GRE PSR 800 Pre Release Thread

[DaveIN]

Hi scannerfreak, I'll put it this way. I do not intend to use the supplied antenna for the PSR800 and would have even preferred it was replaced with another antenna such as the standard GRE P/N: 100-003 or not even supply an antenna and reduce the cost of the radio to the end user. The current antenna looks exactly like the one supplied with PSR700, which I would not choose to use at all for monitoring in my location. If others choose to use the supplied antenna that's great, but I think they will be missing some of the action. After all, if the best radio is the one you carry around with you, then the supplied antenna should be just as good as the radio.[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[krokus]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.973 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I use the 800MHz antenna on my PSR-500, most of the time, at the cost of losing some VHF sensitivity.

My main point was that the included antenna should as reasonably broadband as possible. The antenna that comes with the PSR-500 seems like a reasonable compromise.

 

[troymail]

Hi scannerfreak, I'll put it this way. I do not intend to use the supplied antenna for the PSR800 and would have even preferred it was replaced with another antenna such as the standard GRE P/N: 100-003 or not even supply an antenna and reduce the cost of the radio to the end user. The current antenna looks exactly like the one supplied with PSR700, which I would not choose to use at all for monitoring in my location. If others choose to use the supplied antenna that's great, but I think they will be missing some of the action. After all, if the best radio is the one you carry around with you, then the supplied antenna should be just as good as the radio.

Radios like this have a very wide range (obviously) so for the typical user, the antenna should be able to handle - at least to some degree - that same range.

Besides that -- for those of us who listen mostly to 700/800Mhz - and know how well that RS800 Mhz antenna works over the stock antenna -- the vendors certainly consider us the "after-market" customers (read: more moola).

Just my thought.

I need another RS800 Mhz antenna (or something better if someone knows of one). I'm constantly moving that antenna between radios.

Last night (ok, this morning at 0300) I was trying to listen to the new Baltimore City P25 system -- it's a pretty weak signal from my location. The stock PSR-500 antenna could barely pick the CC up and I was getting 2-3 bars -- I put the RS800 on the radio and watch the bars go to a solid 5... However, I also know when I do this, lower end frequencies will of course suffer (luckily I listen to almost no VHF activity in my home area -- and almost no UHF either). Of course, that's my usage -- others will be different.

 

[Tom_G]

The stock antenna's hear equally poor on all bands....:wink:

 

[krokus]

...

I need another RS800 Mhz antenna (or something better if someone knows of one). I'm constantly moving that antenna between radios.

...

If you still have an outdoor TV antenna, use that. If you do, and have a pre-amp on the antenna, just be sure not to overload the front-end of the scanner.

Edit: I thought I could delete this, but I guess not. It's fixed now, so an Admin can feel free to nuke one of them.

 

[krokus]

...

I need another RS800 Mhz antenna (or something better if someone knows of one). I'm constantly moving that antenna between radios.

...

If you still have an outdoor TV antenna, use that. If you do, and have a pre-amp on the antenna, just be sure not to overload the front-end of the scanner.

 

[DonS]

Hit the FCC this morning...

PSR-800

PRO-18

 

[rdale]

Nice! Direct link to the manual https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/eas/GetApplicationAttachment.html?id=1410867

 

[RadioDaze]

Holy @%#&! Look at Radio Shack's version. Now THAT'S a different approach to the control panel. Can't wait to hear from the peanut gallery on that. Could be an advantage for one-thumb operation, especially if you can remember which steps take you to the function or list you want. Still, kinda bizarre-looking...

 

[KC5EIB]

Holy @%#&! Look at Radio Shack's version. Now THAT'S a different approach to the control panel. Can't wait to hear from the peanut gallery on that. Could be an advantage for one-thumb operation, especially if you can remember which steps take you to the function or list you want. Still, kinda bizarre-looking...

Same config as the Pro-107 which has been out for some time. Have not heard of any issues with that setup

 

[msradell]

I think their setup for using AC Power is kind of funky to say the least. I wonder why they did put a true power port in this unit? Is this how the 700 is also configured?

 

[DaveIN]

Hit the FCC this morning...

PSR-800

PRO-18

So a GRE version and RadioShack version at the same release time?

 

[DaveIN]

I think their setup for using AC Power is kind of funky to say the least. I wonder why they did put a true power port in this unit? Is this how the 700 is also configured?

No, the 700/107 uses the USB port for charging only, no option.

 

[DonS]

I think their setup for using AC Power is kind of funky to say the least. I wonder why they did put a true power port in this unit? Is this how the 700 is also configured?

It doesn't seem all that "funky" to me. Why have a separate jack and cable, when 5V / 500mA from USB is sufficient? It also makes it easier for the consumer to obtain power supplies - in case he doesn't already have several AC and cigar lighter USB adapters (I probably have 20 in my house and cars, from old and current cell phones, MP3 players, GPS devices, kids' video games, etc.).

The 700 also gets external power on the jack used by its "communications port" (though that port is not USB).

 

[DaveIN]

The 700 also gets external power on the jack used by its "communications port" (though that port is not USB).

I sit corrected. I guess it wasn't true USB, but the PSR800 by the manual description, is true USB.

 

[DaveIN]

Will the MicroSD cards be swappable between the two (800/18) models without functional database difference?

I'm also curious if a card from the 800 with audio recording files "play" on the Pro-18?

 

[DonS]

I sit corrected. I guess it wasn't true USB, but the PSR800 by the manual description, is true USB.

Correct. The 700/107 jack has a serial port and power. The interface cable contains a USB-serial converter, plugs into a USB-A jack, and sends power, Tx, and Rx to the scanner.

The 800/18 is "true USB", presenting CDC ("COM port") and MSD ("removable disk") devices. The 800/18 gets power from the host USB device, or from a USB-type AC or cigar lighter adapter.

 

[DonS]

Will the MicroSD cards be swappable between the two (800/18) models without functional database difference?

Yes, the cards can be swapped between the two models. The data file formats are identical.

I'm also curious if a card from the 800 with audio recording files "play" on the Pro-18?

No. Features that are not present in the PRO-18 (like recording / playback) won't be available just because you insert a card from a PSR-800.

 

[DaveIN]

Are there additional features on the PSR800 that are not available on the Pro-18 besides the recording feature?

 

[DonS]

Are there additional features on the PSR800 that are not available on the Pro-18 besides the recording feature?

Yes. These are the features that the PSR-800 has above the PRO-18:
* Recording / playback
* 200 scan lists (PRO-18 has 100 play lists)
* Tri-color alert LED
* Discriminator output
* V-Scanner II
* Scan Sets
* Clock display while "off" (and connected to external power)
* Auto power-on ("alarm clock")
* "Extra" audio alert tones (PRO-18 has the 7 from PSR-500; PSR-800 has 8 more)
* Power-on password