consigliori
Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2006
- Messages
- 14
Pro-137 Review
I’ve now had my Pro-137 for about 2 weeks now and wanted to share some of my thoughts. For comparisons I have used my Pro-97 and Icom R5.
Equipment used:
Pro-137
Icom R-5
Pro-97
Antennas:
SMA - MFJ-1712s SMA Telescopic Antenna (~$15.00)
SMA - Diamond SRH77CA multi band antenna (~$25.00)
BNC - Watson W-881 Super Gainer (been so long I forgot what I paid for it )
Pro’s:
Excellent Battery Life: I have not purchased the charger and have been using Duracell AA batteries. I have only had to change batteries one time and If I had to estimate it would have been after 12 or so hours of use with many of those with the “Auto Light” function enabled.
Squelch Tail - Possibly one of the cleanest squelches I have come across. Incredibly fast scan resume time if you remove the delay feature (scanner defaults DLY when programming). On aircraft bands the scanner will resume scanning almost instantaneously once the signal clears.
Scan Speed - Rated for 90 channels per second but seems faster due to the quick resume time. Switches between banks just as fast.
Programming: Everything in the scanner has been manually programmed and it was very easy to accomplish (as compared to lets say an ICOM R-5). Did not have to refer back to the manual after having programmed only about 50 channels.
Build - Solid build and for once, a real belt clip. Multi function knob seems a little cheap compared to an Icom but I much prefer the Func-Push/turn options for volume and squelch over the multi use knob on the pro-97 and funky button operation of the R-5.
Sensitivity - Actually very good. Better than the 97 and about equal to the R-5.
Image Rejection - Very good. The R-5 can overload with only a good handheld antenna but I can hook up the 137 to my external Scanner antenna and it just keeps on going. About equal to the 97.
Fine Tune Option - Works like the VFO mode on an R5. Can be used during a scan, or to manually step through channels.
Quick Program Feature - When using a service or chain search and the scanner stops on a frequency, all you have to do is hold down the E/PGM button to perform a “quick program”. This will bring up the list of banks that you can manipulate through to program the frequency.
Cons:
Manual: This has to be the absolute worst users manual I have ever come across. Many of the scanners options you have to figure out on your own and some issues are not addressed at all (see bank tagging). Completely worthless.
Bank Tagging: I like the fact that when you enable/disable banks the scanner says “xx channel bank on/off” but I have not figured out how to display the bank name during a scan. The room is there on the display but they must have taken up the space for the “car” tag.
Mode: Mode is auto for the frequency - it is not an independent option for each channel. In most cases this is not a problem but there are a few times when an AM frequency falls into a band that defaults as FM only.
SMA Antenna - I realize that SMA is used on smaller footprint scanners but I wish it had a BNC connector for compatibility with my other antennas. I do have a SMA to BNC adapter but it looks awful and makes me worry about hitting the antenna the wrong way and snapping it off at the connector.
No rubber cover for the headphone or power ports. The radio may not be water proof but it sure looks like it is. The PC/IF port does have a cover.
Price: At $179 retail the 137 is pricy considering what you could get for a few $$ more. The fact that it does not include the programming cable, sma to bnc adapter, or power supply makes it seem even worse. On the positive side, the scanner just went on sale for $149 and Radio Shack honored their price guarantee. I went back to where I purchased it, produced my original receipt, and instead of getting the $30 difference back, I walked out with the USB programming cable.
Lack of Software programming or control options: Since I just picked up the USB cable I cannot comment on wired programming but Scancat lite appears to be the only software currently supporting this scanner. From what I can tell, the radio can be programmed via software but cannot be controlled through a PC.
No S-Meter.
Quick Comparisons:
Reception:
Weather Channels: of the 7 used weather frequencies in this area the 137 will pick up 5 of them (3 audible 2 breaking squelch), the R5 will pick up 4 (using the same sma antenna) and the 97 will pick up 3.
VHF Low - Our regional airport uses 125.5 as the approach and departure frequency for the west runway. The 137 and R5 are about the same reception wise with the 97 falling off just a little.
VHF High - A rural police department (with a real stout transmitter) about 50 miles from where I live as the crow flies uses 154.8300 as it’s dispatch frequency. Results are similar to VHF-Low with the 137/R5 being very close and the 97 just behind.
UHF Low - Another police department about 20 miles from my house uses 453.7500 for it’s dispatch frequency (their radio system is not nearly as strong as the one using 154.8300). Again, the 137 and R5 can consistently pick up the signal with the 97 being intermittent.
UHF High - Ok, here is obviously where the sweet spot is for the 97 and it would make sense as it is the only trunking receiver of the three. Both the State Police and Local city police use a Motorolla Type II trunking system (they also use APCO-25 but have not fully converted yet). The State police tower is about 15 miles from my house and the city tower is around 20 or so from what I can tell. The 97 is more sensitive than the 137 or the R5 when scanning in the 800mhz range. The 137 will beat the R5 due to its better image rejection.
“CAR” programming - I do not use the scanner for race scanning and have not used that feature.
Signal Stalker - Have not had the chance to use this feature.
Summary:
In conclusion, I am quite happy with the Pro-137 with the price being the only true negative. It is small, light, sturdy, sanative, and easy to program and control. No advanced features like some scanner receivers but it does what it is supposed to do and it does it every time. If you do not need trunking - either analog or digital - this scanner is a good choice.
