Radio Shack Racing Scanner User manual

2000444/PRO-444
User’s Guide
Thank you for purchasing your Racing Scanner from RadioShack.
Please read this user’s guide before installing, setting up, and using
your new scanner.
Racing Scanner

2
Contents
Introduction ......................................................................... 4
Package Contents ..............................................................................4
Features..............................................................................................4
Top View .............................................................................................4
Front View ..........................................................................................4
Left View.............................................................................................5
Right View ..........................................................................................5
Button Functions ................................................................................6
Setup ................................................................................... 7
Powering Your Scanner ......................................................................7
Installing Batteries..........................................................................7
Charging Ni-MH Batteries .............................................................7
Using AC/DC Power ......................................................................8
Connecting Headset/Earphones ........................................................9
Attaching the Belt Clip.......................................................................9
Basic Operation ................................................................. 10
Turning on the Scanner ....................................................................10
Selecting a Race Series ....................................................................10
Listening to Race Transmissions.......................................................10
Browsing All Car Numbers...........................................................10
Manually Inputting Car Numbers.................................................11
Scanning for Car Numbers...........................................................11
Listening to the Motor Racing Network...........................................11
Intercom ...........................................................................................11
Adjusting the Volume.......................................................................12
Advanced Operation.......................................................... 12
Favorites List.....................................................................................12
Using the EDIT Menu .......................................................................12
Frequency ....................................................................................13
FAV (Favorites) .............................................................................14
Settings ........................................................................................14
Cloning Your Scanner.......................................................................16
Delay.................................................................................................16
Locking Out Channels ......................................................................17
Cell Phone Operation.......................................................................17

3
Text Input Method............................................................................18
Keylock .............................................................................................18
Additional Information....................................................... 19
Scanning Legally...............................................................................19
Troubleshooting ...............................................................................20
Care Instructions...............................................................................20
Service and Repair............................................................................20
Specifications....................................................................................21
FCC Notice.......................................................................................21
Limited Warranty ..............................................................................22

4
Introduction
Introduction
Package Contents
• Scanner • BeltClip • Earphones
• User’sGuide • QuickStart
Features
• Comeswith6preloadedmajorraceseriescategories:ARCARE/
MAX,GrandAm,IndyRacingLeague(IRL),Truck,NationWide
Series,andSprintCup.
• Programalistoffavoritecarsforeasyaccess.
• Getcellphonecallsthroughyourscannerduringnoisyraces.
Top View
SEL/VOL
•Selectracecategory,carnumber,
favoritenumber,orMRNnumber
•SelectoptionsintheEDITmenu
•Increase/decreasethevolume
(withFUNC)
CAR No.
•Showsthecurrentcarnumber
•Displayturnsoffwhenlisteningto
MRNchannels
Antenna
Grand Am
26 Gotham Comp
D Lo 456.72500
Front View
Race category
Car/MRN number Driver name
Signal indicator
Delay indicator
Appearsonlywhen
turnedon Lockout indicator
Frequency

5
Introduction
Left View Right View
MIC / s
Insertearphones
oramicrophone
headsettolistento
racesandreceive
cellphonecalls
PHONE / PC/IF
Connecta1/8in(3.5mm)
cable(notsupplied)to
clonescanners,receive
cellphonecalls,or
updatedatafromyour
computer
PWR
InsertanACorDC
adaptertochargeor
poweryourscanner
(seepage8)

