Uniden - TDMA Scanner

[mike_s104]

Uniden doesn't have to wait until 3 months before release before saying anything. All they have to say is that they are working on it, and drop a hint on whether it's a firmware update or a new model. It can be 18 months out for all I care, but it is getting to the point now that they need to say something.

Or yes, they will lose some customers to GRE. Will the number of potentially lost be enough for their bean counters to worry about? Who knows. How many of those customers would flock back in a hurry at the release of some kind of information?

Yes, exactly.

Besides, weren't they going to charge for major upgrades in firmware at some point? That was the whole purpose for the ESM thing and registering the scanner on their site at one point.

Yeah, what happened to that? I'd pay for an update to add TDMA.

 

[mike_s104]

Myself I buy what I want after reading the reviews, if it's worth it to me I buy it!

Problem with the GRE is I've read the reviews and I don't want it; I just want one that decodes TDMA and has a keypad!

 

[Dewey]

...
Yeah, what happened to that? I'd pay for an update to add TDMA.

That announcement was made during the "T" models, and IIRC, someone here reported that the release of the XTs nixed that.

Dewey

 

[Dewey]

Problem with the GRE is I've read the reviews and I don't want it; I just want one that decodes TDMA and has a keypad!

I've read a lot of things I don't like about the PSR-800, no keyboard, dust behind the display, no power on/off keylock, no computer control, no GPS, a real labor intensive move through the menus to manually change channels if you hear someone say "go to tac", etc, etc, etc, but guess what... IT DOES DO X2-TDMA!!!

HEY UNIDEN... ARE YOU LISTENING ???

Dewey

 

[mike_s104]

I've read a lot of things I don't like about the PSR-800, no keyboard, dust behind the display, no power on/off keylock, no computer control, no GPS, a real labor intensive move through the menus to manually change channels if you hear someone say "go to tac", etc, etc, etc, but guess what... IT DOES DO X2-TDMA!!!

HEY UNIDEN... ARE YOU LISTENING ???

Dewey

Also the battery issue showing the batteries were low and need replacing if the unit is bumped slightly and the display screen is easily scratched.

But YES, IT DOES DO X2-TDMA!!!

 

[jkahn]

Has anyone tried a HP-1 on a X2 TDMA system yet? Just wondering.
Larry

Funny you should ask!

This morning I've programmed the PG County MD X2 TDMA system into my HP-1 using Power Patrol software. Not sure how to do it, so I did it as one system using exact programming as I know works in my 396T (Motorola, no fancy custom settings). I know this works, as I was listening to FDMA transmissions at the Andrews AFB airshow this past weekend, where TGID 1055 was used to coordinate the EMS activity. This is "PG P25 vanilla".

Then as another system using P25 Standard with the custom offset settings as listed in RR database. This is "PG P25 Custom".

I put both systems in a favorites list, which I have been monitoring for about 2 hours.

While I have not heard anything on either system ( and did not really expect to) I have noticed that the system programmed with the custom settings is showing lots of activity - 1 to 4 bars on the display almost non-stop. The other system is not showing any activity at all.

In about 30 minutes after 3 hours of monitoring, I'll change the vanilla system to P25 without the custom settings and see if it registers any activity. This should give me a good idea of which system to put into usual favorites list to monitor all day, as there is occasionally a random FDMA transmission when an older radio comes online or they do testing.

Doing this will have me all ready to beta test the firmware, just in case Paul's team tries to copy the example of GRE

I just wish I still had my contact in PGPD that would try to throw a radio in FDMA when I needed to test out the old 396T /996T programs. Maybe Dewey has someone who might risk it?????

JK

 

[torontokris]

We should note the GRE PSR-800 is unknown if it does TDMA or not.
Yes its working on X2 hybrid systems but there is NO full TDMA system (or specs out) yet to confirm or deny.

We should not start saying the GRE DOES FULL TDMA (yet)... we just dont know.

