parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (11/17/83)
A marketing representative from Electra, manufacturer of
Bearcat scanners, spoke at a recent scanner club meeting.
He had some interesting comments:
o+ Bearcat manufacturing facilities were moved to Puerto
Rico a month ago.
o+ Some Bearcat crystal controlled portable scanners are
manufactured by Sanyo.
o+ Bearcat will not offer 800 MHz capability in a scanner
until they can be assured of at least 10,000 sales.
o+ A new scanner/computer product will be announced in
1Q84. (Could this be a scanner with a computer
interface?)
o+ Bearcat can no longer repair BC-101 scanners because
the automatic test equipment used for troubleshooting
this model broke down, and "is not worth fixing." Since
a federal law requires manufacturers to repair or
replace their products for a 7 year period after
manufacture, BC-101 owners are being offered a trade in
allowance on a new BC-250.
o+ SCAN Magazine, published by an advertising agency hired
by Electra, will probably cease publication soon, as
Electra is firing this agency.
o+ Electra interviewed several state police officers to
determine what features they deemed most valuable in a
scanner. This resulted in the new BC-260 mobile
scanner. Its size permits mounting in a standard
Motorola mounting bracket under the dashboard, and has
3 watts of audio output.
o+ The BC-220 is still being offered, but on a limited
basis.
o+ The BC-250, although a current model, has not been
manufactured for a while, because of large inventories.
o+ Newer BC-100's (the portable synthesized model) have
the following improvements:
a. BNC antenna connector, which replaces the
threaded type.
b. Fewer "birdies."
c. Greater sensitivity.
d. More audio output.
e. Four new chassis reinforcements. Owners of older
BC-100s complained that the batteries would tem-
porarily disconnect when the unit was jarred.
Needless to say, this wiped out the contents of
memory.
o+ Bearcat scanners will be sold at Ace Hardware stores.
o+ The lowest scanner prices may be found in places like
Service Merchandise (BC-210XL < $200, BC-100 < $300).
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Robert S. Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories, ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass (312)979-5760