Uniden support for Australian scanner consumers
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rustynswrail
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A chance to put your money where your mouth is, what support are you not getting and what do you want?
R
A way to provide feedback on issues and get changes / new models which suit our market. More stores that sell them would be a great start and have Uniden actually promote the hobby in the Australian market.
Firmware updates inline with the US firmware would be a good start .
That would be great. I would also love a full feature analogue scanner.
rustynswrail
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NOTICE TO AUSTRALIAN UNIDEN SCANNER CONSUMERS:
To the Australian users, here is your chance to vent your spleens. PM me with your thoughts, wants, desires and disappointments re any current Australian Uniden scanner. I will guarantee the information will get to Uniden. If it is not a current model then please don't bother the message will be deleted without notice.
Now the but... be realistic, things like ADS-B, POCSAG, encryption decode etc will NOT be passed on. These modes were added to a list on another forum, but it will not happen. And yes I am saying never.
As to the full featured analog scanner, it would retail for almost if not as much as a full featured digital scanner, so why bother? Just buy the digital scanner and ignore the digital bit.
Now the vexing subject of firmware. I am at the point of exasperation explaining this. Just because a firmware upgrade is released in the US does NOT mean it is applicable here. The US trunking bands, (700-900 MHz) as an example, are primary RF for a lot of users in America. Here the 800 MHz is all but defunct as far as land mobile use is concerned. So when a firmware upgrade is released enhancing 700-900 MHz in the US we do not need it. Other relevant releases will be made here, they are being worked on as we speak. One reason advanced details are not made public is because the testing process takes many weeks sometimes months. If consumers know about the releases they are on the phone harassing Uniden wanting to know when it is coming. This wastes valuable time, so things are kept quiet.
As to more retail outlets, that has absolutely nothing to do with Uniden. Products are offered to the likes of JB HiFi, Costco, etc but THEY choose not to stock them. Uniden would love to have the USDS100 in the local corner store but if the corner store doesn't want to stock it, they cannot force them to. Also remember the number of specialist radio stores here is minimal it is not like the US with the likes of HRO or ScannerMaster or Universal or Zip Scanners. I can only think of about half a dozen stores Australia wide. So again be realistic.
How do you want Uniden to promote the hobby? They are the most prolific seller of scanning equipment in the country. Just by way of information, Uniden is, generally speaking, not a retailer, they do not deal with the public, instead using a network of wholesalers to distribute their products. So once more I ask, how do you want Uniden to promote the hobby?
So, as much I as know I am going to probably regret this, go for it.
R
To the Australian users, here is your chance to vent your spleens. PM me with your thoughts, wants, desires and disappointments re any current Australian Uniden scanner. I will guarantee the information will get to Uniden. If it is not a current model then please don't bother the message will be deleted without notice.
Now the but... be realistic, things like ADS-B, POCSAG, encryption decode etc will NOT be passed on. These modes were added to a list on another forum, but it will not happen. And yes I am saying never.
As to the full featured analog scanner, it would retail for almost if not as much as a full featured digital scanner, so why bother? Just buy the digital scanner and ignore the digital bit.
Now the vexing subject of firmware. I am at the point of exasperation explaining this. Just because a firmware upgrade is released in the US does NOT mean it is applicable here. The US trunking bands, (700-900 MHz) as an example, are primary RF for a lot of users in America. Here the 800 MHz is all but defunct as far as land mobile use is concerned. So when a firmware upgrade is released enhancing 700-900 MHz in the US we do not need it. Other relevant releases will be made here, they are being worked on as we speak. One reason advanced details are not made public is because the testing process takes many weeks sometimes months. If consumers know about the releases they are on the phone harassing Uniden wanting to know when it is coming. This wastes valuable time, so things are kept quiet.
As to more retail outlets, that has absolutely nothing to do with Uniden. Products are offered to the likes of JB HiFi, Costco, etc but THEY choose not to stock them. Uniden would love to have the USDS100 in the local corner store but if the corner store doesn't want to stock it, they cannot force them to. Also remember the number of specialist radio stores here is minimal it is not like the US with the likes of HRO or ScannerMaster or Universal or Zip Scanners. I can only think of about half a dozen stores Australia wide. So again be realistic.
How do you want Uniden to promote the hobby? They are the most prolific seller of scanning equipment in the country. Just by way of information, Uniden is, generally speaking, not a retailer, they do not deal with the public, instead using a network of wholesalers to distribute their products. So once more I ask, how do you want Uniden to promote the hobby?
So, as much I as know I am going to probably regret this, go for it.
R
Ubbe
Member
Haven't the Uniden representative Upman said several times that they have nothing to do with the non-US models?
What happens are probably:
A distributor for a region thinks he can make a profit from distributing Uniden scanners to reseller but he also thinks that the scanners needs to be altered to better suit the region. So he makes an inquire to Uniden to unblock the cellular frequencies and modify the frequency bandplan. It's a 1-2 hour job for a coder so it probably costs $1.000 but then the labels on the scanner needs a change and the user manual and the box needs different wording with the new model name and a suitable power supply needs to be included. Uniden says they can do that if 1000 scanners are contracted to be ordered within a 2 year time frame.
