Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Toledo Fire Mutual Aid request by Defiance Ohio
The Defiance Ohio Fire Department requested mutual aid from the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department earlier today for a Trench Rescue in Downtown Defiance. The incident was at 624 Perry Street in Downtown Defiance Ohio. The original request and response from Toledo Fire units started around 11:30 AM late this morning. This was the farthest mutual aid request I've ever heard dispatched for Toledo Fire. Downtown Defiance Ohio is approximately 60 miles from Downtown Toledo Ohio. The trip by road along US-24 would normally take about an hour and 15 minutes. Units from Toledo Fire included Chief 116, Engine 18's company along with the Trench Rescue Unit and Confined Space Unit as well as Engine 5 and Truck 5. The Toledo Fire units started this as a "Code 3" lights and sirens response. The Toledo Fire units were also noted as having switched their radios from the Lucas County Public Safety radio system over to the ECOMM-7 (emergency common) talk group on the Ohio MARCS radio system. However after about 20 minutes the Toledo Fire units were cancelled and able to return to service.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
GRE @ CES 2010 - Part 3 of 3
General Discussion
The Radio Reference community in general should not be discouraged here by these latest models. GRE indicates they indeed respond and listen to the RR community and users, but they also need to design for the global scanner market. Some of us here are from a much more advanced user base than the general scanner market, and the overall scanner market is not all that large to begin with. GRE will continue to market and develop and sell to the entire base (which is a very small percentage of general consumers). But with growth in the overall scanner industry, we can all see benefits from an increased user base.
We talked in general about the challenges of a niche market. I'll sum my thoughts up with a few points here in relation to CES and consumer electronics. These two new scanner model announcements were just two new models out of the 20,000 some new models reported as being announced across the entire Consumer Electronics Show this past week. Consider the market for TVs or mobile phones where there are billions of consumers and units in the market, with hundreds of manufacturers and thousands of new models. If we all can help expand the base, more options will be available across the entire scanner market. Some of what we all are doing here on RR with the Live Audio feeds we provide and information and discussion forums we offer can help expand that market. These preprogrammed and 'easy to use' product offerings from GRE will be beneficial to folks here and will also help attract new consumers and expand the scanner market.
Here are some of my general comments regarding the analog versus digital trend. Once digital activity is more prevalent, and digital starts to outsell analog, I would suspect we'll then see more models with digital, and at some point all models may have digital. We may even get to the point of televisions and mobile phones, when eventually some models in the future will only need to support digital. GRE had asked if I had purchased an iScan yet, and I advised I have not, since in my particular case, all of my county is digital. Once a majority of the activity and demand moves to digital, the manufacturers and market will need to respond to that trend.
We also talked a little about their business distribution model. GRE not only sells directly now and through dealers, along with their OEM/ODM relationships for distribution via Radio Shack and now also MFJ. GRE also indicated that Radio Shack now only purchases from GRE, and that is primarily because of the 'easy to use' factor of the Radio Shack/GRE line. In fact more and more people now refer to the combined "RS/GRE" brand. From what I can see, a larger purchaser like Radio Shack that may be buying thousands of units at a time indeed earns their right to preferential model release time lines and other brand distinctions.
GRE mentioned that in 2005 the Radio Shack brand accounted for about 60% of the scanner market share. This was primarily from their ability to introduce and demonstrate scanners at their thousands of store locations. Today the RS/GRE brand is growing online as well, and while it may not have as large of magazine presence, the physical distribution at RS stores is still key. Target customers and markets include not only general hobbyists and racing enthusiasts but also a growing commercial/public safety market. And despite the general economic conditions of the past year, GRE stated they have performed significantly well last year and are looking very good for 2010.
We talked further on marketing methods and scanner design as related to a direct interaction with the hobbyist community. I eluded to the role that UPMan and Uniden has established here on Radio Reference. GRE said they focus on responding to the community by offering the right products and that they don't want to be in a position to argue back and forth on an open forum. In regards to scanner design and manufacturing, GRE talked about how the Radio Shack PRO-95 was one of the first models designed based on feedback from the online community (then primarily Strong Signals).
Today GRE continues to conduct regular reviews and prioritizing of projects as well as responding to marketplace changes. They do not create new models just for the sake of new models, so we won't see new offerings in all categories every year. In fact they reminded me that the Radio Shack PRO-96 was the lead digital trunking model for six years, and that unit continued to generate new sales until the latest digital releases. GRE if anything said they have too many projects, and too many things they'd like to do. It is all a balance of technology/advancement, satisfying the customer, and responding to sales that drives new models in the industry.
