Radio Shack 20-423 manual

20-423 Owner’s Manual Please read before us in g this e q uipment. A 200-Channel VHF/AIR/UHF Desktop Scanner with WX Alert[...]

2 Introduction ˆ Introduction Thank you for p urchasing the Radio Shack 200-Channel VHF/AIR/UHF Desktop Scanner. This scanner give s you direct access to over 25,000 frequencies, includi ng those used by police and fire departments, ambulance services, government agencies, air, and amateur radio services. You can select up to 200 channels to scan,[...]

3 Introduction Dual Conversion — helps prevent interference from image frequencies. Your scanner receives these frequenci es (MHz): FCC NOTICE Your scanner might cause TV or ra dio interference even when it is opera ting properly. To determine whethe r your scanner is causin g the in terference , turn of f your scanner. If the interference goes a[...]

4 Contents This scanner has been designed to prevent reception of illegal transmi ssions. 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 c ould allow it to pick up transmissions that [...]

5 Contents Using the Delay Function ........... ............ .............. .............. ........... .............. .............. ..... 20 Locking Out Channels and Frequenci es ........................................................................ 20 Locking Out Channels ............ ........... .............. ............ .............. .....[...]

6 Preparation ˆ Preparation POWER SOURCES Using AC Power You can power the scanner using the supplied 12V, 300mA AC adapter. Cautions: Y ou must use a Class 2 power source that supplies 12V DC and delivers at least 3 00 mA. Its center tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit the scanner's DC12V jack. The supplied adapter meets these [...]

7 Preparation 3 . Plug the cord into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket. Notes : • If you use a 12V DC cord and your vehicle's en gine is runnin g, you might hear electrical noise on th e scanner caused by the engine . This is normal. • Mobile use of this scanner is un lawful or requires a permit in some areas. Check the laws in your[...]

8 Understanding Your Scanner the scanner and co nnect the cable to the ANT jack. Warning: U se extreme caution when you install or remove an outdoor antenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead power lines. If the antenna touche s a power line, co ntact with the antenna, mast, cable, or guy wires can cause electrocut[...]

9 Understanding Your Scanner WX — scans through the seven preprogrammed weather channels. SCAN — scans through the programmed channels. MANUAL — stops scanning an d lets you directly enter a channel number. L/O RVW , L/O (Lock Out Review/Lock Out) — lets you review locked-out frequencies, or lets you lock out selected channels/ frequencies [...]

10 Understanding Your Scanner SRCH — appears during service bank and direct frequency searches. SCAN — appears when you scan channels. MAN — appears when you manually select a channel. PGM — appears while you program frequencies into the scanne r's chann els. PRI — appears when you turn on the priority feature. DLY — appears when y[...]

11 Understanding Your Scanner Service Banks The scanner is preprogrammed with the frequencies allocated by fire /p olice, aircraft, ham radio, and marine services. In these service banks, you can search through the frequencies and store them in channels fo r fire/police, ai rcraft, ham radio, and marine banks. This is handy for quickly finding acti[...]

12 Understanding Your Scanner Marine Channel Frequency (MHz) Channel Frequency (MHz) 06 156.3000 64 156.2250 07 156.3500 65 156.2750 08 156.4000 66 156.3250 09 156.4500 67 156.3750 10 156.5000 68 156.4250 1 1 156.5500 69 156. 4750 12 156.6000 70 156.5250 13 156.6500 71 156.5750 14 156.7000 72 156.6250 15 156.7500 73 156.6750 16 156.8000 74 156.7250[...]

13 Understanding Your Scanner Fire/Police Group Frequency Range (MHz) Step (kHz) 1 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 2 153.770–154.130 60 154.145–154.445 15 154.650–154.950 15 155.010–155.370 60 155.415–155.700 15 155.7[...]

14 Operation ˆ Operation T UR NING ON THE SCANNER/SETTING V OLUME AND SQUELCH 1. T urn SQUELCH fully counterclockwise until the indicator points to MIN . 2. Slide POWER to ON to turn on the scanner . 3. T urn VOLUME clockwise until you hear a hissing sound. 4. T urn SQUELCH clockwise, just until the hissing sound stops. Notes: • T o listen to a [...]

15 Operation 4. T o progra m the next ch ann el in sequence, press PGM and repeat Steps 2 and 3. FINDING AND STORING ACTIVE FREQUENCIES Searching the Service Banks Your scanner contains groups of preset frequencies called service banks. Each service bank is associated with a specific activity (see “Understanding Service Banks/ Banks” on Page 10[...]

16 Operation frequency flash for about 3 seconds. If you want to store the frequency anyway , press ENTER again. Y ou can delete the frequency later . 4. T o store the displaye d frequency in the selected channel, press PGM , press the channel number yo u want to ente r the channel and press PGM again, then press ENTER . The channel and frequency f[...]

