Official BC-RH96 Remote Head Pre-Release Thread

[bctrl1]

If it was possible I really think that Uniden would have put the feature on the radio. It can't be done so lets get past this.

Get past this? I feel this is a legitimate question that warrants some constructive discussion. Why should we just ignore it and move on?

If power control isn’t included in the final product, then the end user is required to add their own means of control. It would be nice if Uniden provided something to facilitate the addition of this control. Whether it be an additional add on board, external relay box, or simply a ‘turn on’ pigtail so that the end user could come up with something on their own.

Also, don’t be fooled. Just because a feature doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. This has all been done before.

 

[Dubbin]

Also, don’t be fooled. Just because a feature doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. This has all been done before.

Well considering they are going into production in a week or so I don't see them making any changes to it. That is why I said to move on. How about we don't say anymore until Paul has a chance to respond.

 

[bctrl1]

Well considering they are going into production in a week or so I don't see them making any changes to it. That is why I said to move on. How about we don't say anymore until Paul has a chance to respond.

This discussion is no different than the display color discussions. It has already been stated what the production color is, yet the comments continue. No different here. I think it is well understood that given the approaching production date changes are not going to happen. However, considering that this will likely be an issue for those who purchase the remote head simply moving on accomplishes nothing.

I too await Pauls response.

 

[hotdjdave]

I have a pass for the CES 2007, but no way to get to Vegas...oh well.:roll:


What I think is really funny is that even to this point, NO ONE at all wants red as the backlight color, but Uniden is still going to use red.

"Hmm, everyone is saying they DON'T want red, so let's use red as the color" - facetious statement.

How hard is it to put in different color LEDs? - rhetorical question.

 

[rescue161]

How hard is it to put in different color LEDs? - rhetorical question.

If I were to buy one, I would definitely change the color of the LEDs. I will probably pass on it since the whole idea of remote mounting a radio is to have access to the features of the radio while the bulk of it is somewhere else. I'd say the power (on/off) "feature" would be a feature that most people would want. I don't want to have to go to the trunk to turn a scanner off when the rest of the controls are right in front of me on the dash. Makes no sense to me.

 

[garys]

Well considering they are going into production in a week or so I don't see them making any changes to it. That is why I said to move on. How about we don't say anymore until Paul has a chance to respond.

Oh no, let's continue to complain. <G>

Although I'd prefer Green, I don't really care. I'm going to buy one of these remotes so I can use the 396 in my wife's car when we go somewhere and I can't take my truck. The power thing isn't that big a deal if you are using the control head for a portable. I don't think that many people are going to bury a portable in the trunk or under a seat. A BCT15 or 996T might be a different story, however.

I do like the idea of the pig tail to control a relay, but I don't know if that's on the feature list. Although I'd expect that Paul would say so if it were.

Gary

 

[John_M]

It doesn't seem like that big of deal to me either. Turn on 396t and turn on remote head. Digital scanner for both handheld use and mobile/home use. As far as the LED color as long as it isn't a deep red like the old Yamaha car stereos it "should" be ok. The price seems to be a little much though.

 

[rescue161]

My gripe is that I would not be using it with the 396. I always mount my radios out of the way (hard to get to) and mount the control heads within easy reach. The remote heads on every single radio that I've ever owned has always had a power switch at the head.

If I were using it with the 396, then yeah, that would be cool.

 

[Dubbin]

"Hmm, everyone is saying they DON'T want red, so let's use red as the color" - facetious statement.

Only everyone that replied I really don't care what color the display is just as long as it does the job that it was made to do. If the price is in the $200 range, I doubt that I'll get one anyway. Heck, for that much I would rather buy another radio.

 

[garys]

Only everyone that replied I really don't care what color the display is just as long as it does the job that it was made to do. If the price is in the $200 range, I doubt that I'll get one anyway. Heck, for that much I would rather buy another radio.

For some reason, Uniden describes the color choices on the 996T as Green or Red. In reality, the Red is what I would call Orange. The Green is what I would call... Green. <G>

IIRC from earlier posts the speculation is that the street price is going to be around $150.00-175.00. To me it's worth it to make the 396 usable in a vehicle. Far less of a pain than trying to move my 996T from vehicle to vehicle. I plan to make the RH96 removable so I can move it between a couple of different vehicles.

Then again, that's just me.

Gary

 

[K9GTJ]

FYI - there is an ignition accessory control wire on the pigtail of BCT15 and BCD996T so you can control when the scanner is on and off by just hooking it up correctly.

 

[garys]

FYI - there is an ignition accessory control wire on the pigtail of BCT15 and BCD996T so you can control when the scanner is on and off by just hooking it up correctly.

The third wire in that harness is ignition control of the display level, not power on or off. Unless I've missed something.

