RadioShack Pro 72 Portable Scanner Reciever Owners Manual

							41
GUIDE TO THE ACTION BANDS
United States Broadcast Bands
In the United States, there are several broadcast bands.
The standard AM and FM bands are probably the most well
known. There are also four television audio broadcast
bands — the lower three transmit on the VHF band and
the fourth transmits on the UHF band.
Typical Band Usage
VHF Band
Low Range 29.00–50.00 MHz
6-Meter Amateur 50.00–54.00 MHz
U.S. Government 137.00–144.00 MHz
2-Meter Amateur 144.00–148.00 MHz
High Range 148.00–174.00 MHz
UHF Band
Military Aircraft 380.00–384.00 MHz
U.S. Government 406.00–420.00 MHz
70-cm Amateur 420.00–450.00 MHz
Low Range 450.00–470.00 MHz
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide 
Ba nd470.00–512.00 MHz
800 Band Law Enforcement 806.00–824.00 MHz
Conventional Systems 851.00–856.00 MHz
Conventional/Trunked Systems 856.00–866.00 MHz
Public Safety 866.00–869.00 MHz
Trunked Private/General 894.00–960.00 MHz
20-566.fm  Page 41  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							42
Primary Usage
As a general rule, most of the radio activity is concentrated
on the following frequencies:
VHF Band
UHF Band
Note:
 Remote control stations and mobile units operate
at 5 MHz higher than their associated base stations and
relay repeater units.
Activities Frequencies
Government, Police, and Fire 1 53 .7 85 –1 55 .9 80  M Hz
Emergency Services 158.730–159.460 MHz
Railroad 160.000–161.900 MHz
Activities Frequencies
Land-Mobile “Paired” 
Frequencies450.000–470.000 MHz
Base Stations 451.025–454.950 MHz
Mobile Units 456.025–459.950 MHz
Repeater Units 460.025–464.975 MHz
Control Stations 465.025–469.975 MHz
20-566.fm  Page 42  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							43
SPECIFIED INTERVALS
Frequencies in different bands are accessible only at spe-
cific intervals. For example:
BAND ALLOCATION
To help decide which frequency ranges to scan, use the
following listing of the typical services that use the fre-
quencies your scanner receives. These frequencies are
subject to change, and might vary from area to area. For
a more complete listing, refer to the 
Police Call Radio
Guide including Fire and Emergency Services, available
at your local RadioShack store.
Abbreviations Services
AIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Aircraft
BIFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Boise (ID) Interagency Fire Cache
BUS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Business
CAP  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Civil Air Patrol
CB  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Citizens Band
CCA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Common Carrier
CSB  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conventional Systems
CTSB  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conventional/Trunked Systems
FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire Department
HAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Amateur (Ham) Radio
GOVT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Federal Government
GMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  General Mobile Radio
GTR  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  General Trunked
IND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industrial Services
(Manufacturing, Construction, Farming, Forest Products)
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Military
MOV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Motion Picture/Video Industry
NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Mobile Narrow
NEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Relay Press (Newspaper Reporters)Frequency Range(s) Specified Interval
29–54 and 137–174 MHz 5.0 kHz steps
380–512 and 806–960 MHz 12.5 kHz steps
20-566.fm  Page 43  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							44
OIL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oil/Petroleum Industry
POL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Police Department
PUB  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Public Services
(Public Safety, Local Government, Forestry Conservation)
PSB  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Public Safety
PTR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Private Trunked
ROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Road & Highway Maintenance
RTV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Radio/TV Remote Broadcast Pickup
TAXI  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taxi Services
TELB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Mobile Telephone
(Aircraft, Radio Common Carrier, Landline Companies)
TELC  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cordless Phones
TELM  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Telephone Maintenance
TOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tow Trucks
TRAN  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation Services
(Trucks, Tow Trucks, Buses, Railroad, Other)
TSB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trunked Systems
TVn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  FM-TV Audio Broadcast
USXX  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Government Classified
UTIL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Power & Water Utilities
WTHR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weather
VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF)
VHF Low Band — (in 5 kHz steps)
29.900–30.550  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
30.580–31.980  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, PUB
32.000–32.990  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
33.020–33.980  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS, IND, PUB
34.010–34.990  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
35.020–35.980  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  BUS, PUB, IND, TELM
36.000–36.230  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
36.250. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Oil Spill Cleanup
36.270–36.990  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
37.020–37.980  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUB, IND
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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  IND
43.220–43.680  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TELM, IND, PUB
43.700–44.600  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRAN
44.620–46.580  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  POL, PUB
46.600–46.990  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, TELC
47.020–47.400  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUB
47.420. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Red Cross
47.440–49.580  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, PUB
49.610–49.990  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MIL, TELC
6-Meter Amateur Band
50.00–54.00  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HAM
20-566.fm  Page 44  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							45
U.S. Government Band
137.000–144.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
2-Meter Amateur Band
144.000–148.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HAM
VHF High Band
148.050–150.345 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  CAP, MAR, MIL
150.775–150.790 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MED
150.815–150.980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  TOW, Oil Spill Cleanup
150.995–151.475 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ROAD, POL
151.490–151.955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, BUS
151.985  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TELM
152.0075  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MED
152.030–152.240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  TELB
152.270–152.480 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, TAXI, BUS
152.510–152.840 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  TELB
152.870–153.020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IND, MOV
