So apparently the Whistler WS-1080 does what the X36 does, maybe better. Anyone have one in Maryland? I'm thinking about grabbing one wi my refund (if any).
WS 1080?
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I have the same radio from the original GRE. The PSR-800. It's a very good digital phase 2 receiver with a very good digital decoded voice. I have the 536 instead of the 436, but basically the same radio. They both do a real good job on both phase 1 and 2. I'd have a hard time deciding which is better.
BCD536HP/HP2/996XT/PSR800/396XT/996T
BCD536HP/HP2/996XT/PSR800/396XT/996T
From a Maryland perspective, FIRST (phase 2) comes in great on both radios.
Same with phase 1 Eastern Shore trunked site and AA county, Howard, Harford, and Balt City. Combination of digital Motorola and P25. Neither do Balt County well from my location in Pasadena because of the simulcast issue.
BCD536HP/HP2/996XT/PSR800/396XT/996T
Same with phase 1 Eastern Shore trunked site and AA county, Howard, Harford, and Balt City. Combination of digital Motorola and P25. Neither do Balt County well from my location in Pasadena because of the simulcast issue.
BCD536HP/HP2/996XT/PSR800/396XT/996T
Any more opinions on the WS 1080?
My grandmother (84) scanner (PSR-500) has stopped working. She loves to listen to Anne Arundel Police. I am really debating on the best new scanner for her (definetly getting her a Phase II). I have mixed opinions on my BCD436hp. I will do all the programing for her so that won't be an issue.
My grandmother (84) scanner (PSR-500) has stopped working. She loves to listen to Anne Arundel Police. I am really debating on the best new scanner for her (definetly getting her a Phase II). I have mixed opinions on my BCD436hp. I will do all the programing for her so that won't be an issue.
ww7b
Member
BCD436
The WS1080 still has memory card issues and is not as sensitive as the 436. Get a Radio Shack 800MHZ antenna and a BNC to SMA adapter and it is the best handheld to date. I have tested these side by side. The 436 is a little quirky, but the better radio.
Jim
The WS1080 still has memory card issues and is not as sensitive as the 436. Get a Radio Shack 800MHZ antenna and a BNC to SMA adapter and it is the best handheld to date. I have tested these side by side. The 436 is a little quirky, but the better radio.
Jim
SkyPager
Member
The HP has good audio; but I find it a little too plastic and the battery life is horrible. I have taken to using a wall wart to power it. I have no experience with any other Phase 2
Blackswan73
Active Member
About 80% of SD card issues with any scanner that is SD card driven, are caused by user error, not a problem with the scanner. This includes Whistler, Uniden, GRE, and RS.
larry308
Member
WS1080 vs 436
I have both, and would vote for the 1080. The clock on the 436,must be reset every time it losses power or is turned off and will not work until reset, my internal speaker no longer works, and I must use a powered speaker, the power connection does not always work.
I have both, and would vote for the 1080. The clock on the 436,must be reset every time it losses power or is turned off and will not work until reset, my internal speaker no longer works, and I must use a powered speaker, the power connection does not always work.
Frown.
Being a lowly technician with not too much money to throw at SD cards, I'm fairly competent at preventing unnecessary strain or disruption to SD cards and USB data. With that said:
I've eaten three in my 800... all from too many writes. When you're recording constantly and reblowing codeplugs into it every few days with updates from recordings... it eats the cards. There's only so many reads and writes in that kind of memory before it gives out, and your standard SanDisk cards will frizzle after a while. It's not a me problem... it's not even a scanner problem. It's just memory aging.
thanks to all for input
iirc there was some concern that Whistler would be low-end, I guess not.
is the programming any easier? I hate all that quick key stuff. very hard for me.
iirc there was some concern that Whistler would be low-end, I guess not.
is the programming any easier? I hate all that quick key stuff. very hard for me.
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You should send it to Uniden.. I think they have a recall program for you problems..
Have you considered an HP-2?
