Pro-668: DMR Firmware - Answer from Radio Shack

[scannerjunkie]

Hummm!!!!

A second response, see the e-mail thread below!!


Thanks for getting back to me. I can assure you that we have not forgotten about our loyal PRO-668 customers. As I stated earlier I do believe that updates will be coming in the near future. Now while it might take a little time, product development is on the case. Please be a little patient with us and I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Thank you again

Ed

cid:image001.png@01CE87C8.A8D7D890
Ed Kelerchian
e-commerce
General Wireless Operations Inc. d/b/a RadioShack
300 RadioShack Circle
Fort Worth, TX 76102-1964
O > 800-843-7422
radioshack.com

 

[wbswetnam]

Well, this is capitalism for you. In reality, the root of capitalism is greed. Taking over another company's product line and not providing support for the products made by the bought-out company is not a new phenomenon. To tell the truth, if I were on the board of Whistler, I'd make the same decision they have made with regard to RS products. Rather than "take the high road" and continue to provide support for the products of a failed company, I'd want people to buy into the new rebranded line of products and reward those customers who do; ergo, I'd provide upgrades for my customer base and not those of my failed predecessor. Companies are out to make a profit and reward their 1) shareholders and 2) customer fan base, not the customers of a different company who bought a discounted product identical to their newly rebranded model.

 

[DJ11DLN]

This is nothing new. The Pro-18 was several months back confirmed to have been internally identical, less the multi-function LED, to the PSR-800...and it got pretty seriously short-changed. In comparison to the Pro-668/WS-1080 level of parity, it lacks far more functionality than the parent PSR-800.

Why should Whistler provide the same level of functionality for the 668 as they do for their own scanners? Do they not wish to sell scanners under their own brand and establish their reputation? Especially in light of the fact that Whistler was very likely left holding the bag for an unknown number of scanners they built for RS.

Another possibility is that they will want to keep the DMR update proprietary for some period of time, 6 months or a year, and eventually release it. Right now, about all any of us can do is wait...and continue to pester RS about scanner updates. If they think enough is at stake, they may go to bat with Whistler for us.

 

[wa8pyr]

If whistler and "wendy" dont share the firmware upgrade with radioshack i will definetly not leave good feedback to others who i recommend brands of scanners. Because even there new "trx1" is a recased gre psr800 as is rs and whistler. Step up whistler dont be greedy...

This isn't really correct, the TRX-1 is actually a reworked WS1088 and has a full keypad; there was no Radio Shack equivalent, as it came out about the same time (or shortly after) Radio Shack imploded.

The PSR800 is at least two generations behind in firmware (the Pro668/WS1080 followed by the WS1088 are newer), and per my discussion with the folks at the Whistler booth at Dayton Hamvention, the TRX-1/TRX-2 have had quite a few internal modifications to improve selectivity and reduce overload.

So it's more like comparing Granny Smith apples to Golden Delicious apples. They're both apples but aren't quite the same.

That being said, I feel your pain. I have a Pro668, and while I like it a lot, it's kind of an orphan (which I understood when I bought it new for $200 from a nearly defunct Radio Shack). I'll be overjoyed if they supply the DMR update, but in reality I'm not holding my breath; recoding the firmware for yet another model (and specialized brand) scanner is a lot of extra work for the folks at Whistler, and if Radio Shack isn't providing any financial support to the project, the chances of it actually happening probably aren't too great.

 

[GrumpyGuard]

I just sent RS my email and hopefully more 668 owners will do the same. I too will post the response from RS. It will be interesting how this plays out. I will be happy if we get the update, but will not be any worse if we don't. Whistler is in this to make money and I understand where they are coming from. I too would pay a nominal fee ($20.00 or so) for the update.

Here is the reply I received this morning from Micheal Shoemaker

Mr. Goodwin

As I mentioned below the MFR’s plan per our Product Development team here at RadioShack. The Pro-668 will get the update to be able to get DMR. The exact time frame is unknown at this time. We were told(The Customer care team) the update will be released through the scanners software or through RadioShack.com.

