PSR 500--Buy now or wait?

[bee]

Will be buying the PSR 500 (sometime)! My question is should I wait untill other upgrades are available, or other problems, are found and corrected?

On the other hand, I would like to start getinng in on the "learning curve"!

I have the 996t and bct 15, among others, but from what I can learn from these forums, is that the PSR may be quiet different form them.

"Universal" is offering the PSR 500 with the "firmware 1.1 upgrade" already installed.

But again my qusetion is, should I wait or buy now?

 

[rdale]

No need to wait, any upgrade can be downloaded, so you accomplish nothing by holding off.

 

[kikito]

Will be buying the PSR 500 (sometime)! My question is should I wait untill other upgrades are available, or other problems, are found and corrected?

On the other hand, I would like to start getinng in on the "learning curve"!

But again my qusetion is, should I wait or buy now?

I don't see any reason to wait, especially if you already decided you're going to get it anyway. Like 'rdale' said, the updates can be applied at anytime, quickly and easily. The price is not going to come down any time soon either.

Just buy it now and get in on the action!

 

[ac9f]

Psr 600

I bought the PSR 600 and the ARC 500 software for the radio. Both are great, but yes the learning curve is something else. It was great when I figured out the 396 programming and how it is done, but I 'm sure I will be ectastic when I figure out the 600 programming. It really is not that bad, just some little things like when a channel - oops, no object, comes on the screen you cannot tell what list it is from (unless I am not doing something right). You will learn to label each channel or object as they are called with alot of info as to know what you are listening too.
Over all just spend time with the ARC 500 and things will come to you very easily. It is a nice radio and sounds great. Even picks up signals with no antena attached to it.
If anyone has good suggestions about the progamming of the radio and some helps, I would love to hear from you.
'73
chuck
ac9f
iola, wi

 

[jimg]

Will be buying the PSR 500 (sometime)! My question is should I wait untill other upgrades are available, or other problems, are found and corrected?

On the other hand, I would like to start getinng in on the "learning curve"!

I have the 996t and bct 15, among others, but from what I can learn from these forums, is that the PSR may be quiet different form them.

"Universal" is offering the PSR 500 with the "firmware 1.1 upgrade" already installed.

But again my qusetion is, should I wait or buy now?

I ordered my 500 from Grove about two weeks ago, and it already had the latest firmware installed. I have traded with them for several years, and have experienced good customer service. So, far I am quite pleased with the 500. I have also the 396 and presently own a 996, which I use as a base scanner. I found that the 500 does a better job than the 396, especially on digital. However, with the 500, you have to think in terms of "scanable objects" and "scanlists" instead of "bank scanning," which I am still getting used to.

Of course, when and if you decide to order a 500 is your personal decision.

 

[hoser147]

I ordered a PSR 600 yesterday, got free shipping and no tax. Cant wait till it gets here. Trying to do as much reading as possible on it for now..............Hoser

 

[Sownman]

However, with the 500, you have to think in terms of "scanable objects" and "scanlists" instead of "bank scanning," which I am still getting used to.

Of course, when and if you decide to order a 500 is your personal decision.

I've owned the PSR 500 for 4 days now and could hardly be happier. Maybe its because I've got very little prior experience but I have no problem with the way it stores info.

You have the option to throw all the info in a large pile and use it that way, or you can seperate into 21 neater smaller piles called scanlists instead of banks. The great part is that unlike banks the big pile and the little piles can be any size up to 1851, and there are no issues with having different systems in any order in the scan lists I used a Pro97 for three weeks before the PSR500. The PSR is not only a better scanner but also is a far better more intuative one for a newbie to use.

Steve

 

[mikeh]

it is a pain in the B??? to program

it is a pain in the B??? to program
i like the bct396


jus t my in put

 

[rdale]

It's very simple to program. Take your time, read the manual, and use PSREDIT or Win500.

 

[midnightcaller]

Can you scan both conventinal freqs and a trunk system in the same bank? or scan list?

 

[bee]

Thanks for the information. I have never did a "firmware upgrade". If someone would say "its easily done" for most people, I will probably order "soon"!

Thanks

 

[DaveIN]

Yes, the firmware upgrade for the CPU and DSP is easily done, for most people.

 

[DaveIN]

Can you scan both conventinal freqs and a trunk system in the same bank? or scan list?

No, the radio memory is dynamic, meaning you can scan some or all the objects you want, there are no banks or channels per say. What is really cool is that you can save a talkgroup and a frequency or multiple objects in a "scanlist" and scan them all at once.

 

[Sownman]

Can you scan both conventinal freqs and a trunk system in the same bank? or scan list?

Yes. As my above post said everything can go in one big pile or you can use "scan lists" to make you feel like there are banks if you want. Any "object" can go anywhere or be in multiple scan lists if desired.

The manual can be downloaded from GRE website. Compared to other manuals it is a VERY easy read. Read it before deciding.

Steve