Scanner Master and Industry News
Police and emergency service scanning is constantly changing. New equipment, updates to old equipment, rebanding and interference, professional conventions and other news of interest to the scanner world are available here and frequently updated.
Whether news of the latest RadioShack, Whistler or Bearcat scanners ship date or general trade news, visit us frequently to stay up-to-date on all of the important scanner world information.
05/17/2016
Press release from Whistler Group
Bentonville, AR (May 17, 2016) The Whistler Group, Inc., a leading industry supplier of state-of the-art mobile electronics, announced today a huge step forward in scanner technology with the addition of two new models to their scanner line up are the TRX-1 and TRX-2 featuring Digital Mobile Radio capabilities.
The Whistler TRX-1 (handheld) and TRX-2 (desktop/Mobile) are multi-system adaptive digital trunking scanners with Motorola P25 Phase I, X2-TDMA, Phase II and DMR making them capable of monitoring the following unencrypted channels/systems:
Conventional DMR (Entered as a DMR trunked system
- Hytera XPT
- MotoTRBO Capacity Plus
- MotoTRBO Connect Plus
- MotoTRBO Linked Cap Plus systems
Additionally, Whistler is announcing that development of NXDN monitoring is also underway and the TRX-1 and TRX-2 will include NXDN as a FREE upgrade when available.
These models feature a full backlit alphanumeric keypad in addition to the easy-to-use Scan, Pause, Select and Navigation controls. All USA/Canada services and frequencies are pre-programmed onto the included SD card making the units ready to use out of the box - they can even be programmed by entering your ZIP code.
Additional features include:
- Upgradeable CPU, DSP, and library
- Store Favorite Scanlists
- EZ Scan PC Software
- IF/discriminator output
- Permits recording by scannable object and saves into a Windows compatible audio file
- Clock and calendar function adds date/time info to the recordings
- Dedicated SKYWARN /Weather button
- Spectrum Sweeper
- Programmable audio and visual alert sytem
We are extremely excited to add the TRX-1 and TRX-2 to our existing scanner line, said Leslie Folsom, EVP of Marketing & Operations at Whistler. When Whistler entered the scanner industry we were committed to bringing innovation and we are demonstrating that by our introduction of DMR and our development work on NXDN.
As a further investment in their customers, Whistler will be offering a DMR update at no charge to customers owning models WS1080, WS1088, WS1095, and WS1098. This upgrade will be available via the EZ Scan pc app later this month.
The TRX-1 and TRX-2 will begin shipping in late June 2016.
MotoTRBO is a trademark of Motorola, Inc.
Press relaase from Uniden
Uniden Advances Scanning with Digital Mobile Radio (DMR)
Demonstrating our commitment to continually enhance the value and relevance of your investment in Uniden products, today we announce the latest upgrades for our flagship BCD436HP and BCD536HP scanners. Soon, owners of these scanners will be able to add the ability to monitor and scan Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) systems including MotoTRBO Connect Plus and MotoTRBO Capacity Plus systems with a single paid upgrade, making these scanners the indisputable best-in-class solution for monitoring radio systems. Until now, you've either needed to purchase a single-use radio to monitor these systems or kludge together a system using multiple radio dongles plugged into a PC.
DMR is used extensively across the world by businesses, government agencies, amateur radio operators, and individuals worldwide. RadioReference.com, the premier web site for finding radio system information, has over 600 trunked DMR systems and over 4500 DMR conventional channels documented. But, this is just the beginning of the DMR story. The vast majority of DMR systems have never been documented since, up to now, users could not easily monitor them. Based on a quick survey of FCC records, we expect that there are tens- or even hundreds-of-thousands of additional DMR channels to discover.
And discovery will be important. So, we'll include some basic tools for discovering DMR channels on your own so that you will be able to quickly supplement the information currently provided by RadioReference.com. We'll be adding details, below, as we get closer to finalizing the firmware release, so watch this space.
