My Trip To Scanner Master HQ

[MrQ]

I'm sure a lot of you are aware of the latest goings on with the Scanner Master frequency guide books but for those not up to date, here's what I found out on my trip to the HQ in Holliston, MA. on Aug 13, 2012 (on Hopping Brook Road off route 16).
First off, I highly suggest that anyone going to their store in Holliston do check out their scanner museum room. It's full of scanners from the 50s to modern times and it brought back fond memories of my first scanner (tunable - RS Pro-2) looking at one on the shelf, I had back in the early 60s. Presently, there are scanner programing services for most scanners and the ones sold in the store. Since most new scanners don't come with written programing instructions, this could be a valuable asset though the programing (at the store) is kinda pricey
Next, I was told that YDI in Needham supposedly still sells the last issue of the SM pocket manual book though I have not seen any on their shelves in the past month. Will SM still print a new edition (12th)? My answer was probably not and the 11th edition (2008) could be their last one . I bought one of the last two on the shelf (any more in stock?) at the original price.
Even the older SM CD version of the big book once sold is no longer available.
So the once "best of the best" scanner frequency directory book is now history. Even the news that the old CD version of it is no longer in existance is more sad news.
So now we all have to rely on Radio Reference and its knowledgable members to help out in answering our questions.

 

[N1GJB]

I'm sure its not cost effective to produce, especially considering all the recent changes with the narrowband mandate and 800 mhz rebanding over the last several years. There's nothing wrong with the RR Database. Its just a sign of the times, really...

 

[garys]

The only way a book like that could still work would be as Kindle or other eBook. Printing costs too much and information changes too quickly for print to be effective. A four year old scanner guide is of limited utility.

 

[cmpsa]

Don't feel bad. When I bought the 11th Edition book the day after it came out, I made 42 corrections just the 1st week along when I got it. FCC data changes on a weekly basis, as well as freqs, PL/DPL tones, and channel assignments. So keeping on-line records is much easier than printing a book every few years.

 

[Junior08]

The database here at Radioreference has more than enough information contained in it, with very good and up to date information in many states, especially Massachusetts. While not a database admin here, I am one at Scan New England and seeing as you are from Avon you should have more than you need for frequency information between these 2 sites. Like Gary says, a frequency booklet nowadays is pretty much a thing of the past, like a cassette tape or a vinyl album!

 

[Jimru]

The one thing the SM books have or, had) is that they are designed so well as to be able to very quickly flip through the book and find what you are looking for. I also have enjoyed all of the background material being in one place. Things like unit designations, ten-codes, etc.
Yes, Radio Reference is awesome and that is why I subscribe, but some things are just better in a book, to me, anyway.

 

[garys]

Most of what you are looking for is in the Wiki at Scan-ne.net. Much of what is in the Scanner Master books came from the same people who contribute to the Wiki. If you have a Smart Phone or any sort of connectivity to the Internet, you have that at your finger tips.

The one thing the SM books have or, had) is that they are designed so well as to be able to very quickly flip through the book and find what you are looking for. I also have enjoyed all of the background material being in one place. Things like unit designations, ten-codes, etc.
Yes, Radio Reference is awesome and that is why I subscribe, but some things are just better in a book, to me, anyway.

 

[Jimru]

True dat, Garys, but there is more to the ScannerMaster books than the info in them. It's the way they are organized, the feel of it.

A bit of nostalgia on my part, you say? No doubt. Are smart phones the future? Yep. Faster? Yep? More up-to-date? Sho' nuff, but none of that matters, in the same way a high end SDR is to a boat anchor, I suppose.

I love my iPhone and iPad, but I miss reaching for the books on the shelf sometimes, for sure. Betcha I ain't alone on that one, too.

 

[W1KNE]

The advantage to the book is this. You can throw it in the glove box. Travel to a town you don't normally visit, a quick glance, and you'll get a decent shot of getting the information. While some info has changed, not a lot has. And if you're like me, you have so many notes in the book of what has changed, its barely legible anymore. I liked the book but understand why it will be the last.

 

[MrQ]

The advantage to the book is this. You can throw it in the glove box. Travel to a town you don't normally visit, a quick glance, and you'll get a decent shot of getting the information. While some info has changed, not a lot has. And if you're like me, you have so many notes in the book of what has changed, its barely legible anymore. I liked the book but understand why it will be the last.

