Tandy Radio Shack Realistic Pocket-Scan PRO-6 User manual

RADIO SHACK MA TANDY CORPORATION COMPANY
U.S.A.: FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76107
CANADA: BARRIE, ONTARIO, CANADA L4M
4W5
TANDY CORPORATION
AUSTRAlIA
280-316 VICTORIA ROAO
RYOAlMERE. N.SW 2116
8A4-Y25000
BElGIUM
---
PARC INOUSTRIEl OE NANINNE
5140 NANINNE
U K
BILSTON ROAO
WEONESBURY. STAFFS WFlO 7JN
Printed in Japan
CUSTOM MANUFACTUREO FOR RADIO SHACK MA TANOY CORPORATION COMPANY

Your REALISTIC Pocket-Scan PRO-6 Scanning Receiver is a super
compact solid-state Dual-Band VH F, dual-conversion super-
heterodyne receiver, capable of
automatically scanning 4 crystal
controlled channels. Some special features are: two ceramic filters,
channel loek-out circuit, skipper
circuit and EXTernal DC POWER
jack
for operation from an external souree of 6-volts DC. The
Pocket-Scan is intended to be used
by Civil Defense personnel,
professional or part
time public servants (police, firemen, etc.). or
just anyone interested in listening to the exciting action constantly
taking place on the air waves in
your locality.
It is designed for use in the narrow-band FM channels of Public
Service communications:
VHF band Police, Fire, Civil Defense,
Radio Telephone, Forestry and weather service, plus many
other
Industrial Radio Services. These and many other services share this
band
of frequencies from 30 to 50 MHz and 148 to 174 MHz.
The PRO-6 features
both high sensrnvrtv and selectivity and a
sophisticated
circuit which includes 10.7 MHz and 445 kHz ceramic
filters to reduce or eliminate adjacent channel or strong -signaI
interference. Such interference is
often experienced when operating
in urban and
metropolitan areas or where very strong and closelv
placed signals are present.
The PRO-6 represents some rather complex engineering and
manufacturing achievements,
but is designed for very practical
applications.
And still, it is remarkably easy to use. It can be placed
in
your pocket, c1ipped to your belt, or operated in your home,
office or vehicle. You'lI be amazed to realize that this small package
contains densely packaged
circuitry composed of 27 transistors, two
integrated circuits (which incorporate the equivalent of hundreds of
components), 17 diodes and 4 Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) for
the scanning indicators.
Your local Radio Shack store has a complete line of accessories for
use with the PRO-6-extra batteries, power adapters, cables. crvstals,
antennas, etc.
-1-

SPECIFICATIONS
GUARANTEE: The RADIO SHACK guarantee is stated on the
Guarantee card packed
with the unit. It is in effect from
coast-to-coast. At any time, RADIO SHACK equipment can be
restored to like-new
condition with original parts, with minimum
delay, anywhere in the U.S.A., normally right in your own
neighborhood. In 98% of the cases, it is not necessary to return
RADIO SHACK equipment to our laboratories.
WARNING
The PRO-6 is designed to operate from four penlight (AA)
batteries (connected in series), or an external souree of +6
volts DC (negative ground). If it fails to operate, and there is
no
c1ear reason for the failure, first check the batteries.
Before you try connecting the PRO-6 receiver to an external
6-volt DC power supply, check the voltage polarity. Attempt-
ing to operate the negative ground PRO-6 from aPOSITIVE
GROUND electrical system, may damage it. The Radio Shack
warranty does
not apply to any damage caused by improper
power connections or
other damage caused by misuse, damage
or neglect.
CHANNELS OF OPERATION:
FREOUENCY RANGE:
FREOUENCY COVERAGE:
SENSITIVITY:
SELECTIVITY:
MODULATION ACCEPTANCE:
IF. FREOUENCY:
FILTER:
SOUELCH SENSITIVITY:
SCANNING SPEED:
DELAY TIME:
AUDIO POWER:
POWER REOUIREMENTS:
SEMICONDUCTOR
COMPLEMENT:
SPEAKER:
ANTENNA:
CRYSTAL REOUIREMENTS:
Four-as determined by any one of
4crystals operating in the frequen-
cy range
30 to 50 MHz and 148 - 174 MHz
(Lo) 6 MHz
for maximum sensitivi-
ty (40 MHz ±3 MHz)
(Hi) 8 MHz
for maximum sensitivi-
ty (153 MHz ±4 MHz)
Better than 1
microvolt for 20 dB
quieting
±13.5 kHz, -6 dB
±20 kHz, -50 dB
±7 kHz
10.7 MHz and 455 kHz
10.7 MHz and 455 kHz Ceramic
Filters
Variabie
from less than 1 microvolt
6 channels/second
0.7 to 1.5 seconds
150
milliwatts
+6 volts DC (negative ground only)
Current drain: 40 to 100 mA (no
signal/squelched, to
full volume)
2Integrated Circuits
27 SiliconTransistors
17 Diodes
4
Light Emitting Diodes (LED's)
2", 16 ohm, Permanent Magnet,
dynamic type
Built-in wire loop, plus external
whip-type wire
Standard HC-25/u 3rd overtone
-2-
-3-

