Whistler Announces Entry into Radio Scanner Market

Contact: Kim Callison, Marketing Director
The Whistler Group, Inc.

Whistler Announces Entry into Radio Scanner Market

Bentonville, AR – (September 23, 2013) – The Whistler Group, Inc., a leading industry supplier of Laser/Radar Detectors, is announcing entry into the radio scanner market. Whistler has purchased the intellectual property of scanner industry leader, GRE America, Inc., and plans to launch a complete line of scanners under the Whistler brand.

Whistler is proud to enter the scanning receiver business, picking up popular scanner models often characterized by hobbyists as easiest to program and use. Whistler scanners will include: handheld and desktop/mobile digital scanners with full keyboard, a handheld scanner with USA/Canada database built in, and two models of VHF/UHF non-trunking scanners. The assortment will include the first and only scanner that works on newer modulation protocols including P25-Phase II.

Models feature an Object Oriented User Interface, context sensitive help menus and three soft keys for easy programming, Digital AGC and superfast DSP for clearest possible audio on digital signals, user upgradable CPU and DSP firmware and an alert LED which can be programmed to light when any object goes active.

Whistler is committed to advancing state of the art technology in scanning receivers. “This is an exciting opportunity to produce quality product that keeps up with changing industry technology. We look forward to making positive contributions to this industry”, states Jesse Hopkins, President/CEO of Whistler.

Whistler brand scanners will be available for retail and distribution in the first quarter of 2014.


About Whistler

Whistler has been a leader in automotive laser/radar detection systems for over 40 years. Throughout the years Whistler has innovated and patented important product advances, resulting in first-to-market accomplishments and top performance rankings. Whistler also offers a complete line of Power Inverters and Diagnostic Inspection Cameras. For more information please visit Whistler Group | High Performance Radar Detectors and Electronics.

GRE-500/600 and the VA STARS System

Field report on the GRE-500 regarding the VA STARS:

"Loaded VA STARS, it works (even better than the 96 or 396)."

I think we can close the files on this issue regarding the GRE scanner and the VA STARS radio network.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Original Report:

I had a piece of correspondence this morning regarding the issue of monitoring the VA STARS VHF System on the new GRE digital scanners, the PSR-500/600.

From the GRE staff I received this reply to my query, "Our STARS beta tester reported "flawless" performance on STARS."

I also understand that Uniden has fixed the problems they had with the BCD396T/996T scanners.

Since this system is still under test, no one can be 100% sure that the bugs are worked out (including the engineers working on the system). but I feel confident as a reviewer that both GRE and Uniden have the VA STARS TRS issues well in hand.

GRE PSR Scanner Information/Specifications

Last Friday was a great day. In addition to it being TGIF I had a chance to meet the GRE PS scanner team in the office at Grove Enterprises. They gave us a demo and then a chance to try out a PSR-500 handheld digital/analog trunking scanner.

And to add a bit of icing to the cake, the GRE staff brought along the latest and best information/specs on all six of their new scanners that will be released in the last quarter of 2007. So in the posts below I will present the latest US information/specs available on the new GRE PSR scanner line.

Larry Van Horn
Brasstown, NC

GRE PSR-100 Handheld Scanner

This scanner is a analog only, no trunking VHF/UHF scanner. No 700/800 MHz coverage.

● Frequency Coverage:
29.000-54.000 MHz (5-kHz steps FM)
108.0000-135.9875 MHz (12.5-kHz steps AM)
137.0000-143.9875 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
144.0000-148.0000 MHz (5-kHz steps FM)
148.0125-150.7875 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
150.8000-161.9950 MHz (5 kHz-steps FM)
162.0000-174.0000 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
380.0000-512.0000 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
*Only two tuning steps available.

