Product ReviewsWhistler WS1065 Desktop/Mobile Digital Scanner Radio

Good, but not for beginners.

I bought this scanner after believing that my Uniden BC780XLT had lost sensitivity on VHF high band. This scanner exhibits the same problem...on an outdoor antenna. I currently have it on a dual band ham mobile antenna in the shack and it works fine. Apparently the problem is RF overloading from 96.9 Bob FM, located about three air miles away. I have purchased a FM broadcast attenuator and will see how it works.
Now, Whistler has its own buzzwords for the programming. "Object scanning" equals "channels" while "scan lists" equals "channel banks". Once you get past this programming it via computer is straightforward.
It's also advertised as "digital" but is unable to decode amateur radio DMR let alone anything else. I've also programmed two trunking systems into it but haven't been able to get it to scan them. Perhaps in time I'll figure that out.
One feature I'd buy is the ability to silence the tones used to call out fire and EMS departments. I only want to hear the voice, not the obnoxiously loud tones. Strictly speaking of its performance, other than its susceptibility to FM broadcast overloading (I could hear the static being modulated in time with the music on 96.9) its performance is excellent.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: product_vault

too hard to program

too hard to program in spite of what some owners say. its not easy like the old style scanners. i had to download a scanner frequency program, and join some other website to hook it to my laptop for the"easy to progam" only to have my computer say "driver not available". so i had to pay for a driver update only to get the same "driver not available" message.

then i went to you tube and found a video to program the freqs i wanted, but some how in the process i got them programmed on AM. they need to be on FM, so eventually i just gave up, so its just sitting on a shelf being a waste of about $280.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: product_vault

Good price for new in the box on a discontinued scanner

This is a good [relative] price for new in the box compared used ones on here for this discontinued police scanner. Programming it is not for the uninitiated, but I have been into scanners for 30+ yrs & I program them with a PC & have no problem. The PC programming cable is included, but most people will still find it difficult to do and probably should find a CB / radio shop or possibly a computer repair shop to program it for them.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: best_buy

Very Good Product

Very good . Not easy at first to manual program but when you catch on it is easy. Only problem is it don't decode DMR or NXDM. But over all the P25 is very good for decoding Viper and alot of Federal channels. Most counties are going to P25 now too.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: bluedealz-com

It is lightweight and may have great features if you can find them. Could have spent less and got the same frequencies and easier to program.

I guess this is a good scanner if you can ever figure out how to program it. That part was a nightmare and still don't believe I am receiving all of the channels even when searching/scanning for them. I wanted an actual digital scanner that would pick up those frequencies. This isn't it.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: product_vault

great features,good speaker

works great even with original antenna,I recommend taking it to radio shack . They can program it for your local channels in 15 minutes.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: colawr_4270

Quality Digital Scanner at a great price

Well pleased with the performance and quality, suggest you use software to program as it is quite confusing to do manually. So many bells and whistles you can get lost in the instructions. Wish I had bought a phase 11 tho ,our state has changed over to that mode.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: zillazon

Great Scanner on P25 Phase 1

Great Scanner - P25 Phase 1 - Works Well. Maybe not for simulcast setups but for average P25 Phase 1 it is great - Audio can get loud...but it stays at a constant sound level which I cannot say for my much more expensive SDS-200. Its a great Scanner just need a Radio Reference Subscription to easily program with the Butel Software. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: product_vault

USE SCAN CAT SOFTWARE FOR THIS DIGETLE SCAANNER.

GREAT SCANNER BUT YOU HAVE TO NO HOW TO PROGRAM IT. IT COMPARABLE TO THE GRECOM!!

has goodfeatures but hard to program

very hard to program bought programing to help me arc500pro will not download completely to my computer. seems like i tried to get help no one wants to help me without charging me a fee. i am very dissatisfied.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: zillazon