Things I'd like to see in my next scanner

[Pro-95]

Just in case people who build scanners read this forum. Here is a list of what I'd like to see in my next scanner. Even if it includes things already available or were previously available.

1) Adjustable Position Flip LCD screen. For using the scanner in a variety of positions. ie in the visor or on the table laying flat.
2) Memory card slot for multiple configurations or massive channel/bank/frequency storage.
3) Macros for recording keystrokes/configurations with one button access.
4) Illuminated keypad to illuminate when using the illuminated display.
5) Illumination lock always on when powered by alternate power supply.
6) Built in clock
7) Timers for auto-off or auto on. Sleep timer etc...
8) Ability to receive over the air broadcasts of TV/FM/AM. If it's already a radio then allow utilization as a regular radio as well. Especially on in-car mobile/base systems.
9) Discriminator taps / Computer interface.
10) Frequency counter.
11) Signal strength meter.
12) Ability to receive ALL legally listenable transmissions and transmission modes.

What else????

 

[Voyager]

2) Memory card slot for multiple configurations or massive channel/bank/frequency storage.
4) Illuminated keypad to illuminate when using the illuminated display.
8) Ability to receive over the air broadcasts of TV/FM/AM. If it's already a radio then allow utilization as a regular radio as well. Especially on in-car mobile/base systems.
9) Discriminator taps / Computer interface.
10) Frequency counter.
11) Signal strength meter.
12) Ability to receive ALL legally listenable transmissions and transmission modes.

#2 - PRO-96 can store 11 configurations. (Pretty massive, but granted could be better)
#4 - PRO-96 has it.
#8 - AOR has it - many Unidens have most (except AM).
#9 - AOR has both. Uniden and PRO-96 have PC interface (Uniden has PC control).
#10 - Unidens have it (latest models)
#11 - Various have had it
#12 - Ain't gonna happen due to proprietary formats. It would require licensing from all those who hold the licenses. You are pretty much at the limit of those who are willing to license such modes. You may see a mode or two new, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Joe M.

 

[Pro-95]

I know a couple models here and there...... It would be nice to see all the features in one scanner though.

Bummer on the licensing, seems as though it would be a worthwhile investment as a manufactureer to be able say "my" scanner does it all, you don't need anything else. :wink:

 

[Pro-95]

Oh and one more... A battery level meter.

And yes I really like using everyday AA batteries.

 

[mlevin]

How about a channel selector/TG knob. No more punching in a whole boat load of codes just to select a Channel. And top display like on the moto radios, so I don't have to take the radio off my belt all the time.

 

[b7spectra]

Being a die-hard /\/\ fan, I would love to see a scanner with a minimal keypad on it. TOTALLY PC programmable. I mean, really, if you are going to have a professional grade scanner, make it something that is built for professional type people. Keep the Pro96's & BC296's for the folks who still want to program via the keypad, but for a REAL hi-tech scanner, do it all via the PC! The adjustable/tilt display would be most excellent! Oh, yeah, and add a QUALITY speaker to it!

 

[Llwellyn]

The biggest thing I want to see in the next model of trunktracking radios is a TOTALLY configurable ID list... size, arrangement, grouping.

All the trunktrackers so far seem to have 100 as a number of IDs per bank, which most systems don't have that many.

The digital series of Unidens fixed this, but only partially, by having selectable ID lists. However, they are limited to 100 per bank, and in groups of 10.

Almost all Motorola radios have banks and zones configured in groups of 16! So, you can't make the scanner match the radio system's template without either leaving some IDs blank or locking out traffic.

My system here in AA County DOES have over 100 talkgroups, and the surrounding counties are also close to 100.

It would be nice to set up each county in the trunking scanner to match the template of the system.

My other wish would be a radio with a wired remote control head and LCD display; for those of us with vehicles that are not conducive to decent mounting of any scanner with a front display!

 

[Voyager]

How about a channel selector/TG knob. No more punching in a whole boat load of codes just to select a Channel. And top display like on the moto radios, so I don't have to take the radio off my belt all the time.

