Radio Shack PRO-2096 User manual

Please read this user’s guide before installing,
setting up and using your new product
www.radioshack.com
20-496
PRO-2096 Digital Trunking
Mobile/Base Scanner

2
Contents
user’s guide • quick start guide • preloaded data addendum
Thank you for purchasing your Pro-2096 digital trunk scanner
from RadioShack. You can mount your scanner in a fixed
position and use it as a base scanner or you can use it as
a mobile scanner by mounting it in a vehicle. This scanner
is the first of an innovative and exciting new generation,
capable of receiving digital voice modulation from the
newest and most sophisticated conventional and trunked
radio networks. No additional hardware or add-on cards are
needed.
AC adapter
DC cable w/fuse
DIN sleeve and keys (2)
Scanner
Antenna
Mounting
bracket
Knob (2)
Rubber washer (2)
Lock washer (2)
Screw (2)
Rubber foot (3)

3
The Basics
contents
your scanner’s keypad 7
your scanner’s rear view 9
your scanner’s display 10
step 1: install your scanner 11
mounting your scanner in your dashboard 11
mobile mounting in your vehicle 11
using your scanner as a base station 12
step 2: power your scanner 13
from a wall outlet 13
through your vehicle’s ignition 13
from your vehicle’s cigarrette lighter 14
step 3: connect your scanner 15
connect the supplied antenna 15
connect an external antenna 15
connect an external speaker or headphones 16
step 4: set up your scanner 17
squelch 17
storing conventional frequencies 17
deleting frequencies from channels 18
searching and tuning 19
basic scanning 20
about channel-storage banks 20
monitoring a single channel 20
using CTCSS and DCS 21
searching a preprogrammed frequency range 21
search bank charts 22

4
The Basics
searching for active frequencies 27
using Zeromatic 27
using seek search 27
manually tuning to a frequency 28
frequency copy 29
copying a frequency into a specified channel 29
copying a frequency to a vacant channel
into a specified bank 30
copying a frequency to the priority channel 30
listening to the weather band 31
same standby mode 31
testing weather alert 32
using delay 33
locking out channels/frequencies 33
locking out channels 33
locking out frequencies 34
reviewing locked-out search frequency 34
clearing locked-out search frequencies 35
clearing locked-out frequencies in search banks 35
changing the receive mode 35
using attenuator 36
global attenuator 37
turning the key tone on or off 37
using the dimmer 38
changing the display contrast 38
virtual scanner 39
using V-scanner 40
using digital AGC 45
cloning programmed data 45
cloning v-scanner data 46
full cloning 47
selective cloning 47

5
The Basics
trunking operation 50
setting squelch for trunk scanning 50
talkgroup ID hold 50
turning an ID sub-bank on or off 50
open and closed mode operation 51
toggling open and closed modes 52
manual ID lockout toggle 52
activate ID lockout while scanning 53
reviewing locked-out talkgroup IDs 53
changing from ID text tag display
to ID code display 53
trunked delay function 53
clearing talkgroups IDs 54
clearing all talkgroup IDs in one bank 55
programming trunked systems 56
Motorola analog, digital, and APCO-25 systems 56
EDACS systems 57
Motorola VHF and UHF systems 58
Motorola 800MHz splinter systems 59
fleet maps 59
programming the priority channel 61
programming a stored channel frequency
in the priority channel 61
programming the priority channel directly 61
programming a weather channel as the priority channel 62
turning priority on or off 62
programming CTCSS/DCS channels 63
storing talkgroup ids 65
text tags 67
assigning a text tag to a channel 67
assigning a text tag to a group ID 68
assigning a text tag to a channel-storage bank 68

