General Research of Electronics 2000496 Scanning Receiver User Manual OwnersManual letter
General Research of Electronics Inc Scanning Receiver OwnersManual letter
Users Manual
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 1/78
20-496 Owner’s Manual-Draft
LOGO
PRO-2096 500-Channel
Mobile/Desktop Digital Trunking Scanner
Catalog # 20-496
OWNER’S MANUAL —
Please read before using this equipment.
Thank you for purchasing the RadioShack PRO-2096 Mobile/Desktop Digital Scanner. This product is the
first of an innovative and exciting new generation of RadioShack scanning receivers capable of receiving
Phase 1 APCO-25 C4FM/IMBE digital voice modulation from the newest and most sophisticated
conventional and trunked radio networks.
Your RadioShack Mobile/Desktop Digital Scanner is ready to receive digital conventional and trunked radio
transmissions. No additional hardware or add-on cards are needed.
IMPORTANT: If an icon appears at the end of a paragraph, go to the box on that page with the
corresponding icon for pertinent information.
! — Warning ! — Important thunder mark — Caution
light mark — Hint note mark — Note
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features
The FCC Wants You to Know
Scanning Legally
Getting Familiar With Your Scanner
About the Keypad
Understanding Your Scanner’s Memory Organization
Channel Storage Banks
Channels
Search Banks
Understanding Your Scanner’s Channel Receive Modes
Preparation
Mounting the Scanner in Your Vehicle
Powering the Scanner from Vehicle’s Battery
Using the Scanner as a Base Station
Connecting an Extension Speaker
Connecting an Earphone/Headphones
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Listening Safely
Connecting an Supplied Antenna
Programming Your Scanner
Programming Conventional Channels
Programming Trunked Systems
Programming Motorola Analog, Digital, and APCO-25 Trunking Systems
Programming EDACS Trunking Systems
Programming Motorola VHF and UHF Trunking Systems
Programming Motorola 800 MHz Splinter Systems
Talkgroup IDs
Programming the Priority Channels
Programming Channels for CTCSS and DCS Operation
General Programming Notes
Operating Your Scanner
Initial Preparation
Searching and Tuning
Searching a Preprogrammed Frequency Range
Using Zeromatic
Using Seek Search
Manually Tuning a Frequency
Using Frequency Copy
Copying a Frequency into a Specified Channel
Copying a Frequency into a Vacant Channel in a Specified Bank
Coping a Frequency into the Priority Channel
Special Features
Listening to the Weather Band
Listening to a Weather Channel
Using the Delay Function
Locking Out Channels or Frequencies
Changing the Receive mode
Using the Attenuator
Turning the Key Tone On and Off
Using Dimmer
Changing the Display Contrast
Working with V-Scanners
Using the Digital AGC Function
Cloning the Programmed Data
Cloning V-Scanner Data
Trunking Special Features
Trunking Operation
Activating ID Lockout While Scanning
Trunked Delay Function
Clearing Talkgroup IDs
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Digital Operation
Updating the DSP Firmware
A General Guide To Frequencies
Guide To The Action Bands
Typical Band Usage (in MHz)
Primary Usage
Band Allocation
Frequency Conversion
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Chart
Resetting / Initializing the Scanner
Care
Service and Repair
Specifications
Command Quick Reference Guide
© 2004 RadioShack Corporation
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack, RadioShack.com, Hypersearch, Hyperscan, V-Scanner, and Adaptaplug are trademarks used
by RadioShack Corporation.
Motorola, Smartnet, ASTRO and Privacy Plus are registered trademarks of Motorola Inc.
EDACS is a registered trademark of MA-COM Inc.
The IMBE™ voice coding Technology embodied in this product is protected by intellectual property rights
including patent rights, copyrights and trade secrets of Digital Voice Systems, Inc. This voice coding
Technology is licensed solely for use within this Communications Equipment. The user of this Technology is
explicitly prohibited from attempting to decompile, reverse engineer, or disassemble the Object Code, or in
any other way convert the Object Code into a human readable form. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,870,405 and
5,517,511.
This device made under license under one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 4,590,473; 4,636,791;
5,148,482; 5,185,796; 5,271,017; 5,377,229
FEATURES
Your RadioShack Mobile/Desktop Digital Scanner 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 the different digital systems that you monitor.
APCO-25 digital voice modulation provides public safety radio users with clear digital voice signals and
other features not available in traditional analog systems. Your scanner uses advanced Digital Signal
Processing (DSP) technology to receive and decode APCO-25 digital signals from both conventional and
trunked radio networks. Additionally, your scanner features automatic detection of digital signals. No
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special scanner programming is required to receive conventional or trunked digital traffic.
The DSP module in your scanner features updateable firmware. If DSP improvements become available,
you can easily download an update file from the Internet and apply the file to your scanner to obtain the
latest DSP firmware version.
Your scanner is designed to track Motorola analog and Astro® digital trunking systems using 3600 bps
control channel operation, APCO 25 digital trunking systems using 9600 bps control channel operation,
and M/A-COM EDACS® trunking systems.
The scanner lets you scan conventional transmissions, and is preprogrammed with service search banks
for your convenience. By pressing a single button, you can quickly search those frequencies most
commonly used by public safety and other agencies.
Your RadioShack Mobile/Desktop Digital Scanner features RadioShack’s exciting new 11-in-1 V-Scanner
technology. V-Scanner stands for Virtual Scanner. V-Scanner allows you to build and store eleven separate
configuration profiles in V-Scanner folder memory. Stored V-Scanners can be recalled, edited and activated
at any time, giving you a powerful tool that allows you to quickly reconfigure your scanner for use in
different areas or applications.
This scanner gives you direct access to over 59,000 frequencies including those used by police and fire
departments, ambulance services, government agencies, air, and amateur radio services.
Your scanner includes the following features:
500 Channels – 10 channel storage banks with 50 channels each.
V-Scanner Folders – eleven 500 channel virtual scanner folders at your fingertips.
Phase 1 APCO-25 Digital Reception – automatic detection and reception of digital voice modulation from
conventional, trunked and mixed-mode networks.
Intelligent Adaptive Digital Tracking – ensures optimal reception of digital signals from a variety of digital
conventional and trunked radio system types.
Digital AGC – automatically compensates for audio level variances in digital transmissions.
Simultaneous Multi-System Trunking Operation – quickly tracks up to ten Motorola, APCO-25 or EDACS
trunking systems at the same time. Mix conventional channels and trunking systems in the same channel
storage banks. Scan conventional frequencies and trunked systems simultaneously. Automatically detects
Motorola 3600 bps or APCO-25 9600 bps control channel operation.
Automatic Channel Tracking – automatically determines the trunking system frequencies for Motorola and
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APCO-25 trunking systems, using only the active system control channel.
CTCSS and DCS Subaudible Encoded Squelch Modes – restricts conventional channel reception to
transmissions using specified subaudible CTCSS tone or DCS data code when scanning or parked on a
single channel. Code Search feature instantly displays the tone or code in use. Takes advantage of
subaudible squelch tail elimination turn off codes when they are present.
10 ID List Banks – let you store 1500 IDs in 10 ID banks, each with 5 ID sub-banks. 30 IDs are available in
each ID sub-bank. ID text tags let you easily identify the user of a particular talkgroup ID code.
Weather Priority Alert – while scanning, automatically sounds an alarm tone to advise of hazardous
weather conditions when it detects the alert signal on the local National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) weather channel during WX priority operation.
SAME/FIPS Weather Alert – displays the weather event text for the specific cities or counties you choose
so you can see and hear the reason for the alert.
Data Cloning – lets you transfer the programmed data to another PRO-2096 (and PRO-96) scanner. You
can also upload or download the programmed data to or from a PC using an optional PC interface kit and
application software.
12-Character, 4-Line, Alphanumeric Display – shows you detailed operating information clearly.
Triple Conversion Superheterodyne Receiver – virtually eliminates any interference from intermediate
frequency (IF) images, so you hear only the frequency you select.
Preprogrammed Frequency Ranges – lets you search for transmissions within preset frequency ranges or
within ranges you set, to reduce search time and select interesting frequencies more quickly.
Hyperscan™ and Hypersearch™ – the scanner scans at up to 60 channels per second and searches up to
75 frequencies per second, to help you quickly find transmissions.
Scan Delay – delays scanning for about 2 seconds before moving to another channel in conventional mode,
so you can hear more replies that are made on the same channel.
Adjustable Trunking Delay – waits for reply activity on a trunking call for the amount of time you specify.
Priority Channel — allows you to configure the scanner to check one channel every 2 seconds so you do
not miss important transmissions.
Attenuator — allows you to set, by channel or globally, a 20 dB attenuator to reduce receiver overload and
interference from nearby strong signals.
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Text Input — lets you input a text label for each channel, talkgroup ID, channel storage bank, or other
memory location so you can easily identify the transmission.
Lock Out Function — lets you set your scanner to skip over specified channels or frequencies when
scanning or searching, and skip over IDs when tracking trunked systems.
Key Lock — lets you lock the scanner's keys to prevent accidentally changing the scanner's programming.
DIN-E Size Cabinet
Memory Backup — keeps the channel frequencies stored in memory for an extended time even without
battery power.
Your scanner can receive these frequencies:
. 25 – 54 MHz
. 108 – 136.9875 MHz
. 137 – 174 MHz
. 216.0025 – 225 MHz
. 406 – 512 MHz
. 806 – 823.9875 MHz
. 849 – 868.9875 MHz
. 894 – 960 MHz
. 1240 – 1300 MHz
Use “A General Guide To Frequencies” on Page XX to help you target frequency ranges in your service
area so you can search for a wide variety of transmissions.
THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a scanning receiver, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
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Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
SCANNING LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different groups including police and fire departments,
ambulance services, government agencies, private companies, amateur radio services, military operations,
pager services, and wireline (telephone 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 private means of telephone signal transmission)
. Pager transmissions
. Any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), you are subject to fines and possible
imprisonment for intentionally 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 requirement 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 are illegal to monitor. Doing so could subject you to legal penalties.
In some areas, mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or requires a permit. Check the laws in your area. It is
also illegal in many areas to interfere with the duties of public safety officials by traveling to the scene of an
incident without authorization.
We encourage responsible, safe and legal scanner use.
GETTING FAMILIAR WITH YOUR SCANNER
Though you may be anxious to begin using your new scanner right away, we recommend that you take the
time to read this manual thoroughly so that you may fully understand the advanced features and
capabilities of your PRO-2096 scanning receiver.
Once you understand a few simple terms used in this manual and familiarize yourself with your scanner's
features, you can put the scanner to work for you. You simply determine which frequencies and trunking
systems you want to receive, and then program the scanner to scan them.
A frequency is the receiving signal location (expressed in MHz). To find active frequencies, you can use
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frequency guides available from your local RadioShack store, frequency listings posted on the Internet, or
the built in search function.
Your scanner’s SEARCH banks contained preprogrammed frequencies in the scanner’s memory (see
“Searching a Preprogrammed Frequency Range” on Page XX for the frequency list). You can even change
the frequency range on one of the SEARCH banks (SR6) to customize your own search parameters.
Once you identify the frequencies you wish to monitor, you can store them into programmable memory
locations called channels, which are grouped in channel storage banks. You can then scan the
channel-storage banks to see if there is activity on the frequencies stored there. Each time the scanner
finds an active frequency, it stops and monitors the radio traffic on that channel until the transmission ends,
then resumes scanning. For detailed programming instructions, see “Programming Your Scanner” on Page
XX.
ABOUT THE KEYPAD
Here is a brief overview of your scanner's keys and their functions.
SCAN — scans through the programmed channels.
FUNC — lets you use various functions by pressing this key in combination with other keys. When using
the FUNC key, press the FUNC key first, then release it, then quickly press the next key in the function key
sequence.
MAN — stops scanning and lets you directly enter a channel number.
WX — scans through the seven preprogrammed weather channels.
TRUNK — stores the trunking ID code or holds the trunking ID while scanning.
PRI — sets and turns the priority function on or off.
TEXT — lets you input text.
PAUSE — pauses search or tune operation.
MODE — changes the receive mode (AM, FM, CT, DC, MO, ED).
DIM (dimmer) — changes three levels of back lighting brightness (Light, Dark, OFF).
TUNE — allows you input a frequency and tunes up or down automatically or manually with the ^ or v keys.
ATT — turns attenuation on to reduce the scanner's sensitivity and block extremely strong signals, or turns
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it off to increase sensitivity.
^ or v — selects the scan or search direction.
SRCH — lets you search the seven search banks.
L/OUT — lets you lock out a selected channel, skip a specified frequency during search, or lock out a
selected ID code.
PROG — programs frequencies into channels.
ENT — completes the entry of frequencies and text.
1 — enters a 1, or inputs characters 0 through 9 in text mode.
2/ABC — enters a 2, or inputs characters A, B, or C.
3/DEF — enters a 3, or inputs characters D, E, or F.
4/GHI — enters a 4, or inputs characters G, H, or I.
5/JKL — enters a 5, or inputs characters J, K, or L.
6/MNO — enters a 6, or inputs characters M, N, or O.
7/PQRS — enters a 7, or inputs characters P, Q, R, or S.
8/TUV — enters an 8, or inputs characters T, U, or V.
9/WXYZ — enters a 9, or inputs characters W, X, Y, or Z.
0 — enters a zero, or inputs characters . - # _ @ + * & / , $ % ! ^ ( ) ? → ’ ←.
./DELAY — enters a decimal point (necessary when programming frequencies), space, or programs delay
time for the selected channel/search bank, or hyphen (in trunking ID setting).
CLEAR — clears an incorrect entry.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCANNER’S MEMORY ORGANIZATION
V-Scanners
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A V-Scanner folder contains a complete, stored configuration profile of your scanner’s programming.
Certain current scanner models allow the user to load, save and edit different scanner configurations using
an interface cable, software and a personal computer. The PRO-2096 V-Scanner feature extends this
functionality by allowing you to store or recall up to eleven scanner configurations in V-Scanner folders on
your scanner, without using a personal computer. You can use the V-Scanner feature to build and store
configurations for different areas or different scanner applications. Using the cloning feature it is possible to
exchange scanner configurations with your friends without losing your existing data. V-Scanners also
provide a way for you to easily back up your programmed data without connecting your scanner to a
personal computer.
Each V-Scanner folder stores all channel storage banks, channels, trunking Ids, search settings, and other
parameters associated with the operation of the scanner.
CHANNEL STORAGE BANKS
A channel storage bank is a storage area for a group of channels. Channels are storage locations for
frequencies. Whereas a channel can only contain one frequency, a channel storage bank can hold 50
channels.
To make it easier to identify and select the channels you want to listen to, your scanner divides the
channels into 10 banks (0 to 9) of 50 (00 to 49) channels each, a total of 500 channels. You can use each
channel-storage bank to group frequencies, such as those used by different public safety agencies and
jurisdictions in your area. Channel storage banks can be easily enabled or disabled while scanning by
pressing the number key that corresponds with the desired channel storage bank.
For example, a particular city might use four frequencies for police communications, and four frequencies
for fire communications. You could program the police frequencies starting with 000 (the first channel in
bank 0) and program the fire department frequencies starting with 100 (the first channel in bank 1). This
gives you the ability to quickly select what you wish to monitor by activating or deactivating the appropriate
channel storage bank. When looking at channel numbers, the first digit identifies the bank (0 to 9). The
second and third digits identify the channel within the bank (00 to 49).
CHANNELS
Channels are storage locations for the actual frequencies you wish to monitor. Each channel can be
configured with a radio frequency, the desired mode for that frequency, and settings to allow a short delay
after a transmission or lock the channel out from scanning operation. A channel can contain a conventional,
non-trunked frequency, or a frequency used in a trunking system.
SEARCH BANKS
Your scanner has six preprogrammed search banks configured to search various radio services, and one
limit search bank that you can configure. You can set the lower and higher frequency limit in the limit search
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bank.
HINT: For example, if you wanted to find active frequencies between a range of 150.1000 and 150.5000,
you would put both of those frequencies in the limit search bank.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCANNER’S CHANNEL RECEIVE MODES
You can program each channel with any one of six receive modes (AM, FM/Digital, CTCSS, DCS, Motorola,
and EDACS).
