20-313.fm Page 1 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Owner’s Manual Cat. No. 20-313 PRO-76 200-Channel VHF/UHF/Air Handheld Scanner Please read before using this equipment.
0-313.fm Page 2 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM FEATURES Your new RadioShack VHF/ UHF/Air Handheld Scanner lets you in on all the action! This scanner gives you direct access to over 23,000 exciting frequencies, including those used by police and 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.
20-313.fm Page 3 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Ten Monitor Memories — let you temporarily save up to ten frequencies you locate during a search, so you can move selected frequencies to channel storage later. Scan Delay — delays scanning for about 2 seconds 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 active frequencies during a search.
20-313.fm Page 4 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Your scanner can receive these bands: Frequency Range (MHz) Types of Transmissions 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 about the scanner’s frequency steps.
20-313.fm Page 5 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 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 methods to eliminate the interference: • Move your scanner away from the receiver. • Connect your scanner to an outlet that is on a different electrical circuit from the receiver.
20-313.fm Page 6 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM contents of such a transmission 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.
20-313.fm Page 7 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 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 .............................
20-313.fm Page 8 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Special Features .................................................................. Using the Keylock ........................................................... Locking Out Channels .................................................... Delay ............................................................................... Turning Channel-Storage Banks On and Off .................. Using Search Skip Memory ............................................
20-313.fm Page 9 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 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 can use rechargeable nickelcadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries. Both types of batteries are available at your local RadioShack store. of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
20-313.fm Page 10 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXTERNAL POWER JACKS 3. Replace the cover. When BATT.Lo flashes and the scanner beeps every 15 seconds, or if the scanner stops operating properly, replace or recharge the batteries. Warning: Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them. Caution: If you do not plan to use the scanner with batteries for a month or more, remove the batteries.
20-313.fm Page 11 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 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. POWER CHARGE USING AC POWER You can power the scanner using a 9V, 300-mA AC adapter and a size H Adaptaplug® adapter (neither supplied).
20-313.fm Page 12 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 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 jack.
20-313.fm Page 13 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Warning: Do not connect an adapter to the scanner’s CHARGE jack if 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 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.
20-313.fm Page 14 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM When deciding on a mobile or base-station antenna and its location, consider these points: • The antenna should be as high as possible on the vehicle or building. 1. Align the slots around the antenna’s connector with the tabs on the antenna jack. 2. Press the antenna down over the jack and turn the antenna’s base clockwise until it locks into place. The scanner’s sensitivity depends on the antenna’s length and various environmental conditions.
20-313.fm Page 15 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM supplied antenna. Then route the antenna’s cable 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: Use extreme caution when you install or remove an outdoor antenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead power lines.
20-313.fm Page 16 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM levels. Extended highvolume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss. • Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt to the volume level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing. Traffic Safety • Do not use an earphone/ headphones with your scanner when operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle in or near traffic.
20-313.fm Page 17 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCANNER Once you understand a few simple terms we use in this manual and familiarize yourself with your scanner’s features, you can put the scanner to work for you. You simply determine the type of communications you want to receive, then set the scanner to scan them. A frequency is the tuning location of a station (expressed in kHz or MHz). To find active frequencies, you can use the search function.
20-313.fm Page 18 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Note: Some of the scanner’s keys perform more than one function and are marked with more than one label. The steps in this Owner’s Manual show only the label appropriate to the action being performed. SCAN Scans programmed channels. MANUAL Stops scanning and lets you directly enter a channel number. S/S-L/OUT Skips a specified frequency during limit or direct search; lets you lock out selected channels. PRI Turns the priority feature on and off.
20-313.fm Page 19 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Number Keys Enters a single-digit (0 to 9) or a range of numbers. Use the range of numbers above the key (21–40 for example) when selecting the number for a desired channel-storage bank. See “Understanding Banks” on Page 21. Use the single digits to enter a channel or frequency. A LOOK AT THE DISPLAY The display has indicators that show the scanner’s current operating status.
-313.fm Page 20 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM d Appears instead of the channel number during a direct search. DLY Appears when you program a delay. Error Appears when you make an entry error. H Appears during a limit search hold. h Appears during a direct search hold. Hi Appears with a selected frequency to show the search range’s upper limit. KEYLOCK Appears when you lock the keypad. L Appears instead of the channel number during a limit search.
20-313.fm Page 21 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM PRI Appears when the priority feature is turned on. SCAN Appears when the scanner scans channels. SRCH Appears during limit, direct, and weather band searches. WX Indicates that the scanner is searching the weather channels. UNDERSTANDING BANKS Channel Storage Banks To make it easier to identify and select the channels you want to listen to, channels are divided into 10 banks of 20 channels each.
