Whistler Group acquires GRE's assets to manufacture Radio Shack scanner product line

[stingray327]

Whistler has promised that they will produce at least one scanner with Phase 2 capability, but I would caution against anyone assuming that all Whistler scanners will be capable of handling Phase 2. Whistler has announced that they will restart production of the PRO-197/PRO-106 scanners (with different model numbers), and those units do not support Phase 2.

How crucial is it to be able to monitor Phase 2 of APCO 25?

 

[n5ims]

Depends on your area and what you want to listen to. If there are no Phase II systems in your area it might not be important at all. If what you want to monitor is running a Phase II system you probably will want a scanner capable of monitoring it.

Many of the new P-25 digital systems are being sold with Phase II capability, although initially they start out just using Phase I. This may be to allow additional time for the purchase and installation of Phase II capable radios or it may be that the additional capacity is not yet necessary. One thing that will be certain though (accounting for Murphy's Law anyway) is that if you spend the $500 for a digital scanner that doesn't work with Phase II systems, they'll switch over to it shortly after you can no longer return the scanner for the model that works on Phase II.

 

[stingray327]

Depends on your area and what you want to listen to. If there are no Phase II systems in your area it might not be important at all. If what you want to monitor is running a Phase II system you probably will want a scanner capable of monitoring it.

Many of the new P-25 digital systems are being sold with Phase II capability, although initially they start out just using Phase I. This may be to allow additional time for the purchase and installation of Phase II capable radios or it may be that the additional capacity is not yet necessary. One thing that will be certain though (accounting for Murphy's Law anyway) is that if you spend the $500 for a digital scanner that doesn't work with Phase II systems, they'll switch over to it shortly after you can no longer return the scanner for the model that works on Phase II.

It will be prudent then to just wait until the new BCD 436 and 536 HP scanners come out and see what Whistler produces.

 

[ion_op]

Waiting for the Whistler scanners to make my final decision.

mIKe

 

[oracavon]

Whistler has promised that they will produce at least one scanner with Phase 2 capability, but I would caution against anyone assuming that all Whistler scanners will be capable of handling Phase 2. Whistler has announced that they will restart production of the PRO-197/PRO-106 scanners (with different model numbers), and those units do not support Phase 2.

Yes, I agree. I meant to say any new Whistler digital scanners, not remakes of existing scanners that Whistler would just rebrand. I can't imagine their designing anything new that wouldn't include phase 2, but I wouldn't expect them to upgrade any existing GRE models before rebranding them.

 

[oracavon]

It will be prudent then to just wait until the new BCD 436 and 536 HP scanners come out and see what Whistler produces.

I would agree. No point in spending $400-$600 just a few months before new models in the same price range will be released with additional capabilities. I'm sure someone will come up with an exception to prove me wrong, but I still think this would apply to the majority of buyers right now.

 

[stingray327]

I would agree. No point in spending $400-$600 just a few months before new models in the same price range will be released with additional capabilities. I'm sure someone will come up with an exception to prove me wrong, but I still think this would apply to the majority of buyers right now.

Makes good sense and dollars $$$$ to me.

 

[stingray327]

Yes, I agree. I meant to say any new Whistler digital scanners, not remakes of existing scanners that Whistler would just rebrand. I can't imagine their designing anything new that wouldn't include phase 2, but I wouldn't expect them to upgrade any existing GRE models before rebranding them.

I would hope that Whistler will have better customer service than Uniden has. Uniden had terrible customer service in the early 90's and now I hear it is worse.

 

[stingray327]

I believe that all digital models handle P25 phase 1. The GRE PSR-800 is the only model which currently handles P25 phase 2. Since Whistler acquired the GRE line, I'm sure that the Whistler digital scanners, when they become available in the first quarter of 2014, will also do P25 phase 2.

The new Uniden scanners to be released in January 2014 (models 436 and 536) will also handle P25 phase 2.

So then when Whistler comes out with scanners capable of Phase 2 it will be interesting to see which scanner is better the Whistler or comparable Uniden 436 and 536?