6
Introduction
MRN
•PresstoaccessMRN
radio.
•Pressandholdto
scanMRNchannels
(controltowerradio,
safetyradio,etc.).
CAR
•Pressbrieytoinput
acarnumber.
•Pressandholdfor
onesecondtoscan
carnumbers.
FAV
•Pressbrieyto
inputfavoritecar
number.
•Pressandholdfor
onesecondtoscan
thefavoritebank.
FUNC
Usesecondaryscanner
functionsorchange
thevolume.
EDIT/KEYLOCK
•Changethecar/MRN
channeldataorother
settings.
•UsewithFUNCtoLock/
unlockthekeypad.
G/ î
•Pressandholdtoturn
thescanneronoroff.
•Presstoturnonthe
backlightbriey.
Number Keys
•Inputanumberortext
character.
•Listentoafavoritechannel.
•PressFUNCand0tolock
outtheselectedchannel.
CLR/DELAY
•Clearanincorrect
entryorgobackto
thepreviousscreen.
•UsewithFUNCto
turnstimedelay
forcarsandMRN
channelsonoroff.
ENT
Presstoconrmcar
orMRNchannel
entries,orchanged
settings.
/MON
•Talkonyourcell
phoneusingoptional
cableandheadset.
•UsewithFUNCto
monitoracarorMRN
channel.

Button Functions

7
Setup
Setup
Powering Your Scanner
YoucanpoweryourscannerwiththreeAAbatteries,orwithanAC
orDCadapter(noneincluded).Forlongestoperationandbest
performance,usealkalinebatteries,orusenickel-metalhydride
(Ni-MH)rechargeablebatteries.
Installing Batteries
1. Turnoffthescanner.
2. Removethebatterycompartment
cover.
3. Setthebatterytypeselectorswitch
insidethebatterycompartmentto
ALKfornon-rechargeablealkaline
batteriesorNi-MHforrechargeable
batteries.
4. InsertthreeAAbatteries,matching
thepolaritysymbols(+and–)
markedinside.
5. Replacethebatterycompartmentcover.
Charging Ni-MH Batteries
1. PressandholdPOWERtopoweroff
thescanner.
2. MakesureNi-MHbatteriesare
installedandthebatterytypeselectorswitchissettoNi-MH.
3. PluganACorDCpoweradapter(notsupplied;seepage8)into
thePWRjack.
4.Chargingindicatesthebatteriesarebeingcharged.
5. WhenCharge OFFappearsinsteadofCharging(about14
hoursforafullcharge),thebatteriesarefullycharged.
6. Disconnectthescannerfromthepowersource.
Ni-MH/ALK
Switch
AA
AA
AA

8
Setup
wWARNING: Never install alkaline batteries with the battery
type selector switch set to Ni-MH. Alkaline batteries can get hot or
explode if you try to recharge them.
bBattery Notes:
• Youcanusescannerwhilechargingbatteries,butitisnot
recommended. The charging current decreases and charging
takes longer.
• Donotover-chargerechargeablebatteries.Overcharging
shortens battery life.
• Alowbatterywarningsoundsevery30secondswhenthe
batteries are nearly depleted.
• Disposeofbatteriespromptlyandproperly.Donotburnorbury
them.
• Useonlyfreshbatteriesoftherequiredsizeandtype.
• Donotmixoldandnewbatteries,differenttypesofbatteries
(standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of
different capacities.
• Discontinueuseofanybatterythatexhibitsleakage,swelling,or
abnormal generation of heat.
• Ifyoudonotplantousethescannerforamonthorlonger,
remove the batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can
damage electronic parts.
Using AC/DC Power
TopowerthescannerfromACorDC(poweredbycaradapter)
power,youneedanoptionalACorDCadapter(notsupplied).
1. MakesurethebatterytypeselectorissettoALKforalkaline
batteriesorNi-MHforrechargeablebatteries.
2. PlugthebarrelplugofyourACorDCadapterintothePWRjack
andtheotherendintoyourACsocketorDCcaradaptersocket.

