Suggestion for Uniden to help 785D owners with rebanding

[K4APR]

I have a suggestion for Uniden...

Allow the 785D users a chance to trade in their 785D for a 796D. I UNDERSTAND that this is NOT an even trade. So, give us the chance to trade in the 785D along with a set ammount such as $100 or somthing close to that to "upgrade" to the newer unit.

Alot of people, including myself have purchased 785D's in the recent past (within last year) and now with the rebanding, we're finding that we will be left out of the upgrade loop. This really isn't fair with such a nice and recent model. Uniden can benefit from this. They can take the 785D's traded in and retrofit them to 796D's. Even if this required replacing the whole main board, they still have the case, chasis, LCD and front panel controls.

I specifically DID NOT mention the 780 because I think we can all agree that scanner is pretty old by now AND was NEVER meant to be digital capable.

Anyways, just my $0.02 You can flame all you want, but I'm merely trying to help a situation with a positive solution.

 

[Voyager]

I have a suggestion for Uniden...

Allow the 785D users a chance to trade in their 785D for a 796D. I UNDERSTAND that this is NOT an even trade. So, give us the chance to trade in the 785D along with a set ammount such as $100 or somthing close to that to "upgrade" to the newer unit.

Alot of people, including myself have purchased 785D's in the recent past (within last year) and now with the rebanding, we're finding that we will be left out of the upgrade loop. This really isn't fair with such a nice and recent model. Uniden can benefit from this. They can take the 785D's traded in and retrofit them to 796D's. Even if this required replacing the whole main board, they still have the case, chasis, LCD and front panel controls.

Alternate suggestion: Sell your 785 while you can still get a decent amount out of it on eBay, and put the $100 toward a 796. You should be able to get around $400 for the 785, so it won't cost you much more.

It's about the same deal, only your old scanner would be going to someone who wants it. Not everyone needs trunking.

It shouldn't be up to Uniden to take a hit on the FCC's or NexTel's actions.

BTW, I've been looking for a good deal on a 780 (yes, 780, not 785 or 796). One of my plans is to wait for the rebanding to start and pick up one someone wants to dump on eBay. (hence my comment that you should sell yours while you can still get good money for it)

Joe M.

 

[scannerfreak]

Maybee we can get the FCC to revise the deal to include Nextel replacing our scanners

 

[K4APR]

Alternate suggestion: Sell your 785 while you can still get a decent amount out of it on eBay, and put the $100 toward a 796. You should be able to get around $400 for the 785, so it won't cost you much more.

It's about the same deal, only your old scanner would be going to someone who wants it. Not everyone needs trunking.

It shouldn't be up to Uniden to take a hit on the FCC's or NexTel's actions.

BTW, I've been looking for a good deal on a 780 (yes, 780, not 785 or 796). One of my plans is to wait for the rebanding to start and pick up one someone wants to dump on eBay. (hence my comment that you should sell yours while you can still get good money for it)

Joe M.

I have already considered this. If I was to do that now, I might get close to $300 if that. I think the word of rebanding has spread pretty fast and alot of people are aware of the issue with the 785D not being upgradeable.

 

[K4APR]

Maybee we can get the FCC to revise the deal to include Nextel replacing our scanners

Don't bet on it! :?

I still think it would be beneficial for Uniden to work with us and keep us HAPPY customers.

What happens when the day comes to buy a new scanner? Will this sour feeling make you want to buy another Uniden scanner when you think back about how they plan to leave us in the wake?

 

[pro92b]

Uniden chose to draw the line at models in current production which seems logical enough. No matter where they drew the line someone would be unhappy. What about my 780 or my even older 895?

I still think it would be beneficial for Uniden to work with us and keep us HAPPY customers.

I think it would cost them a ton of money for which they would not get sufficient return.

Will this sour feeling make you want to buy another Uniden scanner when you think back about how they plan to leave us in the wake?

Rebanding is not Uniden's doing and some areas will not be affected at all. Others will take a few years to shift to the new plan. Contrast Uniden's plan with that of GRE (what plan?). GRE radios sold today have no rebanding capability with the possible execption of the PRO-96/2096. They have not said that radios can be sent in for upgrade and there may be no plan to initiate any such program. Uniden and GRE are the two choices for trunking scanners - which company policy do you prefer?

 

[scannerfreak]

I have already considered this. If I was to do that now, I might get close to $300 if that. I think the word of rebanding has spread pretty fast and alot of people are aware of the issue with the 785D not being upgradeable.

My buddy just sold his on fleabay and he got $380

Don't bet on it! :?

Um, It was a joke :lol:

 

[tonsoffun]

We up here in Canada would love for you guys (US) to sell the above mention scanners to us! for some good prices of course
Since where still be able to use them!

 

[K4APR]

What about my 780 or my even older 895?

You can twist my words around all you want, but go back to my first post and you'll see that I specifically said the 780 SHOULD NOT be supported since it was NEVER meant to be digital capable.

 

[pro92b]

Rebanding is not about digital only - analog systems may have to move as well.

If your local system stayed on the same frequencies but went to a 9600 bps control channel, would you still expect Uniden to subsidize an upgrade for you?

The fact that you are only concerned about the 785 does not mean that someone else would not want consideration for their 780 or even 895. The point is that the line had to be drawn somewhere and what Uniden decided is completely reasonable.

