between the two, many public safety agencies operating on 800 MHz radio systems are being compensated
to move to new 700/800 MHz frequencies. For Motorola trunking radio systems this requires a change to
the data structure of the system and therefore newer trunking scanners require a firmware upgrade to be
able to continue to properly “trunk.” Older trunking scanners, such as the Bearcat 780XLT and many
RadioShack models, are not upgradeable and therefore need to be replaced.)
GRE PSR600 Base/Mobile Digital Scanner
The PSR600 digital scanner provides the user with up to 1800 Scannable Objects that can be scanned. The
radio features the “V-Scanner” system that allows the user to store 20 additional sets of scanner memories.
While only one V-Scanner can be used at a time, with 1800 memory locations, you should be able to
monitor all the local action without much trouble. If you travel or share the radio between work and home
for example, you can load multiple V-Scanners as needed.
The PSR600 comes with several accessories, including an AC adaptor, DC power cable, bracket and
hardware as well as a telescoping antenna. Also included with the PSR600 is a USB programming cable.
This can be used with several different programming applications, such as Butel’s ARC-500. (Note that the
RadioShack PRO197 does not include the programming cable, it can be purchased for about $35.) Also
included is a CD-ROM with the Owner’s Manual. You might want to print it for use away from the
computer. You can also download updated versions of the manual from GRE’s website
(http://www.greamerica.com/support/)
Although the PSR600 is a “Din” sized radio it does not come with a DIN sleeve or insertion keys, if you
want to mount the scanner in this fashion you will have to purchase that separately.
The PSR600 has the speaker at the bottom of the case. The front panel’s top right corner has a pair of
concentric rotary controls, the inner knob for volume and the outer for squelch. This is more conventional
and user-friendly than the arrangement used on current Unidens. Also on the front panel of the radio you’ll
find the headphone and PC/IF jacks.
The rear of the radio has the power connector, external speaker and BNC antenna jack. The PSR600 uses a
standard BNC connector and includes a BNC telescoping antenna. There is no “record jack” provided.
On the front panel of the radio is a jack for the computer programming cable. While older GRE built radios
(such as the PRO96) could use RS232 cables, the Digital Line radios are only capable of working with the
GRE or Radio Shack USB programming cables. This cable allows you to read and write programming files
to the radio and to control the radio with a computer with, again, the proper software such as Butel’s ARC-
500 available through Scanner Master. You can also use a cloning cable thru this jack and clone the radio
to and from other GRE digital scanners as well as the Radio Shack counterparts.
The placement of the PC/IF jack on the front panel is a nod to the DIN mounting ability. If you mount this
radio into a dashboard it is hard to get at the rear panel, so by placing the PC/IF jack on the front makes it
easier to program or clone the radio while mounted in a vehicle.
Before trying to connect the radio to the computer remember to install the drivers for the USB cable on
your computer, which are found on the included CD-ROM (or download them from the Internet). After you
install the drivers and plug in the cable the computer will assign a Comm Port and you will need that to
enter into your programming software so that it can find your radio. Some software packages will look for a
radio and assign the proper Comm Port if you don’t already know it.
The USB cable can also be used to retrieve special data signals from certain trunked systems to be decoded
by programs like the fascinating (and free!) PRO96Com application. When set up to do so the radio sends
decoded data to a computer that tells all kind of interesting details about the system such as frequencies
used, talkgroup and radio ID’s and other information. Until the introduction of Uniden’s XT line, only
certain GRE built radios provided this data, the PSR600 continues the ability to retrieve this information.
