GRE... Please up the ante!

[aka_ramon]

Just in the off chance that SOMEbody from GRE/RS would read this:

I have a Pro96. I've had it since it was first came out. I love it.

I've had my BC396t for two weeks, and so far I like it a lot. It's not exactly love yet, but we're getting along very well.

The P25 decoding in the Pro96 is head-and-shoulders about that in the 396t.

The FEATURES in the 396t (close call, flexible memory usage, computer CONTROL) are head-and-shoulders above the features provided by the Pro96.

GRE, please: Bring us a product with all those neat features in the 396t, that has the same wonderful P25 decoding that the Pro96 has.

Up the ante -- I'll buy it when you release it...

 

[RyltnVFD]

I agree. The PRO-96 would be absolutely excellent if it were the size of the 396, and had LTR trunking, fire tone-out, and ability to recieve I-Calls/Private calls and emergency alerts. I was actually pretty disappointed in the 396's P25 reception and decoding.

 

[scanjunkie]

You can count me in on this too...I'm already saving my pennies for it and it doesn't even exist!

"Make it and they will buy!" (Hmmm, maybe I should use that line in a movie)

 

[Swipesy]

And turn on the backlight when the squelch is broken. Lack of this features is a major drawback on the Pro-96 especially when used in the car at night.

 

[Tom_G]

Yup

Good stuff, Don't make it to small though.
Size and audio quality go hand in hand.
I like the overall audio of the PRO-96 a lot. (and the PRO-97 for that matter)

You can put as many features in a radio as you like, but the bottom line for me is when I put it down on a table, or put it on my belt and walk outside, if I can't hear it clearly it doesn't do me much good.

 

[RyltnVFD]

I think the sound on the '396 is great. I really want to be able to fit a scanner in my front pants pocket comfortably.

 

[Voyager]

And turn on the backlight when the squelch is broken. Lack of this features is a major drawback on the Pro-96 especially when used in the car at night.

Just hold down the light button on the '96 until it beeps. The BL will be constantly on. It won't affect battery life much over a squelch operated light.

As for the decoding, I find the PRO-96 and BCD396T about the same on P25.

But above all else, IGNORE ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe M.

 

[Swipesy]

Just hold down the light button on the '96 until it beeps. The BL will be constantly on. It won't affect battery life much over a squelch operated light.

As for the decoding, I find the PRO-96 and BCD396T about the same on P25.

But above all else, IGNORE ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe M.

I know that Joe, but I like the Uniden feature better of going on and off automatically. I have enough always on lights already in the car cockpit, lol.

John

 

[n4voxgill]

I hope GRE does not make any changes in size or such. In fact don't do anything until rebanding is in place along with pure 700 mHz systems and then just make the changes to allow trunk tracking of both. Other than I don't want any changes in the Pro96.

 

[mikey60]

I would like to see better decoding/error correction in LSM/CQPSK systems. It may be the system to some extent, but I don't hear the system users complaining...

Mike

 

[John_M]

I too see no reason to make it smaller. Size doesn't matter to me that much. I see the price really hasn't come down too much since the release of the BCD396T.

 

[Voyager]

I hope GRE does not make any changes in size or such. In fact don't do anything until rebanding is in place along with pure 700 mHz systems and then just make the changes to allow trunk tracking of both. Other than I don't want any changes in the Pro96.

You don't want a more compact unit?

Not doing anything until rebanding is in place means it will be next spring before they write the firmware which means the new model would be almost a year out!

700 MHz systems are starting to come on the air. Several already are. The fact that these are 700/800 MHz systems should make no difference over 'pure' 700 MHz systems. The specs for the 700 MHz control channels are already being transmitted on MANY 800 MHz systems, so that info is already known and can be added today. The 396 already works on 700 MHz. This thread is about GRE uppin g the ante. That won't happen if they don't at least match Uniden's features.

Joe M.

 

[b52hbuff]

You don't want a more compact unit?

Not doing anything until rebanding is in place means it will be next spring before they write the firmware which means the new model would be almost a year out!

Joe M.

Well having been a loyal Pro-96 user, and now enjoying my 396....

The size of the Pro-96 makes it a 'car' scanner. The 396 is convenient enough to carry around. Oh, and if I'm just listening to local stuff, I don't need the _best_ radio. _Good enough_ suffices for listening to local traffic.

I would also like to see the Pro-96 successors get user upgradable firmware. People have complained about the time it took to repair the 396 silk screen print issue. Having to ship off a radio just to fix a bug is about as bad. Also, with the GRE, you really have to want to get the firmware updated during the warranty period. Since they charge you at least $50 to replace the CPU...

The Pro-9x also needs: multiple search ranges, I-calls, better memory management, LTR, Mil Air, user settable step sizes, American bandplan....