Purchasing a RadioShack Pro-197 - Page 2

K5PO · #21 (**permalink**) 12-31-2012, 6:25 PM

That would be an incentive to move! I have a radio room, but it's all full of amateur radio gear. No scanner per se, although I've wanted to add one for a while. One of the members of my radio club (K5KVN of The Noise Blankers) has been into scanning for quite some time and has been encouraging me to make the move too.

xxdanielt3 · #22 (**permalink**) 01-01-2013, 3:33 PM

I have been looking to get one too, unfortunately RS is all sold out, online and in stores. Time to try alternatives I guess.

I always read reviews before buying something, that's another hint to you. Don't let a 1 star review from a user that couldn't get the scanner to program deter you from buying a scanner however!

Upon reading on this site, I would say the Pro-197 is a good scanner. If your area is not digital, they will most likely be converting soon and you won't have to worry about upgrading again.

RDGDigital · #23 (**permalink**) 01-01-2013, 4:11 PM

The Radio Shack PRO-197 is made by GRE just for Radio Shack. It is the same radio as the GRE PSR-600, just with the Radio Shack branding.

Ham Radio Outlet has the PSR-600 in stock for $369.95 which is $55 cheaper then what Radio Shack sells the PRO-197 for and it includes the programming cable that Radio Shack charges and extra $40 for. Radio Shack does put the PRO-197 on sale quite often, but right now the PSR-600 is the better deal.

I have the PRO-197 and I love it, but if I had to get another one I'd opt for the PSR-600, it's just a better bargain. Also, when GRE releases firmware updates for the PSR-600 it typically takes Radio Shack at minimum 6 months before they release them for the PRO-197.

revclstoner · #24 (**permalink**) 01-01-2013, 4:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K5PO

That would be an incentive to move! I have a radio room, but it's all full of amateur radio gear. No scanner per se, although I've wanted to add one for a while. One of the members of my radio club (K5KVN of The Noise Blankers) has been into scanning for quite some time and has been encouraging me to make the move too.

Some stores even sell refurbished units, too.

revclstoner · #25 (**permalink**) 01-01-2013, 4:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxdanielt3

I have been looking to get one too, unfortunately RS is all sold out, online and in stores. Time to try alternatives I guess.

I always read reviews before buying something, that's another hint to you. Don't let a 1 star review from a user that couldn't get the scanner to program deter you from buying a scanner however!

Upon reading on this site, I would say the Pro-197 is a good scanner. If your area is not digital, they will most likely be converting soon and you won't have to worry about upgrading again.

RadioShack is sold out?! Guess I'll have to look elsewhere...

revclstoner · #26 (**permalink**) 01-01-2013, 4:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDGDigital

The Radio Shack PRO-197 is made by GRE just for Radio Shack. It is the same radio as the GRE PSR-600, just with the Radio Shack branding.

Ham Radio Outlet has the PSR-600 in stock for $369.95 which is $55 cheaper then what Radio Shack sells the PRO-197 for and it includes the programming cable that Radio Shack charges and extra $40 for. Radio Shack does put the PRO-197 on sale quite often, but right now the PSR-600 is the better deal.

I have the PRO-197 and I love it, but if I had to get another one I'd opt for the PSR-600, it's just a better bargain. Also, when GRE releases firmware updates for the PSR-600 it typically takes Radio Shack at minimum 6 months before they release them for the PRO-197.

I guess I'll look into the PSR-600...

klarcr · #27 (**permalink**) 01-02-2013, 2:29 AM

LONG time scanner listener (and several years merely "reading" RR), but just recently had to go digital. Lots of research on the web, questions to fellow listeners, & trying to be a wise consumer led me to purchase a 996XT. All jazzed up to get it, finally it arrived (Amazon purchase - EXCELLENT price at the time of purchase & they back up their goods!).

"DEAD ON ARRIVAL" out of the box! Big let down!! More research - "Am I doing something wrong, all those questions to myself" with no answer found. So, packed it up - sent it back and went shopping locally. Last stop was a RS across town. Guess they'd just had a sale that ended on Christmas Eve. Spoke with the store owner who authorized a 25% discount (I was very dissappointed I'd missed out on the sale and this was December 26th), coupled with their current $10 back for every $50 spent...SCORED the Pro-197.

Knowing what a task manual programming was going to be in my area, bought the cable & ARC500.

NO REGRETS and VERY PLEASED with no problems noted as of yet (knock on wood?!).

I hear the XT is a great unit, but I didn't get the chance to find out and "DOA" was a "sign" to me I guess!

revclstoner · #28 (**permalink**) 01-02-2013, 3:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klarcr

LONG time scanner listener (and several years merely "reading" RR), but just recently had to go digital. Lots of research on the web, questions to fellow listeners, & trying to be a wise consumer led me to purchase a 996XT. All jazzed up to get it, finally it arrived (Amazon purchase - EXCELLENT price at the time of purchase & they back up their goods!).

