RadioShack Pro 79 Vhf Uhf Handheld Scanner Reciever Owners Manual

							Owner’s ManualCat. No. 20-314
PRO-79
200-Channel VHF/Air/UHF
Handheld Scanner
Please read before using this equipment.
(illus - show front of product)
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FEATURES
Your new RadioShack PRO-79 200 Channel VHF/Air/UHF
Handheld Scanner lets you scan conventional transmissions,
and is preprogrammed with search banks for convenience. By
pressing a single button, you can quickly search those frequen-
cies most commonly used by public service and other agencies
without tedious and complicated programming.
This scanner gives you direct access to over 25,000 exciting fre-
quencies, including those used by police and fire departments,
ambulance services, and amateur radio services, and you can
change your selection at any time. 
Your scanner also has these special features:
Four Service Banks
 — let you search preset frequencies in sep-
arate ham radio, police/fire/emergency, aircraft, and marine
banks, to make it easy to locate specific types of calls.
Display Backlight
 — makes the scanner easy to read in low-
light situations.
Duplicate Channel Alert
 — warns you when the frequency you
are storing already exists in memory.
Lockout Function
 — lets you set your scanner to skip over
specified channels or frequencies when scanning or searching.
Memory Backup
 — keeps the channel frequencies stored in
memory for about an hour in the event of a power loss.
Ten Channel-Storage Banks
 — you can store 20 channels in
each bank (200 total channels), letting you group channels so
you can more easily identify calls.
20 Monitor Memories 
— let you temporarily save up to 20 fre-
quencies you locate during a search, so you can move selected
frequencies to channel storage later.
Direct Search 
— lets you search for new and unlisted frequen-
cies starting from a specified frequency.
©
 1999 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack and Adaptaplug are registered trademarks
used by Tandy Corporation.
HyperSearch and HyperScan are trademarks used by Tandy Corporation.
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Weather Alert 
— the scanner automatically sounds an alert
when it receives a weather emergency signal, providing more
complete information about weather conditions in your immedi-
ate area.
Weather Band Key 
— scans seven preprogrammed weather
frequencies to keep you informed about current weather condi-
tions.
Wired Programming 
— you can connect your scanner to a per-
sonal computer and program frequencies into the scanner from
the computer using an optional cable and software.
Note:
 The necessary cable and software, and additional
information about using your personal computer to program
your scanner, are available at your local RadioShack store.
Scan Delay
 — delays scanning for about 2 seconds before
moving to another channel, so you can hear more replies that
are transmitted on the same channel.
Priority Channel
 — lets you program a channel as the priority
channel. As the scanner scans, it checks the priority channel ev-
ery 2 seconds so you do not miss transmissions on that chan-
nel.
HyperSearchä 
and HyperScanä 
— let you set the scanner to
search at up to 50 steps per second (in frequency bands with 5
kHz steps) and scan at up to 25 channels per second, to help
you quickly find interesting broadcasts.
Manual Access
 — you can directly access any stored channel
by entering that channel’s number.
Key Lock 
— lets you lock the scanner’s keys to help prevent
accidentally changing the scanner’s programming.
Liquid-Crystal Display
 — makes it easy to view and change
programming information.
Supplied Flexible Antenna with BNC Connector 
— provides
good reception of strong local signals. You can connect an ex-
ternal antenna with a BNC connector to the scanner for im-
proved reception of distant/weaker signals.
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Key Confirmation Tones
 — the scanner sounds a confirmation
tone when you perform an operation correctly, and an error tone
if you make an error.
Three Power Options 
— you can power the scanner from inter-
nal (rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries) or external AC
or DC power (using an optional AC or DC adapter).
Your PRO-79 scanner can receive these bands:
Note: 
See “Specifications” on Page 49 for more information
about the scanner’s frequency steps.
FCC NOTICE
Your scanner might cause radio or TV interference even when it
is operating properly. To determine whether your scanner is
causing the interference, turn off your scanner. If the interfer-
ence goes away, your scanner is causing it. Try the following
methods to eliminate the interference:
• Move your scanner away from the receiver.
