Pictures of NEW GRE Scanners (310/410/700/RaceScanner)

[texasemt13]

At this year's Dayton Hamvention I made a request to GRE to develop a remote head for the next replacement of the PSR500/600. I reminded GRE that finding a place to mount scanners in new automobiles is becoming impossible and a remote head option would be the cats meow.

Agreed. Something small and low-profile, similar to the Yaesu FT-7900R remote head. All in black.

DaveIN, my ears perked up when I read your post (I hadn't thought about just replacing the case), but DonS shot us down there.

 

[DaveIN]

Agreed. Something small and low-profile, similar to the Yaesu FT-7900R remote head. All in black.

DaveIN, my ears perked up when I read your post (I hadn't thought about just replacing the case), but DonS shot us down there.

Yea, I find it odd that the model is so similar, but has a larger LCD than the PSR500.

It would be interesting to see a remote head for the PSR OOP series. Was the GRE sales team responsive to the request?

 

[Swipesy]

Was the GRE sales team responsive to the request?

The President of GRE was sitting behind the tables but he made no effort while I was at the table to meet the public. The only answer I got from Raj was that he would pass my suggestion onto the President of GRE for consideration. He wrote nothing down so I take it the suggestion will go no where. Probably the better way is to bombard GRE Tech support with the suggestion.

 

[DonS]

The President of GRE was sitting behind the tables but he made no effort while I was at the table to meet the public.

That's not especially surprising, unless the public's command of the spoken Japanese language exceeds [my perception of, over the last few years] Imazeki-san's comfort with English.

I would imagine that Nori-san and Raj would be interacting with the public, with the former passing immediate and important information on to Imazeki-san.

The only answer I got from Raj was that he would pass my suggestion onto the President of GRE for consideration. He wrote nothing down so I take it the suggestion will go no where.

Raj wrote nothing down because it wasn't necessary. The "right people" at GRE (including Imazeki-san) know about the request.

 

[wolverine]

No P25 so i wont have any use for them.

 

[commscanaus]

I cant even imagine spending another dime on a digital scanner unless it does TRBO/NXDN or Provoice..

Ditto

TRBO is being rolled out here at a quick pace and proving popular.
NXDN is also proving popular with both trunked and conventional systems popping up.

No doubt a multi codec digital scanner will prove very pricey due to the licensing issues, but will soon be necessary as many services migrate to digital other than P25.
For now- I have P25 well covered.

Commscanaus.

 

[N8IAA]

I absolutely agree on the TRBO. NXDN, and the use of remote heads. The remote heads make for a neater install in most new vehicles, and the Moto/Kenwood digital platforms are being pushed hard for non-trunking counties in various parts of GA that I monitor. I realize that the bean counters don't neccessarily coincide with how we as scannerheads think, but the next step needs to be taken. I would love to see someone out there make a SDR radio that will allow us, who are really serious about our hobby, enjoy monitoring the new and upcoming digital modes. Oh, well, one can only wish
Larry

 

[Swipesy]

This is the reply I received Wed from GRE Tech Support concerning a remote head.

Hi John,

I read your note on RadioReference and have talked to Raj. We have had many discussions about remote heads. I'll be very candid with you - doing a remote head right is easier said than done, and although I agree that it would be an advantage for mounting in today's cars we really don't get very many requests for this at all. I honestly can't say if there would be enough demand for the product to justify the cost to develop it nor do we know if it could be priced such that it would be affordable.

The idea is not dead but I think it's safe to say that it is more challenging than people realize to really do it right.

 

[mancow]

I saw the new units at Dayton too. The displays are MUCH improved. They are larger with better readability and resolution, unlike the current ones with the huge pixels that are widely spaced. The one I saw had a nice blue hue similar to the fluorescent type a decade ago and was easily visible from 10 + feet away.

 

[wb0wao]

One of the buzzwords in the tech field is scalability and I think it is time that the scanner manufacturers start thinking about incorporating it into their products. They should develop an analog scannner that utilizes all of the current features and functions and has the ability to allow the user to add - by the means of small modules - additional "decoders" for P25, MotoTRBO, NDXN, etc. - think Icom IC-R2500

I would think that part of the issue now is the development costs/license fees for three different protocols which would probably result in a scanner near the $1K level. Using the above method, the basic model would be a state of the art analog scanner that would have several "slots" on the main board in which a module could be purchased seperately and then installed by the user. The firmware would detect the module and open up any menu selections applicable to that protocol and allow that protocol to be monitored on the scanner. If you need to monitor analog and NDXN, then all you need to do is buy the NDXN module - same thing for P25 or MotoTRBO. Theoretically (providing there are enough slots available) you could have a scanner with analog, P25, NDXN and MotoTRBO capability. And it would be a heck of a lot quicker to implement a new protocol this way than have to re-engineer an entire scanner to monitor it - P25 Phase II as an example.

