Annoyed with the 246

[nikoz1200]

Let me start off saying that overall, I really like this scanner. The memory channel allocation is great, and hopefully transcievers will start coming like this too.

Here are a few things that really irk me about the 246. Some my be pilot error, whiles others are not. Hopefully someone can help me out.

1. When using close call, the frequency is not displayed unless you press a key. Is there a way to automatically show what frequency the scanner has stopped on?

2. I have programmed in a few dozen conventional freqs, like HAM repeaters, marine, aviation, etc. Once you assign an alpha tag to a channel, how in the world do you still display the actual frequency? That drives me nuts!

3. When scanning a trunked system, the scanner won't stop on a talkgroup that is deselected in another bank. For example, I have the FD dispatch in bank 1, and also in bank 2. If bank one is not selected, but bank 2 still is, the scanner will not stop on the talkgroup. Why????

4. 6volts? Doh! Another power adapter to buy if I want to charge or use it in the car. Pleeeease go back to a 12v input, Uniden!

5. Switching between scan and search mode is a little finnicky. I don't know how else to describe it.

That being said, I would buy this scanner again. I love the quick keys, and memory allocations. I do hope that uniden takes these points into account for the next scanner.

Nick

 

[Voyager]

1. When using close call, the frequency is not displayed unless you press a key. Is there a way to automatically show what frequency the scanner has stopped on?

2. I have programmed in a few dozen conventional freqs, like HAM repeaters, marine, aviation, etc. Once you assign an alpha tag to a channel, how in the world do you still display the actual frequency? That drives me nuts!

3. When scanning a trunked system, the scanner won't stop on a talkgroup that is deselected in another bank. For example, I have the FD dispatch in bank 1, and also in bank 2. If bank one is not selected, but bank 2 still is, the scanner will not stop on the talkgroup. Why????

4. 6volts? Doh! Another power adapter to buy if I want to charge or use it in the car. Pleeeease go back to a 12v input, Uniden!

5. Switching between scan and search mode is a little finnicky. I don't know how else to describe it.

1. That is likely due to parents held by someone else on automatically displaying the frequency.

2. Include the frequency in the text tag.

3. Because you disabled it in group 1. Assuming you meant groups, as there are no banks.

4. Few portable scanners are 12V input.

5. Press SCAN while the scanner is scanning that system.

Joe M.

 

[mdulrich]

1. That is likely due to parents held by someone else on automatically displaying the frequency.

Do you suppose there is a ransom being asked to release the parents? :lol: And whose parents are they anyway?

I know you meant patents, just having some fun.

Mike

 

[JnglMassiv]

1. That is likely due to parents held by someone else on automatically displaying the frequency.

[Fresh Prince]Parents just don't understand[/FP]
I wish there was an option to toggle off CloseCall while squelch is broken.
"All Units be on the lookout for a <CC> male last seen leaving the area of 1st and <CC> wearing a rubber chicken and driving a <CC>."

2. Like Voyager said, you can include freq info in the tag. Otherwise, hit E then scroll thru to 'edit frequency'. An option to flash alpha tag and freq would be cool on a per channel basis. You probably wouldn't need it for 'PD Dispatch main' but might want it for a seldom used Fed channel.

4. You should probably regulate between a car's 12v system and your electronics anyway. That Uniden uses a lower voltage is actually benificial. Automotive electrical voltages are all over the place and can easily dip below 12v. This could cause all sorts of unfun results from an annoying power cycle to a major firmware corruption if, say, it cuts out during programming or an upgrade.

 

[UPMan]

1. The reason is not apparent.

5. If you are scanning a busy system, switching between ID SCAN and ID SEARCH can be made easier by pressing and releasing FUNC, then pressing SCAN within a second or two (this will make SCAN work as a toggle for those seconds instead of resuming scan).

p

 

[ttt]

3. When scanning a trunked system, the scanner won't stop on a talkgroup that is deselected in another bank. For example, I have the FD dispatch in bank 1, and also in bank 2. If bank one is not selected, but bank 2 still is, the scanner will not stop on the talkgroup. Why????

Had that same problem scanning my local trunked system. Apparently if you have the same id talkgroup programed into the same system twice it will always default to the first group even if you deselect it. The way I fixed this is to put only the fd dispatch id into its own group assign it its own quick key then select or deslect it as you scan your groups. Remember you must remove the fd talkgroup from all previous groups or this wont work.

 

[JnglMassiv]

1. The reason is not apparent.

The reason is not apatent? Not sure what question is being answered here.

 

[KT4HX]

1. The reason is not apparent.

The reason is not apatent? Not sure what question is being answered here.

I take it that UPMan means one of two things. 1) That the reasoning behind it not displaying the frequency automatically when Close Call makes a hit is not apparent - meaning they don't know why; or 2) that it's not a patent issue that is keeping it from displaying the freq automatically. I can't imagine they would not know why the freq isn't automatically displayed rather than having to push a button, so he must've meant that it is "not" a patent issue as Voyager speculated. However, that still doesn't tell us the reason why. Maybe that is not for us to know. Or I could be completely wrong, which would be nothing new for me.

 

[UPMan]

It was actually just a silly pun.

 

[KT4HX]

It was actually just a silly pun.

Ok, then I was wrong! :lol: Which comes as no great shock to me.

 

[Voyager]

It was actually just a silly pun.

It was good, though. Hey, I can laugh at myself, too. 8) My typo was funny.

Seriously, though, I wouldn't be suprised if Opto had a paTent on that operation for either the Xplorer or Scout. Uniden is great at finding ways around paTents, but they aren't gods. Maybe this is one they can't figure out a way around yet.

Paul, are you saying you don't really know what the reason is for the key press? I admit I would like it to be automatic display, too.

Joe M.

 

[UPMan]

Other than silly puns, it is a topic I can't really comment on.

 

[KT4HX]

Other than silly puns, it is a topic I can't really comment on.

:lol: I knew it! Its a conspiracy of silence. :wink:

 

[AZScanner]

Other than silly puns, it is a topic I can't really comment on.

[Speculation] In other words, it was supposed to be automatic, but Legal stepped up and said "sorry, we can't do that due to...." So rather than nix the feature all together, Uniden came up with a compromise - you have to push a button to see the frequency hit.[/speculation]

Happens all the time in just about every industry. It's a bit of a hassle, but the feature is still quite cool and I'm glad it made it into the final design. I also like the idea of pausing it during activity on a programmed channel, that'd be really cool.... hint, hint. :wink:

-AZ

 

[Voyager]

Other than silly puns, it is a topic I can't really comment on.

[Speculation] In other words, it was supposed to be automatic, but Legal stepped up and said "sorry, we can't do that due to...." So rather than nix the feature all together, Uniden came up with a compromise - you have to push a button to see the frequency hit.[/speculation]

Translation: Uniden had to find a way around a patent someone else holds for automatic display of a nearfield frequency.

Of course, that's just my thoughts, and since UPMan can't say, we will never know for sure. I really feel strongly that I'm right, though.

I'm sure if they could have made it the way we want, they would have. Still, I'm happy that it is in there even with that minor quirk.

Joe M.

 

[imcleish]

If you are a user of the Butel ARC 246 software, while the scanner is in remote mode connected to your computer, the closecall frequencies automatically appear in the log.

Otherwise I gotta hand this one to uniden, even with the few minor warranty claims I have already had. Great Product!