Also known as: WS1065
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The Whistler WS1065 is a discontinued legacy desktop digital scanner with P25 decoding, object-oriented programming, and an optional DMR upgrade — but no NXDN.1 It is a used-market / new-old-stock option only; anyone buying new today should choose a current model such as the Whistler TRX-2 or Uniden SDS200.
Key takeaways Discontinued — used market only. New stock is scarce. P25 desktop, DMR-upgradable, no NXDN. Object-oriented programming, an early ancestor of the TRX line. Weak on simulcast — predates True I/Q. ~$250 used. Buy a current TRX-2 / SDS200 or a free SDR + GopherTrunk instead unless you find one cheap.
Overview
The WS1065 was Whistler’s desktop digital scanner from the era before the TRX series. It introduced Whistler’s object-oriented data model — systems, sites, and talkgroups as reusable objects programmed from a PC — that the TRX line later refined. It decodes P25 and can be upgraded to DMR with a paid key, but it never gained NXDN, and its front end predates modern True I/Q simulcast processing.
Today it is discontinued. Treat it as a legacy or used-market curiosity, not a first choice.
Modes & systems it decodes
- P25 Phase I conventional and trunked; Phase II support is limited by its age.
- DMR via an optional paid upgrade key.
- Motorola, EDACS, LTR analog trunking and conventional analog FM.
- No NXDN. If you need NXDN, this radio can’t do it.
- Weak on simulcast and, like all receivers, no encryption decode.
Buy current instead. For a new purchase, the TRX-2 adds NXDN and better software, and the SDS200 adds True I/Q simulcast — both are supported and available. The WS1065 makes sense only as a cheap used find.
Programming
The WS1065 programs from a PC using Whistler’s object-oriented software, similar in spirit to the later EZ-Scan workflow. Because the model is discontinued, database and firmware support are limited; expect to lean on community resources like RadioReference.
GopherTrunk alternative
Given the WS1065’s age, limits, and lack of support, the free path is especially compelling here. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running GopherTrunk decodes P25, DMR, and NXDN — everything the WS1065 does plus the NXDN it never had — follows unlimited trunked systems, and records, logs, and timestamps every call. Its software CMA equalizer also handles simulcast the WS1065 can’t. Unless you already own a WS1065 or find one very cheap, GopherTrunk plus a dongle is a better use of the money. The comparison is in police scanner vs GopherTrunk.
No receiver, the WS1065 or GopherTrunk included, decodes AES encryption.
Who it’s for
- Consider a used WS1065 only if you find one cheap, don’t need NXDN, and aren’t on a simulcast system. Search on Amazon →
- Buy the TRX-2 for a current desktop with NXDN included.
- Buy the SDS200 for the best simulcast decode.
- Skip it for a free SDR + GopherTrunk — you gain NXDN, recording, logging, and simulcast handling the WS1065 lacks.
Bottom line
The Whistler WS1065 is a legacy scanner worth considering only as an inexpensive used find. It decodes P25, upgrades to DMR, but has no NXDN, struggles on simulcast, and is out of production. New buyers should pick a current TRX-2 or SDS200, or go free with GopherTrunk.
Sources
-
Whistler WS1065 — RadioReference Wiki — community reference on the WS1065’s P25 decoding, DMR upgrade path, object-oriented programming, and discontinued status. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Whistler WS1065 still made?
No. The WS1065 is discontinued. New stock is scarce and you will mostly find it used or as new-old-stock. For a new purchase, choose a current model like the Whistler TRX-2 or Uniden SDS200 instead.
Does the WS1065 decode DMR and NXDN?
It decodes P25 out of the box and is DMR-upgradable via a paid key, but it does not do NXDN. If you need DMR and NXDN together, the newer TRX-1/TRX-2 include both at no extra cost.
Should I buy a used WS1065 today?
Only if you find one cheap and understand its limits — no NXDN, older front end, weak on simulcast, and no manufacturer support. Most buyers are better served by a current TRX-2, SDS200, or a free SDR + GopherTrunk.
What is object-oriented programming on the WS1065?
Like the later TRX scanners, the WS1065 organizes systems, sites, and talkgroups as reusable objects rather than fixed banks, programmed from a PC. It was an early example of the approach Whistler carried into the TRX line.
How does the WS1065 handle simulcast?
Poorly by modern standards. It predates True I/Q processing, so on distorted P25 Phase II simulcast it struggles. A Uniden SDS200 or GopherTrunk’s software equalizer is far better on those systems.