6
The Basics
text input chart 69
using channel receive modes 69
updating the DSP firmware 69
truobleshooting 70
resetting/initializing your scanner 71
resetting your scanner 71
initializing your scanner 72
care 73
replacing the fuse 73
service and repair 73
specifications 74
The FCC wants you to know 77
scanning legally 77
glossary 78
warranty 84
©2004 RadioShack Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack, RadioShack.com. Hypersearch, Hyperscan, V-Scanner, and Adaptaplug are
trademarks used by RadioShack Corporation.
Motorola, Smartnet, ASTRO and Privacy Plus are registered trademarks of Motorla Inc.
EDACS is a registered trademark of MA-COM Inc.
The IMBE(TM) Voice Coding Technology embodied in this product is protected by intellectual
property rights including patent rights, copyrights and trade secrets of Digital Voice Systems,
Inc. This voice coding Technology is licensed solely for use witthin this Communications
Equipment. The user of this Technology is explicitly prohibited from attempting to decompile,
reverse engineer, or disassemble the Object Code, or in any other way convert the Object
Code into a human readable form.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,870,405 and 5,517,511.
This device made under license under one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 4,590,473;
4,636,791; 5,148,482; 5,185,796; 5,271,017; 5,377,229

7
The Basics
your scanner’s keypad
TRUNK — stores the trunking ID code or
holds the trunking ID while scanning.
L/OUT — locks out selected channels
and ID codes, and skips specified
frequencies during a search.
CLEAR — clears an incorrect entry.
PROG — programs frequencies in
selected channels.
PWR/VOL/SQ — long knob turns OFF/ON,
and controls volume. Short knob controls
squelch.
PC/IF — connect data cable for cloning
or connecting to a PC.
s— attach headphones with
1/8” jack here.

8
The Basics
ATT — Press to activate
attenuation (reduce scanner
sensitivity, block strong signals).
Press again to deactivate
attenuation.
PAUSE — pauses search or
tune operation.
DIM — adjusts the backlight
level (Light, Dark, or OFF).
TUNE — Press TUNE, PAUSE
then eor dto tune to a
frequency.
FUNC — press in
combination with other keys to
perform various functions.
WX — press to scan
programmed weather channels.
See p. 31
PRI — turns the priority
function on or off.
TEXT — press to input text.
MODE — press to change the
receive mode.
SRCH — press to search
through search banks.
SCAN — press to scan
programmed channels.
MAN — press to manually
enter a channel number.
eor d— press to scan or
search in either direction.

9
The Basics
EXT SP — connect an
external speaker here.
ENT — press to confirm
frequency and text entries.
your scanner’s rear view
ANT — connect the supplied
antenna or an external
antenna here. DC 13.8V — connect a
power source here.
SCREW HOLE — use to mount
the scanner in a car with some
hardware (screw not supplied).
RESET— press
to reset your
scanner.
Press to enter a number or
a character (in text mode).
./DELAY — press to enter
a decimal point, space, or
hyphen. Press to program delay
time for a channel/search bank.

10
The Basics
your scanner’s display
Scan Mode
Search Mode
(M)anual Mode
(P)rogram
(S)can
Bank 0-(9)
Channel 00-(49)
Receiving a Signal ( no signal)
Priority On/Off Indicator
Search Range Number
Frequency
Zeromatic On/Off Indicator
Sub-Group
Search Range Name
Attenuator On/Off Indicator
Delay On/Off Indecator
Lockout On/Off Indecator
(While Scanning, ScanningDirection, or .)
Open/Closed Mode Indecator
Receiving Mode
Receiving Frequency
Detected ID Display
(Trunking & CTCSS/DCS)
Stored Text
or Bank and Channel Numbe r
Bank Off
Bank Off
Open Mode
Closed Mode

11
The Basics
step 1: install your scanner
You can mount your digital trunking scanner in your vehicle,
install it for mobility, or install it as a base station.
mounting your scanner in your dashboard
If you are unsure about how to install your scanner in your
vehicle, consult your automobile manufacturer, dealer, or a
qualified installer. Before installing, confirm your scanner fits
in the desired mounting area and you have all the necessary
materials. Your scanner requires a 2 x 71/8x 5 5/16 inch
(50 x 180 x 135 mm) mounting area.
1. Remove the four rear screws and pull off the black case
before installing your scanner.
2. Install the DIN sleeve into the
opening in your dashboard, lip
facing out.
3. Push out the top and bottom tabs
to hold the sleeve firmly in
place.
4. Slide the scanner into the
sleeve until it locks in place.
To remove your scanner from
the DIN sleeve, insert the two
keys straight into the scanner’s
front panel. Then, remove the
scanner by pulling front panel.
When mounting in your
dashboard, you will need to
connect an external antenna and an external speaker.
mobile mounting in your vehicle
You can mount your scanner under the dashboard, or on top
of it, using the mounting bracket.


