RadioShack PRO-528 - Manual

15 The Basics scanner stops charging automatically after 14 hours when the DC jack is connected to power. battery cautions • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type. • Always remove old or weak batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that damage electronic circuits. • Do n...

16 The Basics • Always connect the AC adapter to the scanner before you connect it to AC power. When you fi nish, disconnect the adapter from AC power before you disconnect it from the scanner. connecting the antenna Attach the supplied antenna to the scanner by align the slots around its base with ...

17 The Basics listening safely To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone or headphones. • Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high-volume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss. • Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listenin...

18 The Basics transferring data to or from another scanner or pc You can transfer the programmed data to and from another PRO-528 scanner using a connecting cable which has 1/8-inch phone plugs on both ends (not supplied). Connect the cable between each scanner’s PC/IF jacks. See “cloning your scann...

19 The Basics Besides searching within a selected frequency range, you can also search your scanner’s service banks. Service banks are preset groups of frequencies categorized by the type of services that use those frequencies. For example, many amateur radio frequencies are located in the HAM servi...

20 The Basics channel storage banks To make it easier to identify and select the channels you want to listen to, all the channels are divided into 10 banks of 100 channels. Use each channel-storage bank to group frequencies, such as those for the police department, fi re department, ambulance servic...

21 The Basics storing known frequencies into channels You can locate and store speci fi c frequencies into channels for later use. Note: To store trunked system frequencies, see “programming trunked frequencies.” Follow these steps to store frequencies into channels. 1. Press E/PGM to put the scanne...

23 Beyond the Basics 2. Press E/PGM . 3. Press and hold E/PGM during program mode. Scanner displays the copy/move menu. 4. Press S or T to select the copy/move function, then press E/PGM to decide on copy or move. 5. Select the bank where you want to copy or move the frequency. The smallest empty ch...

24 Beyond the Basics Notes: • While doing a chain, direct, or service bank search, press • /CLR / DELAY if you want to turn the delay on or off (see “delay”). • While doing a chain, direct, or service bank search, press MENU if you want the scanner to skip data signals (such as fax or modem signals)...

26 Beyond the Basics 5. To release the hold and continue searching, press HOLD/RESUME . Note: To step through the frequencies while HOLD appears, press T or S . storing found frequencies during chain search You can store frequencies you fi nd in chain search mode or chain search hold mode. 1. Press ...

27 Beyond the Basics 2. Press the bank number you want to change the range. The lower frequency range appears. 3. Using the number keys, enter the lower limit frequency, and then press E/PGM . 4. Press S or T to change the frequency to an upper limit frequency. 5. Using the number keys, enter the up...

28 Beyond the Basics preprogrammed with all the frequencies allocated to these services. To use this feature, press SVC . The current service symbol appears and the scanner starts searching. To select a different service bank, press 1/HAM , 2/MRN , 3/AIR or 4/POL . The newly selected service symbol ...

30 Beyond the Basics previously stored, beginning with the fi rst stored frequency. • Press S or T to select a skipped frequency while HOLD appears. L/O appears when you select a skipped frequency. scanning the stored channels To begin scanning channels, press SCAN/ MANUAL . The scanner scans throug...

31 Beyond the Basics • To listen to a weak or distant station, turn SQUELCH counterclockwise. • To ensure proper scanning, adjust SQUELCH until the audio mutes • To scan in the trunk scanning mode, see “trunking operation.” manually selecting a channel You can continuously monitor a single channel w...

32 Beyond the Basics special features delay Sometimes a user might pause before replying to a transmission. To avoid missing a reply on a speci fi c channel, the scanner automatically programs a 2-second delay into any channel or frequency. You can monitor the channel frequency for an additional 2 s...

33 Beyond the Basics turning channel-storage banks on and off You can turn each channel-storage bank on and off. When you turn off a bank, the scanner does not scan any of the 100 channels in that bank.While scanning, press the number key that corresponds to the bank you want to turn on or off. Numb...

