Pro-528 & 433

[scg]

I would like some opinions on these radios from people who personally own them. Thanks.

 

[iMONITOR]

I would like some opinions on these radios from people who personally own them. Thanks.

I just picked up the PRO-433 tonight at my local Radio Shack. It's a revised version of the PRO-2051. I also downloaded Butel's ARC-433 software, which is still in beta, but very usable. Too soon to give any kind of useful evaluation, but so far, so good! I'll update in this thread this weekend.

 

[scg]

Please let me know what you think. There should also be a lot of 528's after the $99 sale.

 

[crabhab]

I just picked up a 528 yesterday. I currently also own a Pro 97 and 95. I like the GRE scanners better but, I have owned two Pro -94's in the past and I like the light up signal recieve feature of the Uniden built 94's to try out a 528. First let me state that it is sooooooo easy to program manualy or using scan cat lite. Compared to the Pro 94 and it's cumbersome two 500 channel bank it is easier to program than a GRE 97 or 95 I think or at least as easy. Selecting turnked banks is GRE like just press the number corresponding to the bank you want to trunk. SOOO much nicer than hitting the alt then bank setup like the 94. I love the back lit keypad. I miss Alpha tags but, not too much cause I have the 97 and 95 if I want tags. It is like a 94 that is 1000 tiumes easier to program and use.

 

[scg]

Thanks, I have a 94 already and was wondering if the receive or audio volume was any better.

 

[crabhab]

The Audio is still not as good as the GRE made recivers and it does not seem to be as seneitive. My Pro 95 and 97 are loud enough you can here in the car with a window open (partially) The 528 has to have all the windows closed and the volume maxed. Not a big deal inside but not an audio powerhouse. I noticed right off the bat that the GRE's are still more sensitvie than the Unide 528. i can pull Motorola Type II from 30 miles with the 95 & 97 and the 528 will not even pick up the data channel.

 

[DickH]

... I noticed right off the bat that the GRE's are still more sensitvie than the Unide 528. i can pull Motorola Type II from 30 miles with the 95 & 97 and the 528 will not even pick up the data channel.

On 800MHz it is comparable to my PRO-95. Hi band seems good with the supplied rubber duck. My criteria is a weather station about 50 miles away.
If you like Signal Stalker, the PRO-528 has a couple of new features.
There is a Yahoo group for the 528 and the 433 with lots of details.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PRO-433_scanners

 

[zguy1243]

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53074

I had a pro433 for about 12 hours. See link----

 

[k5ttt]

I also downloaded Butel's ARC-433 software, which is still in beta, but very usable.

GreatLakes, did you pre-order the software? I knew the beta was out but I don't find the download link on his site.

 

[iMONITOR]

GreatLakes, did you pre-order the software? I knew the beta was out but I don't find the download link on his site.

Yes, after I found out that was required I pre-ordered it. I knew I was going to buy it anyway, so I figured nothing to loose. I have complete confidence in Butel!

I can't share the beta, as it does require a key.

 

[scg]

How is the receive and audio on the 433.

 

[joetnymedic]

i bought one a few days ago (pro-528) not as snazzy as some of my old radios or my 796 but for the cost it's an ok radio and easy to program by hand. I have to say tho, I miss my 396 but I'll be buying a new one soon enough.

 

[iMONITOR]

How is the receive and audio on the 433.

So far it appears to be up to par with my BCD996T, BCT15, and PRO-2096. I don't have a good antenna on it at the moment, but that's not stopping it!

 

[moondog52]

I just bought a Pro-433 a couple of days ago. I'm liking it a lot, but it's my 1st scanner since I bought my BC100xlt many years ago
Oh, and I can't believe how heavy it is! Haven't opened it up to see if there's a block of lead in there ...

However, I also dl'd the ARC433 beta but cannot get it to see the scanner. Using the 20-047 USB cable. Works just fine with Scancat-Lite demo version. I'm stumped as to why ARC433 is having a problem. TX LED on the USB device blinks 1 time when I try to read from scanner.



n7xss

 

[DickH]

I just bought a Pro-433 a couple of days ago. I'm liking it a lot, but it's my 1st scanner since I bought my BC100xlt many years ago
Oh, and I can't believe how heavy it is! Haven't opened it up to see if there's a block of lead in there ...
However, I also dl'd the ARC433 beta but cannot get it to see the scanner. Using the 20-047 USB cable. Works just fine with Scancat-Lite demo version. I'm stumped as to why ARC433 is having a problem. TX LED on the USB device blinks 1 time when I try to read from scanner. n7xss

Yes, it's an all steel case and cover, something they haven't made in years. I'm impressed with the audio, too. Good high volume, crisp and clear, with no distortion.

About ARC433 beta. I'm having the same trouble using the 20-289 serial cable. Gommert claims it's my cable and I need the 20-047. Maybe he'll listen now. I guess that's why it's only beta.
GOMMERT - Get back to work !!!

Dick
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PRO-433_scanners

 

[moondog52]

Yes, I like the heft, and the controls and buttons have a good solid feel to them. Wish it had alpha tags but for the price it seems like a good unit. Just all those potential frequencies to
manage! So yup, I need some software control

To his credit Gommert did reply right away this evening, but just with the obvious stuff, like making sure I wasn't running another prg on the same port. I loaded everything on another laptop tonight, but alas, with the same results. I hate to keep harping on the fact that Scancat demo reads the scanner just fine ... but there you have it. ARC433 does try to ID the scanner as the first read action and fails.

So far I haven't heard from anyone who has a new Pro-433/20-047/ARC433 Beta that does work ...

 

[DickH]

So far I haven't heard from anyone who has a new Pro-433/20-047/ARC433 Beta that does work ...

Great Lakes is using the same cable as me, the old 20-289 serial cable. His works, mine does not. I'm guessing you get this error message, "PRO433/528 not detected, check cable and/or comport setting." I get this message with the cable connected and not connected. The cable works fine with 2 other programs and the PRO-95, PRO-83 and PRO-2053 scanners.
I've checked comport setting in the BIOS - all correct , so I suspect a file may have become corrupted during downloading, if that's possible. ???

Dick

 

[iMONITOR]

So far I haven't heard from anyone who has a new Pro-433/20-047/ARC433 Beta that does work ...

I'm running ARC-433 with my PRO-433. It ran perfect first try. I've already saved a few frequency files, up-loaded, down-loaded, no problems! I'm anxiously waiting for the Radio Reference Database Import functionality.

 

[moondog52]

GreatLakes, so I am understanding that you are using the serial cable on a normal serial port?
Or are you using the 20-047 USB cable that I said I was using?

DickH, yes that is the error. The USB cable device does have LEDs on it for TX and RX ... the TX blinks once ... meaning it sent some data
to the scanner, but nothing comes back on the RX LED ... so it seems that whatever it sent was not understood by the scanner.

n7xss

 

[Butelsoftware]

I just ordered the 20-289 cable so we can test with that cable too,

The people that reported problems by email should have received release 0.83 by now for testing, hopefully that solves sthe communication problem, please report by email.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com