anyone out here have a pro-83?

[kellymcdman]

I know it has it's problems, but I'd think some one would post about it. Or did I miss when I was looking?
Anyway, here it goes. good things: it's small. The smallest scanner I ever owned., it only uses 2 aa batteries., has good light., on/off is a push button with a loud sound so if accidentally turned on you'll know., case is light gray so wont get so hot in the sun., has frequency stalker to locate new nearby transmitters., also if you push the right buttons when turning it on it goes into frequency counter mode!. bad things: no trunking though covers 800 and 900 bands., weak on low bands like 28/46/50 mhz., seems to get a lot of noise on 800/900mhz bands. I haven't messed with computer cable programming yet, and any info about how well that works would be great. (about me. I was in Rochester mn, then moved to avon mn 4 years, and now back in rochester area, and my scanner has a lot of frequencies from both areas, and i have to go through it and "clean" the old avon ones out yet. just started that today, and that's how i came across this site.)

 

[mkrubsack]

I have one. I use ARC83, from Butel, to program it. It is only 200 channels, and not too bad to program by hand. One problem is that the programming is one-way, from the computer into the scanner radio. You cannot download the scanner freqs into the software. Nonetheless, it is the scanner I use more often than any others. Here in Fresno, CA, we don't have trunked public safety systems, so a conventional scanner works just fine. I also have the Pro-83's sibling, the Pro-84, and it's cousin the Uniden BC95XLT. All are basically the same radio with a different color case. The BC95XLT has the same orange backlight, but the keys are not backlite.

I really like the orange glow of the Pro-83 at night with it's light on. Cool.

 

[mkrubsack]

I have one. I use ARC83, from Butel, to program it. It is only 200 channels, and not too bad to program by hand. One problem is that the programming is one-way, from the computer into the scanner radio. You cannot download the scanner freqs into the software. Nonetheless, it is the scanner I use more often than any others. Here in Fresno, CA, we don't have trunked public safety systems, so a conventional scanner works just fine. I also have the Pro-83's sibling, the Pro-84, and it's cousin the Uniden BC95XLT. All are basically the same radio with a different color case. The BC95XLT has the same orange backlight, but the keys are not backlite.

I really like the orange glow of the Pro-83 at night with it's light on. Cool.

 

[SquierStrat]

it was the very first scanner i ever bought, back in 2005. i still have it, with all of the buttons worn off, the stock antenna chewed up by my cat, no battery cover, and only 1 screw holding on the belt clip.

works great, easy to program, but not very loud.

 

[bubbaearle]

I love mine too!
Great simple radio and a good performer. I use mine as my knock-about radio when I'm outside fooling around in the yard or tinkering with the car.

I'd like a couple of more of them if I could find'em cheap enuf.

I program mine with Load83. It's freeware and works great, altho ya gotta use the mono adapter with the USB cable.

Follow the link to the Yahoo group......if ya can't get it ther holler at me and I'll send it to ya.

 

[Rickey334]

I use mine mostly for finding new freq`s when travelling, and keep my Pro 97, or 164 free for scanning public safety. It has its drawbacks to be sure, but as stated before, its size, backlight, and only 2 batteries is a plus. Also it`s a good solid backup radio. Although on my recent vacation I dropped it, and now have no audio, it has taken several tip overs and drops in the past with no problems.

 

[KMA367]

I know it has it's problems, but I'd think some one would post about it. Or did I miss when I was looking?

I have a Pro-83 and a Pro-84 (identical radio, but it's "NASCAR" branded and kind of a red/copper color, and came with pretty decent headphones at no extra cost). And they're identical to Uniden's BC92XLT except for some cosmetics. Uniden made them for Radio Shack.

I agree with the other posters that it's a great "back-up" or grab-n-run scanner if you don't need to hear digital or follow a trunking system. I'd have to add that its sensitivity and selectivity are just about the best of any scanner/monitor I've ever owned (and that's a bunch over 40 years). I have Butel's ARC-83 software, but usually program the thing by hand. The "close-call" (aka Signal-Stalker) feature is great.

...my scanner has a lot of frequencies from both areas, and i have to go through it and "clean" the old avon ones out yet. just started that today, and that's how i came across this site.)

If it's a Uniden/Bearcat scanner, almost all of their models can be cleared out by turning the scanner off, and then while holding down the 2, 9, and [MANUAL] buttons, turn it back on. It resets all the channels to 000.000 and any other settings to their factory default.

 

[kellymcdman]

Thanks for all the input so fast people. Looked up the frequency counter trick. It's hold the "hold" "3" and "0" keys down while turning it on, and it becomes a frequency counter! then use the up down arrow keys to change ranges. just turn it off and on again, and its back to scanning! cool eh?

 

[eorange]

I keep my PRO-84 as a backup, "on the go" scanner in my glove box & also use Load83. Once I picked up a cell image around 812 MHz, IIRC.