● Double conversion receiver.
● Five pre-programmed bands: Marine, Fire Department/Police Department, Air (Civilian), Amateur Radio, Weather. Uses five "one-touch" keys.
● 200 memory channels in 10 banks.
● 200 channels lock-out in scan mode.
● 200 channels automatic scanning for VHF to UHF band.
● QUICK PROGRAM when receiving signals up to 200 channels.
● 45 channels per second scanning rate and 80 steps per second searching rate.
● "Zeromatic" tuning system.
● 10 digit channel and frequency display with all function indicators (seven segment).
● One built-in priority channel.
● Weather alert and SAME programming with 10 FIPS area code memories.
● Spectrum sweeper function (aka the older Signal Stalker functions).
● Skywarn function.
● Lock/Out Review key to confirm lock out frequencies sequentially.
● Change the direction of searching (up/down).
● Two second scan and search delay.
● Manual selection for channel.
● Scan mode [Leared channels (000.000 freq) do not scan].
● Tune from the channel frequency function.
● Program mode.
● Key lock for safety.
● Key press tones.
● LCD back-lighting.
● Low battery indicator by LCD.
● Duplicate frequency check system.
● PC programmable and unit-to-unit cloning.
● BNC antenna connector.
● Earphone jack (3.5mm stereo).
● External power jack and charge jack (EIAJ RC-5320A voltage classification 3).
● PC Interface and clone jack (3.5mm mono).
● Operating voltage: 6VDC (4 AA cells). Low battery icon on display.
● AC Adapter: GA-06D-2670 (9VDC 400 mA).
● Dimensions: Approximately: 63(w) x 40(d) x 145 (h) mm.
● Weight: Approximately 220 grams without antenna or batteries.
● Accesories: Rubber duck antenna, belt clip, owners manual, normal battery holder, and rechargable battery holder.
● Memory Backup: No battery backup required. EEPROM used.

This scanner has not yet been FCC type accepted so no pricing information is currently available.

GRE PSR-200 Desktop Scanner

This scanner is a analog only, no trunking VHF/UHF scanner. No 700/800 MHz coverage.

● Frequency Coverage:
29.000-54.000 MHz (5-kHz steps FM)
108.0000-135.9875 MHz (12.5-kHz steps AM)
137.0000-143.9875 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
144.0000-148.0000 MHz (5-kHz steps FM)
148.0125-150.7875 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
150.8000-161.9950 MHz (5 kHz-steps FM)
162.0000-174.0000 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
380.0000-512.0000 MHz (12.5-kHz steps FM)
*Only two tuning steps available.

● Double conversion receiver.
● Five pre-programmed bands: Marine, Fire Department/Police Department, Air (Civilian), Amateur Radio, Weather. Uses five "one-touch" keys.
● 200 memory channels in 10 banks.
● 200 channels lock-out in scan mode.
● 200 channels automatic scanning for VHF to UHF band.
● QUICK PROGRAM when receiving signals up to 200 channels.
● 45 channels per second scanning rate and 80 steps per second searching rate.
● "Zeromatic" tuning system.
● 10 digit channel and frequency display with all function indicators (seven segment).
● One built-in priority channel.
● Weather alert and SAME programming with 10 FIPS area code memories.
● Skywarn function.
● Lock/Out Review key to confirm lock out frequencies sequentially.
● Change the direction of searching (up/down).
● Two second scan and search delay.
● Manual selection for channel.
● Scan mode [Leared channels (000.000 freq) do not scan].
● Tune from the channel frequency function.
● Program mode.
● Key press tones.
● LCD back-lighting.
● Low battery indicator by LCD.
● Duplicate frequency check system.
● PC programmable and unit-to-unit cloning.
● BNC antenna connector.
● Earphone jack (3.5mm stereo).
● 9 VDC power jack.
● PC Interface and clone jack (3.5mm mono).
● Operating voltage: 120 VAC (60-Hz)
● Dimensions: Approximately: 210(w) x 175(d) x 60(h) mm.
● Weight: Approximately 700 grams without antenna.
● Accesories: Telescoping antenna, UL listed AC-DC adapter, and owners manual.
● Memory Backup: No battery backup required. EEPROM used.

This scanner has not yet been FCC type accepted so no pricing information is currently available.

GRE PSR-300 Handheld Scanner

This is an analog only trunking scanner. No digital decode capability.

● Frequency Coverage
25.000-54.000 MHz
108.0000-174.0000 MHz
216.0025-512.0000 MHz
764.0000-960.0000 MHz*
1240.000-1300.000 MHz

*Excludes by US federal law cellular telephone frequencies: 824-848.9875 and 869-893.9875 MHz.