Each adaption of a US firmware to a non US-version costs $1.000 so the distributor waits until a firmware version are finalised and spend the $1000, maybe once a year or when any major features are added, if he thinks it will increase sales.
To have new features or alter the existing ones takes a lot of coding time and Uniden probably can do that for $10.000 but the distributor can't move enough scanners to still make a profit with that extra cost. He already have added so much to the recommended customer price that a scanner costs considerable more compared to a US model. Each adaption of a new firmware will then also be more complicated and probably cost $2.000
Anything suggested to Uniden needs to be US related, that it will make the US scanner models more attractive and will boost sales to merrit the extra development costs. Whistler had another approach as it seems they have a less costly firmware development as it could be a single guy doing it in his basement. When a user suggested changes and additional features it only took a couple of weeks until Whistler announced a new firmware with the suggested changes. It's difficult when you work alone to quality check your own stuff so a Whistler firmware release with new features and options usually ment that another earlier feature where messed up, as a beta test program doesn't seem to be in place.
/Ubbe
What happens are probably:
A distributor for a region thinks he can make a profit from distributing Uniden scanners to reseller but he also thinks that the scanners needs to be altered to better suit the region. So he makes an inquire to Uniden to unblock the cellular frequencies and modify the frequency bandplan. It's a 1-2 hour job for a coder so it probably costs $1.000 but then the labels on the scanner needs a change and the user manual and the box needs different wording with the new model name and a suitable power supply needs to be included. Uniden says they can do that if 1000 scanners are contracted to be ordered within a 2 year time frame.
Each adaption of a US firmware to a non US-version costs $1.000 so the distributor waits until a firmware version are finalised and spend the $1000, maybe once a year or when any major features are added, if he thinks it will increase sales.
To have new features or alter the existing ones takes a lot of coding time and Uniden probably can do that for $10.000 but the distributor can't move enough scanners to still make a profit with that extra cost. He already have added so much to the recommended customer price that a scanner costs considerable more compared to a US model. Each adaption of a new firmware will then also be more complicated and probably cost $2.000
Anything suggested to Uniden needs to be US related, that it will make the US scanner models more attractive and will boost sales to merrit the extra development costs. Whistler had another approach as it seems they have a less costly firmware development as it could be a single guy doing it in his basement. When a user suggested changes and additional features it only took a couple of weeks until Whistler announced a new firmware with the suggested changes. It's difficult when you work alone to quality check your own stuff so a Whistler firmware release with new features and options usually ment that another earlier feature where messed up, as a beta test program doesn't seem to be in place.
/Ubbe
I'm not Australian, but I do have some comments on your post.
Why PM? Why not discuss the issues here? Why shouldn't Australian scanner enthusiasts contact Uniden or the Australian Uniden importer/distributor directly? Why go through you with the filtering you say you will apply?
I disagree. Uniden has considerable intellectual capital tied up in their software for decoding various digital voice protocols. My assumption is that the price of a full-featured, digital, trunk-tracking scanner reflects Uniden's investment in that software development. A full-featured, analog scanner would need none of that so should be less expensive to produce and sell. And, if that statement is true, why should someone who is looking for an analog-only scanner be required to "buy the digital scanner and ignore the digital bit"?
How do you know this? You seem to be speaking with some authority WRT Uniden's operations in Australia? Do you represent the Australian Uniden importer/distributor?
UBBE: I'll comment that there is both correct and not-so-correct information in your post, depending on what part of the world you are talking about. Uniden Australia (we call them UA) has a dedicated and excellent division responsible for all Uniden Australia. I actually envy their improved support of accessories...an area where Uniden America Corporation (UAC) could definitely do better. They do sell into distributors, who sell to dealers (which is also UAC's primary channel strategy) but their team is all Australia based and I know that they are doing more to bring some specialized support and product in the scanner category (as evidenced by the post you've seen in this thread).
But, it is true that localization takes time and money, and the expected sales volume increase based on adding a feature vs. the cost in engineering, marketing, testing, etc must play a part in every decision of that type (as it does for me). There are certainly some modes that I would dearly love to support, but the cost (which is much, much more than your $1,000-$2,000 estimates by at least a factor of 10, depending on the specific feature) sometimes cannot support the expected gain in sales, so I cry my silent tears and move on to things that make business sense. As do all companies who want to remain viable in the long term.
