MStep
Member
For those following the saga of the unfinished 436/536 scanner feature set, there is what I feel to be a very similar "adventure" going on right now, albeit in somewhat quieter surroundings, over on the AOR forums. This involves the release of their latest receiver, the AOR AR-DV1.
It seems that the DV1 was also released with some of its features not fully implemented. In fact, the Universal Radio website advises potential buyers in small print, "The ambitious AR-DV1B previewed much new technology. Upon release we noted that not every function operated in an optimum manner.
AOR has begun a program of field updates that has already addressed virtually all early "bugs" and many new features and capabilities have been added."
The DV1 is not a scanner per se, but a wide-band receiver that has incorporated certain scanning functions. The reviews of the DV1, at least on the AOR forums, have been mixed. I've professed an interest in the DV1, and I'm wondering if we are now seeing a new trend where equipment is put out for sale even though the finished product is, well, er, not finished.
Some interesting similarities with the 436/536-- the DV1 has been criticized for having a less than appealing display. Purchasers of the DV1 are awaiting firmware upgrades that are supposed to "complete" the function set of the radio, although it appears that AOR's firmware upgrades are more frequent than Uniden's. And, like the Uniden 536, it's DIN sized, apparently to give some standardization in mobile mounting.
One of the appeals of the DV1 is that it incorporates decoding a greater range of digital modes, albeit those that might be of interest more to ham radio operators, although some public and private services use the modes as well. P25 Phase I is one of the incorporated modes, but the radio DOES NOT trunk, and, from the best of my readings, will never do trunking. And there is no Phase II capability, although that could technically be moot, since there is no trunking capability.
Apparently Uniden is not the only company employing a "Pay Now, Fly Later" strategy. Since we are in The Tavern, I just thought I would toss that out there, for whatever it's worth.
It seems that the DV1 was also released with some of its features not fully implemented. In fact, the Universal Radio website advises potential buyers in small print, "The ambitious AR-DV1B previewed much new technology. Upon release we noted that not every function operated in an optimum manner.
AOR has begun a program of field updates that has already addressed virtually all early "bugs" and many new features and capabilities have been added."
The DV1 is not a scanner per se, but a wide-band receiver that has incorporated certain scanning functions. The reviews of the DV1, at least on the AOR forums, have been mixed. I've professed an interest in the DV1, and I'm wondering if we are now seeing a new trend where equipment is put out for sale even though the finished product is, well, er, not finished.
Some interesting similarities with the 436/536-- the DV1 has been criticized for having a less than appealing display. Purchasers of the DV1 are awaiting firmware upgrades that are supposed to "complete" the function set of the radio, although it appears that AOR's firmware upgrades are more frequent than Uniden's. And, like the Uniden 536, it's DIN sized, apparently to give some standardization in mobile mounting.
One of the appeals of the DV1 is that it incorporates decoding a greater range of digital modes, albeit those that might be of interest more to ham radio operators, although some public and private services use the modes as well. P25 Phase I is one of the incorporated modes, but the radio DOES NOT trunk, and, from the best of my readings, will never do trunking. And there is no Phase II capability, although that could technically be moot, since there is no trunking capability.
Apparently Uniden is not the only company employing a "Pay Now, Fly Later" strategy. Since we are in The Tavern, I just thought I would toss that out there, for whatever it's worth.
