Category Archives: GRE

Scanners and Camping!

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By Jonathan Higgins

Scanners and Camping!
When I’m not working at Scanner Master I like to spend my weekends camping in the spring, summer and fall.  My wife and daughter introduced me to camping and we started out tent camping.  It was an amazing feeling to pack up the car and hit the road to a new or favorite destination.  Enjoying the land like the early settlers had, spending the nights under the stars near a campfire.  I have grown to love this and we have now invested in a travel trailer, what we like to call our second home on wheels. Being the scanner geek that I am, I always pack a scanner on these trips.  Working at Scanner Master, I have many opportunities to try different products in the camping environment.
Getting there!
I tow my travel trailer with my pick-up truck which is already equipped with the Uniden BCD996XT, GPS Receiver, and the Uniden RH-96 Remote head.  It’s taken a while but I have most of the public safety agencies for New England programmed into it along with the GPS Data.  The scanner keeps me informed about any accidents or incidents along the way.

Recommended Programming – Getting There!
If you’re doing a lot of highway travel, be sure to program State Police/Highway Patrol and state highway departments.

You may want to program some of the secondary State Police channels/talk groups, these channels could be used for radar details.  States are trying to generate income from every avenue including giving speeding tickets.  Keep in mind some of these secondary channels/systems maybe non-repeaterized, and in-line of sight.

In some states the State Highway Departments are playing more of a roll with traffic incident such as accidents.  These channels can tip you off to lane closers and delays, most of time this info is relayed on these channels for the Highway Traffic Information boards.

At the Campground!
I would recommend a portable unit, you can run it on batteries and you wouldn’t be dependent on AC/DC power.  Before the trip I usually do research on RadioReference.com and then program my handheld scanner.   If you frequent the same area a few times a year you may want to store the programming into a V-Folder on GRE or a high number system on a Uniden unit with Dynamic Memory.

It’s always fun to listen to the campground communications.  Most campgrounds use two way radios for communications, such as MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) or FRS (Family Radio Service).  Most scanners have both MURS and FRS/GMRS as preset service search.  Keep in mind these communications are not on a repeater they are in-line of sight (low power).   If they are not using the assigned FRS or MURS channels you can use Close Call (Uniden) or Spectrum Sweeper (GRE) technology.

NOAA Weather Radio
Summer can bring some wild weather… Your scanner can also act as weather station, with most scanners you’re one press away from a Local NOAA Weather radio station report.  There are more than 900 NOAA Weather stations across the United States.   Not only can you tune into a weather report anytime you want you can also set up your scanner for weather alerts.  This is very simple to set up once you’re at your destination, it will alert you about those surprise thunder storms.Camper Shack!
Uniden HomePatrol-1 in the sleeping quarters, using the Windshield Mounting Kit for the Uniden HomePatrol-1.

 Here is the SpecturmForce Wide band Antenna with Mag Mount and SMA outside of the camper using a Bracket for Mobile Scanner Installations.  This bracket was a perfect surface for the antenna, and can be easily removed when traveling.

New Product – GRE PSR-310

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By Jonathan Higgins

The Product: GRE PSR-310 Analog Trunking Scanner
Price: $199.95

The GRE PSR-310 is a good looking unit out of the box, with its black exterior and buttons with white lettering. The case layout is just like the GRE-PSR 500 with the same placement of the speaker, screen, and keypad.

New features found on the GRE PSR-310


Memory System
Object Oriented – Very simple to use and to field program compared to other models. An object can be shared in more than one scan list. An object can be single frequency or talk group.

LCD Display
Much larger display over the GRE PSR-300, bring a great full dot matrix bitmap display with an white LED backlight.

Multi-System Analog Trunking
Works with the following trunking systems:
-Motorola
-EDACS Standard/Narrow
-LTR Trunking
Supports the new 700MHz and 380MHz bands also can follow multisite Motorola systems

Exclusive Alert LED
This can be configured to illuminate or flash when a certain object is active.
Example:
Holliston Police – LED Blue Flash
Holliston Fire – LED Red Flash
Holliston Highway – LED Yellow Flash

Color Options
1 – Red
2 – Yellow
3 – Green
4 – Light Blue
5 – Blue
6 – Purple
7 – White

In the Box
-Antenna
-Owner’s Manual
-Black non-chargeable battery holder (inside the scanner)
-Yellow rechargeable battery holder
-Belt clip (Attached to the scanner)

Programming Software
ARC310 – Available from BuTel Software soon!

-NOTE-
For some people this scanner will not work due to the radio systems in their area. How check if this scanner will work in their area? Visit our sister website http://www.policescanners.com.