Id rather Uniden wait till the full TDMA spec is out and have something that will GUARANTEED to work not MAYBE work

 

[Dewey]

Funny you should ask!
...
Maybe Dewey has someone who might risk it?????

JK

Ahh....... yea, right

 

[rdale]

Just to be clear, since no full systems exist yet, I don't know that anyone has claimed the PSR800 will do "real" TDMA.

Id rather Uniden wait till the full TDMA spec is out and have something that will GUARANTEED to work not MAYBE work

What's the difference? Do you think that Uniden has not even considered TDMA at this point and are just waiting until a "full" X2 system comes on the air? And that GRE considers this a closed case and will never test their radio on full X2? Not sure that's a good conclusion

 

[kikito]

Id rather Uniden wait till the full TDMA spec is out and have something that will GUARANTEED to work not MAYBE work

The spec has been out since last year. The first few "real" systems will be up and running by August or anytime this fall. This has been discussed, argued and proved in many other threads already.

 

[SCPD]

Maybe Uniden is working on a scanner that will do P25 Phase 2 trunking and mototurbo.
Also will PSR 800 work on TDMA voice in conventional mode (please only yes or no)?

 

[rdale]

Maybe Uniden is working on a scanner that will do P25 Phase 2 trunking and mototurbo.

Or... maybe they aren't...

 

[rwier]

Has anyone tried a HP-1 on a X2 TDMA system yet? Just wondering.
Larry

Did a Wiki search for "X2 TDMA" and got nothing related. Same search on Google turned up only "Prince George County" (got no idea where that is at). Lotta HP-1's, not many X2 TDMA systems, probably means little chance of a positive response to your Q.

 

[mike_s104]

Did a Wiki search for "X2 TDMA" and got nothing related. Same search on Google turned up only "Prince George County" (got no idea where that is at). Lotta HP-1's, not many X2 TDMA systems, probably means little chance of a positive response to your Q.

Good 'ol PG County MD.

 

[kikito]

Did a Wiki search for "X2 TDMA" and got nothing related. Same search on Google turned up only "Prince George County" (got no idea where that is at). Lotta HP-1's, not many X2 TDMA systems, probably means little chance of a positive response to your Q.

Did you search RIGHT HERE on this website's database and forums?

 

[troymail]

I've said it before -- I used to be a Uniden fan -- bought several to prepare for the digital switchover in my area. Once things did go digital, I was very disappointed with my BC396T (which I purchased after purchasing a BC296 with the digital card and before the 396XT arrived. Uniden tried to fix this with some updates but it still never worked well for my purposes on digital.

I really hate Radio Shack and I really didn't want a Radio Shack scanner - but I tried the PRO-96 and was much happier with their digital decode and reception - right out of the box (no "tweaking required"). But I still didn't buy one.......

Then I found out about the PSR-500 by GRE --- once I had the PSR-500, my 396T became obsolete.

I've since acquired 2 PSR-800's and really love them. I tried the HP-1 and it's fancy menus and screens were nice but that is not why I buy a scanner -- I buy a scanner to listen.... and the PSR-800 still handles digital much better than the HP-1 --- and it does the TDMA for Prince George Maryland (I can't speak for the Northern Virginia system as I haven't gotten down that way but I have no reason to believe that it won't work just as well there).

Bottom line - buy what you want - wait as long as you want - but GRE does the job now. No matter what you buy, there is always going to be something new and better (or worse) later - no matter how long you wait.

 

[Dewey]

I've said it before -- I used to be a Uniden fan -- bought several to prepare for the digital switchover in my area. Once things did go digital, I was very disappointed with my BC396T (which I purchased after purchasing a BC296 with the digital card and before the 396XT arrived. Uniden tried to fix this with some updates but it still never worked well for my purposes on digital.

I really hate Radio Shack and I really didn't want a Radio Shack scanner - but I tried the PRO-96 and was much happier with their digital decode and reception - right out of the box (no "tweaking required"). But I still didn't buy one.......

Then I found out about the PSR-500 by GRE --- once I had the PSR-500, my 396T became obsolete.

