20-147.fm Page 1 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM Cat. No. 20-147 OWNER’S MANUAL PRO-2056 50-Channel Home/Mobile Scanner Please read before using this equipment.
0-147.fm Page 2 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM FEATURES Your new RadioShack PRO-2056 50Channel Home/Mobile Scanner lets you in on all the action. You can quickly tune to over 2,000 preprogrammed frequencies and search over 20,000 frequencies that include those used by police and fire departments, ambulance services, aircraft communications, amateur radio services, and transportation services.
20-147.fm Page 3 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM External Speaker Jack — makes it easy to connect an optional external speaker or headphones to the scanner. We recommend you record your scanner’s serial number here. The number is on the scanner’s back panel. Two Power Options — you can power the scanner from standard AC power with the supplied AC adapter or your vehicle’s battery with the supplied DC power cord or DC cigarettelighter power cord.
20-147.fm Page 4 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 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.
20-147.fm Page 5 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM CONTENTS Preparation............................................................................................................ 7 Connecting an Antenna ................................................................................... 7 Connecting the Telescoping Antenna ........................................................ 7 Connecting the Window-Mount Antenna ................................................... 7 Connecting an External Antenna ........
20-147.fm Page 6 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM A General Guide to Scanning ............................................................................ 25 Guide to Frequencies ..................................................................................... 25 US Weather Frequencies ........................................................................ 25 Other Weather Frequencies .................................................................... 25 Ham Radio Frequencies .........................
20-147.fm Page 7 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM PREPARATION CONNECTING AN ANTENNA Connecting the WindowMount Antenna Connecting the Telescoping Antenna You can install the supplied windowmount antenna on the inside of your vehicle’s windshield. Follow these steps to install the window-mount antenna. The supplied telescoping antenna helps your scanner receive strong local signals.
20-147.fm Page 8 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 2. Clean the selected windshield area, position the antenna’s clear wire on the windshield, then press firmly on both suction cups to secure it in place. 3. Route the antenna’s black cable down the edge of the windshield, around the edge of the dash, and underneath it. Be sure the cable does not interfere with the vehicle’s pedals or other moving parts.
20-147.fm Page 9 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 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, contact with 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. Caution: Do not run the cable over sharp edges or objects that move.
20-147.fm Page 10 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 4. Attach the scanner to the mounting bracket using the supplied mounting knobs. (add corrected illus F8) 3. Insert the power cord’s barrel plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the back of the scanner. To connect the supplied DC cigarettelighter power cord, insert its barrel plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the back of the scanner, then plug the power cord into your vehicle’s cigarettelighter socket.
20-147.fm Page 11 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 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. Plug the adapter’s barrel plug into the scanner’s DC 13.8V jack. Then plug the adapter’s power module into a standard AC outlet. Your scanner’s front feet fold up and down. Adjust them to give you the best view of the display. Using the Supplied AC Adapter Cautions: • Use only the supplied AC adapter.
20-147.fm Page 12 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM If power is continuously supplied to the scanner for at least 24 hours, the memory backup circuit maintains the channels stored in memory for up to 5 days. If power is disconnected and the memory backup circuit becomes too weak to save the scanner’s programming, MEMO LOSS appears again when power is reconnected until you reprogram the scanner. Caution: Do not turn the scanner’s volume all the way up while using headphones. The headphones could be damaged.
20-147.fm Page 13 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCANNER Once you understand a few simple terms we use in this manual and familiarize yourself with your scanner’s features, you can put the scanner to work for you. You simply determine the communications you want to hear, then set the scanner to scan those frequencies. you can easily scan the frequencies typically used by a particular agency. A frequency is the tuning location of a station (expressed in kHz or MHz).
20-147.fm Page 14 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM PRIVATE Bank Your scanner has one PRIVATE bank. This bank contains 20 channels. You can store frequencies from any search band (see “Search Bands” on Page 15), service search bank, or any weather frequency into these channels, then scan the channels by pressing PRIVATE. Notes: • You cannot use the SEARCH key to search for new frequencies in the PRIVATE bank.