Using the Uniden BCDx36HP radios, upgraded with the DMR upgrade, you will now be able to seamlessly monitor unencrypted channels on the following system types:
- Conventional Analog channels
- Conventional P25 Digital channels
- Motorola Type I and Type II Trunked Radio systems with Analog and Digital (P25) Voice
- EDACS Analog trunked radio systems
- LTR Analog trunked radio systems
- APCO Project 25 Phase I and Phase II Digital Trunked Radio systems
- EDACS trunked radio systems with ProVoice channels (paid ProVoice upgrade required)
- Conventional Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) channels (paid DMR upgrade required)
- MotoTRBO Capacity Plus Trunked Radio systems (paid DMR upgrade required)
- MotoTRBO Connect Plus Trunked Radio Systems (paid DMR upgrade required)
- Close Call RF Capture
- Dynamic Memory Architecture
- Location-Based Scanning with GPS Support
- Trunked and Conventional Discovery Modes
- WiFi connectivity with iPhone and Android Apps (BCD536HP only, Android App coming in 2016)
Disclaimer: The above constitutes a pre-announement, which includes details as we know them today, but which might change based on technical, legal, economic, or other unforeseeable issues that could arise. No portion of this pre-announcement should be considered as a legally binding obligation to perform on Uniden's part.
MotoTRBO is a trademark of Motorola, Inc.
02/03/2016
Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club Press Release
On Monday February 8th, Jonathan Higgins, Police Scanner Expert and Digital Media Communications Manager for Scanner Master, one of the world's leading companies in the sales of police and aircraft scanners, will be speaking at the Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club meeting located at the Moraine Park Technical College in room A-112 at 7:00 PM. The general public is invited and there is no cover charge. - Read more
Moraine Park Technical College
Room A-112
235 North National Avenue
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
10/15/2015
New SportSyncRadio SR-303
Coming soon December 2015 - Now, with the all-new SportSync SR-303 AM/FM Delay Radio, you can turn down the sound on your TV and watch the game while listening to your favorite radio announcers.
09/17/2015
Phil Henry's Passing
Our thoughts go out the family and friends of Phil Henry, who we lost this week. Phil was a great supporter of Uniden, bringing us innovative scanner technologies including Beartracker Warning System and Close Call RF Capture, and Location-Based Scanning on all of which he is a named inventor. He was also very active in with Leadership Challenge, LLC, and RESET Your Life, LLC, both of which present leadership training programs for such clients as the US Marine Corps and US Air Force JROTC Programs, and the Youth Offender Courts in Clark County, Nevada.
We will miss his experience, his good humor, and most of all his friendship.
Paul Opitz
--
Thank you to Paul and Uniden for posting this message about Phil Henry.
Very few people in the scanner community knew Phil, but as Paul wrote he was instrumental in helping to bring advanced scanner technology to Uniden as part of a group of fellow engineers and scanner hobbyists. My partnership and friendship with Phil dates back to the mid-1980s. He was always full of life, adventure and positive thinking and he made everyone around him a better person because of it. My thoughts go out to his hundreds of friends and family including of course his wonderful wife Kathy.
Rich Barnett
05/12/2015
Rich Carlson Joins Scanner Master
Scanner Master is extremely proud to announce that Rich Carlson, past-president of the Chicago Area Radio Monitors Association (CARMA) and one of the nation's leading scanner experts, is now part of our team. Rich recently retired as a Sergeant for the Winnetka, Illinois, Police Department and is now assisting Scanner Master customers in choosing the right scanner for their area, answering technical questions and helping us to develop new products and services. Rich is a highly respected member of the monitoring community who has decades of experience with all types of scanners and communications receivers, antennas, software and accessories. He has a great knowledge of the radio systems that we all monitor as he himself helped to institute and manage many in his time. We couldn't be more excited to have Rich on board.
01/23/14
Uniden Bearcat BCD536HP Scanners
Our Pre orders for The BCD536HP will begin shipping on Friday January 24th. They will ship in same order as received(first ordered first shipped).
Uniden Bearcat BCD436HP Scanners
Our Pre orders for The BCD436HP will begin shipping on Thursday, January 30th. They will ship in same order as received(first ordered first shipped).
Programming Note
If you ordered programming please allow 10 - 15 business days for this. You may cancel the programming if you do not wish to wait byemailing us.
05/02/13
Dayton Hamvention 2013
We will not be attending the Dayton Hamvention this year, only the 2nd time in about the last 15 years. We will be back next year though.