35 Beyond the Basics 3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the channel in each bank you want to program as a priority channel. To review all priority channels (in ascending order only), repeatedly press PRI to see the numbers of the priority channels. To turn on the priority feature, press PRI during scanning...

36 Beyond the Basics To turn it off, hold down /KEYLOCK until disappears. Note: Using keylock does not prevent the scanner from scanning channels. wired programming You can transfer programming data to your scanner using your PC and an optional interface cable (available at your local RadioShack sto...

37 Beyond the Basics appear. Then send the data from the PC. Data frame numbers being received appear. 6. When the scanner has successfully received all data, End appears. If the scanner received an error while receiving data, End , d-Err , and its frame number appear. If the scanner received a comm...

38 Beyond the Basics 3. Determine the scanner which has the frequency data that you want to transfer and set it to be the FirSt unit. 4. Set the other unit to be the CLONE unit. 5. Press E/PGM on the First Unit and then CLONE unit. The First Unit checks whether the CLONE unit is connected correctly....

41 Beyond the Basics To turn on the data skip feature; 1. Turn off the priority feature if it is on (see “priority”). 2. Press MENU . 3. Repeatedly press S or T to display dAtA-S , then press E/PGM . 4. Repeatedly press S or T to select OFF or ON , then press E/PGM . 5. Press MENU to exit the menu m...

42 Beyond the Basics turning on the digital weather alert feature 1. Press WX/ and start weather search. See “weather search.” 2. Press 6/ALERT . ALERT appears. This mutes the audio until the scanner receives a SAME-coded signal. When the scanner receives a SAME-coded signal, ALERT fl ashes and an a...

43 Beyond the Basics L2 , then L1 , and TEST fl ashes. Each alert code appears as its tone sounds. Press any key to end the test sequence. programming a FIPS code To specify a county, SAME uses a standard established by the US Census bureau, called FIPS.The format of a FIPS code is: PSSCCC, where......

44 Beyond the Basics To limit weather alerts to a speci fi c area, you must also program in the FIPS code(s) for the area(s) you want to receive alerts. The scanner can be set to either alert for all areas, or only the areas you have programmed. programming FIPS 1. During weather scan hold mode, pre...

45 Beyond the Basics 6. To set to alert only for the area you have programmed, press S or T to move F1 to F15 , then press E/PGM . Then go to WX hold. Skywarn The Skywarn function lets you jump directly to the last channel in memory (Channel 1000) from any mode by press and holding WX/ . The scanner...

47 Beyond the Basics Signal Stalker I Your scanner’ s Signal Stalker I feature lets you set the scanner so it detects and then displays the frequency of a nearby strong radio transmission. You can set the scanner so Signal Stalker I works “in the background” while you are scanning other frequencies;...

48 Beyond the Basics or if the transmitter is a broadcast television station. setting the Signal Stalker I options 1. Press MENU . 2. Repeatedly press S or T to select SIG-St. , then press E/PGM . One of the following Signal Stalker I options appears: • S-S.bnd : Lets you select the Signal Stalker I...

49 Beyond the Basics break, set this function to OFF . The scanner does not check signals while receiving an audio signal. The scanner resumes checking signals when the audio signal ends. If you want to keep the Signal Stalker I active despite the interruption, set this function to ON . • S-S.LOG : ...

50 Beyond the Basics Set S-S.LOG to ON to scan the log channels along with the normal channels. If you do not want to scan the channels, set it to OFF . The scanner stores signals found by the Signal Stalker I even the S-S.LOG function is OFF . The frequencies in the log channels are deleted when th...

51 Beyond the Basics 5. When you select the option, press •/ CLR /DELAY to exit the option mode. 6. Press MENU to exit the menu mode. using Signal Stalker I Note: Turn off the data skip feature if it is on. To turn on Signal Stalker I, turn SQUELCH fully clockwise, then press except in WX search, pr...

