GRE PSR-255 User manual

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PSR-255
50-CHANNEL SCANNER
OWNER'S MANUAL

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FEATURES
Your new PSR-255 50-Channel Portable Scanner gives you
direct access to over 26,000 exciting frequencies, including
police and fire departments, ambulance services, and ama-
teur radio services. You can select up to 50 channels to scan,
and you can change your selection at any time.
The secret to your scanner's ability to scan so many frequen-
cies is its custom-designed microprocessor - a tiny, built-in
computer.
Your scanner has these special features:
Ten Preprogrammed Search Bands - let you search for
transmissions within preset frequency ranges, so you can
find interesting frequencies more quickly.
Fifty Channels - let you store up to 50 of your favorite fre-
quencies for easy recall and scanning.
Duplicate Frequency Check - automatically warns you if
you try to store a frequency you've already stored, to help
you use the scanner's memory more efficiently.
Monitor Memory - lets you temporarily save a frequency
located during a direct search, so you can move it to chan-
nel storage later.
Channel Lockout - keeps channels you select from being
scanned.
Memory Backup - keeps the channel frequencies stored in
memory for about 1 hour during a power loss.
Two-Second Scan Delay - delays scanning for 2 seconds
before moving to another channel, so you can hear more
replies.
Key Lock - lets you lock the keys to help prevent acciden-
tally changing the scanner's programming.
Flexible Antenna with BNC Connector - provides excellent
reception. The BNC connector makes it easy to attach and
remove the antenna or a variety of optional antennas.
Liquid Crystal Display - clearly displays how the scanner is
set and makes it easy to change those settings.
Three Power Options - you can power the scanner from
internal batteries (not supplied - including non-rechargeable
batteries, rechargeable batteries, or a rechargeable scanner
battery pack) or external AC or DC power (using optional
adapters).

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Your PSR-255 scanner can receive all of these frequencies:
h26-54 MHz
h68-88 MHz
h137-174 MHz
h380-512 MHz
For a list of the frequency ranges in the ten preprogrammed
search bands, see "Search Bands".
We recommend you record your scanner's serial number
here. This number is on the scanner's back panel.
Serial Number: ____________________
CONTENTS
PREPARATION..............................................................................4
Power Sources .............................................................................4
Connecting the Antenna ..............................................................7
Using the belt Clip ........................................................................7
Connecting an Earphone/Headphones .......................................7
Connecting an Extension Speaker ..............................................8
YOUR SCANNER..........................................................................9
A Look at the Keypad ...................................................................9
A Look at the Display..................................................................10
Understanding Bands/Monitor Memory.....................................11
OPERATION ...............................................................................12
Turning On the Scanner/Setting Volume And Squelch..............12
Storing Active Frequencies ........................................................12
Moving a Frequency From the Monitor Memory to a Channel..15
Monitoring a Stored Channel .....................................................15
Scanning the Channels ..............................................................15
Listening to the Monitor Memory ...............................................16
Clearing a Channel .....................................................................16
SPECIAL FEATURES..................................................................17
Delay...........................................................................................17
Locking Out a Channel...............................................................17
Using the Display Backlight .......................................................17
Turning the Key Tone On And Off..............................................18
Using the Keylock.......................................................................18
GENERAL GUIDE TO SCANNING .............................................19
Birdie Frequencies .....................................................................19
Specified Intervals ......................................................................19
TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................20
Resetting/Initializing the Scanner...............................................21
CARE AND MAINTENANCE .......................................................22
SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................23

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PREPARATION
POWER SOURCES
You can power your scanner from any of four sources:
hInternal batteries (not supplied) with the provided battery
holder
hA rechargeable scanner battery pack (not supplied)
hStandard AC power (using an optional AC adapter)
hVehicle battery power (using an optional DC cigarette-
lighter adapter)
You can power your scanner from six AA batteries. For the
longest operation and best performance, we recommend
alkaline batteries. You can also power the scanner using a
rechargeable scanner battery pack or rechargeable nickel-
cadmium batteries, and recharge it as you use the scanner.
Caution: Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of
batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or recharge-
able batteries of different capacities.
Notes:
hThe PWR jack lets you connect an external AC or DC
adapter to operate the scanner. Connecting an adapter
to PWR disconnects the internal batteries. You can use
the PWR jack with either non-rechargeable or recharge-
able nickel-cadmium batteries installed.
hThe CHG jack lets you connect an external AC or DC
adapter to operate the scanner. The internal batteries re-
main connected when you connect an adapter to CHG,
and get recharged when you connect a charger.
Warning: Never use the CHG jack with non-rechargeable
batteries! If you try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries,
they could get very hot and explode.
Battery Install
1. Press down on the battery compartment cover on the bot-
tom of the scanner and slide the cover in the direction to
remove it.

