Butel software for GRE's PSR800

[tilt404]

I've been using Butel's software for so many receivers over the years, I've lost count. 4 or 5 Uniden scanners, a GRE, Radio Shack, 2 Icom receivers... Never had a problem, always worked great. When I bought my PSR800 I was shocked to see that Butel didn't have software on their site for it, so I emailed them asking if they planned to write software soon.

They replied saying that GRE didn't permit any other company to write software for the PSR800, and that I should contact GRE to let them know how much I wish they would let Butel write software for the PSR800. I lost the email from Butel so I can't quote him directly, but that is as close to what I remember he said.

Why is GRE doing this? I can't understand why. Even with many ham radios I've owned, a company called RT Systems makes software for them. All brands. Butel even has software for the new Uniden Home Patrol. So why are PSR800 owners left with no choice but to use GRE's EZScan software? I was happy that it is available for free, but has so many problems I feel. Now with the uncertainty with the company (if true), why not let someone else write software? How can it hurt when GRE isn't even charging for their software?

If you feel like I do, please contact GRE and let them know how you feel. If not then thank you for reading this. I think the PSR800 is a great scanner, I just wish we had better software to use with it. Or at least a choice.

 

[scannerfreak]

Read the following (and the replies thereafter) for a little more info on this:

http://forums.radioreference.com/gr...sr-800-post-release-thread-8.html#post1497735

I have a feeling no matter how many people contact GRE they aren't going to release the info needed, and it seems they have some valid concerns for not doing it.

 

[tilt404]

Thanks, I've been there before but it is so frustrating. Beyond that even. This software is so flawed in countless ways.

Just using the software tonight programming more, I see conventional frequencies have mysteriously changed, also when I try to delete some conventional frequencies in the conventional tab by highlighting a few with CTRL-A then click on delete... if I did that for 5 or so, 3 will come back, so I will delete them, then 2 come back, then 1. So many problems with this POS software. Every day I find more. I hate being tied to it since the scanner is great, but the software keeps messing the scanner up. If I didn't look closely I wouldn't of even noticed those frequencies came back after being deleted. Or that frequencies had changed. The more GRE refuses to let people make more software, people like me will only want to sell their PSR800 out of frustration and get something else. Are you listening GRE???

 

[ratboy]

You're seeing one of the same issues I had with "EZscan". My PSR-800 would lock up a lot too, lose almost all sensitivity from 400MHZ on up quite often, requiring a reset, and after sending it in to GRE, and and being told it "meets specs", I bailed on it. I bought another Pro-106 and I'm happy.

 

[tilt404]

Just saw another sign its messed up again. Going to format the card again and see if this happens again. Only been a few days since I last did it. If it happens again soon, this scanner is being sold. So sick of this.

 

[JoeyC]

While I cannot reproduce your reappearing deleted frequencies (I've tried twice now), the software is very finicky. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is buggy, but it expects things to be handled as it pleases. Unfortunately we the end users don't know what it expects, until we tinker with it again and again. What specifically is getting messed up again and again with the software??

BTW, Control -A is the select all command in windows. typo above?
I'll ask again, post a copy of your config in this thread for some outside eyes to review.

 

[tilt404]

Yes, sorry about that, just control click to select more than one, then delete.

It started to do this patching again now, so formatting the card again. I just wish the scanner would act the same for a week, is that too much to ask? Ugh.

I don't know what you mean about posting my config. If you mean the CDAT file it's too big for the size limit here. 800k or so.

After formatting and going through the steps to prepare it and get the data back on it, its acting normal again. Keeps getting corrupted way too easily.

 

[rustynswrail]

Thanks, I've been there before but it is so frustrating. Beyond that even. This software is so flawed in countless ways.

Just using the software tonight programming more, I see conventional frequencies have mysteriously changed, also when I try to delete some conventional frequencies in the conventional tab by highlighting a few with CTRL-A then click on delete... if I did that for 5 or so, 3 will come back, so I will delete them, then 2 come back, then 1. So many problems with this POS software. Every day I find more. I hate being tied to it since the scanner is great, but the software keeps messing the scanner up. If I didn't look closely I wouldn't of even noticed those frequencies came back after being deleted. Or that frequencies had changed. The more GRE refuses to let people make more software, people like me will only want to sell their PSR800 out of frustration and get something else. Are you listening GRE???

Agree completely with the CTL A (all) and delete problem you have mentioned. Has happened to me. It would also be nice to be able to copy from the GRE software and paste into a spreadsheet, then paste back into the software (for sorting, error corrections etc) like the Butel software allows.

