Radio Shack REALISTIC PRO-2042 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
PRO-2042
1000-Channel
Programmable Home Scanner
Please read before using this equipment.

INTRODUCTION
Your new Realistic by RadioShack
PRO-2042 1000-Channel Program¬
mable Home Scanner lets you in on all
the action! With its convenient rotary
tuner and keypad, you can quickly tune
to over 196,000 frequencies (within
the ranges of 25-1300 MHz).
The secret to your scanner’s ability to
scan so many frequencies is its custom-
designed microprocessor — a tiny,
built-in computer.
Your scanner has all these special fea¬
tures.
Hyperscan — lets you scan up to 50
channels per second and search up to
50 steps per second.
Ten Channel-Storage Banks — you
can store 100 channels in each bank to
group channels so calls are easier to
identify. The scanner automatically
warns you if you try to store duplicate
frequencies (except when storing fre¬
quencies into channels from monitor
memories).
100 Monitor Memories — temporarily
save up to 100 frequencies located
during a frequency search, letting you
move selected frequencies to perma¬
nent channel storage later.
Priority Channel — you can set the
scanner to check one channel every 2
seconds so you do not miss important
calls.
Auto Store — quickly finds and auto¬
matically stores active frequencies in
each channel, then searches for addi¬
tional active frequencies while skip¬
ping previously stored channels.
TAPE OUT Jack — lets you connect
an optional tape recorder to the scan¬
ner to record transmissions.
Rotary Tuner — lets you manually
tune and select desired frequencies or
channels. The scanner’s tune speed
automatically changes depending on
how fast you turn the rotary tuner.
Two-Second Channel Scan Delay —
delays scanning for 2 seconds before
moving to another channel, so you can
hear more replies.
© 1996 InterTAN Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
2

Memory Backup — keeps channel
frequencies stored in memory for up to
3 months during a power loss.
Lock-Out Function — lets you set
your scanner to skip over specified
channels or frequencies when scan¬
ning or searching.
Frequency Sort — lets you sort fre¬
quencies stored in a bank from the
highest to the lowest or the lowest to
the highest frequency, to help you
organize stored frequencies in your
scanner’s memory.
Ten Preprogrammed Frequency
Ranges — let you search for transmis¬
sions within preset frequency ranges
or within ranges you set, to reduce
search time and select interesting fre¬
quencies more quickly.
Direct Frequency Search — lets you
search for new and unlisted frequen¬
cies.
Sound Squelch — keeps the scanner
from stopping on frequencies with only
a carrier signal and no voice or other
sound, so you can hear only calls in¬
stead of static.
Backlit Display — makes it easy to
view and change programming infor¬
mation.
Two Power Options — let you power
the scanner from standard AC power
(with the supplied AC power cord), or
your vehicle’s battery (with an optional
DC cigarette lighter power cord).
For your records, we urge you to
record your scanner’s serial number in
the space below. The serial number is
located on the scanner’s back panel.
Serial Number:_
Warning: To prevent fire or shock haz¬
ard, do not expose this product to rain
or moisture.
Your PRO-2042 scanner can receive
all of these bands:
• 25-520 MHz
• 760-1300 MHz
3