I’ve now had my Pro-137 for about 2 weeks now and wanted to share some of my thoughts. For comparisons I have used my Pro-97 and Icom R5.
Equipment used:
Pro-137
Icom R-5
Pro-97
Antennas:
SMA - MFJ-1712s SMA Telescopic Antenna (~$15.00)
SMA - Diamond SRH77CA multi band antenna (~$25.00)
BNC - Watson W-881 Super Gainer (been so long I forgot what I paid for it )
Pro’s:
Excellent Battery Life: I have not purchased the charger and have been using Duracell AA batteries. I have only had to change batteries one time and If I had to estimate it would have been after 12 or so hours of use with many of those with the “Auto Light” function enabled.
Squelch Tail - Possibly one of the cleanest squelches I have come across. Incredibly fast scan resume time if you remove the delay feature (scanner defaults DLY when programming). On aircraft bands the scanner will resume scanning almost instantaneously once the signal clears.
Scan Speed - Rated for 90 channels per second but seems faster due to the quick resume time. Switches between banks just as fast.
Programming: Everything in the scanner has been manually programmed and it was very easy to accomplish (as compared to lets say an ICOM R-5). Did not have to refer back to the manual after having programmed only about 50 channels.
Build - Solid build and for once, a real belt clip. Multi function knob seems a little cheap compared to an Icom but I much prefer the Func-Push/turn options for volume and squelch over the multi use knob on the pro-97 and funky button operation of the R-5.
Sensitivity - Actually very good. Better than the 97 and about equal to the R-5.
Image Rejection - Very good. The R-5 can overload with only a good handheld antenna but I can hook up the 137 to my external Scanner antenna and it just keeps on going. About equal to the 97.
Fine Tune Option - Works like the VFO mode on an R5. Can be used during a scan, or to manually step through channels.
Quick Program Feature - When using a service or chain search and the scanner stops on a frequency, all you have to do is hold down the E/PGM button to perform a “quick program”. This will bring up the list of banks that you can manipulate through to program the frequency.
Cons:
Manual: This has to be the absolute worst users manual I have ever come across. Many of the scanners options you have to figure out on your own and some issues are not addressed at all (see bank tagging). Completely worthless.
Bank Tagging: I like the fact that when you enable/disable banks the scanner says “xx channel bank on/off” but I have not figured out how to display the bank name during a scan. The room is there on the display but they must have taken up the space for the “car” tag.
Mode: Mode is auto for the frequency - it is not an independent option for each channel. In most cases this is not a problem but there are a few times when an AM frequency falls into a band that defaults as FM only.
SMA Antenna - I realize that SMA is used on smaller footprint scanners but I wish it had a BNC connector for compatibility with my other antennas. I do have a SMA to BNC adapter but it looks awful and makes me worry about hitting the antenna the wrong way and snapping it off at the connector.
No rubber cover for the headphone or power ports. The radio may not be water proof but it sure looks like it is. The PC/IF port does have a cover.
Price: At $179 retail the 137 is pricy considering what you could get for a few $$ more. The fact that it does not include the programming cable, sma to bnc adapter, or power supply makes it seem even worse. On the positive side, the scanner just went on sale for $149 and Radio Shack honored their price guarantee. I went back to where I purchased it, produced my original receipt, and instead of getting the $30 difference back, I walked out with the USB programming cable.
Lack of Software programming or control options: Since I just picked up the USB cable I cannot comment on wired programming but Scancat lite appears to be the only software currently supporting this scanner. From what I can tell, the radio can be programmed via software but cannot be controlled through a PC.
No S-Meter.
Quick Comparisons:
Reception:
Weather Channels: of the 7 used weather frequencies in this area the 137 will pick up 5 of them (3 audible 2 breaking squelch), the R5 will pick up 4 (using the same sma antenna) and the 97 will pick up 3.
VHF Low - Our regional airport uses 125.5 as the approach and departure frequency for the west runway. The 137 and R5 are about the same reception wise with the 97 falling off just a little.
VHF High - A rural police department (with a real stout transmitter) about 50 miles from where I live as the crow flies uses 154.8300 as it’s dispatch frequency. Results are similar to VHF-Low with the 137/R5 being very close and the 97 just behind.
UHF Low - Another police department about 20 miles from my house uses 453.7500 for it’s dispatch frequency (their radio system is not nearly as strong as the one using 154.8300). Again, the 137 and R5 can consistently pick up the signal with the 97 being intermittent.
UHF High - Ok, here is obviously where the sweet spot is for the 97 and it would make sense as it is the only trunking receiver of the three. Both the State Police and Local city police use a Motorolla Type II trunking system (they also use APCO-25 but have not fully converted yet). The State police tower is about 15 miles from my house and the city tower is around 20 or so from what I can tell. The 97 is more sensitive than the 137 or the R5 when scanning in the 800mhz range. The 137 will beat the R5 due to its better image rejection.
“CAR” programming - I do not use the scanner for race scanning and have not used that feature.
Signal Stalker - Have not had the chance to use this feature.
Summary:
In conclusion, I am quite happy with the Pro-137 with the price being the only true negative. It is small, light, sturdy, sanative, and easy to program and control. No advanced features like some scanner receivers but it does what it is supposed to do and it does it every time. If you do not need trunking - either analog or digital - this scanner is a good choice.