Whistler WS1010 User manual

WS1010
200 Channel VHF/Air/UHF
Handheld Radio Scanner
OWNER’S MANUAL

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Package Contents ..................................................... 3
Scanning Legally........................................................ 3
Features..................................................................... 4
Scanner Basics........................................................... 5
Setup ......................................................................... 6
Connecting the Antenna ..................................................6
Connecting a Speaker or Headphones ............................7
Powering Your Scanner.....................................................8
Turning on the Scanner ..................................................10
Turning Off the Key Tone................................................10
Understanding the Keypad ............................................11
Understanding the Display .............................................12
Configuring Your Scanner........................................ 14
Preprogrammed Frequencies.........................................14
Programming Channels ..................................................14
Programming with a Computer......................................15
Cloning Programmed Data.............................................15
Searching for Frequencies....................................... 16
Service Bank Search........................................................16
Storing Found Frequencies ............................................17
Birdie Frequencies..........................................................17
Scanning & Monitoring...................................................18
Using the Priority Channel..............................................19
Spectrum Sweeper ........................................................19
Locking Out Channels ................................................... 20
Clearing a Stored Channel ............................................ 21
Weather Features .................................................... 22
Receiving All Weather Alerts ......................................... 22
Receiving Alerts for Specific Areas................................ 22
Skywarn™ ..................................................................... 24
Additional Information ............................................ 25
Care ............................................................................... 25
Initializing the Scanner................................................... 25
Preprogrammed Frequency List .................................... 26
Service Banks ................................................................ 28
Specifications................................................................. 30
FCC Notice.................................................................... 31
Limited Warranty ........................................................... 32
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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WELCOME
Thank you for choosing a Whistler product. We are
dedicated to providing products that represent both
quality and value. Please read the user manual carefully
before using this product. If you have additional
questions, please visit the FAQ page on our website at
www.whistlergroup.com or call toll free 800-531-0004,
8am to 5pm CT, Monday through Friday to speak to a
Customer Service Representative.
Package Contents
• Scanner
• Belt Clip
• Antenna
• AC Adapter
• User’s Guide
• Quick Start Guide
• Alkaline Battery Holder
• Rechargeable Battery Holder
Scanning Legally
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many
different groups including police and fire departments,
ambulance services, government agencies, private
companies, amateur radio services, 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), as amended, you are subject to fines 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).
INTRODUCTION

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This scanner is designed to prevent reception of
illegal transmissions, in compliance with the law which
requires that scanners be manufactured in such a
way as to not be easily modifiable to pick up those
transmissions. Do not open your scanner’s case to
make any modifications that could allow it to pick up
transmissions that are not legal to listen to. Doing so
could subject you to legal penalties.
In some areas, mobile use of this scanner is unlawful
or requires a permit. Check the laws in your area. We
encourage responsible, legal scanner use.
Features
Your new WS1010 Handheld Scanner lets you scan
conventional transmissions, and is preprogrammed
with search banks for convenience. By pressing a
one touch search key, you can quickly search those
frequencies most commonly used by public service
and other agencies without tedious and complicated
programming.
This scanner gives you direct access to over 25,000
exciting frequencies, including those used by
ambulance services, aircraft, and amateur radio
services, marine, civil air patrol, VHF and UHF business
bands, government frequencies and some police and
fire departments.
Your scanner also has these special features:
Spectrum Sweeper – a powerful new tool for you
to rapidly detect, monitor and store frequencies for
nearby radio transmissions.
One-Touch Service Search Banks – Search preset
frequencies in separate marine, fire/police, aircraft, ham
and weather bands.
Display Backlight – Easy to read in low-light situations.
Lockout Function – Lets you skip specified channels or
frequencies when scanning or searching.
Ten Channel-Storage Banks – You can store 20
channels in each bank (200 total channels), letting you
group channels so you can more easily identify calls.
FEATURES

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SAME/FIPS Weather Alert – Displays weather events
for the county or counties that you choose.
Memory Backup – Keeps the frequencies stored in
memory for an extended time.
Scan Delay – Delays scanning for about 2 seconds, so
that you can hear replies on the same channel.
Priority Channel – Lets you set the scanner to check
one channel every 2 seconds so that you do not miss
transmissions on that channel.
Data Cloning – Lets you transfer the programmed data
to another WS1010 scanner.
Scanner Basics
After you familiarize yourself with your scanner’s
features you can then set up your scanner.
Frequencies
A frequency is the waveband of the transmitting signal
(expressed in kHz or MHz). Your WS1010 receives a
range of analog frequencies; the best resource for your
local frequencies is www.radioreference.com.
Also, you can use your scanner’s search functions to
find active frequencies in your area.
Your WS1010 scanner can receive these bands:
Frequency Range Types of Transmissions
29–54 MHz 10-Meter Ham, VHF Lo, 6-Meter
Ham
108–136.9875 MHz Aircraft
137–174 MHz Military Land Mobile, 2-Meter Ham,
VHF Hi
380–512 MHz UHF Aircraft, Federal Government,
70-cm Ham, UHF Standard, UHF “T”
nNote: See “Specifications” on page 30 for more
information about frequency steps.
SCANNER BASICS