● Frequency steps: 3.125, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 25-kHz
● New 700 MHz coverage** and upgradeable CPU firmware for future rebanding.
● 10 banks and 1000 channel memories for trunking bank and channel combined with conventional scanning mode memory.
● Scan both trunking channels and conventional channels at the same time.
● Multi trunking of Motorola (Type I, Type II and hybrid analog systems), EDACS wide and LTR.
● CTCSS and DCS sub-audible encoded squelch mode.
● 1500 Talkgroup ID memories in 10 ID banks, 5 sub-ID memories in each bank, and each sub-ID memory has 30 ID locations.
● Alphanumeric data entry.
● PC programmable and unit-to-unit cloning.
● Spectrum sweeper function.
● Pre-programmed marine, CB, FRS/GMRS/MURS, Public safety, Aircraft, Amateur radio, Railroad and Weather frequencies.
● Weather alert and SAME receiving 10 FIPS rea code memories.
● Skywarn function.
● Attenuator control (normal and global settings -- 20 dB)
● Frequency tune mode (Up/Down)
● "Zeromatic" tuning system.
● Search up or down function.
● 60 channels per second scanning rate and 75 steps per second search rate.
● Two second scan and search delay.
● Manual selection for channels.
● Scan mode [Cleared channels 000.000 freqs) are not scanned]
● Deleting a frequency from a memory channel.
● One search limit bank
● Key lock for safety.
● Key and alert tones.
● LCD 16 characters x four lines and eight icons.
● Signal strength meter.
● Backlit LCD and keypad.
● Built-in power save function and low battery indicator on the LCD.
● Triple conversion scanner.
● Crystal filer for the 2nd IF stage and a ceramic filer for the 3rd IF stage.
● 50 lock out frequencies per search bank (250 total search lockouts).
● Frequency and channel lock-out review.
● BNC antenna connector.
● Earphone jack (3.5 mm stereo).
● PC Interface/Clone jack (3.5mm stereo). Computer cable (GRE USB cable No. 30-3290)
● Operating voltage: 6 VDC (4 AA cells)
● External power and charger voltage: 9VDC regulated via external/charger.
● Dimensions: 65(w) x 42(d) x 145(h) mm.
● Weight: 240 grams without antenna and battery.
● Acessories: Rubber duck antenna, owners manual, normal battery holder, rechargable battery holder, and belt clip.
● Memory Backup: No battery backup required. EEPROM used.

This scanner has been FCC type accepted, but pricing is not currently available to the author.

**This is not a digital scanner so reception of anything intelligible will not happen in this band since it is entirely digital.

GRE PSR-400 Desktop Scanner

This is an analog only trunking scanner. No digital decode capability.

● Frequency Coverage
25.000-54.000 MHz
108.0000-174.0000 MHz
216.0025-512.0000 MHz
764.0000-960.0000 MHz*
1240.000-1300.000 MHz

*Excludes by US federal law cellular telephone frequencies: 824-848.9875 and 869-893.9875 MHz.

