keypad area wear / silk screen psr-800

[Ed_Seedhouse]

This is a well known problem with the early runs of the 800 and there are previous threads which cover it.
It was a problem with mine and I basically just rubbed most of it off with a soft cloth. Still bits of the old paint around the keys but it doesn't bother me (hardly noticeable) and I am too lazy to take the face plate off and finish the job.

I believe the new ones come with a shiny faceplate just like the old ones once the paint is taken off.

Definitely a booboo on GRE's part, but one that to me (your opinion may differ, and you are entitled to that) is no big deal.

 

[racin06]

I contacted GRE and they gave me the choice of either sending my 800 in to have the faceplate replaced or GRE sending me a faceplate for me to replace. I went with the latter. I just hope it's not to much of a pain to replace.

 

[jyams]

Save yourself the trouble of replacing your faceplate by getting an old t-shirt, some lighter fluid, and rub off the dull finish. You will find a nice shiny black ebony surface under the droll paint that looks much better than the original. I like it much better and the aesthetics of the scanner are much more classy. I purchased a used PSR-800 here on the classifieds. When I received it I noticed the surface was rubbing off around the buttons. At first I thought, oh no, I got a damaged scratched faceplate. But when trying to buff out the rubbed off places I found the shiny surface underneath and now I am much more pleased with my faceplate. The dull coating comes off easily with the lighter fluid (you don't need much). Buffs out nicely with the soft t-shirt cloth and bingo, a new scanner faceplate!! The lighter fluid also makes it easy to remove the old coating around the buttons. My 800 looks like it came new in the box as a shiny faceplate now. I would not replace mine with a new dull replacement even if GRE sent me one. Just my preference.

 

[Bob_61]

Save yourself the trouble of replacing your faceplate by getting an old t-shirt, some lighter fluid, and rub off the dull finish. You will find a nice shiny black ebony surface under the droll paint that looks much better than the original. I like it much better and the aesthetics of the scanner are much more classy. I purchased a used PSR-800 here on the classifieds. When I received it I noticed the surface was rubbing off around the buttons. At first I thought, oh no, I got a damaged scratched faceplate. But when trying to buff out the rubbed off places I found the shiny surface underneath and now I am much more pleased with my faceplate. The dull coating comes off easily with the lighter fluid (you don't need much). Buffs out nicely with the soft t-shirt cloth and bingo, a new scanner faceplate!! The lighter fluid also makes it easy to remove the old coating around the buttons. My 800 looks like it came new in the box as a shiny faceplate now. I would not replace mine with a new dull replacement even if GRE sent me one. Just my preference.

The replacement GRE sends out does not have the dull paint on it, It is nice and shiny like what you have seen after taking the dull paint off with lighter fluid.

 

[Bob_61]

I contacted GRE and they gave me the choice of either sending my 800 in to have the faceplate replaced or GRE sending me a faceplate for me to replace. I went with the latter. I just hope it's not to much of a pain to replace.

It is not to difficult, just take your time!

 

[zzdiesel]

My 004473 has this issue and this my 5th day, and I hate to separate from it to send it in.

 

[Tracker]

I just contacted them right mow......again

 

[Kel]

Got mine a couple of weeks ago and did the switch,it takes a little time and some patience.

 

[gvodvarka]

I have the same problem. 005652 1 month old. Gary

 

[Tracker]

I got mine last week, but I still haven't swapped it out........yet

 

[BoboPinky]

Well, 6 weeks old, and being VERY careful with mine, the finish around the vol key is failing. (why is not the vol control where the SQL knob is, and the SQL where the vol is???? bad idea GRE - but that is another issue?)

Anyway very unsatisfied with this. Contacted GRE just now, we'll see what happens.

 

[Tracker]

Well, 6 weeks old, and being VERY careful with mine, the finish around the vol key is failing. (why is not the vol control where the SQL knob is, and the SQL where the vol is???? bad idea GRE - but that is another issue?)

Anyway very unsatisfied with this. Contacted GRE just now, we'll see what happens.

I agree, they should've placed the volume control where the SQL knob is!
Once you set the squelch, you hardly touch it, yet the volume is something that one is constantly adjusting.............

 

[Tracker]

Contacted GRE just now, we'll see what happens.