I've since acquired 2 PSR-800's and really love them. I tried the HP-1 and it's fancy menus and screens were nice but that is not why I buy a scanner -- I buy a scanner to listen.... and the PSR-800 still handles digital much better than the HP-1 --- and it does the TDMA for Prince George Maryland (I can't speak for the Northern Virginia system as I haven't gotten down that way but I have no reason to believe that it won't work just as well there).

Bottom line - buy what you want - wait as long as you want - but GRE does the job now. No matter what you buy, there is always going to be something new and better (or worse) later - no matter how long you wait.

Exactly the reason for my bird in the hand (GRE) versus the two in the bush (Uniden) analogy. I would really hate to leave Uniden, but they are starting to treat us even worse. I say “worse” because I have ranted enough about the “first releases” of the 235, 250, 785, and x96T, only to be shortly followed by basically the same models with far better features… 245, 296, 796, and x96XT series. Uniden’s silence until about 6 months prior to a product release has been said so many times, it really doesn’t need repeating… BUT… that is just their policy, who says that it has to stay that way. The really embarrassing part (at least to me) is that GRE didn’t even announce their X2-TDMA support! Instead, it was discovered by users like you Troy. So which company looks better/worse… the company that has given the latest technology without even announcing that they had incorporated it, or the company that addresses this same technology with statements like, “We haven’t seen the final version yet”?

My comment still stands… Uniden, ARE YOU LISTENING???

Yes, I would much rather be Uniden loyal, but if a PSR-800 successor comes out that is not a step backwards in operation, keypad, computer control, GPS, etc, I WILL BE JUMPING SHIP!

Dewey

 

[JPSan]

This TDMA stuff is HILARIOUS. Read this. LIGHTEN UP.

Have been watching this almost heated debate over TDMA and it is really, really funny. Getting all worked up over a scanner. Kind of like Windows is better than MAC's. ( I prefer LINUX, Windows sucks! So there!)

The TDMA Phase II protocol was just recently finalised. Yeah, there is a TDMA version out there and there are not a lot of agencies using it.Yes, some, I know. GRE's newest little toy can decode the basic TDMA systems in operation. BUT, the big question will be CAN the 800 handle Phase II? What if all the current adopters UPGRADE to Phase II? Will the FIRMWARE in the 800 be able to handle the NEW Phase II coding ( ie. How much memory space on board the 800 verses the size of the new code?) Will there BE some hardware CHANGES to the circuitry to PROPERLY decode Phase II transmissions? AND you bet your sweet butt that Motorola WILL get a majority of the existing TDMA systems UPGRADE to PHASE II, quickly with sweetheart deals that Moto is great to do.

If I were a scanner manufacturer I sure would not want to waste the capital in research and development in pushing out a scanner to handle the CURRENT evolution of TDMA and come to find out the NEW Phase II systems will require more than what I have released already. No one knows yet you think? GUESS WHAT? I need to redesign my scanner. AND YOU GOT TO BUY an ALL NEW SCANNER to get the proper hardware / firmware to receive the TDMA Phase II reception.

WHO will BE DOING all the screaming and ranting and raving against the manufacturers then? REMEMBER there are CURRENT NO Phase II systems in the wild, YET!

RELAX! It is JUST a HOBBY! It AIN'T the end of the world. Can YOU buy a scanner that receives MotoTRBO? NXDN? D-STAR? ENCRPYTED? and anything else some of you whine about? Let the code ( TDMA Phase II) get out in the wild. Let UNIDEN and anyone else see the FINAL GOLDEN code and do there magic. I PERSONALLY would think it absolutely a hoot if the GRE 800 could NOT be able to be FLASHED to handle TDMA Phase II!!!! You will see a LOT more Phase II systems much later in the year

Heck, Tucson AZ is getting Phase II later in the year ( I will believe that when I see it!!!).

So lighten up on all this TDMA decoding issue. I REALLY THINK Uniden sort of knows what it is doing over this issue. Probably using some smart common business sense.

