I don’t see streaming replacing a stand alone scanner/receiver. There’s certainly not a live stream for every frequency or transmission type used in every location in the US. I think enthusiasts would not like being dependent upon the person/company providing the live stream. Some will use them but not enough to replace physical radios.
The end of scanner development and mfg.
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kd5yuk
Member
And the beat goes on !!!
N8IAA
Member
With regard to buying a car, people need to get from point A to point B, or point C. This has been since the first automobiles were built. But, remember, the three American makers are not the only game around.
As far as scanners go, how many people are willing to pay $600+ to monitor systems and conventional frequencies that are going silent? Not me. Most will opt for apps that stream their area. But, when those apps go silent, will anyone care?? Buying a scanner will not get you to point A, B, or C.
The scanning hobby isn't dying, it's evolving into whatever it will. It will be a niche hobby for those that can afford to pay. The rest of us will use our scanners to monitor what we can. As someone posted, the majority of those that buy scanners, buy them to listen to law enforcement. Thank goodness, I monitor more than that.
Be happy with what you have, or evolve.
With regard to streaming; someone has to buy receivers to provide the streams.
With regard to Uniden; think back 20 years ago (+/-) and one of their product lines was cordless phones and answering machines for land-line phones. People are not using land-lines like they used to so that business can't be anything close to what it was. CB Radio is not what it was. We need to look at their entire product line to see what has a (robust) future.
With regard to scanners; as long as there are places where LE and fire can be monitored, there will be a market. If Uniden does not fill the void, someone will. I believe the biggest expenses are R&D and licensing. But with software defined radios, digital signal processors and other modern electronics technologies, the overall design is a lot "easier" than it used to be. What makes or breaks a lot of products these days is firmware/software. I am hopeful new generations will produce programmers who are capable (and not just for object-oriented stuff).
With regard to Uniden; think back 20 years ago (+/-) and one of their product lines was cordless phones and answering machines for land-line phones. People are not using land-lines like they used to so that business can't be anything close to what it was. CB Radio is not what it was. We need to look at their entire product line to see what has a (robust) future.
With regard to scanners; as long as there are places where LE and fire can be monitored, there will be a market. If Uniden does not fill the void, someone will. I believe the biggest expenses are R&D and licensing. But with software defined radios, digital signal processors and other modern electronics technologies, the overall design is a lot "easier" than it used to be. What makes or breaks a lot of products these days is firmware/software. I am hopeful new generations will produce programmers who are capable (and not just for object-oriented stuff).
iMONITOR
Silent Key
I think at some point with citizens and the media pushing back demanding some level of transparency with public safety communications streaming will become more prevalent than ever. Take for example LIVE PD, LIVE PD CAM and LIVE RESCUE TV shows. Not only do you hear the communications exceptionally clear, you also get to watch the video in close to real time. No investment in scanners, antennas, programming etc. The down side is you can only listen/watch one incident at a time.
Only time will tell if it dies out. Everyone thought it was dead when P25 came out. Still hear. This debate had been going on for years. One of the reasons I went with a receiver (R30) instead of the 100. Better options. does P25 fairly well. I would say enjoy it while you can.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
Don't worry, there will be lots to listen to when the sky does fall down, Chicken Little. Don't throw them scanners away just yet.
It goes back farther than that. In my time as a scanner listener, everyone thought the hobby was dead when agencies started moving to 800 MHz. The scanner manufacturers caught up. Then, everyone thought it was dead when agencies started moving to trunked systems. The scanner manufacturers caught up. Then digital...and on and on.
Encryption is a bigger issue as the scanner manufacturers can't legally get around it. But, that conversation is another matter for another place.
scannersnstuff
Active Member
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I went from a scanner mecca, NJ, to the west coast of Fla. My monitoring has suffered greatly. My home county is type I trunking <in the clear>, for which I am thankful. When I am ready, I am going to setup for milair monitoring. Currently there is not much public safety monitoring,in the area. The closest adjoining county is totally encrypted. I have serious doubt's about ever buying another scanner. Most band's here are pretty quiet. I hope this contribute's to the topic.
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simpilo
Guest
Damn defeatist attitude on this thread. People need to fight and be vigilant when agencies do crappy. When trunking came it it didn't kill scanning when digital voice anything came out it didn't kill scanning. Encryption won't kill scanning. It's man made so its break-able. Damn all this sobbing for no reason.
Lol. Not quite sure who's sobbing. But there are things that can kill scanning. The original post questions the "Skin in the game" that mfg has and when, if at all, will the demand diminish.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Really?
Do you like a small room with no sunlight with extended stay.
Been around a long time, and remember the panic when departments starting to switch to the UHF-T band and scanners didn't go that far. Then 800 Mhz, then Trunking, then Digital...etc.
I'm of the opinion it is a dying hobby unless some legislation is passed lifting the ban on monitoring encryption. Why I don't see that happening, most departments that did switch to the other bands were doing it to "get away from scanners". They finally have done it this time...at least for now.
We do need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, did we do that? Streaming on cell phones is the new reasons given and assume all listening are criminals. Elimination of that aspect might start pushing departments in the other direction and as many know, it's not as easy any more correctly programming a trunking system. Radio Shack is gone, and RR is the only game in town.
I'm of the opinion it is a dying hobby unless some legislation is passed lifting the ban on monitoring encryption. Why I don't see that happening, most departments that did switch to the other bands were doing it to "get away from scanners". They finally have done it this time...at least for now.
We do need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, did we do that? Streaming on cell phones is the new reasons given and assume all listening are criminals. Elimination of that aspect might start pushing departments in the other direction and as many know, it's not as easy any more correctly programming a trunking system. Radio Shack is gone, and RR is the only game in town.
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simpilo
Guest
I'm not gonna debate it. No sense in it. Just needs lobbying the government to amend the privacy laws to mean public safety largely a tax payer supported entity is not a private entity thus on only situations that deem encryption necessary and not on a 24 hour basis. Nothing to hide really. Trying to keep it out of criminals hands is one thing that they will argue. One thing is certain that it doesn't stop the police from apprehending suspects regardless of if encryption is there or not. That's how you break it. I don't mean break it in the sense of hacking the tech, we break it by fighting it all the way to the Supreme Court. Need a very staunch or very strong argument that can withstand dismissal. Cellphones need it in a big way. That's a big reason I don't want the tech hacked. It must be done via the Constitution.
Huh? Would you 'splain that concept please?
Wow. Let us know when you start your crowdfunding project to buy a lawyer to go to the Supreme Court on that argument.
Although the dreaded "E" may eventually affect the industry, outside of that will mfg continue to supply the demand if the demand continues to diminish. I guess the concern is will the mfg's prematurely leave the industry. Or at least what the scanner community sees as premature. The CB industry has always had the trucker industry, even when the fad faded. What do we have?
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