Each receive mode affects how your scanner operates when scanning and receiving transmissions.
Notes:
. Trunked modes (ED and MOT) can only be selected for frequencies above 137 MHz.
. Your scanner’s Closed Mode lets you hear transmissions from only those trunking talkgroups you specify.
For more information, see “Open and Closed Mode Operation” on Page XX.
AM Mode (AM)
The AM mode sets the scanner to receive transmissions using amplitude modulation (AM), primarily used
for aircraft, military, 27 MHz citizen’s band, some amateur radio, and some government transmissions.
(Refer to “Specifications” on Page XX for a list of the frequencies covered.) When the scanner receives a
transmission on a channel set to the AM mode, it always stops on the transmission.
FM/Digital Mode (FM)
The FM/Digital (FM) mode sets the scanner to receive transmissions using frequency modulation (FM) and
APCO-25 digital modulation. FM is used for most public safety transmissions, as well as broadcast,
business, and amateur radio transmissions. APCO-25 digital modulation is used in many newer
conventional and trunked public safety radio systems. When the scanner receives a transmission on a
channel set to the FM/Digital mode, it always stops on the transmission.
CTCSS Mode (CT)
CTCSS mode sets the scanner to receive transmissions using frequency modulation (FM) with Continuous
Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) subaudible tone codes. CTCSS allows multiple users to share a
single radio frequency without hearing each other’s transmissions. In your PRO-2096 scanner, the CTCSS
feature can be used to block the reception of transmissions on shared channel to only those that use the
CTCSS tone that you have specified. CTCSS mode also features a Code Search setting that allows you to
instantly display and store unknown codes into the channel memory. CTCSS tones can sometimes be
heard as a low “hum” in the background of a voice transmission. Many systems that use CTCSS transmit a
special “turn off code” at the end of each transmission. The turn off code causes a properly equipped
receiver to mute before the transmission ends, eliminating the “squelch tail” burst of noise the commonly
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occurs when the signal is lost. CTCSS turn off code performance can be affected by weak signals.
DCS Mode (DC)
DCS mode sets the scanner to receive transmissions using frequency modulation (FM) with Digital Coded
Squelch (DCS) subaudible data signaling. DCS is very similar to CTCSS, except that a digital code is
transmitted instead of an audio tone. Like CTCSS, DCS allows multiple users to share a single radio
frequency without hearing each other’s transmissions. In your PRO-2096 scanner, the DCS feature can be
used to block the reception of transmissions on a shared channel to only those that use the DCS tone that
you have specified. DCS mode also features a Code Search setting that allows you to instantly display and
store unknown codes into the channel memory. DCS data can sometimes be heard as a low “purring”
sound in the background of a voice transmission. Some DCS systems transmit a special “turn off code” at
the end of each transmission. The turn off code causes a properly equipped receiver to mute before the
transmission ends, eliminating the “squelch tail” burst of noise the commonly occurs when the signal is lost.
Motorola/APCO-25 Trunking Mode (MO)
You can set your scanner so it decodes the talkgroup IDs used with Motorola and APCO-25 trunking
systems and follows talkgroup calls in the trunking system. This setting is called the Motorola mode.
Motorola systems are trunking systems used primarily by business and public safety agencies to efficiently
allocate a small number of frequencies (as few as three) to many groups of users (as many as several
thousand). To do this, each group of users in the system is assigned to a specific talkgroup. For example, a
city’s east side patrol officers might all be assigned to talkgroup 2160. One channel in the system is
continuously transmitting data that identifies which talkgroups are active on which channel. In addition, this
talkgroup information is also transmitted as subaudible data on each active channel.
When the scanner receives a transmission on a channel set to the Motorola mode, it first decodes the
talkgroup ID data included with the transmission. In the Open Mode, the scanner stops on the transmission
and displays the talkgroup ID on the bottom line of the display. In the Closed Mode, the scanner only stops
on the transmission if the talkgroup ID matches a talkgroup ID that you have stored in the bank's talkgroup
ID list and have not locked out.
Trunking systems covered by the Motorola mode come in four categories: Type I, Type II, Type I/II Hybrid
and APCO-25. Each category displays and uses talkgroup IDs in slightly different ways.
Motorola Type I IDs are in the form FFF-SS, where;
FFF=Fleet ID
SS=Subfleet ID
Type I systems are usually organized with different user groups assigned to different fleets.
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Notes:
. For example, a valid fleet-subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department might be 000-12,
where 000 identifies all police users and 12 identifies the Detective division.
. Tuning the scanner to an active control channel while in Motorola mode will display the Motorola System
ID and the approximate control channel message decode success rate. This information can help you
identify the Motorola trunking system that you are monitoring and the receive quality of the control channel
signal.
To properly map the raw Type I data to the correct fleet-subfleet format, you must program the correct fleet
map into the scanner. Fleet map information is widely available on the Internet for most Type I systems in
use.
Type II and APCO-25 system talkgroups are identified by a 5-digit number. Valid Type II talkgroup IDs are
divisible by 16, while APCO-25 talkgroups are not. Use care to ensure that you enter the correct Type II IDs
into your scanner. Type I/II hybrid systems use both fleet-subfleet and 5-digit formats for talkgroup IDs.
EDACS Trunking Mode (ED)
You can set your scanner so it decodes the talkgroup IDs used with EDACS (GE/Ericsson/M/ACOM)
trunking systems. This setting is called the EDACS mode.
EDACS systems are used primarily by business or private communications service providers, as well as by
some public safety organizations. EDACS systems transmit active talkgroup information only on a
dedicated control channel.
EDACS frequencies are organized in a specific order. Each frequency is assigned a Logical Channel
Number (LCN). For the scanner to correctly switch to an active frequency, you must program the
frequencies in LCN order, starting with Memory 01. EDACS talkgroup IDs are entered as a 4-digit decimal
number from 0001 to 2047 or AFS (Agency Fleet Subfleet) number from 00-001 to 15-157.
When there is activity on an EDACS system, that information is sent out on the control channel. The
scanner decodes the ID for the active talkgroup. In the Open Mode, the scanner then goes to the
transmission and displays the talkgroup ID on the bottom line of the display. In the Closed Mode, the
scanner only goes to transmissions with IDs that match talkgroup IDs you have stored in the bank's
talkgroup ID list that are not locked out
PREPARATION
MOUNTING THE SCANNER IN YOUR VEHICLE
Before you mount the scanner, make sure you have all the necessary materials. Then confirm that the
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scanner fits your vehicle’s mounting area. This scanner is a DIN-E size unit that requires a 2-inch high by 7
1/8 –inch wide by 5 5/16inch deep (50 x 180 x 135 mm) mounting area.
IN-DASH Mounting
1. Remove the sleeve from your PRO-2096.
2. Install the sleeve into the dashboard.
After the sleeve is correctly installed in the dashboard, bend the appropriate tabs to hold the sleeve firmly in
place.
3. Do the required electrical connections (power cable and antenna, etc.).
4. Slide the scanner into the sleeve until it is locked.
Removing the Unit from In-Dash Mounting
Insert the 2 handles into the slots at left and right of the front panel. Then, while gently pulling the handles
away from each other, slide out the scanner.
Mounting the Scanner with Mounting Bracket
Caution: Be sure to avoid obstructions behind the mounting surface.
1. Choose a mounting location, then use the supplied mounting bracket as a template to mark the positions
for the mounting screw holes.
2. In the marked positions, drill holes slightly smaller than the supplied screws.
3. Attach the mounting bracket to the mounting location using the supplied screws and lock washers.
4. Remove the sleeve from the unit, and attach the top and bottom cabinet to the scanner.
5. Attach a rubber washer to both of the mounting bracket’s holes.
6. Attach the scanner to the mounting bracket using the supplied mounting knobs.
7. Connect the antenna and power cable to the scanner.
POWERING THE SCANNER FROM VEHICLE’S BATTERY
You can power your scanner using either the supplied DC power cord or from your vehicle’s cigarette
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lighter socket using an optional DC cigarette lighter power cable.
Cautions:
. You must use a power source that supplies 12V DC and delivers at least 500 mA. Its center tip must be
set to positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s DC 13.8V jack. The supplied DC power cord meets these
specifications. Using a power cord that does not meet these specifications could damage the scanner or
the adapter.
. Always connect the adapter or DC power cord to the scanner before you connect it to the power source.
When you finish, disconnect the adapter or DC power cord from the power source before you disconnect it
from the scanner.
. For added safety and protect your scanner, disconnect the cable from your vehicle battery’s negative (-)
terminal before you begin.
Follow these steps to connect the supplied DC power cord.
1. Connect the power cord’s black wire to a chassis ground, such as a metal screw attached to a metal part
of the vehicle’s frame. Be sure that the screw is not insulated from the frame by a plastic part.
2. Connect the power cord’s red wire (with in-line fuse) to a source of voltage that turns on and off with the
ignition switch, such as a spare accessory terminal in your vehicle’s fuse box.
3. Insert the power cord’s barrel plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the back of the scanner.
4. Reconnect the cable to the vehicle battery’s negative (-) terminal.
To power the scanner from a vehicle’s 12V power source (such as a cigarette-lighter socket), you need a
12V, 600 mA DC cigarette-lighter adapter (not supplied), available at your local RadioShack store.
To connect an optional DC cigarette-lighter power cable, insert its barrel plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the
back of the scanner, then plug the power cable into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket.
Note: If you use a cigarette-lighter power cable and your vehicle’s engine is running, you might hear
electrical noise from the engine while scanning. This is normal.
USING THE SCANNER AS A BASE STATION
You can place this scanner on a desk, shelf, or table to use it as a base station.
To use the base station, you must change the outer cabinet from the sleeve.
Using Standard AC Power
You can power the scanner using the supplied 13.8V, 600mA AC adapter. To power the scanner using an
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AC adapter, insert the AC adapter’s barrel plug into the scanner’s DC 13.8V jack. Then connect the other
end of the adapter to a standard AC outlet.
Cautions:
. You must use a Class 2 power source that supplies 13.8V DC and delivers at least 600mA. Its center tip
must be set to positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s DC 13.8V 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.
Warning: To prevent electric shock, do not use the AC adapter’s polarized plug with an extension cord,
receptacle, or other outlet unless you can fully insert the blades to prevent blade exposure.
CONNECTING AN EXTENSION SPEAKER
In a noisy area, an extension speaker (not supplied), available at your local RadioShack store, might
provide more comfortable listening. Plug the speaker cable’s 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) mini-plug into your
scanner’s EXT SP jack.
CONNECTING AN EARPHONE/HEADPHONES
For private listening, you can connect an earphone or headphones with a 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) plug to the
(headphone) jack on the front of the scanner. (Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection of
earphones and headphones). This automatically disconnects the internal speaker.
LISTENING SAFELY
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone or headphones.
. Set the volume to zero before putting on headphones. With the headphones on, adjust the volume to a
comfortable level.
. Avoid increasing the volume once you set it. Over time, your sensitivity to a volume level decreases, so
volume levels that do not cause discomfort might damage your hearing.
. Avoid or limit listening at high volume levels. Prolonged exposure to high volume levels can cause
permanent hearing loss.
Traffic Safety
Do not wear an earphone or headphones while you drive a vehicle or ride a bicycle. This can create a traffic
hazard and can be illegal in some areas. Even though some earphones and headphones let you hear
some outside sounds when you listen at normal levels, they still can present a traffic hazard.
CONNECTING AN SUPPLIED ANTENNA
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To attach the supplied antenna to the antenna jack on the back of your scanner, align the slots around the
antenna’s connector with the studs on the antenna jack. Slide the antenna push over the jack and turn the
antenna’s base clockwise until it locks into place.
The scanner’s sensitivity depends on its location and the antenna’s length. For the best reception of the
transmissions you want to hear, adjust the antenna’s length according to the chart below.
Frequency Antenna Length
25-54 MHz Extend fully
108-174 MHz Extend 4 segments
216-225 MHz Extend 3 segments
406-1300 MHz Collapse fully
Connecting an Optional External Antenna
The antenna connector on your scanner makes it easy to use the scanner with a variety of antennas, 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 length over
50 feet, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. If your antenna’s cable does not have a BNC connector,
you will also need a BNC adapter (not supplied, available at your local RadioShack store).
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, touching the
antenna, 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.
Follow the installation instructions supplied with the antenna, route the antenna cable to the scanner, then
connect it to the antenna jack.
PROGRAMMING YOUR SCANNER
PROGRAMMING CONVENTIONAL CHANNELS
Good references for active frequencies are RadioShack’s Police Call, Aeronautical Frequency Directory,
and Maritime Frequency Directory. We update these directories every year, so be sure to get a current
copy.
Storing Conventional Frequencies
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Follow these steps to store conventional frequencies in to channels.
Notes:
. When the scanner is in Manual or Program mode, indicated with M or P in the top left hand corner of the
display, you can select your desired bank and channel number using direct channel entry, the ^ or v arrow
keys, and with FUNC and the ^ or v arrow keys.
. For direct channel entry, press MAN or PROG, enter the channel storage bank (0-9) and channel number
(00-49) where you want to store a frequency, then press MAN or PROG again. For example, Bank 3,
Channel 23 is entered as “323”. The scanner advances to the selected channel storage bank and channel,
and the channel storage bank and channel number appear at the upper left corner of the display (for
example: M323 or P323).
. Press FUNC, then ^ or v to jump to the next or previous channel storage bank.
. Press FUNC, then hold ^ or v to scroll through the channel storage banks.
1. To begin programming your scanner, press PROG. M changes to P. Select the desired channel storage
bank and channel, and press PROG to advance to that channel.
2. Use the number keys and ./DELAY to enter the frequency (including the decimal point) you want to store.
3. If you make a mistake, press CLEAR to backspace and correct the incorrect digit, or press and hold
CLEAR for about 2 seconds to clear the entire field and start over.
4. Press ENT to store the frequency into the channel.
Notes:
. If you made a mistake in entering the frequency, Invalid Freq briefly appears and the scanner beeps when
you press ENT. Enter the frequency again.
. Your scanner automatically rounds the entered frequency to the nearest valid frequency. For example, if
you enter a frequency of 151.53, your scanner accepts it as 151.5275. Reception of the frequency will not
be adversely affected.
. If you enter a frequency that has already been entered elsewhere in the same bank, the scanner sounds
an error tone and displays Dupl.f and the channel number that has been duplicated. If the dual entry is an
error press CLEAR and enter the correct frequency. If the dual entry is intentional press ENT to accept.
. You may replace any frequency by selecting the bank and channel, pressing PROG and entering the new
frequency.
. You can clear programmed frequency data by pressing FUNC, then CLEAR.
. If you make an error in the entry process, press CLEAR as often as needed to erase the incorrect data, or
press and hold CLEAR for one second to clear the entire field.
5. By default, the scanner will configure the channels you enter for a two second delay after a transmission
is received. This is indicated by the D character that appears in the top row of the display. If you do not want
the scanner to pause for reply traffic before resuming scanning operation, press ./DELAY until D is not
visible in the top line of the display.
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6. If necessary, press MODE to change the receiving mode. Valid modes for conventional frequencies
include AM, FM/Digital, CTCSS and DCS. To program a specific code for CTCSS or DCS mode, press
FUNC MODE, then enter the desired code followed by ENT, or use the ^ or v keys to scroll to the desired
code and press ENT to store the code with the channel memory. For more information on CTCSS and DCS
programming, see “Programming channels for CTCSS and DCS operation” on Page XX.
7. If desired, program a text tag for the channel (see “Assigning a Text Tag to a Channel” on Page XX).
When you are ready to program additional channels, press PROG or ^ to move up to the next channel
memory location, or v to move down.
PROGRAMMING TRUNKED SYSTEMS
This section of the manual provides instructions to program your scanner to receive trunked radio systems.
If you are just getting started with trunked system monitoring or have any questions about how your
PRO-2096 scanner operates when tracking trunked radio systems. See “Trunking Special Features” on
Page XX.
