PSR-500 and PSR-600 Pre Release (Continued)

[windigofer]

Interesting. I guess the GRE's are RF pollution monitors.

LOL!

That perl code assumes an LRC. The checksum on the GRE radios appears to be an integer sum, not an XOR.

Seriously though, I'm surprised to see this sort of format continue.

Yeah, that's the one bit of weirdness re the checksum--unlike most checksums I've seen, they don't XOR it, it's a straight integer sum. If anything, I'd figure that'd make it easier to deal with the checksums, because you don't have to futz with XORing it.

I think the reason you still see a lot of this kind of format continue is that it is pretty easy to implement in embedded code--basically it's maybe a step removed from XModem packets, and if space is tight for code this might be the least painful way of implementing it. (Yes, I'm sure there are more graceful approaches, but I think the concern was of getting something with a checksum in the limited space one has for embedded code--especially with the featureset that's in the manual, I can't imagine that they had a whole lot of room to implement stuff REAL fancy. (Besides, they probably wanted to get stuff out so that people could get stuff out.)

One thing I am curious about--I have to wonder how many other scanner manufacturers implement similar methods of computer control...

 

[trooperdude]

FCC Type acceptance release data, including user manual
FCC ID ADV0715

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas...d=722608&fcc_id= ADV0715 #9307245384114724724

 

[mikey60]

One thing I am curious about--I have to wonder how many other scanner manufacturers implement similar methods of computer control...

Uniden uses text format commands for scanner control, at least in the BC250D through the BCT996T series of digital scanners.

AOR uses text commands on some models, and binary commands on others from what I've seen.

From what I can see of the Manual, GRE is using commands similar to what the Pro-96 used, although the Pro-96 didn't have computer control.

Mike

 

[John_M]

I hope the retailers are smart enough to have some cables on hand instead of having to order it from GRE. Price now is $525.00. RS Adaptor $12.00. Software $35.00. Total price= $572.00. Thats about what I have invested in my Pro-96 and that is also why I'm reluctant to let it go for $325. One in good shape is easily worth $400.00.

 

[rdale]

Didn't the old thread say the cable was included? And what adapter would you need?

 

[Eng74]

I want to say that I read something from GRE that it comes with the cable and AC adaptor.

 

[KE5BCP]

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showpost.php?p=574488&postcount=376

 

[John_M]

Okay.

 

[jehm1212]

Trunking Priority

Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but I searched and could find nothing about it (except speculation, of course).

On page 50 of the PDF/ Page 46 of the manual, it talks about trunking priority on the 500/600 that uses subaudible data present in the voice channel of some Motorola systems. I can't believe that no one else has mentioned this yet, seeing that it was just wishful thinking as of last month according to this thread: http://ec2-3-81-130-85.compute-1.amazonaws.com/index.php?threads/74078/.

I'm also surprised that GRE never mentioned this in their original press releases. This scanner just gets better and better all the time.

 

[ScannersUnlimited]

Special Features Of The Gre Psr-500

Hi,

In response to someone who wanted to know the advantages of the GRE PSR-500 over the Uniden BCD 396T, here are just some of them:

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE NEW GRE PSR-500
-------------------------------------------------------

1. AN LED ON TOP THAT CAN BE 8 DIFFERENT
COLORS, EACH COLOR TIED TO AN OBJECT
(TALKGROUP OR FREQUENCY) SO FOR EXAMPLE
POLICE CAN LIGHT UP BLUE AND FIRE, RED
THIS LIGHT CAN BE STEADY OR BLINKING
ALSO, ONE CAN HAVE UNLIMITED VARIATIONS
OF COLOR USING ANY MIX OR RED, BLUE, & GREEN

2. 700 MHZ APCO 25 - 700 MHZ I CALL CAPABILITY

3. MOTOROLA SMARTZONE - SCANNER CAN LOOK
FOR THE SITE WITH THE BEST RECEIVED CC
DECODE RATE

4. A “HOME SET” OPTION LETS YOU CREATE A
SCAN LIST/GROUP CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR
FAVORITES - ONE BUTTON OPERATION

5. A “FIND OPTION” THAT LETS YOU TYPE A
PARTIAL OR FULL ALPHA-NUMERIC AND IT
WILL SEARCH ALL THE NUMBER AND TEXT
FIELDS IN EVERY OBJECT AND LET YOU CHOOSE
TO EITHER MONITOR(MAN) OR PRESS NEXT TO
KEEP FINDING

