Why is it taking so long...

[b1100mac]

What did he say?

 

[gcopter1]

I would set up:

Channel 1 = Station 1 TG and it would include Stations 1 Car to Car TG and the Tac TG. You then would have Station 1 Dispatch, Car to Car and TAC all scanning on Channel 1 of 8 available channels..

For the Station with the most traffic you could set up a Zone, lets say a Station 1 Zone, and have Channel 1 for Dispatch, Channel 2 for Car to Car and Channel 3 for TAC. Channel 4 could be all 3 TG's.

There are a lot of options to monitoring your favorite Talk Groups.

Ok. So let's say I'm on knob 1, scanning three talk groups. Now, I'd like to stop and monitor a talk group, which you said can be assigned to a zone (s) available for that knob position. How do I switch to that zone?


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[n3obl]

Wish they would consider putting the call page function in to alert a G4 based off a base radio Id.

 

[sfd119]

I stand corrected on the price, my bad! So what are the current price of the G4/5 flavors? Assuming this information is not classified or for your eyes viewing only.

Any dealer will give you a quote. Any dealer will let you order.

Although I'm a young cat, but if my memory serves me right. These units are "supposedly" being sold and geared toward folks/departments in "Public Service". To this date, I have NOT been able to find out who or what departments have bought or replaced their Minitors for the G4/5.

A lot of agencies are using these in Michigan that use the statewide trunked radio system. This allows alerting using a TG instead of two tone analog. It also allows the user to not have a radio and still listen to their fireground TG. I'm using one for my agency.

As someone that has been in the new era of EMS, these units are pointless and overpriced for what a crew needs. Let's be honest, NO ONE will use these during a shift.

As someone who also is in the "new era of EMS", these units are not overpriced and are being used in the real world. Its a pager with scanning capabilities. You guys never use a pager?

We don't care what's going on the next county over or 2 counties over. Once you are relieved from your shift, you go home and that's it. Unless a major fire or disaster happens you will not be called in.

We very much care about what happens in the next county over as we have first due response to that area. Oh and the whole mutual aide aspect.

My hats go to those men and women as they don't have budgets for fancy toys. This is definitely a"toy" for them.

Again, it's not really a toy. Instead of issuing a very expensive radio to someone to monitor communications, the Unication will alert AND allow them to monitor comms. It's much cheaper this way.

Minitors are tried and true. They are dropped all the time, left in hot or cold places and generally not taken care of.

You do realize that Unicaiton made some Minitors for Motorola, yes? I have dropped my Unication, left it in the cold & hot and have not had any issues.

No screens to worry about. Batteries easily swapped out. If they stop working they are replaced simple as that.

There's no screens to worry about on the Unication, either. I use the knobs to select what I need to hear, exactly like a Minitor. Screens provide extra functionality like switching Zones and what not. I can swap batteries with my Unication easy too!

With budget constraints and Minitors found on eBay, that is the best, cheapest route. Keep in mind that crews also have numeric pagers. Yes, beepers! Can the same be said about the G4/5?

You're advocating departments that do Fire & EMS and other LIFE SAFETY operations utilize equipment found on eBay?

You or Unication are NOT going to convince me that this product will be the next best thing to the Minitor.

Sorry you do not have an open mind.

Very few volunteer departments have P25 systems in place. That's a fact!

Where's your source on that "fact"? There are plenty out there. Look at the Statewide radio systems everyone has been migrating to. Michigan is a great example and one of the reasons the G5 was developed.

So let's call it what is. This G4/5 has now been a device that has and is trying to replace scanners in this community. <snip> They have an excellent solution to LSM, that's it.

The G4/5 is not trying to replace scanners. It's for public safety alerting. I have one and they work phenomenal and give me so many more options that a Minitor could ever give me. Quite a bit of flexibility actually. When using it for its intended purpose of alerting on a TG works every, single, time. It also works great on two tone and I receive pages better than my Minitor. This is the future of paging. Analog isn't going to be around forever, especially when the FCC decides to do the 6.25 khz mandate which won't allow analog voice.

To close this... I would to like to remind you. I do want to purchase a G4/5 series for scanner use and NOT for work purposes. I do THINK that this product will be the next big thing with scanner hobbyists. The problem that we all know is preventing them propelling to the next level are the known issues and the price point. The price is too high as this point. Fix the issues and sell this device about $450 then you'll have great sales. Until then I'll be happy with my Harris and DSD+. Those work for ME!

