From the Manual:
updating the DSP firmware
From time to time, improvements may be incorporated into the DSP firmware. These improvements are typically designed to address issues that may be present with decoding the digital audio signals, and audio quality
In other words, the programming built into the 2096 gets updated (not sure if they do anymore for this model) to take care of bugs that could compromise ability to receive signals, sound quality, etc.
The manual has instructions on how to update the firmware - since this is a discontinued model, I'm not sure Radio Shack is providing any new updates.
Beyond the Basics
iWith updateable DSP fi rmware, you can ensure that your scanner is using the most recent DSP
version available. You can update the firmware for the DSP module by downloading a file from the Internet and transferring it to the scanner. To update your scanner’s DSP
fi rmware, you need:
• The supplied PC to scanner interface cable
• A personal computer running Windows 95 or greater (that shows you how old this model is!!)
• A firmware update file from
www.radioshack.com
1. Go to
http://www.radioshack.com
2. Click on the Product Manuals tab.
3. Select Software Downloads from the drop down menu.
4. Click on Software Updates and Downloads.
5. Click on PRO-2096 XXX.exe. Full download and upgrade
instructions are provided on the Firmware Upgrade page.
6. To check the DSP version number, turn on the scanner and press 3 while Welcome to Digital Trunking appears on the display. The version information appears.
BTW , DSP means Digital Signal Processing. From searching Google, it looks like DSP Firmware version 1.4 was the latest version
