Pro-668: DMR Firmware - Answer from Radio Shack

[SCPD]

huh?

Try this:

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.

Call me an idiot,if you like,what exactly are you trying to show me?
I dont "get it".
I did solve my update problem though.I got a TRX-1.

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

Yesterday I talked to Rosa Nichols at the head office at Radio Shack and it's not looking good that Whistler will be releasing the digital Mobile Radio update for the Pro 668. Whistler has a bad taste in their mouth about the Radio Shack bankruptcy so you probably won't be seeing a DMR update anytime soon. She said the talks were not going well with the Manufacturer. She will call me back on Monday. I will be happy to relay to the group what she tells me.

 

[dkf435]

See no reason to support Radio Shack in further purchases since they have all earned a junk rating and think they need to return all their stock of radios back to Whistler as defective and no longer in a sellable condition for no support. Love how the radios turn to junk once they leave Whistler going to Radio Shack.

David

 

[zzdiesel]

I'm selling my CB Radio setup to be able to buy a DMR capable scanner and it damn sure won't be anything Radio Shack!

 

[SCPD]

Radio shack isn't even an electronics store anymore. All they are is a cell phone shop with workers that don't know their head from their rear ends when it comes to ANYTHING remotely related to electronics. Ask them about a product and how it works and I would almost bet my paycheck they say, I don't know, never used one. Ask them about a cell phone and they are all over it!! Sorry Radio Shack, but truth is, it's been a long time since they were a real electronics shop. JMHO. I won't even buy batteries there anymore!! It's a shame!! They might as well change their name to Cell Phone Shack. Would be more truthful! Not trying to be rude, but it's the way it is with the one down the street from me anyways. Not sure what others are experiencing. But I am about positive most would agree, the days of them being remotely close to an electronics shop are long gone!!!


I'm just a CB'er, what do I know???

 

[wbswetnam]

I'm selling my CB Radio setup to be able to buy a DMR capable scanner and it damn sure won't be anything Radio Shack!

Well, at present Radio Shack doesn't sell any DMR capable scanners anyway. But just for fun, go to a local Radio Shack store and ask "Do you sell any DMR capable digital scanners?" and wait for the deer-caught-in-headlights look from the sales associate.

 

[dkf435]

Well, at present Radio Shack doesn't sell any DMR capable scanners anyway. But just for fun, go to a local Radio Shack store and ask "Do you sell any DMR capable digital scanners?" and wait for the deer-caught-in-headlights look from the sales associate.

You would have to first explain what a scanner was to the salesman.

And then explain the different digital modes that are out there otherwise they would have no idea what you are talking about.

Radio Shack scanners ARE DEAD, they need to liquidate the rest of them as they are worthless, no tech support, no firmware support and no repairing of units by Whistler or Radio Shack because of unable and unwilling to repair.

For Whistler to be getting away with selling this garbage to Radio Shack and then not supporting it and forcing obsolescence is not something that should be allowed.

Next project we need to work on is how to turn a 668 into a Whistler radio and cram the new firmware into it.

David

 

[buddrousa]

So you think it is Whistlers fault? Did it ever come across your mind Radio Shack still might owe Whistler money? If some one owed you money would you do work for free?

 

[NC1]

So you think it is Whistlers fault? Did it ever come across your mind Radio Shack still might owe Whistler money? If some one owed you money would you do work for free?

In the final analysis, it's the customers who don't get the update from Whistler and take the loss, not RS or Whistler.

Whether RS owes money or not is irrelevant - Whistler manufactured the product and should stand by it. They had no problem updating their own device without further payment from the end user, but somehow they feel justified in denying the same courtesy because it wears a different label.

Looking at it from a consumer viewpoint, I would not be happy with Whistler, it's their baby when you get down to it.

 

[NC1]

I'm selling my CB Radio setup to be able to buy a DMR capable scanner and it damn sure won't be anything Radio Shack!

I would not be buying Whistler either. It seems they won't support their product if things get difficult. It is only a matter of time until they screw their own product buyers when they want to save money.

I don't know what I'm buying yet, but it won't be RS or Whistler at this point. Maybe this will get ironed out before I lay out the cash for a few new units. In the mean time I am in no hurry and technology will probably change again soon, making the used market a viable option for me.

 

[buddrousa]

In the final analysis, it's the customers who don't get the update from Whistler and take the loss, not RS or Whistler.

Whether RS owes money or not is irrelevant - Whistler manufactured the product and should stand by it. They had no problem updating their own device without further payment from the end user, but somehow they feel justified in denying the same courtesy because it wears a different label.

Looking at it from a consumer viewpoint, I would not be happy with Whistler, it's their baby when you get down to it.

Maybe the Radio Shack Whistler contract that states Whistler can not work on the RS products and that all updates go through RS not Whistler is why this is going to be this way. This just happens to be the same contract that Radio Shack had with GRE.