NOTICE
Your scanner might cause TV or radio
interference even when it is operating
properly. To determine whether or not
your scanner is causing the interfe¬
rence, turn off your scanner. If the in¬
terference goes away, your scanner is
causing it. Try to eliminate the interfe¬
rence by:
• Moving your scanner away from the
receiver.
• Connecting your scanner to an out¬
let that is on a different electrical cir¬
cuit from the receiver.
• Contacting your local Tandy store
for help.
If you cannot eliminate the interfe¬
rence, local regulations may require
you to stop using your scanner.
For U.K. Only
The supplied appliance is fitted with an
approved 13 Amp standard UK type
plug. If this plug is not compatible with
your mains socket outlet it should be
cut off and disposed of immediately as
it is a shock hazard if inserted into a
live socket outlet. An approved type
plug that is compatible with your sock¬
et outlets must then be fitted.
Important: The wires in the mains
lead are coloured in accordance with
the following codes:
Blue.Neutral
Brown.Live
The wires in the mains lead must be
connected to the terminals in the plug
as folows:
Mains Lead Plug
Wire Colour Terminal
Marking
Blue.N or Black or Blue
Brown.L or Red or Brown
Do not connect either wire to the earth
terminal marked or by the letter E or by
the safety earth symbol ( -4=- ) or co¬
loured green or green-and-yellow.
If the plug required for your socket out¬
lets is fitted with a fuse, this must be a
3 Amp type and should carry BS kite or
ASTA mark.
Never use a plug without a fuse cover
fitted.
If the plug is not fusible type, the mas¬
ter fuse for the mains outlet sockets
should not be greater than 5 Amps.
If in doubt refer to a qualified electri¬
cian.
Warning: This equipment should be
disconnected when not in use for an
extended period.
4

CONTENTS
Preparation. 7
Connecting an Antenna . 7
Connecting Power. 8
Using Your Vehicle’s Battery. 9
Restarting/Resetting the Scanner. 9
Connecting Optional Equipment. 11
Connecting an External Speaker . 11
Connecting Headphones . 11
Listening Safely . 12
Connecting a Tape Recorder . 12
Understanding Your Scanner. 13
A Look at the Keyboard . 13
A Look at the Display . 15
Understanding Banks/Memories. 17
Channel-Storage Banks. 17
Monitor Memories . 17
Operation. 18
Turning on the Scanner/Setting Volume and Squelch . 18
Using the Rotary Tuner . 18
Tuning Channel Numbers. 18
Tuning Frequencies . 18
Using Monitor Memories . 19
Searching For and Storing Active Frequencies . 19
Manually Storing Frequencies. 20
Automatically Storing Frequencies . 20
Limit Search. 23
Searching a Preprogrammed Frequency Range. 23
Changing a Preprogrammed Range. 24
Direct Search. 25
Scanning the Channels. 26
Turning Channel-Storage Banks Off and On . 26
Moving Frequencies. 27
Moving a Frequency from a Monitor Memory to a Channel. 27
Moving Frequencies from Monitor Memories to a Bank . 27
Moving Frequencies Within Banks . 28
Moving Frequencies from Banks to Monitor Memories . 28
5

Deleting Frequencies. 29
Deleting a Frequency from a Channel or Monitor Memory. 29
Deleting Frequencies from All Locked-Out Channels Within a Bank . 29
Deleting Frequencies from All Channels Within a Bank. 29
Sorting Frequencies Within a Bank. 30
Special Features. 31
Delay. 31
Using the ATT Switch. 31
Using the Sound Squelch Switch. 31
Locking Out Channels and Frequencies. 32
Reviewing Locked-Out Channels and Frequencies . 33
Deleting All Locked-Out Frequencies . 33
Priority. 33
Manually Selecting a Channel . 34
Band Mode and Frequency Step . 35
Changing/Resetting the Band Mode . 35
Changing/Resetting the Frequency Step . 35
A General Guide to Scanning. 37
Guide to Frequencies. 37
Ham Radio Frequencies. 37
Birdie Frequencies . 38
Specified Intervals . 39
Frequency Conversion. 40
Troubleshooting . 41
Care and Maintenance . 42
Specifications . 43
6

