P25 on 8200

[convective]

I see that AOR has an add in card for the 8600 to decode P25. Could they possibly make a card for the 8200 to do the same? Anyone think they will? It is my understanding that the P25 card on the 8600 doesn't actually follow the trunking, just decodes the audio. Is it still a valuable add-on? I have a Uniden BCD-396T which I use for the trunked systems in our area, but the AOR blows away the Uniden on conventional, I'd love to just have to carry the one.

[morfis]

Originally Posted by convective

I see that AOR has an add in card for the 8600 to decode P25. Could they possibly make a card for the 8200 to do the same? Anyone think they will? It is my understanding that the P25 card on the 8600 doesn't actually follow the trunking, just decodes the audio. Is it still a valuable add-on? I have a Uniden BCD-396T which I use for the trunked systems in our area, but the AOR blows away the Uniden on conventional, I'd love to just have to carry the one.

They have the ARD25 external APCO P25 decoder (works with the 10.7MHz I.F. output of a scanner).
The add in 'slot' cards for the 8600 and 8200 are the same for each receiver?

[scancapecod]

It's not a slot card, it's a solder in board, and a very difficult installation unless you're an expert solderer. The board is for the 8600 ONLY, not for the 8200.

There's probably not enough call for it to be added to the 8200.

[JohnGingras]

How do you like your 8200, I wanted to get one for airband and have been looking for someone who owns one and could let me know how it does and if they have had any problems with the radio.

Thanks, John

[morfis]

Originally Posted by scancapecod

It's not a slot card, it's a solder in board, and a very difficult installation unless you're an expert solderer. The board is for the 8600 ONLY, not for the 8200.

There's probably not enough call for it to be added to the 8200.

thanks Scott, not seen it over here (not much P25 over here anyway)

[convective]

Originally Posted by JohnGingras

How do you like your 8200, I wanted to get one for airband and have been looking for someone who owns one and could let me know how it does and if they have had any problems with the radio.

Thanks, John

John,
I really am impressed with the 8200 overall. I don't do much listening to airband, but on other conventional systems it is very impressive. I also own a Uniden BCD396T and a Yeasu VR120D. One day I sat them all next to each other, the Uniden and Yeasu with good antennas on them, the AOR with a basic rubber duck and tuned them all to the local FD simulcast and waited for a call. The Yeasu didn't even pick it up, the Uniden picked it up but had a lot of static, the AOR came in crystal clear. This is pretty much my experience will all distant conventional frequencies. The AOR picks up tons of stuff that my Uniden either doesn't pick up or picks up very weakly.

That being said, I don't especially like the menus and navigation on it. And plan on spending a ton on getting a programming cable. While AOR does have free software it isn't very good. I ended up making my own programming cable (about $70 which includes the serial to usb adapter) and buying programming software (another $70) on top of the fact that it is a very expensive reciever to begin with.
Chris