Unication G5 Purchase

[jmontes77029]

I just purchased a G5 pager today in Houston for $660. Let me tell you, I am very impressed at how this unit handles the simulcast system in my area. I have no problem spending that kind of money for the quality I am receiving with this. Of course there things this unit can't do that a scanner can, but with proper programming you can customize it to your liking and it can come close. Very easy to program as well. If you can program a scanner you can program a G5. I am happy with my purchase.

 

[GTO_04]

I just purchased a G5 pager today in Houston for $660. Let me tell you, I am very impressed at how this unit handles the simulcast system in my area. I have no problem spending that kind of money for the quality I am receiving with this. Of course there things this unit can't do that a scanner can, but with proper programming you can customize it to your liking and it can come close. Very easy to program as well. If you can program a scanner you can program a G5. I am happy with my purchase.

Same here! The G5 absolutely blows away my Unidens and GRE PSR-500 on P25 simulcast systems.

GTO_04

 

[jtech48]

I'm happy to hear that. I just bought one yesterday and I cant wait until it arrives

 

[jmontes77029]

You wont be disappointed.

 

[RRR]

Curious, what can't you do with the G5 that you can do with a scanner?

 

[BenScan]

Some of the biggest differences are below.

The G4/5s only monitor one trunked system at a time. You have to pick one and monitor it. It won't scan one, and then move on to another. Or, you can scan a small number of conventional channels, but again if you want to go onto another interest, you'll have to switch to it manually.

The G4/5s cannot hold on an active talkgroup or skip a talkgroup, so you have to use more thought and preparation in how you program trunked systems.

For someone use to scanners, those might be enough to scare you off from purchasing one. However, if you want to hear a P25 Phase 1 simulcast system that your scanner doesn't receive well, those shortcomings are easily overlooked. Plus, there's some hope that Unication will add some hold/skip functions down the road. I don't imagine scanning multiple systems is as likely, but you never know.

Curious, what can't you do with the G5 that you can do with a scanner?

 

[GTO_04]

Some of the biggest differences are below.

The G4/5s only monitor one trunked system at a time. You have to pick one and monitor it. It won't scan one, and then move on to another. Or, you can scan a small number of conventional channels, but again if you want to go onto another interest, you'll have to switch to it manually.

The G4/5s cannot hold on an active talkgroup or skip a talkgroup, so you have to use more thought and preparation in how you program trunked systems.

For someone use to scanners, those might be enough to scare you off from purchasing one. However, if you want to hear a P25 Phase 1 simulcast system that your scanner doesn't receive well, those shortcomings are easily overlooked. Plus, there's some hope that Unication will add some hold/skip functions down the road. I don't imagine scanning multiple systems is as likely, but you never know.

Anyone looking at a G5 should read your excellent review, which tells you everything you need to know about the G5!

GTO_04

 

[BenScan]

Thanks. I should have mentioned that.
Here's a link to my review.
Unication G5 Voice Pager as a Scanner - Review

Anyone looking at a G5 should read your excellent review, which tells you everything you need to know about the G5!

GTO_04

 

[b1100mac]

I keep reading on the forums that no one can stop on a channel they want to listen to. I don't know what version I am running differs from what others are running but when I am scanning P25 conventional channels (I scan the max of 7 per zone) and one of those channels becomes active, in the bottom left of my screen above the blue up arrow is the word "stay". If I touch the blue arrow while the channel is still active it locks it. And the word "unstay" appears. If I want to go back to full scanning, I just touch "unstay" This is much faster than having to rotate the channel knob to find and isolate the particular P25 channel .
Unfortunately this only seems to appear when scanning P25 conventional channels, not 700-800 trunk systems.

 

[sparklehorse]

I keep reading on the forums that no one can stop on a channel they want to listen to. I don't know what version I am running differs from what others are running but when I am scanning P25 conventional channels (I scan the max of 7 per zone) and one of those channels becomes active, in the bottom left of my screen above the blue up arrow is the word "stay". If I touch the blue arrow while the channel is still active it locks it. And the word "unstay" appears. If I want to go back to full scanning, I just touch "unstay" This is much faster than having to rotate the channel knob to find and isolate the particular P25 channel .
Unfortunately this only seems to appear when scanning P25 conventional channels, not 700-800 trunk systems.

Yes, that works when you're scanning conventional channels, but that option does not exist when you're scanning Talkgroups. I mostly use the G5 for P25 trunk systems, so the Stay option on conventional isn't of much use to me. I think most of us here use these primarily for trunk systems. It seems like it would be simple for them to add this function to trunk talkgroups, so we are hoping that will happen one day.

.

 

[RRR]

Curious, what's so technologically different about these G5 units, that they can monitor simulcast systems so much better than a scanner of about the same price range or higher?

And, stating the obvious here, but it is what it is; why can't/won't scanner manufacturers use this technology to improve on their product?

 

[radio3353]

Curious, what's so technologically different about these G5 units, that they can monitor simulcast systems so much better than a scanner of about the same price range or higher?

And, stating the obvious here, but it is what it is; why can't/won't scanner manufacturers use this technology to improve on their product?

The G4/G5 use a different technology. Perhaps you should direct that question to Uniden and Whistler. Just don't expect an answer.

 

[DJ11DLN]

The G4/G5 use a different technology. Perhaps you should direct that question to Uniden and Whistler. Just don't expect an answer.

Perhaps Unication will produce a full-fledged scanner in the not too distant future using this "different" technology. That would certainly give Uniden and Whistler something to think about. I don't have LSM issues here, but I'm attracted by the compact size, the reports of excellent P25 decode and audio quality, and the integrated Bluetooth. I need another scanner like I need another hole in my head but I may just have to pull the trigger on one of these.