PREPARING fOR USE
To use your POCKET-SCAN, you must do two things:
Install the batteries
Install 1, 2, 3 or 4 crysta Is
To install the batteries;
turn the receiver face down and press in
firmly on both sides of the receiver at the place marked BATTERY
PACK and lift the compartment up and away.
Remove the battery pack. Insert
four AA batteries, one at a time
making sure the
polarity markings inside the battery pack match up
(+ to +and - to -) with markings on the batteries.
We recommend Nickel Cadmium
AA batteries, Radio Shack Catalog
Number 23-125, or
AA NOVA CELL, Catalog Number 23-453 be
used in
your new Receiver.
Crystals are
not included with your POCKET-SCAN because the
frequencies are so numerous. The frequencies used in
your part of
the country will be different from those used in other areas. Your
Radio Shack Store Manager will advise you as to what frequencies
are most used and help you in
your selection of crystals.
Remove the Crystal Compartment Cover by sliding
it to the left and
insert crystal
into the crystal socketlLo or HO. Provision is made to
install 4crystals; each position can be used
for either VHF Hi or
VH F Lo.
Follow the illustration provided for proper installation of
each crystal.
For
VHF Lo crystals, use the center and lower crystal socket
holes.
For VH F Hi crystals, use the center and upper crystal socket holes.
In the example shown, Channel 1
will have a VHF Lo crystal and
Channel 4
will have a VHF Hi crystal.
CRYSTAL COMPARTMENT COVER
Since crystal frequencies must be extremely accurate and crystals
should be matched
for specific units, we recommended you
obtain crystals
for your POCKET-SCAN only from Radio Shack.
Be sure to specify the Catalog Number and Model description
of
your Monitor Receiver. We can not be responsible for the poor or
improper operation of crystals from another manufacturer(s).
Press the Battery Pack into place (press sides of Battery Pack in
ward to snap it back
onto the case).
BATTERY PACK
CRYSTAL SOCKETS
SPEAKER SIDE
-4- -5-

JACK
BATTERY COMPARTMENT
CONTROL LOCATION AND FUNCTION
OFF-VOL is the power switch and Volume control. When not in
use,
rotate this control to the left to turn it off.
SQUELCH control is to eliminate annoying background noise
between signal transmissions. When
properly set, Squelch will keep
the PRO-6 silent
until a signal comes in on the channelts) you are
listening
to-then, the Squelch circuit will "open" and you hear the
signaI.
Selector Switch is for determining the function of the scanning
feature. In the SCAN
position, each channel will be scanned
automatically. In the center (stop) position, the PRO-6 will not
scan, but will remain tuned to the channel indicated by the LED.
To advance the receiver to the next channel in sequence, press to
the MANUAL position momentarily; each time you do so, the
receiver
will advance one channel.
CRYSTAL
COMPARTMEN\
meo~
RECHARGE /
POWER JACK
LED
CHANNEL
INDICATOR
BELT CLIP
Crystal Compartment contains crystals selected for operation.
EXTern al Power and Battery Charge Jack- The EXT POWER JACK
is for connecting an external souree of 6volts DC (negative ground),
so that operation without the use of batteries is possible.
Channel
Loek-out Switches-in the "up" position (button next to the
LED), that channel is active. When you press the switch down, that
channel is automatically "locked out" and will not function.
LED Channel Indicator-these Light Emitting Diodes show which
channelts) is active. During scanning, these lights light up in
sequence; when the receiver is operative on one of the channels, the
light for that channel will go on. When the Channel Lock-out switch
for that channel is in the down position, that LED will not light.
EARphone jack is for plugging in the earphone. Use it for private
listening or in areas where background noise is excessive (in
factorles. at the scene
of an accident or fire, in a vehicle, etc.).
SELECTOR SWITCH
SCAN/STOP/MANUAL ---t-
CHANNEL LOCK·OUT sw.
ec--+---- EARPHONE JACK
POWERlVOL.
CONTROL SQUELCH CONTROL
ANTenna jack is for connecting an external antenna to the PRO-6.
You can use either the wire antenna provided or an outside VHF
antenna.
Belt Clip is provided so you can attach the PRO-6 to your belt or
other conven ient place.
Battery Compartment holds internal power souree (4 type AA
batteries).
-6-
NOTE
The RECHARGE POWER JACK is to be used only when
Nickel Cadmium batteries are installed in
the receiver.
To recharge Nickel Cadmium batteries in the receiver, simply plug
an external
6-volt DC power souree into the RECHARGE POWER
JACK.
-7-

