whistler ws1098 MOTOTRBO decoding

[kurisu]

Has anybody had any experience woth this scanner. Listed on radio reference

Supported Trunking Types
EDACS Narrow / Wide (analog only)
LTR (with automatic LCN sorting optional)
Motorola Analog Trunked (including legacy systems)
Motorola Mixed Mode Trunked (including legacy systems)
Motorola P16 Trunked
Motorola P25 Phase I, X-2 TDMA, and Phase II Trunked
DMR MOTOTRBO with free upgrade

Is it any good? MOTOTRBO Is used around here mainly for shop watch ect

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/WS1095

[Rod2117]

Just had an e-mail from Moonraker UK this morning. They are now selling the Whistler WS1088 EZ scanner. Nevada radio also have it in stock for £349. I'll wait for a review but it seems a cheaper way to decode digital systems compared to the AOR DV1. Both Moonraker and Nevada Radio say it is programmed with a UK frequency range.

Rod

[kurisu]

Looking at the moonraker website they also have due in soon the Whistler TRX 2 which supports more MOTOTRBO trucking options but also the NXDN modes used by both ICOM and Kenwood DMR systems. (Coming in a future uodate) it looks like this one may bean all in one solution but it's got a heavy price tag

http://www.moonraker.eu/popular-product ... le-desktop

[Rod2117]

I have had some success decoding NXDN using an RTL stick, SDR# and DSD plus. I'd be interested in an all in one option like these Whistler scanners if they were cheaper.. Having said that you could buy both of the Whistler offerings and still have change out of the cost of the AOR DV1.

[muk]

Will have one tomorrow so will post my thoughts over the weekend

[kurisu]

Will have one tomorrow so will post my thoughts over the weekend

If you could post a video about its operation it would be ace! However one question...when you get it.. Could you let us know if you can just directly in put a frequency in a vfo kind of way.

When I have looked online and in the manual (pdf) rather that just inputting say... 440.1250 and listening what's on there, it seems I would have to put 440.1250 in into a databank slot and then selecting it from there.

[Transmission1]

Would be very interested to know if these can provide DMR info on the fly such as TG, CC, Slot and Radio ID etc. If so then that would be VERY useful!
Will be on my xmas list if so!

[Metradio]

Yes both the WS1098 mobile and WS1088 handie can display the DMR TG, CC, Slot and Radio ID...

Mike

[Transmission1]

Yes both the WS1098 mobile and WS1088 handie can display the DMR TG, CC, Slot and Radio ID...

Mike

Isn't that superior to the AOR-DV1's decoding features then? I know the AOR is more than just a scanner but for the money you would expect it to be able to do this out of the box and provide all the information on the display. Makes the Whistler look good value in the context of things.

[Metradio]

...Isn't that superior to the AOR-DV1's decoding features then? I know the AOR is more than just a scanner but for the money you would expect it to be able to do this out of the box and provide all the information on the display. Makes the Whistler look good value in the context of things.

It is.. what the AOR AR-DV1 has going for it is you can control it with a PC, the Whistler range can only upload and download the memory contents for editing.

The whister has very good audio quality and DMR decoding is top notch. What I like is you can do a search, capture, save and edit with the keyboard without having to read the manual..

Mike

[kurisu]

But, is it possible to simply input a frequency using the keypad and listen without saving it to a bank in a VFO mode kinda way?

[muk]

Not that I've figured out so far

[kurisu]

Not that I've figured out so far

See that's a massive draw back for me. I like imputtimg frequencies I have found, or stumbled across to see if anything is there rather than utilising a memory bank filled with rubbish frequencies that may or may not be there. It also makes it difficult 'zeroing' in on centre of a found frequency also not having a VFO type mode,

[muk]

Id had a pm asking my thoughts, may as well put my reply here too.



Bad points (maybe that's says it all that I'll put those first)

No vfo
Not really a true "scanner"
A pig to use

Plus points

I'll get back to you


Generally it's ok but a disappointment, it's more of a dmr receiver, program in frequencies and it's all good and gives you cc and talk groups etc but you don't need that unless your going to program a dmr tx/rx with it. It has scan for set frequency ranges, it has their version of close call which I think is just a fast scan of a 1mhz range. For me it's good as I've got a vhf and uhf dmr handheld which to have on all day means constant battery charging. So I've now got this in my work van and can program anything of interest I find into the handhelds. It's early days and I've not had much of a chance to really fiddle yet, hopefully have some time tomorrow and will post more thoughts.

Love the remote head, hate the RJ coming out the side

[kurisu]

Very interesting' and thanks for the PM. With no vfo mode and no direct input of a frequency (other than assigning it to a bank) I think I'm gonna me to give this one a pass. As much as I love it's feature set. It's a lot of money to have some basic features missing.