Sincerely,

Michael

In my response, Mr. Shoemaker clearly states that we will receive the update but will not give an exact time frame. I can understand being non-commital on the time frame as this will take some negotiations with Whistler. But I am encouraged by this response.

 

[pinhead]

I sure pray they do ,I got 4 of them PRO -668 ,,Amen

 

[Voyager]

Because even there new "trx1" is a recased gre psr800 as is rs and whistler.

From what I've read, that is not the case. The new units have increased memory in which to put the firmware (enough to allow NXDN).

This logic astounds me. RadioShack made promises it couldn't keep so therefore everyone should blame Whistler for it.

Yes. It astounds me, too. Usually that logic is reserved for Uniden.

 

[Ensnared]

PV

Keep in mind the 2 keys words here..."should" and "shortly".

Should doesn't mean will and shortly could be tomorrow or 12 months.

Not trying to be negative, but I've been in the corporate world for a long time.

Yes, I have heard these two operative words in reference to many things. However, the timeline between the announcement of the PV upgrade and actual firmware upgrade was relatively short. I was shocked to be honest. Let's hope Uniden delivers the goods before Whistler beats them to the punch if they haven't already.

 

[pawsrock]

Here's what I got last night from RadioShack:

Hello,

Thanks for contacting RadioShack. After talkingwith the Product Development team, the manufacturer should provide the D.M.R.update via RadioShack.com or through the scanners software when its available.

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Blackswan73]

It will be through the he software, just like the parent radios

 

[NYG]

I have a feeling Whistle-Shack is hard at work whipping up some cool new features for us!

 

[buddrousa]

I have a feeling Whistle-Shack is hard at work whipping up some cool new features for us!

I was thinking about that the last few days also.

 

[KT4HX]

I'm glad some are getting responses from RS. I sent my email on 5/29 and all I've heard are crickets.

 

[buddrousa]

It was 3 to 4 days before I got a return email.

 

[diskmonger]

You guys do realize Radio Shack is just giving you some canned answer based on past practice right? Whistler has been pretty clear in their statements that the radio shack branded version will not get the update. So keep dreaming guys.

 

[Blackswan73]

You guys do realize Radio Shack is just giving you some canned answer based on past practice right? Whistler has been pretty clear in their statements that the radio shack branded version will not get the update. So keep dreaming guys.

Whistler has nothing to do with updating RS scanners and never did. All updates are authorized by RS and done by Don Starr, who is the author of updates for RS,whistler , and originally GRE. That is why the Pro 18 never got the Phase 2 update, even tho the Pro 18 was basically the same as the 800, and 668.

 

[Spitfire8520]

Whistler has nothing to do with updating RS scanners and never did. All updates are authorized by RS and done by Don Starr, who is the author of updates for RS,whistler , and originally GRE. That is why the Pro 18 never got the Phase 2 update, even tho the Pro 18 was basically the same as the 800, and 668.

My understanding is that Don Starr does work for Whistler and not RadioShack. He is the author of the code, but he does not have liberty of releasing code without the consent of Whistler. The way RadioShack gets updates is to go through Whistler to get their updates. If Whistler is okay with it, they then contact Don to produce and release the updates.

At this point, I imagine that there will be a large amount of negotiations on the price of this update. If Whistler is alright with releasing their exclusive update, RadioShack will almost definitely need to pay for it.

 

[seth21w]

Whistler fan boys should return to the whistler section! This is for people willing to email radioshack in regards to dmr update for the pro668.

 

[MarkWestin]

I do not own any of these Radio Shack, GRE, or Whistler models, but If I were "Whistler", I wouldn't release any of these first versions to Radio Shack. By waiting until a "Final" version is ready, which would hopefully have most or all of the bugs fixed and the advertised features all working, Whistler could save a lot of time and effort as opposed to what basically would would be parallel development, which would lead to more releases.

Mark

 

[buddrousa]

Well Whistler agreed to make these scanners for Radio Shack. If Radio Shack ask for it the firmware upgrade (a fee may be involved) then the upgrade should be released to Radio Shack for them to distribute how they see fit.