• Connect your scanner to an outlet that is on a different elec-
trical circuit from the receiver.
• Contact your local RadioShack store for help.
This equipment complies with Part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Opera-
tion is subject to the following conditions; (1) this device must
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
Frequency 
Range (MHz)Types of Transmissions
29–54 10-Meter Ham Band, VHF Lo, 6-Meter Ham Band
108–136.9875 Aircraft
137–174 Military Land Mobile, 2-Meter Ham Band, VHF Hi
380–512 UHF Aircraft, Federal Government, 70-cm Ham 
Band, UHF Standard Band, UHF “T” Band
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Note:
 Mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or requires a permit
in some areas. Check the laws in your area.
SCANNING LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different groups
including police and fire departments, ambulance services, gov-
ernment 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 (EC-
PA), you are subject to fines and possible imprisonment for in-
tentionally listening to, using, or divulging the contents of such a
transmission unless you have the consent of a party to the com-
munication (unless such activity is otherwise illegal).
This scanner is designed to prevent reception of illegal trans-
missions, in compliance with the law which requires that scan-
ners be manufactured in such a way as to not be easily
modifiable to pick up those transmissions. Do not open your
scanners case to make any modifications 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.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ............................................................................  8
Installing Batteries  ............................................................  8
Using AC Power ................................................................  9
Using Vehicle Battery Power .............................................  9
Charging Rechargeable Batteries  ..................................  10
Connecting an Antenna  ..................................................  11
Connecting the Supplied Antenna  ..............................  11
Connecting an Outdoor Antenna  ................................  12
Connecting an Earphone/Headphones  ..........................  13
Listening Safely  ..........................................................  13
Traffic Safety  ..............................................................  14
Connecting an Extension Speaker  .................................  14
Understanding Your Scanner  .............................................  15
A Look at the Keypad  .....................................................  15
A Look at the Display  ......................................................  17
Understanding Banks  .....................................................  19
Channel Storage Banks ..............................................  19
Service Banks  .............................................................  20
Monitor Memories  ...........................................................  24
Operation .............................................................................  25
Turning On the Scanner/Setting Volume and Squelch ....  25
Resetting/Initializing the Scanner  ...................................  25
Resetting the Scanner  ................................................  26
Initializing the Scanner  ...............................................  26
Storing Known Frequencies into Channels .....................  27
Finding and Storing Active Frequencies  .........................  28
Searching the Service Banks ......................................  28
Using Direct Search  ....................................................  29
Using Monitor Memory  ...................................................  31
Listening to a Monitor Memory  ...................................  31
Moving a Frequency from a Monitor Memory
to a Channel  ...............................................................  31
Scanning the Stored Channels  .......................................  32
Turning Channel-Storage Banks Off and On  ..................  33
Monitoring a Stored Channel  ..........................................  33
Clearing a Stored Channel  .............................................  34
Listening to the Marine Bank  ..........................................  34
Listening to the Weather Band  .......................................  34
WX Alert  .....................................................................  35
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Special Features  ..................................................................  36
Delay ...............................................................................  36
Locking Out Channels or Frequencies  ............................  36
Locking Out Channels  .................................................  36
Locking Out Frequencies  ............................................  37
Reviewing Locked-Out Frequencies  ...........................  37
Removing Lockouts From All Frequencies ..................  37
Removing Lockouts From All Frequencies
in All Service Banks .....................................................  38
Using Priority ...................................................................  38
Using the Display Backlight  .............................................  39
Turning the Key Tone On and Off  ....................................  39
Using the Key Lock ..........................................................  39
Avoiding Image Frequencies  ...........................................  40
A General Guide to Scanning  .............................................  41
Guide to Frequencies  ......................................................  41
National Weather Frequencies  ....................................  41
Birdie Frequencies  ......................................................  41
Guide to the Action Bands  ..............................................  42
Typical Band Usage (MHz)  .........................................  42
Primary Usage .............................................................  42
Band Allocation  ...............................................................  43
Frequency Conversion  ....................................................  46
Troubleshooting ...................................................................  47
Care and Maintenance .........................................................  48
Specifications ......................................................................  49
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PREPARATION
Note:
 If the scanner’s display locks up or does not work properly
after you connect a power source, you might need to reset or ini-
tialize the scanner.