For best results, program only one trunking system in each channel storage bank of your scanner. Your
scanner will lock on to the first active control channel it finds in a channel storage bank and follow the
activity from that trunking system.
HINT: Certain multi-zone Motorola systems use the same talkgroup IDs at multiple radio sites to cover a
large geographical area. In these types of systems it may be possible to program multiple control channel
frequencies into the same channel storage bank and allow the scanner to lock on to the different control
channels as you move from zone to zone. This approach only works in networked systems where the same
talkgroup IDs are used at multiple sites. It is not possible to program Motorola/APCO-25 and EDACS
systems into the same channel storage bank.
Channel storage banks may contain both conventional, non-trunked channels, and control or system
channels for a trunked system. The scanner will check for activity on the conventional channels after
processing the trunking system.
PROGRAMMING MOTOROLA ANALOG, DIGITAL, AND APCO-25 TRUNKING SYSTEMS
1. Press PROG and FUNC then ^ or v to select the desired channel storage bank to program.
Notes:
. You can also press FUNC, then TRUNK to access the ID list from manual mode.
. When monitoring Motorola trunked radio systems, it is only necessary to program the trunking control
channel.
. For APCO-25 trunking systems using the 9600 bps control channel, program the system using the steps
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outlined above for Motorola systems. Your scanner will automatically detect the proper control channel
type.
. Some systems rotate the control channel on a daily basis. For best results, program all known control
channel frequencies into the trunking channel storage bank.
. To program Motorola UHF trunking systems, see “Programming Motorola VHF and UHF Trunking
Systems” on Page XX.
. To program Motorola 800 MHz “splinter” systems, see “Programming Motorola 800 MHz Splinter
Systems” on Page XX.
. To program Motorola Type I/IIi fleet maps, see “Programming Fleet Maps” on Page XX.
2. Press TRUNK to access the ID list and set the correct trunking bank type. If the bank has never been
programmed with a trunking system, the scanner will display Not trunked! Press mode.
3. Press MODE until Motorola appears in the display. This sets the channel storage bank for Motorola
operation.
4. Press PROG to return to the channel storage bank.
5. Select a channel to begin programming trunking system frequencies. Use direct channel entry or the ^ or
v keys.
6. Enter the trunking frequency and press ENT. If necessary, press MODE to change the receiving mode to
MO (Motorola).
7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to enter the other trunking system control channel frequencies for the system you
wish to monitor.
PROGRAMMING EDACS TRUNKING SYSTEMS
1. Press PROG and FUNC, and then ^ or v to select the desired channel storage bank to program.
Note: It is necessary to program all EDACS system channels into your scanner in Logical Channel Number
(LCN) order, beginning with LCN 1 in channel 01 of the channel storage bank. Do not program EDACS
system channels in channel 00 of a channel storage bank. Refer to frequency publications or Internet
sites to obtain correct LCN frequencies for the EDACS systems you wish to monitor. If the EDACS
system you are programming skips channels in the LCN order, leave those channels blank in your scanner.
2. Press TRUNK to access the ID list and set the correct trunking bank type. If the bank has never been
programmed with a trunking system, the scanner will display Not trunked! Press mode.
3. Press MODE until EDACS appears in the display. This sets the channel storage bank for EDACS
operation.
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4. Press PROG to return to the channel storage bank.
5. Select a channel to begin programming trunking system frequencies. Use direct channel entry or the ^ or
v keys.
6. Enter the trunking frequency and press ENT. If necessary, press MODE to change the receiving mode to
ED.
7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to enter the other EDACS trunking system channels for the system you wish to
monitor.
PROGRAMMING MOTOROLA VHF AND UHF TRUNKING SYSTEMS
Your scanner is capable of receiving Motorola trunked radio systems operating in the VHF and UHF bands.
To monitor these systems it is necessary to program the scanner with three additional parameters, the base
frequency, step and offset.
HINTS:
. Base frequency, step and offset vary for each individual UHF trunking system. You can get information
about these frequencies for the trunking system you want to scan using trunkscanner.com, other Internet
sources, or locally published guidebooks.
. Systems with multiple channel ranges can be programmed using PC application software.
Follow these steps to program Motorola trunking frequencies in the VHF or UHF bands:
1. Press PROG, and then TRUNK to enter the ID program mode.
2. Press FUNC and press (or hold) ^ or v to select the bank.
3. Press MODE until Motorola appears in the display.
4. Press FUNC then 2. The display indicates
Base freq:
406.0000
Offset: 380
Step:25.0KHz
5. While B in Base blinks, if necessary, enter the desired Base frequency with the number keys and press
ENT. If it is incorrect, press the number keys again to set the base frequency.
6. While O in Offset blinks, if necessary, enter the offset number and press ENT. If it is incorrect, then press
the number keys again to set the frequency.
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7. While S in Step blinks, repeatedly press ^ or v to select the step number, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 12.5, 15, 25.0, or
50.0kHz, and then press ENT.
PROGRAMMING MOTOROLA 800 MHz SPLINTER SYSTEMS
Certain 800 MHz Motorola trunked radio systems operate using splinter channels that are in between the
channels in the normal 800 MHz band plan. These systems are known as “splinter systems”. Your scanner
features an offset mode to allow reception of these systems.
Notes:
. If the radio appears to be trunking to the wrong frequencies when monitoring an 800 MHz system, you
should try to configure the system for splinter operation.
. Splinter systems exist only in the 800 MHz band, and only use the 3600 bps control channel type. Setting
splinter configuration on VHF, UHF, 900 MHz and 800 MHz APCO-25 systems will have no effect.
1. Press PROG, and then TRUNK to enter the ID program mode.
2. If necessary, press FUNC then ^ or v to select the desired bank.
3. If necessary, press MODE to select Motorola trunking mode.
4. Press FUNC , and then 3 to edit the 3600 CC Mode.
5. Press ^ or v to select Normal, Splinter, Table, or Multi Table, and then press ENT.
Programming Fleet Maps
You must set the fleet map if you want to receive a Motorola Type I system. Fleet maps are included along
with other information about Motorola Type I systems at www.trunkscanner.com
Follow these steps to program a fleet map.
1. Press PROG, and then TRUNK.
2. Press FUNC, and then ^ or v to select the desired bank.
3. Press FUNC, and then press 8. Block 0 size code. Use 15 for type II. S-00 is displayed.
4. Enter the size code supplied with the Type I system information, referring to the prompts that appear in
the display. If the information for your Type I system is not available, try the following common fleet maps:
Notes:
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. The default setting of the bank is for Motorola Type II. However, if you set Type I and wish to restore Type
II, enter 15 at Step 4.
. To confirm the input, repeat Steps 1-4 and press ENT. Each time you press ENT, you confirm the size
code. If you find an error, press CEALR and begin again at Step 1.
Block Size Code
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
0 S11 S4 S4 S12 S4 S3 S10 S1
1 S11 S4 S4 — S4 S10 S10 S1
2 S11 S4 S4 S4 S12 S4 S11 S2
3 S11 S4 S4 S4 — S4 S4 S2
4 S11 S4 S4 S4 S4 S12 S4 S3
5 S11 S4 S4 S4 S4 — S4 S3
6 S11 S4 S12 S4 S4 S12 S4 S4
7 S11 S4 — S4 S4 — S4 S4
Block Size Code
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
0 S4 S0 S4 S0 S3 S4 S4 S3
1 S4 S0 S0 S0 S3 S3 S4 S10
2 S0 S0 S0 S0 S11 S10 S4 S10
3 S0 S0 S0 S0 S4 S4 S11 S11
4 S0 S0 S0 S0 S4 S4 S11 S0
5 S0 S0 S0 S0 S0 S4 S0 S0
6 S0 S4 S0 S0 S0 S12 S12 S12
7 S0 S4 S0 S4 S0 — — —
Press ENT for each entry. If you make a mistake, press CLEAR and enter the correct size code.
Talkgroup IDs
Each channel storage bank has an associated talkgroup ID list, for a total of 10 talkgroup ID lists. Each ID
list has 5 sub-banks. Each sub-bank has 30 ID locations. You can program up to 150 talkgroup IDs in each
bank, so you can program up to 1500 talkgroup IDs in 10 banks. When the scanner stops on a
transmission in the Motorola or EDACS mode, it checks to see if the ID has been stored in the associated
ID list. In the Closed Mode, the scanner only stops on the transmission and displays its text tag if you have
stored and not locked out the ID. In the Open Mode, the scanner always stops on all transmissions except
those you specifically exclude, and displays the ID’s text tag if you have stored the ID. For a detailed
description of Open and Closed Mode operation, see “Open and Closed Mode Operation” on Page XX.
Storing Talkgroup IDs
Each talkgroup on a trunked radio system is identified by a talkgroup ID. You can store talkgroup IDs
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automatically while scanning the trunked system in Open mode, or manually by entering the IDs directly in
the ID list.
Note: When you try to store more than 150 talkgroup IDs in a bank, Memory full! appears in the scanner’s
display. Clear some talkgroup IDs in order to store new ones (see “Clearing Talkgroup IDs” on Page XX).
To automatically store a talkgroup ID, press TRUNK when the scanner stops on a voice channel
transmission or when a talkgroup ID is indicated in the manual mode. The ID of the active talkgroup will be
automatically stored in the next available ID memory location. The bottom line of the scanner display
indicates where the ID was stored as ID save X-YY and then changes to ID#ZZZZZ, where X is the
sub-bank number, YY is the ID number within the sub-bank, and ZZZZZ is the stored talkgroup ID code.
If the ID has already been stored when you press TRUNK, ID was saved appears in the scanner’s display.
Follow these steps to manually store talkgroup IDs or to edit a stored ID.
HINTS: Use the following keystrokes to navigate through the ID lists:
. Press PROG, TRUNK to enter the ID list for the current channel storage bank.
. Press and release the ^ or v keys to scroll through the ID memories one at a time.
. Press and hold the ^ or v keys to scroll through the ID memories rapidly.
. Press TRUNK to advance to the next ID sub-bank.
. Press FUNC ^ or v to advance to the next or previous ID list.
1. Navigate to a channel in the desired trunking bank using MAN or the ^ or v keys
2. Press PROG.
3. Press TRUNK.
4. Select the ID memory you wish to edit using any of the methods described above.
5. Enter the talkgroup ID and press ENT. If necessary, use the decimal point for a hyphen.
Notes:
. If you made a mistake in Step 5, Invalid ID. appears and the scanner beeps when you press ENT. Start
again at Step 3.
. You can enter either decimal or AFS code for ED (EDACS) ID. The default setting is decimal ID entry. To
toggle AFS or decimal EDACS ID display, press FUNC then 2. AFS format will appear in the display for
about 2 seconds. Now you can enter EDACS ID codes in AFS format.
. If you entered an ID code that is already stored in another ID channel, Dupl ID appears in the scanner’s
display. If you want to store the ID code anyway, press ENT. To cancel the operation, press CLEAR.
6. If you want to tag the ID, press TEXT, enter the desired text tag for the ID. Then press ENT (see “Text
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Input Chart” on Page XX).
7. To store the next ID memory in sequence, press ^ and repeat Step 5.
8. Press SCAN to start scanning.
When automatically storing trunked IDs in the ID list by pressing TRUNK during a trunked transmission, the
scanner will automatically store the active ID in the next available open ID storage location in the ID list. We
suggest leaving ID sub-bank 0 empty when first setting up an ID list. This provides a location for new
auto-store IDs to be placed and organized.
Programming the Priority Channel
In addition to the 500 programmable memory channels, the scanner has one priority channel.
With the priority feature, you can scan through programmed channels and still not miss an important or
interesting transmission on the priority channel. When priority is turned on, the scanner checks the priority
channel every 2 seconds, and stays on the channel if there is activity until the activity stops.
Notes:
. The priority feature does not operate while the scanner receives a trunking voice channel or during
trunking delay time. Traffic on the priority channel may be missed if it occurs while the scanner is
monitoring a trunking voice call.
. If you program a weather channel as the priority channel, then activate priority mode, the scanner stops
on the weather channel only when the scanner detects the 1050 Hz weather alert tone.
Programming a stored channel frequency in the priority channel
1. Press MAN.
2. Use the number keys to enter the channel number that contains the frequency you want to program as
the priority channel, and then press MAN again.
3. Press FUNC, and then PRI. Pri Channel blinks on the bottom line to indicate storage of the current
frequency into priority channel memory.
Programming the Priority Channel Directly
1. Press PROG.
2. Press PRI.
3. Enter the frequency you want to enter into the priority channel, then press ENT.
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4. If desired, set the priority channel mode. You can set a priority channel for CTCSS or DCS operation with
a programmed code.
Programming a Weather Channel as Priority
1. Press WX.
2. Select the weather channel you want to program as the priority channel by pressing WX repeatedly until
the desired weather channel is displayed.
3. Press FUNC, and then PRI. Pri Channel flashes on the bottom line two times.
Activating the Priority Feature
Press PRI while scanning or manually parked on a channel. PRIon (or PRIwx if you set the priority to a
weather frequency) appears on the bottom line of the display, and P will appear in the top line while
scanning or parked on a channel in manual mode. If the scanner detects activity on the priority channel, Pri
Channel appears in the scanner’s display. If the scanner detects the 1050 Hz weather alert tone in Priority
WX mode, the display will show Weather ALERT and the scanner sounds an alert tone (see “SAME
Standby Mode” on Page XX). Press WX to listen to the weather alert message.
Notes:
. This scanner cannot set a channel as the priority channel if the channel's receive mode is MO or ED.
. In the event of a weather or other hazard warning, a 1050 Hz tone is transmitted prior to the message.
The scanner detects the presence of this tone during the sampling process. The scanner sounds an
audible alert and switches to the weather frequency if the alert tone is detected.
. Because the scanner does not priority sample the weather channel while monitoring trunked talkgroup
calls, it is possible that the 1050 Hz alert tone may be missed between sample intervals when trunked
systems are being scanned. We recommend the use of a dedicated RadioShack Weatheradio® during
times when severe weather notification is critical for your safety, such as when boating or when you know
that the potential for severe weather exists in your area.
. To turn off the priority feature, press PRI.
Programming Channels for CTCSS and DCS Operation
Your PRO-2096 scanner features an advanced, DSP based CTCSS and DCS decoder. CTCSS and DCS
allow you to program frequencies into your scanner that are used by more than one group in your area and
listen only to the group that is of interest to you by specifying the group’s specific CTCSS or DCS code.
CTCSS and DCS can also help reduce instances where interfering signals cause your scanner to stop on
one channel.
There are two ways you can program your scanner to operate with CTCSS and DCS. If you know the
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CTCSS or DCS code that is used on a particular frequency, you can manually enter the code when you are
programming the scanner, or any time afterwards.
You can also set a special search code up that will instantly decode the CTCSS or DCS code on a received
transmission. Channels programmed with the search code will receive all traffic on the channel, and will
instantly decode and display any CTCSS or DCS code that is found with the transmission. You can then
store the found code in the channel memory with one keystroke.
This section of the manual describes the process for configuring a memory channel for CTCSS or DCS
operation and manually programming a known code. For more information on using the CTCSS and DCS
feature while scanning, see “Using CTCSS and DCS” on Page XX.
To program channel memories for CTCSS or DCS operation, follow these steps:
1. First, enter a conventional frequency. See “Storing Conventional Frequencies” on Page XX.
2. Once you have entered the frequency, press MODE until the desired mode appears in the upper left
hand corner of the display. Use CT for CTCSS, and DC for DCS.
3. By default, the search code (indicated with C-Search in the bottom of the display) is programmed. To
program a specific code, press FUNC, MODE, and then use the arrow keys to scroll to the desired CTCSS
or DCS code. You can also use the keypad to enter the code manually. Note that the scanner will
automatically fill the code field as you enter the code.
4. Once the desired code is selected, press ENT to store the code in the channel memory.
5. It is possible to program memory channels for CTCSS or DCS operation at any time. Simply place the
scanner in program mode, navigate to the channel you wish to change, and follow the steps above.
6. When stopped on an active conventional channel while scanning, you can press MODE to cycle through
the valid modes for that channel, including CTCSS and DCS. This will reset any stored CT or DC code to
the search code, allowing you to easily check for other CT or DC codes that may be present on the
frequency.
