[OT] MDC scanners

[ptemplin]

OK, not directly related to Motorola or any one brand in particular, but I figure the question begs to be asked: why don't we see MDC1200 decoding in today's scanners? With today's scanners sporting text tags, I'm sure it would become very popular as a way to attach names to MDC1200 ID numbers, especially in the hands of dispatchers or resting in the patrol cars.

Just a thought...

[RKG]

I believe doing what you've suggested would require the manufacturer to pay big royalties to Motorola.

[Jonathan KC8RYW]

Not to mention how much memory would have to be added to the radio for storing all the ID's and aliases. Imagine how much work it would take setting this up for a large agency... lol. I hope it comes with computer programming software, or else it might take a while doing it by hand.

True, they'd probably have to pay Motorola, or face the courts.

I tend to wonder whether the end-user (consumer) could understand or use this sort of feature.

I'd be even better if it could be set to decode DTMF-ANI, GE STAR, MODAT, and other formats.

I don't want to knock it, but I personally feel that it is not feasable. Still, with enough marketing, anything is possiable...

[apco25]

It is my understanding motorola will now license MDC1200. Midian products have been offered with MDC1200 for years now. Heck its licensing Smartnet to other vendors as well.

It would be useful in a scanner for the right people.

[ptemplin]

I look at it this way: they're already successfully decoding LTR, Motorola, and EDACS talkgroups, and performing lookups for the corresponding text tags. They're even doing selective scanning of certain talkgroups, rather than simply opening up to any traffic on the system.

And heck, I've done the text entry so far using just the front panel, what's a few more button pushes for some MDC IDs.