Radio Shack Pro-71 User Manual
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
Cat. No.
20-311A
PRO-71 VHF/UHF/Air
Handheld Scanner
FEATURES
Your new RadioShack PRO-71 VHF/UHF/Air Handheld Scanner lets
you in on all the action! This scanner gives you direct access to 23,000
exciting frequencies that include police department, fire department,
ambulance, aircraft, amateur radio, and transportation services. You
can select up to 100 channels for your scanner to scan and you can
change your selection at any time.
The secret to your scanner’s ability to scan so many frequencies is its
custom-designed microprocessor — a tiny, built-in computer. Your
scanner also has these special features:
Large Liquid-Crystal Display
— lets you easil y see displayed infor -
mation.
Search Skip
— lets you select up to 20 frequencies for the scanner to
skip during a limit or direct search to avoid unwanted frequencies.
Frequency Search
Ten Channel-Storage Banks
— scans through every available frequency.
— let you store 10 channels in each of
ten banks to group frequencies and help you identify calls.
Monitor Memories
— let you temporarily save up to ten channels you
locate during a frequency search.
Two-Second Automatic Scan Delay
— delays scanning for 2 sec-
onds before moving to another channel, so you can hear more replies.
Memory Backup
— keeps the channel frequencies stored in memory
for up to 1 hour during a power loss.
Lock-Out Function
Priority Channel
— keeps channels y ou sel ect fro m bei ng sc anned.
— lets you specify your most important channel and
check it every 2 seconds so you don’t miss important calls.
Weather Band Key
— scans seven preprogrammed weather frequen-
cies so you can hear about current weather conditions.
Display Backlight
ations.
RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
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— makes the scanner easy to read in low light situ-
1999 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Your scanner can receive all of these bands:
Frequency
Range (MHz) Transmission
29–29.7 10-Meter Amateur Radio
29.7–50 VHF Lo
50–54 6-Meter Amateur Radio
108–136.975 Aircraft
137–144 Government
144–148 2-Meter Amateur Radio
148–174 VHF Hi
406–420 Government
420–450 70-cm Amateur Radio
450–470 UHF Standard
470–512 UHF “T” Band
In addition, your scanner is preprogrammed with the following weather
service channels:
Frequency (MHz)
162.400
162.425
162.450
162.475
162.500
162.525
162.550
This Owner’s Manual also includes the section “A Guide to the Action
Bands,” which lets you target services in your area by giving you frequency ranges to search. You can then store any of these frequencies
into memory for easy scanning.
We recommend you record your scanner’s serial number here. The
number is on the back panel.
Serial Number: ___________________________
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FCC NOTICE
Your scanner might cause TV or radio interference even when it is operating properly. To determine whether your scanner is causing the interference, turn off your scanner. If the interference goes away, your
scanner is causing it. Try to eliminate the interference by:
• moving your scanner away from the receiver
• connecting yo ur sc anner to an outlet that is on a different electrical
circuit from the receiver
• contacting your local RadioShack store for help
If you cannot eli min ate the in terfe r en ce, the FC C req uir es that you stop
using your scanner.
Mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or requires a permit in
Note:
some areas. Check the laws in your area.
SCANNING LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequ encies us ed by many different grou ps includ ing police and fire depa rtments, ambulance se rvices, government agencies, private companies, amateur radio services, military operations,
pager services, and wireline (telephone and telegraph) service providers. It is legal to listen to almost every transmission your scanner can
receive. However, there are some transmissions you should never intentionally listen to. These include:
• telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or other private means
of telephone signal transmission)
• pager transmissions
• any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), you
are subject to fi nes an d pos sible im priso nment for inte ntiona lly l isten ing
to, using, or divulging the contents of such a transmission unless you
have the co ns en t o f a p a rty t o th e co mm un i ca tio n ( un les s such activi t y
is otherwise illegal).
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This scanner has been designed to prevent reception of illegal transmissions. This is done to comply with the legal requirement that scanners be manufactured so as to not be ea sily modi fiable to pick up those
transmissions. Do no t ope n yo ur s can ne r’s c as e to m ak e an y m odi fic ations that could al lo w it to pi ck up tran sm is si ons that it is not lega l to li sten to. Doing so could subject you to legal penalties.