Gary

 

[K9GTJ]

The third wire in that harness is ignition control of the display level, not power on or off. Unless I've missed something.

Gary

Now that you say that, I think you are correct. Stupid me...

(As you can guess, I never hooked it up on my truck install.)

 

[garys]

Now that you say that, I think you are correct. Stupid me...

(As you can guess, I never hooked it up on my truck install.)

I did! <G> It's a nice feature, but remote power control with a matching pig tail in the RH would be nicer. Not a deal breaker, though. At least for me and I think that anyone with a bit of knowledge can figure out a way to control power remotely.

Gary

 

[bctrl1]

I did! <G> It's a nice feature, but remote power control with a matching pig tail in the RH would be nicer. Not a deal breaker, though. At least for me and I think that anyone with a bit of knowledge can figure out a way to control power remotely.

Gary

Yep, adding your own power control can be done easily, and this was my point. If it is easy for us, then it should be easy for Uniden. No?

Surely not a deal breaker, but it does make for a less than ideal soluition IMO. I think using an additional remote mounted switch to turn on the scanner is somewhat awkward considering that the remote will have its own power switch. Running an ignition switched source has its obvious shortcomings and leaving it on all the time in a mobile obviously wont fly.

If there isn't a pigtail, or some other similar function, then it is a shame that this topic wasn't brought up much sooner. It would have been a nice feature. By reading "A remote head unit that provides complete control (including volume and squelch)" in the first post of this thread and "Controls all functions" in the wiki, I simply assumed that power was in the list. With the digipot volume and squelch controls designed into the newer radio I figured Uniden had incorporated something (undocumented) into the design for power as well. Not seeing this I would assume this remote hasn't been on their product roadmap for very long.

Oh....and I like red

 

[garys]

If there isn't a pigtail, or some other similar function, then it is a shame that this topic wasn't brought up much sooner. It would have been a nice feature.

You have a good point here. There are a couple of things to consider. First, Uniden via Paul is far more open to everything than they have been in the past. Or has been Radio Shack for that matter. Paul has stated that Uniden doesn't announce products more than six months prior to their release. By which time, most of the feature set has been more or less cast in stone. OTOH, if Paul were to solicit opinions under the guise of "we're considering this type of product" the RR rumor mill would go wild. I'm guessing that he does solicit opinions privately, mostly from the Beta Testers.

Oh....and I like red

The Green matches the displays of my other radios, but I can live with the Red (Orange) quite nicely.

Gary

 

[jpjohn]

Since the RH96 will be an add on control head, not a replacement, do you think there will be a display or function lag time between hitting buttons and response from the radio itself? Or a delay in the display when the radio stops on an active channel?

Again - I haven't done much virtual control via software but it almost seems like the RH96 will be that type of setup since it is an addition to the radio rather than the actual head being remote mounted. Since it is connected via the serial port I'm hoping if there is a delay, that it is minimal.

Hopefully someone will see the actual unit at CES, take some pictures and put some of our questions to rest.....or maybe create more!!

 

[wolter]

I am talking about a cup holder like you can see in THIS thread or the clip on vent holders (I'm sure your cars have vents).

Most vents cannot support the weight of the vent clip itself, let alone the additional weight of the scanner; they weren't designed to support any weight. Also, many cup holders do not provide the overhead clearance for a scanner and 6-inch-plus vertical antenna.

 

[ScanWorcester]

Most vents cannot support the weight of the vent clip itself, let alone the additional weight of the scanner; they weren't designed to support any weight. Also, many cup holders do not provide the overhead clearance for a scanner and 6-inch-plus vertical antenna.

Agreed. Also, if I wanted to permanently mount my HH radio in a silly place like a cupholder or an HVAC vent, then I wouldn't mind a squid of wires coming out of it (antenna, power, audio, data), thus the main purpose of using the remote head to remotely mount and remotely control the radio, where it won't be able to be accessed with ease. Apparently this isn't being understood by some.

 

[hotdjdave]

Speed of Electricity

Since the RH96 will be an add on control head, not a replacement, do you think there will be a display or function lag time between hitting buttons and response from the radio itself? Or a delay in the display when the radio stops on an active channel?

I am pretty sure that the signal being sent back and forth is an electrical function and electricity travels at 299,792,458 meters per second. :wink:


All joking aside, I now must say that a few people are not totally opposed to having a red display. However, it should be pointed out that those who don't mind the red display also say they will still buy a unit if it has red even though they would prefer another color or they just don't care either way.

I guess what I want to know is if there will be another color (or colors) available down the road or is this just a pipe dream (Uniden chose red and that is all there is to it, irregardless of feedback)? If so, I may wait until there is another color LED available other than red.