For those who own the PRO-668 handheld you may have noticed that Whistler recently introduced both CPU firmware and PC application updates for their WS1080 handheld. Right now the latest CPU firmware for the WS1080 is 3.1 while the latest available CPU firmware for the PRO-668 is 2.4. The latest available PC application software (EZ Scan) for the WS1080 is 2.7 Bld 375 while the latest PC application software (I Scan) for the PRO-668 is 2.5 Bld 357.
I contacted Whistler customer support today to see if we could expect any further updates for our PRO-668 scanners to bring them to the same CPU firmware and PC application versions as the WS1080 and here is the response I received:
"Currently all support and updates to the Radio Shack brand scanners is handled by Radio Shack. The support we offer is only for the Whistler brand scanners. Unfortunately, at this time, I do not know if there will be any updates available for the Radio Shack firmware/software."
The release notes for the Whistler WS1080 PC application software versions 2.6 and 2.7 that are not available as of yet for the PRO-668 are as follows:
Version 2.7 - January 3, 2016
Bug Fixes:
Fixed issue when copying configuration or library data to a blank SD card where an error message would be displayed.
Operation:
The installer and updater will replace the desktop shortcut with a new shortcut.
The app will now include all trunked systems in the trunked system map file. This change allows the WS1080 and WS1088 to see all trunked systems for editing. To update your configurations, copy all configurations to your computer and then copy them back to the scanner's SD card. The file will be updated automatically in the process.
Changed the alpha tag for the scanlist reset button to be more descriptive of the actual function.
Version 2.6 - September 8, 2015
Bug Fixes:
Fixed issue where some sub-windows would disappear behind the main window. This then made the application appear to be frozen.
Fixed an issue when copying or moving audio files to your computer when the channel alpha tag has an invalid character in it.
Made code changes to help reduce issues when screen resolutions other than the standard 96dpi setting is used.
Operation:
Changed default attenuation mode to Normal from Global
Changed the default display mode from Simple to Advanced.
The Advanced Features, Conventional Frequencies, and Trunked Radio Systems tabs are now shown by default for new installations.
Added "Reset Alpha Tags" button. This option will reset all scanlist names to their factory default values (i.e. Scanlist 001).
Moved the selection tabs from the bottom to the top of the screen.
Changed the menu items used to save and restore an archive of the current configuration to "Save Current Configuration to Archive" and "Restore Configuration from Archive" respectively.
Some color has been added to the list boxes on all screens.
Column sizes may now be adjusted on some screens. These column sizes are not preserved across programming sessions.
Data Import:
When an import is completed using the preferred method, a selection dialog appears with options to return to the current state, return to the current county, return to the select location screen, or done. The presence of these buttons depends on the selection of a state, selection of a county, and if the Set Location feature is turned on.
Added Icon Legend button to import screens to explain the meaning of the checkbox icons that may appear on the current screen.
Added text on the trunked system selection screen to explain how to select an entire system or limit what sites and talkgroups are to be imported.
Importing a trunked system is now a step by step process following the progression of System->Sites->Talkgroups
I contacted Whistler customer support today to see if we could expect any further updates for our PRO-668 scanners to bring them to the same CPU firmware and PC application versions as the WS1080 and here is the response I received:
"Currently all support and updates to the Radio Shack brand scanners is handled by Radio Shack. The support we offer is only for the Whistler brand scanners. Unfortunately, at this time, I do not know if there will be any updates available for the Radio Shack firmware/software."
The release notes for the Whistler WS1080 PC application software versions 2.6 and 2.7 that are not available as of yet for the PRO-668 are as follows:
Version 2.7 - January 3, 2016
Bug Fixes:
Fixed issue when copying configuration or library data to a blank SD card where an error message would be displayed.
Operation:
The installer and updater will replace the desktop shortcut with a new shortcut.
The app will now include all trunked systems in the trunked system map file. This change allows the WS1080 and WS1088 to see all trunked systems for editing. To update your configurations, copy all configurations to your computer and then copy them back to the scanner's SD card. The file will be updated automatically in the process.
Changed the alpha tag for the scanlist reset button to be more descriptive of the actual function.
Version 2.6 - September 8, 2015
Bug Fixes:
Fixed issue where some sub-windows would disappear behind the main window. This then made the application appear to be frozen.
Fixed an issue when copying or moving audio files to your computer when the channel alpha tag has an invalid character in it.
Made code changes to help reduce issues when screen resolutions other than the standard 96dpi setting is used.
Operation:
Changed default attenuation mode to Normal from Global
Changed the default display mode from Simple to Advanced.
The Advanced Features, Conventional Frequencies, and Trunked Radio Systems tabs are now shown by default for new installations.
Added "Reset Alpha Tags" button. This option will reset all scanlist names to their factory default values (i.e. Scanlist 001).
Moved the selection tabs from the bottom to the top of the screen.
Changed the menu items used to save and restore an archive of the current configuration to "Save Current Configuration to Archive" and "Restore Configuration from Archive" respectively.
Some color has been added to the list boxes on all screens.
Column sizes may now be adjusted on some screens. These column sizes are not preserved across programming sessions.
Data Import:
When an import is completed using the preferred method, a selection dialog appears with options to return to the current state, return to the current county, return to the select location screen, or done. The presence of these buttons depends on the selection of a state, selection of a county, and if the Set Location feature is turned on.
Added Icon Legend button to import screens to explain the meaning of the checkbox icons that may appear on the current screen.
Added text on the trunked system selection screen to explain how to select an entire system or limit what sites and talkgroups are to be imported.
Importing a trunked system is now a step by step process following the progression of System->Sites->Talkgroups