52 Beyond the Basics setting the scanner to the trunking mode simultaneous trunking The scanner allows you to track up to 10 systems at a time. You can trunk scan or search and scan conventional frequencies at the same time. You can also program conventional frequencies in the same bank as trunking ...

53 Beyond the Basics the scanner. If it is set too high, it could prevent your scanner from locking on the control channel reliably. If it is set too low, it will slightly delay fi nding the control channel. The best setting is the same as for conventional reception and is critical for monitoring tr...

54 Beyond the Basics E2 – 900 Motorola Type II, 900 MHz frequencies E2 – Hi Motorola Type II, VHF(136-174 MHz) frequencies E2 – UHF Motorola Type II, UHF (400-512 MHz) frequencies E1 Motorola Type I, and Hybrid Ed EDACS Wide Band: 9600 baund Ed – SCt EDACS Scat Lt LTR 3. Prog F appears, then press E...

55 Beyond the Basics depending upon the trunk system selected. Notes: • If you enter an invalid frequency (outside the selected range), the scanner beeps, the channel number fl ashes and Error appears. If this happens, press •/CLR /DELAY to clear the frequency, then repeat the entry. • For EDACS (Ed...

57 Beyond the Basics Hint: While searching, you may not know exactly to whom the talk group IDs are assigned until you listen awhile. To locate talk group ID lists for your local police, fi re, and other agencies, refer to frequency guides available at your local RadioShack store or on internet site...

58 Beyond the Basics skipping a trunked bank You can scan conventional frequencies programmed in the same bank by holding down S for about 1 second. If there is no conventional frequency, the scanner scans the next bank. turning the status bit ignore (s-bit) on or off You can set how your scanner wo...

59 Beyond the Basics Important: If you are scanning any system other than a Motorola Type I system, be sure status bit ignore is set to ON or you will miss some transmissions. Follow these steps to turn status bit ignore on or off. 1. Set the scanner to conventional programming mode and then press T...

61 Beyond the Basics CLR /DELAY , 0 , 1 , then SRCH . To stop the ID range search, press S while the talk group is deactivated. using HOLD to monitor an active talk group ID Follow these steps to stop scanning and searching and keep the scanner tuned to a desired ID. 1. Press HOLD/RESUME . HOLD appe...

62 Beyond the Basics signals. You can lock out up to 100 IDs at one time. Note: If you lock out an ID while searching, it is also locked out of the scan list(s). See “using talk group ID lists.” To lock out an ID, press L/O when the ID appears. The ID is locked out, and the next active ID appears. u...

63 Beyond the Basics bank are unlocked. Press SRCH to resume the search. using trunk scanning Scan Delay Sometimes a user might pause before replying to a transmission. You can set the scanner to hold on an ID for 2 seconds to wait for a reply. That way, the scanner continues to monitor the ID for 2...

64 Beyond the Basics IDs appear in quick succession. To stop monitoring IDs, press S . Note: When you monitor IDs, any IDs you have locked out also appear. using talk group ID lists When you program trunked frequencies into a bank (see “programming trunked frequencies”), your scanner sets up ten sca...

65 Beyond the Basics 2. Use S or T to choose trunk system, then press E/PGM . 3. Use S or T and choose Prog id , then press E/PGM . 4. Press S or T to select the scan list location. 5. Enter the talk group IDs for each trunk system. Motorola talk groups To enter a Type 2 Talk Group ID: 1. Enter the ...

66 Beyond the Basics EDACS (Ed) talk groups To enter a full EDACS ID: 1. Enter the Agency number. 2. Press •/CLR/DELAY to enter the dash. 3. Enter the fl eet number and sub fl eet number. 4. Press E/PGM . entering EDACS partial talk groups You can enter partial group numbers in an EDACS talk group. ...

67 Beyond the Basics For example: You Press To Scan 01 . E all 01 groups 01 . 01 E all 01 talk groups within the 01 agency To enter a Partial EDACS ID: 1. Enter the agency number you want to store. Press •/CLR /DELAY to enter the dash. 2. Press E/PGM . Or you can program all the talk group numbers f...