17 Operation • If you entered a frequency that is already stored in another channel, - dUPL- and the lowe st-numbered channel containing the duplicate frequency flash for about 3 seconds. If you want to store the frequency anyway , press ENTER again. • T o store the displayed frequency in the selected channel, press PGM , press the channel numb[...]

18 Operation frequency number, then i t automatically begins scanning again when the transmission ends on that frequency. Scanning Options While scanning you can select from several options to enhance your scann ing enjoy- ment. • T o reve rse the scanning d irection at any time, press 8 8 8 8 or 9 9 9 9 . • T o set the scann er to remain on th[...]

19 Operation 5. T o clear ano th er channel, use the number keys to enter that channel number , then press PGM again. Or, repeatedly press PGM until the desired channel number appears. Th en repeat Step 4. LISTENING TO THE MARINE BANK 1. T o listen to the marine ban k, repe atedly press BAND until MARINE appears. 2. T o change the channe l, press e[...]

20 Special Features ˆ Special Features USING THE DELAY FUNCTION Many agencies use a two-way radio system that has a period of several seconds between a query and a reply. To avoid missing a reply, you can program a 2– second delay into any channel or frequ ency. When your scanner stops on any cha nnel or frequency with a programmed delay, DLY ap[...]

21 Special Features Reviewing Locked-Out Frequencies To review the freq uencies you locked ou t, hold down L/O (L/O RVW) at least 2 seconds during a search. L-r appears. As you press 8 8 8 8 or 9 9 9 9 , all locked-out frequenci es appear in sequence. When you reach the highest frequency, the scanne r beeps twice then returns to the lowest lo cked-[...]

22 Special Features 2. While you hold down 2 and ENTER , turn on the scanner . The display sh ows oFF tonE or on tonE . Then re lease th e keys. USING A COMPUTER TO PROGRAM THE SCANNER You can connect your scan ner to a personal computer and program frequencies into th e scanner from the computer using an o ptional cable and software. Note: The nec[...]

23 Guide to the Action Bands ˆ Guide to the Action Bands T ypical Band Usage Primary Usage As a general rule, most of the radio activity is concentrated on the following fre que ncies: VHF Band UHF Band Note: Remote control stations and mobil e units operate at 5 MHz higher than their associated base stations and relay repeater units. HF Band (3.0[...]

24 Guide to the Action Bands BAND ALLOCATION To help decide which frequency ranges to scan, use the followin g listing of the typical services that use the frequencies your scanner re ceives. These frequencies are subj ect to change, and might vary from area to area. For a more complete listing, refer to the Beyond Police Call , available at your l[...]

25 Guide to the Action Bands 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 ...................................................................[...]

26 Guide to the Action Bands 157.470–157.515 .............................................................................................................. TO W 157.530–157.725 ....................................................................................................... IND, T A XI 157.740 .......... .............. ........... .......[...]

27 Guide to the Action Bands 462.9375–463.1875 ........................................................................................................... M ED 463.200–467.925 ............................................................................................................... . B U S FM-TV Audio Broadcast, UHF Wide Ba nd (470–512 M[...]

28 Troubleshooting ˆ T roubleshooting If your scanner stops operating properly, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If the scan ner still does not ope rate properly, take it to your local R adioShack store for assistance. RESETTING/INITIALIZING THE SCANNER If the scanner's displ ay locks up or does not work properly after [...]

29 Troubleshooting Initializing the Scanner Important : This procedure clears all infor- mation you stored in the scanner's memory. Initialize the scanner only wh en you are su re the scanner is not working properl y. 1. T urn off the scanner , then turn it on again. 2. Hold down MON/CL . 3. While you hold down MON/CL , insert a pointed object[...]

30 Specifications ˆ Specifications Frequency Coverage: Ham ................................................................................................ 29–30 MHz (5.0 kHz Steps) VHF Lo ........................................................................................... 30–50 MHz (5.0 kHz Steps) Ham ..................................[...]

31 Specifications Audio Output Power (10% THD) ........ .............. .............. .............. .............. ......... 0.8 W Nominal Built-in Speaker ............................................................ 3 inch (77 mm), 8-Ohm, Dynamic T ype Power Requirements ........ ............... .............. .............. .............. ......[...]

20-423 GE-01D-5370 11 A 0 1 Printed in China A RadioShack Corporation Fort Worth, Texas 76102 Limited One-Y ear Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufactu ring defects in material and workman- ship under normal use for one (1 ) year from t he da te of pu rchase from Radi oSha ck compan y- owned stores and authorized RadioSha[...]