I disagree. While the PSR800 is a very good scanner the main features that make it so good are the Phase II audio processing, scan lists, and scan sets. It does have a very hot receiver, which I like. I don't think any of that is particularly patentable, but certainly the software may be copyrighted.
There are things I like about the PSR800 enough that if it were still in production I'd likely by one. I think scan sets and scan lists beat systems and start up keys as used in the DMA scanners. The display is OK, but Uniden's displays are better in the XT scanners. The keys on the PSR800 are just OK. At least they corrected the horrible taper in PSR600 and it's clone the Pro 197.
Since I don't much care about the aesthetics, I won't comment on the Plain Jane appearance of the PSR800. Others seem to care a lot more about that, so they can.
I do wish that the the PSR900 had made it to production. In addition to what I like about the PSR800, the idea of a detachable control head is great, since it saves space when it comes to installation. Uniden missed the boat with their RH96 control head.
The EZScan software is false advertising. EZScan is a PITA to use and even once you figure out the menu navigation it's not intuitive or friendly.
One thing I like about the DMA scanners is that when you step through the memories in a trunked system you can see the frequencies as well. That's good for trouble shooting a system as I had to do with both Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Unfortunately with the PSR 800, I have to load a multi site system several times to find the best site for my location. That's not horrible, but if I could do it from the scanner as with the XT scanners it would be easier. I can't comment on the HP-1 as I don't have one and don't expect to own one.
So, while the PSR 800 is a much better scanner than I expected it to be, it's not the best scanner EVAH!
Too bad. There is no doubt in my mind that the PSR-800 is the best consumer grad scanner ever made.
IT "hears" a whole lot better than any Uniden scanner I have ever had (although the 796D is close) and the only scanner where a GPS is useful is the HP-1. Sadly, it has horrible ears. I did the same trip from NY to PA with both radios. The HP heard almost nothing aside from NJSP, and even that did not come in all that great. All I had to do with the 800 is "set location" with a city in the general area and I got tons of reception.
Uniden should just pay for the license and manufacture the 800. It will achieve the same kind of legendary status as the PRO-2006.
