Unication *New* G4 and G5 pagers/ somewhat limited scanner

[cpetraglia]

That sounds like hardware. Maybe a bad speaker or connection. I would certainly not let it get excessively warm, you may loose it altogether. If you can try the Bluetooth while it's in the fail mode and that works OK, you have a hardware issue. I know these things are supposed to be rugged and be able to survive a firefighters job. A little heat shouldn't bother it.

 

[David_Oney]

Im Back

My Apologies Everyone, I have been extremely busy travelling to customer locations to troubleshoot system issues. I will go back through the forum and try to answer any questions that are left unanswered. Please feel free to contact me with your questions by phone (817) 210-4187 or e-mail david@unication.com if I happen to "disappear" again. I'm not just support I handle all Firmware testing and any other testing that has to be done so please bear with me.

 

[David_Oney]

I haven't seen anything in the PPS yet for programming AES-256. If I find it, I might try that to see how it works.

.

G4 and G5 does support AES 256 bit encryption. However it does require a separate encryption utility to input the Key and is not programmable using the PPS.

 

[David_Oney]

I'd like to know:

1. Will the G5 be getting P25 phase II support?
2. Will the G5 be getting DMR support?
3. Does Unication have any plans on making a Tri-band version, VHF/UHF/700-800 MHZ?

Honestly, number 3 is currently most important to me and probably the least to be supported.

1. The G4/G5 will support Phase II in the Future we are hoping by the end of this year.
2. DMR is not currently in the works but if the market warrents it we will consider adding it to the supported protocols.
3. A Tri-band is not in the works simply because it would require a hardware redesign. The G5 currently has 2 receivers and 2 antenna. The external antenna is for 700/800 MHz, there is also an internal loop antenna that receives the alternate Band whether that is VHF or UHF.

 

[ccfd7031]

1. The G4/G5 will support Phase II in the Future we are hoping by the end of this year.
2. DMR is not currently in the works but if the market warrents it we will consider adding it to the supported protocols.
3. A Tri-band is not in the works simply because it would require a hardware redesign. The G5 currently has 2 receivers and 2 antenna. The external antenna is for 700/800 MHz, there is also an internal loop antenna that receives the alternate Band whether that is VHF or UHF.

Excellent, that explains why I can receive so well without the antenna,especially on UHF. That's what I suspected. Thanks for answering questions, looking foward to hearing about future firmware changes/features/bug fixes..

Also, are you guys aware of the tiny audio probably some of us have been having? See my previous posts.

 

[David_Oney]

Excellent, that explains why I can receive so well without the antenna,especially on UHF. That's what I suspected. Thanks for answering questions, looking foward to hearing about future firmware changes/features/bug fixes..

Also, are you guys aware of the tiny audio probably some of us have been having? See my previous posts.

We are aware of the issue and hope to have it fixed in the next release.

 

[cpetraglia]

Excellent, that explains why I can receive so well without the antenna,especially on UHF. That's what I suspected. Thanks for answering questions, looking foward to hearing about future firmware changes/features/bug fixes..

Also, are you guys aware of the tiny audio probably some of us have been having? See my previous posts.

So if I understand correctly, an external antenna will only work with 7/800? It's limited to what can be received on the lower bands by the internal antenna. Basically it will only be good for a local system on the lower bands. In my opinion, that is going to limit G5 sales to us hobbyist's. There are many UHF systems I need an external antenna to receive.

 

[David_Oney]

So if I understand correctly, an external antenna will only work with 7/800? It's limited to what can be received on the lower bands by the internal antenna. Basically it will only be good for a local system on the lower bands. In my opinion, that is going to limit G5 sales to us hobbyist's. There are many UHF systems I need an external antenna to receive.

We didn't expect this kind of interest from the hobbyist community or the unit might have looked and worked a bit differently. Remember, The unit was not designed originally to be used by hobbyists it was designed with firefighters EMS and police in mind.

 

[Thunderknight]

We didn't expect this kind of interest from the hobbyist community or the unit might have looked and worked a bit differently. Remember, The unit was not designed originally to be used by hobbyists it was designed with firefighters EMS and police in mind.

David, the real hobbyist game changer in the G4/G5 is how well it handles simulcast systems. Something the other scanner manufacturers have not fixed to date. Perhaps Unication should consider a "G7" - a larger unit that is tri-band, external antenna options, etc. but without needing the alerting component. Keep the excellent simulcast reception and market it as a high end "scanner hobbyist receiver" and not a pager sized alerting receiver. Rugged, etc.

 

[ccfd7031]

So if I understand correctly, an external antenna will only work with 7/800? It's limited to what can be received on the lower bands by the internal antenna. Basically it will only be good for a local system on the lower bands. In my opinion, that is going to limit G5 sales to us hobbyist's. There are many UHF systems I need an external antenna to receive.

It's not a bad antenna. That's why I was so surprised at the range I was getting a few pages ago without an antenna. I can out receive an XTS5000 without the antenna attached on my G5 for what it's worth. I can go about 5 county's over and still get my countys system which any scanner would have lost right outside the county line. But you may have completely different luck especially if you already need an external antenna.

 

[David_Oney]

David, the real hobbyist game changer in the G4/G5 is how well it handles simulcast systems. Something the other scanner manufacturers have not fixed to date. Perhaps Unication should consider a "G7" - a larger unit that is tri-band, external antenna options, etc. but without needing the alerting component. Keep the excellent simulcast reception and market it as a high end "scanner hobbyist receiver" and not a pager sized alerting receiver. Rugged, etc.

I will pass it along to the engineering team for future product design. At this point we are hard at work making sure that this product is the best that it possibly can be for our customers.

 

[gspivey]

David,

When the G5 is in the amplifier/charger docking station, does it disconnect both the internal and external antenna or only one of the antennas? Thanks.

 

[phirephoto]

1. The G4/G5 will support Phase II in the Future we are hoping by the end of this year.
2. DMR is not currently in the works but if the market warrents it we will consider adding it to the supported protocols.
3. A Tri-band is not in the works simply because it would require a hardware redesign. The G5 currently has 2 receivers and 2 antenna. The external antenna is for 700/800 MHz, there is also an internal loop antenna that receives the alternate Band whether that is VHF or UHF.

Is the external antenna at all used for VHF / UHF or does it not even have any use on V/U?

 

[JD21960]

Unication G4/G5

I agree with the others above. After seeing the YouTube videos on the Unication voice pagers I would buy a Unication Scanner or (G7) as Thunderknight called it ... in 2 seconds. The G4/G5's still lack a few things I would want as a hobbyist. They're perfect for their intended market. I even watched the Unication G5 software video on how to set it up in anticipation of such a new product someday. I vote for the G7! ;0)

 

[cpetraglia]

Has anyone actually figured out a way to enter a wild card TG? I read somewhere that FFFF would work. I tried it and don't pick up anything using FFFF. !!

 

[Thunderknight]

Has anyone actually figured out a way to enter a wild card TG? I read somewhere that FFFF would work. I tried it and don't pick up anything using FFFF. !!

You can turn on monitor mode in the pager (from the pager menu, not PPS), and that will receive any TG.

 

[cpetraglia]

Well thank you. It's always the simple things.

 

[David_Oney]

Is the external antenna at all used for VHF / UHF or does it not even have any use on V/U?

The external antenna is only used for 700/800 in the G4 and G5.

 

[David_Oney]

What firmware version is everyone on? There may be an update available.

 

[IAmSixNine]

G4 on V0.9-0.14A_R11J