Ok, some final random items. In regards to beta testing, that is a pretty small and intimate group. But I would have to say that good customers that provide good feedback and have a good relationship with GRE would have the best opportunity to help participate. GRE also had a a formal Press Release announcement in the works regarding the CES announcements, so stay tuned for that information. Also this has only been the 2nd year at CES for GRE, and they indeed plan on being back at the show in year three. And for general information, the CES is a consumer electronics trade show primarily for announcing and demonstrating new models, and not a ham-fest/computer-fest type show where one can purchase items.
Any other thoughts, comments, questions, please feel free to post. I may have more answers in my notes or in my head if I was not able to answer any other particular questions that I did not cover.
Jeff KC8NNO
See also Radio Reference for more discussion: Link
[Part 3 of 3]
GRE @ CES 2010 - Part 2 of 3
PSR-110 Race Scanner
The working model was red in color as you can see by the attached photo. In regards to the dual display, the "2-Digit Sub-Display" is a top mounted LCD display for showing the car number. That allows the car number information to be visible from the top of the unit while attached to your belt. On the left side are two racing headphone connections (A and B). This allows two individuals to listen together (and talk to each other via the intercom feature when using racing headsets with microphones). In addition the right side has a phone/pc-if connection as well as the power connection. When a cell phone is connected, the answer (phone button) can be pushed and you can use your cell phone by talking through the racing headset (via the A connection only). As mentioned before this unit is UHF only, it also does not have an external speaker, and is focused on being a dedicated race fan scanner. The unit has V-Scanner like ability to easily recall the programming for each of the "Big Race Categories" (Champ Car, ARCA RE/MAX, Indy Racing, Craftsman Truck, Busch Series, and Nextel Cup). These groups are all preprogrammed and adjustable. The unit offers flexibility for scanning by CAR number, a FAV button for favorite cars, and direct access for the MRN frequency. The scanner is powered by three AA batteries.
The race scanner market may be bigger here than some folks think. About 1 in 10 attendees at these big race markets may have a scanner, at a large NASCAR race with 250,000 folks there, that could mean around 25,000 people with scanners in the crowd. Folks are looking for preprogrammed units and easy to use models with alpha tags and car number information for an easy and flexible scanning experience. GRE also indicated that they will have an agreement with a track side scanner rental company for updating programming for these models at the race. Again look for this model's availability in June 2010 if not sooner.
[Part 2 of 3]
The working model was red in color as you can see by the attached photo. In regards to the dual display, the "2-Digit Sub-Display" is a top mounted LCD display for showing the car number. That allows the car number information to be visible from the top of the unit while attached to your belt. On the left side are two racing headphone connections (A and B). This allows two individuals to listen together (and talk to each other via the intercom feature when using racing headsets with microphones). In addition the right side has a phone/pc-if connection as well as the power connection. When a cell phone is connected, the answer (phone button) can be pushed and you can use your cell phone by talking through the racing headset (via the A connection only). As mentioned before this unit is UHF only, it also does not have an external speaker, and is focused on being a dedicated race fan scanner. The unit has V-Scanner like ability to easily recall the programming for each of the "Big Race Categories" (Champ Car, ARCA RE/MAX, Indy Racing, Craftsman Truck, Busch Series, and Nextel Cup). These groups are all preprogrammed and adjustable. The unit offers flexibility for scanning by CAR number, a FAV button for favorite cars, and direct access for the MRN frequency. The scanner is powered by three AA batteries.
The race scanner market may be bigger here than some folks think. About 1 in 10 attendees at these big race markets may have a scanner, at a large NASCAR race with 250,000 folks there, that could mean around 25,000 people with scanners in the crowd. Folks are looking for preprogrammed units and easy to use models with alpha tags and car number information for an easy and flexible scanning experience. GRE also indicated that they will have an agreement with a track side scanner rental company for updating programming for these models at the race. Again look for this model's availability in June 2010 if not sooner.
[Part 2 of 3]
GRE @ CES 2010 - Part 1 of 3
Below is a summary of my discussion with Wayne Wilson and Raj Gounder of GRE America from CES 2010. GRE announced their new PSR-700 EZ Scan-SD (iScan equivalent model) as well as a new GRE branded PSR-110 Race Scanner at the show. I'll cover some more details regarding the specifics for these two new models, then get into some general discussion items as well as cover additional questions folks wanted to know.