In other parts of the world, we do deal more through a local distributor who is supported out of UJ (Uniden Japan) rather than having in-country teams. UE (Uniden Europe) is one such case, where Avera handles sales/distribution and also provides valuable feedback to the team at UJ. I've actually been asked to go to their main HQ this fall to participate in their dealer show, and am tentatively slated to go (unfortunately, because of my ongoing health battle, I can't say with certainty I'll be there, but hope to go to meet dealers, get a better understanding of the market, and support Piet, who is a good friend I only get to see a couple of times a year). They are also ramping up their commitment to localization, but even though their overall market for all things is bigger than UA, their specific market for scanners is much smaller. So, they must spend time trying also to evaluate whether a new feature or mode makes sense for UAC. Then spend time convincing me (and the rest of our management team) that it is worth at least as much as other things we have in the pipeline. Lucky them, though, any mode I add for UAC, they get a huge development discount on.
But, it is true that localization takes time and money, and the expected sales volume increase based on adding a feature vs. the cost in engineering, marketing, testing, etc must play a part in every decision of that type (as it does for me). There are certainly some modes that I would dearly love to support, but the cost (which is much, much more than your $1,000-$2,000 estimates by at least a factor of 10, depending on the specific feature) sometimes cannot support the expected gain in sales, so I cry my silent tears and move on to things that make business sense. As do all companies who want to remain viable in the long term.
In other parts of the world, we do deal more through a local distributor who is supported out of UJ (Uniden Japan) rather than having in-country teams. UE (Uniden Europe) is one such case, where Avera handles sales/distribution and also provides valuable feedback to the team at UJ. I've actually been asked to go to their main HQ this fall to participate in their dealer show, and am tentatively slated to go (unfortunately, because of my ongoing health battle, I can't say with certainty I'll be there, but hope to go to meet dealers, get a better understanding of the market, and support Piet, who is a good friend I only get to see a couple of times a year). They are also ramping up their commitment to localization, but even though their overall market for all things is bigger than UA, their specific market for scanners is much smaller. So, they must spend time trying also to evaluate whether a new feature or mode makes sense for UAC. Then spend time convincing me (and the rest of our management team) that it is worth at least as much as other things we have in the pipeline. Lucky them, though, any mode I add for UAC, they get a huge development discount on.
There’s so many options for good analog scanners, new and old, that I’m not sure why you would even ask this question. The Alinco DJX11T is a current dandy of an analog handheld that is also affordable, but there’s plenty of other great analog and analog/digital radios available from the likes of Icom, AOR, even some of the Chinese transceivers like the AnyTone AT-D868UV make great analog scanners. Why even bother with Uniden if there’s plenty of other options available?
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The UBCD325P2 is around $600. The UBC126AT is around $250. Add a couple of features from the first one to the second one (like search and store, band scope) and sell it for $350 and I would be over the moon.
I can't justify spending over twice as much to get search and store which my UBC3000XLT had in 2001???
As for promoting the hobby, when did Uniden last advertise a scanner or try to get more people involved in the hobby? The more people in the hobby = more radio scanner sales.
Imagine Sony releasing a new play station and not advertising it...
I can't justify spending over twice as much to get search and store which my UBC3000XLT had in 2001???
As for promoting the hobby, when did Uniden last advertise a scanner or try to get more people involved in the hobby? The more people in the hobby = more radio scanner sales.
Imagine Sony releasing a new play station and not advertising it...
This sells for around $600 here so not much cheaper then a UBCD325P2...
Well, $600 AUD converts to about $426 USD. The Alinco sells here for about $300 USD, which is a great price for a versatile little receiver that covers from below the AM Broadcast band, through Shortwave, and all the way to up to 1300 MHz, and even does upper and lower single sideband modes. You must have an exorbitant import tax there or something that accounts for the 42% price hike over what we pay here. I can’t help you with that.
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rustynswrail
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Why PM, because that is the way I want it done. Of course consumers can contact Uniden Australia directly, which is a part of the Uniden group and not just a distributor/importer, but whether the correct people get to hear the messages is another matter. Why go through me, because I have direct contact with the people who make many of the important decisions.
The Australian market, unlike the US is small, there are a number of local reasons, which I am not going to elaborate on that make some scanners expensive when compared to the US. A "full featured" analog scanner (whatever that maybe) would cost more than the few dollars it would in the US. The selection of Uniden scanners in Australia is small, again when compared to the US. The cost of manufacturing and marketing a "full featured" analog scanner (something that would largely be redundant is all but some isolated areas) would increase the cost. Sales would be small when compared to a digital scanner. Not being Australian means that you may not be familiar with the frequency assignments and modes used here. P25 is considerable, DMR and NXDN follow on, with a small amount of TETRA in the capital cities. Analog in this country is loosing ground to digital on a daily basis. I sincerely doubt any scanner maker is going to go through the hassle of releasing a "full featured" analog scanner when only a handful of people would buy it. The individual requesting the "full featured" analog scanner has some esoteric reasons in asking for a "full featured" analog scanner.
How do I know this? I just do! As to your other questions, that is my business.
R
rustynswrail
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Because you are being paid around $25 to $30 an hour. Not around $10 an hour basic wage as it is in the US. We have a much higher standard and therefore higher cost of living. Together with an exchange rate that adds 30% to the US amount.
R
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