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1/8/02
After nearly 3 years! ! ! ! of hype, speculations & rumors "limited" cold hard facts have finally been released by Uniden on a "digital scanner."Here is Unidens press release. (NOTE: This is a PRESS RELEASE *** NOT *** a SPECIFICATIONS SHEET! Many questions remain UNANSWERED!)
UNIDEN DEBUTS NEW APCO 25 DIGITAL SCANNER MODELS
Electronics Giant to Sell Software to Customize Monitoring Experience
Uniden lifts the curtain on its long-anticipated APCO 25 digital scanner models.
LAS VEGAS (January 8) – Uniden America Corporation today unveiled its new digital scanner line for 2002, including the consumer electronics leader’s much-anticipated base and handheld APCO 25 digital scanning models.
Speaking at CES, product manager Scott Carpenter showcased the new scanner products, underscoring the company’s commitment to keeping its customers at the forefront of scanning technology. “Our retailers have been pushing us for a Uniden APCO 25 product for months, and our new BC250D handheld and our BC785D base/mobile scanning unit represent the fulfillment of our promise,” Carpenter said. “With the ability to monitor conventional, trunked and APCO 25 conventional and trunked systems these models are state-of-the-art radio scanners.
According to Uniden representatives, the Bearcat BC250D and the Bearcat BC785D models, which are slated to hit shelves in late 2002, offer 1,100 channels, 10 banks and a frequency range of 25MHz – 1300MHz. The BC250D comprises all of the features of Uniden’s market-leading BC780 XLT in a handheld model, plus adds APCO 25 capability and an additional 600 channels.
Users of both models must purchase an APCO 25 card, the BCi25D, separately. “We’re pleased to be bringing these great Bearcat APCO 25 units to market,” Carpenter said. “We expect more big cities to migrate to the APCO 25 digital technology, like Los Angeles did this past year, to ensure agency interoperability among police, fire, EMTs and the like – and we know news organizations, businesses and consumers will want to monitor their signals.”
Uniden officials stressed that APCO 25 digital scanning technology simply gives users the ability to monitor the day-to-day activities and signals of standard city and government service departments – but in no way allows users to monitor encrypted signals from national and local security organizations.
So whats this mean to FL users?
- Q: Will I be able to monitor the NEW NEW FL Statewide ComNet/Ericsson EDACS ProVoice System?
A: NO! The 2 new Uniden/Bearcat scanners the will ONLY MONITOR APCO Project 25(P25) systems. This system is NOT APCO P-25 compatible.
- Q: Will I be able to monitor the OLD NEW FL Statewide Motorola Astro Trunking System?
A: YES! This system installed along the I95 corridor from the Keys to Orlando WILL BE MONIORABLE, at least till its converted to the NEW NEW EDACS in 2005.
- Q: Will I be able to monitor Nextel/Southern Linc/Motorola iDENsystems?
A: NO! The 2 new Uniden/Bearcat scanners the will ONLY MONITOR APCO Project 25(P25) systems. This system is NOT APCO P-25 compatible and uses proprietary protocols for the the audio.
- Q: Are there any P-25 systems in the Tampa Region?
A: Yes! Sarasota County. YES it WILL MONITOR THIS SYSTEM.
- Q: Will it monitor EDACS ProVoice systems?
A: NO! The 2 new Uniden/Bearcat scanners the will ONLY MONITOR APCO Project 25(P25) systems. This system is NOT APCO P-25 compatible.
- Q: Will it handle the new 9.6K control channels?
A: YES! This is information was finally beaten out of the closed lip Uniden people.
- Q: Will it handle Phase II CQPSK 6.25KHz Audio?
A: UNKNOWN! This is a press release and DODGED ANSWERING the REAL HARD questions!
- Q: Will it monitor systems that use ENCRYPTION?
A: NO! Only systems using DIGITAL AUDIO with NO ENCRYPTION will be monitorable.
There is a DIFFERENCE from having DIGITAL **ENCODED** audio and ENCRYPTED!
- Q: Was a live demo conducted @ Winter CES 2002 in Las Vegas?
A: NO! An EMPTY CASE MOCKUP was displayed!
For pictures of the mockup and how the BCi25D card fits into the BC785D, click here.
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