RadioShack Pro 94 Handheld Scanner Owners Manual
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11 3. Before you install alkaline or any other non- rechargeable batteries, use a pointed object such as a ballpoint pen to set ALKALINE JACK NI-CD inside the compartment to ALKALINE. Warning: Set ALKALINE JACK NI-CD to NI-CD for use only with nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) or nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeable batteries. Never attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries. Non-rechargeable batteries can get hot or explode if you try to recharge them. 4. Install two batteries in the compartment and two in the cover as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside those locations. Cautions: • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type. • Always remove old or weak batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that destroy electronic cir- cuits. • Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or recharge- able), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities. 5. Replace the cover, inserting the lower tabs first. 20-524.fm Page 11 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
12 When BATT.Loflashes and the scanner beeps every 15 seconds, replace all four batteries. Caution: Always dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not bury or burn them. Using Rechargeable Batteries You can also use four rechargeable batteries. Before you use nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batter- ies, you must charge them . The scanner has a built-in circuit that lets you recharge Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries while they are in the scan- ner. To charge the batteries, set ALKALINE JACK NI-CD to NI-CD, install the batteries in the scanner, and connect an external AC or DC adapter to the scanner’s POWER jack (see “Using AC Power” on Page 13 or “Us- ing Vehicle Battery Power” on Page 14). Warning: Do not connect either adapter to the scanner if non-rechargeable batteries (such as alkaline batter- ies) are installed in the scanner and ALKALINE JACK NI-CD is set to NI-CD, or if you are unsure of the switch’s position. Non-rechargeable batteries will get hot and can even explode if you try to recharge them. Before you use Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries for the first time, charge them at least 24 hours to bring them to a full charge. Discharged batteries take about 10 to 18 hours to fully recharge. If you use the scanner while the batteries are charging, charging takes longer. Notes: • Nickel-cadmium batteries last longer and deliver more power if you occasionally let them fully dis- charge. To do this, simply use the scanner until it beeps every 15 seconds and BATT.Loflashes. • To prevent damage to nickel-cadmium batteries, never charge them in an area where the tempera- ture is above 113°F (40°C) or below 40°F (4°C). 20-524.fm Page 12 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
13 Important: This scanner can use nickel-cadmium rechargeable batter- ies. At the end of a nickel-cadmium batterys useful life, it must be recy- cled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste management authorities for in- formation on recycling or disposal programs in your area or call 1-800-843-7422. Some options that might be available are: municipal curbside collection, drop-off boxes at retailers such as your local RadioShack store, recycling collection centers, and mail-back programs . USING AC POWER You can power the PRO-94 using an 9V, 300 mA AC adapter and a size H Adaptaplug® (neither supplied). Both are available at your local RadioShack store. Cautions: You must use a Class 2 power source that supplies 9V DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must be set to neg- ative and its plug must fit the PRO-94s POWER 9V 300MA jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the PRO-94 or the adapter. • Always connect the AC adapter to the PRO-94 be- fore you connect it to AC power. When you finish, disconnect the adapter from AC power before you disconnect it from the PRO-94. 1-800-843-7422 ! 20-524.fm Page 13 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
14 Follow these steps to use the PRO-94 on AC power. 1. Turn VOLUME/OFF counterclockwise until it clicks to make sure the power is turned off. 2. Insert the Adaptaplug into the adapter’s cord so it reads TIP – . Insert the Adaptaplug into the PRO- 94’s POWER 9V 300MA jack. 3. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet. If rechargeable batteries are installed and ALKALINE JACK NI-CD is set to NI-CD, the adapter powers the scanner and recharges the installed batteries at the same time. USING VEHICLE BATTERY POWER You can power the PRO-94 from a vehicle’s 12V power source (such as cigarette-lighter socket) using a 9V, 300-mA DC adapter and a size H Adaptaplug ® (neither supplied). Both are available at your local RadioShack store. Cautions: You must use a power source that sup- plies 9V DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must be set to negative and its plug must fit the PRO-94s POWER 9V 300MA jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the PRO-94 or the adapter. • Always connect the DC adapter to the PRO-94 before you connect it to the power source. When you finish, disconnect the adapter from the power source before you disconnect it from the PRO-94. ! 20-524.fm Page 14 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
