RadioShack Pro 89 Vhf Uhf Handheld Race Scanner Reciever Owners Manual

							Owner’s ManualCat. No. 20-514   
PRO-89
200-Channel VHF/Air/UHF/800 MHz
Handheld Race Scanner
Please read before using this equipment.
A 
						

							2
INTRODUCTION
Your new RadioShack 200-Channel VHF/Air/UHF/800 MHz
Handheld Race Scanner lets you in on all the action in the pits
or on the track at the big race. This scanner gives you direct
access to over 33,500 frequencies, including those used by
participants and staff at auto races, police and fire depart-
ments, ambulance services, and amateur radio services. You
can select up to 200 channels to scan, and you can change
your selection at any time.
Your scanner also has these special features:
Five Service Banks
 — lets you search preset frequencies in
separate fire/police, air, ham radio, auto race, and marine
banks, to make it easy to locate specific types of calls.
Two-Second Scan/Search Delay
 — delays scanning for 2
seconds before moving to another channel, so you can hear
more replies.
Ten Channel-Storage Banks
 — you can store up to 20 chan-
nels in each of 10 different banks, to group channels so you
can more easily identify calls.
20 Monitor Memories
 — let you temporarily save up to 20 fre-
quencies you locate during a search, so you can move select-
ed frequencies to channel storage later.
Memory Backup
 — keeps the channel frequencies stored in
memory for about 1 hour during a power loss.
Triple Conversion Superheterodyne Receiver
 — virtually
eliminates any interference from intermediate frequency (IF)
images, so you hear only the frequency you select.
HyperSearchä
 and HyperScanä
 — let you set the scanner
to search at up to 50 steps per second and scan at up to 25
channels per second, to help you quickly find interesting trans-
missions.
Duplicate Frequency Check
 — automatically notifies you if
you are about to store a frequency you have already stored, to
help avoid wasting storage space.
© 2001 RadioShack Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a registered trademark used by RadioShack Corporation.
HyperSearch, HyperScan, and Adaptaplug are trademarks used by
RadioShack Corporation. 
						

							3
Direct Search
 — lets you search for new and unlisted frequen-
cies starting from a specified frequency.
Priority Channel
 — lets you designate a channel to be
scanned every two seconds so you do not miss important calls.
Weather Band Key 
— scans seven preprogrammed weather
frequencies to keep you informed about correct weather condi-
tions.
Weather Alert 
— automatically sounds the alarm tone to ad-
vise of hazardous weather conditions when it detects the alert
signal on the local NOAA weather channel.
Lock-Out Function
 — lets you set the scanner to skip over
specified channels or frequencies when scanning or searching.
Key Lock
 — lets you lock the scanner’s keys to help prevent
accidentally changing the scanner’s programming.
Two Supplied Antennas with BNC Connector 
— lets you
select the antenna that best meets your needs. The supplied
stub antenna helps your scanner receive strong local signals
and makes the scanner easy to carry and use at events. The
supplied flexible antenna provides excellent reception of weak-
er signals 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 from inter-
nal batteries (non-rechargeable batteries, rechargeable Ni-MH
(nickel-metal hydride) or regular or high-capacity Ni-Cd (nickel-
cadmium) batteries), external AC power (using optional adapt-
ers), or vehicle battery power (using optional adapters). 
						

							4
Your scanner can receive all of these frequencies:
• 29–54 MHz
• 108–136.9875 MHz
• 137–174 MHz
• 380–512 MHz
• 806–823.9875 MHz
• 849–868.9875 MHz
• 894–960 MHz
This Owner’s Manual also includes the section “A General
Guide to Scanning” on Page 52 to help you target frequency
ranges in your service area so you can search for a wide vari-
ety of transmissions.
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 interfer-
ence goes away, your scanner is causing it. Try to eliminate
the interference by:
• moving your scanner away from the receiver
• connecting your scanner to an outlet that is on a different
electrical circuit from the receiver
• contacting your local RadioShack store for help
If you cannot eliminate the interference, the FCC requires that
you stop using your scanner.
This device complies with Part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation
is subject to the following conditions: (1) This device must not
cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Note: 
Mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or requires a per-
mit in some areas. Check the laws in your area. 
						