9
Setup
wCaution:
• Youmustuseanadapterthatsupplies6voltsanddeliversatleast
300mA.Itscentertipmustbesettonegative,anditsbarrelplugmust
correctly fit the scanner’s PWRjack.Usinganadapterthatdoesnot
meet these specifications could damage the scanner or the adapter.
Connecting Headset/Earphones
Yourscannerdoesnothaveaninternal
speaker,sotolistentoyourscanneror
toreceivecellphonecalls(seepage
17formoreinformation)youmustuse
amicrophoneheadsetorearphones.
Youcanalsoaddasecondmicrophone
headsetorearphonestotalktoafriend
moreeasilyduringnoisyraces.
Option 1:Connecttheincluded
earphonesoranyothers
witha1/8in.(3.5mm)jackto
eithersetofsjacksonthe
leftsideofthescanner.
Option 2:ConnectamicrophoneheadsettotheAsetofs/MIC
jackstousewithacellphone,andtotheAorBjacksto
talktoanotherperson.
Attaching the Belt Clip
1. Aligntheclipwiththeslotontheback
ofthescanner.
2. Slidetheclipdownuntilitclicksinto
place.
3. Pullthetopnotchslightly,andpushup
toremove.

10
Basic Operation
Basic Operation
Turning on the Scanner
PressandholdG/î.Thescannerturnsonandawelcome
messageappearsforabout2seconds.Pressandholdagaintoturn
off.
Selecting a Race Series
1. TurntheSEL/VOLdialontopofthescannertoselectoneofthe
followingpresetracetypes:
• NASCAR SprintCu(SprintCup)
• NASCARnationwid(NationWideSeries)
• NASCAR Truck
• ARCA(ARCARE/MAXSeries)
• Grand Am
• IRL (Indy) (IndyRacingLeague)
2. PressENT.LOAD DATA!!appearsbrieytoremindyouthatyour
carnumber/channeldatamaynotbeuptodate.
Listening to Race Transmissions
Afteryouselectaraceseries,thereareseveraloptionsforlistening
attherace.
nNote: Series names, car numbers, and drivers are subject to
change without notice. Check that you have up-to-date information
before you go to the race.
Browsing All Car Numbers
TurntheSEL/VOLdialtoscrollthroughcarnumbersanddriver
names.Iftherearenotransmissions,keepscrolling.

11
Basic Operation
Manually Inputting Car Numbers
1. PressCARonceandusethenumberkeystoinputacarnumber
youwant.Ifyourinputtednumberisfound,thescannershows
thatnumberonthedisplay.
2. Ifnocarbythatnumberisfound,“Car#XX Not Stored”
appearsonthedisplay.PressCLRtogobacktobrowsemode
andtryagain.
Scanning for Car Numbers
1. PressandholdCARuntilSCANappearsintheupperleftcorner
ofthedisplay.
2. Scanningstopsifatransmissionisfound,soyoucanlisten.When
thetransmissionstops,scanningcontinues.
nNote:Youcanprogramatwoseconddelayintothescanner.
Seepage16fordetails.
3. PressandholdCARtoreturntoregularlisteningmode.The
selectedracetypeappearsintheupperleftcornerofthedisplay.
Listening to the Motor Racing Network
1. PressMRN.M1andthepre-programmedstationnameappears
onthemiddlelineofthedisplay.
2. TurntheSEL/VOLdialtochangestations
– OR –
 PressandholdMRNtoscanfortransmissions.
3. PressandholdCARoncetoreturntocarnumberscanning.Press
andholdagaintoregularbrowsingmode.
Intercom
1.Connectheadsettoboth(AandB)headsetjacks.
2.PressPTTonyourheadsettotalktoanotherperson.
Refertoyourheadset’suser’sguideformoredetails.

12
Advanced Operation
Adjusting the Volume
1. PressFUNC.FUNCappearsintheupperleftcornerofthedisplay.
2. TurntheSEL/VOLdialontopofthescannerclockwisetoincrease
andcounterclockwisetodecreasethevolume.VOLandthe
volumenumberappearintheupperrightcornerofthedisplay.
Advanced Operation
Favorites List
Followthesestepstoprogramupto10favoritecarnumbersorMRN
channelstolistento.
1. NavigatetothecarnumberorMRNchannelyouwanttosaveas
afavoritebyfollowingthestepsonpages10and11.
2. PresstheFAVbutton.INPUT FAV#_appearsintheupperleft
cornerofthedisplay.
3. Pressthenumberkey(1-0)whereyouwanttoplacethecaror
channel,thenpressENTtosave.
4. Whilelisteningtoyourscanner,pressanumberkeyatanytime
tolistentothatfavorite.
Using the EDIT Menu
1. PressEDIT.
2. UsetheSEL/VOLdialtoscrollthroughoptionsandpressENTto
select:
• FREQUENCY
• PAGE TAG
• FAV
• Setting
• PC/IF
• CLONE