15 • If batteries are installed, make sure the battery switch inside the battery compartment is set to the correct position (see “Using Internal Batteries” on Page 10). 1. Turn VOLUME/OFF counterclockwise until it clicks to make sure the power is turned off. 2. If the adapter has a voltage switch, set the switch to 9V. 3. Insert the Adaptaplug into the adapter’s cord so it reads TIP –. Insert the Adaptaplug into the PRO- 94’s POWER 9V 300MA jack. 4. Plug the adapter’s barrel plug into your scanner’s POWER 9V 300MA jack. 5. Plug the other end of the adapter into your vehi- cle’s cigarette-lighter socket. If rechargeable batteries are installed and ALKALINE JACK NI-CD is set to NI-CD, the adapter powers the scanner and recharges the installed batteries at the same time. Note: If the scanner does not operate properly when you use a DC adapter, unplug the adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket and clean the socket to remove ashes and debris. 20-524.fm Page 15 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
16 CONNECTING THE ANTENNA To attach the supplied flexible antenna to the connector on the top of your scanner, align the slots around the antenna’s connector with the tabs on the scanner’s BNC connector. Then slide the antenna’s connector down over the scanner’s connector and rotate the an- tenna connector’s outer ring clockwise until it locks into place. Connecting an Optional Antenna The scanner’s BNC connector makes it easy to connect a variety of optional antennas, including an external mobile antenna or outdoor base station antenna. Your local RadioShack store sells a wide selection of anten- nas. Note: Always use 50-ohm, RG-58, or RG-8, coaxial ca- ble to connect an outdoor antenna. If the antenna is over 50 feet from the scanner, use RG-8 low-loss di- electric coaxial cable. If your antenna’s cable does not have a BNC connector, your local RadioShack store carries a variety of BNC adapters. 20-524.fm Page 16 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
17 CONNECTING AN EARPHONE/ HEADPHONE For private listening, you can plug an optional earphone or mono headphones into the jack on top of your scanner. This automatically disconnects the internal speaker. Listening Safely To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone or headphones. • Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high-volume listening can lead to perma- nent 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 vol- ume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing. Traffic Safety Do not use an earphone or headphones with your scan- ner when operating a motor vehicle in or near traffic. Doing so can create a traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas. If you use an earphone or headphones with your scan- ner, 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 haz- ard. 20-524.fm Page 17 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
18 CONNECTING AN EXTENSION SPEAKER In a noisy area, an optional extension speaker, posi- tioned in the right place, might provide more comfort- able listening. Plug the speaker cable’s 1/8-inch (3.5- mm) mini-plug into your scanner’s jack. Your local RadioShack store carries a selection of suitable speak- ers. ATTACHING THE BELT CLIP To make your scanner easier to carry when you are on the go, use the supplied belt clip. Use a Phillips screw- driver and the supplied screws to attach the clip to the scanner. 20-524.fm Page 18 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
19 ABOUT YOUR SCANNER We use a few simple terms in this manual to explain the features of the PRO-94. Familiarize yourself with these terms and the scanner’s features and you can put the scanner to work for you right away. Simply determine the type of communications you want to receive, then set the scanner to scan those communications. The PRO-94 scans conventional frequencies and trunked systems . For more information about trunked transmissions see “Trunking Operation” on Page 41. A frequency, expressed in kHz or MHz, is the tuning location of a station. To find active frequencies, you use the search function or refer to a frequency reference such as the included Trunking Frequency Guide. Besides searching within a selected frequency range, you can also search your scanner’s service banks . Service banks are preset groups of frequencies catego- rized by the type of services that use those frequencies. For example, many amateur radio frequencies are lo- cated in the HAM service bank. When you search and find a desired frequency, you can store it into a programmable memory location called a channel . Channels are grouped into channel-storage banks . The PRO-94 has 500 channels in channel-stor- age bank A and another 500 in channel-storage bank B. Each bank of 500 is divided into ten 50-channel sets. You can scan the channel-storage banks to see if there is activity on the frequencies stored there. Or, when you find a frequency, you can store it into a temporary memory location called a monitor memory until you decide whether or not to move it to a channel. Just keep in mind — you search frequencies and scan channels. 20-524.fm Page 19 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM
20 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 and the pages where you will find additional in- formation about those functions. Key Function(s)See Page(s) A/B HOLD Switches the bank groups; holds the frequency search; holds the current ID in the trunking mode26, 28, 49 SCAN Scans the stored channels, and scan lists22, 31, 54 MAN Stops scanning and lets you directly enter a channel number or frequency; manually stores talk group IDs in scan lists26, 28, 53, 54 PROG Stores frequencies into channels; programs the trunking frequency, fleet map, and ID memories26, 44, 47, 53, 60 TRUNK Switches between conventional and trunking operation42, 43, 45 LIMIT/SRC Starts a limit search; searches a specified frequency range for fre- quencies; searches for another active ID during trunking opera- tion27, 45 D ATA / A LT Turns on or off the data signal skip feature; moves through menu settings while trunking; turns on or off the NWR-SAME weather alert28, 38 41, 63 PRIORITY/ H/S Sets and turns on and off the pri- ority & priority scanning feature; turns on and off Hypersearch34, 36, 55 20-524.fm Page 20 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 3:55 PM