PSR-700 EZ Scan-SD
As for differences compared to the Radio Shack iScan branded model, this unit will not only be black in color, but also has a hard rubberized casing in place of a traditional solid plastic casing. The keypad has been redesigned and optimized for one handed operation (which was not a consideration with the original Radio Shack iScan version). The largest functional difference is the inclusion of V-Scanners which will allow one to save up to 200 different scanner configurations (scan list combinations and settings) for easy recall. Also are the various GRE versus Radio Shack specific branding elements as Don had mentioned ("Spectrum Sweeper" versus "Signal Stalker").
The reason why GRE has released analog-only models first (RS PRO-107 and GRE PSR-700) is due to the fact that the analog trunking market currently outsells digital trunking on an order of 5 to 2. As Don had mentioned, a majority of activity and frequencies are still analog in the global scanner market, and hence a majority of people are still just looking for analog models. See the General Discussion section for some additional comments on my part in regards to the analog/digital trend. GRE did indicate that a digital version is "a year away", is in development, and is the highest priority for delivery. These initial analog iScan/EZ-Scan models will be a good proving ground for this latest form factor.
The photo of the PSR-700 that I captured was not of a working unit, but a production prototype of how the scanner and casing will be produced. They did have a GRECOM branded piece of iScan looking hardware that was running the new PSR-700 EZ Scan firmware. It is interesting to see that everything for these scanners runs off the SD card, including all of the scanner firmware/software as well as holding all of the programming information. This should provide for a good future with the ability to essentially update most functionality via firmware/software upgrades. It will be great to see this SD card functionality on other future GRE models--especially the higher tier and full function type models like the PSR-500/600 form factors.
While this line of models using the new iScan/EZ-Scan form factor is focused heavily on being preprogrammed and easy to use, this new form factor, and these new models are also just the latest step. It will be great to see some of the technologies introduced with these specific models eventually move across the entire scanner line.
GRE indicated to look to June 2010 for first availability of the PSR-700 model and that the unit will have a price point similar to that of the Radio Shack PRO-107.
[Part 1 of 3]
PSR-700 EZ Scan-SD
As for differences compared to the Radio Shack iScan branded model, this unit will not only be black in color, but also has a hard rubberized casing in place of a traditional solid plastic casing. The keypad has been redesigned and optimized for one handed operation (which was not a consideration with the original Radio Shack iScan version). The largest functional difference is the inclusion of V-Scanners which will allow one to save up to 200 different scanner configurations (scan list combinations and settings) for easy recall. Also are the various GRE versus Radio Shack specific branding elements as Don had mentioned ("Spectrum Sweeper" versus "Signal Stalker").
The reason why GRE has released analog-only models first (RS PRO-107 and GRE PSR-700) is due to the fact that the analog trunking market currently outsells digital trunking on an order of 5 to 2. As Don had mentioned, a majority of activity and frequencies are still analog in the global scanner market, and hence a majority of people are still just looking for analog models. See the General Discussion section for some additional comments on my part in regards to the analog/digital trend. GRE did indicate that a digital version is "a year away", is in development, and is the highest priority for delivery. These initial analog iScan/EZ-Scan models will be a good proving ground for this latest form factor.
The photo of the PSR-700 that I captured was not of a working unit, but a production prototype of how the scanner and casing will be produced. They did have a GRECOM branded piece of iScan looking hardware that was running the new PSR-700 EZ Scan firmware. It is interesting to see that everything for these scanners runs off the SD card, including all of the scanner firmware/software as well as holding all of the programming information. This should provide for a good future with the ability to essentially update most functionality via firmware/software upgrades. It will be great to see this SD card functionality on other future GRE models--especially the higher tier and full function type models like the PSR-500/600 form factors.
While this line of models using the new iScan/EZ-Scan form factor is focused heavily on being preprogrammed and easy to use, this new form factor, and these new models are also just the latest step. It will be great to see some of the technologies introduced with these specific models eventually move across the entire scanner line.
GRE indicated to look to June 2010 for first availability of the PSR-700 model and that the unit will have a price point similar to that of the Radio Shack PRO-107.
[Part 1 of 3]
Friday, January 8, 2010
2010 CES Friday Agenda
2010 CES Friday Agenda:
Have a handful of sessions and a couple of keynotes that I'd like to attend. Also have time scheduled with GRE America regarding new Scanning Receiver models announced.
Have a handful of sessions and a couple of keynotes that I'd like to attend. Also have time scheduled with GRE America regarding new Scanning Receiver models announced.
