PRO-106 Firmware 1.7 wish list

[walter900]

I thought i would start a firmware 1.7 wish list thread.. Now that i've had a chance to become quite familiar with this wonderful radio.. I have a few "realistic" suggestions for GRE to consider to make it better.

My suggestion;

"A Global on/off for "backlight attatchment to active scanlist objects".. That does not effect (shut off) the LED like stealth mode does." So that some will not get confused here.. I am not talking about the LED attatchment to scan list objects that leaves the LED on after a transmission.. I am talking about the backlight attatchment only.

Here is the scenario just in case some folks do not fully understand what i mean.

I have programmed the upper backlight to turn on with all active scanlist objects (1,000+).. I also have seperatley set the LED to come on (various colors) for all active scanlist objects as well.. Now answer this one, how can you turn off just the "backlight portion only" from lighting up on all active scanlist objects without also shutting off the LED as well. You can't do it, unless perhaps you a create a second Virtual Folder that has all of the backlight to active scanlist objects set to off.. And If you use stealth mode, you lose the LED as well from lighting up.

 

[rdale]

Why would you alternate something like that? Either you like the backlight - or you don't, correct?

 

[walter900]

Why would you alternate something like that? Either you like the backlight - or you don't, correct?

Well, during the daytime i don't need the backlight attatchment to active scan list objects, so i would be saving battery time if i could turn that off. Although, during the daytime i still want the LED to distinguish the channels.. I am thinking of how it will save battery time, as well as wear/tear on the backlight itself.

 

[zzdiesel]

My wish is to have a "Global Unlock" to unlock all permanent locked out channels and TG's.

 

[rdale]

I don't think it's a big difference in battery use unless your system is active continuously. There is no wear and tear worries for the backlight itself.

zz - use the temp unlock for that.

 

[DonS]

Well, during the daytime i don't need the backlight attatchment to active scan list objects, so i would be saving battery time if i could turn that off.

If you're only using the backlight as a visibility aid (and not as an "alert"-type function), why not just disable (don't use) that feature within the objects, instead turning the backlight on/off based on ambient light?

 

[brandon]

Handle EDACS patches

 

[SOFA_KING]

- P25 ENCRYPTION MUTE! Why listen to that garbled mess?

- MDC1200 MUTE! (if possible) OTAR gives me a headache!

also:

- Some way to turn off programmed CTCSS/DCS/NAC codes on demand. Maybe push the "CLR" key to toggle. Like a "monitor" button so you can listen to traffic under the coded squelch. Temp carrier squelch type operation. Sometimes I see the scanner pause on a channel and I want to know why. There is no easy way to remove the coded squelch...we need a temp monitor function.

- Some easy way to see the hit count on an object. It is too hard to dig that info out of the menue. It is a good feature, but not if it is to hard to get to.

-Temp lockout feature on search. Why this was not the same as scan I do not know, but it should be an option just like it is on scan.

Now some more advanced stuff:

- ONE OBJECT (or conventional freq) WITH THE ABILITY TO HAVE MULTI MODE WITH MULTI SQUELCH CODES. Example 163.7500 NAC XXX & CTCSS 100.0 or CTCSS 123.0 or CTCSS 151.4. Even an option to do NAC SEARCH & CTCSS/DCS SEARCH...or NAC SEARCH & CTCSS 167.9...all on one frequency entry.

- Searching for NAC, CTCSS, and DCS ONLY...so the search doesn't stop on carrier squelch. This would be a better search option if you don't want your searching scanner getting hung up on noise or inteference.

- Better front end filtering! The desense issue is very bad. You need to buy filters to keep the FM and TV transmitters from rendering the scanner useless on VHF.

These are great scanners with fantastic software options, but these improvements would make them perfect. I know the RX issues are not firmware, but GRE sould see this feedback and make a better scanner next time around.

Phil

 

[walter900]

- P25 ENCRYPTION MUTE! Why listen to that garbled mess?

- MDC1200 MUTE! (if possible) OTAR gives me a headache!

WoW, you guys are really coming up with some really great "realistic" ideas.. An example of a non-realistic one would be to add ProVoice!

A way to to toggle on/off wheather or not you want to listen to, or skip over encrypted communications! And the Handling of EDACS patches.


*It would be GREAT to see the word "Encrypted" flash up with a couple of beeps along with the alternating channel frequency information. Then L/O could be used to get rid of it. How cool would that be! This shouldn't take GRE too much to add this one in.

