Forgive me if some of this has been covered already.
After upgrading firmware, I didn't notice anything spectacular other than my unit now has an ESN, I am sure I'll notice the other improvements as I use my unit more.
Don't get me wrong, this is still my primary scanner & I like the 396t, I just would like to see a few more pro-features added - as seen in some other dedicated scanning receivers.
Either in form of updates or 3rd party developers' software.
This would really elevate the 396 above other handhelds.
I think CloseCall could use some improvements.
For starters, get rid of that pause/drop out every few seconds when CloseCall is on.
Allow for the Service Search bands/ranges to be modified! (at least via software).
This would give us extra search ranges.
I don't use this feature at all, but if I could edit these ranges, as in Custom Search, I would definitely use it more.
- Spectrum analyzer function/ability (at least via software).
- Ability to directly enter a frequency & tune to it without jumping thru hoops.
Right now, if I want to directly enter a conventional Freq via Keypad, it asks me to save it, go thru the menu system, QuickSave or whatever, yadda yadda...
Man, can I just enter the freq, hit enter & have the scanner tune to it?
This seems like such a basic function.
- Ability to see conventional frequency simultaneously with Alpha/name data.
i.e., say I am tuned to a conventional channel named "Police West 1", I wish I could see the actual frequency along with this, just like you can for a trunked system, it will show the TGI/System Name and in the lower right of display is the actual Frequency in small numbers. This would really be a plus.
Other notes,
I still really dislike the volume(data) knob/pot/encoder, the way it clicks loudly is really an annoyance & it just feels cheap.
If someone finds a suitable replacement that has soft detents instead of the loud clicking ones, let us know!
I wish they would have put a 2nd knob, even if a thumbwheel style on the side of the scanner too. This `one knob does it all` thing is not all that great, I personally prefer Dedicated Squelch & Volume pots.
After upgrading firmware, I didn't notice anything spectacular other than my unit now has an ESN, I am sure I'll notice the other improvements as I use my unit more.
Don't get me wrong, this is still my primary scanner & I like the 396t, I just would like to see a few more pro-features added - as seen in some other dedicated scanning receivers.
Either in form of updates or 3rd party developers' software.
This would really elevate the 396 above other handhelds.
I think CloseCall could use some improvements.
For starters, get rid of that pause/drop out every few seconds when CloseCall is on.
Allow for the Service Search bands/ranges to be modified! (at least via software).
This would give us extra search ranges.
I don't use this feature at all, but if I could edit these ranges, as in Custom Search, I would definitely use it more.
- Spectrum analyzer function/ability (at least via software).
- Ability to directly enter a frequency & tune to it without jumping thru hoops.
Right now, if I want to directly enter a conventional Freq via Keypad, it asks me to save it, go thru the menu system, QuickSave or whatever, yadda yadda...
Man, can I just enter the freq, hit enter & have the scanner tune to it?
This seems like such a basic function.
- Ability to see conventional frequency simultaneously with Alpha/name data.
i.e., say I am tuned to a conventional channel named "Police West 1", I wish I could see the actual frequency along with this, just like you can for a trunked system, it will show the TGI/System Name and in the lower right of display is the actual Frequency in small numbers. This would really be a plus.
Other notes,
I still really dislike the volume(data) knob/pot/encoder, the way it clicks loudly is really an annoyance & it just feels cheap.
If someone finds a suitable replacement that has soft detents instead of the loud clicking ones, let us know!
I wish they would have put a 2nd knob, even if a thumbwheel style on the side of the scanner too. This `one knob does it all` thing is not all that great, I personally prefer Dedicated Squelch & Volume pots.