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2. Slide the battery holder out of the battery compartment.
3. If you are installing individual batteries, insert six AA bat-
teries in the battery holder as indicated by the polarity
symbols (+ and –) marked on the battery holder.
4. Slide the battery holder or battery pack into the compart-
ment.
Caution: The battery holder or battery pack fits only one
way inside the battery compartment. Do not force it.
5. Replace the cover.
When battery power is low, BATT flashes and the scanner
beeps about every 3 seconds. Immediately replace all six
non-rechargeable batteries or recharge the rechargeable
batteries or battery pack.
Caution: Always dispose of old batteries promptly and prop-
erly. Do not bury or burn them.
Using Standard AC Power
To power the scanner from AC power, you need an AC
adapter.
Cautions:
hYou must use an AC adapter that supplies 9 volts and
delivers at least 200 milliamps. Its center tip must be set
to negative, and its barrel plug must correctly fit the
scanner's PWR/CHG jack. The recommended adapter
meets these specifications. Using an adapter that does
not meet these specifications could damage the scanner
or the adapter.
hWhen you finish using the AC adapter, disconnect it from
the AC outlet first. Then disconnect it from the scanner.
Plug the adapter's barrel plug into the scanner's PWR jack.
Then plug the adapter's power module into a standard AC
outlet.
Using Vehicle Battery Power
To power the scanner from your vehicle's cigarette-lighter
socket, you need a DC adapter.

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Cautions:
hYou must use a DC adapter that supplies 9 volts and de-
livers at least 200 milliamps. Its center tip must be set to
negative, and its plug must correctly fit the scanner's PWR/
CHG jack. The recommended adapter meets these speci-
fications. Using an adapter that does not meet these speci-
fications could damage the scanner or the adapter.
hTo protect your vehicle's electrical system, always plug
the adapter into the scanner before you plug it into your
vehicle's cigarette-lighter socket. Always unplug the
adapter from the vehicle's cigarette-lighter socket before
you unplug it from the scanner.
Plug the adapter's barrel plug into the scanner's PWR jack.
Then plug the adapter's power module into your vehicle's
cigarette-lighter socket.
Charging a Rechargeable Battery Pack/
Rechargeable Batteries
Your scanner has a built-in charging circuit that lets you
charge a rechargeable battery pack or rechargeable nickel-
cadmium batteries while it is in the scanner. To charge it,
simply connect an AC or DC adapter to the scanner's CHG
jack.
It takes about 14-16 hours to recharge a battery pack (re-
chargeable batteries) that is fully discharged. You can oper-
ate the scanner while recharging the battery pack (recharge-
able batteries), but charging takes longer.
Note: A rechargeable battery pack (rechargeable batteries)
lasts longer if you let it fully discharge once a month. To do
this, simply use the scanner until BATT flashes and the scan-
ner beeps about every 3 seconds. Then fully charge it.
Important! At the end of a rechargeable battery pack or bat-
teries useful life, it must be recycled or disposed of properly.
Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste man-
agement authorities for information on recycling or disposal
programs in your area. Some options that might be avail-
able are: municipal curb-side collection, drop-off boxes a
retailers such as your local store, recycling collection cen-
ters, and mailback programs.

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CONNECTING THE ANTENNA
Follow these steps to attach the supplied flexible antenna to
your scanner.
1 Align the slots around the scanner's connector with the
tabs on the ANT jack.
2. Press the antenna down over the jack and turn the
antenna's base clockwise until it locks into place.
Connecting an Optional Antenna
The ANT jack on the top of the scanner makes it easy to use
the scanner with a variety of antennas. Instead of the sup-
plied antenna, you can attach a different one, such as an
external mobile antenna or outdoor base station antenna.
Follow the installation instructions supplied with the antenna,
route the antenna cable to the scanner, then connect it to the
ANT jack.
Warning: Use extreme caution when installing or removing
an outdoor base station antenna. If the antenna starts to fall,
let it go! It could contact overhead power lines, if the an-
tenna 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.
USING THE BELT CLIP
You can use the belt clip for hands-free carrying when you
are on the go. Simply slide the belt clip over your belt or
waistband.
CONNECTING AN EARPHONE/
HEADPHONES
For private listening, you can plug an earphone or mono
headphones with a 3.5 mm plug into the PHONE jack on top
of your scanner. This disconnects the internal speaker.
Caution: To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines
when you use an earphone or headphones:

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hDo not listen at extremely high volume levels. Ex-
tended high-volume listening can lead to perma-
nent hearing loss.
hOnce you set the volume, do not increase it. Over
time, your ears adapt to the volume level, so a vol-
ume level that does not cause discomfort might still
damage your hearing.
Warning: Do not use an earphone or headphones with
your scanner when operating a motor vehicle or riding
a bicycle, in or near traffic. Doing so can create a traf-
fic hazard and could be illegal in some areas.
CONNECTING AN EXTENSION
SPEAKER
In a noisy area, an extension speaker or an amplified
speaker might provide more comfortable listening.
Plug the speaker cable's 3.5 mm plug into your
scanner's PHONE jack.

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YOUR SCANNER
A LOOK AT THE KEYPAD
Your scanner's keys might seem confusing at first but this
information should help you understand each key's function.
SCAN - scans through the programmed channels.
MANUAL - stops scanning to let you directly enter a channel
number.
BAND - selects a preprogrammed search band.
MON - accesses the monitor memory.
LIGHT - turns on/off the display's backlight
/\ or \/ - searches down or up from the currently displayed
frequency, or selects the direction when you scan channels.
(key symbol) - locks/unlocks the keypad to prevent acci-
dental entries.
CLEAR - clears an incorrect entry.
PGM - lets you program frequencies into channels.
Number Keys - use these keys to enter the numbers for a
channel or frequency.
DLY/. (delay/decimal point) - programs a 2-second delay for
the selected channel, or enters a decimal point (necessary
when programming frequencies).
L-OUT/E (lockout/enter) - locks out channels so they will not
be scanned, or enters frequencies into channels.

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A LOOK AT THE DISPLAY
The display has indicators that show the scanner's current
operation.
MAN - appears when you manually select a channel.
SCAN - appears when you scan channels.
MON - appears when you listen to the monitor memory.
BATT - appears when battery power is low.
L/O - appears when you manually select a channel you locked
out.
SRCH - appears during a band or direct frequency search.
/\ or \/ - indicates the search or scan direction.
DELAY - appears when you program a 2-seconds delay for a
channel.
PGM - appears while you program frequencies into the
scanner's channels.
(key symbol) - appears when you lock the keypad.
CH - appears after the digits (1-50) that show which channel
the scanner is tuned to.
-d - appears during a direct frequency search.
000.000 - the digits on the right of the display show which
frequency the scanner is tuned to.
Error - appears when you make an entry error.
dUPL (duplicate) - appears when you try to store a frequency
that is already stored in another channel.

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UNDERSTANDING BANDS/MONITOR
MEMORY
Search Bands
Your scanner can tune over 26,000 different frequencies.
Many of these frequencies are grouped within permanent
memory locations called search bands.
Band Displayed Search Range Description
0 26-40 MHz VHF Lo
1 40-54 MHz VHF-Lo
2 68-78 MHz VHF-Lo
3 78-88 MHz VHF-Hi
4 137-144 MHz VHF-Hi
5 144-146 MHz 2-m Amateur Radio
6 146-174 MHz VHF-Hi
7 410-430 MHz UHF
8 430-440 MHz 70-cm Amateur Radio
9 440-470 MHz UHF
You can search these bands to quickly find active frequen-
cies you might want to store into the scanner's channels. For
example, if you wanted to search for transmissions between
amateur radio operators, you could search only the search
bands where you are most likely to hear the transmissions
(Bands 5, and 8).
Note: The frequencies in the scanner's search bands are
preset. You cannot change them.
Monitor Memory
The scanner also has a monitor memory that you can use to
temporarily store a frequency while you decide whether to
save it into a channel. This is handy for quickly storing an
active frequency when you are searching through an entire
band using direct search. See "Direct Search".

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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 SQUELCH fully counterclockwise.
2. Turn VOLUME clockwise until it clicks and you hear a
hissing sound.
3. Turn SQUELCH clockwise until the hissing sound stops.
Notes:
hIf the scanner picks up unwanted, partial, or very weak
transmissions, turn SQUELCH clockwise to decrease the
scanner's sensitivity to these signals. If you want to listen
to a weak or distant station, turn SQUELCH counterclock-
wise.
hIf SQUELCH is adjusted so you always hear a hissing
sound, the scanner does not scan properly.
hIf you have not stored frequencies into any channels, the
scanner does not scan.
STORING ACTIVE FREQUENCIES
You can manually store frequencies you already know into
the scanner's channels. You can also store frequencies you
found using band search directly into channels. You can also
store a frequency into a monitor memory then store it into a
channel.
If you do not have a reference to frequencies in your area,
follow the steps in "Band Search" or "Direct Search" to search
for transmissions.
Manually Storing Frequencies
If you know a frequency you want to store, you can store it
manually.
1. Press PGM. PGM appears.
2. Use the number keys to enter the channel number where
you want to store the frequency (1-50), then press PGM
again. Or, repeatedly press PGM until the desired chan-
nel number appears.