 

[stingray327]

Is Whistler going to come out with competing pre-programmed scanners that Uniden is releasing in Jan. 2014 BCD 436HPand BCD 536HP? The two above scanners are pre-programmed like the Uniden Home Patrol scanner.
Edit/Delete Message

 

[Halfpint]

Is Whistler going to come out with competing pre-programmed scanners that Uniden is releasing in Jan. 2014 BCD 436HPand BCD 536HP? The two above scanners are pre-programmed like the Uniden Home Patrol scanner.

Well... If they bring out the PSR-700, PSR 800, and *possibly* PSR 900 scanners as their `first offerings' those are basically "Pre-programed" scanners and have been so from the very beginning. (I say *possibly* for the PSR 900 because they were supposedly working on getting them into production when they shut down.)

I don't expect that they'll have any of the other `cheaper' PSR models `converted' to be like the 700 - 900 series scanners since GRE didn't have any announcements about doing that with those particular models.

 

[stingray327]

Well... If they bring out the PSR-700, PSR 800, and *possibly* PSR 900 scanners as their `first offerings' those are basically "Pre-programed" scanners and have been so from the very beginning. (I say *possibly* for the PSR 900 because they were supposedly working on getting them into production when they shut down.)

I don't expect that they'll have any of the other `cheaper' PSR models `converted' to be like the 700 - 900 series scanners since GRE didn't have any announcements about doing that with those particular models.

I am not familiar with the brand GRE or any GRE specific scanners even though all of my Radio Shack scanners were made by them. Was GRE the best out of the 3 brands? Uniden, GRE, and RS?

 

[tglendye]

You may as well be asking who makes the best vehicle- Ford, Chevy or Dodge?

 

[tglendye]

Is Whistler going to come out with competing pre-programmed scanners that Uniden is releasing in Jan. 2014 BCD 436HPand BCD 536HP? The two above scanners are pre-programmed like the Uniden Home Patrol scanner.
Edit/Delete Message

We won't know until they make their official announcement.

 

[poltergeisty]

Dear Whistler, please make a scanner with Mil-spec plastic. Thanks! :lol:

 

[NHdave]

I am not familiar with the brand GRE or any GRE specific scanners even though all of my Radio Shack scanners were made by them. Was GRE the best out of the 3 brands? Uniden, GRE, and RS?

There are/were actually only 2 brands, RadioShacks current scanner line was made by GRE.

 

[stingray327]

There are/were actually only 2 brands, RadioShacks current scanner line was made by GRE.

Oddly when I search the Radio Shack website they are selling Uniden scanners on their website. Looks like they have more Uniden scanners than Radio Shack models. But if there is a problem with you scanner you MUST go to Uniden and not Radio Shack for customer service?

 

[NHdave]

Oddly when I search the Radio Shack website they are selling Uniden scanners on their website. Looks like they have more Uniden scanners than Radio Shack models. But if there is a problem with you scanner you MUST go to Uniden and not Radio Shack for customer service?

Why is that odd? They've sold them for a while, even in store. As GRE made the RadioShack line of scanners and GRE doesn't exist anymore, they have little to no stock.

No different than buying a product from any other store. If you buy a Sony TV from Walmart and need warranty work, you go to Sony not Walmart.

 

[Halfpint]

Actually *both* GRE and Uniden has made/makes RS branded scanners over the years. I don't know if Whistler is going to keep up the `tradition' or not but, pretty much all of the current RS scanners are made by Uniden With only the occasional exception of the occasional `refurbished' GRE made unit now and then if one is at the right place at the right time! (Along with RS also still selling Uniden branded scanners, too!).

'Course we should remember that the first `super scanners' AKA the PRO2004, PRO2005, and PRO2006 were GRE designed and made scanners. (I'll admit that I cannot recite all the other RS/GRE scanners from memory but, I'll almost bet that there are a few others here on RR who can.) The RS/GRE made scanners is a pretty danged long list.

 

[NHdave]

Actually *both* GRE and Uniden has made/makes RS branded scanners over the years. I don't know if Whistler is going to keep up the `tradition' or not but, pretty much all of the current RS scanners are made by Uniden

I think you're a tad confused. All of the RS branded scanners have been made by GRE for the past few years.