Any New Whistler Scanners ?

[dave3825]

It seems that Uniden is content to do the same as far as releasing existing designs with no sign of innovation, but at least the SDS series handles LSM fairly well out of the box.

I think this guy has a vision.

The last thing we want to do is exit the Scanner Category.

Be patient and we did not buy the company to do anyhting but capitiaze on categories we ignored far too long.

 

[mmckenna]

I think this guy has a vision.

The vision lasted 2 days. He hasn't been back. Since it's a private company, I'm sure any decisions are held close to the vest.

Will be interesting to see if anything comes of this.

 

[wwhitby]

Yeah, I never buy an expensive new model scanner as soon as it comes out. Same with cars. Let manufacturers work out bugs and defects (like cold solder joints) before buying.

After 30 years in IT, I've learned that if you are on the bleeding edge of technology, you will definitely get cut!

I would be happy if there was a Whistler scanner with the ability to handle LSM. I'm not a fan of the user interface of the SDS series.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

MN has been on a statewide P25 system for over a decade. There is little to nothing left on conventional in most counties, and yet our local store still stocks and sells just the WS1010. I've never seen them carry anything else in store.

I wish places like Walmart that sell scanners would at least sell the WS1040. It would be nice if they carried the HomePatrol series scanners (including the x36HP and by extension, the SDS) or the EZ-Scan scanners so that people that actually want to listen don't get stuck with a $80 paperweight. Granted, all of them except the SDS won't handle LSM very great but if the store's scanner selection was based on location (SDS in simulcast areas like MSP, 436/TRX in multicast areas, WS1040 in mainly conventional areas, etc) it might actually get their scanner sales up. That would make too much sense, though.

 

[hiegtx]

I wish places like Walmart that sell scanners would at least sell the WS1040. It would be nice if they carried the HomePatrol series scanners (including the x36HP and by extension, the SDS) or the EZ-Scan scanners so that people that actually want to listen don't get stuck with a $80 paperweight. Granted, all of them except the SDS won't handle LSM very great but if the store's scanner selection was based on location (SDS in simulcast areas like MSP, 436/TRX in multicast areas, WS1040 in mainly conventional areas, etc) it might actually get their scanner sales up. That would make too much sense, though.

Walmart does list the WS1040, as well as the WS1065, on their website, though maybe not in the stores.

They also show the SDS100, and others, on the website, but some of these are 'marketplace' sellers, not Walmart itself.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

I was talking about in store, I'm sure more people would buy a scanner if they had one that would actually work for their area available to them right then and there. Whistler has a pretty decent chance to grab hold of the "entry level" market with a complex but friendly scanner, where it does all the fancy stuff (LSM, DMR, NXDN, potentially ProVoice) but is extremely simple to set up (think HP series ZIP services but more step by step and descriptive on what it's actually loading) for $100-200 below Uniden's asking price.

It's sad they have seemed to have abandoned innovation of the scanning world and are always one step behind. Granted, they never really did too much innovating ever since they took on GRE, but they could at least try to beat Uniden's offering.

 

[n0esc]

My hot take is that the market availability of the Walmart demographic simply doesn't support a scanner in that $400-500 range. Those of us that consider ourselves true hobbyists aren't shopping there for scanners, and know what we want so are either tinkering in the SDR side of things or willing to research exactly what is needed in an area and buy that way. Walmart Electronics or Automotive department staff are highly unlikely to be able to explain to someone what they need, or why in some areas the only scanner in the cabinet is $500, when they "know" they saw that one online or in the WM app for $80.

I think the current splinter of competing digital system technologies, ever encroaching "threat" of encryption, and to a non-zero degree the presence of phone apps that pull from BCFY in just about every major market where demand for scanners may have been higher given the state of the world, has any of the companies hesitant to make any significant investment in scanning technology.

The scanner fans that have the cash threw it down long ago, the new breed are tinkering with SDRs, and casual users are happy enough using apps called Police 5-0 with zero understanding of how any of it works, but they know they can hear the cops going to Becky's house for the 3rd time this week.

 

[trentbob]

If they were ever going to introduce a new radio which I don't think they ever will, it would have to fit in a carcass of a PSR 500, PSR 600, PSR 800 or a PSR 900.

I agree with others that they probably figured out they could not make a simulcast capable radio that would fit into those four carcasses and having never made their own radio and always improving and modifying GRE radios it was just a marketing ruse.

I was suspicious of the announcement pretty quickly when it was obvious that when you make an announcement like that the radio usually follows rather quickly, you don't make an announcement like that unless the radio is pretty much ready to be shipped.

Months and months down the line when the delay was announced ww asked members what kind of features would they like to see in the new simulcast radio.. "oh boy" I said to myself, this is vaporware.

I was disappointed because I would be one of the first ones in line for a simulcast capable Whistler radio even it was in a carcass of a PSR 800 with a keyboard.