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3. Use the number keys and DLY/. to enter the frequency
(including the decimal point) you want to store into that
channel.
4. Press Eto store the frequency.
Notes:
hIf you entered an invalid frequency in Step 3, Error ap-
pears, the channel number flashes, and the scanner beeps
three times after you press E. Simply repeat Steps 3 and
4.
hYour scanner automatically rounds the entered frequency
down to the nearest valid frequency. For example, if you
enter a frequency of 151.4730, your scanner accepts it as
151.4700.
hIf you entered a frequency that is already stored in an-
other channel, dUPL (duplicate) and the lowest-numbered
channel containing the duplicate frequency flash for about
3 seconds. To store the frequency anyway, press Eagain.
5. Repeat Steps 2-4 to store more frequencies into chan-
nels.
Band Search
If you do not know of a frequency to store, you can search
your scanner's preprogrammed search bands (see "Search
Bands") for active frequencies, then store any that you find
into your scanner's channels.
Follow these steps to search for and store active frequen-
cies using band search.
1. Press BAND. The last selected band number (bfollowed
by the band number) and the frequency search range
appear for about 2 seconds.
2. To select a different band within 2 seconds, enter the
band's number (0-9) or repeatedly press BAND until the
desired band number appears.
After about 2 seconds, SRCH, /\ appears, the next avail-
able channel flashes, and the scanner begins searching
rapidly upward in that band (from lowest to highest fre-
quency) for an active frequency.

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Notes:
hTo reverse the search direction at any time, hold down \/
or /\ for about 1 second.
hTo search the band upward or downward in small incre-
ments (in steps or 5 of 12.5 kHz, depending on the band),
repeatedly press and release \/ or /\.
The scanner stops when it finds an active frequency.
3. To store the displayed frequency in the channel currently
flashing on the display, press E. The scanner stores the
frequency, then the next available channel flashes and
continue the search.
Notes: After you store a frequency into the last available chan-
nel, – –CH appears instead of a channel number. If you try to
store a channel while – –CH appears, Ch FULL appears
briefly. In order to store more frequencies, you must clear
some channels. See "Clearing a Channel".
Direct Search
You can search up or down from the currently displayed fre-
quency and store the frequency into the monitor memory.
1. Press MANUAL or PGM, then use the number keys and
DLY/. to enter the frequency where you want to start the
search.
Note: To start from a frequency already stored in one of
your scanner's channels, press MANUAL or PGM, enter
the desired channel number, then press MANUAL or PGM
again.
2. Hold down /\ or \/ for about 1 second to search up or
down from the selected frequency.
When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops
searching.
3. To storethe frequencyin themonitor memory, simplypress
MON. MON appears on the display.
4. To continue the search, hold down /\ or \/ for about 1
second.

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MOVING A FREQUENCY FROM THE
MONITOR MEMORY TO A CHANNEL
1. Press MANUAL, enter the channel number where you
want to store the frequency, then press PGM. PGM, the
frequency number or 000.0000, and the selected chan-
nel number appear.
2. Press MON. MON and the frequency appear and the chan-
nel number flashes.
3. Press E. MON disappears, the channel number stops
flashing, and the scanner stores the frequency in the se-
lected channel.
MONITORING A STORED CHANNEL
You can continuously monitor a specific channel without
scanning. This is useful if you hear an emergency broadcast
on a channel and do not want to miss any details - even
though there might be periods of silence - or if you simply
want to monitor that channel.
Follow these steps to manually select a channel.
1. Press MANUAL.
2. Enter the channel number.
3. Press MANUAL again.
SCANNING THE CHANNELS
To begin scanning channels or to start scanning again after
monitoring a specific channel, press SCAN.
SCAN and /\ appear, and the scanner begins to rapidly scan
upward until it finds an active frequency.
If the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops and dis-
plays that channel and frequency number, then it automati-
cally begins scanning again when the transmission ends on
that frequency.
Notes:
hYou must store frequencies into channels before the scan-
ner can scan them.
hTo change the scanning direction, press /\ or \/.
hThe scanner does not scan empty channels.

