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You can
write your own review of the GRE PSR-500.
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SIERRAHOTEL
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Rating: 5/5
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May 1, 2011 04:45
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Great scanner
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I didn't bite on a PSR-500 until I found one for sale by a user on a forum. It was brand new and he sold it to me for $325, Just about what the clone, the Radio Shack Pro-106 went for when it was on sale, with the programming cable. I have to admit, the object oriented programming confused me a little at first, but soon I had it figured out. This is one of the best scanners I have ever owned. It's not perfect, by any means, but it's as close as it gets right now. I had a Uniden 396 for a while, but I hated the audio quality, especially on digital, so I sold it off soon after I bought it. I recently bought a RS Pro-106 on sale, so I definitely like this radio.
Positives:
Very good digital audio.
Excellent analog/conventional audio.
Logical operation, once you get it figured out.
Negatives:
A little big, compared to the Uniden 396.
Cheaply made case, a little delicate. A friend with "acid hands" has dissolved a lot of the front panel markings in a very short time. The Uniden scanners seem a little more solid at this point in time.
Junk "forked" BNC connector (As all Uniden and GRE radios have. Would it kill either companies' profits to put in a "ring" type connector that holds up over heavy use, like Icom/Kenwood/Yaesu, etc use?
Smallish display, but looks better than the 396 does.
Amber backlighting not my ideal color. I would rather have green.
Worthless belt clip. Go back to screw attachment GRE/RS! Then it can be replaced easily with a REAL metal beltclip.
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VE6DO
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2011 19:03
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Awesome
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I love this radio. It is something that you wouldn't want to program manually but there is good software (I use psr edit). I use it mainly for the local edacs system. It performs very well.
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K7NG
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 28, 2010 07:53
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Good performer, expensive repairs
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I live in an area with a mix of P25 and analog trunked systems, EDACS and Motorola, so I needed a scanner with lots of versatility. I needed one with lots of room for memories, as I travel around a lot. The search quickly narrowed to the BCD396t and the PSR500. I chose the PSR500 based on reviews and careful thought regarding features and capabilities not immediately obvious. I think I made the right choice. Once programmed properly the scanner delivers everything I could need. You DO need programming software because of the complex programming, I use Win500... Great work, Don!
Pros: Sensitive enough, very fast scan rate on conventional channels, color LED that can be programmed to show what sort of service you're hearing. Once I was familiar with the object-oriented programming and the V-Scanners, I grew to love it.
Cons: Really needs an external speaker for mobile use, but won't drive an un-amplified one from the headphone jack. Gets crunched by nearby call sites.
I gave it a '4' because my unit, like many, many others failed suddenly and required a $140 board replacement... which GRE claimed is a rare event. I don't care for equipment which will fail from a known defect but that won't be supported by the manufacturer when it does. Man up, GRE, and admit the problem!
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N4UED
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 16, 2009 17:18
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THE BEST DIGITAL SCANNER FOR YOUR MONEY.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I HAVE OWNED MY GRE PSR-500 SINCE IT WAS FIRST RELEASED.
THAT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME AGO.
THE AUDIO BOOST IS FANTASTIC FOR LOW VOLUME TRUNKING SYSTEMS.
I USE THE PSR PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE.
I FIND THIS SOFTWARE EASY TO USE.
THE SCANNER IS GREAT ON BATTERIES.
I HAVE EACH FREQUENCY WITH A COLOR OF ITS OWN,FOR POLICE,FIRE ETC....
I USE THE LIGHTS IN THE FLASH MODE ALONG WITH A DIFFERENT ALERT TONE FOR EACH SYSTEM.
I USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES IN MINE WITH GREAT SUCCESS.
IF YOU ARE HESITANT ABOUT BUYING ONE,THINK AGAIN.
YOU CAN NOW FIND THEM ON E-BAY FOR ALMOST $60.00 CHEAPER THAN I PAYED WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT.
ENJOY YOURS,
CHUCK N4UED
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VA3CGT
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 12, 2009 11:01
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Fantastic Scanner
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was going to buy the BC396T but after reviewing the PSR500 I was sold.
Yes, this scanner is bigger then others but the performance is top notch. Hot sensitivity on 800mhz. Digital mode on VHF trunking is excellent both sound quality and receive sensitivity. Better then my BC246T.
This scanner is cheaper then the 396T however not to many dealers sell this scanner. I would assume the markup is higher on the Uniden products.
Great job GRE!