13
Advanced Operation
Frequency
1. Followsteps1and2under“Using the EDIT Menu”andselect
FREQUENCY.
2. UsetheSEL/VOLdialtoselect1:CAR#or2:MRN,thenpressENT.
To edit existing entries:
1. Followsteps1and2under“Frequency”toselectnumber(or
driver),thenpressENT.
Edit? 1:YES 2:NOappearsonthetoplineofthedisplay.
2. Press1toeditorpress2tocancelandgobacktocarnumber/
MRNchannelselection.
3. Ifthedisplayedcarnumberiscorrect,pressENT.Ifnot,enterthe
correctcarnumberandpressENT.
4. Ifthereisalreadyacarnumberbythenumberyouinputted,
thecarnumberandDuplicate? YES:1 NO:2willappearonthe
display.Youcanstoremorethan1frequency(max26)ononecar
number.Press1toduplicatethenumberor2togobackand
enteranewcarnumber.
5. Thecarnumber,FREQUENCY,andthecurrentfrequencynumber
appearonthescreen.Usethenumberkeys(1-0)toenteranew
frequencynumberandpressENT.Thecarnumber,INPUT TAG,
andthecurrentdrivername/MRNstationnameappear.
nNote:Thedecimalpointinthefrequencyisadded
automatically.
6. UsethenumberandFUNCkeystoenteradriverorMRN
channelname.See“Text Input Method”onpage18.
7. PressENTtoreturntothelistofcarnumbersorMRNchannels.
To input a new frequency:
1. Followsteps1and2under“Frequency,”selectNEW,thenpress
ENT.CAR#orMRN#appearsonthetoplineofthedisplay.
2. InputacarnumberorMRNchannelnumber,thenpressENT.
3. Followsteps5through7under“To edit existing entries.”

14
Advanced Operation
nNote: When editing MRN, if the number you enter is already
stored, ERROR INVALID INPUT appears on the display. Press CLR
and input the number again.
Page Tag
1. Followsteps1and2under“Using the EDIT Menu”andselectPAGE TAG.
2. Changetheraceseriestag.Enternewtagusingthenumberand
FUNCkeys.See“Text Input Method”onpage18.
3. PressENTtostorenewentry.
FAV (Favorites)
Toclearfavorites:
1. Followsteps1and2under“Using the EDIT Menu”andselectFAV.
2. RotateSEL/VOLtothechannelnumberyouwanttoclear,then
pressENT.
3. PressEDITtogobacktothemenu.
Settings
1. Followsteps1and2under“Using the EDIT Menu”andselect
Setting.Thefollowingmenuappears:
• SQ
• Key Tone
• Power Save
• Display
• Back light
SQ (Squelch level)
1. Followsteps1and2under“Settings”andselectSQ.
2. RotateSEL/VOLclockwisetoincrease(upto16)or
counterclockwisetodecrease(downto01)thesquelchlevel.
3. PressENTtostorethesettingandexittothesettingsmenu.
nNote:Defaultsquelchsettingis01.