20-313.fm Page 22 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM OPERATION TURNING ON THE SCANNER/ SETTING VOLUME AND SQUELCH 1. Turn SQUELCH counterclockwise. fully 2. To turn on the scanner, turn VOLUME clockwise until you hear a hissing sound. 3. Turn SQUELCH clockwise, just until the hissing sound stops. Notes: • To listen to a weak or distant station, turn SQUELCH counterclockwise. If reception is poor, turn SQUELCH clockwise to cut out weak transmissions.
20-313.fm Page 23 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 4. Press E to store the frequency into the channel. Notes: • If you made a mistake in Step 3, Error appears and the scanner beeps three times when you press E. Simply start again from Step 3. • Your scanner automatically rounds the entered frequency down to the closest valid frequency. For example, if you enter a frequency of 151.473, your scanner accepts it as 151.475. 5. Repeat Steps 1–4 to program more channels.
20-313.fm Page 24 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 6. Press ▼ to search from the upper to the lower limit or ▲ to search from the lower to the upper limit. The current monitor memory number flashes. 7. When the scanner stops on a transmission you want to save, press MON to store the frequency in the current monitor memory. The monitor memory number stops flashing. 8. Press either ▼ or ▲ to continue the search.
20-313.fm Page 25 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM then press again. MANUAL 2. Press ▼ or ▲ to search up or down from the selected frequency. 3. When the scanner stops on a transmission you want to save, press MON to store the frequency in the current monitor memory. The monitor memory number stops flashing. 4. Press either ▼ or ▲ to continue the search. If you saved a frequency in a monitor memory, the monitor memory number advances by one and starts flashing again.
20-313.fm Page 26 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Moving a Frequency from a Monitor Memory to a Channel Follow these steps to move a frequency stored in a monitor memory to a permanent channel. 1. Press MANUAL. appears. MAN 2. Enter the number (1– 200) for the channel where you want to store the monitor frequency. The channel number appears. 3. Press PROG. The currently stored frequency appears. 4. Press MON then the number of the monitor memory number that has the frequency you want to store.
20-313.fm Page 27 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM To lock out channels so the scanner does not stop for a transmission on those channels, see “Locking Out Channels” on Page 28. Notes: • You can manually select any channel in a bank, even if the bank is turned off. • You cannot turn off all ten banks. MANUALLY SELECTING A CHANNEL You can continuously monitor a specific channel without scanning.
20-313.fm Page 28 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM SPECIAL FEATURES USING THE KEYLOCK Once you program your scanner, you can protect it from accidental program changes by turning on the keylock feature. When the keypad is locked, the only controls that operate are SCAN, MANUAL, KEYLOCK, VOLUME, and SQUELCH. Note: The keylock does not prevent the scanner from scanning channels. To turn the keylock on or off, turn on the scanner then hold down KEYLOCK for about 3 seconds.
20-313.fm Page 29 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM DELAY Many agencies use a twoway radio system that has a period of several seconds between a query and a reply. To avoid missing a reply, you can program a 2second delay into any channel or frequency. When your scanner stops on a channel or frequency with a programmed delay, DLY appears. The scanner continues to monitor that frequency for 2 seconds after the transmission stops. Then the scanner resumes scanning or searching.
20-313.fm Page 30 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Notes: • You can manually select any channel in a bank, even if the bank is turned off. • You cannot turn off all banks. One bank is always active. (where L/O appears). Then hold down S/S until L/O disappears. To clear all the skip frequencies from search skip memory at once, during a search, hold down S/S until the scanner beeps twice. Notes: USING SEARCH SKIP MEMORY You can skip specified frequencies during a limit or direct search.
20-313.fm Page 31 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM channel for activity every 2 PRI appears seconds. whenever the scanner is set to use priority. The scanner automatically designates each bank’s first channel as its priority channel. Follow these steps to select a different channel as the priority channel for a bank. 1. Press PROG. 2. Enter the channel number you want to select as the priority channel, then press PRI. P appears to the right of the channel number. 3.
20-313.fm Page 32 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM TURNING THE KEY TONE ON OR OFF The scanner is preset to sound a tone each time you press any of its keys. Follow these steps to turn the scanner’s key tone on or off. 1. If the scanner is turned on, turn VOLUME counterclockwise until it clicks to turn it off. 2. Hold down S/S while you turn on the scanner. no bEEP (if the key tone is off) or On bEEP (if the key tone is on) appears for about 3 seconds.
