Radio Shack PRO-76 User Manual
20-313.fm Page 1 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM
Owner’s Manual
200-Channel VHF/U H F/Air
Handheld Scanner
Please read before using this equipment.
Cat. No. 20-313
PRO-76
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FEATURES
Your new RadioShack VHF /
UHF/Air Handheld Scanner
lets you in on al l the action!
This scanner gives you direct access to over 23,000
exciting frequencies, including those used by pol ic e a nd
fire departments, ambulance services, aircraft,
transportation services, and
amateur radio. You can select up to 200 channels for
your scanner to scan and
you can change your selection at any time.
Your scanner also has these
special features:
Weather Alert
— the scanner automaticall y sounds an
alert when it receives a
weather emergency signal.
Weather Band Key
—
scans seven preprogrammed weather frequencies to keep you informed
about current weather conditions.
Wired Programming
— you
can connect your scanner to
a personal computer and
program frequencies into the
scanner from the computer
using an optional cable and
software.
Note:
The necessary cable
and software, and additional
information about using your
personal computer to program your scanner, are
available at your local RadioShack store.
Liquid Crystal Display
—
makes it easy to view and
change programming information.
Search Skip
— lets you select up to 20 frequencies for
the scanner to skip dur ing a
limit or direct search to avoid
unwanted frequencies.
Direct Search
— lets you
search for a transmission
starting from a spec ified frequency.
Ten Channel-Storage Banks
— you can store 20 channels in each bank (200 total
channels), letting you group
channels so you can more
easily identify calls.
©
1999 Tandy Corporation.
RadioShack and Adaptaplug are registered trademarks
All Rights Reserved.
used by Tandy Corporation.
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Ten Monitor Memories
—
let you temporarily save up
to ten frequencies you locate
during a search, so yo u can
move selected frequencies
to channel storage later.
Scan Delay
— delays scanning for about 2 second s before moving to another
channel, so you can hear
more replies that are transmitted on the same channel .
You can also set the scanner to delay on all activ e frequencies during a search.
Memory Backup
— keeps
the channel frequencies
stored in memory for an extended time even if the scanner loses power.
Three Power Options
—
you can power the scanner
from internal (rechargeable
or non-rechargeabl e) batteries or external AC or DC
power (using an optional A C
or DC adapter).
Low Battery Alert
— warns
you when the battery power
gets low.
ing the scanner’s programming.
Key Confirmation Tones
— the scanner sounds a
confirmation tone when you
perform an operation correctly and an error tone if
you make an error.
Lockout Function
— lets
you set the scanner to ignore specified channels
when scanning.
Ten Priority Channels
—
let you set the scanner to
check up to ten channels every 2 seconds so you do no t
miss important calls.
Display Backlight
—
makes the scanner easy to
read in low-light situations.
Supplied Flexible Antenna
with BNC Connector
—
provides good reception of
strong local signals. You can
connect an external antenna with a BNC connec tor to
the scanner for i mproved reception of distant/weaker
signals.
Key Lock
— lets you lock
the scanner’s keys to help
prevent accidentally chang-
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Your scanner can receive these bands:
Frequency
Range (MHz)
29–54 10-Meter Ham Band, VHF Lo, 6-Meter Ham Band
108–136.975 Aircraft
137–174 Military Land Mobile, 2-Meter Ham Band, VHF Hi
406–512 Federal Government, 70-cm Ham Band, UHF
Standard Band, UHF “T” Band
Note:
See “Specifications” on Page 44 for more information
Types of Transmissions
about the scanner’s frequency steps.
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FCC NOTICE
Your scanner might cause
radio or TV 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 the following me thods to
eliminate the interferenc e:
• Move your scanner
away from the receiver.
• Connect your sc an ner to
an outlet that is on a different electrical circuit
from the receiver.
• Contact your local
RadioShack store for
help.
Note:
Mobile use of this
scanner is unlawful or requires a permit in some areas. Check the laws in your
area.
