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Rebanding Update
Well, a
couple of Motorola Analog systems have now rebanded, so we are hard at work
on firmware updates for all our current Trunk Trackers (as well as a
couple of older models). These updates will give you the ability to enter
custom band plans for 800 MHz Motorola systems, which will allow you to
set up the scanner for rebanded systems, whether they are “normal”
rebanded systems as are the few that have recently switched over, or
“inverted” rebanded systems which use a variation of the channel
assignment method. So far, no systems have switched to the inverted type,
but we’ll be ready when they do.
I know that
many of you have wanted more features in the current models. So, we are
also taking this opportunity to put a few more treats into this update.
Here’s a quick rundown of the new goodies:
Hidden Menu Items: These will all be incorporated
into the main menu structure. No more keyboard tricks to get to these
tweaks. (BCD996T/BCD396T)
Close Call DND: I sure wish I had
thought of this mode earlier so that we could have included it in the
BC246T, BR330T, and BCD396T, but this update takes care of that.
Extended Tone-Out Delay: We’re
adding the much-requested 30-second option to the Fire Tone-Out Delay
feature (BR330T, BCD396T, BCT15, BCD996T)
RSSI Reporting Improvements: I’ve
been very surprised that none of the software developers have taken
advantage of the improvements in RSSI reporting (high speed, 1024 levels
of RSSI), but I am hearing some hints that updates are on the way. This
would make for a pretty slick band scope feature, and we added it to the
PC protocol for the BCD396T and BCD996T with a previous update. This
update will extend it to the BC246T, BR330T, and BCT15.
EDACS ESK Support: We’ll be adding ESK support to
both the BCD396T and the BCD996T. Sorry, no ProVoice
(or OpenSky, V-SELP, iDEN…).
Improved P25 Automatic Threshold
Detection: This update should allow the BCD396T and BCD996T to fully
auto-adjust for P25 systems, even if those systems are out of spec for
P25 deviation, as we’ve found is the case in a number of areas.
Now for the 2nd
big question. How much is it going to cost you? Well, while we’ll still
need to use ESN control for this update for some models, this update will
cost you absolutely nothing (well, a little time, perhaps, and a little
patience).
Update Schedule
Now to answer
the 1st big question: When will all this happen?
Since we’ll
be working on updates for 9 models, we can’t get these all out at the
same time. So, we’ll be issuing updates with a goal of wrapping all this
up by early 2009. Our estimated release dates for these updates
(remember, we still have to recode, debug, test, and package all this, so
it is possible for an update to slip a bit if we need time to address
problems found in testing) are as follows:
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BCD396T/BCD996T
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9/30/2008
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BC246T/BCT15
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11/20/2008
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BCT8/BC898T
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12/31/2008
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BC296D/BC796D/BR330T
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1/31/2009
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What’s
Next?
Watch your in box for a major
announcement on 9/29/2008.
Can’t say more, now.
Until Next Time
In closing, I want to recognize the great
contributions Gene Costin (aka Gene Hughes)
made to the scanning hobby. His long-running “Police Call” series made it
possible for scanner hobbyists to program their scanners with local law
enforcement frequencies long before the internet … or even the widespread
use of trunked systems. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and
friends. His spirit lives on every time you help out a fellow “scannist.” No manufacturer would last in this
business without the kind of community help and support that he
epitomized.
Paul
Opitz
Product
Manager
Uniden
America Corp.
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