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KA1ZQI
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 2, 2008 19:41
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Great scanner!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Best scanner I have ever owned - use the ARC software (by butel) to program it which makes it easier, however once you start to use it - its really not that tough to program via keypad. I think its a little more intimidating than difficult. Highly recommend this scanner to ANYONE who wants the ability to monitor all the trunked radio systems out there.
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KJ4AQT
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 10, 2008 01:58
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Not A bad radio, could be better constructed
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Purchased Mine 4 weeks ago, the radio is nice, Definately Sensitive, Sometimes too much, the case could be constructed a little better though, it feels cheap.
You Get Used to the programming after a while.
Pros: Alert LED, Digital Audio, Computer Interface.
Cons: Construction, Noise Rejection, Less Informative display.
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K0GV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 2, 2008 20:10
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Excellent scanner for P25 systems
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently purchased a used PSR-500 and, before use, upgraded it to the latest revision firmware (CPU V1.5). My primary use of the scanner is to monitor the digital P25 system in and around Minneapolis, MN. So far the experience has been excellent and I have no complaints about the scanner and would recommend it to others.
In comparison, two years ago I purchased a Pro-96 to monitor the same system from the same location and took the unit back to Radio Shack after a week due to poor audio, dropped transmissions, etc. I have had none of these issues with the PSR-500 and certainly plan on keeping the scanner. Two years is a long time in the electronics field and GRE has put the time to good use in the development of the PSR-500.
Programming the PSR-500 via the keypad would be very hard and very time consuming, but using the Win500 program coupled with the RadioReference.com website has made programming painless, even fun, as I tweak the scanner to my favorite modes, frequencies, options, etc.
The Uniden scanners may be great, but I can say I have no regrets in purchasing the PSR-500.
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KC0SHS
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Rating: 3/5
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Jul 30, 2008 14:55
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Had higher expectations
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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One sentence... unless you need ESK, the Uniden396 is a better deal.
The Uniden 396 and the GRE-500 are both hard to program. Pick your poison. With that, the Uniden radios are much better designed, comes with more accessories and the software needed to program it is free from the manufacturer.
Issues I have with the GRE-500...
This thing is BIG. Does not fit into a shirt pocket like the 396
Comes without rechargeable batteries
The pre-programmed V-systems are misdocumented but once you find your system, it works. No statewide systems pre-programmed
The firmware (mainly the objects) is grossly ambiguous
Enabling and disabling objects is very unclear and painful to do on-the-fly
If you have allot of objects, they are overwhelming to manage from the front panel.
Can't disable tower sites without DUPE-ing the object and deleting the towersite
must create a object to search a system
must create an object to hear car-to-car comms
Programming all but the simplest systems is painful from the front panel as you spend more time creating objects and linking to them over-n-over.
Large state-wide systems are not manageable without external software
Comes with a custom USB to serial adaptor when it could have used a simple serial port. (install yet another damn driver?!)
No software meaning that you still have to expend $$$ to purchase third party software to use this radio. None of the third party software works in linux or MAC unlike the uniden software. Unless you run windows somewhere, this radio is useless.
Plugging or unplugging the external power supply (with batteries installed) without the radio being off locks up the radio.
If you live near any commercial transmitter sites (1 mile) this thing will intermod. There is a reason the PAD key is predominate in it's operations.
one plus note... the Digital DSP is allot better on the GRE then the uniden radios.
If I didn't need the ESK, I would be running back to my 396. Once you know how a digital truncked system works, the uniden radio's programming is more straight forward unlike the gre-500
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WQGA468
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 13, 2008 13:59
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Must Have Scanner
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Time owned: months
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If I had to own only one scanner this would be it. As someone who has owned the 396, the 96, and old RS units like the 39 & 43, along with many others, I have to say this is the best yet overall, despite a few warts.
Pro: Ultra sensitive and great for distant receptions. The best feature set with things you don't get in other units such as NAC code capability, LED / Warnings for notification, audio boost for quieter transmissions, and tons of advanced features for those who just can't leave well enough alone (like me). Very good display, strong and clear digital audio, better than the 396. A real squelch knob (call me old fashioned if you like). Very good on most bands and great on uhf.
Con: Bulky, with a cheap feel and appearance. Plastic panels don't connect well and case makes creaking noises if pressed the right way. Cheap antenna that doesn't fit well (cured by replacing with diamond rh519 which works better and fits with professional precision). Display not quite as good as the one on the 396. Desense problems near cell sites a bit worse than 396, front end can be overloaded more easily. Odd method for finding objects. Scan has adustable steps but not search as far as I can tell.
Overall the performance is so good, it still deserves 5 stars despite some weak points.
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