WS1040 or TRX-1, which is best for VHF/UHF "Analog Reception" only?

[iMONITOR]

Most of my analog scanner experience has been with Uniden's BCT15X or BC125AT.

Regarding Whistler scanners, WS1040 or TRX-1, which is best for VHF/UHF "Analog Reception" only? IE: Aircraft, Marine, ETC?

 

[trentbob]

I have compared them side by side years ago, another rebranded 1040 of course, I used the same rooftop but did switch back and forth which someone will come on and say makes the comparison not valid but I did it anyway.

Given the well-known front end overload and lack of proper filtering on both I found the results were mixed but about the same, if I had to pick one over the other I would pick the brand equivalent to the 1040. I tested Amateur, Aviation, Marine and the public service bands.

Since the increase in tdma phase ll in my area I no longer use either.

I will add, both radios are sweet radios and were favorites of mine back in the type II smartzone days. Always had better modulation and clarity than Uniden, hands down.

 

[iMONITOR]

Having BIG hands, I've always preferred the size and form factor of the larger GRE/Radio Shack/Whislter hand held scanners that are similar to the WS1040.

 

[trentbob]

Yes, I carried the pro 106 in a case I think starting around 2008. That was a Workhorse and a great radio for work.

On the other hand when the psr-800 came out I liked that compactability and could be used in my top shirt pocket. When I first got the trx-1 I took that rubber bumper spare tire off of it and put it in a drawer and never used it again LOL. They never made a case except for that one which was not very good so what we used was, a nylon Pro 106 case which fit perfectly display and keyboard wise and then placed carefully fitted cut cardboard behind the radio to make a snug fit, it was then the size of a pro 106 but worked good as a case.

 

[Ubbe]

Most of my analog scanner experience has been with Uniden's BCT15X or BC125AT.

If you are used to the performance from Unidens BCT15 and BC125 I would recommend to stay away from at least the TRX-1. It has bad sensitivity, overloads easily and has a problematic squelch action which makes it staying one quality level lower than Uniden in analog conventional mode. It would be difficult finding any better scanners than BCT15 and BC125, especially in their price range.

/Ubbe

 

[dem1]

Several years ago tumegpc posted side-by-side photos of the RF/IF boards of the PRO-668 vs TRX-1. These appear to show that the TRX-1 has one less tuned IF circuit in the lower left corner. I've often wondered if this contributes to its puzzling reception issues not experienced by its predecessors, such as the bleed through of strong signals many MHz away on VHF reception (heard as background audio), and whether such bleed through could be hampering the squelch circuit.

I would not say that my TRX-1 has bad sensitivity, but that its performance varies quite a bit depending on the RF environment in which it is being used. Mine has served me very well for what I bought it to do - monitor 400/800 MHz digital systems - as long as I'm not too near a cell phone tower. But for VHF/UHF analog-only reception, the TRX-1 would not be your best or most cost effective choice.

 

[Mojaveflyer]

I monitor aircraft and railroads primarily. I have both the TRX-1 and the equivalent of the WS-1040, the GRE PSR-500. I also own the mobile versions of these radios, the TRX-2 and two versions of the GRE PSR-600. I've had trouble with both of these radios losing sensitivity so I was pretty much stuck with the TRX-2 as my mobile radio, still monitoring railroads and aircraft bands. I recently sent one of my PSR-600 equivalent radios to Uniden for their repair service. For $80 ($10 shipping and $70 for the repairs) I have a like new radio that performs far better than the Whistler radio. I had forgotten how much I was missing until I reconnected the repaired radio.

Go with the WS-1040 that I believe is a better radio. Not only more sensitive but the functioning is much more convenient for going from the Weather operation back to scanning, turning banks on and off and other functions. My $0.02 worth....

 

[StoliRaz]

TRX would be overkill for what you want to listen to anyways. That's like buying an Uniden SDS to primarily listen to weather band. I'd go with the 1040.