2010 CES Thursday Recap
2010 CES Thursday Recap:
Went to the State of the CE Industry and Opening Keynote address this morning. Good insight into innovation, and interesting information from the Ford In Car Experience and the SYNC system user interface demonstrations.
Attended two of today's Tech Policy Summit sessions including "Making Nationwide Deployment and Adoption of Broadband a Reality" and "The Spectrum Grab and Innovation". The first session was more of a pleasant discussion, while the second session had some interesting conflict between broadcast and commercial interests, and debate as to whether a true spectrum crisis is indeed looming.
Spent some time on the conference floor--this space is huge. Was able to briefly swing by the GRE America booth, sent a picture via TwitPic. Have since posted some more information on Radio Reference regarding the newly released GRECOM branded models the PSR-700 "EZ Scan-SD" and the PSR-110 Race Scanner.
Was at the Intel keynote. Interesting comments from Paul Otellini regarding computing power. The first Intel 4004 micro-processor from 40 years ago with 2000 transistors was compared to the processors released today with billions of transitions that are running 5000 times faster and costing 100,000 times less. He mentioned if automobile companies innovated like Intel, cars would drive at 470,000 mph using 100,000 mpg and cost 3 cents.
Some additional general comments. 3D is all the hype, but still not that exciting looking for me, everything I've seen still looks like a bunch of 2D layers at fixed distances and doesn't approximate the reality of actual depth perception all that well. Proprietary app stores are on the rise and popping up everywhere (Ford, Intel, etc), but there is some promise of interaction and multi and cross platform support (i.e. interact with an Apple iPhone app via your Ford/Microsoft SYNC system). And personal and mobile computing will take a more prevalent place in the world, be ever more aware, and more available when at home and on the go, especially with all the new netbooks, tablets, smart phones and smart home technologies.
Went to the State of the CE Industry and Opening Keynote address this morning. Good insight into innovation, and interesting information from the Ford In Car Experience and the SYNC system user interface demonstrations.
Attended two of today's Tech Policy Summit sessions including "Making Nationwide Deployment and Adoption of Broadband a Reality" and "The Spectrum Grab and Innovation". The first session was more of a pleasant discussion, while the second session had some interesting conflict between broadcast and commercial interests, and debate as to whether a true spectrum crisis is indeed looming.
Spent some time on the conference floor--this space is huge. Was able to briefly swing by the GRE America booth, sent a picture via TwitPic. Have since posted some more information on Radio Reference regarding the newly released GRECOM branded models the PSR-700 "EZ Scan-SD" and the PSR-110 Race Scanner.
Was at the Intel keynote. Interesting comments from Paul Otellini regarding computing power. The first Intel 4004 micro-processor from 40 years ago with 2000 transistors was compared to the processors released today with billions of transitions that are running 5000 times faster and costing 100,000 times less. He mentioned if automobile companies innovated like Intel, cars would drive at 470,000 mph using 100,000 mpg and cost 3 cents.
Some additional general comments. 3D is all the hype, but still not that exciting looking for me, everything I've seen still looks like a bunch of 2D layers at fixed distances and doesn't approximate the reality of actual depth perception all that well. Proprietary app stores are on the rise and popping up everywhere (Ford, Intel, etc), but there is some promise of interaction and multi and cross platform support (i.e. interact with an Apple iPhone app via your Ford/Microsoft SYNC system). And personal and mobile computing will take a more prevalent place in the world, be ever more aware, and more available when at home and on the go, especially with all the new netbooks, tablets, smart phones and smart home technologies.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2010 CES Thursday Agenda
2010 CES Thursday Agenda
First full day of the show. Will try to make it to the two keynotes today, plus I have a few sessions on my calendar. Will also explore some other general interest areas and exhibitors.
Be sure to follow me on twitter @jpryor223 for updates through out the day.
First full day of the show. Will try to make it to the two keynotes today, plus I have a few sessions on my calendar. Will also explore some other general interest areas and exhibitors.
Be sure to follow me on twitter @jpryor223 for updates through out the day.
2010 CES Wednesday Recap
2010 CES Wednesday Recap:
Took a stroll down the strip and tossed $10 in the slot machines of 20 different casinos. Was able to hold my ground on the first half and first 10 casinos, but no luck on the second half. The best pull was at ARIA, with last $1 left, I hit the 3rd highest progressive for a $78 payout.
Got my CES badge holder and went to the pre keynote address at the Hilton Center featuring Microsoft's Steve Ballmer. Very interesting topics and technology demos, all with a distinct Microsoft slant though.
Hotel WIFI/Internet coverage is spotty at best, so most of my blogging activities will be limited to basic recaps and upcoming agendas for now.
