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 adapter that
does not meet these specifications could damage the scanner or
the adapter.
• To protect your scanner and AC adapter, always plug the adapter
into the scanner before you plug it into the AC outlet, and always
unplug the adapter from the AC outlet before you unplug it from
the scanner.
• If batteries are installed, make sure 
ALKALINE  JACK  NI-CD is
set to the correct position (see “Using Internal Batteries” on
Page 8).
1. Turn 
VOLUME counterclockwise until it clicks to make sure power
is turned off.
2. Plug the adapter’s 3.4 mm outside diameter/1.3 mm inside diame-
ter barrel plug into your scanner’s 
POWER jack. 
3. Plug the other end of the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
20-513.fm  Page 11  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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 your vehicles electrical system, always plug the adapter
into the scanner before you plug it into your vehicles cigarette-
lighter socket. Always unplug the adapter from the vehicles ciga-
rette-lighter socket before you unplug it from the scanner.
• If batteries are installed, make sure 
ALKALINE   JACK   NI-CD is
set to the correct position (see “Using Internal Batteries” on
Page 8).
1. Turn 
VOLUME counterclockwise until it clicks to make sure power
is turned off.
2. Set the DC adapter’s voltage switch to 9V.
3. Connect the adapter’s 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner diam-
eter tip to the adapter’s cord, matching TIP to –.
4. Plug the adapter’s barrel plug into your scanner’s 
POWER jack. 
5. Plug the other end of the adapter into your vehicle’s cigarette-
lighter socket.
20-513.fm  Page 12  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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 provides slightly better reception
and helps your scanner receive strong local signals. You can attach ei-
ther of the supplied antennas or an optional antenna to the scanner
(see “Connecting an Optional Antenna” on Page 14).
Follow these steps to attach either of the supplied antennas to the con-
nector on the top of your scanner.
1. Align the slots around the antenna’s connector with the tabs on the
scanner’s BNC connector.
2. Slide the antenna’s connector down over the scanner’s connector
and rotate the antenna connector’s outer ring clockwise until it
locks into place.
20-513.fm  Page 13  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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 does not have a BNC
connector, use a BNC adapter, available at your local RadioShack
store. 
Follow the installation instructions supplied with the antenna, route the
antenna cable to the scanner, then connect it to the antenna
 jack fol-
lowing the steps in “Connecting an Antenna” on Page 13.
Warning: 
Use extreme caution when installing or removing an outdoor
antenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead
power lines. If the antenna touches a power line, contact with the an-
tenna, 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.
Cautions
:
• Do not run the cable over sharp edges or moving parts.
• Do not run the cable next to power cables or other antenna cables.
• Do not run the cable through a vehicle’s engine compartment or
other areas that produce extreme heat.
• Follow all cautions and warnings included with the antenna.
20-513.fm  Page 14  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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  Page 15  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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 might still damage your hearing.
Traffic Safety
Do not use an earphone/headphones with your scanner when operat-
ing a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle in or near traffic. Doing so can
create a traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas.
If you use an earphone/headphones with your scanner, be very careful.
Do not listen to a continuous broadcast. Even though some earphones/
headphones let you hear some outside sounds when listening at nor-
mal volume levels, they still can present a traffic hazard.
ATTACHING THE BELT CLIP
You can attach the supplied belt clip to make your scanner easier to
use when you are on the go. Use a Phillips screwdriver and the two
supplied screws to attach the belt clip to the scanner. Then slide the
belt clip over your belt or waistband.
20-513.fm  Page 16  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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 by type of service.
When you find a frequency, you can store it into a programmable memory
location called a channel
, which is grouped with your other channels in a
memory bank. You can then scan
 the memory banks to see if there is ac-
tivity on the frequencies stored there. Each time the scanner finds an ac-
tive frequency, it stays on that channel until the transmission ends.
Remember, you 
search frequencies and scan channels.
A LOOK AT THE KEYPAD
Your scanner’s keys might seem confusing at first, but this information
should help you understand each key’s function.
RACEMANPROG
BAND
SCAN
HOLDDATA12
31-10
11-2021-30
H/S
S/S4
56
31-40
41-50 51-60PRIORITYL-OU T
DEL78
9
61-70 71-80 81-90
0
E
91-100KEYLOCK CLEAR
WX
20-513.fm  Page 17  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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-
quentially recall channels where car numbers and frequencies are
stored during manual operation. 
PRIORITY/H/S — sets and turns on and off priority for a particular chan-
nel. Also turns Hypersearch on and off.
L-OUT/S/S — lets you lock out a selected channel and skips a specified
frequency during a service bank, direct, or weather search.
t and s — enters the search direction (down or up).
DEL — deletes the frequencies and car numbers stored in the memory.
KEYLOCK/  — locks the keypad to prevent accidental program
changes. Also turns on the display light for 15 seconds.
Number Keys — each key is marked with a single digit, and has a
range of numbers printed above it. The single digits are used to enter a
channel or frequency. The range of numbers (31–40, for example) indi-
cates the channels that make up a memory bank.
CLEAR/• — erases an incorrect entry or an error, and enters a decimal
point. 
WX/E — selects a weather channel, and enters the frequency when you
store a frequency into a channel.
DATA
20-513.fm  Page 18  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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 numbers and frequencies in the
scanner’s channels, add and delete frequencies from car numbers, dis-
play car numbers, and move to the channel where a car number is
stored.
PRI — appears when you set the scanner to scan the priority channels
every 2 seconds.
 — appears when you turn on the data skip function. 
HOLD — appears during a search hold.
WX — appears when you search the preset frequencies in the weather
band.
HYPER — appears when you are using Hypersearch during service
bank and direct search. However, 
HYPER disappears when the scan-
ner searches any frequency bands other than the 5 kHz step bands.
BANKRACEPRIDATAHOLDWXHYPER12345678910BATT.LoK/L
NO.
MRN
SCANMAN PGMMHzL/OSEARCHCHP
S
DATA
20-513.fm  Page 19  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM 
						

							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
between 406–956 MHz, or 108–136.975 MHz).
SCAN — appears when you scan channels.
MAN — appears when you manually select a channel.
PGM — appears while you store (program) frequencies into the scan-
ner’s channels.
L/O — appears when you manually select a locked channel or a skip
frequency.
 — appears when the battery save function is active.
t and s
 — indicate the search direction. 
SEARCH — appears during a service bank, direct, or weather search.
-d- — appears during a direct search.
Error — appears when you make an invalid entry.
P
S
20-513.fm  Page 20  Wednesday, August 4, 1999  2:39 PM