Note: CTCSS, DCS and digital voice all operate independently of each other. If a channel is configured for
CTCSS or DCS, it will not be able to decode digital transmissions. Use the FM mode when mixed analog
and digital voice reception is desired.
CTCSS Code Table:
67.0 Hz 94.8 Hz 131.8 Hz 171.3 Hz 203.5 Hz
69.3 Hz 97.4 Hz 136.5 Hz 173.8 Hz 206.5 Hz
71.9 Hz 100.0 Hz 141.3 Hz 177.3 Hz 210.7 Hz
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 28/78
74.4 Hz 103.5 Hz 146.2 Hz 179.9 Hz 218.1 Hz
77.0 Hz 107.2 Hz 151.4 Hz 183.5 Hz 225.7 Hz
79.7 Hz 110.9 Hz 156.7 Hz 186.2 Hz 229.1 Hz
82.5 Hz 114.8 Hz 159.8 Hz 189.9 Hz 233.6 Hz
85.4 Hz 118.8 Hz 162.2 Hz 192.8 Hz 241.8 Hz
88.5 Hz 123.0 Hz 165.5 Hz 196.6 Hz 250.3 Hz
91.5 Hz 127.3 Hz 167.9 Hz 199.5 Hz 254.1 Hz
DCS Code Table:
6 50 125 174 255 343 445 526 703
7 51 131 205 261 346 446 532 712
15 53 132 212 263 351 452 546 723
17 54 134 214 265 356 454 565 731
21 65 141 223 266 364 455 606 732
23 71 143 225 271 365 462 612 734
25 72 145 226 274 371 464 624 743
26 73 152 243 306 411 465 627 754
31 74 155 244 311 412 466 631
32 114 156 245 315 413 503 632
36 115 162 246 325 423 506 654
43 116 165 251 331 431 516 662
47 122 172 252 332 432 523 664
GENERAL PROGRAMMING NOTES
Storing Text Tags
You can customize your scanner by storing text tags (up to 12 characters) for easy identification of channel
transmissions, trunk IDs, or banks.
Assigning a Text Tag to a Channel
1. Navigate to the channel that you wish to label using direct channel entry, ^ or v or FUNC ^ or v.
2. Press PROG. M in the display changes to P to indicate program mode.
3. Press TEXT. A cursor will appear at the third line.
4. Enter the text using the numeral keys (see “Text Input Chart” on Page XX).
Note: If you make a mistake, press ^ or v to move to the character you want to change, or CLEAR to
backspace and delete unwanted characters, or press and hold CLEAR to abort the text entry.
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For example, to identify a channel as “FIRE Ch 6” (for “Fire Channel 6”):
“F” is the third letter associated with 3 on the keypad. Press 3, and then 3.
“I” is the third letter associated with 4 on the keypad. Press 4, and then 3.
“R” is the third letter associated with 7 on the keypad. Press 7, and then 3.
“E” is the second letter associated with 3 on the keypad. Press 3, and then 2.
Space is entered by pressing ./DELAY.
“C” is the third letter associated with 2 on the keypad. Press 2, and then 3.
“h” is the second letter associated with 4 on the keypad. Press 4, and then FUNC (for the lower case
set),and then press 2.
Space is entered by pressing ./DELAY.
“6” is the sixth number associated with 1 on the keypad. Press 1, and then 6.
5. Press ENT to store the text with the channel.
Assigning a Text Tag to a Group ID
1. Press PROG.
2. Press TRUNK.
3. Press FUNC then ^ or v to select the desired bank.
4. Press TRUNK to select the desired sub-bank.
5. Press or hold down ^ or v to select the desired group ID.
6. Press TEXT then enter the text using the numeral keys (see “Text Input Chart” on Page XX). Use ^, v, or
CLEAR to edit your entry, or press and hold CLEAR to abort the text entry.
7. Press ENT to store the text with the ID.
Assigning a Text Tag to a Channel Storage Bank
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1. Select a channel within the desired channel storage bank by pressing MAN and entering the channel
storage bank number (000 for bank 0 or 200 for bank 2, for example). Press MAN again.
2. Press PROG.
3. Press FUNC, and then 7. The cursor appears at the third line of the display. Enter the text using the
keypad. (See “Text Input Chart”). Use ^, v, or CLEAR to edit your entry, or press and hold CLEAR to abort
the text entry.
4. Press ENT to store the text with the bank.
Text Input Chart
Press Character Press Character
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
2 A B C 2 FUNC a b c
3 D E F 3 FUNC d e f
4 G H I 4 FUNC g h i
5 J K L 5 FUNC j k l
6 M N O 6 FUNC m n o
7 P Q R S 7 FUNC p q r s
8 T U V 8 FUNC t u v
9 W X Y Z 9 FUNC w x y z
0 . - # _ @ + * & / , 0 FUNC $ % ! ^ ( ) ? -> ‘ <-
./DELAY Space CLEAR Backspace
Notes:
. To enter a number, press 1, then press the desired number you want to enter.
. To enter a lowercase character or a character from the second set for the key 0, press FUNC after
pressing the first numeral key.
OPERATING YOUR SCANNER
INITIAL PREPARATION
Turning on the Scanner and Setting Squelch
1. To turn on the scanner, turn VOL (volume) clockwise. DSP loading message and Welcome To Digital
Trunking appears in the display. After about 5 seconds, you might hear a rushing sound. Then adjust VOL
to a comfortable level.
2. Turn SQ (squelch) fully counterclockwise until the indicator points to OFF, then turn SQ clockwise until
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the rushing sound stops.
3. To turn off the scanner, turn VOL counterclockwise to OFF.
Notes:
. The scanner will not enter scan mode if there are no frequencies stored in channels, or if all channels are
locked out in the channel storage bank(s) that you are attempting to scan. In either of these cases, the
scanner will display All channels Locked out! See “Programming Your Scanner” on Page XX.
. If SQ is adjusted so you always hear a rushing sound, the scanner will not scan properly. Rotate the
squelch control until the rushing sound stops.
. If SQ is adjusted precisely at the threshold where the rushing sound stops, the radio will be most sensitive
to very weak signals. The radio may also receive unwanted noise or signals that are too weak to
understand. Most users prefer to position the squelch control a little bit past the point of threshold to avoid
receiving noise or signals that are too weak to understand.
Scanning
To begin scanning channels or to start scanning again after monitoring a specific channel, press SCAN.
Notes:
. You must store frequencies into channels before the scanner can scan them. The scanner does not scan
through empty channels.
. To change the scanning direction, press ^ or v while scanning.
The scanner scans through all channels (except those you have locked out) in the active channel storage
banks (see “Turning Channel Storage Banks Off and On” on Page XX and “Locking Out Channels or
Frequencies” on Page XX).
Turning Channel Storage Banks Off and On
To turn off channel storage banks while scanning, press the bank's number key so the bank's number
disappears. For example, to turn off bank 1, press 1. The scanner does not scan any of the channels within
the banks you turned off.
To turn on channel storage banks while scanning, press the number key until the bank’s number appears.
For example to turn bank 1 on again, press 1.
You cannot turn off all channel storage banks. There must be at least one active channel storage bank.
You can manually select any channel in a channel storage bank, even if the bank is turned off.
Monitoring a Single Channel
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You can monitor a single channel with your scanner by navigating to that channel while in manual mode.
The scanner will receive traffic on the selected frequency.
Using CTCSS and DCS
Your scanner’s advanced, DSP based CTCSS and DCS decoder allows you to listen only to the group that
is of interest to you by specifying the group’s specific CTCSS or DCS code for a certain frequency. CTCSS
and DCS can also help reduce instances where interfering signals cause your scanner to stop on one
channel.
When your scanner stops on a conventional frequency that is configured for CTCSS or DCS, it checks for a
match between the transmitted CTCSS or DCS code and the code that is stored with the channel memory.
If the transmitted and stored codes match, the scanner stops on the transmission and allows the audio to
pass to the speaker. If the codes do not match, the scanner resumes scan operation. If the special “search”
code is in use, the scanner will instantly display any detected CTCSS code if programmed for CTCSS
mode, or DCS code if programmed for DCS code. You can store the detected code into the channel
memory by pressing ENT while the code is displayed.
For more information about your scanner’s receive modes, including CTCSS and DCS, see
“Understanding Your Scanner’s Channel Receive Modes” on Page XX. For information on programming
memory channels for CTCSS or DCS operation, see “Programming channels for CTCSS and DCS
operation” on Page XX.
Deleting Frequencies from Channels
In certain circumstances you may wish to completely clear the contents of a channel. One example would
be to create empty channels in a selected channel storage bank so the frequency copy function has empty
channels available for copied frequencies. (See “Copying a Frequency into a Vacant Channel in a Specified
Bank” on Page XX.)
1. Press PROG.
2. Use the number keys and press PROG to select the channel with the frequency you want to delete, or
use the ^ or v keys to navigate to the desired channel.
3. Press FUNC, and then CLEAR. The frequency is cleared, 0.0000 appears in the display.
SEARCHING AND TUNING
Finding and Storing Active Frequencies
You can search for transmissions using the scanner’s preprogrammed search banks. The search banks
include six preprogrammed search ranges, SR0 to SR5. You can change the search range of Bank SR6
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manually by setting the lower and higher ends of the search range.
Notes:
. You can use the scanner’s delay feature while searching the search bank. See “Using the Delay Function”
on Page XX.
. You can set CTCSS or DCS mode when searching any search range, except for SR0, SR1, and SR4. The
scanner will display detected CTCSS or DCS codes depending on the mode setting. See “Using CTCSS
and DCS” on Page XX.
. The scanner does not search locked-out frequencies while searching ranges. See “Locking Out Channels
or Frequencies” on Page XX.
. You can use the PAUSE key to temporarily pause the search operation. The scanner will remain on the
frequency that was active when PAUSE was pressed until you press PAUSE again. You can simply listen to
the radio traffic on the paused frequency, or perform copy operations to save the frequency to a channel
before you resume your search (see “Using Frequency Copy” on Page XX).
SEARCHING A PREPROGRAMMED FREQUENCY RANGE
The scanner contains these preprogrammed search ranges, stored in the search bank (SR0-SR6).
Bank Band
SR0 Marine
SR1 CB
SR2 FRS/GMRS/MURS
SR3 Police/Fire
SR4 Aircraft
SR5 Ham
SR6 Limit search (User configurable)
Follow these steps to select preprogrammed search bands and search them for active frequencies:
1. Repeatedly press SRCH to select your desired search bank (SR0, SR1, SR2, SR3, SR4, SR5, or SR6).
2. In the marine, CB and FRS bands, you can directly select a channel or search through the band. When
M appears at the left most position of the second line, you can directly select a channel (refer to “Search
Band Charts” on Page XX). Use the numeric keypad to select a specific two digit channel number (for
example, press 1 6 to select Channel 16, or 0 5 to select channel 5). You can also change the channels by
pressing ^ or v.
There are several group banks in SR3 Police/Fire and SR5 ham bands. You can turn on the groups by
pressing the group numbers. For example, to turn off group 0, press 0.
3. Press FUNC, and then SRCH while M is displayed in the SR0, SR1 and SR2. M changes to S and now
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you can search through the band. Press FUNC, and then SRCH again to return to the previous mode.
4. Rotate SQ clockwise and leave it set to a point just after the rushing sound stops. After 2 seconds (if the
delay feature is on), the received frequency appears and the scanner starts searching.
5. When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops searching, and resumes when the transmission
ends. If delay is programmed with the search range the scanner will pause for a reply before search
resumes.
Search Band Charts
Search bank: SR0 Marine band
Note: Two frequencies are assigned in one channel in some Marine frequencies. For example, 157.000
and 161.600 are assigned in Channel 20.
Receive mode: FM/Digital
Channel Frequency (MHz) Channel Frequency (MHz)
01 156.0500 05 156.2500
06 156.3000 07 156.3500
08 156.4000 09 156.4500
10 156.5000 11 156.5500
12 156.6000 13 156.6500
14 156.7000 15 156.7500
16 156.8000 17 156.8500
18 156.9000 19 156.9500
20 157.0000 21 157.0500
161.6000
22 157.1000 23 157.1500
24 157.2000 25 157.2500
161.8000 161.8500
26 157.3000 27 157.3500
161.9000 161.9500
28 157.4000 63 157.1750
162.0000
64 156.2250 65 156.2750
160.8250
66 156.3250 67 156.3750
68 156.4250 69 156.4750
70 156.5250 71 156.5750
72 156.6250 73 156.6750
74 156.7250 77 156.8750
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78 156.9250 79 156.9750
80 157.0250 81 157.0750
82 157.1250 83 157.1750
84 157.2250 85 157.2750
161.8250 161.8750
86 157.3250 87 157.3750
161.9250 161.9750
88 157.4250
Search bank: SR1 CB band
Receive mode: AM
Channel Frequency (MHz) Channel Frequency (MHz)
01 26.9650 02 26.9750
03 26.9850 04 27.0050
05 27.0150 06 27.0250
07 27.0350 08 27.0550
09 27.0650 10 27.0750
11 27.0850 12 27.1050
13 27.1150 14 27.1250
15 27.1350 16 27.1550
17 27.1650 18 27.1750
19 27.1850 20 27.2050
21 27.2150 22 27.2250
23 27.2550 24 27.2350
25 27.2450 26 27.2650
27 27.2750 28 27.2850
29 27.2950 30 27.3050
31 27.3150 32 27.3250
33 27.3350 34 27.3450
35 27.3550 36 27.3650
37 27.3750 38 27.3850
39 27.3950 40 27.4050
Search bank: SR2 FRS/GMRS/MURS
Receive Mode: FM/Digital, CT or DC
Channel Frequency (MHz) Channel Frequency (MHz)
01 462.5625 02 462.5875
03 462.6125 04 462.6375
05 462.6625 06 462.6875
07 462.7125 08 467.5625
09 467.5875 10 467.6125
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11 467.6375 12 467.6625
13 467.6875 14 467.7125
15 462.5500 16 462.5750
17 462.6000 18 462.6250
19 462.6500 20 462.6750
21 462.7000 22 462.7250
23 151.8200 24 151.8800
25 151.9400 26 154.5700
27 154.6000
Search bank: SR3 Police/Fire band
Receive Mode: FM/Digital, CT or DC
Group Frequency (MHz) Step (kHz)
0 33.420 – 33.980 20
37.020 – 37.420 20
39.020 – 39.980 20
42.020 – 42.940 20
44.620 – 45.860 40
45.880
45.900
45.940 – 46.060 40
46.080 – 46.500 20
1 153.770 – 154.130 60
154.145 – 154.445 15
154.650 – 154.950 15
155.010 – 155.370 60
155.415 – 155.700 15
155.730 – 156.210 60
158.730 – 159.210 60
166.250
170.150
2 453.0375 – 453.9625 12.5
458.0375 – 458.9625 12.5
460.0125 – 460.6375 12.5
465.0125 – 465.6375 12.5
3 851.0125 – 860.9875 25
866.0125 – 868.9875 12.5
Search bank: SR4 Aircraft
Receive mode: AM
Frequency (MHz) Step (kHz)
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108.000 – 136.9875 12.5
Search bank: SR5 Ham band
Receive mode: FM/Digital, CT, DC or AM (depending on group)
Group Frequency (MHz) Step (kHz)
0 28.0000 – 29.7000 5
1 50.0000 – 54.0000 5
2 144.0000 – 148.0000 5
3 222.0000 – 225.0000 5
4 420.0000 – 450.0000 12.5
5 1240.0000 – 1300.0000 6.25
Search bank: SR6 Programmable limit search
Receive mode: FM/Digital, AM, CT or DC
Searching Active Frequencies in Your Desired Frequency Range
You can search a specific range of frequencies by programming SR6 with lower and upper frequency limits.
1. Press PROG then SRCH. PSR (Program Search) appears in the top line and the cursor blinks L on the
second line for the lower limit frequency.
2. Use the number keys and ./DELAY to enter the desired lower limit frequency (including the decimal
point).
3. Press ENT to set the lower limit frequency. The cursor moves to upper frequency field. If the entered
frequency is incorrect, Invalid Freq briefly appears in the scanner’s display.