03/08/13
Rebanding News
Massachusetts State Police Statewide Trunking System
The Massachusetts State Police have started the "Rebanding" process for their towers on Cape Cod for the statewide trunking radio system.
Some of you may be asking what is Rebanding?
The 800MHz band is shared by both NEXTEL/cellular and public safety communications. For over a decade now there have been problems with interference. To eliminate the interference, all public safety systems operating between 865-869MHz will "reband" to 851-854MHz and join with other public safety frequencies operating from 851-861 MHz. This will form a buffer between the public safety and cellular frequencies rather than being intermingled as they are today.
What will happens...
When the Rebanding takes place, your scanner will usually stop working on Motorola trunking systems. If you are listening to conventional (non-trunked) channels or EDACS channels you may need to simply change frequencies. Depending on the model scanner you have you may need to both update the scanner's firmware (operating software) as well as the trunking frequencies. Scanners older than 8 years old may not support Rebanding, so they will need to be replaced. - Read more
01/14/12
GRE PSR-400 Police Scanners Now available
We had set aside some time ago 10 brand-spanking new PSR-400 analog trunking desktop scanners. These are the very easy to program models which GRE discontinued over a year ago and replaced them with the PSR-410's which used object oriented programming. Now all the 410's are gone but we are selling off these 10 PSR-400s for $299.95 each. There isn't even anything comparable to them in the Uniden line. First come, first served on these 10.
07/19/11
HomePatrol -1 Extreme Update!
This short video introduces the major new enhancements in the HomePatrol-1 Extreme Firmware and HomePatrol Sentinel releases.
Includes great new features for everyone, plus upgrade to the paid version for some Extreme tools for the serious scannist. - Read more
See us at the Dayton Hamvention!
This week Rich Barnett of Scanner Master along with Gommert Buysen of Butel Software will be at booth #402 inside the Hara Arena Complex at theDayton Hamvention in Dayton, OH. The Hamvention is the world's largest Amateur Radio convention and Scanner Master will be there demonstrating and selling scanners and accessories for the scanner community that attends each year. If you're a fan of scanners please stop by and say hello.
05/11/11
Price Drop on PSR-310 and 410
The GRE PSR-310 portable and GRE PSR-410 base/mobile analog trunking scanners are now only $174.95 each. This is an amazing price for two extremely capable radios.
03/11/11
PSR-800 Decodes X2-TDMA!
GRE has confirmed that it's new PSR-800 pre-programmed digital scanner will decode both APCO-25 digital AND X2-TDMA which is an early variation of APCO-25 Phase II TDMA digital. This is very exciting and important news in the scanner world. Currently X2-TDMA is used by select public safety agencies in the Washington D.C. area, particularly in Prince Georges County, MD. Up until now no scanner could decode TDMA. X2-TDMA is not the final spec of APCO-25 Phase II but we believe it will likely be quite some time before the final specifications are announced and equipment is manufactured. Thus the PSR-800 will not be able to decode a future unknown specification. In the meantime though, for people in the DC area and possibly other areas in the future, the PSR-800 for now is the scanner of choice.
Digital PSR-800 now Available
GRE's pre-programmed PSR-800 is now available in limited quantities. With a great size and form factor, too. This scanner is pre-programmed for the U.S. and Canada and contains 200 scan lists that you can access. Simply select the state, county, cities and agencies you wish to monitor and go. Visit the PSR-800 product page for more information and to order.
New Lapel Speaker/Antenna
Boost audio and reception of your portable scanners with our new SpectrumForce Lapel Speakers with Antenna Mount. These speakers look just like the speaker microphones used by law enforcement, EMS and fire service personnel but of course these are speakers only. But they have a couple of great new functions. First, they bring the audio from your portable scanner right up close to your ear while you keep the portable scanner on your belt and with a unique twist it boosts the audio from everyday speakers for most scanners on the market.Secondly, the product also elevates your portable scanner antenna up by your shoulder and away from your body providing an improvement in reception. Available for SMA and BNC antenna-jack portable scanners. See photos and more details now.
