InterceptRadio.com Forums

...and how do you like it?

After seeing someone's GRE500 I'm thinking my 2 meter needs to be put down for scanner duties.

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Just got one last week. It's pretty damn complicated...just try reading the manual. I haven't had much time to play with it but so far it's nothing like any other RatShack or Uniden scanner I've tried to program. (IMO, uniden scanners are a PITA to program anyways)

Although, I am liking the control channel data output and playing around with the trunking systems in the valley.

PSR-500 I'm betting is much easier.

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Interoperability is an attitude, not a technology.

I'm happy with mine. Yes, it's a different interface than the GREs, but no worse than jumping between Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu. At this level of capability, they're all going to be complicated.

You must get programming software to keep yourself sane.

I have the PSR-500 and 396XT. I prefer the 396XT for carrying around. The 500 has more functionality from the keypad but the downside is that it is much more bulky to carry. There is free software available for programming the 396. I'm not aware of anything on the freeware market for the 500.

Wilrobnson said something about free software. I think.

I'm liking it's size. I have an old amped speaker I can use in the pick-up.


I prefer programming Yaseu's over Icom's, if I have to do it manually.

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Ive got both the xt and 500 here too

Like the xt for its size but analog/digital audio quality is alot better on the 500.... one problem Ive(and many other users) noticed on the 500... its abit too sensitive for city use...radio overloads badly with rfi.
You cant use the 500 with an external or hi-gain duckie antenna...no problems using the XT on an external ant.. so thats the only draw-back I see using the 500.
both radios trunktrack motorola /edac/ltr systems and decode p25 digital about the same.
closecall/signal sweep frequency find ...same
both scanners are software programable

The xt scanner has afew neat options you might want that the 500 doesnt ..... if your a volunteer fire fighter the xt has the fire-tone out feature so you can monitor your dept same as a two-tone pager.
Dont know what the two-tones are...you can set the scanner up to search the two tones out for you.
xt also has the band scope feature so you can see signals on both sides of the signal you're monitoring.
Custom search a band with "control channel only" option turned on is a plus for the xt... you can search the 800mhz band to find new motorola/ltr Control Channels and have the radio automatically trunktrack the system for you.
its also possible to set the radio up to automatically trunktrack vhf/uhf systems too with afew additional steps

If you like to tweak your scanner... the psr500 is for you... lots of fancy adjustments you can perform on that scanner...novice to super hi-tech adjustement menu's offered.
not so on the xt....very little tweaking i can be done on that scanner.

Both scanners have thier advantages and disadvantages...it all depends on what you want.
best thing to do is search the web and see what features you need in a scanner.

Decent radio, but I sold mine. I was really upset about the overloaded signals especially on AM Airband and VHF/UHF. It's fine if you don't plan to connect it to an external antenna.

I'm still turning the knob on my non-X trying to find the menu item I want.

You sold the psr500 right?

Ahhhh...there's that Big non-ptt button to the left of the radio marked MENU....then from there turn that magical knob on either the T or XT..... then hit "Eyes" or press the knpb down to select the item you want :)

IMO I think the psr500 is abit harder to program on the go without the aid of a pc

Nope, the 396XT. I'm not giving Uniden any more of my money. I'll wait for the next version of the PSR-500.

Hummm sorry to hear you didnt like the 396xt


but the psr500 is much worse for signal overload on an external antenna

Can't make heads or tails of the 500. Only porgram it with the computer and mostly use it for close call - it is amazing, way better at that than the 396.. Love my 396, small easy to field program...

I owned a GRE (can't remember the model#) back in 1999-2000 to monitor Savanna GA. It was sent back for warranty work then when I ETS'd to Puget Sound it went dead altogether.
Overall, I've had good luck with Uniden stuff. My first one had crystals and red lights.

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