It's easier on the older eyes and does everything the 1080 will do. Also a little more obvious and less technical menu system.
Mark
WS1095/536/436/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/325P2/396XT/PRO668/PSR800/PRO652
Posting from Pennsylvania but I do listen to some Md traffic when I visit friends in the Gettysburg area so YMMV. But my 2 pennies on this.
I don't own the WS1080 but I do own the PSR800, 396XT, 996XT, and 436HP. Each has their own positives and negatives. Each picks up stuff that others don't. I've learned to tweak my programming and scanning based on this depending on what I want to listen to.
If I'm not listening to a P2 system I prefer the 396/996 best because they seem to receive more and receive better than the others. P2 systems I prefer the 436HP to the PSR800. Each has systems they like to pick up and hate to pick up which isn't much of a surprise. I like all 4 but I am very frustrated over the way the PSR800 handles priority scanning and feel the Unidens do this in a much better way otherwise I'd rank the 800 much higher. Not sure if the 1080 has changed this or not... Again, all personal preference and YMMV.
I don't own the WS1080 but I do own the PSR800, 396XT, 996XT, and 436HP. Each has their own positives and negatives. Each picks up stuff that others don't. I've learned to tweak my programming and scanning based on this depending on what I want to listen to.
If I'm not listening to a P2 system I prefer the 396/996 best because they seem to receive more and receive better than the others. P2 systems I prefer the 436HP to the PSR800. Each has systems they like to pick up and hate to pick up which isn't much of a surprise. I like all 4 but I am very frustrated over the way the PSR800 handles priority scanning and feel the Unidens do this in a much better way otherwise I'd rank the 800 much higher. Not sure if the 1080 has changed this or not... Again, all personal preference and YMMV.
In a different thread, Whistler representatives clarified that, after they bought the GRE designs, etc., and before they put the Whistler scanners on the market, Whistler actually corrected problems which GRE had not fixed, especially certain newer models. So, I don't think they would be considered low-end, either in their finished product or in the quality of the manufacturing process.
Many people find the Object-Oriented design of the GRE/RS/Whistler scanners to be easier than the Uniden programming. But, that is a personal-preference issue. I'm sure it would be influenced by prior experience with scanners and computers, etc.
If you are interested, the Object Oriented Scanners category in the RR Wiki lists some article that might help explain more about the GRE/RS/Whistler design and related programming.
Other RR Wiki categories include Whistler Scanners, Radio Shack Scanners, and Uniden Scanners. Some of the articles might be useful in your decisions.
Hope this helps,
Pro668
I have the pro 668, and have owned a 325 and do own a 436. Personally, for my area, I really like the pro668. I certainly enjoyed the customizability of the 325 and 436, the ability to easily toggle sites on and off -- however -- while the pro668 took me a few days to get accustomed to I feel that at least for my area I am hearing more, and more often. That said if I had the money I would own as many scanners as I could afford and I still have a soft spot for Uniden and like the 436. Side by side sometimes the pro668 seems more sensitive, then there are some days the 436 seems to capture more traffic. Recently I give the slight edge to the pro668 but who knows I could move it 5 inches to the left and the 436 10 inches to the right and I might get different results. I'll reiterate if I had the extra cash I would buy more scanners. Hah.
I have the pro 668, and have owned a 325 and do own a 436. Personally, for my area, I really like the pro668. I certainly enjoyed the customizability of the 325 and 436, the ability to easily toggle sites on and off -- however -- while the pro668 took me a few days to get accustomed to I feel that at least for my area I am hearing more, and more often. That said if I had the money I would own as many scanners as I could afford and I still have a soft spot for Uniden and like the 436. Side by side sometimes the pro668 seems more sensitive, then there are some days the 436 seems to capture more traffic. Recently I give the slight edge to the pro668 but who knows I could move it 5 inches to the left and the 436 10 inches to the right and I might get different results. I'll reiterate if I had the extra cash I would buy more scanners. Hah.
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