Unfortunately in the Northeast I am in a heavily samulcast area so Whistler radios haven't served any of my needs for years now, again disappointing, nice radios.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

LOL...carcasses

 

[Bob1955]

Uniden released the SDS100 in mid-2018. Paul Opitz passed away 3.5 years ago in Dec 2019. Uniden has been stagnant ever since, giving Whistler plenty of time to take full advantage of the market by releasing something fresh. They threw in the towel years ago and are content to keep selling the old and slightly modified GRE designs. It seems that Uniden is content to do the same as far as releasing existing designs with no sign of innovation, but at least the SDS series handles LSM fairly well out of the box.

GTR8000- You "HIT" the nail RIGHT on the head again.
Very well written and 100 percent the truth too.
Whistler (I have worked on the WX-1065), their menu system is poorly designed(WildCard) and also their front end and the digital performance is "NOTHING" like Uniden America Corporation but Unication is still the best "BUT" it is not a scanner.

 

[Bob1955]

Uniden released the SDS100 in mid-2018. Paul Opitz passed away 3.5 years ago in Dec 2019. Uniden has been stagnant ever since, giving Whistler plenty of time to take full advantage of the market by releasing something fresh. They threw in the towel years ago and are content to keep selling the old and slightly modified GRE designs. It seems that Uniden is content to do the same as far as releasing existing designs with no sign of innovation, but at least the SDS series handles LSM fairly well out of the box.

RIP Paul Opitz

 

[BC2001]

I've never seen them carry anything else in store.

Up until Monday of this week, I hadn't either. But my local Walmart actually is carrying the following Whistler external speaker in-store now.

Whistler External Radio Scanner Speaker - 3.5"

Not saying that changes anything, I just wanted to add that little tid bit.

Anyway all I know is I would love to see the WS-1040 in store as well.

 

[ECB85]

Of course, for customers who are far from the United States and specifically from Europe, if they do not update Whitsler to modes like Tetra. There won't be many equipment sales in Europe. and the same goes for Uniden.

 

[k1jbp]

Is it under a year old? Send it to Whistler and have it fixed.

It was purchased from a private party. They wanted to charge me for looking at it plus whatever was wrong with it. I might as well just buy another one but I won't

 

[scannersnstuff]

Not to be a doomsayer,but I highly doubt ever seeing another true scanner come down the highway. I have felt this way since the passing of Paul Opitz, and the last Whistler simulcast copy fiasco.

 

[MStep]

Not to be a doomsayer,but I highly doubt ever seeing another true scanner come down the highway. I have felt this way since the passing of Paul Opitz, and the last Whistler simulcast copy fiasco.

Sadly, I have to agree. The top-of-the-line Whistler and Uniden scanners are probably doing exactly what 99.5% of folks are looking for/listening to. At least as far as I can reckon, simulcast notwithstanding. And incidentally, perhaps because I am using smaller mag-mount antennas at or near ground level, even here in the heart of New York City, simulcast is not a major issue for me.

You can always opt for an Icom R8600 if you don't mind spending $2500+ USD. You'll get plenty of bells and whistles, but you WON'T get DMR or trunking capability.

The AOR DV1 is another nice option, closer perhaps to a "scanner" than the R8600, and with more digital modes available. But no trunking.

I've got a few extra $$$ that I would be happy to spend if Whistler (or anyone else) came up with something new and innovative. But I can't really think of anything they could possibly add to the TRX-1 or TRX-2 that would get me to fork it over.

Won't it be interesting if Whistler (or Uniden) came out with a receiver with a spectrum scope, full digital modes, and a form factor similar to the R8600? A receiver that would also handle trunking. But then again, at what cost?

 

[Skypilot007]

If whistler would fix 2 things with the TRX-2 it would be a winner.

1. Fix the squelch problem in analog mode.
2. Add I/Q demodulation for simulcast systems.

That's all it needs! It has the best remote head design of any scanner so it's easy to install in almost any car. Fix those two items and the TRX-2 would be flying off the resellers shelves!

Come on Whistler, make it happen!

 

[tvengr]

If whistler would fix 2 things with the TRX-2 it would be a winner.

1. Fix the squelch problem in analog mode.
2. Add I/Q demodulation for simulcast systems.

That's all it needs! It has the best remote head design of any scanner so it's easy to install in almost any car. Fix those two items and the TRX-2 would be flying off the resellers shelves!

Come on Whistler, make it happen!

And fix the EZ-Scan software so talkgroups and frequencies stay in the order entered and have a way to individually change the order as wanted.

 

[Remon]

Also add support for DMR in DCDM mode. dPMR would also be nice.

 

[TAbirdman]

It was purchased from a private party. They wanted to charge me for looking at it plus whatever was wrong with it. I might as well just buy another one but I won't

If you have the receipt showing its under a year old., Whistler should honor it and fix it.