OPERATION
Af ter batteries and a crystal (or crvstals) has been instalied, your
PRO-6 is ready to use.
Turn VOLUME "on" by rotating to the right. Rotate SQUELCH to
the minimum position by rotating to the left. Set all the Channel
Loek-out Switches "on" (in the up position, toward the LED
indicators). You should hear a rushing sound from the speaker. Now
adjust SQUELCH to the right until you reach the point where the
rushing background noise
abruptly stops.
If you want the PRO-6 to continuously scan the channels for which
you have crystals installed, you must adjust SQUELCH as previously
instructed, then set the Selector
Switch to the SCAN position. The
PRO-6
will constantly scan each channel in sequence; when a signal
appears on one
of the channels the receiver will lock onto that
channel and you wi 11 hear the signa!.
If you do not want automatic scanning on one or more channels,
switch their Channel Lock-out Switches to the "off" position (down
or away from the LED indicator).
If you want to stay tuned to one channel only, set the Selector
Switch to the center position (stop scanning) and then press to the
MANUAL position to advance to the channel you want to listen to
(as indicated by the LED above that channel switch). For MANUAL
scanning, the receiver can be either "squelched" (adjusted as
previously indicated) or
"unsquelched" (SQUELCH control set to
extreme left). For AUTOMATIC scanning, SQUELCH must be set
to eliminate the background noise.
The PRO-6 has a
built-in loop antenna and in high level signal areas
you may not need another antenna. However, in most cases, you
will want to use the wire antenna provided; just plug it into the
ANTenna Jack and extend the antenna vertically. For the very best
reception,
you will want to use an outside antenna-see the
ANTENNAS section.
ANTENNAS
For superior reception, you will want to use an external antenna
such as Radio Shack Catalog
Number 20-015. This antenna is
designed
for base station operation. If you intend to use your
POCKET-SCAN in a vehicle, we recommend Catalog Number
20-016. You will need coaxial cable to eenneet between the base
station antenna and the
POCKET-SCAN-use Catalog Number
278-970 (50 feet of RG-8/U). At the POCKET-SCAN, use a
sub-miniature phone plug on the end
of the coax cable (274-289) or
a combination of adapters which will mate into a male sub-
miniature plug.
For mobile use, you can mount the POCKET-SCAN permanently or
temporarily. In either case, be sure it is positioned (along with its
cables) in a safe and convenient
location. When you mount a mobile
anten na, keep the following points in mind:
1. Mou nt the antenna as high as possible-the center of the roof is
best.
2.
It should be rigid, so it will be vertical when in motion.
3. Keep it as far as possible from the engine compartment (the
engine is a souree of noise, which will interfere with reception),
To eliminate the annoying background noise, rotate SQUELCH
toward the right until the background noise abruptly stops. You
can't adjust SQUELCH properly while listening to a station, so wait
until signals cease. If you set SQUELCH as noted above, the PRO-6
will appear "dead" until a signal comes in; when a signal comes in,
the Squelch circuit "opens up" and you hear the signa!. When the
signal ceases, the Squelch circuit "doses" and cuts out all sound
until the next signal comes in.
-8-
DUAL BAND VHF Cowl
Mount
For mobile. Chrome tele-
scopic
whip. Swivel base.
Center-Ioaded
weatherproof
coil, With 5' RG-58/U cabie.
Pin-plug
connector. Catalog
Number 20-016.
-9-
DUAL BAND VHF Ground
Plane
Heavy-duw aluminum ele-
ments. Match ing trans-
former. Mounting bracket.
Accepts PL-259 con nector.
Catalog Number: 20-015.