SCANNING
LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different groups including
police and fire departme nts,
ambulance services, government agencies, privat e companies, amateur radio
services, military operations, pager services, and
wireline (telephone an d 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
fines and possible imprisonment for intentionally listening to, using, or divulging the
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contents of such a tr ansmission unless you have the
consent of a party to the
communication ( unless such
activity is otherwise illegal).
This scanner is designed to
prevent reception of illegal
transmissions, in compliance
with the law which requires
that scanners be manufactured in such a way as to not
be easily modifiable to pick
up those transmissions. Do
not open your scanner's
case to make any modifications that could allow it to
pick up transm issions that it
is not legal to listen to. Doing
so could subject you t o legal
penalties.
We encourage responsible,
legal scanner use.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ...................... ................... ................... ................. 9
Installing Batteries ......................... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... .... 9
Important Information About the External Power Jacks .. 10
Using AC Power .............................................................. 11
Using Vehicle Battery Power ........................................... 12
Charging Rechargeable Batteries ................................... 12
Connecting an Antenna ................................................... 13
Connecting the Supplied Antenna ............................... 13
Connecting an Outdoor Antenna ................................. 14
Connecting an Earphone/Headphones ........................... 15
Listening Safely ........................................................... 15
Traffic Safety ............................................................... 16
Connecting an Extension Speaker .................................. 16
Using the Belt Clip ........................................................... 16
Understanding Your Scanner ............................................. 17
A Look at the Keypad ...................................................... 17
A Look at the Display ...................................................... 19
Understanding Banks ............. ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... .. 21
Channel Storage Banks .............................................. 21
Monitor Memories ......................... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... .. 21
Operation ............................... ................... .................... ........ 22
Turning On the Scanner/Setting Volume and Squelch .... 22
Storing Known Frequencies into Channels ..................... 22
Finding and Storing Active Frequencies .......................... 23
Using Limit Search ...................................................... 23
Using Direct Search .................................................... 24
Using Monitor Memory .................................................... 25
Listening to a Monitor Memory .................................... 25
Moving a Frequency from a Monitor Memory
to a Channel ................................................................ 26
Scanning Channels ......................................................... 26
Manually Selecting a Channel ......................................... 27
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Special Features ........ ....... ...... ............................................. 28
Using the Keylock ........................................................... 28
Locking Out Channels .................................................... 28
Delay ............................................... .......................... ...... 29
Turning Channel-Storage Banks On and Off .................. 29
Using Search Skip Memory ............................................ 30
Using Priority .................................................................. 30
Using the Display Backlight ............................................ 31
Turning the Key Tone On or Off ...................................... 32
Listening to the Weather Band ....................................... 32
WX Alert ...................................................................... 32
Avoiding Image Frequencies ........................................... 33
Resetting the Scanner .................................................... 33
A General Guide to Scanning ............................................ 34
Guide to Frequencies ...................................................... 34
Ham Radio Frequencies ............................................. 34
National Weather Frequencies ................................... 34
Birdie Frequencies ...................................................... 34
Guide to the Action Bands .............................................. 35
Typical Band Usage (MHz) ......................................... 35
Primary Usage ............................................................ 35
Band Allocation ............................................................... 36
Frequency Conversion .................................................... 40
Troubleshooting .................................................................. 41
Care and Maintenance ........................................................ 43
Specifications ............................... ....................................... 44
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PREPARATION
INSTALLING
BATTERIES
You can power your scanner
with four AA batteries (not
supplied). For the best performance and longest life, we
recommend RadioShack alkaline batteries. Or, you c an
use rechargeable nickelcadmium or nicke l-metal hydride batteries. Both types of
batteries are available at
your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
• The scanner has a builtin circuit that lets you
recharge nickelcadmium batteries inside the battery compartment. However, you
must never use this circuit when you have
installed nonrechargeable batteries
in the scanner. Be sure
to read “Important In formation About the External Power Jacks” on
Page 10 and “Charging
Rechargeable Batteries” on Page 12.
