I expect they do not sell many copies these days hence the inflated price.
I think that the MS DOS 'Probe' scanning software that I purchased about 10 years ago cost me GBP 70.00 and the Spectrum Commander works out at about GBP 95.00. It certainly doesn't fit into the 'casual purchase' bracket. The only thing that I would say is that I'd stopped using my PCR1500 as I just couldn't get on with the ICOM software, so for me, its made the GBP 360 that I paid for the PCR1500 more reasonable. I was seriously starting to regret the PCR purchase and was starting to look for a scanner with some controls on the front.
I will say that the Spectrum Commander software, although very simple to use when you know how, is not the easiest thing to get started! The install includes a PDF manual and it's well worth printing this out to read in slow time.
This is a simplified summary of the install process:
- download the demo software and install it in the default directories it suggests. It puts all the scan groups etc in My Documents\My Radio Files
- run the software - it will prompt you to install a radio. Make sure that you know the serial port/com port/connecting baud rate of your radio connection (if you need this for your particular radio)
- it them prompts you for the type of interface - Scanner is what you want
- it then gives a number of options, one of which ic to use an existing Scan frequency group, choose this option. I've attached a sample scan group for London Civil (put it in the My Radio Files directory)
- Choose this group from the browse window
- the software should now connect to your radio (if you've got the settings right) and start scanning.
If you get that far, lesson 2 will come later :-)