PREPARATION
This scanner is primarily designed for
use in the home as a base station. You
can place it on a desk, shelf, or table.
Your scanner's front feet fold up or
down. Adjust them to give you the best
view of the display.
The scanner’s sensitivity depends on
the antenna's length and various envi¬
ronmental conditions. For the best re¬
ception of the transmissions you want
to hear, adjust the antenna’s length.
Frequency
Antenna Length
25-300 MHz
Extend fully
300-520 MHz
Extend three
segments
760-1300 MHz
Collapse all
segments
CONNECTING AN
ANTENNA
The supplied telescoping antenna
helps your scanner receive strong lo¬
cal signals. To install the antenna,
screw it clockwise into the hole on the
scanner’s top.
Instead of the supplied antenna, you
can connect an outdoor base antenna
(not supplied) to your scanner. Your lo¬
cal Tandy store sells a variety of anten¬
nas. Choose the one that best meets
your needs.
When deciding on an outdoor base an¬
tenna and its location, consider the fol¬
lowing:
• 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 (appli¬
ances, other radios, and so on).
• The antenna should be vertical for
the best performance.
7

To connect an optional antenna, al¬
ways use 50-ohm coaxial cable, such
as RG-58 or RG-8. For length over
14.24 m (50 feet), use RG-8 low-loss
dielectric coaxial cable. If the coaxial
cable’s connector does not fit in the
ANT jack, you might also need a PL-
259-to-BNC antenna plug adapter.
Your local Tandy store carries a wide
variety of coaxial antenna cable and
connectors.
CONNECTING POWER
Plug the scanner’s attached AC power
cord into a standard AC outlet.
To standard AC outlet
Follow the mounting instructions sup¬
plied with the antenna. Then route the
antenna cable to the scanner, and con¬
nect it to the ANT jack on the back of
the scanner.
Caution: Do not run the cable over
sharp edges or moving objects.
The memory backup circuit begins to
function a few minutes after you supply
power to the scanner. How long the
scanner will maintain channels stored
in memory depends on how long pow¬
er has been supplied to the scanner.
For example, if power is supplied to the
scanner for at least 4 days, the memo¬
ry backup circuit maintains the chan¬
nels stored in memory for up to 3
months.
Warning: Use extreme caution when
you install or remove an outdoor an¬
tenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let it
go! It could contact overhead power
lines. If the antenna touches a power
line, contact with the antenna, mast,
cable, or guy wires can cause electro¬
cution and death. Call the power com¬
pany to remove the antenna. DO NOT
attempt to do so yourself.
8

Using Your Vehicle’s Battery
If your AC power does not work in an
emergency, you can power your scan¬
ner from your vehicle's cigarette lighter
socket with an optional DC cigarette
lighter power cable (not supplied).
To connect an optional DC cigarette
lighter power cable, insert its barrel
plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the back
of the scanner, then plug the power ca¬
ble into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter
socket.
Caution: If you use a DC cigarette
lighter power cable with the scanner, it
must supply 12 volts and deliver at
least 1 amp. Its center tip must be set
to positive, and its plug must correctly
fit the DC 13.8V jack on the back of the
scanner. Using a power cable that
does not meet these specifications
could seriously damage the scanner or
the power cable.
Note: Mobile use of this scanner is un¬
lawful or requires a permit in some ar¬
eas. Check the laws in your area.
RESTARTING/
RESETTING THE
SCANNER
If the scanner’s display locks up or the
scanner does not work properly after
you connect power, you might have to
restart or reset the scanner.
Restarting the scanner clears and re¬
sets the scanner’s display, but does
not erase any channel information
stored in the scanner’s memory. Fol¬
low these steps to restart the scanner.
1. Use OFFWOLUME to turn off the
scanner, then turn it on again.
2. Insert a pointed object, such as a
straightened paper clip, into the
RESTART hole on the back of the
scanner.
9

If the scanner still does not work pro¬
perly, you might have to reset it.
Caution: This procedure clears all the
information you have programmed into
the scanner. Use this procedure only
when you are sure your scanner is not
working properly.
1. Use OFF/VOLUME to turn off the
scanner, then turn it on again.
2. Press and hold down CLEAR.
3. While inserting a pointed object
such as a straightened paper clip
into the RESTART hole on the back
of the scanner, press it until the
information on the display disap¬
pears. Then release it.
4. After the information reappears on
the scanner’s display, release
CLEAR.
10