● Frequency steps: 3.125, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 25-kHz
● New 700 MHz coverage** and upgradeable CPU firmware for future rebanding.
● 10 banks and 1000 channel memories for trunking bank and channel combined with conventional scanning mode memory.
● Scan both trunking channels and conventional channels at the same time.
● Multi trunking of Motorola (Type I, Type II and hybrid analog systems), EDACS wide and LTR.
● CTCSS and DCS sub-audible encoded squelch mode.
● 1500 Talkgroup ID memories in 10 ID banks, 5 sub-ID memories in each bank, and each sub-ID memory has 30 ID locations.
● Alphanumeric data entry.
● PC programmable and unit-to-unit cloning.
● Spectrum sweeper function.
● Pre-programmed marine, CB, FRS/GMRS/MURS, Public safety, Aircraft, Amateur radio, Railroad and Weather frequencies.
● Weather alert and SAME receiving 10 FIPS rea code memories.
● Skywarn function.
● Attenuator control (normal and global settings -- 20 dB)
● Frequency tune mode (Up/Down)
● "Zeromatic" tuning system.
● Search up or down function.
● 60 channels per second scanning rate and 75 steps per second search rate.
● Two second scan and search delay.
● Manual selection for channels.
● Scan mode [Cleared channels 000.000 freqs) are not scanned]
● Deleting a frequency from a memory channel.
● One search limit bank
● Key lock for safety.
● LCD 16 characters x four lines and eight icons.
● Signal strength meter.
● Backlit LCD and keypad with dimmer.
● LCD contrast control
● Built-in power save function and low battery indicator on the LCD.
● Triple conversion scanner.
● Crystal filer for the 2nd IF stage and a ceramic filer for the 3rd IF stage.
● 50 lock out frequencies per search bank (250 total search lockouts).
● Frequency and channel lock-out review.
● BNC antenna connector.
● Earphone jack (3.5 mm stereo).
● PC Interface/Clone jack (3.5mm stereo). Computer cable (GRE USB cable No. 30-3290)
● External power jack
● Operating voltage: 13.8 VDC
● Dimensions: 185(w) x 135(d) x 55(h) mm, DIN-E in-dash mountable.
● Weight: 790 grams without antenna
● Acessories: Telescoping antenna, owners manual, mounting bracket, AC adapter, and DC cable.
● Memory Backup: No battery backup required. EEPROM used.

This scanner has not yet been FCC type accepted so no pricing information is currently available.

**This is not a digital scanner so reception of anything intelligible will not happen in this band since it is entirely digital.

GRE PSR-500 Handheld and PSR-600 Desktop/Mobile Scanners

The PS-500/600 are analog/digital trunking scanners.

● Frequency Coverage
25.000-54.000 MHz
108.0000-174.0000 MHz
216.0025-512.0000 MHz
764.0000-960.0000 MHz*
1240.000-1300.000 MHz

*Excludes by US federal law cellular telephone frequencies: 824-848.9875 and 869-893.9875 MHz.

● Intuitive "Object Oriented" User Interface Design -- Designed for ease of use, yet powerful enough to satisfy the most sophisticated expert. Common data entry, browsing and control methods are used for non-trunked conventional channels, trunking talkgroups, search configurations and Spectrum Sweeper setups. The radio grows with you - start out with a small and easy to manage configuration and expand it as you need to.

● Powerful and Flexible Scan List Functionality -- Allows you to arrange, group and scan objects according to your preference, with no limit to the number or types of objects in a Scan List, and no limit to the number Scan Lists an object can be a member of.

● Menu Driven Programming with Context Sensitive Help -- Each menu item provides a few lines of help text that provide assistance with programming and using the scanner.

● Upgradeable CPU and DSP Firmware -- You can easily keep your scanner current with software enhancements as they become available with free upgrades from GRE America.

● Flexible Free-Form Memory Organization -- Memory is assigned as objects are created using a sophisticated internal file management system. You are not constrained to traditional bank/channel scanner memory layouts. No memory is wasted as a result of bank/channel programming constraints. The scanner has sufficient main memory capacity to store over 1800 conventional channels, trunking talkgroups, search configurations and Spectrum Sweeper objects in any combination. This provides amble capacity for more sophisticated hobbyists and professionals while keeping the database size manageable for beginners.

● GRE's Exclusive V-Scanner Technology -- Allows you to save complete radio configurations within the radio for recall into main memory as needed in the field. This is similar to having a laptop computer and programming software available anytime. You can use V-Scanners to store configurations for different geographic areas or usage styles. Twenty-one V-Scanner folders are provided, each capable of storing over 1800 objects. Total memory capacity of main memory combined with V-Scanners is over 39,600 (1800+37800) objects.

● Multi-System Trunking -- Scan most common trunked system signaling formats, including Motorola, EDACS Standard, EDACS Narrow, LTR and P25 trunked radio networks. These new scanners will not trunk M/A-COM proprietary modes such as Open Sky and ProVoice. Talkgroup call and individual call monitoring are supported. Supports trunking operation in virtually any land mobile band including 700 MHz and the new US DoD 380-390 MHz band.

● P25 NAC Functionality -- Much like CTCSS and DCS with analog signals, a P25 Network Access Code (NAC) is used to provide selective squelch operation on conventional P25 channels. These GRE digital scanners will detect the NAC that is being used on a P25 conventional digital channel, and will allow the user to program NAC codes to block transmissions that do not have a matching NAC, including analog traffic on the same frequency.

