Gre psr 800

[c5corvette]

For a scanner (PSR-800), according to someone here on RR, that a chimp can program, it's not true. To manually enter frequencies into a newer digital, P-25 scanner will incur loss of hair If you are looking for something that you can understand (using programming software), I suggest the GRE PSR-500. It comes with everything but the software. For software, I prefer Win500. You can download a thirty day free trial at: www.starrsoft.com
The other I would suggest is PSREdit500 at : www.psredit.com
The 500 will give you all the coverage for your area.
Another scanner, the Uniden BCD396XT, should work for you too.
FreeScan, at: www.sixspotsoftware/download wiil get you up and running on the 396XT.
HTH,
Larry

ROTFLMAO... if someone can't figure out PSR-800, what makes you think they would ever figure out PSR-500 or Win500 / 396XT or Freescan?

I own the 500 and 396, but also own the 800 and the HP-1 (among others.) I admit the 800 is somewhat tricky unless you know what you are doing or you stick with on screen programming and forego the software. I'd say (if you dont need the 800's TDMA X-2 capablity) go with the HP-1 for the easiest to use.

 

[N8IAA]

ROTFLMAO... if someone can't figure out PSR-800, what makes you think they would ever figure out PSR-500 or Win500 / 396XT or Freescan?

I own the 500 and 396, but also own the 800 and the HP-1 (among others.) I admit the 800 is somewhat tricky unless you know what you are doing or you stick with on screen programming and forego the software. I'd say (if you dont need the 800's TDMA X-2 capablity) go with the HP-1 for the easiest to use.

Trust me, I like my 800. It truly is a different scanner. There is a lot that it can do. The software doesn't scare me, it's just really time consuming. It just doesn't lend itself to be my type of mobile scanner If I had the money to get a HP-1 (E), it would be in my scanner collection as a replacement mobile for my 396. I just can't justify $500+ to get it to what it should have been in the first place. Remember, it was just a suggestion to the OP.
Larry

 

[hiegtx]

For a scanner (PSR-800), according to someone here on RR, that a chimp can program, it's not true. To manually enter frequencies into a newer digital, P-25 scanner will incur loss of hair If you are looking for something that you can understand (using programming software), I suggest the GRE PSR-500. It comes with everything but the software. For software, I prefer Win500. You can download a thirty day free trial at: www.starrsoft.com
The other I would suggest is PSREdit500 at : www.psredit.com
The 500 will give you all the coverage for your area.
Another scanner, the Uniden BCD396XT, should work for you too.
FreeScan, at: www.sixspotsoftware/download wiil get you up and running on the 396XT.
HTH,
Larry

Either PSR-500 or the BCD396XT would easily cover what you need in the Gainesville area. These are both handheld scanners. If you are looking for a base/mobile scanner instead, the corresponding models are PSR-600 & BCD996T. In general, I lean toward the handhelds, as you can take that with you, from room to room, or in a vehicle. Plus, as long as you have batteries (the 396XT & PSR-500 use AA size; I use rechargeable), the scanner will keep working in case of power failure.

The BCD396XT is more expensive than the PSR-500. However, it comes with everything you need (except software), and does include a set of rechargeable batteries. The 500 comes with everything except batteries (and software). FreeScan, which, as the name implies, can be downloaded & used for free, will handle all of your programming needs on the 396XT. For the PSR-500, Win500 is probably the most popular, and there is an online guide for it. PSREdit500 has in-program help screens. FreeScan's user guide is in the Wiki here on RadioReference.

There is a learning curve to programming both of these scanners, but see below.

We sent this radio back and are now shopping for a truly, user-friendly, digital, handheld scanner. Open to all suggestions.

Thanks!

Besides the two scanners Larry mentioned above, the other scanner I would suggest is Uniden's Home Patrol-1. I've found mine to be surprisingly sensitive, more-so than I expected. I've been able to receive Rockwall's EDACS system on the HP-1, whereas I was not hearing it on the other scanners, even when using an external antenna.