4. Enter your desired upper frequency and press ENT.
5. Rotate SQ clockwise and leave it set to a point just after the rushing sound stops.
6. Press SRCH to start searching. When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops searching.
USING ZEROMATIC
You can set Zeromatic on or off by pressing FUNC then 0. Press FUNC, and then 0 again to toggle the
Zeromatic setting. When this feature is turned on, Zeromatic ON briefly appears in the display, then z
appears at the first digit of the second line. When searching with Zeromatic on, the scanner will
automatically tune to the correct center frequency (or the step increment closest to the correct center
frequency). When searching with Zeromatic off, the scanner will unmute faster on a detected signal but the
frequency may not be exact. If the scanner stops on a signal before it reaches the correct center frequency,
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you can step up or down to the correct frequency using the ^ or v keys. Zeromatic functions only in search
banks 3, 4, 5 and 6.
USING SEEK SEARCH
While the scanner is searching, you can activate seek search by pressing FUNC then 7. Seek ON appears
on the bottom line. The scanner stops on each active frequency for five seconds and resumes searching
automatically.
. You can copy and save a frequency into a specified bank, channel, or priority channel when the scanner
finds an active frequency. See “Using Frequency Copy” on Page XX to save the frequency. The frequency
copy works only in search banks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
. There are several group banks in SR3 Police/Fire and SR5 ham bands. You can turn off or on the groups
by pressing the group numbers. For example, to toggle group bank 0, press 0.
. In the Air and Limit search bands, press FUNC then press ^ to start searching up from the lowest
frequency or press v to start searching down from the highest frequency.
. You can press ^ or v at any time to change the search direction, or force a search resume while stopped
on an active frequency.
. Use ^ or v while paused to increment the frequency one step at a time.
MANUALLY TUNING A FREQUENCY
You can manually set the scanner to move through all receivable frequencies, or select a specific
frequency as a starting point.
1. Press TUNE. TUNE, the current frequency, and ** PAUSED ** appear in the display.
2. Use the number keys to enter the frequency where you want the scanner to start.
3. Press ENT to store the frequency. Use the arrow keys to step up and down from the stored frequency, or
press PAUSE to begin automatic tuning.
4. While automatic tuning, press ^ or v to change the direction of the tune. When the scanner finds an
active frequency, it stops on the frequency.
Note: If you press PAUSE while tuning, the scanner stops tuning and **PAUSED** appears in the display.
Press PAUSE again, and the scanner resumes tuning. While tune mode is paused, you can step up or
down one frequency at a time by using the ^ or v keys.
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USING FREQUENCY COPY
You can easily copy a frequency into a specified channel, a vacant channel in a specified bank, or a priority
channel. This feature provides and easy method of storing frequencies of interest you encounter while
searching or tuning.
Note: You cannot copy a frequency from the Marine search bands.
COPYING A FREQUENCY INTO A SPECIFIED CHANNEL
You can copy a frequency into a specified channel when the scanner stops on that frequency during search
mode or manual tuning. If a CTCSS or DCS code is detected on the transmission, the detected code will be
copied into the channel memory as well.
Note: If you try to copy a frequency that is already stored, the scanner sounds the notice tone 3 times after
you press ENT. Dupl.f Chxxx appears at the bottom line. If you want to copy the duplicate frequency
anyway, press ENT, or if not, press CLEAR to cancel.
1. Press FUNC, and then PROG when you find a frequency. Chan Store? appears on the bottom line. After
about 1 second, the frequency to be copied flashes on the indicator.
2. Press the desired bank and the channel number where you want to store the frequency. The display
indicates the bank and channel number, and briefly displays the frequency that is currently programmed
into the selected channel. You can repeat this step as needed until you find an acceptable destination
channel. After about 1 second, the frequency to be copied flashes.
3. Press ENT. All the conditions such as receive mode and delay condition are copied onto the channel.
Chan Store! briefly appears in the scanner’s display. The scanner automatically returns to search mode.
COPYING A FREQUENCY INTO A VACANT CHANNEL IN A SPECIFIED BANK
You can copy a frequency into a vacant channel in a specified bank when the scanner stops on the
frequency during search or tune mode.
Note: If you try to copy a frequency that is already stored in the same bank, the scanner sounds the notice
tone 3 times after you press ENT. Dupl.f Chxxx appears at the bottom line. If you want to copy the duplicate
frequency anyway, press ENT, or if not, press CLEAR to cancel.
1. Press FUNC, and then ENT when you find a frequency you want to copy. Bank9 Store? appears in the
scanner’s display.
2. If you want to copy the frequency into bank 9, press ENT. It is stored in the first available vacant channel
in the bank. Or, press your desired bank number to store, then press ENT to store the frequency in the
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 40/78
selected bank. Chan Store! appears for 2 seconds. All the conditions such as receiving mode and delay
condition are copied on the channel. After about 2 seconds, the scanner automatically returns to search
mode.
COPING A FREQUENCY INTO THE PRIORITY CHANNEL
You can copy a frequency into the priority channel (see “Programming the Priority Channel” on Page XX)
when the scanner stops on the frequency during Search, Scan, Manual, Tune, or WX mode.
Press FUNC, and then PRI when the frequency is on the display. The display flashes twice and the
frequency is copied to the priority channel.
SPECIAL FEATURES
LISTENING TO THE WEATHER BAND
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has allocated channels for use by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Regulatory agencies in other countries have also allocated
channels for use by their weather reporting authorities.
NOAA and your local weather reporting authority broadcast your local forecast and regional weather
information on one or more of these channels.
LISTENING TO A WEATHER CHANNEL
To hear your local forecast and regional weather information, press WX. Your scanner scans through the
weather band then stops on the first active weather frequency. Press WX repeatedly to find the strongest
weather frequency for your location. If necessary, use ATT to apply attenuation to weather channels with
interference.
SAME Standby Mode
The National Weather Service precedes each weather alert with a digitally encoded SAME (Specific Area
Message Encoding) signal, then a 1050 Hz tone. The SAME signal includes a FIPS (Federal Information
Processing Standard) area code, and an event code that corresponds with the type of alert being sent. You
can configure your scanner to operate in SAME Standby mode, where it monitors a selected weather radio
station for SAME alerts for areas you specify. You can program your scanner with up to 10 FIPS codes for
the areas you desire. The National Weather Service maintains a current list of FIPS codes at
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ .
To configure your scanner for SAME Standby mode, follow these steps:
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 41/78
1. Press WX until you identify the weather station with the strongest signal for your location.
2. Press FUNC, and then PROG to access the FIPS code entry table.
3. Use the ^ or v keys to select the desired FIPS code storage location.
4. Use the numeric keys to enter the desired FIPS code, and then press ENT to store the code. Press
TEXT to label the code entry with an alphanumeric text table if desired. Repeat this process for all the FIPS
codes that you wish to store.
5. Press L/OUT to lock out or enable specific FIPS entries.
6. Press WX to exit the FIPS code entry table.
Notes:
. Press WX, then the numeric keys 0-9 to quickly review stored FIPS codes. Press L/OUT to toggle lockout
status.
. Your scanner can also detect the 1050 Hz weather alert tone when a weather channel is set as the priority
channel and weather priority operation is enabled. (see “Programming a Weather Channel as Priority” on
Page XX). In this mode all alerts are received. FIPS settings are ignored.
. The scanner sounds an alert or beep when it receives the SAME code. If you do not stop the alert (or
beep) for five minutes, the alert stops and the scanner beeps every ten seconds. If the scanner receives a
new message after five minutes, it sounds the alert or beep. To stop the sound and ready the scanner to
receive a new alert signal before the five minute time out, press any key except DIM.
7. Press FUNC, and then WX to initiate SAME standby. The scanner will monitor the selected weather
radio station for alerts with FIPS codes that match the codes you entered in the FIPS entry table. To exit
SAME standby, press FUNC, and then WX.
Weather Alert Alarm Demonstration
To hear the SAME weather alert alarms, press WX for more than 2 seconds while SAME Standby is active.
The display indicates the type of message, and the scanner sounds the alarm associated with that type of
message. The alarm sound changes automatically every 3 seconds.
Press any key except DIM to end the alarm demonstration mode.
USING THE DELAY FUNCTION
You can configure your conventional, non-trunked channels for a 2 second delay to avoid missing reply
traffic on the same channel. When delay is set for a conventional channel, the scanner will pause for reply
traffic before resuming the scan operation.
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To toggle the delay setting for a channel, press./DELAY.
Notes:
. Delay is automatically set as the default for each channel when you turn on the scanner.
. The delay function operates differently when monitoring trunked radio systems. For more information, see
“Trunked Delay Function” on Page XX.
LOCKING OUT CHANNELS OR FREQUENCIES
You can lock out channels to force the scanner to skip and ignore any traffic while scanning. You can also
lock out up to 50 frequencies while searching to skip undesired transmissions.
Locking Out Channels
To lock out a channel while scanning, press L/OUT when the scanner stops on the channel.
To lock out a channel manually, select the channel then press L/OUT so L appears in the scanner’s display.
Notes:
. You can still manually select and monitor locked-out channels.
. Locking out a channel with an active trunking control channel will disable monitoring of that trunking
system.
To remove the lockout from a channel, manually select the channel and press L/OUT so L disappears.
Reviewing the Lock-Out Channels
To review all locked out channels, press MAN, and then repeatedly press FUNC and then L/OUT. The
scanner will advance to the next locked out channel each time you press FUNC, and then L/OUT.
Locking Out Search Frequencies
To lock out a frequency during a search, press L/OUT when the scanner stops on that frequency. The
scanner will lock out the frequency and continues searching.
Notes:
. You can lock out as many as 50 frequencies in each search bank. If you try to lock out more, Memory full!
will appear in the display, and you will be unable to lock out any more frequencies until some have been
cleared. See “Clearing a Locked-Out Search Frequency” on Page XX”.
. If you lock out all frequencies in one search bank and only this search bank is activated, All ranges Locked
out! appears in the display and the scanner will not search.
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Reviewing Locked-Out Search Frequencies
To review the frequencies within a search bank that you locked out:
1. Press SRCH to set search mode, and select the desired search bank to review its locked out
frequencies.
2. Press FUNC and then L/OUT. The last locked-out frequency and Lockout list appear. Press ^ or v to
scroll through the list. The locked-out number and the total locked-out number also appears as L/O XX of
YY. (The tenth of twenty five locked out frequencies would appear as L/O 10 of 25). If the search bank has
no locked-out frequencies, Empty. Lockout list appears in the scanner’s display. Press SRCH to cancel
reviewing locked-out frequencies.
Clearing a Locked-Out Search Frequency
To clear a locked-out frequency, select that frequency (see “Reviewing the Lock-Out Channels” on Page
XX), and then press CLEAR.
If all locked-out frequencies are cleared within a channel storage bank, Empty. Lockout list appears in the
scanner’s display.
Clearing All Locked-Out Frequencies in a Search Bank
1. Press SRCH.
2. Select the search bank in which you want to clear all locked-out frequencies.
3. Press FUNC and then press L/OUT. Lockout list appears in the scanner’s display.
4. Press FUNC and then 6. The scanner will display Confirm list clear? 1=YES Press other key for NO.
Press 1 to clear all locked-out frequencies. List cleared appears for about 2 seconds. Press any key other
than 1 to cancel clear.
CHANGING THE RECEIVE MODE
The scanner defaults to the commonly used AM or FM/Digital receive mode for each frequency range. The
preset mode is correct in most cases. However, some amateur radio transmissions and trunked systems
do not operate in the preset mode. If you try to listen to a transmission when the scanner is not set to the
correct receive mode, the transmission might sound weak or distorted.
To change the receive mode, repeatedly press MODE. The receive mode changes as follows:
AM – configures the channel for AM mode.
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FM/DIGITAL– configures the channel for the FM/DIGITAL mode.
CT – configures the channel for CTCSS mode.
DC – configures the channel for DCS mode.
MO – configures the channel for the MO mode for analog or digital Motorola trunking system channels, or
APCO-25 trunking system channels.
Note: MO and ED modes are not available when performing service searches, limit searches and the
TUNE function.
ED – configures the channel for the ED mode for EDACS trunking system channels.
USING THE ATTENUATOR
To reduce interference or noise caused by strong signals, you can reduce the scanner’s sensitivity with the
attenuator.
There are two attenuator modes in your scanner. Normal attenuator mode allows you to set the attenuator
on a per-channel basis. Normal mode is useful when individual channels are found to be prone to
interference.
Global attenuator mode applies attenuation to every channel in the scanner, and overrides any normal
mode attenuator settings that you may have entered
To assign attenuation to a channel in the scanner:
Press ATT when the scanner is stopped on a channel, or by manually navigating to a channel by using
direct channel entry or pressing the ^ or v arrow keys. A will appear in the top line of the display. Press ATT
again to toggle attenuation off.
To assign attenuation to a search bank:
Press ATT while searching. Attenuation will be applied to the active search bank, or search group within a
search bank. Press ATT again to turn attenuation off.
Notes:
. The attenuator is very effective at reducing strong signal overload interference when using the scanner in
areas close to cellular telephone transmitting facilities.
. If you turn on the attenuator, the scanner might not receive weak signals.
. Activating the normal attenuator mode on a Motorola or APCO Project 25 trunking control channel will
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 45/78
apply attenuation to all calls received on that trunking system. You can press ATT during a trunking call or
while manually tuned to a system control channel to toggle attenuation on or off for the trunking system.
To use the global attenuator:
1. Press FUNC and then ATT to set the attenuator to global mode. Global ATT will appear for 2 seconds at
the bottom line, and then ATT- appears in the scanner’s display while scanning.
2. Press ATT to activate the attenuator. ATTon appears in the bottom line of the display. When the scanner
is stopped on a channel or searching, a will appear in the top line of the display. Press ATT to toggle global
attenuation off. ATT- appears on the bottom line of the display while scanning.
3. Press FUNC and then ATT again to turn off the global attenuation mode. Normal ATT appears on the
bottom line for about 2 seconds.
TURNING THE KEY TONE ON AND OFF
Each time you press any of the scanner’s keys, the scanner sounds a tone. You can turn the scanner’s key
tone off or on.
1. If the scanner is on, turn VOL OFF/MAX counterclockwise until it clicks to turn the scanner off.
2. Turn VOL OFF/MAX clockwise to turn the scanner on. Welcome To Digital Trunking appears in the
scanner’s display.
3. While Welcome To Digital Trunking appears, press 1 to turn on the key tone or 2 to turn it off.
USING Dimmer
You can change back lighting brightness using DIM. Pressing DIM key to rotate Dark lighting, Light Off, and
Light.
CHANGING THE DISPLAY CONTRAST
1. Press MAN.
2. Press FUNC and then 9. Use Up/Down keys to set contrast appears in the scanner’s display.
3. Press ^ or v to adjust the contrast.
4. Press ENT to set the display contrast.
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WORKING WITH V-SCANNERS
The PRO-2096 V-Scanner (Virtual Scanner) feature allows you to edit, store, recall and use up to eleven
full sets of scanner memory profiles. With V-Scanners it is possible to create separate scanner memory
profiles for different areas you visit or different ways that you use the scanner.
Your scanner contains two types of storage memory. Working memory is the memory that your scanner
uses while you are programming, cloning, or using your scanner. V-Scanner memory is the memory that
your scanner uses to store saved configurations in V-Scanner folders for later recall and use. Your scanner
features ten V-Scanner folders (0-9) for configuration storage. An additional “scratchpad” V-Scanner folder
can be accessed with the decimal point (.) key and is indicated in the display with the “#” symbol. The
scratchpad folder offers a convenient location to temporarily store the contents of working memory when
managing the V-Scanner memory.
Working with V-Scanner folders is much like working with computer application files, such as spreadsheets
and word processing documents. Any programming changes you make to the scanner’s working memory
can be saved to one of the ten V-Scanner folders, or the scratchpad folder. When you save working
memory to a V-Scanner folder, all settings contained in working memory are saved, including channels,
talkgroups, lockout status, contrast settings, etc. Previously saved V-Scanner folders can be recalled and
loaded into working memory. You can also erase the contents of V-Scanner folders, or move the contents
of one folder to another using working memory. V-Scanner folder names are stored in Line 4 from the
Welcome screen that appears when you first power on the scanner. You can change the contents of line 4
from the current working memory configuration. This information is saved when you store the V-Scanner.