Suffolk County Rebands
The Suffolk County, NY, trunking radio system is currently under-going re-banding. This means that scanners will need to be re-programmed and scanners which are a year or two old or older will need a firmware (scanner operating system) upgrade as well. Older scanners, such as the Bearcat 895, 780 and 235, and most older RadioShack scanners, are not re-bandable and will need to be replaced. Scanner Master offers a firmware upgrade and a programming service if you're interested. For more information: http://www.w2lie.net/news.php
5/14/2009
NBC Network News Selects Scanner Master for Vortex-2 Scanner Equipment and Programming
Vortex-2 is the largest "tornado chase" ever, with over 100 engineers, scientists and support personnel working together to locate and analyze tornadoes in an effort to improve their understanding and ability to predict these natural monsters.
NBC and other Vortex 2 team members employ multiple police scanners in their trucks and in their equipment bags in order to keep track of how public safety agencies are handling weather emergencies out in the field. By learning of road closures, storm damage, listening for siren activations, and monitoring storm spotter channels, reporters, producers, engineers and scientists will have another tool in their arsenal to help predict where severe weather is occurring and to stay as safe as possible at the same time.
Kevin Parrish, Senior RF Engineer for NBC Network News Field Operations said, "We chose Scanner Master both for their high-level of expertise and service and also for their unmatched ability to program scanners in an extremely comprehensive way. We required programming of conventional, digital, trunking and multi-site systems covering thousands of square miles in the midwest, including GPS coordinates which are so useful on Uniden scanners. On short notice Scanner Master did an incredible job of programming and it's helping us perform our jobs more efficiently."
Scanner Master has provided scanners, software, antennas and custom monitoring solutions for the news media for over a decade. In conjunction with Butel Software, Scanner Master has created ScannerStation, an assignment desk local and remote monitoring software package for news media that is used nationally by ABC, CBS, Fox and others.
For more information on Scanner Master, scanner programming, ScannerStation and other radio monitoring products contact:
Molly Olive Marketing Coordinator
Scanner Master Corp.
1-800-SCANNER
www.scannermaster.com
For more information on Vortex2 see the following:
www.vortex2.org/home
www.weather.com/tv/programs/Vortex.html
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1043...
www.facebook.com/pages/VORTEX2/57534205998
5/13/2009New Bearcat Portables.
New frequencies & firmware required.
Scanner Master Corporation today completed its purchase of Uniden America's remaining stock of the BR-330 scanner and the RH-96 Remote Head kit. This large purchase ensures that Scanner Master customers will have access to two exciting products that will no longer be manufactured.
The BR-330 is the only trunking scanner that has ever been manufactured which includes the 500 KHz to 25 MHz AM Broadcast, 20-40-80 Meter Amateur Radio Bands and the Shortwave Broadcasting bands. The scanner is also unique in that it covers the entire TV audio spectrum which includes wireless microphones. (TV audio itself will soon go away as part of the move to digital TV.) This is a very unique wideband scanner that Scanner Master is proud to carry. The scanner is also re-bandable.
The RH-96 allows users of the BCT-15, BCD996T base/mobile scanners and the BR-330 and BCD396T portable scanners to operate their radios in a vehicle with a small "head" unit. A ten foot cable connects the head unit to one of the above-listed scanners which can mounted under a seat or in a trunk. This handsome, easily-mounted, remote head is perfect for those who want an attractive installation that takes up little room in the front cab area of a car or truck.
Thursday December 11th from 11 AM to 8 PM
Saturday December 13th from 10 AM to 2 PM
Tuesday December 16th from 11 AM to 8 PM
(Other weekday hours available by appointment. Please call 1-800-SCANNER)
We'll be showing and selling all the Uniden and GRE scanners, BuTel Software, our full line of accessories, and our all new Scanner Master Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Southern New Hampshire Pocket Guide - 11th Edition. This book makes a great gift.
ScanNewEngland.net, a leading resource for local frequencies, user forums and live feeds within the region, and Scanner Master, the nation's oldest and largest scanner-only dealer, finalized a marketing agreement earlier this month.
As a result of this affiliation, Scanner Master's extensive line of scanners, software, antennas, and accessories will now be available to purchase through ScanNewEngland.net. By purchasing scanner products through the Scanner Master links on their website, ScanNewEngland.com will receive commission on all sales that they generate. This affiliation will allow for a new approach for New England radio hobbyists and professionals to give back and help grow one of their favorite, frequently visited websites, as well as enhance the business of a local company that has been dedicated to scanner products and services for the last 30 years.
