Radio Shack PRO-2051 User manual

Please read this user’s guide before installing,
setting up and using your new product
www.radioshack.com
20-426
Pro-2051 1,000-Channel
Triple Trunking Mobile/Base Scanner

2
Contents
Thank you for purchasing your Pro-2051 1,000-channel,
triple-trunking scanner from RadioShack. Signal stalker
allows you to lock on frequencies within 1,000 feet, without
programming. The PC interface lets you program your
scanner using your computer. Support for Motorola, LTR and
EDACS trunked systems permits you to access most any
police, fire and emergency system. With built-in Skywarn,
you will be able to stay up to date with the reports called in
by storm spotters.
user’s guide • quick start guide • preprogrammed frequency addendum
AC adapter DC cable w/fuse
Scanner Antenna
Mounting
bracket
Knob (2)
Lock washer (2)
Screw (2)

3
The Basics
The Basics
your scanner’s keypad 6
your scanner’s rear view 8
your scanner’s display 9
the FCC wants you to know 10
step 1: install your scanner 11
mounting the scanner in your vehicle 11
step 2: power your scanner 12
from a wall outlet 12
through your vehicle’s ignition (negative ground only) 12
from your vehicle’s cigarrette lighter 13
step 3: connect your scanner 14
connecting the supplied antenna 14
connecting an external antenna 14
connecting an external speaker 15
step 4: set up your scanner 17
turn on your scanner 17
set the squelch 17
listen to preprogrammed frequencies 18
common scanner terms 18
scanning overview 18

4
Contents
Beyond the Basics
advanced scanner features 20
channel storage banks 20
storing known frequencies into channels 20
deleting a stored frequency 22
locking out channels 22
hold/resume 24
direct channel access 24
scanning a private bank 25
priority scan 26
changing the priority channel 26
service scanning 27
band search 28
data skip 29
frequency skip 30
storing search frequencies 30
delay 31
highway patrol alerts 32
highway patrol/local police scanning 32
scanning highway patrol, local police,
and private frequencies 34
scan hold 35
highway warning alert 35
highway patrol priority channels 36
trunked highway frequencies 37

5
Contents
Skywarn 38
NWR SAME 39
Signal Stalker 42
setting the signal stalker options 43
trunk tracking 46
EDACS tracking 59
an EDACS trunked system 60
special EDACS features 60
tracking LTR systems 62
tracking Motorola systems 63
fleet map programming 64
wired programming 75
cloning your scanner 76
birdies 77
replacing the fuse in the DC power cord 77
resetting your scanner 78
frequently asked questions (FAQs) 79
specifications 81
glossary 82
care 83
service and repair 83
warranty 84

6
Contents
your scanner’s keypad
Your scanner’s keys have various functions labeled on and
around the keys.
To select the function labeled on a key, simply press the
key.
To select the function labeled above or beside a key, first
press FUNC, then release it. F appears on the display.
Then quickly press the next key in the function key
sequence while F appears. F appears or disappears each
time you press FUNC.
SQL/FLASH — adjusts
squelch volume. Adjusts
brightness of ALERT light..
MUTE — mutes the alert
tone
VOL/ALERT —turns the
power on/off. Adjusts
volume level. Changes the
alert tone level.
DELAY — sets/resets the delay
function for each channel or each
mode (band search, service scan).
L/O — locks/unlocks a selected
channel or frequency.
DATA — turns the data
skip function on/off.
PRI — turns the priority
scan and priority ID scan
functions on/off.
eor d— press to
scan or search in
either direction.
HOLD/RESUME/
— holds or resumes
the scan. Also used
along with FUNC +
.

