[Scan-DC] Curious about the hobby

[John Wilson]

Uniden still charges $60 to ADD Mototrbo reception capability.  I 
upgraded my 536 and it works. I'm not sure whether NXDN/NEXEDGE 
reception capability is available yet.  Whistler's TRX scanners come 
initially with both these additional features.  But like Uniden it has 
it's downsides.  Whistler basically took the GRE latest revision 
baseline, modified and built on it.  I never liked their object oriented 
approach.  The user manual was a nightmare for the average non-techical 
person like myself to use.  Whistler also processes P1 & P2 differently 
where each trs frequency can be a control frequency whereas Uniden has a 
dedicated primary and alternate control channel.

In order to minimize RFI Uniden layered up the 996XT with filtering 
resulting in loss of RF input sensitivity.  My 536 receives Hanover Co. 
noise free but my 996XLT doesn't detect it with both scanners using the 
same outside pre-amped Scantennas.

Uniden got "hot to trot" with the Wi Fi craze for the 536 model.  It 
initially wasn't available. I think it required a future upgrade.  I 
never used it although I have a lan and internet radio, etc..

All I know is for the prices of new scanners, it had better be something 
someone will shell out the bucks for and be more user friendly.

Both Uniden and Whistler decided to be, shall we say "greedy",  with 
their latest models.  Both do NOT allow any third party vendors to 
provide a more easy scanner software package.  Uniden forces the user to 
use a 1990s version basically of an enhanced a MS DOS baseline 
software.  I hate it.  But after I create one Favorites List and Profile 
in Sentinel Software that's it.  I then use Butel's ARC536PRO which 
allows me do whatever editing/file transfers etc. The software requires 
only one  FL & profile and except for firmware updates and that's it.  A 
friend has the Whistler TRX1 and loves it.  But he is forced to use the 
factory supplied software which has its' issues.

So it's a personal choice.  As of now I'm not in the market to buy any 
new scanner.

John

Greg Danes wrote:
> After Alan's article I looked at the manufacturers selling scanners (Uniden
> and Whistler) and noticed something. Uniden has so many more radios that
> are up to Phase 2 P25 specs than anyone else. In my quest for possible
> radio buys in the future I see many great makers of wide-band and such,
> AOR, ICOM doing the P25 thing but its all phase 1. I guess you can only
> squeeze so much into a box and hope the buyer is more interested in Air
> comms and shortwave for 500 bucks than local PD and FD. But as a scanner
> person I am thinking that if its coming down to most protocols in a radio
> for the money Uniden is leading the pack.
>
> Comments?
>
> KJ4DGE
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