To close my response to you, I have a G5 and it works perfect for its INTENDED use of Public Safety. Its a pager with some scanning functions in it. The price point is higher because it has digital and P25 trunking in it that works.

I'm glad your Harris radio works for you...my APX works great too. But my APX can't sit on a TG and alert me on it either. Besides, the cost difference between your Harris and my APX against the Unication is substantial.

In closing, you should really not be adding your two cents in from a public safety aspect. Just because your agency does it one way, doesn't mean the rest of the world does it the same. Minitors and two tone paging will not be around forever. You should probably take your head out of the sand and be open to new formats and technology...especially since you're in "the new era of EMS".

 

[MaximusTheGreat]

You win sfd119!

You're right, I'm wrong, Apple products are the Best thing since sliced bread. Long live Unication, Heil Unication!

 

[sfd119]

You win sfd119!

You're right, I'm wrong, Apple products are the Best thing since sliced bread. Long live Unication, Heil Unication!

It's not about winning or losing...it's about evaluating the needs and technology for your agency and being proactive. Remember everyone that had to get narrowband waivers because they were behind the ball? Two tone paging will go away and I, for one, would like to know what is going to replace it and be ready for it.

For what it's worth, I have an Android phone and an iPhone for work. Both have pros and cons.

 

[fordcobra04]

It's not about winning or losing...it's about evaluating the needs and technology for your agency and being proactive. Remember everyone that had to get narrowband waivers because they were behind the ball? Two tone paging will go away and I, for one, would like to know what is going to replace it and be ready for it.

For what it's worth, I have an Android phone and an iPhone for work. Both have pros and cons.

Maximus doesnt like being wrong... He's proven that time and time again in different areas on RR. Fact of the matter is, it doesnt do everything his scanner does right out of the box and hes upset by that, even though its primary purpose isnt as a scanner.

 

[fordcobra04]

I stand corrected on the price, my bad! So what are the current price of the G4/5 flavors? Assuming this information is not classified or for your eyes viewing only.

Thank You for enlightening me on what is and isn't on an ambulance or apparatus. I've only been working as a EMT-P now for about 9 years and an EMT-B for 3 years. Let's see if I can add, oh yeah that's only 12 years. I think I know what tools or comms we use.

Although I'm a young cat, but if my memory serves me right. These units are "supposedly" being sold and geared toward folks/departments in "Public Service". To this date, I have NOT been able to find out who or what departments have bought or replaced their Minitors for the G4/5.

As someone that has been in the new era of EMS, these units are pointless and overpriced for what a crew needs. Let's be honest, NO ONE will use these during a shift. We have at LEAST 2 radios with a crew. 1 in the truck or bus and the officer has one. Office personnel don't really care about listening to calls as they don't respond. We don't care what's going on the next county over or 2 counties over. Once you are relieved from your shift, you go home and that's it. Unless a major fire or disaster happens you will not be called in. Off duty is just that, OFF DUTY. Now maybe in a small town with volunteers, that's a different story. They have no choice but to take care of themselves. So yes, my statement from above is complete opposite as the needs for volunteers. My hats go to those men and women as they don't have budgets for fancy toys. This is definitely a"toy" for them. Minitors are tried and true. They are dropped all the time, left in hot or cold places and generally not taken care of. No screens to worry about. Batteries easily swapped out. If they stop working they are replaced simple as that. With budget constraints and Minitors found on eBay, that is the best, cheapest route. Keep in mind that crews also have numeric pagers. Yes, beepers! Can the same be said about the G4/5?

You or Unication are NOT going to convince me that this product will be the next best thing to the Minitor. Very few volunteer departments have P25 systems in place. That's a fact! They even tried a sale campaign on trading in a Minitor for $150 off the $850 G4/5. Was that a successful campaign? How many of those Minitors did Unication receive that were purchased from eBay for $50? You do remember people asking on forums if the Minitors needed to be working order right?