"DEAD ON ARRIVAL" out of the box! Big let down!! More research - "Am I doing something wrong, all those questions to myself" with no answer found. So, packed it up - sent it back and went shopping locally. Last stop was a RS across town. Guess they'd just had a sale that ended on Christmas Eve. Spoke with the store owner who authorized a 25% discount (I was very dissappointed I'd missed out on the sale and this was December 26th), coupled with their current $10 back for every $50 spent...SCORED the Pro-197.

Knowing what a task manual programming was going to be in my area, bought the cable & ARC500.

NO REGRETS and VERY PLEASED with no problems noted as of yet (knock on wood?!).

I hear the XT is a great unit, but I didn't get the chance to find out and "DOA" was a "sign" to me I guess!

Oh no!!! Guess I'll stick with getting the Pro-197, or possibly the GRE-500.

Chrisr61 · #29 (**permalink**) 01-03-2013, 8:52 AM

Got the Pro-197 for my wife for Xmas so she could hear my FD while my son & I are on calls. This thing is driving me nuts!! It'll pick up everything in my county except my local area!!! Packing it up and returning it. Hopefully I can find another scanner that works!!

KC0CSE · #30 (**permalink**) 01-03-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisr61

Got the Pro-197 for my wife for Xmas so she could hear my FD while my son & I are on calls. This thing is driving me nuts!! It'll pick up everything in my county except my local area!!! Packing it up and returning it. Hopefully I can find another scanner that works!!

is your county DIGITAL?....the pro 197 is a digital scanner and analog....don't blame the scanner yet...there is help here if you give more information on your problem....

PRO 106
PRO 197

don't know where ? Don came from sorry

bama9999 · #31 (**permalink**) 01-16-2013, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisr61

Got the Pro-197 for my wife for Xmas so she could hear my FD while my son & I are on calls. This thing is driving me nuts!! It'll pick up everything in my county except my local area!!! Packing it up and returning it. Hopefully I can find another scanner that works!!

Due to the high sensitivity of the PRO197, sometimes you have to attenuate a strong local signal in order for it to stop and pick it up during scan. My local Sheriff frequency will not stop during scan unless it is attenuated. Seems odd, I know, but you might give that a try and see if it helps.

chandler · #32 (**permalink**) 01-18-2013, 9:12 PM

good base/car scanner I used to have one for my car. price is a little high tho

revclstoner · #33 (**permalink**) 01-18-2013, 9:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chandler

good base/car scanner I used to have one for my car. price is a little high tho

Yes, the price is kind of high. Hope they'll have a sale soon!

NYRHKY94 · #34 (**permalink**) 01-19-2013, 8:13 AM

FYI - For those interested in the Pro-197, you can get the GRE model (PSR-600) for $369.95 at HRO with free shipping. It's the exact same scanner, but the GRE comes with both the AC Adapter and USB programming cable for that price. I have several Pro-197's and also the GRE PSR-600. Both are great and they are essentialy the exact same scanner. The handheld version (PSR-500) is $359.95 at HRO.

GRE PSR-600 | BASE STATION DIG TRUNKING SCANNER CELL BLKD

MK · #35 (**permalink**) 01-19-2013, 6:06 PM

I too recommend the GRE as an alternative to the PRO-197. Radio Shack scanners go on sale every once in a while. If you want to become involved with scanning right now, then consider buying the GRE. Otherwise, you might have to wait a few months for the PRO-197 sale price just to save $50 -- and then lose that amount by paying state sales tax anyway.

Bob3655 · #36 (**permalink**) 01-19-2013, 9:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revclstoner

Some stores even sell refurbished units, too.

No refurbished Radio Shack Scanners in Lower NY(Westchester County)

revclstoner · #37 (**permalink**) 01-19-2013, 9:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob3655

No refurbished Radio Shack Scanners in Lower NY(Westchester County)

That sucks, seriously... :-(

johncoleman · #38 (**permalink**) 01-20-2013, 2:13 PM

Radio Shack sells the new pro 197 for $ 424.00 and you can buy the refurbished model for $ 299.00 and get the same warranty as buying the new scanner. My local radio shack manager says the refurbish are scanners sold and then returned as people can figure out how to program them

jwlehman · #39 (**permalink**) 01-20-2013, 2:35 PM

Interesting thread...how does GRE's current status affect the availability/support these scanners? If I were a guys just getting into the scanner market and wanted to know which brand to purchase, I would want to know all about GRE and which scanners they produce for RS.

NYRHKY94 · #40 (**permalink**) 01-20-2013, 2:39 PM

FYI - The Pro-197 is now showing as on sale again on the RS web site for $379.99 until 2/2. Or, you can get the GRE version (PSR-600) for $369.95 at HRO and get the programming cable included in the price. Both are excellent scanners and essentially the same.