7
Contents
STATE — selects the state code.
PVT/HWY/POL— Scans the private scan
bank; scans the private scan bank and
highway frequencies (or local police) when
pressed in highway scanning mode. Also,
used with FUNC + HWY/POL.
SRCH/SVC — selects the search band.
Starts ID search mode. Also, used with
FUNC + SVC.
FUNC— Lets you use various functions
by pressing this key in combination with
other keys. Press and release FUNC. Then
press the next key.
TRUNK — Turns on trunk tracking.
Press These Buttons To Do This
FUNC + SVC Toggle service scan.
FUNC + PGM Program frequencies into channels.
FUNC + M-LOCK Lock or unlock the memory.
FUNC + Jump directly to the last channel in memory
(Ch1000) from any mode.
FUNC + WX ALT Turn the WX alert function on or off.
FUNC + Switch between the three signal stalker modes.
FUNC + HWY/POL Scan highway frequencies. Scan highway
frequencies and local police bank in highway
mode.
0-9/WX ALT — enter
numbers for various
functions. For weather
alert, press FUNC +1.
For M-LOCK, press
FUNC + 9.
./CLR/ — enter a
decimal point or clear
an incorrect entry.
Also, used with FUNC
+ .
E/PGM — store the
frequency. Also, used
with FUNC + PGM.

8
Contents
your scanner’s rear view
EXT SP — connect an external
speaker here.
ANT — connect the supplied
antenna or an external
antenna here. DC 12V — connect a power
source here.
PC/IF — connect data cable
for cloning or connecting
to a PC.

9
Contents
your scanner’s display
TRUNK appears during trunk tracking mode
M appears when a Motorola trunking channel is
selected
E appears when an EDACS trunking channel is
selected
L appears when an LTR trunking channel is
selected
LIST indicates a scan list
BANK indicates a scan bank
1 - 10 indicates a bank’s number and ID list number
PGM indicates program mode
HIGHWAY indicates highway patrol scan mode
PRIVATE indicates private bank scan mode
POLICE indicates police scan mode
SERVICE indicates service scan (WX, fire/emergency,
news, CB, air, railroad, marine) mode
M-LOCK indicates the memory is locked
F appears when function mode is on
indicates that signal stalker is active
P appears when you select a priority channel and
talk group
HOLD indicates scan hold or search hold mode
eor dindicate search direction
SRCH indicates band search mode
PRI appears when the priority feature is turned on
L/O indicates lockout channel and talk group
DLY appears when you select a delay
DATA appears when the data skip feature is turned
on
FLASH appears while the ALERT light is off

10
The Basics
the FCC wants you to know
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which
can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and
receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult your local RadioShack store or an experienced
radio/TV technician for help.
Mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or requires a
permit in some areas. Check the laws in your area before
using.
Note
Note

11
The Basics
step 1: install your scanner
mounting the scanner in your vehicle
Before you mount the scanner, make sure you have all the
necessary materials. Then confirm your vehicle has enough
room to mount: 2.44” high by 7.06”wide by 6.10” deep
(50.8 x 176.5 x 152 mm).
Be sure to avoid obstructions behind the mounting
surface.
Follow these steps to mount the scanner in your vehicle.
To mount your scanner on top of the dashboard, rotate the
bracket so the ears point up. To use on a flat surface, flip
down the built-in stand underneath the scanner.
1. Choose a mounting location, then use the supplied
mounting bracket as a template to mark the positions for
the mounting holes.
2. In the marked positions, drill holes slightly smaller than
the supplied screws.
3. Attach the mounting bracket to the mounting location
using the supplied screws and lock washers.
4. Attach the scanner to the mounting bracket using the
supplied mounting knobs.



slide scanner into
bracket
Note
Note

12
The Basics
step 2: power your scanner
from a wall outlet
1. Connect the tip of the supplied AC adapter to the DC 12V
jack at the rear of your scanner.
2. Plug the AC adapter into your wall outlet.
You must use a Class 2 power source that supplies 12V
DC and delivers at least 500mA. Its center tip must be set
to positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s DC 12V jack.
Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications
could damage the scanner or the adapter.
To prevent electric shock, do not use the AC adapter’s
polarized plug with an extension cord, receptacle, or
other outlet unless you can fully insert the blades to
prevent blade exposure.
through your vehicle’s ignition (negative
ground only)
If you are not experienced in connecting accessories to
the vehicle fuse box, use a certified installer.
1. Disconnect the cable from the negative (-) terminal of
your vehicle’s battery.
2. Ground the black wire of the
supplied DC power cord to
your vehicle’s chassis.


