Official BR330T Discussion Thread

[UPMan]

I've attached a Uniden press release below announcing the BR330T Scanning Receiver, another exciting new scanner from Uniden. We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to our recent product line changes, and this scanner will add to the excitement.

Included below is a quick rundown on the scanner's main features and selling points. More information will be made available as the product nears completion. You might want to watch the discussion here as well as on the Yahoo BR330T Discussion group for more information (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BR330T) ... these groups are especially helpful as they allow me to directly respond to questions from users, dealers, and distributors and share the answer with all.

Now, for the goodies:

BR330T Scanning Receiver with TrunkTracker III and Race Track Operation

100 kHz - 1.3 GHz reception -- includes all bands and frequencies excluding only the cellular frequencies. This includes AM Broadcast, shortwave broadcast, CB (AM mode only), amateur radio (AM, FM, NFM), all TV broadcast channels (including the 512-800 MHz range never before covered in a trunking scanner) and of course all the popular public safety, business, racing, and general use frequencies.

Close Call(tm) RF Capture Technology -- operates in the 25 MHz - 956 MHz band to quickly detect and tune to nearby transmissions.

Broadcast and Pager Screen -- prevents hits from these strong continuous signal sources.

Fire Tone Out -- alerts when a two-tone page is sent out on a fire dispatch channel (non-trunking only). This feature has been getting a lot of attention when we announced it for the BCD396T. I think that this will be a huge sales driver for this model, due to the lower price point (less expensive than the dedicated pagers that are carried now, but includes full trunk tracking and receiver capabilities).

Race Track Operation -- makes it easy to set up and use at the track, plus with TV, AM, and FM coverage lets the user catch the race commentary as well as the driver comms.

2500 Dynamically Allocated Channels with 100 Quick Keys

Beyond this, the BR330T includes all of the non-digital features of the BCD396T and all of the Racing features of the SC230. The BR330T shares case styling with the BCD396T (but with amber backlighting for the display and keypad). We'll have photos available in a couple of weeks.

Customers, Dealers, and Distributors have been asking us to step up to the plate with a model that would replace the slot the BC250D vacated. Well, I don't believe in being as good as the last model or as good as the competition. If you're going to develop something new it should far exceed what you have done before and anything the "other guys" are thinking of...I think we hit a home run with this model, and I hope you agree.

This model is slated to come in Late Fall, with an MSRP of $429.

 

[safetyobc]

(including the 512-800 MHz range never before covered in a trunking scanner)

Paul, is this also available on the BCD396T or is this solely for the BR330T? Who is in this range with exception to the 700 public safety?

 

[UPMan]

Solely the BR330T. This is mainly UHF TV, but a lot of media uses short-range microphones in this band, as well as other similar low-power stuff. I've actually had multiple requests for this band specifically for monitoring remote media mics. The only PS is a small chunk up in the 700's that, AFAIK will be purely digital.

 

[Dubbin]

Paul I have to ask what the deal is the the NASCAR logo? Personally I feel that it gives what seems to be a very nice radio a cheap toy look to it. Other then that all of the features look great.

 

[UPMan]

From a purely marketing standpoint, it allows us to extend our outreach to a much broader audience. NASCAR is a hugely big deal (it is the #1 most attended sport in the US). The greater the reach, the higher the sales, and the more products or product replacements I can put into the future plan.

Oh, the short answer: Because it will sell more scanners and gives me room for future innovation.

 

[Advanced-Specialties-Inc]

Paul, as a dealer, one of my most asked for items is a drop-in quick charger.
I know you must have also heard this many times before.
Will the BR-330 have bottom charge terminals for an accessory drop-in charger??

 

[Dubbin]

So does Uniden plan on putting this on all of there scanners? If what you say is true and I know it is, then it would only make sense to put that ugly looking logo on all scanners. I would understand if it wasn't a trunking radio and if you guys didn't just come out with the SC230. Most of the features of the radio have nothing to do with racing anyway. I am a HUGE NASCAR fan but would not want there logo on any of my radios. Why not just put the logo on the box? As a consumer and as silly as it my sound, I would not buy the radio just because of that logo. Just letting you know that all of the market research doesn't always mean its right thing to do. Like I said before other then that it sounds like a great radio but too bad it looks like a toy.

btw people this is just my opinion on the radio and no I am not trying to start a war or argument with Paul or Uniden.

 

[DaveMI]

Also note that from the picture it will have an SMA connector just as the 396 will. :idea:

Will it also include an SMA to BNC adapter :?:

 

[kikito]

Maybe Uniden can put the NASCAR logo as a sticker on the radio. That way people can take it off if they don't want it.
I personally don't care for it either but it wouldn't stop me from getting the radio if I want it.

 

[CAT]

Maybe Uniden can put the NASCAR logo as a sticker on the radio. That way people can take it off if they don't want it.

I'm sure someone is paying big licensing fees for the use of the NASCAR logo and I’m positive they don’t want you to be able to remove it!

 

[kikito]

Maybe Uniden can put the NASCAR logo as a sticker on the radio. That way people can take it off if they don't want it.

I'm sure someone is paying big licensing fees for the use of the NASCAR logo and I’m positive they don’t want you to be able to remove it!

You've got a point! :lol:

 

[oregontreehugger]

It's nice to finally see Uniden jump into the wideband receiver market. I'm not a big fan of the NASCAR logo on the radio, but if that gives Uniden more money for R&D, I guess I can live with it. There's always a small piece of electrical tape or a permanent marker.