• Use only fresh batteries
of the required si ze and
recommended type.
• Do not mix old and new
batteries, different types
of batteries (standard,
alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable
batteries of different
capacities.
Follow these step s to install
batteries.
1. While pressing down o n
the tab on the bottom of
the battery compartment cover, pull it away
from the scanner to
remove it.
2. Install two batteries in
the battery compartment and two in the
cover as indicated by
the polarity symbols (+
and –) marked on the
inside of the battery
compartment and insid e
the cover.
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3. Replace the cover.
BATT.Lo
When
the scanner beeps every 15
seconds, or if the scanner
stops operating pr operly, replace or recharge th e batt eries.
flashes and
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ABOUT THE
EXTERNAL
POWER JACKS
Warning:
teries promptly and p roperly .
Do not burn or bury them.
Caution:
use the scanner with batteries for a month or more, remove the batteries. Batteries
can leak chemicals that can
destroy electronic parts.
10
Dispose of old bat-
If you do not plan to
The scanner has two external power jacks —
CHARGE
and
that you understand the pur pose of each jack before you
connect any adapter to the
scanner.
POWER
The
power the scanner using an
external power source (AC
or DC adapter). Connecting
an adapter also discon nects
the internal batteries.
CHARGE
The
power to operate the scanner and also charges the i nternal batteries. Use the
CHARGE
have installed rechargeable
nickel-cadmium batteries.
. It is important
jack lets you
jack supplies
jack only when you
POWER
!
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Warning:
CHARGE
Never use the
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 repla ce the
plug when you finish.
POWER
CHARGE
USING AC POWER
You can power the scanner
using a 9V, 300-mA AC
adapter and a size H
Adaptaplug
ther supplied). Both are
available at your local RadioShack store.
®
adapter (nei-
Cautions:
You must use a
Class 2 power
source that
supplies 9V DC and delivers at least 300 mA.
Its center tip must be set
to positive and its plug
must fit the scanner's
POWER
jack. Using an
adapter that does not
meet these specifications could damage the
scanner or the adapter.
• Always connect the AC
adapter to the scanner
before you connect it to
AC power. When you
finish, disconnect the
adapter from AC power
before you disconn ect it
from the scanner.
To power the scanner using
an AC adapter, attach the
Adaptaplug adapter to the
AC adapter so the tip reads
positive (+), then insert the
Adaptaplug adapter into the
scanner’s
POWER
jack.
Then connect the other end
of the adapter to a standard
AC outlet.
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USING VEHICLE
BATTERY POWER
You can power the scanner
from a vehicle’s 12V power
source (such as cigarettelighter socket) using a 9V,
300-mA DC adapter and a
size H Adaptaplug adapter
(neither supplied). Both are
available at your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
You must use a
power source
!
that supplies
regulated 9V DC and
delivers at least 300 mA.
Its center tip must be set
to positive and its plug
must fit the scanner's
POWER
adapter that does not
meet these specifications could damage the
scanner or the adapter.
• Always connect the DC
adapter to the scanner
before you connect it to
the power source. When
you finish, disconnect
the adapter from the
power source before you
disconnect it from the
scanner.
12
jack. Using an
To power the sca nner using
a DC adapter, attach the
Adaptaplug adapter to the
DC adapter so the tip reads
positive (+). Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 9V and
insert the Adaptap lug adapter into the scanner’s
jack, then plug the DC
adapter into your vehicle’s
cigarette lighter socket.
Note:
If you use a cig arette
lighter power cable and yo ur
vehicle’s engine is running,
you might hear electrical
noise from the engine while
scanning. This is normal.
POWER
CHARGING
RECHARGEABLE
BATTERIES
Your scanner has a built-in
charging circuit that lets you
charge Ni-Cd rechargeable
batteries while they are in
the scanner.