20-313.fm Page 33 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM AVOIDING IMAGE FREQUENCIES You might discover one of your regular stations on another frequency that is not listed. It might be what is known as an image frequency. For example, you might find a service that regularly uses a frequency of 431.875 also on 474.675. To see if it is an image, do a little math. Note the new frequency 474.675 Double the intermediate frequency of 21.4 MHz (42.800) and subtract it from the new frequency –42.
20-313.fm Page 34 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM A GENERAL GUIDE TO SCANNING Reception of the frequencies covered by your scanner is mainly “line-of-sight.” That means you usually cannot hear stations that are beyond the horizon. GUIDE TO FREQUENCIES Ham Radio Frequencies Ham radio operators often broadcast emergency information when other means of communication break down.
20-313.fm Page 35 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM the scanner. Use the search function and search every frequency range from its lowest frequency to the highest. Occasionally, the scanner will stop searching as if it had found a signal. However, the signal often is silent. That is a birdie. Make a list of all the birdies in your scanner for future reference. GUIDE TO THE ACTION BANDS Typical Band Usage (MHz) VHF Band Low Range 6-Meter Amateur U.S. Government 2-Meter Amateur High Range 29.00–50.00 50.
20-313.fm Page 36 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM UHF Band Activities 70-Centimeter Amateur Band FM Repeaters Land-Mobile “Paired” Frequencies Base Stations Mobile Units Repeater Units Control Stations Frequencies (MHz) 440.000–450.000 450.000–470.000 451.025–454.950 456.025–459.950 460.025–464.975 465.025–469.975 Note: Remote control stations and mobile units operate at 5 MHz higher than their associated base stations and relay repeater units.
20-313.fm Page 37 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM MAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Military Amateur Radio MARI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maritime Limited Coast (Coast Guard, Marine Telephone, Shipboard Radio, Private Stations) MARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Military Affiliate Radio System MED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emergency/Medical Services MIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20-313.fm Page 38 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 38.000–39.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL 39.020–39.980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUB 40.000–42.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL, MARI 42.020–42.940 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . POL 42.960–43.180 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20-313.fm Page 39 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 157.530–157.725 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, TAXI 157.740 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS 157.770–158.100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TELB 158.130–158.460 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS, IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 158.490–158.700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20-313.fm Page 40 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM 462.4625–462.525 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 462.550–462.925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GMR, BUS 462.9375–463.1875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MED 463.200–467.925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS FM-TV Audio Broadcast, UHF Wide Band (470–512 MHz) (Channels 14 through 20 in 6 MHz steps) 475.750 481.
20-313.fm Page 41 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM TROUBLESHOOTING If your scanner is not working as it should, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If the scanner still does not operate properly, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION Scanner is totally inoperative. The AC or DC adapter is not connected. Be sure the adapter’s barrel plug is fully inserted into the POWER jack. The batteries are dead.
20-313.fm Page 42 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM PROBLEM Scanner is on but will not scan (continued) During scanning, the scanner locks on frequencies that have an unclear transmission. 42 POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION Only one channel is (or no channels are) stored. Store frequencies into more than one channel. The scanner is not set to scan. Press SCAN. All channels are locked out. Make sure at least two channels are not locked out. Programmed frequencies are the same as “birdie” frequencies.
20-313.fm Page 43 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM CARE AND MAINTENANCE Your RadioShack 200-Channel VHF/UHF/Air Handheld Scanner is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your scanner so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the scanner dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits. Use and store the scanner only in normal temperature environments.
20-313.fm Page 44 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Coverage (MHz): 10 Meter Amateur Radio .................. 29–29.7 (in 5 kHz steps) VHF Lo ............................................. 29.7–50 (in 5 kHz steps) 6 Meter Amateur Radio ....................... 50–54 (in 5 kHz steps) Aircraft ................................. 108–136.975 (in 12.5 kHz steps) Government .................................... 137–144 (in 5 kHz steps) 2 Meter Amateur Radio ...................
20-313.fm Page 45 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Squelch Sensitivity: Threshold ................... 0.3 µV for VHF Lo, 0.4 µV for all others Tight (FM) ...................................................... (S + N)/N 25 dB Tight (AM) ...................................................... (S + N)/N 17 dB IF Rejection (at 162.4 MHz) ............................................. 75 dB Priority Sampling ...................................................... 2 Seconds Antenna Impedance ........................
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20-313.fm Page 48 Friday, January 7, 2000 3:09 PM Limited One-Year Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers.