Follow these steps to edit the V-Scanner name stored in Line 4 of the Welcome screen:
1. Press PROG
2. Press FUNC, TEXT. The scanner will display the Line 4 edit screen with a flashing cursor:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
3. Use standard text entry procedures to enter a V-Scanner name, up to 12 characters long. Press ENT
when finished. Refer to the “Text Input Chart” on Page XX for more information on text entry.
You can only change the name of a V-Scanner while it is loaded into working memory. It is not possible to
change the V-Scanner folder name from the V-Scanner menus. Always use FUNC, TEXT while in program
mode to assign a V-Scanner folder name to the current working memory. This name will be stored with the
V-Scanner when it is saved, and will appear while you are performing V-Scanner operations. If you press
TEXT while in a V-Scanner operations menu, you will be prompted to use FUNC,TEXT while in program
mode to assign or change the name of the V-Scanner folder.
Follow these steps to perform V-Scanner operations:
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 47/78
1. Press PROG
2. Press FUNC, PROG. The scanner will display the V-Scanner menu:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Select the option that corresponds with the function that you wish to execute.
3. If you want to save the contents of the scanner’s working memory to a V-Scanner folder, press 1. The
scanner will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press the number key that corresponds with the V-Scanner folder you wish to save the current
configuration to, or press CLEAR to return to the V-Scanner menu. Your selected folder location and the
name of any previously stored V-Scanner will appear in the display. For example, assume you are saving to
V-Scanner folder 1, and have previously stored a V-Scanner configuration with the name “My V-Scanner” in
that location. If you choose V-Scanner Folder 1, the scanner will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press ENT to accept the choice, another number key to change your selection, or CLEAR to abort and
return to the V-Scanner menu. The scanner gives you one final opportunity to abort before proceeding:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press ENT to confirm your choice and proceed with the V-Scanner save operation.
While saving, the scanner will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
The contents of the selected V-Scanner folder will be replaced with your current working memory data.
4. To load the contents of a V-Scanner folder to the scanner’s working memory, press 2. The scanner will
display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press the number key that corresponds with the V-Scanner folder you wish to load into the scanner’s
working memory, or press CLEAR to return to the V-Scanner menu. If you select a V-Scanner folder, the
scanner will prompt you to verify your choice. For example, if you choose V-Scanner Folder 1, the scanner
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 48/78
will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press ENT to accept the choice, another number key to change your selection, or CLEAR to abort and
return to the V-Scanner menu. The scanner gives you one final opportunity to abort before proceeding:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
While loading, the scanner will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
The contents of the scanner’s current working memory will be replaced with the data from the selected
V-Scanner folder.
5. To delete the contents of a V-Scanner folder, select 3. The scanner will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press the number key that corresponds with the V-Scanner folder you wish to clear, or press CLEAR to
return to the V-Scanner menu. If you select a V-Scanner folder, the scanner will display the name of the
V-Scanner currently stored in that folder, and prompt you to verify your choice. For example, if you choose
V-Scanner Folder 1, the scanner will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Press ENT to accept the choice, another number key to change your selection, or CLEAR to abort and
return to the V-Scanner menu. The scanner gives you one final opportunity to abort before proceeding:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
While the folder is being cleared, the scanner will display
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
This display appears after each V-Scanner operation. Pressing ENT will return to the main V-Scanner
menu. Press CLEAR to exit the V-Scanner main menu.
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
This display appears if a failure is encountered while performing a V-Scanner operation. Press ENT to try
again.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 49/78
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
If you wish to create a new configuration based on your current one, save the current working memory to a
V-Scanner folder, then edit the working memory with your changes. When you are finished with your edits,
save your updated working memory to a new V-Scanner folder, leaving the V-Scanner folder with your
original configuration intact. You may then use either your original configuration or the modified one.
Be sure to assign a name to each V-Scanner before you save it to a V-Scanner folder. You assign a
V-Scanner name while using the configuration in working memory by pressing PROG, and then FUNC,
TEXT. The text you enter here is stored in line 4 of the welcome message and saved with the contents of
the V-Scanner when you write it to a folder.
You can use the V-Scanner feature to back up your work. Save your configuration to a V-Scanner folder
after you make changes to a working memory configuration. If for any reason your scanner’s working
memory is accidentally altered or lost, you can recall the backup configuration data from the V-Scanner
folder.
There will be an approximately 13 second pause after you select the desired V-Scanner and press the ENT
key to confirm your choice when saving or loading V-Scanner data. During this period the scanner is
transferring V-Scanner data to or from working memory.
USING THE DIGITAL AGC FUNCTION
You may find that the audio level varies greatly among different users on digital systems that you monitor.
Many analog conventional and trunked radio systems include components with automatic gain control to
help normalize the audio levels of analog transmissions in the system. Digital radio systems typically do not
include any automatic gain control functionality and tend to reproduce a user’s voice audio signal more
faithfully with regard to audio levels. This can result in a low level audio signal if a user on the system is not
speaking close enough to their radio microphone.
Your PRO-2096 features Digital AGC, which can compensate for these low audio levels when they occur.
By default, Digital AGC is turned on. If desired, you can toggle the Digital AGC function on or off by
pressing FUNC, and then MAN at any time. The display will briefly show DSP AGC Off or DSP AGC On
accordingly.
Notes:
. Digital AGC has no effect on analog transmissions.
. You may notice more background noise with Digital AGC on.
CLONING THE PROGRAMMED DATA
You can transfer the contents of the current scanner working memory to and from another PRO-2096 and
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PRO-96 scanner using an optional connecting cable with 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) phone plugs on both ends (use
RadioShack part number 42-2420 available at your local RadioShack store), or to a computer application
designed to work with this scanner using a PC interface cable (use RadioShack part number 20-289,
available at your local RadioShack store).
Notes:
. CLONE MODE Incorrect Model appears if the scanner receives data from another scanner other than a
PRO-2096 and PRO-96.
. This scanner can send/receive the data to or from a PRO-96 scanner. But Right (PRO-96) and Dimmer
(PRO-2096) setting does not transfer. There are to set the default setting.
Follow these steps to clone the data.
1. Turn on both scanners.
2. Connect the connecting cable to each scanner’s PC/IF jack. *CLONE MODE* UP to send, Remove
Cable to Exit appears in the scanner’s display.
3. Press ^. Confirm send data? 1=YES Press other key for NO. appears in the scanner’s display.
4. Press 1 to send the data to the other unit or press any other key to cancel the operation.
5. The scanner sends the data. Do not disconnect the PC/IF cable or interrupt power to either scanner
while the transfer is taking place.
6. To exit the clone mode, remove the cable.
CLONING V-SCANNER DATA
Your PRO-2096 Digital Scanner supports cloning of both working memory and V-Scanner memory to and
from other PRO-2096 and PRO-96 scanners or PC application software. This section describes the
process of cloning V-Scanner memory between two radios.
Two types of V-Scanner memory clone are supported. Full Clone transfers all V-Scanner folders from one
PRO-2096 (the “source” radio) to a second PRO-2096 or PRO-96 (the “destination” radio). Selective Clone
transfers selected V-Scanner folders from a “local” controlling radio to a “remote” slave radio.
CAUTION: The Full Clone feature should be used with caution – it overwrites all V-Scanner memory in the
destination radio with the contents of the V-Scanner memory in the source radio. This operation cannot be
undone.
Performing a Full Clone
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 51/78
1. Identify the source and destination radios. Turn both radios on. Connect the two radios together using a
male 1/8” to male 1/8” cloning cable. Both radios will show the clone mode display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
2. Press PROG on the source radio. The source radio display will indicate:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
If you wish to replace the V-Scanner memory contents in the destination radio with the V-Scanner memory
contents of the source radio, press ENT now. All eleven V-Scanner folders will be transferred from the
source radio to the destination radio. While the transfer is taking place, the destination radio will display:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
Do not disturb the source radio, destination radio or cable until the transfer is complete. Interrupting the
transfer may result in corrupted data. Transferring all data will take approximately four minutes.
3. When the transfer is complete press ENT on the source radio and remove the cloning cable. Both radios
will restart.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 to clone multiple radios.
Selective Cloning
Selective cloning allows you to choose the specific source and destination folders within a local and remote
radio.
CAUTION: This feature should be used with caution – it overwrites the selected destination V-Scanner
folder with the contents of the selected source V-Scanner folder. This operation cannot be undone.
1. Identify the local and remote radios. Turn both radios on.
2. On the local radio, press PROG FUNC PROG to enter the V-Scanner menu, then press SRCH. The local
radio display will indicate:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
3. Connect the two radios together using a male 1/8” phone plug to male 1/8” phone plug cloning cable.
The local radio will handshake with the remote radio to prepare for the cloning session. During V-Scanner
selective cloning operations, the local radio controls the session for both sending and receiving folders to
and from the remote radio. Once the radios are connected, the local radio display will indicate:
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 52/78
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
In addition to the two options indicated on the display, you can browse the V-Scanner contents on both
radios simultaneously by pressing SRCH on the source radio, or press CLEAR to exit.
4. To send a V-Scanner folder from the local radio to the remote radio, press ^. Use the 0-9 and . keys to
select the source V-Scanner folder on the local radio that you wish to send. The name of the source folder
will be indicated in the display. You may browse the V-Scanner contents by pressing the 0-9 and . keys in
succession until the desired folder is located. Press ^ or v to move between the source and destination
folder fields. Use the 0-9 and . keys to select the destination V-Scanner folder on the remote radio where
you wish to store the sent data. Again, you may browse the V-Scanner contents on the remote scanner by
pressing the 0-9 and . keys until the desired folder is located. Once you have selected the desired source
and destination folders, press ENT to execute the send operation. The scanner gives you one more
opportunity to abort before beginning the send operation. You may abort the send operation by pressing
CLEAR.
5. To receive a V-Scanner folder from the remote radio into the local radio, press the v key. Use the 0-9 and .
keys to select the destination V-Scanner folder on the local radio where you wish to store the received data.
The name of the destination folder will be indicated in the display. You may browse the local V-Scanner
contents by pressing the 0-9 and . keys in succession until the desired folder is located. Press ^ or v to
move between the destination and source folder fields. Use the 0-9 and . keys to select the source
V-Scanner folder on the remote radio where you wish to store the sent data. Again, you may browse the
V-Scanner contents on the remote scanner by pressing the 0-9 and . keys until the desired folder is located.
Once you have selected the desired source and destination folders, press ENT to execute the receive
operation. The scanner gives you one more opportunity to abort before beginning the receive operation.
You may abort the send operation by pressing CLEAR.
6. After data transfer is complete, you will be prompted to press ENT. This will return you to the main
V-Scanner menu. To perform additional V-Scanner selective clone operations, press SRCH again. When
finished, press CLEAR to exit the V-Scanner menu and unplug the cloning cable from both radios.
TRUNKING SPECIAL FEATURES
TRUNKING OPERATION
Your scanner tracks transmissions from Motorola Type I, II and IIi analog trunked systems, Motorola digital
trunked systems, and APCO 25 digital trunked systems. Your scanner also follows transmissions on
GE/Ericsson/M/A-COM (EDACS) type systems.
Trunking systems allocate a few frequencies to many different users, and use a control channel to send
system activity data to all of the mobile units operating on the system. When a mobile unit wishes to place a
call, it sends a call request signal to the trunking system. The system chooses one frequency from
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 53/78
allocated system channels in that trunking system and announces the start of the call on the control
channel. Your scanner uses the control channel data to follow activity on the talkgroups you wish to
monitor.
Traditional conventional radio systems operate using a single radio frequency for each group of radio users,
and in some cases, multiple groups sharing the same radio channel in the same geographical area. This
frequently results in heavy traffic and often requires that radio users wait long periods for the frequency to
clear before they can place their calls. Trunked systems allow large groups of radio users to use radio
frequencies more efficiently. Instead of selecting a specific frequency to transmit on, a trunked system
chooses one of several frequencies when the 2-way radio user transmits. The system automatically
transmits the call on that frequency, and also sends a code that identifies that 2-way radio user’s
transmission on a control channel.
Notes: To receive trunking signals from a trunked radio system, you must:
. Store all the trunking control frequencies for Motorola or APCO-25 systems in one channel storage bank,
or
. Store all the trunking system frequencies for EDACS in one channel storage bank, and
. Configure the channel storage bank ID list for the type of trunking system being monitored, and
. Enter ID codes into the ID memory for the bank
. For detailed trunked system programming instructions, see “Programming Trunked Systems” on Page XX
and “Storing Talkgroup IDs” on Page XX.
Your scanner lets you easily hear both the call and response transmissions for that 2-way radio user and
therefore follow the entire conversation. For Motorola, APCO-25 and EDACS trunking systems, the
scanner monitors the control channel between each transmission to determine active talkgroups.
Your PRO-2096 automatically calculates Motorola and APCO-25 trunking system voice channel
frequencies while decoding the control channel. This eliminates the need to enter all the Motorola system
frequencies.
The control channels for some Motorola trunked radio systems may change on a day-to-day basis. To
ensure that you will not miss traffic when the control channel changes, enter all the known control channel
frequencies into the channel storage bank. If the control channel changes, your scanner will automatically
lock on to the new control channel. If you do not know which system channels are used for the control
channel operation, we recommend that you enter all the system frequencies into the same bank.
Note: Frequency fleet map and talkgroup information are also widely available on the Internet. For example,
at www.trunkscanner.com.
When the scanner decodes the Motorola control channel and finds talkgroup activation on a voice channel,
the scanner displays the control channel memory location on the top line, the received frequency with VC
(voice channel) on the second line, the bank and control channel memory location number on the third line
and the Motorola talkgroup ID number on the bottom line.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 54/78
IMPORTANT: To listen to the transmission, the mode setting of the trunking control or system channels
must match the mode setting of the associated ID list (MOT for Motorola and APCO-25, or ED for EDACS).
When an ID code is received, the ID list for the bank is searched, and if found, the text name stored for the
ID appears in the scanner’s display. If not found, scanning resumes immediately unless the bank is in open
trunking mode.
Setting Squelch for Trunking
For optimal receiver performance when scanning both trunked and conventional systems, we recommend
that you set the squelch close to threshold. Navigate to a programmed channel in manual mode. While the
channel is idle, turn the squelch control fully counterclockwise. You will hear a loud rushing noise from the
speaker. Turn the squelch control clockwise until the noise stops. You may find it necessary to set the
control a bit further in the clockwise direction to prevent very weak signals or interference from stopping the
scan operation.
Talkgroup ID Hold
You can set your scanner to follow a trunking signal that you want to track during scanning.
While the scanner is stopped on a voice channel (VC appears next to the frequency in the display), hold
down TRUNK (or press and release PAUSE) until ID hold ON appears in the scanner’s display.
To manually activate ID hold mode on a selected ID, enter the ID list, scroll to the desired ID, then press
FUNC TRUNK. The scanner will initiate ID hold operation on the selected talkgroup.
When ID hold is activated and the scanner receives a voice channel, the scan indication S at the first digit
in the top line changes to H to indicate that the call is being monitored while the scanner is in ID hold.
To release ID hold, press SCAN, PAUSE, or TRUNK.
Turning an ID Sub-Bank On or Off
Follow these steps to turn the ID sub-bank on or off during the program mode:
1. Press TRUNK repeatedly to select the desired sub-bank.
2. Press FUNC then 1 to toggle the sub-bank on or off. The on/off state of the sub-bank will appear in the
scanner’s display.
Follow these steps to turn the ID sub-bank on or off during the scan mode:
1. The channel storage bank must be set to Closed Mode to change the state of a sub-bank while
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 55/78
scanning.
2. Press FUNC and then TRUNK while the scanner is stopped on a voice channel transmission. The bank
text display is replaced with a sub-bank status display, T IDbk 01234. The flashing cursor will indicate the
current active sub-bank.
