RadioShack Pro 96 Truking Scanner Owners Manual
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91 basis. Trunking ID delay specifies the amount of time the scanner dwells on the control channel looking for reply traffic on the previous talkgroup before resuming scan operation. Customizing the trunked ID delay may be useful if you are missing a lot of reply traffic on a particular system. We recommend starting with the default value of 2.0 seconds. 1. While in the desired ID list, press FUNC, and then ./DELAY. 2. PressSorTto select None, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 seconds. 3. Press ENTER.Ó C LEARING TALKGROUP ID S You can clear IDs from the ID list to make room for new IDs. 1. Press PGMand thenTRUNK. 2. Press FUNC,SorTto select an ID memory. 3. Press FUNCand thenCLRto clear the contents of the selected ID. Clearing All Talkgroup IDs in One Bank You can clear all talkgroup IDs within a bank. This lets you quickly delete all talkgroup IDs from a bank if you want to use the bank to store different data (such as a new set of talkgroup IDs). Ó HINTS Ó Most Motorola trunking systems include a “hang time” where the channel remains assigned to a talkgroup for a short period after the user unkeys their microphone. This hang time is typically 1.5 seconds but can vary among different systems. The scanner’s trunked delay function begins after this hang time expires. Therefore, the total amount of delay present after a user unkeys their microphone equals the trunking system hang time, plus any trunked ID delay that you have programmed into the scanner. For example, if you wish to wait a total of two seconds for a reply trunked call, and the system you are monitoring is using 1.5 seconds of hang time, you should set the trunked delay for that system to 0.5 seconds. EDACS systems do not employ hang time. Conventional channel delay is fixed at 2 seconds and is controlled independently of trunked ID delay. Refer to “Using the Delay Function” on Page 66 for more information.
921. Press PGM. 2. Press TRUNKto enter a talk group ID memory mode. 3. Select a talkgroup ID bank using FUNC,SorT. 4. Press FUNCand then6. Confirm list clear? 1=YES Press other key for NO. appears in the scanner’s display. 5. Press 1to clear all talkgroup IDs within a bank.List cleared appears in the scanner’s display. To cancel the delete operation, press any key except 1.The scanner returns to the talkgroup ID memory mode. DIGITAL OPERATION Your scanner is equipped with advanced Digital Signal Processing circuitry to receive and decode Phase 1 APCO-25 C4FM (four level FM) digital voice transmissions. This section of the manual will help you understand the differences between traditional analog and digital modulation. For ease of use, your scanner is designed to automatically detect digital modulation on any conventional channel programmed for FM/Digital (FM) modulation. It is not necessary to configure individual channels for digital operation. Many digital trunked radio systems are actually mixed mode systems
93 that support both analog and digital modulation. Certain user groups on these systems may use analog modulation, while others use digital modulation. Your scanner will automatically detect the type of modulation being used and switch to the correct modulation mode without special programming or user intervention. Your scanner also features Intelligent Adaptive Digital Tracking for optimal reception of digital signals from a variety of digital conventional and trunked radio system types. No special sound quality settings or adjustments are needed for different C4FM system types. Digital modulation represents a breakthrough in public safety communications technology. Digital modulation typically provides a clear, distortion free audio signal throughout the service area of the system you are monitoring. However, there are some important differences between analog and digital voice performance that you should be aware of while scanning. In most cases, digital voice transmissions will be surprisingly crisp and clear, and without noise or distortion, even when corresponding analog signals from the same system contain some static. However, if you are in a location with marginal reception, you may find that the voice quality of digital signals deteriorates very rapidly, resulting in missing syllables or entire words. If this
94happens, try reorienting the scanner or antenna for better reception. You may also try pressing the AT Tkey and apply attenuation to reduce the overload effects of nearby strong transmitters. Under certain very weak digital signal conditions, the scanner may lose synchronization with the digital signal and briefly revert to analog FM, resulting in the reception of the raw, undecoded digital signal. This is a normal indication of a digital signal that is too weak to decode. UPDATING THE DSP F IRMWARE If necessary, the firmware for the DSP module can be updated by theuserinthefieldby downloading a file from the Internet and transferring it to the scanner. From time to time, improvements may be incorporated into the DSP firmware. These improvements will typically be designed to address issues that may be present with decoding the digital audio signals, and audio quality improvements. With updateable DSP firmware, you can ensure that your scanner is using the most recent DSP version available. To update your scanner’s DSP firmware, you will need the following items:
95 The PC to scanner interface cable A personal computer running Windows 95 or greater A firmware update file from www.radioshack.com Follow these steps to update your scanner’s DSP firmware: 1. Go to http:// www.radioshack.com 2. Click on the Support button. 3. Click on Scanner Firmware Downloads. 4. ClickonPRO-96DSP Firmware 5. Full download and upgrade instructions are provided on the Firmware Upgrade page. 6. To check the DSP version number, turn on the scanner and press 3whileWelcome to Digital Trunking appears in the scanner display. The scanner will display version information as follows: The “CPU” and “DSP-Voc” firmware versions are permanently installed at time of manufacture and cannot be updated in the field. The“DSP-App”versionisfield upgradeable. The original factory version is indicated by “F” preceding the version number. The DSP-App version number will be preceded by “U” after the DSP version is updated via Internet download.Version CPU: F1.0 DSP-App: F1.0 DSP-Voc: F1.0
96 A GENERAL GUIDE TO FREQUENCIES Reception of the frequencies covered by your scanner is mainly “line-of-sight.” That means you usually cannot hear stations that are beyond the horizon. US Weather Frequencies (in MHz) Ham Radio Frequencies Ham radio operators often transmit emergency information when other means of communication break down. The chart below shows the frequencies the scanner receives that ham radio operators normally use. Birdie Frequencies Every scanner has birdie frequencies. Birdies are signals created inside the scanner’s receiver. On rare occasions, birdies can cause interference to channels you want to listen to. 162.400 162.425 162.450 162.475162.500162.525 162.550 WavelengthFrequencies (MHz) 10-Meter 28.000 — 29.700 6-Meter50.000 — 54.000 2-Meter 144.000 — 148.000 70-cm420.000 — 450.000 33-cm 902.000 — 928.000 23-cm1240.000 — 1300.000
97 Birdies typically occur with approximately equal strength with and without the scanner’s antenna attached. If you receive an interfering signal and suspect that it is a birdie, try removing the scanner’s antenna. If the interference disappears, the interference may be the result of other electronic equipment in the vicinity of the scanner. If the interference remains, it is likely a birdie signal. It may be possible to adjust the squelch control and/or attenuator to minimize the effects of a birdie signal on scanning operation. Both of these methods will likely have some effect on the signal you are trying to monitor as well. The scanner’s birdie frequencies (in MHz) are: 30.7200 38.25000 41.89000 43.00500 51.00000110.80000125.95000127.50000 129.01250 132.08750 134.20000 134.27500 135.16250138.23000140.25000141.30500 146.0050 147.45000 148.95000 149.02500 152.99750153.59000154.10000157.22000 159.93000 165.75000 216.85250 216.85750 219.99750220.07250221.18750414.71875 414.72500 420.84375 431.47500 431.55000 440.81250442.36875451.00000451.07500 451.15000 451.22500 459.52500 459.60000 470.01875477.26250484.37500484.45000 489.52500 489.60000 489.67500 497.66250 812.70000813.50000816.08750816.15000 820.2250 820.23125 852.96875 857.09375 867.20625867.21875867.22500895.92500 912.38750 921.65000 921.72500 940.03125
98Though your scanner’s receiver is an advanced, triple conversion design engineered to minimize birdie interference, some birdie signals cannot be avoided and may impair your ability to monitor certain frequencies. GUIDE TO THE ACTION BANDS TYPICAL BAND USAGE (IN MHZ) HF Band VHF Band 220 MHz Band UHF Band 940.9437950.07500950.150001244.16250 1251.30000 1251.37500 1262.59375 1268.77500 1271.800001282.100001282.175001282.25000 1282.32500 1299.46250 HF Range 25.000–26.960 Citizen’s Band26.965–27.405 10-Meter Amateur 28.000–29.700 Low Range 29.700–50.000 6-Meter Amateur50.000–54.000 2-Meter Amateur 144.000–148.000 High Range148.000–174.000 Narrow Band 220.000–222.000 11/4– Meter Amateur222.000–225.000 U.S. Government 406.000–420.000 70-cm Amateur420.000–450.000 UHF-Low Band 450.000–470.000 UHF-T Band470.000–512.000
99 800MHz Band PRIMARY USAGE As a general rule, most radio activity is concentrated on the following frequencies: VHF Band UHF Band Remote control stations and mobile/portable units operate at 5 MHz higher than their associated base stations and relay repeater units in the UHF band. BAND ALLOCATION To help decide which frequency ranges to scan, use the following listing of the typical services that use the frequencies your scanner receives. These frequencies are System Inputs 806.000–824.000 System Outputs851.000–869.000 Trunked Private / General 894.000–960.000 25-cm Amateur1240.000–1300.000 ActivitiesFrequencies (MHz) Government, Police and Fire 153.785–155.980 Emergency Services158.730–159.460 Railroad 160.000–161.900 Land-Mobile “Paired” Frequencies220.000–222.000 ActivitiesFrequencies (MHz) Land-Mobile “Paired” Frequencies 450.000–470.000 Base Stations451.025–454.950 Mobile Units 456.025–459.950 Repeater Units460.025–464.975 Control Stations 465.025–469.975
100 subject to change, and might vary from area to area. For a more complete listing, refer to Police Call Radio Guide including Fire and Emergency Services, available at your local RadioShack store. AbbreviationService AIR Aircraft BIFCBoise (ID) Interagency Fire Cache BUS Business CAPCivil Air Patrol CCA Common Carrier CSBConventional Systems CTSB Conventional/ Trunked Systems FIREFire Department HAM Amateur (Ham) Radio GOVTFederal Government GMR General Mobile Radio GT RGeneral Trunked IND Industrial Services (Manufacturing, Construction, Farming, Forest Products) MARMilitary Amateur Radio MARI Maritime Limited Coast (Coast Guard, Marine Telephone, Shipboard Radio, Private Stations) MARSMilitary Affiliate Radio System MED Emergency/Medical Services MILU.S. Military MOV Motion Picture/Video Industry NEWNew Mobile Narrow NEWS Relay Press (Newspaper Reporters) OILOil/Petroleum Industry POL Police Department PUBPublic Services (Public Safety, Local Government, Forestry Conservation) PSB Public Safety