15
Advanced Operation
Key Tone
1. Followsteps1and2under“Settings”andselectKey Tone.
2. UseSEL/VOL toselectKey Tone ONorKey Tone OFF,then
pressENT.
nNote: Turning key tones off does not turn off the error beep.
Power Save
Yourscannerfeaturesapowersavecircuitthatisautomatically
activatedwhenyoumonitorasinglecarnumberfrequency.This
allowsthereceiverto“Sleep”brieywhilewaitingforacallonthe
selectedchannel.Powersaveisoffbydefault.
1. Followsteps1and2under“Settings”andselectPower Save.
2. RotateSEL/VOLtochoosePower Save ONorPower Save
OFF,thenpressENT.
Display
1. Followsteps1and2under“Settings”andselectDisplay.
2. RotateSEL/VOLtoContrastorFrequencyandpressENT.
3. Contrastissetto08bydefault.RotateSEL/VOLtoincreaseor
decreasethecontrast(between0and15)thenpressENT.
4. Frequencydisplayisonbydefault.RotateSEL/VOLtoselectON
orOFF,thenpressENT.
Back Light
Youcansetthebacklighttoturnonwhenyoupressanybutton,or
onlywhenyoupresstheG/îbutton.
1. Followsteps1and2under“Settings”andselectBack light.
2. RotateSEL/VOLtochooseLight ON(lightturnsonwithanykey
press)orLight OFF(lightturnsonwhenyoupressG/î),then
pressENT.

16
Advanced Operation
Cloning Your Scanner
Youcantransferyourscanner’sdatatoandfromanotherPRO-444
scannerusingaconnectingcablewith1/8-inch(3.5mm)stereoplugs
onbothends(notsupplied).
1. Turnonbothscanners.
2. Connectthecabletoeachscanner’sPC/IF/PHONEjack.
3. PressEDITonbothscanners.
4. UsetheSEL/VOLdialtoselectCLONE,thenpressENT.
5. ChooseRECEIVEonthescanneryouaretransferringto,then
pressENTtwice.
6. ChooseSENDonthescanneryouaretransferringfrom.
7. PressENTtwiceonthescanneryou
aretransferringfromtosendthedata.
START!!appearsonthedisplay.
8. WhenFINISH!!replacesSTART!!,remove
thecableandpressEDITtogobackto
themenu.
nNote: ERROR!! Erasing DATA!! appears
if the scanner cable is removed during data transfer. To cancel the
error, press CLR or EDIT. The target scanner resets to factory default
settings. Retry cloning the data.
Delay
Two-wayradiosystemsoftenhaveaperiodofseveralseconds
betweenaoriginalandreplytransmissions.Toavoidmissinga
transmissionwhileinscanningmode,youcanprogramatwo-second
delayintoanychannel.
1. Whilemonitoringacarchannel,pressFUNCthenDELAY.
2. Whenyourscannerstopson
acarnumberchannelwitha
programmeddelay,Dappearsand
thescannercontinuestomonitor
CLONE RECEIVE
FINISH!!
CLONE RECEIVE
START!!
Grand Am
26 Gotham Comp
D Lo 456.72500

17
Advanced Operation
thatchannelfortwosecondsafterthetransmissionstopsbefore
resumingscanning.
3. Toturnoffthedelay,pressFUNCthenDELAYwhilemonitoringa
carnumber/channel.Ddisappears.DelayisONbydefault.
Locking Out Channels
Youcanscanexistingchannelsfasterbylockingoutcarnumbersthat
havecontinuoustransmissions.
While scanning:
• PressFUNCthen0 (L/O)whenthescannerstopsonthenumber
youwanttolockout.Loappearsonthedisplay.
Manually:
• Selectthecarnumberyouwanttolockout,thenpressFUNCand
0 (L/O).Loappearsonthedisplay.
• Toremovethelockout,manuallyselectthecarnumber,then
pressFUNCand0 L/O.Lodisappears.
nNote:YoucannotlockoutM1channel.
Cell Phone Operation
Toansweryourcellphoneandtalkusingthescanner,youwillneed
amicrophoneheadsetandacablewith1/8”(3.5mm)plugsoneither
end(neitherincluded).
1. ConnectthemicrophoneheadsettotheAsetofs/MICjacks
ontheleftsideofthescanner.TheBsetofjacksdoesnotwork
withthecellphonefeature.
2. Connectthe1/8”(3.5mm)cabletothePC/IF/PHONEjackonthe
rightsideofthescanner.
3. Whenyourcellphonerings,answeritonthephone,thenpress
the/MONbuttononthescannertoclearthetransmission.
4. Hangupyourcellphonewhenyouarenishedtalking.