Rear View
Note
Note
Notes
Notes

13
The Basics
Be sure the grounding screw makes complete contact
with the metal frame of your vehicle.
3. Connect the red
wire of the supplied
DC power cord to a
voltage source that
turns on and off with
the ignition switch, such as a spare accessory terminal in
your vehicle’s fuse box.
4. Insert the power cord’s barrel plug into the scanner’s DC
12V jack.
5. Reconnect the cable to the negative (-) terminal of your
vehicle’s battery.
from your vehicle’s cigarrette lighter
To power your scanner from a 12V power source in your
vehicle, such as a cigarette-lighter socket, you need a 12V,
500 mA DC cigarette-lighter adapter (not supplied), available
at your local RadioShack store.
1. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug into the scanner’s DC 12V
jack.
2. Plug the adapter’s other end into your vehicle’s cigarette
lighter or power socket.
Rear View
Note
Note

14
The Basics
step 3: connect your scanner
connecting the supplied antenna
Plug the telescoping
antenna into the ANT
connector. The antenna
length should be as shown
below.
Frequency Antenna Length
25-174 MHz Extend fully (4 segments)
400-512 MHz Extend 2 segments
806-1300 MHz Collapse fully (1 segment)
connecting an external antenna
The ANT jack on the back of the scanner makes it easy to use
the scanner with a variety
of antennas.
You will need to connect
an external antenna when
you mount your scanner
in the dashboard of your
vehicle. You may also
want to connect an external antenna if you use
your scanner as a base station.
Your local RadioShack store sells a variety of antennas.
Always use 50-ohm coaxial cable, such as RG-58 or RG-8, to
connect an outdoor antenna. For lengths exceeding 50 feet,
use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. If your coaxial
cable does not have a BNC connector, you will also need a
BNC adapter (not supplied).

15
The Basics
When deciding on an antenna and its location, consider the
following:
• The location of the antenna should be as high as possible.
• The antenna and antenna cable should be as far as
possible from sources of electrical noise (appliances,
other radios, and so on).
• The antenna should be vertical for the best performance.
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, touching 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.
connecting an external speaker
If you mount the scanner in your
dashboard or if you use it in a
noisy area, you may want to add
an external speaker (available at
your local RadioShack store) to
improve your ability to hear. Plug
the speaker cable’s 1/8 inch (3.5
mm) plug into your scanner’s
EXT SP jack.
Connecting an external speaker disconnects the
scanner’s internal speaker.
Note
Note
Connect external
speaker here
Note
Note

16
The Basics
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines:
• Do not connect an earphone or headphones to the
scanner. The warning alert volume is not adjustable, and
damage to your hearing might result if a warning alert
sounds while an earphone or headphones is connected.
• 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
listening. After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a
comfortable level.
• Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time,
your ears adapt to the volume level, so a volume level
that does not cause discomfort might still damage your
hearing.

17
The Basics
step 4: set up your scanner
turn on your scanner
Turn VOL clockwise. The scanner turns on and the ALERT
indicator lights for a moment. Then the alert tone beeps and
TEST appears. The last setting you selected before turning
the scanner off appears.
The alert tone depends on the currently selected setting
(see “Setting the Alert Tone Volume”).
set the squelch
Think of squelch as a gate. If the gate is too low (squelch too
low), everything (all noise as well as signals) gets through.
If the gate is set too high (squelch too high), nothing gets
through. If the gate is set just right (the squelch is set
properly), just the desired signals get through.
1. To set the squelch, press HOLD/RESUME to stop
scanning. HOLD appears. If needed, adjust VOL until you
do not hear a signal.
2. Turn SQL fully counterclockwise until you hear a hissing
sound. This lowers the “squelch gate,” allowing all signals
and noise to get through.
3. Turn SQL clockwise just until the hiss stops. This raises
the “squelch gate,” allowing only strong signals to get
through. In a city, you may want to adjust the squelch
even further clockwise to decrease the range of the
highway warning alert signal. This prevents the alert from
sounding unnecessarily due to farther, less important
sources.
Note
Note