6. HAS UP DOWN ARROW KEYS TO SCROLL WITHIN
A SCAN LIST, AND LEFT RIGHT ARROW KEYS TO
CHANGE SCAN LISTS

7. NO FREQUENCY LIMITATION ON TRUNKING


8. MORE EFFICIENT USE OF TALKGROUPS - YOU
CAN USE THE SAME TALKGROUPS IN MULTIPLE
SCAN LISTS, SO AS NOT TO HAVE TO ENTER THE
TALKGROUP MORE THAN ONCE



9. ONE CAN PAUSE ON A TALKGROUP, AND LEAVE
IT FOR DAYS. THE SYSTEM OBJECT WILL
HANDLE ALL OF THE CONTROL CHANNEL
TRACKING FINE SO LONG AS THE RADIO IS
POWERED UP, AND SO LONG AS YOU HAVE
ALL POSSIBLE CONTROL CHANNELS IN MEMORY

10. COMPLETE COMPUTER CONTROL, VERSUS
JUST THE UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD ABILITY
OF PREVIOUS GRE MADE RADIO SHACK RADIOS

11. WHATEVER THE LAST OBJECT YOU SCANNED
OR FOUND IS THE OBJECT THAT COMES UP
WHEN YOU PRESS MAN

12. ALL MENU ITEMS HAVE A “DEFAULT OPTION”
KEY SO IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY SCREW SOME-
THING UP, YOU CAN RESET JUST THAT SPECIFIC
ITEM BACK TO ITS DEFAULT VALUE

13. 21 VIRTUAL SCANNER (V SCANNERS)

14. HAS SPECTRUM SWEEPER (LIKE CLOSE CALL) WITH LOCKOUT

15. SKYWARN FEATURE

16. 5 WAY NAVIGATION KEY

17. 3 USER FRIENDLY(MENU SELECT) KEYS

I will post more of them when I see the unit in person tomorrow, Saturday.

Glenn Cohen - Scanners Unlimited

 

[b52hbuff]

Hi,

In response to someone who wanted to know the advantages of the GRE PSR-500 over the Uniden BCD 396T, here are just some of them:

Well with the technology getting so complicated and having so many features, it is going to be easy to make a few mistakes. I have some comments or questions about some of the items you have listed



SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE NEW GRE PSR-500
-------------------------------------------------------

2. 700 MHZ APCO 25 - 700 MHZ I CALL CAPABILITY

I don't have 700MHz trunking around me, but my understanding is that the 396 can trunk it. I have personally monitored I-Calls on P-16 systems.

The 700MHz TRS are going to be true P-25 systems with 9600 baud control channels....

So are you saying that the Uniden doesn't track I-Calls for true P-25 systems?

3. MOTOROLA SMARTZONE - SCANNER CAN LOOK
FOR THE SITE WITH THE BEST RECEIVED CC
DECODE RATE

A very nice feature to have in a hand held. Uniden has something like this, but only in thier 996 mobile.

Can you verify that the CC selection is based on decode rate and not just on signal strength?

4. A “HOME SET” OPTION LETS YOU CREATE A
SCAN LIST/GROUP CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR
FAVORITES - ONE BUTTON OPERATION

how does this differ from Uniden's quick key and group quick key concept?

7. NO FREQUENCY LIMITATION ON TRUNKING

Can you be more specific? I'm not aware of what trunking frequencies the 396 cannot receive.

9. ONE CAN PAUSE ON A TALKGROUP, AND LEAVE
IT FOR DAYS. THE SYSTEM OBJECT WILL
HANDLE ALL OF THE CONTROL CHANNEL
TRACKING FINE SO LONG AS THE RADIO IS
POWERED UP, AND SO LONG AS YOU HAVE
ALL POSSIBLE CONTROL CHANNELS IN MEMORY

Another ramification of multisite trunking. The 996 does this too.

10. COMPLETE COMPUTER CONTROL, VERSUS
JUST THE UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD ABILITY
OF PREVIOUS GRE MADE RADIO SHACK RADIOS

I would say this is a feature over previous GRE radios and not Uniden. Uniden has had a computer interface since the 245XLT.

14. HAS SPECTRUM SWEEPER (LIKE CLOSE CALL) WITH LOCKOUT

Does this version support decode of CTCSS/DCS when you get a hit?

