Pro-162 lockup

dm1313 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 06:31 PM

My Pro-162 just started locking up on random aviation frequencies only and pressing scan or manual does nothing and it will not resume scanning unless I turn the scanner off and back on again. The frequencies have no audio when it stops on them...that I can hear anyway. I locked out the first 3 frequencies that it locked up on, but it still does it on others. Any ideas as why this just started happening or how to prevent it?

DickH · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dm1313

My Pro-162 just started locking up on random aviation frequencies only and pressing scan or manual does nothing and it will not resume scanning unless I turn the scanner off and back on again. The frequencies have no audio when it stops on them...that I can hear anyway. I locked out the first 3 frequencies that it locked up on, but it still does it on others. Any ideas as why this just started happening or how to prevent it?

Perhaps some new transmitter has started operations near you. Have you added anything to your computer or any other new electronic device in your house?
Do you receive other freqs. OK?

dm1313 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 11:58 AM

Haven't added any new electronics, but a new transmitter could be a possible cause. I have noticed paging systems affecting 155.415. 155.355, and a couple of others. I added an inline attenuator which seems to have alleviated the problem so far.

Chauffeur6 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:07 PM

The fact that you can't get off the frequency even by pressing scan or manual makes me believe could be an actual hardware malfunction, and not just some quirk related to any external factor. I assume pressing program also doesn't unlock the scanner from this condition? Have you tried setting the squelch to fully closed to see if it makes any difference? Is Signal Stalker on, and are these aviation frequencies popping up in Signal Stalker, or do you have them actually programmed and the scanner just locks up on them? Are all these offending frequencies in question AM mode? Is the scanner operating normally otherwise? Has good reception on the programmed frequencies? Trunk tracking just fine?

Give us a few more details as to what mode the scanner is in prior to this behavior so we can better help out.

dm1313 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 12:41 AM

No, can't get off the frequency by pressing program, manual, search, or scan. Signal stalker is not on and have tried closing the squelch. No problems with trunking. The aviation frequencies are programmed in and are all in the AM mode. These are the only frequencies that cause the lockup.

I noticed today that when it locked up on 128.325 and received a transmission on that frequency the display changed to one of the Priority channels (155.700) and a pilot was talking to Ft. Worth center. After the transmission ended, the display went back to 128.325.

Otherwise, everything is working great. I have it connected to an MFJ discone
about 15 feet up and am consistently pulling in clear signals in about a 75 - 80 mile radius.

DickH · #6 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dm1313

... I have it connected to an MFJ discone
about 15 feet up and am consistently pulling in clear signals in about a 75 - 80 mile radius.

Try it with the antenna that came with it. My guess is your problem will not be there.

Chauffeur6 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 09:26 AM

So I assume if you lock out those AM frequencies or turn that bank off, the problem does not occur? The only part of this that makes no sense to me is that you are unable to get off the frequencies by pressing scan, manual or program. That makes absolutely no sense, I don't care how strong these signals might be. The scanner should absolutely be able to advance to different channels when you press scan, of course it might just loop around and lock back up on the offending frequency, but that's normal. However, once you press manual or program, you should absolutely be able to use the up or down arrows to get to different programmed channels. If you have to cycle the power on the scanner to get out of scan mode, then something physical is wrong with the scanner.

If you have the USB cable and ARC160 software, I would suggest backing up the scanner's programming, performing a full reset on the scanner (page 78 of the manual), then reprogramming it. Could just be a glitch that a reset might clear up.

stevem0831 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 10:55 AM

Is it possible that the keylock has been turned on? If it is on, there will be a key icon in the lower right of the display? If so press and hold the keylock key until that symbol disappears.

RadioDaze · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 03:47 PM

His button to lock out freqs was working, so that might rule out the keypad lock. It does sound like a physical or microprocessor issue. Nothing to lose by trying a full reset.

dm1313 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:27 PM

I thought the strangest thing was that it would receive an aviation transmission, but display one of the priority frequencies which are all PD/FD/EMS and then the display would go back to whatever air frequency it had locked up on when the transmission ended.

Anyway...the keylock was not enabled and I have reset and reloaded everything...so far it seems to have cured the problem.

Thanks to everyone who responded and offered assistance.

Chauffeur6 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 07:43 PM

Hope it was just a weird random glitch...good luck!