69 Beyond the Basics number. The scan list number turns off, and the IDs in that list are not scanned. Note: One of the ten scan lists must always be active. You cannot remove all of them. To restore a scan list to active scanning, use the number keys to enter the number of the list again. priority ...

71 Beyond the Basics Select a size code for a block, then press SRCH and listen to the conversations. If you are receiving most of the replies, then you have probably selected the right size code and can program the next block of the map. There are 16 preset fl eet maps to choose from, and it is bes...

74 Beyond the Basics selecting a preset fl eet map 1. Set the scanner for conventional scanning and press E/PGM , then press TRUNK to select the trunking programming mode and the bank you want to change. 2. Repeatedly press S or T to select TYPE 1 SYSTEM (E1) , then press E/ PGM . 3. Repeatedly pres...

75 Beyond the Basics 3. Repeatedly press S or T to select FLEEt , then press E/PGM . A preprogrammed fl eet map appears. 4. Repeatedly press S or T until USr appears. Then press E/PGM . 5. Repeatedly press S or T to select the size code for the fi rst block, then press E/PGM . The next available blo...

77 Beyond the Basics 3. Repeatedly press S or T to select Motorola Type UHF, or VHF system, then press E/PGM . 4. Repeatedly press S or T to select bASE , then press E/PGM . 5. Press the con fi guration Block Number (1-3) . 6. Press the number keys to enter a new base frequency, then press E/PGM . 7...

81 Beyond the Basics Why doesn’t my keypad work? The keylock function is activated. To turn off the keylock, press / KEYLOCK until disappears. Why is fl ashing? Recharge the rechargeable batteries or replace the alkaline batteries. Why am I getting poor or no reception? Batteries are weak or complet...

82 Beyond the Basics “programming trunked frequencies.”The system you are trying to track is a Type I system, and the scanner is set to scan Type II systems. Set the scanner to receive Type I trunked frequencies. See “scanning type I and hybrid trunked systems”.Scanner is set to receive Type I trunk...

83 Beyond the Basics Type II systems. Set the scanner to receive Type I trunked frequencies. See “scanning type I and hybrid trunked systems”.The selected fl eet map is incorrect. Try another preset fl eet map or program your own fl eet map (see “scanning type I and hybrid trunked systems”). Enter a...

84 Beyond the Basics Follow these steps to restore the 150 preprogrammed frequencies stored in the private bank. 1. Make sure your scanner is turned off. 2. Press 3 and E/PGM simultaneously while turning on the scanner. After several seconds, the scanner restores the frequencies. FCC notice Your sca...

85 Beyond the Basics scanning legally Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different groups including police and fi re departments, ambulance services, government agencies, private companies, amateur radio services, military operations, pager services, and wireline (telephone and telegraph) ...

86 Beyond the Basics up those transmissions. Do not open your scanner’s case to make any modi fi cations that could allow it to pick up transmissions that it is not legal to listen to. Doing so could subject you to legal penalties. We encourage responsible, legal scanner use. care Keep the scanner d...

87 Beyond the Basics specifi cations Frequency Coverage : 29–54 MHz (in 5 kHz steps)108–136.9875 MHz (in 12.5 kHz steps)137–174 MHz (in 5 kHz steps)216–224.995 MHz (in 5 kHz steps)400–512 MHz (in 6.25 kHz steps) 806.0000–823.9875 MHz (in 12.5 kHz steps)849.0125–868.9875 MHz (in 12.5 kHz steps)894.01...

88 Beyond the Basics Operating Temperature: Normal ................–4° to 140°F (–20° to 60°C)Signal Stalker I ...14° to 140°F (–10° to 60°C)Scan Speed ................ 90 Channels/Second Search Speed: Normal ............................. 90 Steps/SecondHypersearch ....................270 Steps/Seco...

89 Beyond the Basics Speci fi cations are typical; individual units might vary. Speci fi cations and depictions are subject to change and improvement without notice.