Good to see that this has deteriorated into another GRE vs. Uniden thread :roll:
Marshall KE4ZNR
Marshall KE4ZNR
iSCAN Pre-Release Discussion Thread
- Thread starter DonS
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Tom_G
Member
I was hoping GRE would focus on a real remote head mobile scanner.
I think there is still a lot of market for that.
I think there is still a lot of market for that.
Hey guys, just thought that I would let you know that the the radio finally showed up in the system today. List price is 229.99. Was not sure if this was posted elsewhere. Sorry if it is already.
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Interesting, RadioShack web and answer desk have no knowledge that it even exists. At $229 it may not sell as well as hoped for the targeted beginner crowd. I can see most of them looking for the PRO-404 or PRO-164 and having the local shack load the memory. As I recall the PRO-164 was the Black Friday special for $150 last year.
It's in the POS system as of yesterday. Looks like only 2 stores in my district will be getting it to start with.
Keep us posted. Let us know if you actually get to play with one. 
eorange
♦RF Enabled Member♦
I'm sorry, but I cannot resist:
Let's hope the scanner isn't one!
DonS
Member
That works if the PRO-164 actually gets programmed correctly at the store (the store likely won't have up-to-date RR data), what you want to monitor isn't a "rebanded Motorola system" (AFAIK, the in-store programming software doesn't handle that correctly for a PRO-164), and if you don't care about the programmed data becoming obsolete (kind of ties into the first point).
The PRO-164 has a list price of $199. For another $30, you get:
* programming / power supply cable
* the entire USA RR DB in the scanner
* periodic (I would "guess" somewhere between weekly and bi-monthly) updates to the DB
* essentially unlimited storage of systems, sites, talkgroups, channels
I agree about the rebanding programming Don, but if the sales person at the store is really programming the radio, someone has to be technically savvy enough to know how to use the USB cable, connect to the radio, and use the program. Not all of the RadioShack salespeople are this experenced, but I am finding more of them are technically inclined (maybe due to the current job situation). More and more of the people that work at RadioShack are now aware of Radioreference and can at least use a search engine to find the information.
Having the entire RRDB is a great feature for the that tech minded salesperson at the store who can program the PRO-164, but not for the first time user that this iScan radio is supposedly designed for, but I do hope it's successful. If the user can navigate to the database entry they want to hear and select it, it will work just like a media player. If they can't find there local fire or police department in the database, or follow the instructions to find it, then it's not going to work. There will be frustration, and the radios going to get returned to the store, or I suspect that it's going to be too hard for that target user to figure out without some extensive coaching. At least the preset search bands are still included if they can't get the database navigation figured out right away.
I also have a concern that if the database updates are going to be available and in control via Radioreference. If so, then great, but if it ends up controlled from RadioShack I foresee a a red flag problem, just because of the amount of time it takes for them just to release a firmware update. Do you know how the updates will be controlled?
RadioDaze
Member
I wonder if this thing will be available chainwide in time for the Friends & Family coupon? For 30% off, I'll bet many of us would take a chance with it. I certainly would.
BTW, was the F&F typically applied to one item only, or the whole purchase? (I've never used one before.)
BTW, was the F&F typically applied to one item only, or the whole purchase? (I've never used one before.)
The F&F is normally good on the ticket with exceptions. Like iPODs or laptops, lcd TV and prepaid mins.
30% RS branded and 10% name brand.
I am checking the system everyday to see if they hit the distibution centers. I'll post on here when I see them.
30% RS branded and 10% name brand.
I am checking the system everyday to see if they hit the distibution centers. I'll post on here when I see them.
RadioDaze
Member
Well, I might buy one and a '106 as well. That'll probably be the most I ever spent at RS on one ticket. Hopefully one of my purchase items will be on sale at the same time as F&F, or w/in 30 days.
cpuerror
Member
It might look a bit better in real life but from the pics its a really chinky looking scanner.I would really like to echo PeterGV's comment about hiring an industrial designer rather then getting the kid down the street to design a scanner after seeing a picture of one in a comic book.
Thanks to the success of Apple, companies think they can just slap an "i" in front of any crummy product and people will buy it.
Thanks to the success of Apple, companies think they can just slap an "i" in front of any crummy product and people will buy it.
RadioDaze
Member
Definitely a missed opportunity as far as aesthetics goes. Very generic, retro RS look.
Michael-SATX
Member
Don, so which model is this "other radio " that fits nicely in your pocket ? The smaller Pro-99 ?
As for the Pro-164 going for $149 on Black Friday, better yet how about for only $99 the week before Christmas last year)
So the Pro-107 being $229 in our POS, I am thinking the Pro-164 might get a little cheaper or go discontinued say early in 2010 ?
It will all be interesting to see just how low the Pro-107 might go on sale for before Christmas ...( remember the Pro-106 @ $299)
As for the Pro-164 going for $149 on Black Friday, better yet how about for only $99 the week before Christmas last year
)So the Pro-107 being $229 in our POS, I am thinking the Pro-164 might get a little cheaper or go discontinued say early in 2010 ?
It will all be interesting to see just how low the Pro-107 might go on sale for before Christmas ...( remember the Pro-106 @ $299
)
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Not to.....well hate on ya Don but RR doesn't always have the most current information either and never will or won't until people start posting it. I know for a fact the info in some places of AZ(which are non P25 where this scanner will operate) are wrong, the exception is here people can buy SWFD and get the info yet some of it never makes it to RR.
Don, so which model is this "other radio " that fits nicely in your pocket ? The smaller Pro-99 ?
As for the Pro-164 going for $149 on Black Friday, better yet how about for only $99 the week before Christmas last year
So the Pro-107 being $229 in our POS, I am thinking the Pro-164 might get a little cheaper or go discontinued say early in 2010 ?
It will all be interesting to see just how low the Pro-107 might go on sale for before Christmas ...( remember the Pro-106 @ $299
Michael, if you read a little closer you'll see that he has been working with a new radio that fits in his shirt pocket, something that starts with an i maybe?
Some of us are hoping the 107 will be this years Black Friday special.
OT: The 164 was on sale last year (2008) for Black Friday for $149, are you saying it was at $99? Was that an in store special or something? That was the ad I saw anyway.
The database is only as good as the information given, so it's going to be the best available. Much better than a CDROM used to be. But your right, if the new user taps in their local area and the database doesn't include the analog system they need, then they will return to the store unless they can figure out how to use the search for a control channel and then program the TSYS and wildcard. Not likly for a new user, IMHO.
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