*I also noticed that during regular scanning that the BANK NUMBERS 0-20 do not flash/indicate what bank the current object it's scanning is in.. Not a big deal, but might be nice to have just to see how this new type of "object scanning" works.

Keep the good ideas coming, maybe GRE will consider adding some of them!

 

[rdale]

*I also noticed that during regular scanning that the BANK NUMBERS 0-20 do not flash/indicate what bank the current object it's scanning is in.. Not a big deal, but might be nice to have just to see how this new type of "object scanning" works.

...because it doesn't scan based on the "bank numbers" so it would not be possible.

 

[brandon]

+1 for the P25 ENC mute. This would be a god send.

 

[drivinflyin]

I'd love to have a sleeper timer like my SW radios have. I could listen while going to sleep, but not get woke up with it going all night.

up to date USB memory slot for huge capacity Vscanners. Why not have everywhere ready at your finger tips?

We always want more---how about a much larger working memory with as many scan groups as you can create? This could get unruly, but it could also be useful.

 

[zzdiesel]

I fully agree with more or unlimited scan groups. 20 or 22 is just not near enough.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

I fully agree with more or unlimited scan groups. 20 or 22 is just not near enough.

The perfect scanner system would be a marriage of Uniden and GRE. The 100 "quick keys" that Uniden uses is AWESOME.....BUT, in order for one object to be in multiple "systems" (under multiple quick keys), you have to copy the object, wasting memory. The GRE system of assigning "scan lists" to a given object, eliminating the need to copy that object and waste memory is BRILLIANT. But having only 21 scan lists is RETARDED! What the hell where they thinking? Use the "object oriented interface" with 100 scan lists, and you are GOLDEN. DUH. Why is this such an elusive concept? It would take very little if any more memory, and everyone would be happy.

Muted encryption? This is another no-brainer. Who wants to listen to encryption? How on earth was this missed?

How about a search by object ID or frequency too? The way you have to find an object on any modern scanner is absurd.

 

[SOFA_KING]

*It would be GREAT to see the word "Encrypted" flash up with a couple of beeps along with the alternating channel frequency information. Then L/O could be used to get rid of it. How cool would that be! This shouldn't take GRE too much to add this one in.

I like that idea! I know what you are saying about beeps or something to get your attention that the scanner stopped on the channel (object). You might not know or notice otherwise. Perhaps a very quick double low tone (400 Hz) "boo boop" at the begining of the "ENCRYPTED" transmission just to let you know (maybe optional).

There has been discussion about holding on the encrypted channel or continue scanning. If it were a choice of either or I would have to say hold. You would not normally listen to a channel that was 100% encrypted. Most of us (I think) are listening to mixed traffic or hope some of the users forgot to flip the encryption switch on. In that case it is better to hold on the channel to catch the open stuff.

On the other hand that would hold up the scanner from hearing other stuff, so the ideal option would be to make it "optional" on the object (not global). Let the end user decide...but muting is a must.

BTW - This is a great thread, Walter900.

 

[DaveIN]

- MDC1200 MUTE! (if possible) OTAR gives me a headache!

How about MDC1200 decode, that would be much better than just mute.

 

[MStep]

1) The ability to deactivate or activate all scanlists at once--- how about
FUNC+ENT to deactivate all scan lists and FUNC+ENT to reactivate all scan
lists? Sometimes I have almost all scan lists active and I want to quickly
just monitor one. So this command would shut down all lists and then I can
just choose the one I want to activate.

2) The temporary lockouts are great, BUT, in order to bring them back, there
should be one additional step--- something like depress the L/O key while
powering up the scanner. This way, when you shut down your car and scanner
and then restart, you don't lose all your temporary lockouts unless you want
to.

3) A menu to deactivate and reactivate all permanant lockouts and
priorities.

4) A few more alert sounds would be nice.

I have forwarded these suggestions to GRE-- perhaps one day they will be implemented for both GRE and RS versions of these scanners.

 

[SCPD]

Handle EDACS patches

EDACS patches?, if you mean I calls I belivee it does those.?

 

[DOPPLERBOB]

Add my vote for:

- P25 ENCRYPTION MUTE! Why listen to that garbled mess?

Is it possible though I don't know. Motorola readios have the option I know that, so maybe it is possible

 

[SOFA_KING]

How about MDC1200 decode, that would be much better than just mute.

Bonus! Just as long as it is muted while it is decoding it!

Phil


PS - One note on the lockout issue. I do not like the turn off/on the scanner idea. How about holding down the L/OUT button for say 3-5 seconds to restore the temp lockouts? This way you CAN turn off the scanner and keep the temp lockouts. Sound like an idea?