Flame me, I don't care. But, IF you use COMMON SENSE and LOGIC, those of you will see in the long run THIS may MAKE common sense.

Chill Out! It's a FRIGGIN hobby and not a cure for cancer. Sell off the evil Uniden's cause GRE's new toy does something different FOR NOW. Glad you all got that kind of cash to waste.

It's STILL just a HOBBY! YMMV!

 

[Dewey]

Have been watching this almost heated debate over TDMA and it is really, really funny. Getting all worked up over a scanner. Kind of like Windows is better than MAC's. ( I prefer LINUX, Windows sucks! So there!)

The TDMA Phase II protocol was just recently finalised. Yeah, there is a TDMA version out there and there are not a lot of agencies using it.Yes, some, I know. GRE's newest little toy can decode the basic TDMA systems in operation. BUT, the big question will be CAN the 800 handle Phase II? What if all the current adopters UPGRADE to Phase II? Will the FIRMWARE in the 800 be able to handle the NEW Phase II coding ( ie. How much memory space on board the 800 verses the size of the new code?) Will there BE some hardware CHANGES to the circuitry to PROPERLY decode Phase II transmissions? AND you bet your sweet butt that Motorola WILL get a majority of the existing TDMA systems UPGRADE to PHASE II, quickly with sweetheart deals that Moto is great to do.

If I were a scanner manufacturer I sure would not want to waste the capital in research and development in pushing out a scanner to handle the CURRENT evolution of TDMA and come to find out the NEW Phase II systems will require more than what I have released already. No one knows yet you think? GUESS WHAT? I need to redesign my scanner. AND YOU GOT TO BUY an ALL NEW SCANNER to get the proper hardware / firmware to receive the TDMA Phase II reception.

WHO will BE DOING all the screaming and ranting and raving against the manufacturers then? REMEMBER there are CURRENT NO Phase II systems in the wild, YET!

RELAX! It is JUST a HOBBY! It AIN'T the end of the world. Can YOU buy a scanner that receives MotoTRBO? NXDN? D-STAR? ENCRPYTED? and anything else some of you whine about? Let the code ( TDMA Phase II) get out in the wild. Let UNIDEN and anyone else see the FINAL GOLDEN code and do there magic. I PERSONALLY would think it absolutely a hoot if the GRE 800 could NOT be able to be FLASHED to handle TDMA Phase II!!!! You will see a LOT more Phase II systems much later in the year

Heck, Tucson AZ is getting Phase II later in the year ( I will believe that when I see it!!!).

So lighten up on all this TDMA decoding issue. I REALLY THINK Uniden sort of knows what it is doing over this issue. Probably using some smart common business sense.

Flame me, I don't care. But, IF you use COMMON SENSE and LOGIC, those of you will see in the long run THIS may MAKE common sense.

Chill Out! It's a FRIGGIN hobby and not a cure for cancer. Sell off the evil Uniden's cause GRE's new toy does something different FOR NOW. Glad you all got that kind of cash to waste.

It's STILL just a HOBBY! YMMV!

Who’s debating??? I thought we were all pretty much expressing our wishes that Uniden would at least say something (how much does that cost?) since the competition has already started the race. As far as telling others to use “common sense and logic”… well, I’m sorry that nothing has ever bothered you, and everything has always gone the way you wanted. Uniden makes a GREAT product, I will take there durability and selectivity over GRE any day. Yes, it’s a hobby, but not for all. While I see that you are already all knowing, there are some here who scan for a living.

Dewey

 

[torontokris]

so whats your conclusion then?
i was simply replying to the question and answers put forward in previous posts.

Just to be clear, since no full systems exist yet, I don't know that anyone has claimed the PSR800 will do "real" TDMA.



What's the difference? Do you think that Uniden has not even considered TDMA at this point and are just waiting until a "full" X2 system comes on the air? And that GRE considers this a closed case and will never test their radio on full X2? Not sure that's a good conclusion