18
The Basics
listen to preprogrammed frequencies
Your scanner comes preprogrammed from the factory
with 150 of the most frequently used frequencies stored in
Channels 1 to 150 of the private bank. You can scan these
frequencies as soon as you turn on the scanner.
common scanner terms
To fi nd a station, you must tune to a FREQUENCY (expressed
in kHz or MHz). To find active frequencies, use the search
function or purchase a frequency reference.
In addition to searching a selected frequency range, you can
also search your scanner’s service banks. A SERVICE BANK
is a preset groups of frequencies categorized by the type
of services that use those frequencies. Your scanner comes
preprogrammed with all the frequencies allocated to the
weather, marine, aircraft, rail road, CB, news, and police/fire/
emergency services.
When you search and find a desired frequency, you can
store it into a PROGRAMMABLE MEMORY LOCATION called
a CHANNEL. Channels are grouped into channel-storage
banks called a private bank. Your scanner has 10 CHANNEL
STORAGE BANKS and each bank has 100 channels. You can
scan the channel-storage banks to see if there is activity on
the frequencies stored in them.
scanning overview
You can scan in one of four ways:
1. Highway Patrol/Local Police Scanning -- when you select
a state you want to scan in highway patrol/local police
mode, you can scan preprogrammed highway patrol/local
police frequencies.

19
The Basics
2. Service Scanning -- press FUNC + SVC to select one of
the service banks to find an active frequency.
3. Band Search -- select a frequency band to search. The
search function is different from scanning. It searches for
any active frequency step by step within the lower and
upper limits of the band. When an active frequency is
found, the scanner will stop and stay on that frequency
as long as that transmission lasts. If that frequency is
interesting to you, press HOLD/RESUME to hold the
frequency on the display. Then program it into the private
bank you want to store. If you do not want to program
that frequency, press HOLD/RESUME or just wait until the
transmission ends. The search resumes automatically 2
seconds after the last transmission and looks for more
active frequencies.
4. Private Scanning -- the private bank is where you
program frequencies you want to store into channels.
Press PVT to scan frequencies you have programmed in
this bank.
To program frequencies, see “Storing Known Frequencies
into Channels”. When scanning stops on an active frequency,
it remains on that channel as long as the transmission
continues. When the transmission ends, the scanner will
remain on the same channel for 2 more seconds, waiting for
a responding transmission. If no responding transmission
occurs within 2 seconds, the scanning cycle resumes.

20
Beyond the Basics
advanced scanner features
In this section of the user’s guide, you will discover the
wide variety of features that make your scanner flexible and
powerful. As you master these features, you will enhance the
value and enjoyment of owning your scanner.
channel storage banks
To make it easier to identify and select the channels you want
to listen to, you can assign channels to up to 10 channel-
storage banks. Each bank has 100 channels. Use each
channel-storage bank to group frequencies, such as those for
the police department, fire department, ambulance services,
or aircraft. For example, the police department might use
four frequencies in your town while the fire department
uses an additional four. You could program the four police
frequencies starting with Channel 1 (the first channel in bank
1), and program the fire department frequencies starting with
Channel 101 (the first channel in bank 2).
storing known frequencies into channels
You can locate and store specific frequencies into channels
for later use. Frequencies are widely available on the
Internet and from the FCC. To assist you in locating a desired
frequency from the scanner’s wide range, consider using a
frequency guide. Excellent references for active frequencies
are the RadioShack Police Call Guide, including Fire and
Emergency Services, and the Official Aeronautical Frequency
Directory. We update these directories every year, so be sure
to get a current copy.
Follow these steps to store frequencies into channels.
1. Press FUNC + PGM. PRIVATE and PGM appear.