We encourage responsible, legal scanner use.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ....................................................................................... 8
Po wer Sources .................................................... ..... ...... ..... ...... .. 8
Installing Batteries ....................................................................... 8
Important Information About the External Power Jacks .............. 9
Using Standard AC Power ......................................................... 10
Using Vehicle Battery Power ..................................................... 11
Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries ......................................... 12
Connecting the Antenna .......................................... ...... ..... ...... 13
Connecting an Optional Antenna ....................................... 13
Connecting an Earphone/Headphones ..................................... 14
Listening Safel y ....................................................... ..... ...... 14
Traffic Safety ............................... ..... ...... ...... ..... ................. 14
Connecting an Extension Speaker ............................................ 15
Using the Belt Clip ..................................................................... 15
Understanding Your Scanner ........................................................ 16
A Look at the Keypad ................................................................ 16
A Look at the Display ................................................................ 17
Banks and Memories .............................. ..... ...... ...... ...................... 19
Channel-Storage Banks ............................................................ 19
Monitor Memories ..................................................................... 19
Operation ........................................................................................ 20
Turning On the Scanner and Setting Squelch ........................... 20
Storing Frequencies .................................................................. 20
Searching For and Temporarily Storing
Active Frequencies ........................................ ...... ..... ...... ........... 21
Limit Search ....................................................................... 22
Direct Search ..................................................................... 23
Listening to Monitor Memories .................................................. 24
Moving a Frequency from a Monitor Memory
to a Channel .............................................................................. 24
Manually Selecting a Channel ................................................... 25
Special Features ............................................................................. 26
Using the Keylock ...................................................................... 26
Locking Out Channels ............................................................... 26
Turning Channel-Storage Banks On and Off ............................. 27
Search Skip Memory ................................................................. 27
Priority ....................................................................................... 28
Using the Display Backlight ....................................................... 28
Listening to the Weather Band .................................................. 29
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A General Guide to Scanning ........................................................ 30
Guide to Frequencies ................................................................ 30
National Weather Frequencies ........................................... 30
Canadian Weath er Frequencies ........................... ..... ...... ... 30
Guide to the Action Bands ......................................................... 31
Band Allocation ......................................................................... 32
Av o idi ng Ima ge Frequencies ....................................... .............. 37
Frequency Conversion ............................................................... 37
Troubleshooting .............................................................................. 38
Resetting the Scanner ............................................................... 39
Care and Maintenance .................................... ...... ..... .................... 40
Specifications ................................................................................. 41
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PREPARATION
POWER SOURCES
You can power your scanner from any of three sources:
• internal batteries
• standard AC power (using an optional AC adapter)
• vehicle batt ery power ( usi ng an option al DC adapter)
INSTALLING BATTERIES
Your scanner requires 4 AA batteries (not supplied) for power. For the
best performance and longest life, we recommend alkaline batteries.
Or, you can use rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. Both types of
batteries are available at your local RadioShack store.
Warning:
nickel-cadmium batte ries inside the battery compa rtment. However, you must never use this circuit when you have installed nonrechargeable batteries in th e sc an ner. Be sure to read “Important Info rmation About the External Power Jacks” on Page 9 and “Charging
Nickel-Cadmium Batteries” on Page 12.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended
• Do not mix old and new batteries, diff ere nt t ype s of b atteries (stan-
1. Press down the tab on the battery compartment cover, and lift
The scanner has a built-in circuit that lets you recharge
type.
dard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
open the compartment.
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2. Install two batteries in the compartment and two in the cover as
indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside each
location.
3. Replace the cover.
BATT.Lo flashes and the scann er beep s ever y 1 5 seco nds, i m-
When
mediately replace or recharge all four batteries.
Cautions:
• If you do not plan to use the scanner with batteries for a month or
more, or if you plan to use only an AC or DC adapter, remove the
batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic
parts.
• Dispose of old batteries pro mptly and pr operly. Do not burn or bury
them.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE
EXTERNAL POWER JACKS
POWER Jack
CHARGE Jack
The scanner has two external power jacks —
is important that you understand the purpose of each jack before you
connect any adapter to the scanner.
POWER
and
CHARGE
. It
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The
jack powers the scanner and disconnects the internal bat-
POWER
teries. You can use this jack to connect an external power source (AC
or DC adapter), regardless of the type of batteries you install.
The
CHARGE
charges the internal batteries. Use the
jack supplies power to operate the scanner and also
CHARGE
jack only when you
have installed recharg eab le nic ke l-c adm iu m batteries.
Warning:
Never use the
CHARGE
jack when you have installed non rechargeable batteries. If you try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries, they become very hot and could explode.
Remove the plastic plug from the
CHARGE
jack before you use it, then
replace the plug when you finish.
CHARGE Jack
USING STANDARD AC POWER
To power the scanner from AC power, you need an AC adapter such
as RadioShack Cat. No. 273-1665. Plug the adapter’s 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner diameter bar rel plug into the scanne r’s
jack. Then plug the adapter’s power module into a standard AC outlet.
∼
∼
∼
∼
POWER
Warning:
Do not use an AC ada pter ’s polarized plug with a n e xte ns ion
cord, receptacle, or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted
to prevent blade expos ure.