Anyway, thanks for getting the ball rolling. There is going to be a lot of interesting investigation ahead as everyone tries to understand everything the GRE has created in their new radio./..

 

[ScannersUnlimited]

Re: Special Features Of The Gre Psr 500

Hi,

Thanks for the corrections and I believe you are right about them. What I should have said was that these were improvements from the predecessor Radio Shack model, the PRO-96 and not compare it to the BCD 396T. I was getting most of these from people who have seen and played with the unit, such as Beta Testers, so my information is second hand. I am assuming more and more people will post additional features that are somewhat unique or at least improved, once they pour through the owner's manual.

Glenn Cohen

 

[loumaag]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but I searched and could find nothing about it (except speculation, of course).

On page 50 of the PDF/ Page 46 of the manual, it talks about trunking priority on the 500/600 that uses subaudible data present in the voice channel of some Motorola systems. I can't believe that no one else has mentioned this yet, seeing that it was just wishful thinking as of last month according to this thread: http://ec2-3-81-130-85.compute-1.amazonaws.com/index.php?threads/74078/.

I'm also surprised that GRE never mentioned this in their original press releases. This scanner just gets better and better all the time.

This will be good if the all the following is understood:

1. You are dealing with a Motorola analog system
2. You understand how the low speed data is implemented
3. That the priority talk group facility is implemented in the system
4. That both you and the system administrator agree on what is a priority TG

I will guarantee that this will cause countless questions from users in the future who don't understand all four of the above.

 

[DonS]

9. ONE CAN PAUSE ON A TALKGROUP, AND LEAVE
IT FOR DAYS. THE SYSTEM OBJECT WILL
HANDLE ALL OF THE CONTROL CHANNEL
TRACKING FINE SO LONG AS THE RADIO IS
POWERED UP, AND SO LONG AS YOU HAVE
ALL POSSIBLE CONTROL CHANNELS IN MEMORY

Another ramification of multisite trunking.

Or any system that rotates control channels periodically.

 

[DaveIN]

And now at Universal Radio for $499.95:

Looks like Scanners Unlimited is taking pre-orders for the PSR-500 at a price of $499.95 too.

 

[windigofer]

Looks like Scanners Unlimited is taking pre-orders for the PSR-500 at a price of $499.95 too.

This is encouraging to hear--this is actually pretty well what I figured the "real life" price of the radio would be (as opposed to list price--anyone who's seen list price versus actual price for Uniden kit knows all about this ).

Seeing as it will come with programming cable, etc., this is a hell of a bargain

 

[kikito]

This will be good if the all the following is understood:

1. You are dealing with a Motorola analog system
2. You understand how the low speed data is implemented
3. That the priority talk group facility is implemented in the system
4. That both you and the system administrator agree on what is a priority TG

I will guarantee that this will cause countless questions from users in the future who don't understand all four of the above.

I understand what you're saying Lou, but reading what the manual says, it sounds more or less just like what Uniden use to offer for priority on trunked systems with the *additional* capability to check for the "system set" priority TGs on the low-speed data.

The way I understand it, you set your own priority TGs and the radio checks for them before scanning the rest of the system and during "idle" periods. If that's not the case, they really should state so, because like you mentioned earlier, it will cause confusion and disappointment for some.

Here's the excerpt:

TGRP Priority Scan
When Object Priority is set to Yes for one or more TGRP objects,
the scanner will give those TGRPs priority over other TGRPs
while checking a particular trunking system for activity. TGRPs
configured for Priority are checked for activity before any other
TGRPs are checked, and during the reply delay time after non-
priority TGRP calls.

Additionally, your (PSR-500) decodes the subaudible priority data that
is present on analog Motorola talkgroup calls, and will switch to a
priority talkgroup when the data for that talkgroup is found in the
subaudible priority data. (Draft manual, page 50)

 

[loumaag]

I...Additionally, your (PSR-500) decodes the subaudible priority data that
is present on analog Motorola talkgroup calls, and will switch to a
priority talkgroup when the data for that talkgroup is found in the
subaudible priority data.[/i] (Draft manual, page 50)

Yep, it is this portion to which I refer. Bottom line is if priority TG's are implemented on the target system, the system manager and the scanner user both have to agree on what is a priority TG. If Joescanner user thinks the animal control TG is important and the system admin didn't set that to a priority TG, Joescanner is going to be disappointed.

 

[Nitsud]

what is coming with the PSR-500? sorry to interrupt

 

[rdale]

What do you mean?