[TrunkCom] does anyone know how the new scanners will handle both data and voice from the same channel?

[Brian J Cathcart]

On Thu, 6 Jun 2002 23:43:10 -0400 "Trunktracker"
<trnktrkr@tampabay.rr.com> writes:
> So you mean the hardware inside the radio is already there ?  The 
> radio already HAS the ability to do digital or encrypted right out of
the 
> box ?

Not exactly - encryption always requires an add-on board.  But on models
like the XTS-3000 the Astro digital capability is all there and does not
have to be enabled.  It is other features that have to be flashed, like
number of channels, the type of digital, etc.


> Why should you have to purchase additional flash software just to 
> use a feature that the radio is already physically capable of ?

Because you are purchasing a radio with specific features for a specific
price.  If you want more features you pay the extra price for those
features.  Besides, what difference does it make whether an "upgrade" is
done with hardware or software?  You're still going to have to pay for
it.  


> To me, it would seem that to add additional talkgroup memory, you 
> would have to open the radio and add a chip or something.  But you
don't ?  
> That memory capability is already there ?

Yep.

 
> I think that's rediculous !

Then you don't understand today's technology.  Almost everything has
moved from hardware-based features to software-based.  They add the
hardware components that work with everything then use software to enable
or disable specific features depending on what you've purchased. 
Software is much cheaper and easier than designing and building hardware
components for each and every feature.  Why go through the production
costs of making 5 add-on boards when you can instead make just ONE board
in the radio with software enabling capabilities?



> Could you imagine having to purchase extra
> software just to program an EDACS system into a trunktracker ?  Or 
> having to buy another radio programming application to just use the
digital 
> feature on the upcoming digital scanners ?  What a rip off.

Not at all.  Think about this scenario - what if you didn't need EDACS
capabilities, and you could buy a 780xlt for $100 cheaper because it did
not have EDACS? (but could be added later for a fee)  Or what if you
didn't need trunking at all but wanted the other features of the 780xlt
and could get that for $150 cheaper?  A software-based 780xlt would be an
excellent idea and could allow Uniden to offer 3 or 4 versions of the
780xlt with different prices, for example the full-blown model for $350,
a Motorola-only model for $250, a non-trunking model for $175, etc.  And
at the same time offer "upgrades" for a fee.  Yes, the scanner is capable
of doing everything.  But the amount you pay affects what features will
be enabled.

And think of the upcoming digital scanners.  Not everyone needs the
digital board and thus does not need or want to spend an extra $250.  So,
if Uniden offered the digital add-on as a software upgrade instead of the
card, what difference does it make whether you have to pay $250 for a
digital card or pay $250 to have a Uniden engineer re-flash the scanner? 
You're still going to have to pay $250.

--

The Scanner Dude
Brian J. Cathcart - KE4PMJ
South Florida Frequency & Trunking Guide - 6th Edition (On CD-ROM too!)