I agree. Not only is a pocket edition in my car, it goes in my pocket when hiking with the other shirt pocket holding my 2m walkie. You just never know when you'll need to look up a certain freq or service you don't normally listen to while resting up on a high hill top and enjoying the superb radio reception. It has saved me many times over the years.
True, a home reference source is great but can't take a computer device everywhere in the car - batteries and heat to worry about, etc. But a small book is perfect for those times away from home. And the book doesn't have to be completely up to date either. Chances are what I'm looking up has not changed in years, so I will miss my silent partner away from home when it finally wears out like the last one - no crashes, viruses, worms, trojans, etc, etc, - just a slow death that books enjoy.
Yea, I'm a nostalgic but why not enjoy the benifits of both worlds? Alas, books are a dieing breed now and soon when our awesome technology crashes, what do we do then?

 

[kennyblues]

One of the biggest losers from not publishing an updated book is the MSP Helo crews, they all used to carry one in their pockets.
I'll miss the books, I've been buying the Scannermaster books since 1978

 

[ecps92]

Did you run across the Movie being filmed right near-by ?
Rumor was they were using part of the lot or the near-by lot of SM

I'm sure a lot of you are aware of the latest goings on with the Scanner Master frequency guide books but for those not up to date, here's what I found out on my trip to the HQ in Holliston, MA. on Aug 13, 2012 (on Hopping Brook Road off route 16).
First off, I highly suggest that anyone going to their store in Holliston do check out their scanner museum room. It's full of scanners from the 50s to modern times and it brought back fond memories of my first scanner (tunable - RS Pro-2) looking at one on the shelf, I had back in the early 60s. Presently, there are scanner programing services for most scanners and the ones sold in the store. Since most new scanners don't come with written programing instructions, this could be a valuable asset though the programing (at the store) is kinda pricey
Next, I was told that YDI in Needham supposedly still sells the last issue of the SM pocket manual book though I have not seen any on their shelves in the past month. Will SM still print a new edition (12th)? My answer was probably not and the 11th edition (2008) could be their last one . I bought one of the last two on the shelf (any more in stock?) at the original price.
Even the older SM CD version of the big book once sold is no longer available.
So the once "best of the best" scanner frequency directory book is now history. Even the news that the old CD version of it is no longer in existance is more sad news.
So now we all have to rely on Radio Reference and its knowledgable members to help out in answering our questions.

 

[ecps92]

The Big Book was a treasure trove of history and knowledge.
Codes, Explaintations of how they Disp, Locations of Apparatus etc.

The advantage to the book is this. You can throw it in the glove box. Travel to a town you don't normally visit, a quick glance, and you'll get a decent shot of getting the information. While some info has changed, not a lot has. And if you're like me, you have so many notes in the book of what has changed, its barely legible anymore. I liked the book but understand why it will be the last.

 

[MrQ]

ecps92 - My route was 109 to 16, then west to Hopping Brook Road (the complex). Driving to the SM store, I didn't see any traffic except one trailer truck going to another business. The area was dead (11AM) and only a few cars in their lot (3 customers). There was no sign of any movie filming at the present time or recently.

What was/is the movie about?

 

[VE5JL]

The one thing the SM books have or, had) is that they are designed so well as to be able to very quickly flip through the book and find what you are looking for. I also have enjoyed all of the background material being in one place. Things like unit designations, ten-codes, etc.
Yes, Radio Reference is awesome and that is why I subscribe, but some things are just better in a book, to me, anyway.

You are so right. When I look back at all of the books and magazines I have I can't imagine them not being in print edition. I realize that times have changed but there is something to be said about the old school way of doing things. just think, when it all falls apart and there is no more internet, we will be back to -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . :lol:

I came across a few of my books I printed for Radio Shack Canada. The feel of the book brought back some good memories. I still have the very first copy of CQ magazine I bought that started it all (as far as ham was concerned) and that was December 1983.

 

[Jimru]

You are so right. When I look back at all of the books and magazines I have I can't imagine them not being in print edition. I realize that times have changed but there is something to be said about the old school way of doing things. just think, when it all falls apart and there is no more internet, we will be back to -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . :lol:

I came across a few of my books I printed for Radio Shack Canada. The feel of the book brought back some good memories. I still have the very first copy of CQ magazine I bought that started it all (as far as ham was concerned) and that was December 1983.

It really is more than nostalgia guys. I just don't enjoy reading the magazines off of the iPad in the same way I do an actual publication.

This is (ahem) especially true in the um, "reading room" as Archie Bunker used to refer to the bathroom. Sorry, but that is where I catch up on QST, CQ and Monitoring Times! Plus, on public transportation, reading a magazine is much easier than trying to do the same with a tablet, in my experience so far.

One way, of course that electronic media excels in this instance is, as has been stated, the immediacy of the information, as well as being able to click on links within an article or an ad.

Eventually, there will be a tablet that is the size of a magazine, yet very lightweight and with similar characteristics in terms of readability (not to mention long battery life!). So far, none of the manufacturers have quite gotten there. I know my iPad just doesn't do it for me.