20-147.fm Page 15 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM SEARCH BANDS Your scanner has 11 preprogrammed search bands. Each band covers a specific range of frequencies which you can search for specific broadcasts by using the SEARCH and BAND keys. For example, you can search through all frequencies between 29.000 and 30.000 MHz for specific broadcasts. This table shows the search band range displayed by the scanner and the typical usage, frequency coverage, and step rate for each search band range.
20-147.fm Page 16 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM While searching through a search band, you might hear a frequency that you want to store with other frequencies of the same type, so you can scan them all together. You can store any frequency into a channel in the POLICE or FIRE/EMG service search banks or the PRIVATE bank. See “Storing Frequencies into Channels” on Page 21. Notes: • Some of the frequencies in the search bands are also included in the scanner’s service search banks.
20-147.fm Page 17 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM A LOOK AT THE FRONT PANEL A quick glance at this section will help you better understand each key’s function. HOLD — stops scanning or searching. s and t — moves up or down through frequencies and channels or changes the search direction. SEARCH — searches for active frequencies within a selected band range, starting from the lowest frequency. See “Using Band Search” on Page 20.
20-147.fm Page 18 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM A LOOK AT THE DISPLAY The display has indicators that show the scanner’s operating mode. A good look at the display will help you understand your scanner’s operation. PRIVATE — appears when you scan the frequencies you stored in the PRIVATE bank’s channels. POLICE, FIRE/EMG, AIR, MRN — appear when you scan the preset frequencies in the named service search bank. WX — appears when you scan the preset weather frequencies.
20-147.fm Page 19 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM OPERATION TURNING ON THE SCANNER/SETTING VOLUME AND SQUELCH Note: Make sure the scanner’s antenna is connected before you turn it on. 1. Turn SQ fully clockwise. of the beep you hear when you press the scanner’s keys. USING SERVICE SEARCH To scan a service search bank, press any of these buttons: • POLICE • FIRE/EMG • AIR • MARINE 2. Turn OFF/VOLUME clockwise until it clicks and you hear a hissing sound. To scan the PRIVATE bank, press PRIVATE.
-147.fm Page 20 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM USING BAND SEARCH Follow these steps to search for transmissions within any of the scanner’s 11 search bands. 1. Be sure MEMOLOCK OFF/ON is set to OFF (see “Using Memolock” on Page 23). 2. Press SEARCH . 3. Repeatedly press BAND until you see the search band you want to search. SRCH and the range for each search band appears. Then, after about 3 seconds, SRCH s or SRCH t appears, and the scanner starts to automatically search the frequencies in the band.
20-147.fm Page 21 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM STORING FREQUENCIES INTO CHANNELS 1. When the scanner displays a frequency you want to store while scanning the banks or searching the search bands, press PROG . CH flashes, and HOLD and the frequency number appear. press SEARCH then start again from Step 1. 3. Press PROG to store the frequency in the displayed channel. Or, repeatedly press s or t, select a channel number, then press PROG.
20-147.fm Page 22 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM CLEARING FREQUENCIES FROM CHANNELS You can clear a frequency from a channel by storing an empty frequency in its place. Notes: • You cannot clear or change any of the frequencies in the scanner’s search bands, any of the scanner’s preset weather frequencies, or the preset frequencies in the service search banks. • When you clear a channel, the scanner automatically locks out the channel (see “Locking Out Channels and Frequencies” on Page 23). 1.
20-147.fm Page 23 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM SPECIAL FEATURES USING MEMOLOCK (add corrected illus F25 showing antenna cable connected to ANT jack. Please make sure vendor places illus properly) To keep from accidentally changing the scanner’s programming, you can lock the scanner’s memory by setting the MEMOLOCK OFF/ON switch on the back of the scanner to ON. If you try to change the scanner’s programming, Prg-Loc appears, and the programming does not change.