 

[wx5uif]

I agree. Contract could have stated just bug fixes or nothing at all. It isn't them not standing behind their product, they just aren't offering an update to a rebranded model.

My company is in a similar situation. We manufacture a product that we also sell to another company who labels it as theirs. Our product is far more advanced than the rebranded product. When we signed the contract, it stated that any product improvements and enhancements would not be available to the rebranded units, we would only provide bug fixes.

 

[NC1]

Maybe the Radio Shack Whistler contract that states Whistler can not work on the RS products and that all updates go through RS not Whistler is why this is going to be this way. This just happens to be the same contract that Radio Shack had with GRE.

This aspect has already been addressed, nobody has stated such a clause, so we know it does not apply.

 

[marcotor]

This aspect has already been addressed, nobody has stated such a clause, so we know it does not apply.

Since when is the lack of information, confirmation?

 

[AtlasFBG2]

I just cant seem to understand some of you guys.

You bought a scanner that says Radio Shack right on the front of it. On the back says custom manufactured for Radio Shack Corporation.

Yet you blame Whistler for not providing a dmr upgrade or repair service for a Radio Shack scanner.

At the time of your purchase you had the choice to buy a Radio Shack product or a Whistler product. You chose to buy the Radio Shack product most likely at the time that the company was in bankruptcy. You had to know there would be a chance there could be no support for the product. Yet you still bought it most likely at a third of the cost of the competitors product.

Just because the hardware is capable of supporting dmr does not mean that the company should give you a free upgrade. The Radio Shack scanner at time of purchase never mentioned dmr anywhere.

It is up to Radio Shack to provide upgrades or service for their scanners since they was custom manufactured for Radio Shack.

 

[NC1]

Since when is the lack of information, confirmation?

If that were the case, it would have been the premier excuse, and it would have been immediate. There have been enough exchanges with ample opportunity to confirm such a scenario - but no, so we can safely assume there is no clause barring any action.

If you are blocked from doing something, wouldn't that information be the first words out of your mouth when asked why?

Also, any contract can be ignored, amended, or modified if they both wanted the customer to receive the benefit. It is clear Whistler does not want to do it. It's not RS, they would like nothing more than to have it happen.

It does not take a genius to figure this one out, the facts logically bear themselves out.

As for me, I don't have a stake in it either way, so I am probably one of the most neutral in this. I just find it very interesting that people defend Whistler no matter what, and dream up plausible (yet unsubstantiated) scenarios where it is somehow possibly out of Wendy's hands to update a product they manufactured.

I'll say it again - there's nothing about the contract preventing them at all, or it would have been brought up many months ago. To do so now would be highly suspect and I don't think anybody would believe it at this point in time anyway. Furthermore, word from RS is that they were in negotiations but Whistler seemed unwilling to do anything.

I know where the problem is, and I think many others do too.

 

[wbswetnam]

My company is in a similar situation. We manufacture a product that we also sell to another company who labels it as theirs. Our product is far more advanced than the rebranded product. When we signed the contract, it stated that any product improvements and enhancements would not be available to the rebranded units, we would only provide bug fixes.

As I stated before, I have learned a valuable lesson from all of this: never buy a rebranded product. If I am interested in a certain product, I need to make sure of who the OEM is, and buy it from them. With reference to the Pro-668, I acknowledge that it is at least partly my fault for buying from a company that I know does not make its own products. I will not do so again (sorry, Radio Shack).

 

[marcotor]

I know where the problem is, and I think many others do too.

Again, I ask for the SOURCE of your information. I don't own 668's anymore, so I have no horse in the race either.

Merely making an ASSUMPTION based upon your self-induced "vast knowledge" without FACTS is not any more accurate than someone saying the sky is green based on what they "feel" that day.

You actually DON'T know the answer, and do a great disservice by spouting like you DO

 

[Swipesy]

As I stated before, I have learned a valuable lesson from all of this: never buy a rebranded product. If I am interested in a certain product, I need to make sure of who the OEM is, and buy it from them. With reference to the Pro-668, I acknowledge that it is at least partly my fault for buying from a company that I know does not make its own products. I will not do so again (sorry, Radio Shack).

Kinda like buying an OEM GRE PSR-800 instead of a RS PRO-668 right?

Fact - you pay your money and you take your chances. No real guarantees in the consumer product market.

 

[BigDogg795]

You would have to first explain what a scanner was to the salesman.

And then explain the different digital modes that are out there otherwise they would have no idea what you are talking about.

Radio Shack scanners ARE DEAD, they need to liquidate the rest of them as they are worthless, no tech support, no firmware support and no repairing of units by Whistler or Radio Shack because of unable and unwilling to repair.

For Whistler to be getting away with selling this garbage to Radio Shack and then not supporting it and forcing obsolescence is not something that should be allowed.

Next project we need to work on is how to turn a 668 into a Whistler radio and cram the new firmware into it.

David

Please, you'd have to get past the employee telling you how it's illegal to listen to police radio first.