Note
Note
Note
Note

12
The Basics
1. Attach the three
protective rubber
feet to the mounting
bracket when you
use the scanner on a
flat surface. Do not
use them when you
mount the bracket with
screws.
2. Use the supplied
mounting bracket as
a template to mark
positions for the two
mounting screws.
3. At the marked positions,
drill holes slightly smaller than the screws.
4. Remove the paper backing from each washer and stick
one inside of each bracket’s ear, aligning the washer’s
hole with the bracket’s hole.
5. Attach the mounting bracket to your vehicle’s surface
using the supplied screws and lockwashers.
6. Slide the scanner into the bracket, aligning the scanner’s
holes with the holes in the bracket, and then screw the
mounting knobs into the scanner.
When drilling holes, be sure to avoid obstructions behind
the mounting surface. Consult a qualified installer if in
doubt.
using your scanner as a base station
You can place your scanner on a desk, shelf, or table to use
it as a base station. Since the speaker is on the bottom of
the scanner, you may want to use the mounting bracket to
elevate your scanner off the surface for better sound. Follow
the mobile vehicle mounting instructions above to affix your
scanner to a desk, shelf, table or other flat surface (except
that the bracket will be below the scanner).



Note
Note

13
The Basics
step 2: power your scanner
You can power your scanner from a wall outlet, through your
vehicle’s ignition, or from your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.
from a wall outlet
1. Connect the tip of the supplied AC adapter to the DC
13.8V 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 13.8V
DC and delivers at least 600mA. Its center tip must be set
to positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s DC 13.8V 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
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.

Note
Note
Warning!
Warning!

14
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 13.8V jack.
5. Reconnect the cable to the
negative (-) terminal of your
vehicle’s battery.
You must use a power source that supplies 12V DC and
delivers at least 600 mA. Its center tip must be set to
positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s DC 13.8V jack.
The supplied DC power cord meets these specifications.
Using a power cord that does not meet these
specifications could damage the scanner or the adapter.
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,
600 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 13.8V
jack.
2. Plug the adapter’s other end into your vehicle’s cigarette
lighter or power socket.
When you use a cigarette-lighter adapter, you might hear
electrical noise from your engine while scanning. This is
normal.
Rear View
Note
Note
Note
Note
Note
Note

15
The Basics
step 3: connect your scanner
connect the supplied antenna
Push the antenna onto your
scanner’s antenna connector and
rotate until it locks into place.
Your scanner’s sensitivity to
various frequencies depends on
its location and the antenna’s
length. For best reception, adjust the antenna’s length as
follows:
Frequency Antenna Length
25-54 MHz Extend fully
108-174 MHz Extend 4 segments
216-225 MHz Extend 3 segments
406-1300 MHz Collapse fully
connect an external antenna
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).

16
The Basics
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.
connect an external speaker or headphones
When you mount your scanner in your dashboard, you will
need to connect an external speaker or headphones.
listening safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use
headphones.
•Adjust VOL (volume) to its lowest level before putting on
headphones. With the headphones on, adjust VOL to a
comfortable level.
• Avoid increasing the volume once you set it. Over time, your
sensitivity to volume decreases, so volume levels that do not
cause discomfort might damage your hearing.
• Avoid listening at high volume levels. Prolonged exposure to
high volume levels can cause permanent hearing loss.
traffic safety
Do not wear headphones while driving. This can create a traffic
hazard and is illegal in some areas. Even though some headphones
let you hear outside sounds when you listen at normal levels, they
still can present a traffic hazard.
Warning!
Warning!
Connect external
speaker here
Connect
headphones here

