Pro-18 Digital Trunking Scanner - Post release Thread

[Jakemcgraw]

Yes according to those figures i was off quite a margin...Guess it depends on manufacturer and the device, as i learned with smart cell phone screens, higher res isnt always better, my super amoled screen on my samsung galaxy s2 is sharper and more detailed than many of the hd screen higher res models available.

 

[JustLou]

For the life of me I don't understand why someone would buy a stripped down version of the PSR-800? Am I missing something? It can't be the price which is higher than the 800... :twisted:

I agree. The retail on this radio should be less than the 800. ....I just picked up a new in the box Pro-18 for $255 shipped on eBay.

 

[Bob_61]

I agree. The retail on this radio should be less than the 800. ....I just picked up a new in the box Pro-18 for $255 shipped on eBay.

Now that's a steal! Good shopping research, if you look long enough you will find what you are looking for at a good price!

 

[JustLou]

Now that's a steal! Good shopping research, if you look long enough you will find what you are looking for at a good price!

Yeah. I threw the bid in at the last minute and won it.

 

[msradell]

psr-800 = 132x65 = 8580 (square dots)
pro-18 = 96x48 = 4608 (square dots)

8580/4608 = 1.86 That's 86% more area for the 800!

Not a statement about scanners, only a statement about the math. Your "just a bit less" needs fleshing out, lol.

It's not area it's resolution! You have the same basic area with just more dots per square inch!

 

[JustLou]

Anyone know what changed in the v1.3 firmware update, from v1.1?

 

[Jakemcgraw]

Anyone know what changed in the v1.3 firmware update, from v1.1?

I was wondering the same,,I done the update on mine a few days ago.

 

[JustLou]

Is it just me, or is battery life dismal? Either my 2000mAh Eneloops are shot, or it's impossible to get more than a couple of hours listening time.

 

[JustLou]

I was wondering the same,,I done the update on mine a few days ago.

Version U1.3

Changed 154-156MHz range to accommodate Marine channels while also preserving pre-1.2 frequencies

Pressing left arrow key in SCAN mode now goes directly to Browse Objects mode, on the last object monitored.

Added option to show ONLY the RadioID's alpha tag for group calls. If this option set, you get just the tag (if one is available); otherwise, you get alternating tag / numeric ID.

"Show Radio ID" "tag only" Result
N - No Radio ID info shown
Y N ID alternating with found tag (if any)
Y Y Just the found tag, if any. If no found tag, just the ID


Fixed bug in search mode which was causing a crash if you pressed SKIP in Railroad mode.

Added "FlexStep" control to main Settings menu

Fixed backlight not turning off in KEY, IGNORE, and NORMAL modes when object alert is turned off (was staying on if the backlight was already on when the object alert went active)

Fixed bug in priority talkgroup handling that would cause scanner to "lose" the current talkgroup in the Browse Objects, Play mode

In object browser, added audible indication to up/down keys that you've passed the top/bottom of the scan list's contents

In CCDump, added EDN vs. EDW indicator based on current site

 

[KC5EIB]

Is it just me, or is battery life dismal? Either my 2000mAh Eneloops are shot, or it's impossible to get more than a couple of hours listening time.

Keep "BACKLITE" off except when you really need it.

 

[Jakemcgraw]

Thank You for the update fixes Lou.....Only minor problem i have on my pro-18 is i dont get the low battery beeps ever, it just shuts down when batteries are about drained...Watching you-tube videos of the psr-800,,,i seen some say they have that issue also....I also use the sanyo eneloops 2000 mah batteries, and i was getting 8 hrs continuous run time with the lcd and keypad on full brightness.....I turned the keypad lighting off and turned my lcd brightness level down to # 4. which i still find a compfortable brightness for viewing...and my run time now is approx 9 1/2 hrs.

 

[scruggsy]

i had the pro-18 for about 2 days, took it back to the RS, because of the Battery life, I didn't have rechargeable batteries, but i only got about 3 hrs out of the Radio shack brand batts

 

[Chris45]

PSR-800 and PRO-18 Power Consumption

I have the PSR-800 and the PRO-106. Both radios have their plus and minus aspects. I have had a particular interest in power consumption. I have experimented with various batteries and have concluded that the Duracell AA /HR6/DC1500 NIMH, 2450 mAh is my preferred choice of battery.