Important:
 If you have problems, first try to reset the scanner
(see “Resetting the Scanner” on Page 26). If that does not work,
you can initialize the scanner (see “Initializing the Scanner” on
Page 26); however, this clears all information stored in your
scanner’s memory.
INSTALLING BATTERIES
You can power your scanner with four AA batteries (not sup-
plied). For the best performance and longest life, we recom-
mend RadioShack alkaline batteries. Or, you can use
rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries and charge them either
inside or outside the scanner. Both types of batteries are avail-
able at your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recom-
mended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries
(standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable bat-
teries of different capacities.
Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Slide the battery compartment cover in the
direction of the arrow to remove it.
2. If you are using non-rechargeable batteries,
place them into the supplied black holder,
as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and
–) marked on the holder. Or, if you are using
rechargeable batteries, place them into the
supplied yellow holder, as indicated by the
polarity symbols (+ and –) marked on the holder.
3. Place the battery holder (with batteries) into the battery
compartment.
4. Replace the cover.
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When B appears on the display and the scanner beeps continu-
ously, or if the scanner stops operating properly, replace the bat-
teries.
Warning: 
Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not
burn or bury them.
Caution:
 If you do not plan to use the scanner with batteries for
a month or more, remove the batteries. Batteries can leak chem-
icals that can destroy electronic parts.
USING AC POWER
You can power the scanner using a 9V, 300-mA AC adapter
(RadioShack Cat. No. 273-1767A) and a size C Adaptaplug®
adapter (neither supplied). Both are available at your local Ra-
dioShack store.
Cautions:
You must use a Class 2 power source that supplies
regulated 9V DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its
center tip must be set to positive and its plug must
fit the scanners 
PWR 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.
To power the scanner using an AC adapter, attach the Adapta-
plug adapter to the AC adapter so the tip reads positive (+), then
insert the Adaptaplug adapter into the scanner’s 
PWR jack.
Then connect the other end of the adapter to a standard AC out-
let.
USING VEHICLE BATTERY POWER
You can power the scanner from a vehicle’s 12V power source
(such as a cigarette-lighter socket) using a 9V, 300-mA DC
adapter and a size C Adaptaplug adapter (neither supplied).
Both are available at your local RadioShack store.
!
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Cautions:
You must use a power source that supplies 9V DC
and delivers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must be
set to positive and its plug must fit the scanners
PWR jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these speci-
fications could damage the scanner or the adapter.
• Always connect the DC adapter to the scanner before you
connect it to the power source. When you finish, disconnect
the adapter from the power source before you disconnect it
from the scanner.
To power the scanner using a DC adapter, attach the Adapta-
plug adapter to the DC adapter so the tip reads positive (+) and
set the adapter’s voltage switch to 9V. Next, insert the Adapta-
plug adapter into the scanner’s 
PWR jack, then plug the DC
adapter into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket.
Note:
 If you use a cigarette lighter power cable and your vehi-
cle’s engine is running, you might hear electrical noise from the
engine while scanning. This is normal.
CHARGING RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
Your scanner has a built-in charging circuit that lets you charge
Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries while they are in the scanner. To
charge rechargeable batteries, simply connect an AC adapter to
the scanner’s 
PWR jack.
Notes:
 
• You must have installed Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries in the
supplied yellow rechargeable battery holder in order to
charge them while they are in the scanner. If you use Ni-MH
or high-capacity Ni-Cd batteries in your scanner, you must
use an external charger to charge them.
• You cannot use a DC adapter to recharge rechargeable bat-
teries in the scanner due to the limitations of the scanner’s
charging circuit.
It takes between 14 and 16 hours to recharge rechargeable bat-
teries that are fully discharged. You can operate the scanner
while recharging the batteries, but charging takes longer.
!
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