● Remote Control Capability -- These scanners can be used with third party application software to remotely control a scanner from a personal computer.

● Exclusive ALERT LED -- Programmable tri-color LED that can be configured to illuminate or flash when certain channels are active. Eight user-defined colors and brightness levels can be specified from thousands of possible combinations. provides visual alerts when certain objects are active, e.g.-blue could be used to signal activity on say a police channel; red on a fire channel, and so on.

● Audible alarms -- Programmable audible alarms can be configured to sound when certain objects are active. Can be used in conjunction with, or separately from, the ALERT LED feature described above.

● GRE's Exclusive Automatic Adaptive Digital Tracking -- When monitoring Motorola and P25 digital systems, instantly adapts the digital decoder to the digital modulation format of the transmission signal, then analyzes the digital signal 50 times each second and adapts to any subtle changes caused by multipath signals or fading. No cumbersome manual adjustments are required.

● GRE's Exclusive Digital AGC -- Instantly compensates for low audio levels that are very common on digital systems. The radio digital comms are easier to listen to.

● Subaudible Squelch Decoder -- CTCSS and DCS subaudible squelch coding are processed by the same DSP chip that is used for P25 digital decoding. Provides fast and reliable decoding of subaudible squelch signaling with squelch tail elimination.

● High Speed PC Interface -- Uses GRE's 30-3290 USB cable in full duplex mode at six times the speed of previous scanner models for PC transfer and eight times the speed of previous models for radio-to-radio cloning.

● Spectrum Sweeper -- Quickly sweeps the scanner frequency ranges for transmissions from nearby transmitters.

● Real-time Signal Strength Indicator -- Shows relative signal strength of received signals.

● Trunking Control Data Output -- Streams decoded trunking control data from your PSR-500/600 to a personal computer for use with popular third party trunking control channel monitoring software. No slicer needed. Also streams NOAA weather radio SAME alert data.

● High Contrast LCD Display -- Provides one row of dedicated icons, and four rows of 16 characters for programming and scanning operation.

● SAME and All Hazards Weather Alerting -- The PSR-500/600 scanners can be operated in the dedicated SAME weather alerting mode, and alert you to severe weather and other hazards in specific area(s) that the user selects, or the scanner can check your local NOAA weather frequency periodically, even while scanning, and alert you when an All Hazards alert occurs.

● SKYWARN Storm Spotter Function -- Provides instant, one button access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks. You can monitor storm conditions as they occur, and may become aware of dangerous weather conditions before the media and emergency management officials are able to announce them to the general public.

● Sleek Compact Case Design -- Has a large speaker for adequate volume in most environments, and is designed for one-handed operation for ease of use.

● Eleven tuning steps.
● Triple conversion scanner.
● Attenuator (20 dB).
● 55 channels per second scan speed and 90 steps per second search speed.
● User defined service and limit searches.
● Key lock for safety (PSR-500 only).
● Backlit LCD and keypad with dimmer.
● LCD contrast control
● Built-in power save function and low battery indicator on the LCD (PSR-500 only).
● Frequency and channel lock-out review.
● BNC antenna connector.
● Earphone jack (3.5 mm stereo).
● PC Interface/Clone jack (3.5mm stereo). Computer cable (GRE USB cable No. 30-3290)
● Memory Backup: No battery backup required. EEPROM used.

PSR-500 Specifics:
● Operating voltage: 6 VDC (4 AA cells)
● External power and charger voltage: 9VDC regulated via external/charger.
● Dimensions: 65(w) x 42(d) x 145(h) mm.
● Acessories: Rubber duck antenna, owners manual, normal battery holder, rechargable battery holder, belt clip, and USB PC interface cable.

PSR-600 Specifics
● External power jack
● Operating voltage: 13.8 VDC
● Dimensions: 185(w) x 135(d) x 55(h) mm, DIN-E in-dash mountable.
● Acessories: Telescoping antenna, owners manual, mounting bracket, AC adapter, DC cable (with fuse), and USB PC interface cable.

This scanner has not yet been FCC type accepted so no pricing information is currently available.