+Good reception
+Ability to record and playback transmissions, or replay recent
transmissions (but not both at the same time, unfortunately)
+Very good audio quality of decoded P25
+Nice display (high contrast color touch screen)
+Front-firing speaker
+Generous included accessories: both AC and car chargers, desk stand,
batteries, 2 GB memory card (alas, no included instruction manual, just
a quick reference guide).
+Can integrate with external GPS to auto-choose local channels as you
cruise on down the highway (optional GPS cable required; haven't tried
this yet but plan to soon)
+Looks a bit like a GPS navigation unit, so it would be less likely to
attract attention of law enforcement if you're pulled over while
cruising on down the highway
Possible Cons:
-Price ($500); still a good value in my opinion
-No Close Call (major bummer)
-Max volume may be a bit low inside a noisy car (not sure yet)
-Limited flexibility for searching and custom programming (I haven't
explored this thoroughly yet; no doubt you can find online discussions
on this aspect)
-SMA antenna connector (should be outlawed)
-A bit large (to me, it's about 1/3 bigger than it appears in pictures)
-No included instruction manual
I don't know about realistic battery life yet. No doubt someone on this
list has a lot more experience using this radio than I do. So far, I
would recommend that anyone in the market for a new scanner (newbies and
oldbies alike) should consider this one.
Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of kra2829 at aol.com
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 9:03 AM
To: jimmnn at comcast.net; w4nng at soalex.us; scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197
I've been out of scanning for awhile and have been thinking about
getting back into it. I live in FFX County, which of these would be the
best to invest in?
Thanks
-----Original Message-----
From: James Richardson <jimmnn at comcast.net>
To: 'Bob W4NNG' <w4nng at soalex.us>;
scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thu, Nov 11, 2010 11:15 pm
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197
Great radios indeed have a few of both and especially at that price very
asy to program as well.
Jim<
-----Original Message-----
rom: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Bob W4NNG
ent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 9:14 PM
o: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
ubject: Re: [Scan-DC] Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197
I have both the PRO-106 and PRO-197. Impressive radios
---- Original Message -----
rom: "Doug Kitchener" <oldsdoug at hotmail.com>
o: <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
ent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 9:38 PM
ubject: Re: [Scan-DC] Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197
If anyone's considering a purchase of one of these, let me know...
----------------------------------------
> From: oldsdoug at hotmail.com
> To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:21:32 -0500
> Subject: [Scan-DC] Radio Shack Black Friday - PRO 106 & 197
>
>
> http://www.blackfriday2010.com/ads/radio-shack-black-friday-ads
>
> Well, if you believe this, it looks as if the PRO-106 and PRO-197 APCO
25
>> digital trunking scanners will be on sale for $100 off, at $299.99,
on
> Black Friday... also possibly free shipping, and Friday prices on
> Thanksgiving Day online... I couldn't see anything about sale dates...
>
> If anyone needs a review, I have had a -197 for 2 years and have been
> very pleased with it, so much so that I will be buying a -106 during
this
>> sale.
>
> There is one RS store in the Rockville area that I would not deal
with,
> tho... email me privately if you want details on that.
>
> Happy Thanksgiving.
>
> KMA-367
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