GRE 0716 Owner's Manual page 12

two different methods for programming and controlling their
scanners – one for conventional, non-trunked channels, and
another for trunked systems and talkgroups.
GRE s engineers carefully studied the challenges of
programming and operating today s current crop of trunked
scanning receivers. We have also carefully studied how scanning
hobbyists like to use their radios, and the role the Internet plays
in the scanning hobby. We have studied the scanning hobby
itself, which has changed dramatically over the years as radio
systems, scanning receivers and scanner hobbyists have all
become more sophisticated. Sophistication is a generally good
thing, but in this case it can have the effect of discouraging
newcomers from joining the hobby.
Our engineers decided that an entirely new method of
programming and controlling scanning receivers was needed –
essentially, a new user interface. Several design objectives were
defined. These included the following:
•
There should be a strong focus on ease-of-use. The radio
should do as much work as possible for the user. A brand
new hobbyist should be able to begin using the radio quickly
with minimal frustration. There should also be enough
advanced features and functionalities to satisfy the most
sophisticated expert users.
•
The user interface should be intuitive. Interactions with the
radio should be standardized to the extent possible. For
example, the same basic methods should be used whether
adding a new conventional channel or adding a trunked
talkgroup.
•
The scanner should include efficient memory usage. Bank/
channel designs result in much wasted memory. Memory
should be allocated as it is needed for new Scannable
Objects.
Our engineers realize that our scanners are used by a wide
variety of users with varying levels of experience and expertise.
These include amateur radio operators, scanner hobbyists, fire
buffs, railfans, public safety professionals, volunteer firefighters,
news and media organizations, and most importantly, everyday
people who just want to know what is going on around them.
All of these users share a few things in common about the way
they use scanning receivers. First, they all follow the same basic
0716 User Manual Page 12