I like how AOR does it with the thumbwheel and multi-button. You can change banks be going forward/back and channels be going up/down.
But, there are advantages and drawbacks to the top wheel. The advantage you mentioned. The disadvantage is that you never really know what channel you are on without looking at the display, and when you are scanning, it would be pretty much useless except for changing the scan direction. Maybe a simple bank/channel top display would help.

Things to add:

A COS activated backlight like Uniden.

Dynamic banks like AOR

Ergonomic design (like NOBODY currently has!)

Quality materials like Motorola.

A drop-in rapid charger. (a problem unless you use a certain type of cells only - I.E. NiMH, NiCad, LIon, Etc.) [BUT KEEP the AA standard!]

Yes, it would be great to have every feature in one unit, but due to patents, it makes it impossible to do that. After all, the manufacturers are competing for your business. They need features that are unique to their models in order to get your sale.

BTW, with respect to my last reply, AOR has backlit keypads, too.

Joe M.

 

[K5MAR]

Being a die-hard /\/\ fan, I would love to see a scanner with a minimal keypad on it. TOTALLY PC programmable. I mean, really, if you are going to have a professional grade scanner, make it something that is built for professional type people. Keep the Pro96's & BC296's for the folks who still want to program via the keypad, but for a REAL hi-tech scanner, do it all via the PC! The adjustable/tilt display would be most excellent! Oh, yeah, and add a QUALITY speaker to it!

Yea, but then how do you handle changes on the fly? Just as sure as you leave the laptop at home, a new group of frequencies will pop up. This is a lack of flexability, being unable to respond to sudden changes in the field. Even the radio manufacturers, such as the Big M are recognizing this and offering over-the-air programming capability (at a price, of course). The reason commercial radio equipment isn't field programmable is to keep the generally untrained commercial users (aka "professional type people") from "screwing up" the settings. This isn't "hi-tech", it's "idiot-proofing".

And for all my public safety friends out there who do know what they are doing, be realistic about this. For every police officer, fire fighter, medic, etc, out there that knows and understands how to really operate their radio equipment, there are forty to fifty more that have problems setting the squelch level (on those radios that even have that as a user-adjustable setting). As a former LEO 911/radio dispatcher myself, I speak from personal experiences.

Mark S.

 

[KT4HX]

I will add one small item, but important to me. I would like to see a spring loaded "metal" beltclip, much like you get on Motorola XTS radios.

Also, the issue of to have a keypad or not has some validity on both sides. Motorola produced their XTS-3000 and now produces their XTS-5000 in both versions. Of course, being professional grade radios, that are meant to be programmed by network managers and not the operator, the keypad functionality is usually limited so the user could not mess up too much. This is based on my experience in programming radios for various users, and of course it may vary from customer to customer. However, even amongst public service users, there is a wide range of expertise. Some are much more knowledgeable, and as one said, some have trouble using the squelch, and just want the thing to work without real hands-on.

For scanners though, I tend to lean towards the keypad being there. Afterall, these are not really professional radios in the strict sense, but rather a hobby for the enlightened few. Granted some may use them in the course of their jobs, to compliment the radios they are issued.

Nonetheless, they can look professional grade with or without a keypad. But I have often found myself needing to lock in on a previously unknown ID, monitor it to determine its real useage, then on the fly, program it into the appropriate bank, along with text tags. Or to lock out a problematic frequency. Or set search ranges in a new area to look for active frequencies, then save them into memory. Therefore, the keypad is invaluable for making such "on the move" changes. Therefore I find the keypad a necessary item for me, and in reality I don't see it as a detraction to the appearance quality of a scanner at all. Rather as a functional neccesity, that can be constructed so as to compliment the overall look of the equipment.

 

[K5MAR]

I'll enthusiastically endorse the metal beltclips! The cheap plastic ones that both Uniden and GRE/RS put on their scanners are ridiculous. An interim solution: watch the local swap meets and pawn shops for the Uniden PRO 340XL CB HT. These have really nice heavy duty spring steel belt clips that are easily adapted to most handheld scanners and amateur HTs that have cheap plastic or flimsy metal beltclips. I'm generally able to get these radios for $10 or less. And after removing the beltclip, you can resell them for $5 - $10.

Mark S.