FREQUENCY COVERAGE
For maximum sensitivity, the channel frequencies you choose
should be
within 3 MHz of 40 MHz on the LO VHF band (that is,
in the spread
of 37 to 43 MHz). For the Hl VHF band, stay within
4 MHz of 153 MHz (that is, 149 to 157 MHz). This Receiver will
function very adequately down to 30 and up to 50 and from 148 to
175 MHz, but with reduced sensitivity. The superior reception
spread
of 6 or 8 MHz (±3/4 MHz) can be moved up or down in this
band of frequencies by special realignment of the front end circuitry
of this Receiver (which should be attempted only be qualified
Electronics Service Technicians who have adequately calibrated,
precision test equiprnent).
With such realignment, your Receiver can tune signals in the Ham
bands and
other services. We call your attention to the fact that this
Receiver is designed
for reception of FM signals and thus can not be
used
for monitoring AM signals (even though they may be within
the frequency coverage range). These AM signals include much of
the aircraft services.
TYPES OF SIGNALS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MONITOR
Your community is alive with action-action which is constantly
being reported on the air waves. And your PRO-6 will automatically
scan the air waves to bring you that action-your police force at
work, a fire truck on a mission, Ham Radio operators, highway and
other emergency-type services, some industrial services, some trans-
portation services (taxi, trucks, railroad), plus some Government
services. Lots of things are going on that most of us just are never
aware
of. But, with the right frequency crystal in your PRO-6 you
can monitor such exciting signais. You'll have to do a Iittle
investigating in your community to find out what services are active
and on wh at frequencies.
You will find one of our books to be very
interesting and
helpful in this area: REALISTIC GUlDE TO
POLICE, FIRE AND AIRCRAFT RADIO.
What to listen for and where? That is a little difficult for aspecific
answer. Each area of the
country can and will use different
frequencies. All we can do is give you some general pointers and let
you take it from there.
-10 -
Find out if there is a local club which monitors these frequencies.
Often
alocal electronics repair shop that does work on the
equipment can give you the channel frequencies used by local radio
services. A
volunteer police or fire employee can also be a good
souree
of this information.
An interesting service is the Mobile Telephone. FCC has assigned
th is service channels in
the range of 152.51 to 152.81 MHz at every
0.030 MHz (channels are 30 kHz apart).
As a general rule on
VHF, most activity will be concentrated
between
153.785 and 155.98 and then again from 158.73 to 159.46
MHz. Here
you'lI find local government, police, fire and most such
emergency services.
If you are near a railroad yard or major railroad
tracks,
look around 160.0 to 161.9 MHz for them.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RECEPTION
Continuous weather broadcasts are transmitted 24-hours-a-day in
many parts of the country. If you are using a crystal set to on~ of
the two channels assigned (162.55 or 162.40 MHz), your Receiver
will automatically loek-in on that channel, since the broadcasts are
continuous.
To prevent automatic locking, set the channel loek-out
button for th at channel to the "off" position (button out). When
you want aweather report, set the Loek-Out Button to the "on"
position (press in) for that channel. In areas where two stations are
close to each
other, one will use 162.55 and the other will use
162.40 MHz. Check with your local FCC office or the Weather
Bureau
for the frequency used in your area.
ACCESSORIES
Your PRO-6 can be powered from any souree of 6 volts DC,
negative ground. Using an AC adapter
will save on batteries; so, if
you intend to use the PRO-6 in alocation where 120 volts is readily
available, and
it does not need to be moved around, consider an
adapter. Radio Shack has
two power adapters which you might be
interested in. Catalog
Number 270-1531 is a universal adapter for
120 volts AC, to provide 4.5/617.5/9 volts DC (positive or
negative). Catalog
Number 270-1532 is a power adapter for plugging
- 11 -

into acigarette lighter socket in your vehicle and providing either 6
or 9 volts DC (positive or negativel. This
will permit you to use the
PRO-6 in
your car or truck without wearing down your batteries.
Of course, with such an adapter you can recharge Nickel Cadmium
batteries by using the RECHARGE POWER
JACK.
MAINTENANCE
The PRO-6 is a ruggedly built electronie unit, with all parts
conservatively rated. However, you should treat
it with care; don't
subject it to excessively rough handling. You will find it will give
you long life
if kept free from dirt and excessive humidity.
If the sound becomes weak and distorted, it is time for new
batteries. We recommend Radio Shack
Alkaline batteries, Catalog
Number 23-552. Or, use
our ENERCELL rechargeable batteries
(23-125)-you can recharge them hundreds of times. If vou do not
intend to use the PRO-6 for a few weeks, it is best to remove the
batteries. Also, never leave weak or dead batteries in the
unit.
BLoeK DIAGRAM
-12-
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-13-
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SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
J2
EARPHONE
r-_--.: ..... '" JACK
J3
EXT.POWER JACK
6V DC
J4
"'~r CHARGE JACK
CD,...
~N
----------------------
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S6 /
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REMARKS:
1. RESISTANCE VALUES IN OHMS IK"10001IM=10000001
2. CAPACITANCE VALUES IN MF IP"MMFI
3. (TI TANTALUM CAPACITOR
4. (MI
MYLAR CAPACITOR
5.
ALL VALUES AND RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR
IMPROVEMENT
WITHOUT NOTICE
FUNCTION
.n. ANTENNA JACK
J2, EARPHONE JACK
J3:
EXTERNAL POWER JACK
J4: CHARGE JACK
Sl - 4:
CHANNEL SELECTOR SWITCH
S5:
AUTO/MANUAL SWITCH
S6: POWER SWITCH
REMARKS:
C,->THIS SYMBOL INDICATES DC VOLTAGE MEASURED BY V.T.V.M. AT THE CONDITiON OF
HIGH BAND CH·l
MANUAL OPERATED: VOLUME MINIMUM POSITiON AND SQ. CONToOUT POSITION.
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