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Channels
Channels are storage areas for frequencies saved
in your scanner’s memory. Each saved frequency is
assigned a channel.
Banks
A bank is a storage area for a group of channels. Your
scanner provides 10 banks (1 to 10) that can each store
up to 20 channels, for a total of 200 channels. You can
use the banks to group and organize frequencies.
For example, you could program the frequencies used
by your local police department starting with Channel
1 (the first channel in bank 1) and program the fire
department frequencies starting with Channel 21 (the
first channel in bank 2).
Setup
Connecting the Antenna
To attach the supplied flexible antenna to the antenna
jack on top of your scanner, align the slots around the
antenna’s connector with the tabs on the antenna jack.
Press the antenna down over the jack and turn the
antenna’s base clockwise until it locks into place.
Connecting an Outdoor Antenna
To connect an external antenna, follow the installation
instructions supplied with the antenna. Use 50 Ohm
coaxial cable, such as RG-58 or RG-8. For lengths over
50 feet, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. If
the antenna cable’s connector does not have a BNC
connector, you will also need a BNC adapter.
wWarning: 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 ANTENNA

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Connecting a Speaker or Headphones
You can plug an amplified speaker or headphones
(not supplied) with Çinch (3.5 mm) mini-plug into the
HEADPHONE jack on the top of the scanner. This
automatically disconnects the internal speaker.
Note: Use an amplified speaker with this scanner. Non-
amplified speakers do not provide sufficient volume for
comfortable listening.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines:
• Do not listen at high volume levels. Extended high-
volume listening can lead to permanent hearing
loss.
• Set the volume to the lowest setting. Then turn
on your audio device and adjust the volume to a
comfortable level.
• Avoid increasing the volume. Your ears will adapt
to the volume level, so a level that does not cause
discomfort could still damage your hearing.
CONNECTING ACCESSORIES

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Using the Belt Clip
You can use the belt clip attached to the back of the
scanner for hands-free carrying when you are on the
go. Slide the belt clip over your belt or waistband. To
remove the belt clip, gently lift up the retaining catch at
the top of the belt clip from the back of radio and slide
the clip upward.
Powering Your Scanner
Using Batteries
Your scanner has a built-in charging circuit to maintain
peak performance of your Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
or Nickel Cadmium (Ni-CD) rechargeable batteries (not
supplied) while they are in the scanner.
For the best performance, use alkaline batteries. For
rechargeable battery holder, we recommend nickel-metal
hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. You must charge rechargeable
batteries before you use them the first time.
When battery power is low Bappears and the
scanner beeps continuously.
1. Open the battery compartment.
2. Place four AA batteries (not supplied) into one of
the battery holders as indicated by the polarity
symbols (+ and –). For non-rechargeable batteries,
use the black holder; for rechargeable batteries,
use the yellow holder.
RECHARGEABLE
BATTERY HOLDER
ALKALINE
BATTERY HOLDER
POWERING SCANNER

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3. Place the battery holder into the battery
compartment and replace the cover.
Warning: Never install non-rechargeable batteries in the
rechargeable yellow battery holder. Non-rechargeable
batteries can get hot or explode if you try to recharge them.
Cautions:
• The battery holders fit only one way. Do not force
them.
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and
recommended type.
• Remove old or weak batteries. Batteries can leak
chemicals that destroy electronic circuits.
• Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do
not burn or bury them.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of
batteries (alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable
batteries of different capacities.
• If you do not plan to use the scanner with batteries
for a month or longer, remove the batteries. Batteries
can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.
Using AC Power
Power the scanner using the supplied AC adapter.
To disconnect, unplug the adapter first.
Caution: Only use the supplied AC adapter. You must
use a Class 2 power source that supplies 9V DC and
delivers at least 400mA. Its center tip must be set to
positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s DC 9V jack.
Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications
could damage the scanner or the adapter.
Note: If you use a cigarette-lighter power cable and your
vehicle’s engine is running, you might hear electrical
noise from the engine while scanning. This is normal.
POWERING SCANNER

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Turning on the Scanner
1. Turn the SQUELCH all the way down before you
turn on the scanner.
2. Turn the VOLUME knob to turn ON the radio. A
welcome message appears. After about 3 seconds,
adjust VOLUME to a comfortable level.
3. Turn SQUELCH clockwise, just until the hissing
sound stops. If you always hear a hissing sound, the
scanner will not scan or search properly.
• To listen to a weak or distant station, turn
SQUELCH counterclockwise.
• If reception is poor, turn SQUELCH clockwise to cut
out weak transmissions.
Turning Off the Key Tone
The scanner is preset to sound a tone each time you
press one of its keys.
To turn the key tone on and off:
1. Turn on the scanner. WELCOME SCAnnInG rECEIVEr
appears.
2. While the welcome message is on the screen, press
1to turn on the key tone or press 2 to turn it off.
TURNING ON SCANNER