Important:
built-in chargi ng circu it takes
a long time to recharge
nickel-metal hydride batteries while they are installed in
the scanner. You must use
an external battery charger
to charge them.
The scanner’s
1
-
8
0
0
-
8
4
3
-
7
4
2
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To charge Ni-Cd batteries,
remove the plug from the
scanner’s
CHARGE
jack and
connect an AC adapter to
the jack.
Warning:
Do not connect an
adapter to the scanner’s
CHARGE
jack if you installed
non-rechargeable batteries
(standard, extra-life, or alk aline). Non-rechargeable batteries become hot and could
explode if you try to recharge them.
It takes between 14 and 16
hours to recharge Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries that are
fully discharged. You can
operate the scanner while
recharging the batteries , but
charging takes longer.
Note:
Ni-Cd batteries last
longer and deliver more
power if you occas ionally let
them fully discharge. To do
this, simply use th e scanner
BATT.Lo
until
flashes and
the scanner beeps ev ery 15
seconds. Then fully charge
the batteries.
Important:
This scanner
can use NiCd rechargeable batter-
ies. At the
end of a Ni-Cd battery's useful life, it must be recycle d or
disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or
state hazardous waste m anagement authorities for information on recycling or
disposal programs in your
area or call 1-800- 843-7422.
Some options that might be
available are: municipal
curbside collection, drop-off
boxes at retailers such as
your local RadioShack store,
recycling collection centers,
and mail-back programs.
CONNECTING AN
ANTENNA
Connecting the
Supplied Antenna
You must install an antenna
before you can operate the
scanner.
The supplied flexible antenna helps your scanner receive strong local signals.
Follow these steps to in stall
the antenna.
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1. Align the slots around
the antenna’s connecto r
with the tabs on the
antenna jack.
2. Press the antenna d own
over the jack and turn
the antenna’s base
clockwise until it locks
into place.
The scanner’s sensiti vity depends on the antenna’s
length and various environmental conditions.
Connecting an
Outdoor Antenna
Instead of the supplied antenna, you can connect an
outdoor base-station or mobile antenna (not supplied)
to your scanner using a BNC
connector. Your local RadioShack store sells a variety of antennas. Choose the
one that best meets your
needs.
14
When deciding on a mobile
or base-station ant enna and
its location, consider these
points:
• The antenna should be
as high as possible on
the vehicle or building.
• The antenna and its
cable should be as far
as possible from
sources of electrical
noise, such as appliances or other radios.
• The antenna should be
vertical for the best performance.
Always use 50 O hm coaxial
cable, such as RG-58 or
RG-8, to connect the basestation or mobile antenna.
For lengths over 50 feet, use
RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. If the antenna
cable’s connector does not
fit in the scanner’s antenna
jack, you might al so nee d an
antenna plug adapter. Your
local RadioShack store carries a wide variety of coaxial
antenna cable and connectors.
Once you choose an antenna, follow the mounting instructions supplied with the
antenna, after removing the
20-313.fm Page 15 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM
supplied antenna. Then
route the antenna’s c able to
the scanner and connect the
cable to the scanner’s antenna jack.
Cautions:
• Do not run the cable
over sharp edges or
moving parts that might
damage it.
• Do not run the cable
next to power cables or
other antenna cables.
Warning:
caution when you inst all or
remove an outdoor antenna. If the antenna s tarts to
fall, let it go! It could contact overhead power lines.
If the antenna touches a
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 do so yourself.
Use extreme
CONNECTING AN
EARPHONE/
HEADPHONES
For private listening, you can
connect an earphone or
headphones with a
(3.5-mm) plug to the jack
on top of the scanner. (Your
local RadioShack store carries a wide sele ction of earphones and headphones).
Connecting an earphone or
headphones automatically
disconnects the internal
speaker.
Listening Safely
To protect your he aring, 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.
1
/
8
-inch
• Do not listen at
extremely high volume
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