RadioShack Pro 74 Vhf Uhf Race Scanner Reciever Owners Manual

11
Using Standard AC Power
You can power the scanner from a standard AC outlet using an option-
al AC adapter (such as Cat. No. 273-1665).
Warning:
 Do not use an AC adapter’s polarized plug with an extension
cord, receptacle, or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted
to prevent blade exposure.
Cautions:
• The recommended AC adapter supplies 9 volts and delivers at
least 300 milliamps. It has a barrel plug with a center negative tip
that correctly fits the scanner’s 
POWER jack. Using an...

12
Using Vehicle Battery Power
To power the scanner from your vehicles cigarette-lighter socket, you
need a DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 270-1560.
Cautions:
• The DC adapter must be capable of delivering 9 volts and at least
300 milliamps, its center tip must be set to negative, and its barrel
plug must correctly fit the scanners 
POWER jack. The recom-
mended adapter meets these specifications. Using an adapter that
does not meet these specifications could damage the scanner or
the adapter.
• To protect...

13
When you finish using the DC adapter, disconnect it from the cigarette-
lighter socket, then disconnect it from your scanner.
Note: If the scanner does not operate properly when you connect a DC
adapter, unplug the adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket and clean
the socket to remove ashes and other debris.
CONNECTING AN ANTENNA
The supplied stub antenna helps your scanner receive most strong
transmissions at events and makes the scanner easier to carry and
use. The supplied flexible antenna...

14
Connecting an Optional Antenna
The scanner’s antenna jack makes it easy to use the scanner with a
variety of antennas. Instead of either of the supplied antennas, you can
attach a different one, such as an external mobile antenna or outdoor
base station antenna. 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 di-
electric coaxial cable. If your antenna’s cable...

15
CONNECTING AN EXTENSION SPEAKER
In a noisy area, an extension speaker (such as Cat. No. 21-549), posi-
tioned in the right place, might provide more comfortable listening. Plug
the speaker cable’s 
1/8-inch mini-plug into your scanner’s   jack.
CONNECTING AN EARPHONE/
HEADPHONES
For private listening, you can plug an earphone or headphones with a1/8-inch mini-plug (such as Cat. No. 33-178 or 20-210) into the   jack
on top of your scanner. This automatically disconnects the internal
speaker.
20-513.fm...

16
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an ear-
phone or headphones.
• Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high-
volume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss. 
• Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening.
After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
• 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...

17
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 find the 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. 
You can also search the memory banks
, which are preset groups of
frequencies categorized...

18
RACE — lets you store car numbers and frequencies in the scanner’s
channels, add and delete frequencies from car numbers, display car
numbers, and listen to the channel where a car number is stored.
MAN — stops scanning and lets you directly enter a channel number or
frequency. 
PROG — stores frequencies into channels.
BAND — lets you search service banks.
SCAN — scans through stored channels. 
HOLD — holds a frequency search.
 — turns on or off the data signal skip feature, and lets you se-...

19
A LOOK AT THE DISPLAY
The display has indicators that show the scanner’s current operating
status. A good look at the display will help you understand how your
scanner operates.
BANK — appears with numbers (1–10) to show which memory banks
are turned on for scanning.
Service bank indicators — appear when you select the scanner’s ser-
vice banks (see “Service Banks” on Page 21).
BATT.Lo — flashes when the batteries are low.
K/L — appears when you lock the keypad.
RACE — appears when you store car...

20
No. — appears when a car number is displayed
MRN — appears with CH when you select the scanner’s marine service
bank (see “Service Banks” on Page 21).
 — appears when you listen to a priority channel.
CH — digits that precede this indicator show which of the 100 channels
the scanner is tuned to.
MHz — digits that precede this indicator show which frequency the
scanner is tuned to. 
5 appears directly above the MHz indicator when
the displayed frequency is an odd multiple of 12.5 kHz (for frequencies...