So let's call it what is. This G4/5 has now been a device that has and is trying to replace scanners in this community. Nothing wrong with that. I encourage any company that has an excellent product to "take my money". SharkRF is an excellent device, have my money, gladly paid you. Uniden and whistler do not have an excellent product, so I gave them my money when deep sales happened. Unication doesn't have an excellent product. They have an excellent solution to LSM, that's it.

To close this... I would to like to remind you. I do want to purchase a G4/5 series for scanner use and NOT for work purposes. I do THINK that this product will be the next big thing with scanner hobbyists. The problem that we all know is preventing them propelling to the next level are the known issues and the price point. The price is too high as this point. Fix the issues and sell this device about $450 then you'll have great sales. Until then I'll be happy with my Harris and DSD+. Those work for ME!

FYI.... This reply is not meant for a debate. Debates are pointless with people that have blinders on. People that think there view is the ONLY view. Kind of like Apple vs Android Ford vs Chevy and of course the wonderful Lefty Dems!! Lol

Rays pager sales has the G4 for $565, G5 for $665... And are we really going to make this a wagging contest over who's been in Fire/EMS longer? You can, I will decline..... And what is your point with the trade in promotion? Motorola does the same thing all the time with subscriber units...

The G5 isnt meant for every department either... Lets be realistic here dude... If the department can afford them, great, if not then it is what it is. You bring up the fact that not every department isnt on a P25 7/800 system... Again, what is your point? Then obviously those departments wouldn't benefit from a G5... You're not telling us anything we dont already know...

This is taken from Ohio MARCS, Butler County.

9101 238d D 09 FD 10 Oxford Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9102 238e D 09 FD 20 Hamilton Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9103 238f D 09 FD 30 Fairfield City Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9104 2390 D 09 FD 40 College Corner Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9105 2391 D 09 FD 50 Trenton Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9106 2392 D 09 FD 60 Monroe Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9107 2393 D 09 FD 70 West Chester Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9108 2394 D 09 FD 80 Middletown Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9110 2396 D 09 FD 100 Ross Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9111 2397 D 09 FD 110 Liberty Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9112 2398 D 09 FD 120 Wayne Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9113 2399 D 09 FD 130 Reily Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9114 239a D 09 FD 140 Morgan Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9115 239b D 09 FD 150 Madison Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9116 239c D 09 FD 160 Milford Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9117 239d D 09 FD 170 Seven Mile Village Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9118 239e D 09 FD 180 Hanover Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9119 239f D 09 FD 190 Somerville Fire Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9120 23a0 D 09 FD 200 St Clair Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9121 23a1 D 09 FD 210 Fairfield Twp Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9122 23a2 D 09 FD 220 New Miami Fire Alerting Fire Dispatch
9123 23a3 D 09 FD 230 St Clair Twp EMS Alerting EMS Dispatch

This is what the G5 is meant for... Each department has their own alerting talk group on the statewide P25 radio system. The G5 is meant to be programmed onto one alerting talkgroup per channel knob position..... Its not meant to be a full fledged scanner, and thats the fact a lot of people dont like.

 

[MaximusTheGreat]

Maximus doesnt like being wrong... He's proven that time and time again in different areas on RR. Fact of the matter is, it doesnt do everything his scanner does right out of the box and hes upset by that, even though its primary purpose isnt as a scanner.

Last time I checked we are still in a country that allows me to voice my opinion, my thoughts.

Ideas based on my area and all the areas and departments I have interacted with. This is a forum where we can discuss things, good and bad. I share my opinion and you share your opinion. I may be wrong or right on things, just like you may be right or wrong on things. To my knowledge, I may be wrong but I have not attacked or bullied anyone in this thread.

If you can't respect my opinions regardless if they are in agreement or disagreement, respect them. I respect every single person, except Moonboots.

Or here's a better idea, if I'm "smoking crack" with my opinions, then just ignore me. It's that simple.