With these batteries the 106 will run hard and long usually 1+ days performance, while with the 800 I am lucky to go an hour or two before the the power indicator starts dropping down. The reason is that the 800 consumes power faster due to the uniqueness of the display and managing the storage card. It is a real power hog. So while I like both radios, I use the 106 more because it delivers more for the battery life.

Years ago Quamtum Batteries made power packs for HAM portables. These power pack were originally designed for photo flash attachments. Right now I can only see some kind of durable external power pack as the answer to the 800 power consumption problem. But we should not have to do this.

If GRE could make a 800 or 18 that had a decent run time with AA batteries we would all be in Heaven.

 

[JustLou]

Thank You for the update fixes Lou.....Only minor problem i have on my pro-18 is i dont get the low battery beeps ever, it just shuts down when batteries are about drained...Watching you-tube videos of the psr-800,,,i seen some say they have that issue also....I also use the sanyo eneloops 2000 mah batteries, and i was getting 8 hrs continuous run time with the lcd and keypad on full brightness.....I turned the keypad lighting off and turned my lcd brightness level down to # 4. which i still find a compfortable brightness for viewing...and my run time now is approx 9 1/2 hrs.

Mine gives the low battery beep, but once it gives it, the batteries die within minutes. I actually shut it off anyway. I don't want to hear it. ...I turned the keypad lighting off, and turned the lcd down to 2. Battery life seems to be better. I listened for about 2 hours, and my battery indicator shows about 75%. Yesterday the batteries died in a couple hours.

For what I paid ($255 brand new), I can deal with it. As long as I get at least a few hours when I'm not using it at home or work near a usb port.

 

[Jakemcgraw]

I didnt think at first i was getting that great of battery run time, but according to what ive read so far to date, i guess im not doing too bad. My sanyo eneloops are a little over a yr old, but still hold a charge good. I just recently ordered 2 sets of the newer sanyo eneloops that are rated for up to 1500 charge cycles,,should have them in a few days, We'll see how well these perform, and post back on them.

 

[rwier]

It's not area it's resolution! You have the same basic area with just more dots per square inch!

I agree, I don't know how I slipped "area" in there, after "spelling out" the math as "dots", lol.

 

[JustLou]

I was wondering what everyone was using for an antenna? The stock antenna isn't awful for what it is (5"), but I need better. When I'm not on the go, I put the good ole Diamond RH-77 on it, but it's too big for my tatstes when carrying the radio around. I've been using the RS 800MHz antenna too, but it's weak on VHF. I also have a drawer full of the eBay Chinese Comet/Diamond knockoff antennas, but they all stink. I just ordered a real Diamond RH-519 to give it a shot. I have the counterfeit eBay version, and it's mediocre.

 

[Jakemcgraw]

Hey Lou,,I seen the stock written up as 5 inch also ,,but at gre parts its actually listed as only 4 1/4 inches...I only had mine on my pro-18 a couple hrs , and then switched to the standard 6 1/4 inch gre all band that comes stock with most of their other handhelds, and it works quite well for me...I was a bit surprised the 6 1/4 inch antenna wasn't included as the stock one with the pro-18 and psr-800.

 

[brownlab]

I visited my local RS in NVA to see if they had the PRO 18 yet, Not only did they not have it but they were sold out of all of their digital scanner and the ones they had on order were already pre sold! BTW, this store also carries the HP1 and were sold out of them as well.

 

[JustLou]

Hey Lou,,I seen the stock written up as 5 inch also ,,but at gre parts its actually listed as only 4 1/4 inches...I only had mine on my pro-18 a couple hrs , and then switched to the standard 6 1/4 inch gre all band that comes stock with most of their other handhelds, and it works quite well for me...I was a bit surprised the 6 1/4 inch antenna wasn't included as the stock one with the pro-18 and psr-800.

My only guess is that the little antenna is tuned mostly for 800MHz and trunking performance, and that is what GRE went for.

....Also FWIW, my battery life is greatly improved after I recharged my Eneloops. I'm on 4+ hours now, and my battery indicator is at 1/2. Unless lowering the screen brightness to 2 makes that much of a difference, I have no idea why the dramatic improvement.