This is, of course, just my opinion.....

Dennis

 

[DaveIN]

I like the way you think Dennis, however keep in mind the Icom ICR-2500 is a "receiver" and not a scanner, although it will scan at a slow rate. Price point of development vs. sales, and license fees, for modes not currently supported are not in the realm of the manufacturer. Also add the fact that the target market currently points toward the analog trunking scanner.

I too would love to have all these feature on the wish list. I be happy to see a P25 model, even a PSR500 upgrade, with the database already available in memory.

 

[wb0wao]

I like the way you think Dennis, however keep in mind the Icom ICR-2500 is a "receiver" and not a scanner, although it will scan at a slow rate. Price point of development vs. sales, and license fees, for modes not currently supported are not in the realm of the manufacturer. Also add the fact that the target market currently points toward the analog trunking scanner.

Correct on the 2500, however that was just an example of the use of a user installed module. Think of physically removing the existing P25 decoding chip and it's ancillary interface circutry and placing that on a seperate daughterboard. The interface between the scanner and the daughterboard would be identical no matter what protocol is decoded by the chip - digital signal comes in, gets decoded and goes out. The base unit would be akin to the PSR-410 with OOP, analog trunking, etc. so the existing primary market would be served by such a unit in its "stock" configuration. The user then, if they so desired, adds the module(s) that they would need, thus expanding the capabilites of the original unit to include multiformat digital monitoring that is specific to their needs. Development time to create a module to decode a new format would be on the orders of magnitude less than developing a completely new scanner - not to mention the time from conception to availability (no need to get FCC approval for a module).

Dennis

 

[DonS]

Think of physically removing the existing P25 decoding chip and it's ancillary interface circutry and placing that on a seperate daughterboard.

That was done several years ago.

 

[SCPD]

Not according to GRE's largest distributor. According to RadioShack, analog-only scanners outsell digital scanners by a large margin.

I can see that. many of the large Trunked systems still remain analog and the push to digital has not been as fast as originally thought. Not to mention the many who live in denial that Digital modulation will fully replace analog in the future. Believe it or not, many in public safety have the same mentality and continue to buy analog over digital for their own systems.

I like the fact that the 310/410 are object oriented, I think that is really the way to go now. I'll buy one and try it out ....

 

[LAflyer]

I'd like to also see ability to track the Passport LTR trunked systems and iDen in a new radio.

 

[tommyscan]

new psr310

I dont think another analog scanner is a waste. with many p25 and conv p25 stations going encrypted and with provoice and mototrbo being unmonitorable, I welcome new innovative scanners even if they are analog

 

[michaelmikesj]

I happen to be in the market for a new scanner at the moment. I was using the pro-2052 for years and it worked great, but I want to go with something newer. With that said, I was looking at the GRE 400 and found out that it has been discontinued but still available. The 410 would be my next choice. What are the differences (or upgrades) of the 410 to the 400. And why should I pay the same price for the 400 compared to the 410 if it is discontinued. Is the 410 a better radio overall? I have found them for sale for 159.99.

 

[tommyscan]

the 410 will enable you to use object programming as opposed to traditional banks and channel limitations.it uses the technology of the psr500 or pro106 receivers minus the digital capabilities.these formats are great because now you can group your scanlists according to taste of listening. for example,if all you wanted to monitor was animal control and you live within listening distance to say 3 counties,you can program trunked ids for animal ctrl units as well as any conventional freqs in 1 scanlist!! great stuff.

 

[KB4REA]

Is the 410 a better radio overall?

Here are just a few reasons why I would answer yes to that question...

1. better/larger display
2. more memory (1800 objects vs. 1000 channels)
3. overall better looks IMO with the black textured casing

The newer object-oriented memory management will take getting use to compared to the 10 bank/100 chan setup but I say go for it. $160 is a great price for this scanner.

 

[michaelmikesj]

Thanx for the post. I will purchase the 410. I read the manual for both scaneers and the 410 seems to be easier to progrma and understand. I know I made the right choice.