 

[TailGator911]

I'm investigating the G4 for use in my area, Ohio MARCS compatible. I am reading a lot of reviews that state the G4 is light in the scanner functionality areas, and that is not really what it is intended for. So if the small police dept/fire dept in my town of Fairborn is what my primary monitoring target is, and it is on the digital Ohio MARCS P25 Phase 1 system, would this be the ideal radio to have to dedicate to those particular talk groups? Forget scanning neighboring systems and VHF/UHF and ham bands, etc, I have a bank of scanners that can do that at the desk. I am asking if this would be a good radio to dedicate to my immediate local TGs and nothing else. I don't know much about the radio, but I am getting that it's not a full-featured scanner and this is disappointing to most scanner enthusiasts. If I am understanding correctly, you can't really load the whole MARCS system in there and toggle between TGs and make fav lists, etcs. and expect it to perform like a BCD536 or a TRX-2. But, if you were to dedicate it to one fire dept and one police department, maybe a dozen TGs, isn't that really what it is intended for? Just curious, as I am looking to optimize my station/monitoring post - thanks

73s
JD
kf4anc

 

[fordcobra04]

I'm investigating the G4 for use in my area, Ohio MARCS compatible. I am reading a lot of reviews that state the G4 is light in the scanner functionality areas, and that is not really what it is intended for. So if the small police dept/fire dept in my town of Fairborn is what my primary monitoring target is, and it is on the digital Ohio MARCS P25 Phase 1 system, would this be the ideal radio to have to dedicate to those particular talk groups? Forget scanning neighboring systems and VHF/UHF and ham bands, etc, I have a bank of scanners that can do that at the desk. I am asking if this would be a good radio to dedicate to my immediate local TGs and nothing else. I don't know much about the radio, but I am getting that it's not a full-featured scanner and this is disappointing to most scanner enthusiasts. If I am understanding correctly, you can't really load the whole MARCS system in there and toggle between TGs and make fav lists, etcs. and expect it to perform like a BCD536 or a TRX-2. But, if you were to dedicate it to one fire dept and one police department, maybe a dozen TGs, isn't that really what it is intended for? Just curious, as I am looking to optimize my station/monitoring post - thanks

73s
JD
kf4anc

It will work great for what you want it to do. I use mine to scan Montgomery County and it works great for MARCS. You can load just about as many talk groups as you want in it. I have the Montgomery county in its entirety in my G5. Also have some Greene county, Clinton, Warren, Butler, OSP and some odd ball talkgroups in mine. Fire dispatch talkgroups in one scan zone, fire ops are in their own zones. Law has their own zones as well as OSP.

 

[TailGator911]

The more I read the more I like. Thanks for the input!

 

[sefrischling]

Gcopter mentioned a device for HAM use, that is the SharkRF by OpenSpot. That device has been praised by EVERYONE. You will not find ANYTHING negative to say about the device or the developer.

I have looked at SharkRF but here is the thing ... you can't clip a SharkRF to your belt and go about your day. While I have an 800mhz XTS3000 and XS2500 for dispatch, it is not practical to carry around all day. I rely on a LowBand Minitor V for dispatch paging, but as I live one town over, and across a bay, the lowband paging is often very difficult to hear, where as P25 800mhz comes in perfectly. So I am looking at a VHF/800 G5, which would allow me to go from two Minitor V pagers to a single G5 unit.

If you can tell me how a SharkRF can function in this manner, please let me know I am all ears.

 

[gcopter1]

I have looked at SharkRF but here is the thing ... you can't clip a SharkRF to your belt and go about your day. While I have an 800mhz XTS3000 and XS2500 for dispatch, it is not practical to carry around all day. I rely on a LowBand Minitor V for dispatch paging, but as I live one town over, and across a bay, the lowband paging is often very difficult to hear, where as P25 800mhz comes in perfectly. So I am looking at a VHF/800 G5, which would allow me to go from two Minitor V pagers to a single G5 unit.

If you can tell me how a SharkRF can function in this manner, please let me know I am all ears.

I did not mentioned the Shark. I made reference to my experience with ham radio gear and how it seemed ( at least to me in my ignorance on how a pager device vs. a two way radio function and the speed / frequency, with which one device gets firmware updates.) Unication David was kind enough to assuage my concerns, and I'm happy with that. As a matter of fact, as I type this, it will be a matter of hours before I receive a G4. Please, let's not take this thread out of context. My original intention was to question and clarify why it seemed that progress, with respect to the features that WE, scanner listeners would like to see implemented, was so slow. The Unication G4/5 pagers have been out for a while now, thus my post. That's all.


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[sefrischling]

gcopter1

My response was not at all aimed at you, but rather MaximusTheGreat

 

[gcopter1]

gcopter1

My response was not at all aimed at you, but rather MaximusTheGreat

My bad. Moving on...


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