PSR-500 Images

[mancow]

I compared them. The 500 case IS the 97 case. It just has different stuff molded in the front of course. Otherwise, it's the same.

I guess there's no reason to design something new and spend the extra money when they had something that worked good already.

 

[N4JNW]

So it's essentially the size of the Pro-97 we've all came to love.

 

[mancow]

Yea, it is the 97 with just different guts and arrangement of stuff on the front. If you looked at it from any angle but the front you couldn't tell the difference at all except the knobs. They used the same cases and moled different button, speaker and display openings.

It appears they addressed the concentric volume squelch issue too. The knobs seem similar to what were meant for some Kenwood rig I saw people buying from some vendor. They are wider with high friction ridges and more resistant to movement. They dont' turn with each other like the 97.

A BIG ISSUE to me is the volume taper. They seemed to figure out that they should use an audio taper pot. As anyone who has used a 97 or 96 or 2096 has noticed there is about a 1/2 millimeter adjustment range from silence to mid range. This thing actually allows you to adjust it to a very quiet level without a robotic arm. This is nice when you are trying to be quiet but still want to hear it.

 

[NYG]

A BIG ISSUE to me is the volume taper. They seemed to figure out that they should use an audio taper pot. As anyone who has used a 97 or 96 or 2096 has noticed there is about a 1/2 millimeter adjustment range from silence to mid range. This thing actually allows you to adjust it to a very quiet level without a robotic arm. This is nice when you are trying to be quiet but still want to hear it.

That is great news about the volume control. That was maddening with the 96 when trying to listen quietly at night.

 

[mancow]

Exactly. I've scared the hell out of the wife on more than one occasion when I bumped the volume knob.

That is great news about the volume control. That was maddening with the 96 when trying to listen quietly at night.

 

[DaveIN]

Now you can scare your wife with the alert, flashing LED, and back light.

 

[mancow]

:lol: This is true.

Now you can scare your wife with the alert, flashing LED, and back light.

 

[hoser147]

Its a nice looking scanner, but IMHO the screen is nicer at the top. I like the button setup and could do with out the chrome face plate. thanks for sharing the Pics and the Info guys. Is great to have the comparison pictures. Its a nice scanner and from everyones" out of the gate" info is great . Sounds as thou one of the companies needs to come out with better sound control as in bass and treble would be nice............Take Care and Good Scannin Hoser

 

[nexus]

Someone on the forum got pissed off at me when a person had asked to compare the display between the 396 and the psr-500. I just got my 396 this week and said that I didn't like the blue lighted display. Its difficult for me to view. If at any distance everything is distorted. Unlike my BC246T amber, or the PRO-95 I have even.

THESE PICTURES ARE PROOF that the 396's display SUCKS when you compare it right against the PSR-500. Just look at the pictures with the light on. Its so blurry on the 396.

I'm installing my 396 in the car in the center console or somewhere, and hooking an RH-96 remote head to it, and going to use that as my vehicle's scanner. And I'm going to buy a PSR-500 to carry around.

 

[SCPD]

Here's the side by side with the BCD396T, as requested.

So it looks to be a bit bigger then the 396T
I find the 396T the right size for me so anything bigger is not going to fit as well.

 

[Radio_Lady]

I had the scanner in the car last night and that LED is BRIGHT.

I know it can sometimes be hard to get the contrast reproduced faithfully in a photo, but can you tell us how "good" the display is (colors, contrast) in the daytime, like on the seat of your car with the sun shining on it. Thanks!

 

[Air490]

...but green would be nice...

I used to be a bit of a fan of the blue display on the 396, but lately that has changed. I am finding it is hard to see unless you are almost square on. If the light isn't just right it is also hard to read.

It compares very unfavourably to the 996, 780, UBC3500XLT (Euro 330T) and my other Icom receivers.

From a purely asthetic standpoint it looks good, but it's just not as clear or easy to read as the others.

Having seen the pics of the PSR-500, I am sure it will continue the tradition of GRE manufactured scanners having good, clear displays.

Having said all that... I just wish it was green!

 

[LEH]

A couple of answers (as best I have done)

So far, I have not changed the screen contrast and I have had no issues with seeing it clearly. I haven't really had it out in the bright sun, YET, so I can't say how well it will appear. Hopefully later today.

Now for the blue light (in the GRE thread, sorry). The photo I posted does not really do the display justice. First, to get the lighting to show up, I didn't use a flash. Second, the scanners were sitting on my EZ-Boy with a black blanket for the background. I was HOLDING the camera on the chair as well. So the image is a bit blurry for the following reasons.

1. My hand movement.
2. The 396 and 96 had truned slightly (the display on the 96 is also slightly blurred).
3. I had to reduce the size of the photo from something like a 3000X2300 to 800X600 to fit in the forum.
4. Photography is my hobby. I am no PRO.

I tried to get another shot of the blue display, but with out getting the BIG camera and tripod out it was again blurry due to movement.

I've had no problem seeing either.

I will again reiterate a point I made earlier. The LED is very bright when in the car at night. I was able to find the house key with it. I think I'll stick it in the car tonight and stand outside to see how bright it really is.

 

[mancow]

I hate the blue too.

Just some info for anyone thinking of changing it. The two LEDS are under the front edge of the LCD under the leads. Normally that wouldn't be a problem if they used a flex connector. The connections to the LCD are heavy gage metal that literally are clamped over the edge of the thin LCD glass.

I really don't see any way to desolder it without special tools that will simultaneously heat all leads at their connection to the board quickly enough not to the transfer too much heat to the glass.

I was hoping to drop some nice PRO-97 style yellow/orange surface mount leds in there.

If I cold find someone with the right tools I would try it again.

 

[kikito]

Wow that is bigger then I expected. For some reason I thought it was going to be about the same size as the 396. Bummer.

It's been known for a while that it was going to be the same size as the Pro-97. Personaly I find it's great! A scanner that's right in between the 396 and the Pro-96 in size: Perfect!

 

[radios4bill]

Hi Group; Could someone take and post photos of the front of the display showing the differant colors of the LEDS? Thanks, Bill

 

[robsterw]

So far, I have not changed the screen contrast and I have had no issues with seeing it clearly. I haven't really had it out in the bright sun, YET, so I can't say how well it will appear. Hopefully later today.

I would greatly appreciate seeing those photos, pretty please. Sunshine matters too ;-)

 

[Dubbin]

It's been known for a while that it was going to be the same size as the Pro-97. Personaly I find it's great! A scanner that's right in between the 396 and the Pro-96 in size: Perfect!

It may have been but considering I didn't follow the mile long pre release thread then I wouldn't have known.

 

[LEH]

Rob,

Take a look at

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showpost.php?p=630985&postcount=19
and
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showpost.php?p=630752&postcount=14

Bill, I tried to get some shots of the different color LEDs. A couple just didn't come across well in the photos. However in a couple of the photos I posted (see the above links) you can see two of the LED colors. Othere are red, blue, a lighter blue, and I forget the others. All can be changed in the menu.

 

[kikito]

However in a couple of the photos I posted (see the above links) you can see two of the LED colors. Othere are red, blue, a lighter blue, and I forget the others. All can be changed in the menu.

And as you may know, you can also "customize" the colors. Some of it is mentioned on page 98 of the manual.