20-147.fm Page 24 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM Removing a Lockout from All Channels and Frequencies within a Bank Your scanner has these weather frequencies preprogrammed: • 162.4000 MHz 1. Press the bank key to select the bank containing the channels or frequencies you want to remove a lockout from. • 162.4250 MHz 2. Press HOLD. • 162.5000 MHz 3. Hold down L/O until the scanner beeps softly three times. The scanner removes the lockout from all channels and frequencies within the selected bank.
20-147.fm Page 25 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM A GENERAL GUIDE TO SCANNING 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. GUIDE TO FREQUENCIES US Weather Frequencies 162.400 162.500 162.425 162.525 162.450 162.550 162.475 162.440 163.275 Other Weather Frequencies 161.650 161.
20-147.fm Page 26 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM The birdie frequencies to watch for on this unit are: 31.2000 41.6000 52.0000 114.4000 155.8700 161.8950 162.2950 168.3250 169.5300 173.1450 446.3000 508.7000 511.4000 511.4125 To find the birdies in your scanner, begin by disconnecting the antenna and moving it away from the scanner. Make sure that no other nearby radio or TV sets are turned on near the scanner.
20-147.fm Page 27 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM UHF Band Military Aircraft U.S. Government 70-cm Amateur Low Range FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band 380.00–384.00 MHz 406.00–420.00 MHz 420.00–450.00 MHz 450.00–470.00 MHz 470.00–512.00 MHz Primary Usage As a general rule, most of the radio activity is concentrated on the following frequencies: VHF Band Activities Government, Police, and Fire Emergency Services Railroad Frequencies 153.785–155.980 MHz 158.730–159.460 MHz 160.000–161.
20-147.fm Page 28 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM SPECIFIED INTERVALS Frequencies in different bands are accessible only at specific intervals. For example: Frequency Range(s) 29–54 and 137–174 MHz 380–512 MHz Specified Interval 5.0 kHz steps 12.5 kHz steps 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.
20-147.fm Page 29 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM POL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Police Department PUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Public Safety, Local Government, Forestry Conservation) PSB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public Safety PTR . . . . . . . .
20-147.fm Page 30 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 6-Meter Amateur Band 50.00–54.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HAM U.S. Government Band 137.000–144.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOVT, MIL 2-Meter Amateur Band 144.000–148.000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HAM VHF High Band 148.050–150.345 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20-147.fm Page 31 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM 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 170.175–170.225 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20-147.fm Page 32 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM FREQUENCY CONVERSION The tuning location of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). The 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) ¥ 1000 = 30,620 kHz To convert from kHz to MHz, divide the number of kilohertz by 1,000: 127,800 (kHz) ÷ 1000 = 127.
20-147.fm Page 33 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM TROUBLESHOOTING If your scanner is not working as it should, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If the scanner still does not operate properly, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. Problem The scanner does not work at all. Possible Causes Remedies The AC adapter is not properly connected. Be sure the AC adapter is plugged into a working AC outlet.
20-147.fm Page 34 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM CARE AND MAINTENANCE Your RadioShack PRO-2056 50-Channel Home/Mobile Scanner is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your scanner so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the scanner dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits. Keep the scanner away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature wear of parts.
20-147.fm Page 35 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM REPLACING THE FUSES The fuses in the scanner’s DC power cord and DC cigarette-lighter power cord help protect your scanner from power surges and short circuits. If the fuse in the DC power cord has blown, replace it with a 1-amp, fast-acting glass fuse (such as RadioShack Cat. No. 270-1005). For the fuse in the DC cigarette-lighter power cord, replace it with a 2-amp, fast-acting glass fuse (such as RadioShack Cat. No. 2701007).
20-147.fm Page 36 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Coverage: Ham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29–29.7 MHz (in 5 kHz steps) VHF Lo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.7–50 MHz (in 5 kHz steps) Ham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50–54 MHz (in 5 kHz steps) Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108–136.975 MHz (in 25 kHz steps) Government . . . . .
20-147.fm Page 37 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM Current Drain: Squelched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 mA Unsquelched, full volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 mA Built-in Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Inch (77 mm) 8-ohm, Dynamic Type Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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20-147.fm Page 40 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 3:23 PM Limited One-Year Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers. In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product and the RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store.