RadioShack Pro 70 Portable Scanner Reciever Owners Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
PRO-70
50-Channel Portable Scanner
Please read before using this equipment.
Cat. No. 20-310
20-310.fm  Page 1  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  10:49 AM 

2
INTRODUCTION
Your new RadioShack PRO-70 50-Channel Portable
Scanner lets you in on all the action. This scanner gives
you direct access to over 22,000 exciting frequencies, in-
cluding police and fire departments, ambulance services,
and amateur radio services. You can select up to 50 chan-
nels to scan, and you can change your selection at any
time.
The secret to your scanner’s ability to scan so many fre-
quencies is its custom-designed microprocessor — a tiny,
built-in computer. Your scanner also...

3
Channel Lockout — keeps channels you select from be-
ing scanned.
Key Lock — lets you lock the scanner’s keys to help pre-
vent accidentally changing the scanner’s programming.
Flexible Antenna with BNC Connector — provides ex-
cellent reception and is designed to help prevent antenna
breakage.
Liquid Crystal Display — makes it easy to view and
change programming information.
Display Backlight — makes the scanner easy to read in
low light situations.
Three Power Options — let you power the scanner...

4
Your PRO-70 scanner contains the following prepro-
grammed frequencies (divided into search bands). See
“Using Band Search” on Page 25.
In addition, your scanner is preprogrammed with the fol-
lowing weather service frequencies:BandFrequency 
Search 
Range
(in MHz)Description
0 29-30 10-Meter Amateur Radio
1 30-50 VHF Low
2 50-54 6-Meter Amateur Radio
3 137-144 Aircraft/Air Shows,
Government
4 144-148 2-Meter Amateur Radio
5 148-174 VHF Hi
6 380-420 U.S. Government
7 420-450 70-Centimeter Amateur...

5
This owner’s manual also includes the section “A General
Guide to Scanning,” which helps you target frequency
ranges in your service area so you can search for a wide
variety of broadcasts.
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
the interference. Try the following methods to eliminate
the interference.
•...

6
SCANNING LEGALLY
Scanning is a fun and interesting hobby. You can hear
police and fire departments, ambulance services, govern-
ment agencies, private companies, amateur radio servic-
es, aircraft, and military operations. It is legal to listen to
almost every transmission your scanner can receive.
However, there are some electronic and wire communi-
cations that are illegal to intentionally intercept. These in-
clude:
• Telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or other
private means of telephone...

7
CONTENTS
Preparation  ..................................................................  9
Power Sources  ......................................................  9
Using Batteries  ...............................................  9
Using Standard AC Power  ............................  11
Using Vehicle Battery Power  ........................  12
Charging a Rechargeable Battery Pack  .......  13
Connecting the Antenna  ......................................  14
Connecting an Optional Antenna...

8
A General Scanning Guide  ......................................  36
Guide to Frequencies  ..........................................  36
National Weather Frequencies  .....................  36
Ham Radio Frequencies ...............................  36
Birdie Frequencies  .......................................  37
Guide to the Action Bands  ...................................  37
United States Broadcast Bands  ...................  37
Typical Band Usage  .....................................  38
Primary...

9
PREPARATION
POWER SOURCES
You can power your scanner from any of three sources:
• Internal batteries or a rechargeable scanner battery
pack (not supplied — see “Using Batteries”)
• Standard AC power (with an optional AC adapter —
see “Using Standard AC Power” on Page 11)
• Vehicle battery power (with an optional DC adapter
— see “Using Vehicle Battery Power” on Page 12)
Notes:
• Connecting an AC or DC adapter to the scanner dis-
connects any internal batteries, but it does not dis-
connect a...

10
Follow these steps to install batteries or a battery pack.
1. Press down on the battery compartment cover on the
bottom of the scanner and slide the cover in the
direction of the arrow to remove it.
2. Pull up and slide the battery holder or battery pack
out of the battery compartment.
3. If you are installing individual batteries, insert six bat-
teries in the battery holder as indicated by the polar-
ity symbols (+ and –) marked on the battery holder.
20-310.fm  Page 10  Wednesday, August 4, 1999...