Scanner manual??

KB9LIQ · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 04:02 PM

Looking to buy my first digital trunking handheld scanner and was thinking about the Uniden 396XT. Just noticed when I was reading about it that it only comes with the manual on CD. Does any others come with the manual in the box or is this just a lost thing for companies to do any more? Why would I want to buy something for $500 that I know I'm going to need to be reading a manual and have to sit next to my computer to do it? Yes I could print it out but that is just stupid. So is there a company out there that still thinks about the buyer and includes a manual in the box?

kc2rgw · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 04:06 PM

You can take the pdf to a Staples and have it printed and bound...but yeah, it's very annoying.

KB9LIQ · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 06:35 PM

Did some looking at others and found the GRE has the manual and it so far $50 cheaper

dannyhusk · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 07:08 PM

The Shack's PRO- 106 comes with a written manual in the box. At the moment it's on sale for $399.

AlabamaRS · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 07:16 PM

about to be 279.99 With F & F coupon in the next 2 weeks

rmiller818 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlabamaRS

about to be 279.99 With F & F coupon in the next 2 weeks

Assuming it goes on sale again, the website says this one ends the 17th, anyone confirm when the next sale will be?

Tryton · #7 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 12:11 AM

Better pay attention uniden, you just lost a sale because of a stupid manual!!!

mciupa · #8 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 01:49 PM

At the risk of sounding like a hippie/treehugger:

At 256 sheets per manual you are using up about 3% of a tree,and one tree will provide thirty-three owners with their manuals.
But we have enough trees to go around, for now, right?

JoeyC · #9 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 01:58 PM

People don't read manuals anyway. Providing printed manuals cuts into profit. Why would you print a manual and stock each box when that adds costs? Online or CD manuals are the way to go - you can print them if you wish. Its much easier to find what you are looking for in digital versions using search functions anyway, not to mention that you can change the font size - something you can't do with the printed version.

kc2rgw · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 01:59 PM

I'll bite...

There are more trees for the pulp wood business growing in the US than there were in the 40's due to commercial pulp wood management.

There is no shortage on trees for paper....contrary to much hype. They also don't clear cut rainforest for paper, which a lot of folks also believe.

That said, in general, I don't print anything. I actually bought a laser printer because my inkjet cartridges were always dried out the two or three times a year I print something. This scanner however is complicated enough that I would make pretty constant use of a printed manual to have around while watching the tube.

One of these days I'll throw together a single sheet quick reference for printing for some of the basic functions.

FLRAILMAN · #11 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 03:10 PM

I usually don't reply to these post as more then likely they turn from being slightly amusing to venomously brutal with a ton of flaming to boot, I am not trying to outdo anybodys reply, spout venom or step on anybodys toes, just speaking my peace so just take it for what it is, however I have to grudgingly agree with KC2RGW. The U.S. paper industry is no longer one of the bad guys as their decades old reputation made them notorious for. Between the numerous "HUGE" tree farms, commercial logger reseeding programs & the ever popular recent paper recycling projects, we are self sufficient at least in one aspect of that business thus insuring that we will always have paper products while the assets help maintain our own economy. However CDs, DVDs, etc as we all have become accustomed to & seemingly can't do without relies on petroleum as most if not all plastic & plastic derivative products do which means that we become more dependant on oil sold to us at rediculuos poorly regulated prices at the whim of the ARAMCO & OPEC oil cartels who are openly hostile to our way of life, lord over us & let us know their true feelings about us every chance they get while the American environmentalist & their headline stealing attorneys tie up the courts who mete out stacks of restraining orders againt American petroleum companies from exploring & expanding our oil assets in our own country, however thanks to the plastic recycling industry has become an invaluable asset to reducing our dependance on foriegn "Black Gold" I have no problem with manuals on a CD format but think of the many people who don't posses or have access to PCs or those who do & are so computer illiterate so much so that they couldn't download, upload, transfer or format anything if their lives depended on it. As of late a huge number of public libraries have gone beyond the usual "protect a child" site access & download blocker program to totally removing their computers download feature thanks to the 9/11 situation. If I recall didn't Police Call issue their latest frequency manuals with a CD inside? So, paper or plastic?

FLRAILMAN

Nubz · #12 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 03:14 PM

great job at going way off topic guys
the guy asked about scanners with printed manuals not peoples opinions on how much of a tree the paper used

FLRAILMAN · #13 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 03:36 PM

KB9LIQ, I just went on the Uniden homepage & accessed the entire 396XT manual, like KC2RGW said, you could take the pdf file to Staples or just print it out on your own printer.

Uniden | A World Without Wires

FLRAILMAN

KB9LIQ · #14 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 11:24 PM

Yes I could but it just not as nice as the one they should ship out which would be smaller, plus I have to pay for it and at $500 it should be included.

And for the tree loves I throw away more junk mail in one week then the manual would use. and yes I should recyle but the bin is a half block from my house and on a windy day half of whats in there is all over the yard. They have been asked by everybody including the village to put spring loaded doors on there but that cost money

KB9LIQ · #15 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyC

People don't read manuals anyway. Providing printed manuals cuts into profit. Why would you print a manual and stock each box when that adds costs? Online or CD manuals are the way to go - you can print them if you wish. Its much easier to find what you are looking for in digital versions using search functions anyway, not to mention that you can change the font size - something you can't do with the printed version.