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Cautions:
∼
∼
∼
∼
• You must use an AC adapter that supplies 9 volts and delivers at
least 300 mA. Its center tip must be set to negative and its plug
must fit the scanner’s
jack. The recommended adapter
POWER
meets these specifications. Using an adapter that does not meet
these specifications could damage the scanner or the adapter.
• When you finish using the AC adapter, disconnect it from the AC
outlet first. Then disconnect it from the scanner.
USING VEHICLE BATTERY POWER
You can pow er the scanner from your vehicle’s battery power using an
optional DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 273-1810.
Cautions:
• You must use a DC adapter that supplies 9 volts (regulated) and
delivers at least 300 mA of DC automotive power. Its center tip
must be set to negative and its plug must fit the scanner’s
jack. Both of the recommended adapters meet these specifications. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications
could damage the scanner or the adapter.
• To protect your vehicle’s electrical system, always plug the adapter
into the scanner before you plug it into your vehicle’s cigarettelighter socket. Always unplug the adapter from the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket before you unplug it from the scanner.
POWER
1. Connect the DC adapter’s 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner
diameter barrel-plug to the adapter’s cable, with the tip set to –.
2. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 9V.
3. Insert the barrel plug into the scanner’s
POWER
jack.
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4. Plug the other end of the adapter into your vehicle’s cigarettelighter socket.
If the scanner does not operate properly when you use a DC
Note:
adapter, unplug the adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket and clean
the socket to remove ashes and other debris.
CHARGING NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERIES
The scanner has a b uilt-in charg ing c ircuit that le ts yo u rech arge ni ckel cadmium bat t eri es w h il e the y ar e i n th e sc an ne r . T o ch arg e th e b att er ies, remove the plug from the scanner’s
optional AC adapter or DC adapter to the jack (see “Using Standard
AC Power” on Page 10 or “Using Vehicle Battery Power” on Page 11).
CHARGE
jack and connect an
Warning:
you installed non-rechargeable batteries (standard, extra-life, or alkaline). Non-rechargeable batteries become hot and could explode if you
try to recharge them.
It takes abo ut 14 to 16 hours to rec harge batteries th at are fully discharged. You can operate the scanner while recharging the nickelcadmium batteries, but charging takes longer.
Note:
you occasio nally let them full y discharge. To do th is, simply use the
scanner until it begins beeping every 15 seconds and
pears. Then fully charge the batteries.
Important:
recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state
hazardous w aste mana gement authorit ies for inform ation on recyclin g
or disposal programs in your ar ea. Some option s that might be av ailable are: munici pal c urb-sid e collec tion, drop-off boxes at reta ilers such
as your local RadioShack store, recycling collection centers, and mailback programs.
Do not connect an adapter to the scanner’s
Nickel-cadmium batteries last longer and deliver more power if
CHARGE
BATT.LO ap-
At the end of a rechargeable battery’s useful life, it must be
jack if
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CONNECTING THE ANTENNA
Follow these steps to attach the supplied flexible
antenna to the conn ec tor on t he top of your scan ner.
1. Align the slots around the antenna’s connector with the tabs on the jack.
2. Press the antenna down over the jack and
rotate the antenna’s base clockwise until it
locks into place.
Connecting an Optional Antenna
The antenna connecto r on your s canne r makes it ea sy to us e the sc anner with a variety of antennas. Instead of the supplied antenna, you
can attach an external mobile antenna or outdoor base antenna (for
example). Your local RadioShack store sells a variety of antennas.
Always use 50-ohm coaxial cable, such as RG-58 or RG-8, to connect
an outdoor antenna. For lengths over 50 feet, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. If your antenna’s cable does not have a BNC
connector, you will also need a BNC adapter (available at your local
RadioShack store).
Warning:
tion. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead
power lines. If the antenna touches the power line, contact with the
antenna, mast, cable, or guy wires can cause electrocution and
death. Call the power company to remove the antenna. Do not attempt to remove it yourself!
When you i nstall an outdoor a ntenna, use extr eme cau-
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CONNECTING AN EARPHONE/
HEADPHONES
For private listening, you can plug an earphone or mono headphones
(not supplied) with a
20-210) into the jack on top of your scanner. This automatically disconnects the internal speaker.
1
/8-inch (3.5-mm) plug (s uc h a s Cat. No. 33-177 or
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone or headphones.
• Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening.
After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
• Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended highvolume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss.
• Once you set the vo lume, do not increase it. Over time, your ears
adapt to th e volume level, so a volume level that d oes not caus e
discomfort might still damage your hearing.
Traffic Safety
Do not use an earphone or headphones with your scanner when operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle in or near traffic. Doing so can
create a traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas.
If you use an earphone or h ead phones with your scanne r whi le ri din g a
bicycle, be very careful. Do not listen to a continuous broadcast. Even
though some earphones or headphones let you hear some outside
sounds when listening at normal volume levels, they still can present a
traffic hazard.
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