GRE PSR 800 Pre Release Thread

[msradell]

Operating question

Don or anyone else with the correct information.

I've got a couple of questions regarding the upcoming PSR 800 that are very specific to my situation because I am handicapped. I've been using scanners for a long time while I was a volunteer firefighter and after that to keep track of their local operations. Unfortunately where I live in Louisville Kentucky has recently converted to a digital P25 system that I cannot monitor with my present scanners. Hopefully if our budget allows (SS disability payments are not that large) I will be purchasing an 800 so I can continue monitoring.

The problem is I have very limited use of my arms (I'm a functional paraplegic) so pushing the buttons to make changes in monitored agencies would be very difficult if not impossible. Will I be able to select what agencies I want to monitor from the computer link via software? I have complete control of my computer using speech recognition so this would solve my problem. I know this can be done with the 500's and 600's via some of the third party software in hopefully I will be able to do it for the 800 since it's going to be easier to program and use.

Also I want to express my thanks to GRE for continuing to improve scanners and with the introduction of this unit hopefully introducing scanning to the next generation.

 

[n4yek]

That can't be correct. You need it for conventional P25.

You need it?
My 396T doesn't have NAC and I monitor P25 conventional comms all the time.
I hope you're correct about it being a misprint.

 

[DonS]

http://www.greamerica.com/download/specs/PSR-800.pdf
No NAC, bummer.

It handles NAC on P25 conventional channels.

And, along the lines of "CTCSS / DCS / NAC" ... there's an "exclude" setting for conventional channels, where it will search for any CTCSS / DCS / NAC except the one that's programmed for the channel. It won't mix modes, though. That is, if you set it for "CTCSS exclude 179.9", it will force analog mode and unmute on any analog transmission that doesn't have CTCSS 179.9, showing the actual CTCSS decoded (if any).

EDIT: The above "exclude" function is only available if you use the included PC software. It's not available from the scanner's UI.

 

[rdale]

Thanks.

 

[DonS]

• "Playback" menu with some versatility (play single, play from here, delete single, delete all, delete older, delete newer)

A method to speed up or slow down the audio would be helpful. What is the file type of the audio recording?

There are no "speed up" or "slow down" functions, but there is a +/- 5 second skip. The recordings are stored as .AU files, with "type 1" encoding (8-bit G.711 µ-law).

• "CCDump" output can be logged to the microSD Card (up to 256MB of 'text' - at least a couple of days' worth)

Great for travel catch of new or troublesome systems. Will this work on LTR standard systems and CTCSS/DCS as well?

It dumps all of the supported trunking formats, plus data decoded from P25 CAI voice channels.

• "Alarm clock" function - powers up at a specified time each day in a specified mode (scan, monitor single object, weather)
• Clock/calendar when attached to external power and "powered off"

Is there a time/date stamp on the recordings? I see you can flag TGID and Conventional for recording. How about an RID? I'd love to just be able to record the individual radio on a trunked system.

Every recording is date/time stamped, with embedded data indicating object alpha tag, frequency, TGID, RadioID, etc. The embedded data is used by the included PC software to create more meaningful directory and file names if/when you use that software to copy the files to the PC.

You can flag RadioID objects as "record", but that won't limit recording on group calls to just those involving that RadioID. If a group TGRP object is set to record, all calls on that TGID recorded; if a private TGRP object is set to record, all individual calls involving that RadioID are recorded.

• Some display elements configurable: TGID number and RadioID (trunking and P25 conv), site name, VC/CC freqs

Configurable as in HEX or Decimal, and AFS (For EDACS) or something different?

"Something different": whether or not those items are displayed at all is configurable. This was meant to address complaints about some flashing display items on the PSR-500 (e.g. system name, TGID, etc.). For example, I have mine set to show Trunked RadioID, Site, and CONV RadioID. I don't show CC/VC freqs or TGIDs (trunked or conventional).

Has the NAC display changed at all?

No. It's essentially the same as the PSR-500.

 

[DonS]

This is great news. No more need to remove the SD card then. Audio file retrieval with this method will also make it much easier.

You don't need to remove the card, but for some operations, putting the card in a dedicated "reader" might be much faster. For example, if I'm copying several thousand audio files to the PC, I usually put the card into my laptop's built-in SD slot.