Lets have a vote on how many digital scanner user programmed their first dig scanner without reading the manual. Yep does cut into profit but lets see parts and labor to make each scanner is less the $100 so yep that manual would cut too deep into that $400 profit. Yes the online version is nice if you are sitting at your computer but being on disabilty I'm sitting at a doctors office or hosptial alot so having a good manual there to read up on or use when I'm out of the house to figure out something is a must.
One more if I can download the manual why do they include the CD? I would copy it onto my computer and throw the CD out or lose it. The plastic in that is more harmful to us then the paper.

RadioDaze · #16 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 12:53 AM

Most of the Canon digital cameras I've bought in the last 5 or 6 years come with a quick-start guide as well as a full manual. Uniden could at least include a good, small, comprehensive summary sheet or booklet.

JoeyC · #17 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB9LIQ

Lets have a vote on how many digital scanner user programmed their first dig scanner without reading the manual. Yep does cut into profit but lets see parts and labor to make each scanner is less the $100 so yep that manual would cut too deep into that $400 profit. Yes the online version is nice if you are sitting at your computer but being on disabilty I'm sitting at a doctors office or hosptial alot so having a good manual there to read up on or use when I'm out of the house to figure out something is a must.
One more if I can download the manual why do they include the CD? I would copy it onto my computer and throw the CD out or lose it. The plastic in that is more harmful to us then the paper.

I didn't say anything about not reading the manual before first time new-age scanner programming, I said there is no need for a paper manual. It costs money to print and package manuals and adds weight to shipping, among other things. I applaud any company that can trim the fat to improve profits - why shouldn't they. Its not like they abandoned the manual anyway, they just gave it to you in a differerent format. You are free to print it if thats your preference, but most people will not. When I buy a scanner, I want the scanner. Anything else in the box is an added bonus, but the SCANNER is the prime real estate here.

As far as the $400 profit, you are misinformed on that note. You might want to read some of the many threads written over the years about the licensing fees on digital scanners (although many will argue that fact also).

KB9LIQ · #18 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyC

I didn't say anything about not reading the manual before first time new-age scanner programming, I said there is no need for a paper manual. It costs money to print and package manuals and adds weight to shipping, among other things. I applaud any company that can trim the fat to improve profits - why shouldn't they. Its not like they abandoned the manual anyway, they just gave it to you in a differerent format. You are free to print it if thats your preference, but most people will not. When I buy a scanner, I want the scanner. Anything else in the box is an added bonus, but the SCANNER is the prime real estate here.

As far as the $400 profit, you are misinformed on that note. You might want to read some of the many threads written over the years about the licensing fees on digital scanners (although many will argue that fact also).

Reread your post your first words were people don't read manuals. And so if you open the box and you have no antenna or belt clip you are so happy? Yes I buy a scanner and want the scanner but it's a waste of money if I can't figure out how to use it. Out of the box I could program most all ham radios so if they made the scanner as easy to use then maybe I could say just include a copy of the manual on CD, but they don't. I'm not sure they could make them that easy so include the manual in paper form. If I print it out I would waste twice as much paper as it would be if they did the printing. Maybe it would be okay if they offered a paper copy for a few extra dollars for those that need one.
You should retihink your cost of licensing fee too. Radio Shack can sell the scanner with the same fees but yet they can sell to the public a digital scanner for $279 and manager price is less then that. I'm not saying companies shouldn't make a profit but they should hear what we are saying before they run themselfs out of business.

You know I started this post to find out what scanners out there included a manual in the box and so many idiots can't even understand a question that is so simple. If you can answer that question then reply if not just go away and get a life.

gmclam · #19 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB9LIQ

You know I started this post to find out what scanners out there included a manual in the box and so many idiots can't even understand a question that is so simple. If you can answer that question then reply if not just go away and get a life.

Sadly, this is true of many posts here on RR. Someone asks a SIMPLE question and they get replies telling them it is illegal, why it is a bad idea or some other thing that does not answer the original question. Then the thread gets closed through no fault of the OP.

All of the scanners I have listed below came with user's manuals. The newest scanner is the PSR-300. However, I often download and read entire manuals long before I ever purchase a scanner.

Publication (or lack thereof) manuals has become a vicuous cycle. Many people stopped reading them (probably the same people that don't know the difference between there, their and they're; but that's a different topic) so companies started to cut back. Then there are the manuals which are so poorly written even a technical person can not understand them. That causes even more people to stop reading them and the cycle continues. Since the manual online is the same poor manual they would have printed, it does not help. Others have come out with their own manuals, such as the "easier to read" versions.

Manufacturers, especially who have a language other than English as their primary language, need to get serious about manuals - even if they are only going to provide them on a CD or online. Many of these manuals are now being written as though the reader has vast knowlege of many topics, for which they don't. They are not just losing sales to people because of lack of manuals, they are also losing sales to people who do not have "prior knowlege" necessary to understand even a well-written but lacking manual.

JoeyC · #20 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 03:34 PM

A thread is like a conversation. It is bound to stray here and there as people communicate. Its largely how we learn.

Many threads should/would be closed as soon as someone directly answers the question under some peoples interpretation of thread etiquette (whether the correct answer was given or not). Then people would complain about that. If you are offended by conversation, or are afraid to learn, then perhaps one shouldn't ask a question in the first place.

Yes there are some serious thread drifts and hijacks that SHOULD be closed when they can't steer back on track. And no, I am not being argumentative here, just stating my opinion. And yes, this was off topic so my apologies.