(Besides, it could be worse -- visions of the April 1st "Hello Kitty BC246T" come to mind.) :lol:

 

[safetyobc]

I just hope that the manufacturing of the BR330T doesn't slow down my BCD396T release With the 396 due out "late summer" and the 330 due out "early fall" they'll be coming out close to the same time. How many manufacturing plants does Uniden have for scanners?

BTW, what does the BR stand for? Bearcat Racing?

 

[Voyager]

Solely the BR330T. This is mainly UHF TV, but a lot of media uses short-range microphones in this band, as well as other similar low-power stuff. I've actually had multiple requests for this band specifically for monitoring remote media mics. The only PS is a small chunk up in the 700's that, AFAIK will be purely digital.

I am disappointed to see that this segment is not in your top-of-the-line scanner while it's in a 'lower' model. The ability to monitor TV audio is nice at times, or even monitor the other activity in that band.

As for 700 MHz, I believe narrowband is mandated. I'm not positive about digital. I thought it was all going to be digital, too, but I heard that it was only a narrowband requirement - meaning SNFM can be used.

Joe M.

 

[safetyobc]

I agree with voyager on this one, the missing segment on this "top of the line" scanner is disappointing. It should have been included for $500 + even if I never use it, it is the principle.

 

[Voyager]

I agree with voyager on this one, the missing segment on this "top of the line" scanner is disappointing. It should have been included for $500 + even if I never use it, it is the principle.

We AGREE :?: :shock:

Just kidding. Seriously, that's likely a hardware issue which is long since set in stone for the BCD396T design. Maybe there wasn't room for that hardware in the same size case with all the digital circuitry.

Joe M.

 

[Dubbin]

We AGREE :?: :shock:

I will disagree if that will make you feel better :wink: I really don't care about TV audio so I really don't care if a radio has it or not.

 

[Voyager]

We AGREE :?: :shock:

I will disagree if that will make you feel better :wink: I really don't care about TV audio so I really don't care if a radio has it or not.

Much better. :wink:

Seriously, I wish Uniden would come out with a cross between the BCD396T and the AR8200. IOW: a BCD396T with continuous coverage (minus cellular) 520 kHz - 1300 MHz. NAM/AM/WAM/SNFM/NFM/WFM/LSB/USB modes.

I do agree that if there is a segment that ISN'T a must, it's UHF TV. If the FCC had its way, it would all be digital by now anyway, and that is likely its future, so it's no GREAT loss.

I will say that being able to monitor TV audio is nice. Then again, while I'm dreaming, just add an LCD display that can be used like the BCD396T display (conventional) as well as for TV video. That way the user can change the color combination of the display to anything he/she wants. Make it HDTV ready, too. These are all things that can be done, unlike some of the proprietary modes others keep asking for. It would cost, but it's something I would like to see looked into (if it hasn't already and would be too cost prohibitive). Then again, the R3 does it.

Joe M.

 

[W4ELL]

Oh, the short answer: Because it will sell more scanners and gives me room for future innovation.

There you are in a nutshell.

Uniden and GRE are great innovators of our hobby and I for one appreciate them for all they have done and continue to do. Bottomline though, they are businesses and businesses can't do things for free.

I don't know and probably can't imagine how much money they have spent developing their latest scanners. They have alot of technology there to be featured in their products but the simple fact is... not everyone needs everything they offer.

Branding sells anything! Would a logo stop me from buying a scanner? HELL NO! Would it help sell a scanner? You bet your scanner collection it would. Someone going to the races who has never touched a scanner would see that colorful little logo and snatch it right up. They don't care as long as it is "Nascar compatible".

(I will use Uniden in my examples but you can apply some of it to GRE as well.)

Just before the 246 came out, alot of people were disappointed because it wasn't digital but were intrigued with the dynamic memory management and the Close Call technology. Uniden released this great scanner and it FLEW off the shelves. Only recently has supply caught up with demand for this scanner, or at least I have found it in stock more often. I am not sure how the SC230 has sold but apparently their racing line of scanners does well because if not... they wouldn't continue making them.

The point I am trying to make is... Uniden knows what makes money. They know that bringing us the latest greatest features keeps us buying scanners and more importantly, keeps this hobby alive. They also know that not everyone needs digital and not everyone uses a scanner for it's trunking capabilities. Basically, I see them with 3 general audiences:

1. Digital / Digital Trunking Users.
2. Analog Trunking Users
3. Conventional Analog / Racing.

You can subdivide these I know but I am speaking in general.

We have seen individual products for all of these audiences and as you are beginning to see now with the BR330T, there will be some crossover.

Why pay for something you can't or won't use?

Not all, but most race fans have no other use for their scanners except for going to the races. Their scanners are never used for anything else.

Then you have the analog conventional only crowd who don't go to the races but don't need trunking or digital.

Then there is the analog trunking crowd who have no digital needs... which apparently is a large portion of the hobby considering how the 246 has sold.

Finally there is the Digital crowd where everything will eventually end up I believe. This one is growing fast as more public safety agencies go digital.

Would I like to see a scanner with everything? HELL YES! I don't need digital yet but I want a digital scanner for when I travel and in case my area goes digital soon. I want the ability to listen to UHF TV audio and have a scanner with full coverage in case I need it. I probably will never use the fire tone-out feature... but I will take it.

Would Uniden make money on this type of scanner? As this thread shows, ALOT of the hard-core hobbyists would purchase it if such a scanner was produced. I know I would buy it in a second but I don't think Uniden would be able to cover the cost of producing such a beast.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[safetyobc]

with an MSRP of $429.

What will it really sell for in the store? The MSRP on the BCD396T is over $800 but the store price is a little over $500. Around $200 on the BR330T much like the 246T pricing or do you think it will be slightly higher say $250 ?