Took a stroll down the strip and tossed $10 in the slot machines of 20 different casinos. Was able to hold my ground on the first half and first 10 casinos, but no luck on the second half. The best pull was at ARIA, with last $1 left, I hit the 3rd highest progressive for a $78 payout.
Got my CES badge holder and went to the pre keynote address at the Hilton Center featuring Microsoft's Steve Ballmer. Very interesting topics and technology demos, all with a distinct Microsoft slant though.
Hotel WIFI/Internet coverage is spotty at best, so most of my blogging activities will be limited to basic recaps and upcoming agendas for now.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
I will be attending the 2010 CES later this week in Las Vegas. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to cover the show from both a professional perspective as well as check out things from a hobbyist, enthusiast and personal perspective. While not being occupied by topics related to my day job, I plan to check out a variety of exhibitors and other interesting sessions. I'll also be sure to slide by the GRE booth, I suspect that there won't be much more for display than what they had at the Dayton Hamvention. But maybe they'll have an future iScan digital prototype or other GRE branded models.
The following are my primary objectives during my CES/Las Vegas trip:
1) Digital Health Summit (ces info) (website) - Cover the Digital Health Summit, in relation to my day job as a Business Analyst in a health care information company. We are simplifying the business of health care and connecting and empowering consumers to manage their health in a ever more consumer-based health care space. Looking for disruptive technologies and tracking the emerging markets of the rapidly evolving digital health care industry.
2) Tech Policy Summit (ces info) - Attend the Tech Policy Summit with interesting sessions like "Making Nationwide Deployment and Adoption of Broadband a Reality", "The Spectrum Grab and Innovation", and "Inside the FCC's Communications Agenda". These sessions will likely offer interesting discussions regarding our ever growing and connected wireless communications world and may have ramifications for Amateur Radio and other spectrum uses.
3) GRE America (ces booth) (website) - Represent the Radio Reference community, answer questions and provide general coverage related to the GRE scanner product line.
4) General Interest - Explore other exhibitors and sessions of general consumer electronics interest.
5) "#20casinos" Challenge - Travel the Las Vegas strip, hitting a total of 20 of the largest Casinos in the world in 10 Hours (or less) and gambling a total of $200 bucks at said casinos. Part of my Wednesday free day and a special project that will likely have heavy Twitter and TwitPic coverage. Look here and on Twitter this Wednesday for more information.
I've primarily be covering objectives number 2 through 5 both here and via Twitter.
Stay tuned to this blog for a preview of my daily CES agenda and nightly summary and recap information. Follow me on Twitter @jpryor223 for real time updates and TwitPic images through out each day. And keep track of my position on APRS.fi via my KC8NNO-12 APRS-enabled location tracking Smart Phone.
Jeff KC8NNO
The following are my primary objectives during my CES/Las Vegas trip:
1) Digital Health Summit (ces info) (website) - Cover the Digital Health Summit, in relation to my day job as a Business Analyst in a health care information company. We are simplifying the business of health care and connecting and empowering consumers to manage their health in a ever more consumer-based health care space. Looking for disruptive technologies and tracking the emerging markets of the rapidly evolving digital health care industry.
2) Tech Policy Summit (ces info) - Attend the Tech Policy Summit with interesting sessions like "Making Nationwide Deployment and Adoption of Broadband a Reality", "The Spectrum Grab and Innovation", and "Inside the FCC's Communications Agenda". These sessions will likely offer interesting discussions regarding our ever growing and connected wireless communications world and may have ramifications for Amateur Radio and other spectrum uses.
3) GRE America (ces booth) (website) - Represent the Radio Reference community, answer questions and provide general coverage related to the GRE scanner product line.
4) General Interest - Explore other exhibitors and sessions of general consumer electronics interest.
5) "#20casinos" Challenge - Travel the Las Vegas strip, hitting a total of 20 of the largest Casinos in the world in 10 Hours (or less) and gambling a total of $200 bucks at said casinos. Part of my Wednesday free day and a special project that will likely have heavy Twitter and TwitPic coverage. Look here and on Twitter this Wednesday for more information.
I've primarily be covering objectives number 2 through 5 both here and via Twitter.
Stay tuned to this blog for a preview of my daily CES agenda and nightly summary and recap information. Follow me on Twitter @jpryor223 for real time updates and TwitPic images through out each day. And keep track of my position on APRS.fi via my KC8NNO-12 APRS-enabled location tracking Smart Phone.
Jeff KC8NNO
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