Fyi, for some reason I had to send my request twice.......maybe cause it was round new year's n they were out, but justa heads up .........in case you don't hear back from them

 

[BoboPinky]

Fyi, for some reason I had to send my request twice.......maybe cause it was round new year's n they were out, but just heads up .........in case you don't hear back from them

Just now got off the phone with "John" at GRE. Very nice guy. We talked for a bit, just rag chew. He is studying for his tech (HAM) ticket. I wished him good luck (I'm an Extra), and told him I'd look for him "on the bands soon!"

Anyway, seems the drill is, you call, you give them info, and then they pass it onto their "RMA" department. The RMA dept will send you an email - I am waiting for this now.

My question, which John could not, but apparently the RMA dept can answer is, if I do the swap, what does it do to my warranty? I've only had my 800 for 6 weeks.

I think, IF they will send a new faceplate, and NOT require me to send back by current, I may try the "Goof Off" / lighter fluid trick, and keep the replacement "just in case".

I asked about the Vol vs. Sql thing. John said they are / were trying to get new people, young people into the hobby with this radio, and keeping the Vol control on the front panel was an attempt to get "MP3" users comfortable with the unit. I still say... give me a good old fashioned volume knob!!!!

 

[Tracker]

Just now got off the phone with "John" at GRE. Very nice guy. We talked for a bit, just rag chew. He is studying for his tech (HAM) ticket. I wished him good luck (I'm an Extra), and told him I'd look for him "on the bands soon!"

Anyway, seems the drill is, you call, you give them info, and then they pass it onto their "RMA" department. The RMA dept will send you an email - I am waiting for this now.

My question, which John could not, but apparently the RMA dept can answer is, if I do the swap, what does it do to my warranty? I've only had my 800 for 6 weeks.

I think, IF they will send a new faceplate, and NOT require me to send back by current, I may try the "Goof Off" / lighter fluid trick, and keep the replacement "just in case".

I asked about the Vol vs. Sql thing. John said they are / were trying to get new people, young people into the hobby with this radio, and keeping the Vol control on the front panel was an attempt to get "MP3" users comfortable with the unit. I still say... give me a good old fashioned volume knob!!!!

The RMA folks will ask if you feel comfortable doin the swap yourself, if not you can send it in..good question bout the warranty, but I'd imagine they'ed honor it.

 

[dan4279]

gre psr 800 scanner

having an issue with a 5 day old psr-800 and the area around the keys wearing.

almost like the black backing where its touched is wearing right off

serial # 002269 ...

anybody else having this problem? or similar?

iam haveing the same problerm with my radio but it sitll work

 

[Tracker]

It is only cosmetic.........go to GRE site n advice them......did you register your radio?

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

3 days into my PSR 800 and the silky film is also coming off the faceplate too. Serial # 004000 series.

I guess I will just take some lighter fluid and rub it away. Why not... Its not worth the hassle of GRE swapping out cases. But I will create a work order ticket to put them on notice. But overall else pretty happy. Just posting up on the forum. Great radio so far. Hopefully more firmware update in the future will fix other on-going issues. I think GRE should send all GRE 800 users that bought this scanner a set of high end batteries for our hassle with this battery HOG............................................

Just an idea.

 

[gvodvarka]

Boy do I agree about the batteries. I purchased 2100 mah and with the new battery level settings it works better. I sent for a new front case but I managed to rub the rest of the coating off and will install the new one when the old one gets pretty worn. As far as scanners go it works very well. I love the Search mode almost a much as being able to record. I found some very interesting stuff. There are a few things still missing but being able to use this group to suggest things makes it possible. Gary

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

Boy do I agree about the batteries. I purchased 2100 mah and with the new battery level settings it works better. I sent for a new front case but I managed to rub the rest of the coating off and will install the new one when the old one gets pretty worn. As far as scanners go it works very well. I love the Search mode almost a much as being able to record. I found some very interesting stuff. There are a few things still missing but being able to use this group to suggest things makes it possible. Gary

I agree there should of been more testing with the units before they released. The battery problem is a huge issue. I do like the GRE models and I also bought a GRE PSR 600 and love it. I also have the Uniden BCD 396XT and like it too. Easy to use and also the Uniden came with a nice antenna and a set of batteries and the unit fully charged gets 8 to 10 hours of easy use with no troubles and it holds 3 AA batteries. The GRE PSR 800 takes 4 AA batteries and its a HOG but o well the unit has good bells and whistles too. I have not tried the record feature yet, but sounds interesting.

I think I am going to take your advice and have GRE support ship me a new faceplate or a full case and store it for future use when the old one gets all beat-up and just use some lighter fluid with a que-tip and rub gently and have a spit shine on the top.