							5
SCANNING LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different
groups including police and fire departments, ambulance ser-
vices, government agencies, private companies, amateur radio
services, military operations, pager services, and wireline (tele-
phone and telegraph) service providers. It is legal to listen to
almost every transmission your scanner can receive. However,
there are some transmissions you should never intentionally
listen to. These include:
• telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or other pri-
vate means of telephone signal transmission)
• pager transmissions
• any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (EC-
PA), you are subject to fines and possible imprisonment for in-
tentionally listening to, using, or divulging the contents of such
a transmission unless you have the consent of a party to the
communication (unless such activity is otherwise illegal).
This scanner has been designed to prevent reception of illegal
transmissions. This is done to comply with the legal require-
ment that scanners be manufactured so as to not be easily
modifiable to pick up those transmissions. Do not open your
scanner’s case to make any modifications that could allow it to
pick up transmissions that it is not legal to listen to. Doing so
could subject you to legal penalties.
We encourage responsible, legal scanner use. 
						

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CONTENTS
Preparation ........................................................................... 8
Installing Batteries  ........................................................... 8
Using AC Power ............................................................... 9
Using Vehicle Battery Power  ......................................... 10
Charging Rechargeable Batteries  ................................. 10
Connecting an Antenna  ................................................. 11
Connecting a Supplied Antenna  ................................ 11
Connecting an Outdoor Antenna  ............................... 12
Connecting an Earphone/Headphones  ......................... 13
Listening Safely  ......................................................... 13
Traffic Safety  ............................................................. 14
Connecting an Extension Speaker  ................................ 14
Understanding the Scanner  .............................................. 15
A Look at the Keypad  .................................................... 15
A Look at the Display ..................................................... 17
Understanding Banks  .................................................... 20
Channel Storage Banks  ............................................. 20
Service Banks  ............................................................ 21
Monitor Memories  .......................................................... 25
Operation ............................................................................ 26
Turning On the Scanner/Setting Volume and Squelch  .. 26
Storing Known Frequencies into Channels .................... 26
Finding and Storing Active Frequencies  ........................ 27
Searching the Service Banks  .................................... 27
Using Direct Search  ................................................... 30
Using Monitor Memory  .................................................. 31
Listening to a Monitor Memory  .................................. 31
Moving a Frequency from a Monitor Memory 
to a Channel  .............................................................. 32
Scanning the Stored Channels  ...................................... 32
Turning Channel-Storage Banks Off and On  ................. 33
Monitoring a Stored Channel  ......................................... 34
Clearing a Stored Channel  ............................................ 34
Clearing all Stored Channels  ......................................... 34
Clearing all Locked-Out Channels  ................................. 35
Listening to the Marine Bank  ......................................... 35
Listening to the Weather Band  ...................................... 35
WX Alert  .................................................................... 36
Scanning at the Races ....................................................... 37
Storing a Car Number and Frequency  ........................... 37
Adding Frequencies to a Car Number  ........................... 38
Adding a Car Number to the Channel  ........................... 39 
						

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Changing the Stored Car Number  ................................  39
Viewing Frequencies Associated with a Car Number  ...  39
Deleting a Frequency from a Car Number  ....................  40
Scanning by Car Number ..............................................  40
Finding Car Numbers Associated With Channels  .........  41
Special Features  ................................................................  42
Delay .............................................................................  42
Locking Out Channels or Frequencies  ..........................  42
Locking Out Channels  ...............................................  42
Clearing All Lockouts from Channels  ........................  43
Locking Out Frequencies  ..........................................  43
Reviewing Locked-Out Frequencies  .........................  43
Removing a Lockout From a Frequency  ...................  44
Removing Lockouts From All Frequencies  ...............  44
Removing Lockouts From All Frequencies in 
All Service Banks  ......................................................  44
Using Priority  ................................................................  45
Using Power Save  .........................................................  46
Using the Display Backlight ...........................................  46
Turning the Key Tone On and Off  ..................................  46
Using the Key Lock  .......................................................  47
Resetting/Initializing the Scanner ..................................  47
Resetting the Scanner  ..............................................  48
Initializing the Scanner  ..............................................  48
Wired/On-Air Programming  ..............................................  49
Using Wired Programming  ............................................  49
Wired Programming Specifications  ...........................  50
Using On-Air Programming  ...........................................  50
On-Air Programming Specifications  ..........................  51
A General Guide to Scanning ...........................................  52
Guide to Frequencies  ....................................................  52
National Weather Frequencies ..................................  52
Birdie Frequencies  ....................................................  52
Guide to the Action Bands  ............................................  53
Typical Band Usage (MHz)  .......................................  53
Primary Usage  ..........................................................  53
Band Allocation  .............................................................  54
Frequency Conversion  ..................................................  58
Troubleshooting .................................................................  59
Care and Maintenance  ......................................................  60
Specifications ....................................................................  61 
						