153.035–153.725 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, OIL, UTIL
153.740–154.445 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUB, FIRE
154.490–154.570 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, BUS
154.585  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Oil Spill Cleanup
154.600–154.625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS
154.655–156.240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  MED, ROAD, POL, PUB
156.255–157.425 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  OIL, MARI
157.450  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MED
157.470–157.515 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TOW
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  TELB
158.730–159.465 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  POL, PUB, ROAD
159.480  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OIL
159.495–161.565 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRAN
161.580–162.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OIL, MARI, RTV
162.0125–162.35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL, USXX
162.400–162.550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  WTHR
162.5625–162.6375 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL, USXX
162.6625  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MED
162.6875–163.225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL, USXX
163.250  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MED
163.275–166.225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL, USXX
166.250  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  GOVT, RTV, FIRE
166.275–169.400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, BIFC
169.445–169.505 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wireless Mikes, GOVT
169.55–169.9875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL, USXX
170.000–170.150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  BIFC, GOVT, RTV, FIRE
170.175–170.225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT
170.245–170.305 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wireless Mikes
170.350–170.400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL
20-566.fm  Page 45  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							46
170.425–170.450  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  BIFC
170.475 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUB
170.4875–173.175 . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, PUB, Wireless Mikes
173.225–173.5375 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  MOV, NEWS, UTIL, MIL
173.5625–173.5875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MIL Medical/Crash Crews
173.60–173.9875  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  GOVT
ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY (UHF)
U. S. Government Band
406.125–419.975  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, USXX
70-cm Amateur Band
420.000–450.000  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HAM
Low Band
450.050–450.925  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RTV
451.025–452.025  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
452.0375–453.00  . . . . . . . . . . . . IND, TAXI, TRAN TOW, NEWS
453.0125–454.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUB, OIL
454.025–454.975  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TELB
455.050–455.925  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RTV
457.525–457.600  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS
458.025–458.175  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MED
460.0125–460.6375  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  FIRE, POL, PUB
460.650–462.175  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS
462.1875–462.450 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUS, IND
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
(Channels 14 through 69 in 6 MHz steps)
475.750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Channel 14
481.750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Channel 15
487.750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Channel 16
..
511.750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Channel 20
Note: Some cities use the 470–512 MHz band for land/mobile
service.
Conventional Systems Band — Locally Assigned
851.0125–855.9875  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CSB
Conventional/Trunked Systems Band — Locally Assigned
856.0125–860.9875  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CTSB
Trunked Systems Band — Locally Assigned
861.0125–865.9875  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TSB
20-566.fm  Page 46  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							47
Public Safety Band — Locally Assigned
866.0125–868.9875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  PSB
33-Centimeter Amateur Band
902.0000–928.0000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HAM
Private Trunked
935.0125–939.9875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  PTR
General Trunked
940.0125–940.9875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GTR
FREQUENCY CONVERSION
The tuning location of a station can be expressed in fre-
quency (kHz or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). The fol-
lowing information can help you make the necessary
conversions.
1 MHz (million) = 1,000 kHz (thousand)
To convert MHz to kHz, multiply the number of megahertz
by 1,000:
30.62 (MHz) 
x 1000  = 30,620 kHz
To convert from kHz to MHz, divide the number of kilo-
hertz by 1,000:
127,800 (kHz) ¸ 1000 = 127.8 MHz
To convert MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of
megahertz:
300 ¸ 50 MHz = 6 meters
20-566.fm  Page 47  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							48
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your scanner is not working as it should, these sugges-
tions might help you eliminate the problem. If the scanner
still does not operate properly, take it to your local Ra-
dioShack store for assistance.
Problem Possible Causes Remedies
The scanner 
does not 
work at all.The AC or DC 
adapter is not 
properly connect-
ed.Be sure the adapt-
er is plugged into 
a working AC out-
let or cigarette-
lighter socket, and 
is fully inserted 
into the scanner’s 
PWR/DC 9V jack.
The internal batter-
ies/battery pack 
needs to be re-
charged, or the 
non-rechargeable 
batteries are dead.Charge the re-
chargeable batter-
ies or battery 
pack, or replace 
non-rechargeable 
batteries with 
fresh batteries.
Poor or no 
reception.Improperly con-
nected antenna.Be sure the anten-
na is properly con-
nected.
Programmed fre-
quencies are the 
same as birdie fre-
quencies.Avoid program-
ming frequencies 
listed under “Bird-
ie Frequencies” on 
Page 40.
20-566.fm  Page 48  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							49
ProblemPossible 
CausesRemedies
Scanner is on 
but does not 
scan.
SQUELCH is not 
correctly adjust-
ed.Adjust SQUELCH 
clockwise (see 
“Turning On the 
Scanner/Setting 
Volume and 
Squelch” on 
Page 26).
In the scan 
mode, the 
scanner locks 
on frequen-
cies that have 
an unclear 
transmission.Programmed fre-
quencies are the 
same as birdie 
frequencies.Avoid program-
ming frequencies 
listed under “Bird-
ie Frequencies” on 
Page 40 or only 
listen to them 
manually.
20-566.fm  Page 49  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM 
						

							50
RESETTING/INITIALIZING THE 
SCANNER
If the scanner’s display locks up or does not work properly
after you connect a power source, you might need to reset
or initialize it.
Important:
 If you have problems, first try to reset the
scanner. If that does not work, you can initialize the scan-
ner; however, initializing clears all frequencies you stored
in the scanner’s memory and initializes the scanner to its
default settings.
Resetting the Scanner
1. Turn off the scanner, then turn it on again.
2. Insert a pointed object, such as a straightened paper
clip, into the reset hole on the side of the scanner.
Then gently press and release the reset button
inside the opening. The display goes blank, then
information reappears.
20-566.fm  Page 50  Thursday, August 5, 1999  8:04 AM