 

[DaveIN]

Thanks for the update Don.

 

[Highpockets]

That page was just created a four days ago and nobody but me has touched it since I announced its presence two days ago. It needs someone knowledgeable to fill it out.

C'mon, folks. The Wiki is a user-supported resource. It's up to the users to make it worthwhile. If you need help editing in the Wiki, check the help pages or give me a holler.

I started, I just hope the info is correct.

 

[n4jri]

It handles NAC on P25 conventional channels.

And, along the lines of "CTCSS / DCS / NAC" ... there's an "exclude" setting for conventional channels, where it will search for any CTCSS / DCS / NAC except the one that's programmed for the channel. It won't mix modes, though. That is, if you set it for "CTCSS exclude 179.9", it will force analog mode and unmute on any analog transmission that doesn't have CTCSS 179.9, showing the actual CTCSS decoded (if any).

EDIT: The above "exclude" function is only available if you use the included PC software. It's not available from the scanner's UI.

Excellent. There was a lot of clamoring for this feature in the early days of the 500/600. Another request that GRE has listened to! The recording capacity is nice, too. While I don't see it as a 500 replacement, I can see this as being an incredible companion to it.

Thanks for keeping that info coming, Don.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[K4IHS]

At the rate these P25 systems are going encrypted... I hope they don't forget to include the NOAA weather channels so the folks that buy these new scanners have at least something to listen to... :-(

 

[rdale]

NOAA channels are in every scanner that ever existed, and if you check the Wiki or specs page you will see they are listed here too.

 

[Concrete1]

NOAA channels are in every scanner that ever existed,....

They weren't in any of these ..



Memorex MSB1003 Scannocular

TeamStore - Sportstronics NASCAR Proscan 100 Scanner & Headset Combo Pack

 

[K4IHS]

I have 2 low band scanners still running great. I use them to listen to low band skip. They don't pick up NOAA weather stations. I must have got cheated. Damn things says SCANNER right on the front of the case. Maybe rdale has some sort of mods he'd like to pass along...

 

[Billknn]

NOAA Chans

I must have gotten cheated, too. I don't seem to recall the NOAA channels preprogrammed on any of my Regency(s), Tennelec, Patrolman(s), nor for that matter my Pro-2004 and Pro-2006 - unless of course I programmed them in. Then again, I'm old and forgetfull.

I knew I should have read the manuals!

 

[K2KOH]

NOAA channels are in every scanner that ever existed, and if you check the Wiki or specs page you will see they are listed here too.

Ummmmm...I don't think so... :lol:

 

[rdale]

Ummmmm...I don't think so... :lol:

Sorry, the PSR-800 really does receive the NOAA frequencies. It even has alert modes. Really.

You can check the Wiki or check the brochure posted at GRE. I'm surprised this topic is getting so much attention, it's really a no-brainer.

 

[RadioDaze]

rdale, I'll bet if you knew this was going to happen, you probably would have changed "NOAA channels are *in* every scanner that ever existed" to "NOAA channels are *capable of being received by* every scanner that ever existed."

 

[Concrete1]

rdale, I'll bet if you knew this was going to happen, you probably would have changed "NOAA channels are *in* every scanner that ever existed" to "NOAA channels are *capable of being received by* every scanner that ever existed."

.. Wouldn't help ..
They weren't "capable of being received" by this scanner either:


TeamStore - Sportstronics NASCAR Proscan 100 Scanner & Headset Combo Pack

Even the current GRE built Pro-444 Radio Shack scanner is Not Capable of receiving a NOAA weather broadcast at all..

RS Pro-444

There have actually been some programmable scanners produced over the years that did not pick up VHF hi / 162Mhz range.....

 

[rdale]

There have actually been some programmable scanners produced over the years that did not pick up VHF hi / 162Mhz range.....

Seriously - I don't understand the confusion... The PSR-800 can get the weather channels in. End of story. I really don't understand how people can make an argument out of this. It can hear them.

 

[Citywide173]

.. Wouldn't help ..
Even the current GRE built Pro-444 Radio Shack scanner is Not Capable of receiving a NOAA weather broadcast at all..

RS Pro-444

Did they move NOAA?

From the "Tech Specs" on the above page:

Frequency Coverage 25-1300MHz