The HP-1 is not really a 'handheld' scanner, in that it does not come with a belt clip for portable use. It's about the size of a small, portable cassette player. It comes with batteries, ac adapter, a dc adapter (for in-vehicle use; a windshield mount is available separately), a small stand, a USB cable for connecting to the pc, and the driver/software cd. You install the Sentinel software (included) on your pc first, then check for database updates. Once that's installed, you'll send the updated info to the scanner. The scanner is programmed by entering your location by city name, or zip code, entering the range desired, and choosing the types of systems you'd like to hear. The scanner does the rest. The one caveat I found is with the range. The programming for the scanner takes into account the range setting you choose (the default is 10 miles), and if your range setting overlaps the range listed in the database for that system (conventional or trunked), it will be loaded and scanned. I found that to be too low, for some of the systems that I am able to hear, so I manually edited my default Favorites list to add those systems.

For any of the scanners listed here- Home Patrol-1, BCD396XT, PSR-500 (or the base/mobile equivalents of the 396XT or PSR-500), I can create a programming file to get you up & scanning. Then, you can look over the file, in the corresponding software, to see how what's in the database here looks when entered into the programming. I use FreeScan for my 396XT, and primarily Win500 for the PSR-500 (I also have PSREdit500). For the Home Patrol-1, the included software is all you need, and comes with the scanner. For what you are intending to do, I doubt you would be interested in the Extreme Upgrade; the standard version is all you need.

 

[collhell]

So what I'm understanding (but apparently did NOT understand before) is the 800 was pre-programmed WITH any software we needed, yet were unable to comprehend how to use it to set up scanlists. But the others you mentioned will require us to purchase the software separately, then program it???

I think I'll be bald for sure, before we are through.

 

[N8IAA]

So what I'm understanding (but apparently did NOT understand before) is the 800 was pre-programmed WITH any software we needed, yet were unable to comprehend how to use it to set up scanlists. But the others you mentioned will require us to purchase the software separately, then program it???

I think I'll be bald for sure, before we are through.

The 800 comes with a cd to get the pdf manual, AND the EZScan software on the pc That is what I use for my 800. There is no other programming software for the 800. Just for the other scanners.
Larry

 

[hiegtx]

So what I'm understanding (but apparently did NOT understand before) is the 800 was pre-programmed WITH any software we needed, yet were unable to comprehend how to use it to set up scanlists. But the others you mentioned will require us to purchase the software separately, then program it???

I think I'll be bald for sure, before we are through.

From what I understand (again, I don't have that scanner), it may be better to use the on-scanner menu to pick your channels & systems. (reference c5corvette's comments above:

I own the 500 and 396, but also own the 800 and the HP-1 (among others.) I admit the 800 is somewhat tricky unless you know what you are doing or you stick with on screen programming and forego the software. I'd say (if you dont need the 800's TDMA X-2 capablity) go with the HP-1 for the easiest to use.

For the BCD396XT, there is freeware software available (FreeScan) that will handle all of your programming needs. The scanner can also be programmed by hand (no software), but using the pc and software is much quicker, and easier to grasp than navigating through several on-scanner menu screens. Plus, you're seeing just about all of the needed information at one time, making it much simpler to spot simple errors and omissions in the data entry.

For the PSR-500, software is an extra cost item. The same comments above about programming via software versus by hand apply here as well.

The Home Patrol-1 comes with software, which is required to download & install database updates. (Weekly updates are provided; that's part of the scanner's features. Database updates are also included with the PSR-800.) Once you've downloaded latest database update, and uploaded it to the HP-1 (only a couple of mouse clicks for each), then use the touch screen menu to select the service types you want, and enter your zip code. See the Home Patrol page and click on "View Demo" for a short video. You can use the Sentinel software (which is what Uniden calls it) to further tweak your list, or add systems. That's what I have done, but the scanner will work without that. I would suggest a better antenna than the stock (included) antenna, but you can consider that later. I purchased one of these for use out of the metro area, where Vhf-high predominates, as it does in your area. For use in the DFW area, with the 800MHz trunked systems, I'm using the Radio Shack 800MHz antenna. That requires a couple of adapters, but works just fine. To use the SRH789 antenna, without an adapter, get the SMA version rather than the BNC.