2002 International CES Show Update Page

Show Dates are from January 7 - 11, 2002

Day #2, January 9, 2002

Your Reporter is Norm Schrein (Mr. Scanner)



Left: Mock up of the Uniden Bearcat BC785D digital scanner
Right: Scott Carpenter, Uniden Product manager shows how the accessory digital card will plug into scanner



Left: Tony Mirabelli of Cobra Electronics with new GPS units
Right: What a difference a day makes - crowd in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center


LAS VEGAS (NV) January 8, 2002. The first day of the Consumer electronics found thousands of attendees looking through the hundreds of booths for the electronic item that peaked their interest. We at Nat-Com were no different.

Now with this web page we are able to bring to you the first photos of Uniden's BC785D digital trunking scanner. The unit looks pretty much like the popular BC780XLT, but features a port in the back of the unit in which the digital card is inserted. The card on display looks pretty much like a computer PCMCIA card, but is doubly thick. Once this card is inserted into the scanner the unit will receive both analog and APCO 25 digital signals. Also, in case you did not know it there are two forms for APCO 25. There is one system used for conventional systems and another used for trunked systems. This scanner will support both.

There was no sample of the BC250D hand-held unit, however, what had been popularly believed that it would be similar in design to the BC245XLT is incorrect. The hand-held unit will be completely re-designed. As soon as we get an idea as to how it will appear, we will pass that information on to you through the pages of National Communications magazine.

Another important thing we found out was the company's suggested list price for all three items. Both the BC785D and BC250D will have a suggested price of $350.00 The BCi25D APCO digital card will carry a suggested price of $329.00. All three items are scheduled to be available by the end of the year.

Also from Uniden we learned that the long popular Grant mobile CB radio is being phased out. There is approximately a 90 day supply of these units left, and after that they will be gone. So, if you are looking for the Grant CB, you better check with your dealer now.

Among the many products displayed at the Cobra Electronics Corporation booth are three models of its new line of hand-held GPS units.

The GPS 100 features 500 waypoints for plotting out points between your current location and your ultimate destination, and one route. The waterproof product also features a large, easy-to-read screen. The GPS 100 has a suggested retail price of $179.95 and will be available at major retailers nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Stepping up from the GPS 100, the GPS 500 offers 500 waypoints for navigation purposes. In addition, the GPS 500 features 20 routes, as well as Points of Interest such as tourist attractions and a PC interface that enables users to download maps and other navigational tools from personal computers. The GPS 500 has a suggested retail price of $239.95 and will be available at major retailers nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2002.

The most comprehensive GPS unit in the 2002 line, the GPS 1000 includes all of the features of the GPS 500 and 100, as well as a street-level detailed map for the road-tripper. This unit offers 500 waypoints, 50 routes, Points of Interest and a PC interface. In addition, the GPS 1000 includes worldwide cities and state boundaries. This unit has a suggested retail price of $259.95. The GPS 1000 will be available at most retailers across the country in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Finally, Kenwood Communications is offering an alternative to airwaves crowded with 2-way radio chatter. They have introduced a compact 2-way radio offering more than 1800 talk channels and a communicating range of four miles. The new Free Talk XLS, a seven-ounce one-watt GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radio, offers advanced features such as voice encryption, channel scanning, automatic battery-saver functions, and popular features including vibration alert, an illuminated LCD display, rechargeable batteries with a 10-hour duty cycle, and the option to use store-bought AA alkaline batteries. The Free Talk XLS is also compatable with widely-used FRS radios. Look for more information on the Kenwood Free Talk XLS in the pages of National Communications.

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