InterceptRadio.com Forums

You can call me an "old-timer". Just don't call me late to dinner. LOL Where is the "Scanning" hobby going ? What do WE need most from the scanner makers ? How can this group help the general scanner listener best ? I have a new RS Pro-106. Works great -- but could be alot easyer to program. Could use a few more "pre-programmed" search groups. MTM

I would suggest buying a new scanner to see what is out there in terms of the new functionality.

If you really want to influence find the uniden rep and tell him directly.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

Why not have someone from this group "talk directly" to the Uniden and Radio Shack reps. This group is by far "big enough" on it's own. The local WWCIC group -- in Seattle has gone directly to the FCC -- and has changed FCC rules. Maybe our group should do the same -- with the makers of scanners.

well I guess my main point is what do you want to change? your on a Pro-RatShack scanner still. check out the new uniden/GRE scanners and how they work... I personally have nothing else I want the radio do to that I can think of..(right now)


The new radios have mod-tap out (cool) for all my off normal monitoring with a computer
The new radios will almost decode everything in a MotoTrunk data. (and GRE on the radio with no computer)
The new radios have frequency counters
The new radios....
The new radios....

so when you ask what do we need from a scanner I would say ..get a new scanner and check out where the hobby is going. It can only go so far. Encryption is a no-go. IP radio is a no go as of now. ProVoice is a no go. (but your asking whats new when your still on the 1990's)

Due to the fact that radio systems are getting more intelligent will just further eliminate parts of the "government monitoring" so its more of a enjoy it while you can. No pressure from us professionals will cause a vendor to provide what the average joe wants. Because the same professionals on this board are paid to implement the technology and keep scanner and "malicious" users out. so unlike the WWCIC who's goal is to help the FCC you now need to pressure scanner manufactures to create something that other vendors are actively trying to keep them out of (tough deal)



Im paid to break into things, however just because I am part of a illegal world I would never keep information from my employers on how to do things. Just like any professional that works on a radio system would not help a scanner manufacture defeat the system. Now finding that balance of allow good hackers in to make a better system is a moot point when you can go to wallyworld to purchase a scanner to listen to the ___PD



anywho that is my thoughts .... :) and BTW this isnt a mean post I just have loud opinions and was sharing.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

As an aside, isn't the Radio Shack PRO-106 just a GRE 500?

Been there, done that. Ever wonder where Uniden got the idea and core logic for using a GPS with their scanners ?

I think its going down the drain with digital and then agencies encrypting most channels. More and more agencies going to this around the country. Its going to make the hobby crap for listening to PD/FD/EMS comms. What good is a scanner when you can't follow the action as it happens? Yes of course there are still lots of other types of comms. out there to listen to other than PD/FD/EMS but for those who listen mainly to those, then what once your local agencies go with a new system that some Radio salesman "scared" them into getting? Hell, even places like small towns in Montana are slipping into the "statewide" digital systems. I guess I'm just kinda bitter about seeing such a fun, exciting, enjoyable hobby evolve. Just my 2 cents.
:cry:

cowboymike is right. Down the road there will be a lot less we will be able to monitor. I see it happening like this:

- Radio audio will all be digital (already on the way there) and will have a number of over-the-air formats (already happening now). Inevitably there will be issues with proprietary methods (already happening now) and down the road a zillion different codecs. Encryption, even in simple form, will be cheap since its just mathematical manipulation of something that is already digital. A scanner manufacturer can't economically keep up with all this. The way you stay in this game is going digital IF and all software demod from there on out or in worse case go completely SDR. If the demod side is open-source then there is a possibility the community at large will keep up with the technology.

- Backend systems will migrate away from its analog roots. A lot of the current SONET backhaul still treats each point-to-point audio path as DS0 channelized audio. I envision the backhaul becoming nothing more than a non-channelized DS3 and the data being encapsulated in IP or UDP and likewise routable rather than switched (when I say "switched" I'm talking about path-switched audio, not "layer 2" data switching).

- When all this happens, the audio quality and timing will slowly degrade and start sounding as crappy as modern cellphones. Think about this for a minute. Cellular has been around for 25 years now, and modern phones sound WORSE than they did 25 years ago ! This is a result of an inferior initial sample rate, crappy codecs/compression, non-dedicated RF bandwidth, cheap hardware (especially mics/speakers), packetized (laggy) backhaul, and I could go on and on. This is the road that 2-way is on and it sure ain't pretty. I'm not looking for audiophile-quality range out of my scanner but I don't think its too much to ask for 3khz-4khz of unmolested audio at a DS0 (8khz) sample rate. It takes a 64kbps pipe for this kind of audio. When a radio is using 5kbps-9kbps then something has to give, and its usually overcompressed and stairstepped to death by the time it comes out the other end.

In a way its not that big of a deal. There is always ham radio, shortwave, CB, FRS, MURS, satellite, etc if scanning goes away.

Mostly, the speaker is configured differently. The firmware updates have to be done by brand or so I've been told. I have a pro197 and it is great.

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"I was installing un-programmed radios"

Nope, because BPL will eventually come to the USA and kill ham radio. ;)

Everything will be back to CB Radio. :D

What is BPL and where is it currently used?

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Wayne
KF7FYL

You defiantly have to be a nerd to know how to program a scanner. Why can't it be a little easier? These scanner companies need to get with the time, no one has a data port on their computer. Its all about the USB.
I roll with the BC246t, my reception of king county is not so good because I'm still using the stock antenna. The pro 49 is much better at receiving trains than the bc246t. Why is that? It is not surprising that people program their digital radios for rx on trucking systems such as king county. Why can't the scanners be better?

Can't beat $2.95 for a USB/Serial converter.

"Can't beat $2.95 for a USB/Serial converter."

Now they have one on the buy it now for $1.00 :D

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" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

broadband over power line


as for the COM port question the COM port is far from dead, just that vendors of cheap computers exclude them because they don't want to pay extra cash for something that isn't used by the main stream however every computer I own even ones purchased in the last year have a COM port.

There are arguments for either side on a new scanner, but mainly its because its the way they have always done it and until the majority of the market of scanner operators uses USB I don't think they will include a internal converter chip. who knows, I do know that the uniden PM has answered this if you really want to know the "official statement" (it was big talk when the new X line came out)

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI