At least it will be new designs and not a old GRE900 with a firmware update being sold as a new design.
The end of scanner development and mfg.
- Thread starter frazpo
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Hit_Factor
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Nothing wrong with markup, if they stop making money, they will stop making scanners. Is that what you want?
Yeah, right. How many years was it between the rollout of the 536 and the SDS200? The 996 and the 536? When has Uniden ever replaced a model with it's successor in just a year?
Focusing on the nuances of a post (such as attempting to make an issue out of the "one year" thing or the "markup" of the price) shows the narrowness of the thought process of those who do.
We can nickle-and-dime the discussion about the future of scanners by pointing to these inane and unimportant details, but the facts is, like the buggy whip, the salad days of this "scanner" thing is past us.
If you want to use your personal experience of your local police department (made up of 10 cops) still operating on VHF as proof-positive that scanners are "here to stay.....," and facing the reality that technology will do-in personally owned scanners is a little hard for you, and you feel that, as a private citizen, you have some sort of "right" to the inner workings of your public service agencies, so be it.
But you're living in a dream world.
We can nickle-and-dime the discussion about the future of scanners by pointing to these inane and unimportant details, but the facts is, like the buggy whip, the salad days of this "scanner" thing is past us.
If you want to use your personal experience of your local police department (made up of 10 cops) still operating on VHF as proof-positive that scanners are "here to stay.....," and facing the reality that technology will do-in personally owned scanners is a little hard for you, and you feel that, as a private citizen, you have some sort of "right" to the inner workings of your public service agencies, so be it.
But you're living in a dream world.
a29zuk
Member
We are just looking at the bigger picture, here. That is why I used the Michigan system earlier in this thread(post #80).
Oakland county is joining the MPSCS soon. It was previously on an Open Sky system which was unmonitorable. It will more than likely be encrypted as they originally incorporated the Open Sky system to deter listeners. Lenawee county is joining the system soon. There are serious talks going on now to encrypt their county. Two of three counties for Lansing, Mich. are planning to join the system in the near future, too. There is no talk of encryption yet, though. As I stated before 12% of the MPSCS's talkgroups are encrypted. That number is slowly rising.
Previously, I enjoyed having my scanner on the dresser at night, listening to police calls as I would fall asleep. Now that all the police and some fire talkgroups are encrypted I fall asleep to a silent scanner so most nights I just don't even turn it on.
I'm glad you can still monitor your public safety. But when it goes away the fun goes away.
Jim
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I definitely see both angles of the debate here. Which is why I posted the O.P.
I think its obvious that scanning is diminishing to a point but like someone mentioned in a previous post so has ham radio. However look at ham radio , they still have bigtime mfg like Icom, yaesu, etc. While it does seem to be on the decline the last several years I feel we will always have a mfg to make and sell a product. Now what we will be scanning 20 years from now is the big question. So, half my question is sort of answered.
I think its obvious that scanning is diminishing to a point but like someone mentioned in a previous post so has ham radio. However look at ham radio , they still have bigtime mfg like Icom, yaesu, etc. While it does seem to be on the decline the last several years I feel we will always have a mfg to make and sell a product. Now what we will be scanning 20 years from now is the big question. So, half my question is sort of answered.
Sure. For a base option. But that's about it. Really cant compare it to having all the bells and whistles an actual scanner radio has though. But like you said, what your getting for price comparison is pretty darn good!
N8IAA
Member
Icom, Yaesu, and Kenwood don't just make ham transceivers. The big three do have competition from the Chinese knock offs for ham. Don't forget, their main focus is commercial radios. But, how often have anyone heard complaints on how the equipment is built, ham or commercial??
I've been scanning since xtal radios. I've gone years until scanners caught up with analog trunking. In fact, most of my scanning was done via ham radio.
But, I do see a day when the digital scanning of LE/FD will end. There are newer digital modes that only SDR radios and dongles can decode. There are areas of scanning that have evolved. The two scanner manufacturers haven't.
Granted, Uniden did make a scanner that can handle P-25 simulcast, but, it has it's limits and problems. I won't elaborate, the forums are filled with threads and posts about all of them. Would have bought one of the SDS's, until the system I would have used it on went 'E'.
**I've learned over the years not to throw good money after bad.**
I lost my county to 'E' eleven years ago. I, also, lost the two other counties I monitored to 'E'. Getting a scanner that decoded DMR, opened up three counties I used to monitor on my ham radios in the VHF hi-band.
I'll still monitor analog conventional until it disappears. Then, maybe, I'll do something different with my life. No big deal. I know how to evolve.
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Bob1955
Member
ten13, Uniden America Corporation is NOT going to redesign the SDS-100/SDS-200 again! It just came out not too long ago.
This is becoming so ridiculous now.
I also realized on why would we want to listen Law Enforcement and Fire all of our lives anyways. It means we live in a bubble when the world is our oyster to live and learn and explore. I figured there is more to life than listening to people get stabbed - killed - run license plates and hearing things burn down. Maybe its time to move on sometimes and explore other avenues of life. It's sometimes hard since we are glued to our radios like people are glued to their smart phones now.
N8IAA
Member
How many people have left the hobby because the scanners have evolved beyond the old analog scanners capabilities??
How many haven't a clue how to use a computer to program the newer SD card scanners??
How many have bought the latest and greatest from both scanner manufacturers and haven't figured out how to use them, much less understand them??
*This is evident by all of the repeated posts in multiple threads.*
How many have boxed them back up, or sold them out of frustration??
Scanning has only evolved for the tech minded. Not the basic scanner user. That will be the demise of scanning along with 'E'.
How many haven't a clue how to use a computer to program the newer SD card scanners??
How many have bought the latest and greatest from both scanner manufacturers and haven't figured out how to use them, much less understand them??
*This is evident by all of the repeated posts in multiple threads.*
How many have boxed them back up, or sold them out of frustration??
Scanning has only evolved for the tech minded. Not the basic scanner user. That will be the demise of scanning along with 'E'.
The last sentence in the post of "N8IAA is the truth of the matter, there are those of us who were not brought up in the tech computer world....
Why does everyone keep using "E" instead of encryption? Just curious.
Wondering that myself.. Maybe in an attempt to avoid the Radioreference banhanmer? Fastest way to get a thread shut down is encryption and streaming talk.
N8IAA
Member
Because of the first line at the top of every forum on RR. And K7MFC's comment below.
So the moderators are too stupid to know that "E" equals encryption? That's funny.
And I'm pretty sure the announcement you mention has an "and" not an "or" in reference to encryption/ streaming.
belvdr
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N8IAA
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Didn't call anyone stupid Kevin. Kind of like the pot calling the kettle..... But have seen my share of posts deleted.
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