 

[shackmgr6073]

Hey, a frequency counter would indeed be pretty cool. I remember when we had them in the store. It stopped when Gone in Sixty Seconds came out and every little wannabe came in to get them. Also, AM/FM/TV would be awesome but it would give them another reason to make it more expensive. Hey Pro-95, did you get the radios I sent you??

 

[Cobra_Commander]

Have a frequency counter included for the 500. and be able to track ltr and all newer trunking systems including edacs open sky and ageis and whatever else.

 

[Voyager]

Have a frequency counter included for the 500. and be able to track ltr and all newer trunking systems including edacs open sky and ageis and whatever else.

No doubt the counter would violate one or more of Uniden's patents now that they have included one in their units. LTR is possible, but unlikely. As for the rest, do you actually read any posts on the forum? This issue is even covered already in THIS THREAD :!:

It ain't gonna happen, so don't keep harping about wanting it. It CAN'T happen legally unless all those companies license the formats for use in scanners, and the chance of that is just as great as the chance that you will will the upcomming Presidential election.

Joe M.

 

[sta18ff]

What do you think of this idea. Instead of just the port to plug in to the computer cable, why not add a port to allow you to plug in a keyboard to make programming "on the fly" alot easier. Then you could have the minimal keypad that some want but still allow programming with a small fold up stlye plug in keyboard. I have also thought remote control capabilities (even on a handheld) would be great. I often plug my 250 into the external scantenna and power cord. But then i have to get up to hit the man button if I am on the couch. Would be great to just hit the remote. Ok,maybe I am a bit lazy,lol.. Jeff Sine

 

[AZScanner]

What else????

What about just making it a software defined radio card that you can install either in your laptop or PocketPC compatible PDA? I'll let your imagination run wild from there, but the possibilities for THAT radio would be nearly limitless. Imagine the ultimate-uber-cool-super-whiz-bang-whoopty-doo-oh-my-god-they've-killed-kenny-scanner ATTACHED to your PDA where you can configure the internal memory, download frequencies and profiles from the internet, limited only by the amount of free ram left on your PDA or (gadzooks) the GIGABYTES of disk space your laptop may have..... OK. I have to stop now - I'm drooling.

-AZ

 

[NINN27]

1) V-Folders like GRE
2) signal strenth meter like Uniden
3) battery meter
4) APCO 25 9600, ASTRO 3600, Smartnet, Smartzone, LTR, EDACS, PROVOICE, OPEN SKY, AM, FM, M type I, M type II, M type I/II hybrid (did i miss any legaly monitorable transmissions?)
5) blacklight keypad and LCD
6) CTCSS/DCS
7) user-set channels/ID per bank
8) text taging for channels, banks, ID's
9) something like the RS 800 MHz antenna (I HATE RUBBER DUCKIES!!)
10) bnc connector
11) cmon... lets say it together... AA BATTERIES! good, i knew we could do it
12) quality speaker (most new models sould like ****)
13) programable from keypad and PC
14) I CALLS (private calling?)
15) user upgradable DSP (like radioshack)
16) delay
17) lockout
18) channel/TG knob on top of radio
19) auto squelch (is this possible?)
20) AGC audio (i think this is what its called... the function on the 96 that levels out all digital audio)
21) custom table settings
22) extended frequencies
23) extended table
24) preset fleetmaps
25) CQPSK

someone tell me if i missed anything, but tell me... is this not the unltimate scanner or what. i think i would make a great project manager for a scanner company. SOMEONE HIRE ME!!! lol

 

[Voyager]

4) APCO 25 9600, ASTRO 3600, Smartnet, Smartzone, LTR, EDACS, PROVOICE, OPEN SKY,

i think i would make a great project manager for a scanner company.

Actually, you missed several other proprietary formats, but if you added LTR, PROVOICE, and OpenSky without getting a license to do so, you would be fired faster than you can say "copyright infringement".

Joe M.

 

[gatorhater]

I'd like to have the BC 296D set up for regular batteries AA type. Perhaps another type of card that can be upgraded with each new type of digital broadcasts.

 

[scanfan03]

How about a keylock that just locks in your programmed freqs, and not the whole keypad. I never use the regular one in the first place.