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PREPARATION
INSTALLING BATTERIES
You can power your scanner with four AA batteries (not sup-
plied). For the best performance and longest life, we recom-
mend RadioShack alkaline batteries.
You can use either the black non-rechargeable battery holder
or the yellow rechargeable battery holder (both supplied) to
hold the batteries. If you use the yellow battery holder, we rec-
ommend nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries (not
supplied).
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recom-
mended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batter-
ies (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable
batteries of different capacities.
Warning:
 Never install non-rechargeable batteries in the yel-
low rechargeable battery holder. Non-rechargeable batteries
can get hot or explode if you try to recharge them.
Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Press down on the battery compartment cover then slide
the cover in the direction of the arrow to remove it.
2. If you are using non-rechargeable batteries, place them
into the black holder, as indicated by the polarity symbols
(+ and –) marked on the holder. Or, if you are using
rechargeable batteries, place them into the yellow holder
as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked on
the holder.
3. Place the battery holder into the battery compartment.
Caution:
 The battery holder fits only one way inside the
battery compartment. Do not force it.
4. Replace the cover.
When   flashes on the display and the scanner beeps, or if
the scanner stops operating properly, replace the batteries.
B 
						

							9
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. Batteries can leak
chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.
USING AC POWER
You can power the scanner using a 9V, 300-mA AC adapter
and a size C Adaptaplugä
 adapter (neither supplied). Both are
available at your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
You must use a Class 2 power source that sup-
plies 9V DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its cen-
ter tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit
the scanners 
PWR DC 9V jack. Using an adapter that does
not meet these specifications could damage the scanner
or the adapter.
• Always connect the AC adapter to the scanner before you
connect it to AC power. When you finish, disconnect the
adapter from AC power before you disconnect it from the
scanner.
To power the scanner using an AC adapter, attach the Adapta-
plug to the AC adapter so the tip reads positive (+), then insert
the Adaptaplug into the scanner’s 
PWR DC 9V jack. Connect
the other end of the adapter to a standard AC outlet.
! 
						

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USING VEHICLE BATTERY POWER
You can power the scanner from a vehicle’s 12V power source
(such as a cigarette-lighter socket) using a 9V, 300-mA DC
adapter and a size C Adaptaplug (neither supplied). Both are
available at your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
You must use a power source that supplies regu-
lated 9V DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its cen-
ter tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit
the scanners 
PWR DC 9V jack. Using an adapter that does
not meet these specifications could damage the scanner
or the adapter.
• Always connect the DC adapter to the scanner before you
connect it to the power source. When you finish, discon-
nect the adapter from the power source before you discon-
nect it from the scanner.
To power the scanner using a DC adapter, attach the Adapta-
plug to the DC adapter so the tip reads positive (+), set the
adapter’s voltage switch to 9V, then insert the Adaptaplug into
the scanner’s 
PWR DC 9V jack. Plug the other end of the DC
adapter into your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
Note:
 If you use a cigarette-lighter power cable and your vehi-
cle’s engine is running, you might hear electrical noise from the
engine while scanning. This is normal.
CHARGING RECHARGEABLE 
BATTERIES
Your scanner has a built-in charging circuit that lets you charge
rechargeable batteries while they are in the scanner. To
charge rechargeable batteries, you need to use an AC adapter
which supplies 9V (RadioShack Cat. No. 273-1767) or a DC
adapter which supplies 10V (Cat. No. 273-1830). Connect a
size C Adaptaplug to the adapter’s cable with the tip set to pos-
itive then insert the Adaptaplug into the scanner’s 
PWR DC 9V
jack.
!