3. Press FUNC and the number of the sub-bank you wish to turn on or off (0-4). For example, to toggle
sub-bank 4 on or off, press FUNC, then 4.
Open and Closed Mode Operation
You can set your scanner to change the way it receives transmissions on Motorola, APCO-25 and EDACS
trunked radio systems. These settings, called Open Mode and Closed Mode, control whether the scanner
monitors all traffic from a trunked radio system, or only traffic from talkgroups you specify. Unlike the
channel mode settings described above, Open/Close mode settings apply to a trunking system
programmed into a single bank.
Note: In Open Mode, you hear all active talkgroups except those you specifically exclude, making it easy to
hear everything going on. In Closed Mode, you hear only those talkgroups you specify. This makes it easy
to listen only to talkgroups you are interested in and exclude others
Each scanner bank can be programmed with one trunked system. You can set each of the scanner’s
channel storage banks to Open or Closed Mode.
Conventional modes (AM, FM/Digital, CT and DC) are not affected by the Open/Closed Mode setting of a
bank.
When you set a channel storage bank to Open Mode, + appears under the bank’s number while scanning.
When you set a channel storage bank to Closed Mode, - appears under the channel storage bank’s
number while scanning.
Traffic on locked out talkgroup IDs is ignored when the scanner is operating in Open and Closed Modes.
In Open Mode, the scanner will stop on all talkgroup traffic, except for traffic on talkgroups that are entered
in the ID list and locked out. In Closed Mode, the scanner will only stop on talkgroup traffic if the ID is
entered in the ID list and not locked out.
Open Mode scanning is useful in cases where you wish to monitor all traffic on the trunked system, except
for certain talkgroups which you specify by entering them into the ID list and locking them out. Open Mode
scanning allows you to search the trunking system for new or previously unknown talkgroup activity while
ignoring traffic on undesired talkgroups.
Closed Mode scanning is useful in cases where you wish to restrict the traffic you monitor to a certain set of
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 56/78
talkgroups only these talkgroups are specified in the ID list and not locked out.
Toggling Open and Closed Modes
To toggle Open or Closed Mode state for a bank, press FUNC, 5 while stopped on a channel in the bank in
SCAN, MAN or PGM modes. The scanner will briefly display Bank OPEN or Bank CLOSED to indicate the
new Open or Closed state for the bank.
Manual ID Lockout Toggle
1. Press PROG.
2. Press TRUNK.
3. Press FUNC, and then ^ or v to move to the desired bank.
4. Press ^ or v to select the ID memory.
5. Press L/OUT to toggle the lock out status of the selected ID.
ACTIVATING ID LOCKOUT WHILE SCANNING
When scanning a trunked radio system in Open Mode, you can lock out a trunked ID by pressing L/OUT
while the scanner is stopped on a voice call. If the ID has not been previously entered into the ID list for that
bank, it will be added and locked out automatically.
When scanning a trunked radio system in Closed Mode, it is possible to lock out an ID by pressing L/OUT
while the ID is active with a voice call.
Reviewing Locked-Out Talkgroup IDs
You can easily review and clear locked talkgroup IDs in the ID list. This process is similar to finding and
clearing locked out conventional channels, except it is performed while in a trunked ID list.
1. Press PROG and then TRUNK.
2. Press FUNC, and then L/OUT. The first locked out ID in the ID list is displayed.
3. Press L/OUT to unlock the selected ID, or press FUNC, and then L/OUT again to continue reviewing
locked IDs.
Changing from ID Text Tag Display to ID Code Display
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 57/78
By default, your scanner displays the stored alphanumeric text tag when receiving a trunked voice call. You
can toggle the display to show the text tag or the talkgroup ID code by pressing TEXT while the scanner is
stopped on a trunked talkgroup call.
TRUNKED DELAY FUNCTION
The trunking ID delay is set separately from the channel delay on a per channel storage bank 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. Press ^ or v to select None, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 seconds.
3. Press ENT.
Hints:
. 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 XX for more information.
CLEARING TALKGROUP IDS
You can clear IDs from the ID list to make room for new IDs.
1. Press PROG and then TRUNK.
2. Press FUNC, ^ or v to select an ID memory.
3. Press FUNC and then CLEAR to 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
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 58/78
you want to use the bank to store different data (such as a new set of talkgroup IDs).
1. Press PROG.
2. Press TRUNK to enter a talk group ID memory mode.
3. Select a talkgroup ID bank using FUNC, ^ or v.
4. Press FUNC and then 6. Confirm list clear? 1=YES Press other key for NO. appears in the scanner’s
display.
5. Press 1 to 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 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
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 59/78
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 happens, try reorienting the scanner or antenna
for better reception. You may also try pressing the ATT key 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 FIRMWARE
If necessary, the firmware for the DSP module can be updated by the user in the field by 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:
. 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 Product Manuals tab.
3. Select Software Downloads from the drop down menu.
4. Click on PRO-2096 DSP 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 3 while Welcome to Digital Trunking
appears in the scanner display. The scanner will display version information as follows:
LCD illustration ?????????????
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The “CPU” and “DSP-Voc” firmware versions are permanently installed at time of manufacture and cannot
be updated in the field. The “DSP-App” version is field 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.
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)
162.400 162.425 162.450
162.475 162.500 162.525
162.550
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.
Wavelength Frequencies (MHz)
10-Meter 28.000 — 29.700
6-Meter 50.000 — 54.000
2-Meter 144.000 — 148.000
70-cm 420.000 — 450.000
33-cm 902.000 — 928.000
23-cm 1240.000 — 1300.000
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.
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
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 61/78
monitor as well.
The scanner’s birdie frequencies (in MHz) are:
will add
Though 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
HF Range 25.000–26.960
Citizen’s Band 26.965–27.405
10-Meter Amateur 28.000–29.700
VHF Band
Low Range 29.700–50.000
6-Meter Amateur 50.000–54.000
2-Meter Amateur 144.000–148.000
High Range 148.000–174.000
220 MHz Band
Narrow Band 220.000–222.000
1 1/4 – Meter Amateur 222.000–225.000
UHF Band
U.S. Government 406.000–420.000
70-cm Amateur 420.000–450.000
UHF-Low Band 450.000–470.000
UHF-T Band 470.000–512.000
800MHz Band
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 62/78
System Inputs 806.000–824.000
System Outputs 851.000–869.000
Trunked Private / General 894.000–960.000
25-cm Amateur 1240.000–1300.000
PRIMARY USAGE
As a general rule, most radio activity is concentrated on the following frequencies:
VHF Band
Activities Frequencies (MHz)
Government, Police and Fire 153.785–155.980
Emergency Services 158.730–159.460
Railroad 160.000–161.900
Land-Mobile “Paired” Frequencies 220.000–222.000
UHF Band
Activities Frequencies (MHz)
Land-Mobile “Paired” Frequencies 450.000–470.000
Base Stations 451.025–454.950
Mobile Units 456.025–459.950
Repeater Units 460.025–464.975
Control Stations 465.025–469.975
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 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.
Abbreviation Service
AIR Aircraft
BIFC Boise (ID) Interagency Fire Cache
BUS Business
CAP Civil Air Patrol
CB Citizens Band
CCA Common Carrier
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 63/78
CSB Conventional Systems
CTSB Conventional/ Trunked Systems
FIRE Fire Department
HAM Amateur (Ham) Radio
GOVT Federal Government
GMR General Mobile Radio
GTR General Trunked
IND Industrial Services (Manufacturing, Construction, Farming, Forest Products)
MAR Military Amateur Radio
MARI Maritime Limited Coast
(Coast Guard, Marine Telephone, Shipboard Radio, Private Stations)
MARS Military Affiliate Radio System
MED Emergency/Medical Services
MIL U.S. Military
MOV Motion Picture/Video Industry
NEW New Mobile Narrow
NEWS Relay Press (Newspaper Reporters)
OIL Oil/Petroleum Industry
POL Police Department
PUB Public Services (Public Safety, Local Government, Forestry Conservation)
PSB Public Safety
PTR Private Trunked
ROAD Road & Highway Maintenance
RTV Radio/TV Remote Broadcast Pickup
TAXI Taxi Services
TELM Telephone Maintenance
TOW Tow Trucks
TRAN Transportation Services (Trucks, Tow Trucks, Buses, Railroad, Other)
TSB Trunked Systems
TVN FM-TV Audio Broadcast
USXX Government Classified
UTIL Power & Water Utilities
WTHR Weather
HIGH FREQUENCY (HF) — (3 MHz-30 MHz)
CB Band (26.965-27.405 MHz)
26.965-27.405 CB
10-Meter Amateur Band (28.0-29.7 MHz)
28.000-29.700 HAM
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 64/78
VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF) — (30 MHz-300 MHz)
VHF Low Band (29.7-50 MHz-in 5 kHz steps)
29.700-29.790 IND
29.900-30.550 GOVT, MIL
30.580-31.980 IND, PUB
32.000-32.990 GOVT, MIL
33.020-33.980 BUS, IND, PUB
34.010-34.990 GOVT, MIL
35.020-35.980 BUS, PUB, IND, TELM
36.000-36.230 GOVT, MIL
36.230-36.990 Oil Spill Cleanup, GOVT, MIL
37.020-37.980 PUB, IND
38.000-39.000 GOVT, MIL
39.020-39.980 PUB
40.000-42.000 GOVT, MIL, MARI
42.020-42.940 POL
42.960-43.180 IND
43.220-43.680 TELM, IND, PUB
43.700-44.600 TRAN
44.620-46.580 POL, PUB
46.600-46.990 GOVT
47.020-47.400 PUB
47.420 American Red Cross
47.440-49.580 IND, PUB
49.610-49.990 MIL
6-Meter Amateur Band (50-54 MHz)
50.00-54.00 HAM
Aircraft Band (108-136 MHz)
108.000-121.490 AIR
121.500 AIR Emergency
121.510-136.000 AIR
U.S. Government Band (137-144 MHz)
137.000-144.000 GOVT, MIL
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 65/78
2-Meter Amateur Band (144-148 MHz)
144.000-148.000 HAM
VHF High Band (148-174 MHz)
148.050-150.345 CAP, MAR, MIL
150.775-150.790 MED
150.815-150.980 TOW, Oil Spill Cleanup
150.995-151.475 ROAD, POL
151.490-151.955 IND, BUS
151.985 TELM
152.0075 MED
152.270-152.480 IND, TAXI, BUS
152.870-153.020 IND, MOV
153.035-153.725 IND, OIL, UTIL
153.740-154.445 PUB, FIRE
154.490-154.570 IND, BUS
154.585 Oil Spill Cleanup
154.600-154.625 BUS
154.655-156.240 MED, ROAD, POL, PUB
156.255-157.425 OIL, MARI
157.450 MED
157.470-157.515 TOW
157.530-157.725 IND, TAXI
157.740 BUS
158.130-158.460 BUS, IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
158.730-159.465 POL, PUB, ROAD
159.480 OIL
159.495-161.565 TRAN
161.580-162.000 OIL, MARI, RTV
162.0125-162.35 GOVT, MIL, USXX
162.400-162.550 WTHR
162.5625-162.6375 GOVT, MIL, USXX
162.6625 MED
162.6875-163.225 GOVT, MIL, USXX
163.250 MED
163.275-166.225 GOVT, MIL, USXX
166.250 GOVT, RTV, FIRE
166.275-169.400 GOVT, BIFC
169.445-169.505 Wireless Mikes, GOVT
169.55-169.9875 GOVT, MIL, USXX
170.000-170.150 BIFC, GOVT, RTV, FIRE
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 66/78
170.175-170.225 GOVT
170.245-170.305 Wireless Mikes
170.350-170.400 GOVT, MIL
170.425-170.450 BIFC
170.475 PUB
170.4875-173.175 GOVT, PUB, Wireless Mikes
173.225-173.5375 MOV, NEWS, UTIL, MIL
173.5625-173.5875 MIL Medical/Crash Crews
173.60-173.9875 GOVT
ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY (UHF) — (300 MHz-3 GHz)
U. S. Government Band (406-420 MHz)
406.125-419.975 GOVT, USXX
70-Centimeter Amateur Band (420-450 MHz)
420.000-450.000 HAM
Low Band (450-470 MHz)
450.050-450.925 RTV
451.025-452.025 IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
452.0375-453.00 IND, TAXI, TRAN TOW, NEWS
453.0125-454.000 PUB, OIL
455.050-455.925 RTV
457.525-457.600 BUS
458.025-458.175 MED
460.0125-460.6375 FIRE, POL, PUB
460.650-462.175 BUS
462.1875-462.450 BUS, IND
462.4625-462.525 IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
462.550-462.925 GMR, BUS
462.9375-463.1875 MED
463.200-467.925 BUS
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, UHF Wide Band (470-512 MHz)
Note: Some cities use the 470-512 MHz band for land/mobile service.
(Channels 14 through 20 in 6 MHz steps)
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 67/78
475.750 Channel 14
481.750 Channel 15
487.750 Channel 16
493.750 Channel 17
499.750 Channel 18
505.750 Channel 19
511.750 Channel 20
Conventional Systems Band — Locally Assigned (in 6.25 kHz steps)
851.0125–855.9875 CSB
Conventional/Trunked Systems Band — Locally Assigned (in 6.25 kHz steps)
856.0125–860.9875 CTSB
Trunked Systems Band — Locally Assigned (in 6.25 kHz steps)
861.0125–865.9875 TSB
Public Safety Band — Locally Assigned (in 6.25 kHz steps)
866.0125–868.9875 PSB
33-Centimeter Amateur Band (902-928 MHz in 6.25 kHz steps)
902.000–928.000 HAM
Private Trunked Band (in 6.25 kHz steps)
935.0125–939.9875 PTR
General Trunked Band (in 6.25 kHz steps)
940.0125–940.9875 GTR
23-Centimeter Amateur Band (in 6.25 kHz steps)
1240.000–1300.000 HAM
FREQUENCY CONVERSION
The tuning location of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). The
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 68/78
following information can help you make the necessary conversions.
1 MHz (million) = 1,000 kHz (thousand)
To convert MHz to kHz, multiply the number of megahertz by 1,000:
30.62 (MHz) x 1,000 = 30,620 kHz
To convert from kHz to MHz, divide the number of kilohertz by 1,000:
127.800 (kHz) / 1,000 = 127.8 MHz
To convert MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of megahertz:
300/50 MHz = 6 meters
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you have problems with your scanner, please refer to the following chart for some suggestions that might
help you eliminate the problem. If the scanner is still not operating correctly after trying these tips, take your
scanner to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
Problem Possible Cause Remedy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scanner is totally No power. Make sure the scanner is plugged
inoperative. into a working AC or DC outlet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AC or DC adapter is not Be sure the adapter’s barrel plug is
connected. fully inserted into the DC 13.8V jack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scanner will not scan Possible “birdie” frequency Tighten squelch, apply attenuator or
when SCAN is pressed. programmed. lock out the “birdie” frequency.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The scanner may need to be reset See “Resetting/Initializing the
or initialized. Scanner” on Page XX.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No channels programmed, or only Ensure that the scanner has more
channel programmed, or all than one channel programmed and
channels locked out. enabled for scanning.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 69/78
SQ is not adjusted properly. Turn SQ clockwise until scanning
resumes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The scanner does not The digital channel or talkgroup is The scanner can only receive
receive digital not using APCO-25 digital APCO-25 C4FM IMBE digital
transmissions on digital modulation. signals.
frequencies or trunking --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
systems. The digital channel or The scanner will not receive
talkgroup is encrypted. encrypted traffic.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The digital channel or talkgroup is Reposition the scanner or use an
being transmitted from a distant outdoor antenna to improve
location. reception.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESETTING/INITIALIZING THE SCANNER
If the scanner’s display locks up or does not work properly after you connect a power source, you might
need to reset or initialize it.
IMPORTANT: If you have problems with the scanner, first try to reset it to retain all memory. If that does not
work, you can initialize the scanner. You may be able to save the information in your scanner’s memory into
your computer, a V-Scanner folder or another scanner before trying to initialize it. See “Cloning the
Programmed Data” on Page XX and “Working with V-Scanners” on Page XX.