Given that GRE are somewhat inflexible with their control codes etc, maybe one reason they are going down the gurgler (drain for the non Australian's amongst us).

My two cents worth.

R

 

[tilt404]

That's the other thing too, no printing from the software also. I have imported from text file though which is kind of like pasting. But like you said can't copy from the software to somewhere else. Its like being in jail or something. So many features, taken away. Just being able to print my conventional frequencies would of saved me so much work. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so.

 

[JoeyC]

This patching again??

 

[tilt404]

Flashes 'patch' on the screen next to TGRP. Then as you can see in a recent screen shot, one TGID name will take on the TGID number of several others. TGID SpecEvts 1 goes from being TGID 11 to 13 to 14. PD Central will be 14 one minute and then 13 the next.

 

[tilt404]

After the format I did, that stopped. Again. Then there's this error pictured below that I get 95% of the time I try to get audio files off the card either using the USB cable or SD card in my laptop, makes no different. Always get the same error. Then I have to CTRL-ALT-DEL out of the software since it locks up. Start the software again and read the audio files again and it imports them fine. I sent GRE a ticket about this but they didn't offer any helpful info on the error. I could go on and on about the problems. Like if you CTRL click a few items in the scanlist tab, and then delete them, the software still stop responding and CPU will go to 100%.

 

[JoeyC]

Flashes 'patch' on the screen next to TGRP. Then as you can see in a recent screen shot, one TGID name will take on the TGID number of several others. TGID SpecEvts 1 goes from being TGID 11 to 13 to 14. PD Central will be 14 one minute and then 13 the next.

Talkgroup patching is a function of the system - something the dispatcher initiates, the radio is acting normally.

What I don't understand is why you have multiple copies of the same talkgroup in your programming?

 

[JoeyC]

Flashes 'patch' on the screen next to TGRP. Then as you can see in a recent screen shot, one TGID name will take on the TGID number of several others. TGID SpecEvts 1 goes from being TGID 11 to 13 to 14. PD Central will be 14 one minute and then 13 the next.

Talkgroup patching is a function of the system - something the dispatcher initiates, the radio is acting normally.

What I don't understand is why you have multiple copies of the same talkgroup in your programming?

Nevermind, I see thats the report of recordings.

 

[JoeyC]

Like if you CTRL click a few items in the scanlist tab, and then delete them, the software still stop responding and CPU will go to 100%.

You aren't making changes in the software while the scanner is on and connected are you?

 

[tilt404]

Talkgroup patching is a function of the system - something the dispatcher initiates, the radio is acting normally.

What I don't understand is why you have multiple copies of the same talkgroup in your programming?

It's not normal on this system though. Never happens. Hasn't until suddenly last week when it started messing up, then started patching between 4 TGIDs. One TGID will come on and show the name, but the TGID number will change while its on the display. So that's why it shows them in the audio files. It makes it impossible to follow. I know about patches though, but on this system its never happened. If it does, then I don't know why it started suddenly, and now after I formatted the card tonight it stopped again.

 

[JoeyC]

LOL, I just got the exact Access violation prompt that you did. I didn't have to control alt delete however, I just chose OK and it shutdown. When I reopened and tried to GET LIST again, it worked normally. Annoying yes.

 

[tilt404]

You aren't making changes in the software while the scanner is on and connected are you?

no, scanner is always off.

 

[tilt404]

LOL, I just got the exact Access violation prompt that you did. I didn't have to control alt delete however, I just chose OK and it shutdown. When I reopened and tried to GET LIST again, it worked normally. Annoying yes.

Yup, happens to me all the time. I can hit ok and close the error box, but the progress bar still sits frozen on the screen. I feel so sure that this scanner is good if only we could just try some other software for a while. Please GRE??? I'm really starting to consider selling it again and getting the Uniden bcd996xt again. Did I mention only a couple weeks after I got it too, the paint started to come off the front? This should not be happening.

 

[JoeyC]

It's not normal on this system though. Never happens. Hasn't until suddenly last week when it started messing up, then started patching between 4 TGIDs. One TGID will come on and show the name, but the TGID number will change while its on the display. So that's why it shows them in the audio files. It makes it impossible to follow. I know about patches though, but on this system its never happened. If it does, then I don't know why it started suddenly, and now after I formatted the card tonight it stopped again.

What scanner were you using previously to monitor this system? Some older scanners do not handle patches at all. Have you verified with Unitrunker that these talkgroups aren't patched?