 

[safetyobc]

I think Uniden put the line where they did is because of flash upgradeable scanners. They can flash the firmware via a download by the end user. The older scanners would have to have some hardware changed out. Of course I don't know for sure, just my hunch.

 

[loumaag]

Rebanding is not about digital only - analog systems may have to move as well.

Whereas this is partially true, actually rebanding has nothing to do with digital. It is frequency dependent, not mode dependent.

 

[K4APR]

Rebanding is not about digital only - analog systems may have to move as well.

Understood, but I think we can all agree that digital is where everything is heading eventually. PLUS, the 785D just went out of production in the last year, where the 780 has been out for quite sometime.

If your local system stayed on the same frequencies but went to a 9600 bps control channel, would you still expect Uniden to subsidize an upgrade for you?

Actually, no we're a Moto Type II Analog system here, so digital does NOT affect me at this time.

The fact that you are only concerned about the 785 does not mean that someone else would not want consideration for their 780 or even 895. The point is that the line had to be drawn somewhere and what Uniden decided is completely reasonable.

I was waiting for this one...I am not only concerned with myself. I know there are others out there with different models that will become useless. Would you like a list of the RS trunking scanners I have that will become doorstops? I DO own a 785D and plan to own a 796D soon. I just picked the most recent because I figured it would be the most likely for this sort of thing to be considered for.

 

[K4APR]

I think Uniden put the line where they did is because of flash upgradeable scanners. They can flash the firmware via a download by the end user. The older scanners would have to have some hardware changed out. Of course I don't know for sure, just my hunch.

I have been working with PIC's, Atmel's and other micros for a few years and I know damn well there is an ICP (In-Circuit Programming) circuit somewhere on that board to re-flash the processor. How else would Uniden "service" them when there was a problem with a unit's firmware just short of replacing the whole board? Last time I checked the processor was SMT package soldered directly to the board.

 

[mikea7531]

I bought my 785D almost 2 years ago - i knew back then rebanding was going to come around soon - and uniden did too, but at that time 796D didn't exist yet, and same with others. I find it frustrating only because i would of thought Uniden would cover something like a band plan change, expecially when you pay $500+ for the radio and card at the time. If Uniden wants to keep their customers happy, they should help the people with the 785Ds and 250Ds.

-Mike

 

[K4APR]

If Uniden wants to keep their customers happy, they should help the people with the 785Ds and 250Ds.

-Mike

Thank You! I'm not alone here.

Yep, I spent $425 on my 785D. Thats not including the digital card I WAS going to pick up for $99 from Uniden's site. But with the chance that this radio will not be upgraded in anyway by Uniden, no reason to waste the cash. For those who were amazed that the price dropped on the digital card...WAKE UP! Of course they did! They go with the soon to be obsolete 785D.

 

[AZScanner]

Here's an idea: How about an owner loyalty rebate? If you own a BC250, BC785, BC895 or BC780, you can send in a proof of purchase of some kind and get a $50 rebate on the purchase of the 396D or 330T? Something like that would be cool I think.... how about it UPMan?

Save those receipts! :lol:

-AZ

 

[Voyager]

Here's an idea: How about an owner loyalty rebate? If you own a BC250, BC785, BC895 or BC780, you can send in a proof of purchase of some kind and get a $50 rebate on the purchase of the 396D or 330T? Something like that would be cool I think.... how about it UPMan?

Save those receipts! :lol:

-AZ

When there are only two major players in the game, there isn't much need for loyalty rebates. Besides, it's not as if you can only afford to buy one or the other like a car.

Joe M.

 

[John_M]

KE4NYV:

understood, but I think we can all agree that digital is where everything is heading eventually. PLUS, the 785D just went out of production in the last year, where the 780 has been out for quite sometime.

There isn't much you can do now except sell or keep your
785D. Put it on Ebay and see what you can get for it. We have all been had at one time or another. I bought a Chevy Beretta and had nothing but problems with it. It probably took $3000.00 just to keep it running in the five years that I had it.

 

[DonS]

I think Uniden put the line where they did is because of flash upgradeable scanners. They can flash the firmware via a download by the end user. The older scanners would have to have some hardware changed out. Of course I don't know for sure, just my hunch.

I have been working with PIC's, Atmel's and other micros for a few years and I know damn well there is an ICP (In-Circuit Programming) circuit somewhere on that board to re-flash the processor.

Depends on the processor and whether or not it's actually "flash". Since you mentioned PICs, suppose it happened to be a 16C63A in the SSOP package? Sure, it can be programmed in-circuit... once. After that one programming cycle, you can no longer turn bits back "on". Ones can only be set to zeroes, not vice-versa (because there's no way to erase).

How else would Uniden "service" them when there was a problem with a unit's firmware just short of replacing the whole board? Last time I checked the processor was SMT package soldered directly to the board.

If the firmware is contained in an OTP (one time programmable) device, or even in a masked ROM, that's probably exactly what they do.

RS does it. For example, the upgrades of early PRO-96s to CPU firmware version 1.3. The processor is (was) an OTP device that contains the firmware. When customers returned their radios for warranty service (upgrade to bug-fixing 1.3 firmware), RS either replaced the entire board to which the processor was mounted or they removed/replaced the processor. The former would certainly be faster, and likely cheaper.