Resetting the Scanner
1. Turn off the scanner, then turn it on again.
2. Insert a pointed object, such as a straightened paper clip, into the reset hole on the back of the scanner.
Then gently press and release the reset button inside the opening.
Note: Pressing the reset button does not clear the scanner’s working memory or the V-Scanner folders.
Initializing the Scanner
IMPORTANT: Initialilzing the Scanner clears all information you stored in the scanner’s working memory.
Initialize the scanner only when you are sure the scanner is not working properly. V-Scanner memory is not
affected when the scanner is initialized.
1. Turn off the scanner, then turn it on again. The scanner briefly displays the DSP boot version, and then
Welcome To Digital Trunking appears.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 70/78
Note: Do not turn off the scanner until the initialization is complete. When the initialization is complete,
M000 appears on the top line of the display. Bank 0 Ch 00 appears on the bottom line.
2. Press 0. The scanner displays:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
3. Press 1. The scanner displays:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
4. Press ENT. The scanner displays:
LCD illustration (same as 20-526)
CARE
Keep the scanner dry; if it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Use and store the scanner only in normal
temperature environments. Handle the scanner carefully; do not drop it. Keep the scanner away from dust
and dirt, and wipe it with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new.
SERVICE AND REPAIR
If your scanner is not performing as it should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. To
locate your nearest RadioShack, use the store locator feature on RadioShack's website
(www.radioshack.com), or call 1-800-The Shack (843-7422) and follow the menu options. Modifying or
tampering with the scanner's internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate its
warranty and void your FCC authorization to operate it.
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Coverage:
Frequency Range (MHz) Programming/Search Step Value
25–54 5 kHz
108–136.9875 12.5 kHz
137–174 5, 6.25 or 7.5 kHz
216.0025–221.9975 5 kHz
222.0000 –225.0000 5 kHz
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 71/78
406–512 6.25 kHz
806–823.9875 6.25 kHz
849–868.9875 6.25 kHz
894–960 6.25 kHz
1240–1300 6.25 kHz
Memory Organization :
V-Scanners eleven 500 channel virtual scanners
Memory channels 500
Channel storage banks 10
Number of channels per channel storage bank 50
Talkgroup ID memories 1500
ID memory banks 10
Sub-banks per bank 5
Number of memory IDs per sub-bank 30
Sensitivity (20 dB S/N):
FM:
25–54 MHz 0.3 µV
108–136.9875 MHz 0.3 µV
137–174 MHz 0.5 µV
216–225 MHz 0.5 µV
406–512 MHz 0.5 µV
806–960 MHz 0.7 µV
1240–1300 MHz 0.7 µV
AM:
25–54 MHz 1 µV
108–136.9875 MHz 1 µV
137–174 MHz 1.5 µV
216–225 MHz 1.5 µV
406–512 MHz 2 µV
806–960 MHz 2 µV
1240–1300 MHz 3 µV
Selectivity:
25 – 27.995 MHz in AM mode
-6 dB +/-5 kHz
-50 dB +/-6 kHz
All frequencies at AM and FM mode except 25 – 27.995 MHz at AM
-6 dB +/-8 kHz
-50 dB +/-14 kHz
IF Rejection
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 72/78
380.8 MHz at 174 MHz 60 dB
21.4 MHz at 174 MHz 100 dB
Spurious Rejection
(at 174 MHz FM) 40 dB
Scanning Speed and Delay
Scanning Rate Up to 60 Channels per Second
Search Rate Up to 75 Steps per Second
Conventional Channel Delay Time 2 seconds
Priority Sampling 2 seconds
Trunking Talkgroup Delay Time User configurable
Intermediate Frequencies (IF):
1st 380.7275-380.86875 MHz
2nd 21.4 MHz
3rd 455 kHz
Squelch Sensitivity:
Threshold (FM and AM) 0.5 µV
Tight (FM) 25 dB
Tight (AM) 20 dB
Antenna Impedance 50 Ohms
Audio Output Power (10% THD) 1.5 W
Built-in Speaker 3 Inches (77 mm) 8-ohm Dynamic Type
Power Requirement: 13.8 V
Current Drain 600 mA
Physical
Dimensions (HWD) 2 1/4 × 7 1/4 × 5 5/16 inches
(55 × 185 × 135 mm)
Weight (without cabinet and accessories) 27.7 oz. (790 g)
Operating Temperature -4 to 140° F (-20 to 60° C)
Specifications are typical: individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and improvement
without notice.
COMMAND QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Scan Mode
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode, resumes scan when stopped on a channel or talkgroup.
MAN If scanning or monitoring a trunked call, stops scan operation, activates
Manual Mode. If monitoring conventional call, stops scan operation,
activates Manual Mode, holds on active channel.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 73/78
PROG If scanning or monitoring a trunked call, stops scan operation, activates
Program Mode. If monitoring conventional call, stops scan operation,
activates Program Mode, holds on active channel.
WX Activates Weather Mode
TRUNK If monitoring a trunking talkgroup, stores the ID into the next available
ID list memory location.
TRUNK (hold) If monitoring a trunking talkgroup, activates ID Hold Mode, scanner holds
on the active talkgroup.
PRI Toggles priority.
TUNE Enters Tune Mode.
ATT Toggles attenuation for active channel, or, if global attenuation is set, toggles global
attenuation on or off.
TEXT If monitoring a trunking talkgroup, toggles talkgroup alphanumeric text tag
or trunking ID display.
L/OUT If monitoring a trunking talkgroup, locks out the active talkgroup so it will not
be monitored. If monitoring a conventional channel, locks out the active channel
so it will not be monitored.
MODE If monitoring a conventional channel, cycles through the valid modes, clears
any stored CT or DC code.
SRCH Activates Search Mode.
NUMBER Toggle scan banks on or off.
KEYS 0-9
DECIMAL When monitoring a conventional channel,
POINT toggles delay for that channel on or off.
PAUSE If the scanner stops scanning, the scanner activates manual mode.
ENT When monitoring a conventional channel that is programmed for CT or DC
Search Mode, stores a detected CT or DC code with the channel memory.
^ or v Changes scan direction, up or down.
FUNC + MAN Toggles digital AGC
FUNC + When monitoring a talkgroup call, toggles display of control channel text tag or
TRUNK Trunked ID sub-bank status.
FUNC + PRI If monitoring a conventional channel, stores the frequency into the priority channel.
FUNC + If monitoring a conventional channel, stores the frequency into the tune memory.
TUNE
FUNC + ATT Toggles attenuator mode, normal or global.
FUNC + 5 Toggles open or closed mode for current bank.
FUNC + 0-4 When Trunked ID sub-bank display is active, and while monitoring a talkgroup
call, toggles ID sub banks 0-4 on or off.
Manual Mode
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 74/78
MAN Increments to the next channel memory.
PROG Activates Program Mode.
WX Activates Weather Mode .
PRI Toggles priority.
TUNE Enters Tune Mode.
ATT Toggles attenuation for selected channel, or, if global attenuation is set, toggles
global attenuation on or off.
L/OUT Toggles lockout on the selected channel.
MODE Cycles through valid modes for the selected channel, clears any stored CT or
DC settings.
SRCH Activates Search Mode.
2, 3, MAN Jumps to channel 23 in the current bank.
1, 2, 3, MAN Jumps to bank 1, channel 23.
DECIMAL Toggles delay on selected channel on or off.
POINT
PAUSE Activate Scan Mode.
ENT When monitoring a conventional channel that is programmed for CT or DC Search
Mode, stores a detected CT or DC code with the channel memory.
^ or v ^ steps to the next channel, v steps to the previous channel. Hold down to scroll.
FUNC + MAN Toggles digital AGC.
FUNC + TRUNK Enters trunked ID list for current bank.
FUNC + PRI Stores the frequency of the selected channel into the priority channel.
FUNC + TUNE Stores the frequency of the selected channel frequency into the tune memory.
FUNC + ATT Toggles attenuator mode, normal or global.
FUNC + 5 Toggles open or closed mode for current bank.
FUNC + 9 Adjust display contrast, use ^ or v then ENT.
FUNC + L/OUT Jumps to the next locked out channel.
FUNC + ^ or v ^ jumps forward to the next bank, v jumps to the previous bank. Hold down to scroll.
Program Mode
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode.
MAN Activates Manual Mode.
PROG Increments to the next channel memory.
WX Activates Weather Mode.
PRI Selects priority channel for programming.
TEXT Edits text tag for selected channel.
TRUNK Enters ID List Edit for the selected bank.
TUNE Enters Tune Mode.
ATT Toggles attenuation for selected channel, or, if global attenuation is set, toggles
global attenuation on or off.
L/OUT Toggles lockout on the selected channel.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 75/78
MODE Cycles through valid modes for the selected channel, clears any stored CT or
DC settings.
SRCH Sets search range for programmable search range (PSR).
2, 3, PROG Jumps to channel 23 in the current bank.
1, 2, 3, PROG Jumps to bank 1, channel 23.
DECIMAL POINT Toggles delay on selected channel on or off.
<frequency> Enters a frequency into channel memory.
ENT
^ or v ^ steps to the next channel, v steps to the previous channel, hold down to scroll.
FUNC + MAN Toggles digital AGC.
FUNC + MODE If selected channel mode is set to CT or DC, edits CT or DC code.
FUNC + PRI Stores the frequency of the selected channel into the priority channel.
FUNC + TUNE Stores the frequency of the selected channel frequency into the tune memory.
FUNC + ATT Toggles attenuator mode, normal or global.
FUNC CLEAR Clears all programming data in selected channel.
FUNC + 5 Toggles open or closed mode for current bank.
FUNC + 7 Edits bank text tag.
FUNC + L/OUT Jumps to the next locked out channel.
FUNC + TEXT Edits welcome screen line 4 (stored with V-Scanner as folder name).
FUNC + PROG Enters V-Scanner function menu.
FUNC + ^ or v ^ jumps forward to the next bank, v jumps to the previous bank. Hold down to
scroll.
Search Mode
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode.
MAN Activates Manual Mode.
PROG Activates Program Mode.
WX Activates Weather Mode.
PRI Toggles priority.
TUNE Enters Tune Mode.
ATT Toggles attenuation for active search range, or, if global attenuation is set,
toggles global attenuation on or off.
L/OUT Locks out undesired search frequencies or search channels.
PAUSE Pauses and resumes search operations.
MODE Cycles through AM/FM/CT/DC modes for selected search range.
SRCH Steps through the available search ranges.
DECIMAL Toggles delay on or off in selected search range or search channel.
POINT
^ or v Changes search direction.
FUNC + MAN Toggles digital AGC.
FUNC + PRI When searching SR1 to SR6, stores active search frequency in priority memory.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 76/78
FUNC + TUNE When searching SR3, SR4, SR5 and SR6, stores active search frequency in tune
memory.
FUNC + ATT Toggles attenuator mode, normal or global.
FUNC + L/OUT In SR0, SR1, SR2, steps to next locked out search channel, must be in “M” state.
In SR3, SR4, SR5 and SR6, enters Search Lockout Review. Use arrow keys
to review locked frequencies, use CLEAR to clear locked frequencies, use
FUNC + 6 to clear all locked frequencies.
FUNC + MODE Sets mode to default for active search range.
FUNC + SRCH Toggles Manual Channel Select or Search Channels for SR0, SR1 and SR2.
FUNC + PROG When searching SR3, SR4, SR5 and SR6, stores active search frequency
in desired bank and channel (e.g., “123 + ENT” stores the active frequency
in Bank 1, Channel 23).
FUNC+ENT When searching SR3, SR4, SR5 and SR6, stores active search frequency in next
available channel in desired bank (e.g., “1 + ENT” stores active frequency in
next empty channel in Bank 1).
FUNC + 7 Toggles Seek on or off.
FUNC + 0 Toggles Zeromatic on or off.
Weather Mode
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode.
MAN Activates Manual Mode.
PROG Activates Program Mode.
WX Steps to next weather channel.
FUNC + WX, Weather alert alarm demonstration. Press any key (except DIM) to exit.
and then hold
WX
TUNE Enters Tune Mode.
ATT Toggles attenuation for selected weather frequency, or, if global attenuation is set,
toggles global attenuation on or off.
SRCH Enters Search Mode.
NUMBER KEYS Quick FIPS code review for FIPS memories 0-9. Press L/OUT to toggle
0-9 lockout status.
FUNC + PRI Stores active weather frequency in priority memory. Press PRI in Scan, Search,
Manual, Program modes to activate WX Priority.
FUNC + ATT Toggles attenuator mode, normal or global.
FUNC + PROG FIPS code entry - Use ^ or v to scroll, key in FIPS code + ENT to store. Press
L/OUT to toggle lockout of FIPS code, press TEXT and enter text label for FIPS
memory. Press WX to exit.
FUNC + WX Activates FIPS/SAME weather alert mode. Press FUNC + WX to exit.
Tune Mode
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 77/78
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode.
MAN Activates Manual Mode.
PROG Activates Program Mode.
WX Activates Weather Mode.
PRI Toggles priority.
ATT Toggles attenuation for active search range, or, if global attenuation is set,
toggles global attenuation on or off.
PAUSE Pauses and resumes tune operations.
MODE Cycles through AM/FM/CT/DC modes.
SRCH Activates Search Mode
DECIMAL POINT Toggle delay on or off.
^ or v Changes tune direction, resumes tune operation after stopping on an active
frequency.
FUNC + MAN Toggles digital AGC.
FUNC + PRI Stores active tune frequency in priority memory.
FUNC + ATT Toggles attenuator mode, normal or global.
FUNC + MODE Sets mode to default for active tune range.
FUNC + PROG Stores active tune frequency in desired bank and channel (e.g., “123 + ENT”
stores the active frequency in Bank 1, Channel 23).
FUNC + ENT Stores active tune frequency in next available channel in desired bank
(e.g., “1 + ENT” stores active frequency in next empty channel in Bank 1).
ID List Edit
Keystrokes Function
SCAN Activates Scan Mode.
MAN Activates Manual Mode.
PROG Activates Program Mode.
WX Activates Weather Mode.
TEXT Edits text tag for selected ID.
TRUNK Steps to first ID in next ID sub bank.
TUNE Enters Tune Mode.
L/OUT Toggles lockout on the selected ID.
MODE Cycles trunking mode through MO, ED and “not trunked”.
SRCH Activates Search Mode.
<id> ENT Stores ID into selected location.
^ or v ^ steps to the next ID, v steps to the previous ID, hold down to scroll.
FUNC + Selects ID delay duration for selected bank.
DECIMAL POINT
FUNC CLEAR Clears all programming data in selected ID.
FUNC + 1 Toggles active sub bank on or off.
20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 78/78
FUNC + 2 Base/offset/step table entry for Motorola, toggles AFS or Decimal display for
EDACS.
FUNC + 3 Motorola 3600 control channel mode select.
FUNC + 4 Motorola/P25 9600 control channel mode select.
FUNC + 6 Clears all ID entries in current ID list.
FUNC + 8 Sets Motorola Type I fleetmap.
FUNC + L/OUT Jumps to the next locked out ID.
FUNC + TRUNK Launches ID hold mode on selected ID.
FUNC + ^ or v ^ jumps forward to the next ID bank, v jumps to the previous ID bank. Hold down
to scroll.
Startup keys
(Enter during welcome screen display.)
Keystrokes Function
1 Turns key tones on.
2 Turns key tones off.
3 Displays CPU, DSP application and DSP decoder versions.
0 then 1 Destructive - Initializes working memory to factory defaults. Does not affect
V-Scanner memory.
0 then 2 Destructive - Loads test frequencies into working memory. Does not affect
V-Scanner memory.
0 then 5 Destructive / EEPROM memory test #1 - Initializes working memory. Does not affect
V-Scanner memory.
0 then 6 Destructive / EEPROM memory test #2 - Initializes working memory. Does not affect
V-Scanner memory.
0 then PROG Upgrade DSP application firmware.
0 then TEXT DSP factory tests
0 then CLEAR Destructive - Reverts to factory DSP application version, any DSP upgrades are
lost.
WARRANTY & ADDRESS & DATE CODE