Scott Halligan of ScanNewEngland.net stated, "It is my pleasure to get on board with Scanner Master. They are a local business, long established in the hobby, and a leader in the sale of scanners, accessories, and some truly unique devices. I look forward to working with the company, and from the comments received thus far from many Scan New England members, so do they."
Rich Barnett of Scanner Master remarked, "Scott Halligan has provided the scanner hobbyists and professionals a superior regional resource for years, starting with his ScanCapeCod site. Now, with Scannewengland.com, Scott is extending his efforts throughout the six state area and we are very proud to serve as his affiliate scanner dealer."
After undergoing major expansion, ScanNewEngland.net now serves as a platform for the frequency data of six states, offering radio hobbyists and professionals a publicly accessible discussion forum, New England frequency database, and New English Scanner Feeds Teamspeak Server.
Serving the radio community for over 30 year, Scanner Master has prided themselves on their informative service and extensive knowledge of scanners, accessories, programming, and other custom products.
Scanner Master Corp.
Through this partnership, the most comprehensive line of scanners, software, antennas and communications-monitoring accessories, sourced from around the world, are offered to the world's largest online community of two-way radio users. RadioReference is also developing exciting new products services which will be marketed through Scanner Master starting later year.
Richard Barnett, president of Scanner Master Corp., remarked, "Our partnership with RadioReference.com is our most important. It allows us to present scanners and accessories to an enormous audience of dedicated radio professionals and hobbyists. Through this relationship, we strive to provide unmatched service and a wide product mix to the RadioReference.com audience through our strict focus on scanners and scanner users.
Lindsay Blanton, president of RadioReference.com LLC, said, "Scanner Master is widely recognized in the radio communications community as the leading provider of scanners and communications equipment to the industry. This, coupled with their leadership in innovating new products and offerings for the industry means that this partnership will continue to grow and be very successful."
With its extensive frequency and trunking databases, news sections and user forums, RadioReference.com is the one-stop repository of radio communication information.
For over 30 years Scanner Master has served the radio community through its line of popular Scanner Master and Monitor America books as well as through the sales and service of scanners, accessories, software, antennas and other custom products.
A list of links about Gene and his life:
TheseSSE productsinclude notch filters, antenna switches and diplexers, a UHF military and commercial airband portable rubber-duck antennas, a very unique adjustable audio filter, and more. All these SSE/Jim products provide the monitoring hobbyist and professional with the highest quality design and components.
Scanner Master is proud to offer the SSE/Jim line through its North American dealers and direct to its customers.
10/1/2007
Scanner Master is now an authorized GRE "GRECOM" Scanner Dealer!
Scanner Master has been named one of GRE Radio's Authorized Scanner Dealers, able to sell GRE's new line of scanner radios exclusively designed for the U.S. market.
GRE has sold scanners in Europe for years under their own brand name but is just now entering the U.S. market for the first time under the GRE banner. For years GRE has been developing and manufacturing scanners for Radio Shack with approximately half their PRO series scanner line. Some of the famous and highly regarded GRE scanners that were built for Radio Shack include the great PRO-2004, 2005 and 2006 scanners as well as more recently the PRO-96, 97 and 2096. The PRO-96 and PRO-2096 are Radio Shack's digital models that are well known in the industry for their superior digital voice quality.
GRE now enters the U.S. market under their own brand name and Scanner Master is proud to offer these great scanner radios for sale starting in late October '07.
9/1/2007
Scanner Master is named the North American Distributor for Waters & Stanton
The largest distributor of scanner and related radio products in the United Kingdom, Waters & Stanton, has named Scanner Master its exclusive North American distributor. Scanner Master is now importing, distributing and selling Waters & Stanton's superior line of scanner antennas, pre-amplifiers, mounting devices, speakers and related products. These are completely unique and extremely valuable accessories which are available now in the U.S. through Scannermaster.com. These accessories are also available at wholesale prices for retailers interested in also selling the gear. For more information contact Rich Barnett at 1-800-SCANNER.