I agree with all of the "Cons". No Vol knob is just stupid. The SQL knob should be the Vol, and the SQL where the Vol is.
Huh!? Of all the things one wants to adjust `Squelch' is the only thing that analog adjustments are truely useful. Some times the difference between receiving & not receiving a signal and still keeping some other signal from stomping on the other is basically a `slight brush' if the squelch knob. How the heck do you expect to be able to do something like with a `digital?' squelch control that only does whatever *programmed* steps that were set at the factory?
Oh, BTW, *if* they *were* to go to an `analog' volume control are they going to go to the trouble of making certain that it is one that was designed with an `Audio Taper' instead of the ones that are now currently used that use a `Linear Taper'? (IE: When one adjusts a `Linear Taper' the `volume' comes up `fast-n-furious' in the first 1/8th to 1/4 of the rotation of the knob VS `slowly ramping' up to about 1/3rd, approximately, of the rotation.) Hint: A `Linear Taper' potentiometer is *CHEAPER*, by a fair amount these days, than an `Audio Taper' potentiometer. Even *if* they were bought in the same bulk amounts.
Belt clip? Well, it is "nice", but it is too light duty, I broke my first one after only 3 weeks.
I've had my 800 basically since they first came out and my belt clip is still in one piece. Now... Since I've recently found a `cupholder' that I can either hang off of the inside of my door or off either dash or console that will hold *both* my 700 & 800 together with just the removal of the belt clip from the 800 I currently do not use the clip anymore. In fact I've also discovered that without the clip I can also carry both radios very comfortably in *one* of the pockets of the vest I usually wear. (It also has lessened my worries about `printing' that I always previously worried about as people seem to be drawn more towards the radios. {VB GRIN!})
GRE Responsive? Well, yes, but it took me 3 calls and 6 emails (I was told my message got lost... got lost more than once?) to get my replacement faceplate. The "paint" was coming off after less than two weeks.
I was one of those who just removed the `frosting' as soon as it started. Quite frankly *I* find the `glossy' finish *a lot better* / `nicer' looking. And, as for any scratching of the display area I was already using a `protector sheet'. The *2* times I called `support' I received very good service and my `problems' were resolved either immediately or within a couple days at most.
Software is good, but does have a few quirks.
Now... I'll definitely go along with the `software' having `quirks' *and* is *also* missing a lot of things that one would expect it to have.
For good or bad, there really isn't any other choice out there that does what this scanner does, so you are sort of stuck. I really like mine, but it is not perfect.
When I first got mine and initially started `playing with it' I sort of felt that way being used to using a PSR-500. However, my 500 has been relegated to `bedside duty' and my 800, along with my 700, is now my main carry. Yes, there will *always* be a few niggling little things here and there with any scanner but, the 800 is probably the best scanner, right now, out there that one can currently reasonably get. (The `software' probably being the main `fly in the ointment'.)
Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢. {GRIN!}