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LISTENING TO THE MONITOR MEMORY
To listen to the frequency stored in the monitor memory, press
MANUAL then MON. MAN, MON and the frequency stored
in the monitor memory appear.
CLEARING A CHANNEL
1. Press MANUAL.
2. Use the number keys to enter the channel number con-
taining the frequency you want to delete, then press PGM.
Or, repeatedly press PGM until the desired channel num-
ber appears. PGM appears.
3. Press CLEAR. The frequency number flashes.
4. Press L-OUT. L/O (lockout - see "Locking Out a Channel")
appears, the channel number flashes, and the frequency
number changes to 000.0000 to indicate the frequency is
cleared.
5. To delete more frequencies, repeat Steps 2-4.

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SPECIAL FEATURES
DELAY
Many agencies use a two-way radio system that might have
a pause of several seconds between a query and a reply. To
avoid missing a reply, you can program a 2-seocnd delay
into any of your scanner's channels. Then, when the scan-
ner stops on the channel, DELAY appears and the scanner
continues to monitor the channel for 2 seconds after the trans-
mission stops before it resumes scanning.
You can program a 2-second delay in any of these ways:
hIf the scanner is scanning and stops on an active chan-
nel, quickly press DLY before it starts to scan again.
hIf the desired channel is not selected, manually select the
channel then press DLY.
hIf the scanner is searching, press DLY during the search.
DELAY appears and the scanner automatically adds a 2-sec-
ond delay to every transmission it stops on.
LOCKING OUT A CHANNEL
You can scan existing channels faster by locking out a chan-
nel that has a continuous transmission.
To lock out a channel, select the channel then press L-OUT.
L/O appears.
To remove the lockout from a channel, manually select the
channel then press L-OUT until L/O disappears.
Notes:
hYou can still manually select locked-out channels.
hYour scanner automatically locks out empty channels.
USING THE DISPLAY BACKLIGHT
You can turn on the display's backlight for easy viewing in
dimly-lit areas. Press LIGHT to turn on the display light for 5
seconds. To turn off the light before it automatically turns off,
press LIGHT again.

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TURNING THE KEY TONE ON AND OFF
Each time you press any of the scanner's keys (except (key
symbol) and LIGHT), the scanner sounds a tone.
Follow these steps to turn the scanner's key tone off or back
on.
1. If the scanner is on, turn VOLUME counterclockwise until
it clicks to turn it off.
2. While you hold down the 2and Ekeys, turn on the scan-
ner.
3. After 1 second, release 2and E.
USING THE KEYLOCK
Once you program your scanner, you can protect it from
accidental program changes by turning on the keylock fea-
ture. When the keypad is locked, the only controls that oper-
ate are LIGHT, VOLUME, and SQUELCH (and the scanner
continues to scan channels).
To turn on the keylock, hold down (key symbol) for about 3
seconds until (key symbol) appears. The scanner beeps
three times (if the key tone is turned on). To turn it off, hold
(key symbol) for about 3 seconds until (key symbol) disap-
pears.

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GENERAL GUIDE TO SCANNING
BIRDIE FREQUNCIES
Every scanner has birdie frequencies. Birdies are signals
created inside the scanner's receiver. These operating fre-
quencies might interfere with broadcasts on the same fre-
quencies. If you program one of these frequencies, you hear
only noise on that frequency. If the interference is not se-
vere, you might be able to turn SQUELCH clockwise to cut
out the birdie.
The birdie frequencies on this unit to watch for are:
29.800 30.735 42.600 51.200
52.250 69.260 72.600 76.800
85.400 140.800 149.400 151.105
153.190 153.600 157.385 1593480
161.580 166.400
To find the birdies in your scanner, being 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. Use the search function and scan every frequency
range from its lowest frequency to the highest. Occasionally,
the searching will stop as if it had found a signal, often with-
out any sound. That is a birdie. Make a list of all the birdies in
your scanner for future reference.
SPECIFIED INTERVALS
Frequencies in different bands are accessible only at spe-
cific intervals. For example:
Frequency Ranges Specified Interval
26-54, 68-88, 137-144 and 146-174 MHz 5.0 kHz steps
144-146 and 380-512 MHz 12.5 kHz steps

20
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your scanner is not working as it should, these sugges-
tions might help you eliminate the problem. If the scanner
still does not operate properly, take it to your local store for
assistance.
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