17
The Basics
step 4: set up your scanner
squelch
1. Rotate VOL clockwise to turn on your scanner. DSP LOADING
and Welcome To Digital Trunking appears. In a few seconds,
you might hear a hissing sound.
2. Adjust VOL to a comfortable listening level.
3. Rotate SQ (squelch) fully counterclockwise to OFF. Then,
rotate SQ clockwise until the hissing sound stops.
4. To turn off the scanner, turn VOL counterclockwise to OFF.
storing conventional frequencies
1. Turn on your scanner and press PROG.
2. Select the desired channel storage bank and channel, and
then press PROG.
3. Use the number keys and ./DELAY (to enter the decimal
point) to enter the frequency you want to store.
4. Press ENT to store the frequency.
5. The scanner configures the channels you enter after a
two second delay. A Dappears at the top of the display. If
you do not want the scanner to pause before it resumes
scanning, press ./DELAY until Dno longer appears on the
display.
6. To receive conventional frequencies, including AM,
FM/Digital, CTCSS and DCS, press MODE. For more
information on CTCSS and DCS programming, see
“Programming CTCSS/DCS channels”.
7. If desired, program a text tag for the channel. See
“Assigning a Text Tag to a Channel”.
8. To program additional channels, press PROG or eor dto
move to the next channel memory location.

18
The Basics
If you make a mistake entering the frequency, Invalid Freq
briefly appears.
When you store a frequency by pressing ENT, your
scanner beeps.
Press CLEAR to backspace and correct a character, or hold
down CLEAR for about two seconds to clear the entire field
and start over.
Your scanner automatically rounds the frequency you
enter to the nearest valid frequency. For example, if you
enter 151.53, your scanner accepts it as 151.5275. Reception
of the frequency will not be adversely affected.
If you enter a frequency that is already stored, an error
tone sounds. Dupl.f and the duplicated frequency number
appear. Press CLEAR and enter another frequency.
You can replace any stored frequency by selecting the
desired bank and channel, pressing PROG, and then
entering the new frequency.
Press FUNC, and then CLEAR to erase programmed
frequency data.
deleting frequencies from channels
In certain circumstances you may wish to completely clear
the contents of a channel. One example would be to create
empty channels in a selected channel storage bank so the
frequency copy function has empty channels available for
copied frequencies. See “Copying a Frequency to a Vacant
Channel into a Specified Bank”.
1. Press PROG.
2. Use the number keys or eor dto select the frequency you
want to delete.
3. Press FUNC, and then CLEAR. The frequency is cleared, and
0.00000 appears on the display.
Notes
Notes

19
The Basics
searching and tuning
You can search for transmissions using the scanner’s
preprogrammed search banks. The search banks include six
preprogrammed search ranges, SR0 to SR5. You can change
the search range of Bank SR6 manually by setting the lower
and higher ends of the search range.
You can use the scanner’s delay feature while searching.
See “Using Delay”.
You can set CTCSS or DCS mode when searching any
range, except for SR0, SR1, and SR4. The scanner will
display detected CTCSS or DCS codes depending on the
mode setting. See “Using CTCSS and DCS”.
The scanner does not search locked-out frequencies
while searching ranges.
You can use PAUSE to temporarily pause searching. The
scanner will remain on the frequency that was active
when PAUSE was pressed until you press PAUSE again.
You can simply listen to the radio traffic on the paused
frequency, or copy the frequency to a channel before
resuming your search.
Notes
Notes

20
The Basics
basic scanning
Press SCAN to begin scanning channels. The scanner scans
through all channels in the active channel storage bank. See
“About Channel Storage Banks”.
• You must store frequencies into channels before you can
scan them. The scanner does not scan through empty
channels.
• To change the scanning direction, press eor dwhile
scanning.
about channel-storage banks
• To turn on a channel storage bank, press the number
key corresponding to the desired bank until the bank’s
number appears on the display.
• To turn off a channel storage bank, press the number
key corresponding to the desired bank until the bank’s
number disappears from the display.
• The scanner does not scan channels within a bank you
have turned off; however, you can manually select any
channel in a storage bank, even if the bank is turned off.
• You cannot turn off all channel storage banks. There must
always be at least one active channel storage bank.
monitoring a single channel
You can monitor a single channel by manually navigating to
that channel. The scanner will receive transmissions only on
that frequency.