New Product – Setup & Optimize Service

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By Jonathan Higgins

Product Name: Setup & Optimize Service (for the Uniden HomePatrol and GRE PSR-700 only.)

Cost: $39.95 – If the scanner was purchase from Scanner Master
($49.95 for customers that already have purchased the scanner elsewhere)

Note: This service delays the shipping one week.

When you order this option along with your Uniden HomePatrol and GRE PSR-700 the Setup & Optimize Service Covers:

  • Optimizing the internal database
  • Checking and updating the firmware
  • Setting-up your local town/city into a Scan List/Favorites List
    • With Scanner Master’s exclusive Set-up & Optimize Package we see to it that you’re pre-programmed scanner is fully updated and ready to use for your area, perfect for your own use and especially perfect for a gift. First we optimize the internal database by updating the frequency library, which changes daily. We will also check and install any firmware updates to before your pre-programmed scanner ships. (The firmware is the operating system for the radio which may have been updated or tweaked by the factory following its production in Asia.) Scanner Master will then build a Favorites List/Scan List for the customer (based on the ship to address of your order), or for the area in which the scanner will be used if the customer specifies a different city (for example if the radio is given as a gift).


    — Bellow applies to the Uniden HomePatrol ONLY. —
    (The benefit of this Favorites List work is that we insure that the most important data to the user is readily accessible as often times, if the database for the end user’s area hasn’t been completely prepared with what’s known as “geo-tagging” then some or all of the local agencies will not activate for scanning. Scanner Master insures that this will not be the case.)

    Scanner Master will also pre-tune the radio by entering the end-users zip code. Finally we will give the radio’s installed re-chargeable batteries a brief charge to insure that the radio will be ready to use right out of the box.


    Greg Jolly busy at work Setting up and Optimizing the New Uniden HomePatrol.

    Product Test – GRE 800 MHz Rubber Antenna

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    By Jonathan Higgins

    Product Tested: GRE 800 MHz Rubber Antenna
    Cost of product: $19.95

    Looking to improve your reception on the 800MHz? Over the past month Scanner Expert Greg Jolly and I tried out the “GRE 800 MHz Rubber Antenna“. Not only did it improve on the 800MHz reception we saw improvement on VHF-Hi and UHF system as well. This antenna comes with BNC connection you can convert this to a SMA with an optional “SMA to BNC adapter” for Uniden units. For $19.95 you can’t go wrong with trying this antenna!

    Product Spec:

    • 800MHz Rubber Antenna
    • Straight design
    • 7 inch size
    • BNC Connector

     

    New ProductGRE PSR-200U Scanner

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    By Jonathan Higgins
    GRE PSR-200U Scanner

    The GRE PSR-200/U scanner reminds me of my very first scanner the Radio Shack Realistic PRO-2014. GRE PSR-200U is replacing the GRE PSR-200.

    What new with the GRE PSR-200U Scanner:
    >> Adding the Broadcast FM Band – 87.3 – 107.9
    >> Capability to program/decode the private line (CTCSS/DCS)
    >> Signal Meter

    Everything else is still the same. I have to say I like the added feature of CTCSS/DCS. This will help with blocking unwanted distance communications on the same given frequency. Also the Signal Meter is very nice too!

    Also…
    >> Desktop Design
    >> 200 Channels
    >> SAME Weather Alert
    >> 5 Service Searches
    >> Skywarn
    >> PC Programmable
    >> Backlight LCD Display
    >> Easy to use Buttons

    Frequency Coverage:
    29-30MHz: 10 Meter Amateur Radio
    30-50MHz: VHF Low
    50-54MHz: 6 Meter Amateur Radio
    87.3-107.9MHz: FM Broadcast Band
    108-136.99166MHz: Aircraft
    137-144MHz: Government
    144-148MHz: 2 Meter Amateur Radio
    148-174MHz: VHF Hi
    380-450MHz: Amateur Radio/Government
    450-470MHz: UHF Standard
    470-512MHz: UHF “T”

    Included in the box:
    >> PSR-200U Scanner
    >> Telescope Antenna
    >> AC Adapter
    >> User Manual

    Great gift for someone that in a non-digital/trunking area…
    You should keep the GRE PSR 200U Scanner in mind, this entry-level 200 channel scanner is very simple to operate. Program single frequency in a few simple steps, it that easy!

    For some people this scanner will not work due to the radio systems in their area. How check if this scanner will work in their area? Visit our sister website http://www.policescanners.com.

    GRE PSR-200U – Key Pad

    GRE PSR-200U – Back of scanner Jacks