18
Advanced Operation
Text Input Method
Followthechartbelowtoinputtextandnumbersforthemenu
functionsstartingonpage12.
• Forexample,toenterthename“Rob,”press7, 3,6 FUNC 3,2
FUNC 2.
Button(s) Pressed Output Characters
11234567890
2 ABC
2FUNC abc
3 DEF
3FUNC def
4 GHI
4FUNC ghi
5 JKL
5FUNC jkl
6 MNO
6FUNC mno
7PQRS
7FUNC pqrs
8TUV
8FUNC tuv
9 WXYZ
9FUNC wxyz
0 !._-#:?“(space)
0FUNC &/@*,;()‘=
nNote:Ifyoumakemistake,pressCLR to delete all entries and
start again.
Keylock
PressFUNC,thenEDIT/KEYLOCKtolockorunlockthekeypad.
Whenthekeypadislocked,onlyFUNCandEDIT/KEYLOCKwillwork.

19
Additional Info
Additional Information
Scanning Legally
Yourscannercoversfrequenciesusedbymanydifferentgroups
includingpoliceandredepartments,ambulanceservices,
governmentagencies,privatecompanies,amateurradio,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(ECPA),
youaresubjecttonesandpossibleimprisonmentforintentionally
listeningto,usingordivulgingthecontentsofsuchatransmission
unlessyouhavetheconsentofapartytothecommunication(unless
suchactivityisotherwiseillegal).
Thisscannerhasbeendesignedtopreventreceptionofillegal
transmissions.Thisisdonetocomplywiththelegalrequirementthat
scannersbemanufacturedsoastonotbeeasilymodiabletopick
upthosetransmissions.Donotopenyourscanner’scasetomake
anymodicationsthatcouldallowittopickuptransmissionsthatare
illegaltomonitor.Doingsocouldsubjectyoutolegalpenalties.
Weencourageresponsible,legalscanneruse.
Insomeareas,mobileuseofthisscannerisunlawfulorrequiresa
permit.Checkthelawsinyourarea.Itisalsoillegalinmanyareasto
interferewiththedutiesofpublicsafetyofcialsbytravelingtothe
sceneofanincidentwithoutauthorization.

20
Additional Info
Troubleshooting
Problem Solution
Thescannerdoesnotwork • TheACorDCadaptermight
notbeconnected.Besurethe
adapter’sbarrelplugisfully
insertedintothePWRjack.The
centertipontheadapter’sbarrel
plugmustbesettopositive.
• Thebatteriesmightbedeador
needtoberecharged.Recharge
therechargeablebatteriesor
replacethealkalinebatteries.
Thescanneristurnedon,
butwillnotscan
Tryadjustingthesquelchsetting.
Seepage14formoreinformation.
Thekeypaddoesn’twork Keylockmightbeturnedon.See
page18toturnitoff.
Care Instructions
• Keepthescannerdry;ifitgetswet,wipeitdryimmediately.
• Useandstorethescanneronlyinnormaltemperature
environments.
• Handlethescannercarefully;donotdropit.
• Keepthescannerawayfromdustanddirt
• Wipeitwithadampclothoccasionallytokeepitlookingnew.
Service and Repair
Ifyourscannerisnotperformingasitshould,takeittoyourlocal
RadioShackstoreforassistance.TolocateyournearestRadioShack,
usethestorelocatorfeatureonRadioShack’swebsite
(www.radioshack.com),orcall1-800-THE-SHACK(800-843-7422)and
followthemenuoptions.Modifyingortamperingwiththescanner’s
internalcomponentscancauseamalfunctionandmightinvalidateits
warrantyandvoidyourFCCauthorizationtooperateit.