Official PRO-83 Discussion Thread

[BaLa]

I just recently got a Pro 83 as a second scanner.

I just wanted to comment on the battery life.

It sucks, especially compared to my Pro 95.
This is probaply due to the fact that it only uses 2 batteries as opposed to 4 on the 95 though.

 

[dk1143]

Locked Frequency Ranges

Locked Frequency Ranges

Does anyone have any useful information or links they would like to share relating to the "Locked Frequency Ranges" of this unit. I would like to extend the Pro-83's coverage to include FM Broadcasting and Television audio frequencies in the UK. Has anybody extended the capability of this unit?

DK

 

[TrekMedic251]

you think this scanner is comparable to the Uniden 246T?

how about the Pro 95?

Not even close

In what way? I bought a 246T last month and I actually like it, considering its a Uniden.

 

[sesj]

Question about Pro-83

Hey everyone,
I have a question about the Pro-83 I bought... Actually I have questions I definitely thank anyone who can help me out...

#1 - Do many of you notice the volume isn't all that loud?

#2 - Is it normal to hear a series of beeps after a transmission and is it possible to turn it off?

#3 - The reception seems to have a bit of static during transmissions, is this common on this unit?

#4 - A lot of the time I get TONS of high pitched static and distortion (squeeling) that goes on for maybe 4-5 seconds, then stops. Sometimes someone will speak afterwards, sometimes they don't. Is this normal on the pro-83, because it's making me crazy?? It's not the squelch setting...

#5 - Lastly...Is the Pro-95 a better unit to get in order for better reception, louder speaker, and all of the other concerns I addressed above (tones, beeping, static/distortion, etc... )

Thank you all very much for any advice you can offer....
Steven

 

[Colin9690]

#5 - Lastly...Is the Pro-95 a better unit to get in order for better reception, louder speaker, and all of the other concerns I addressed above (tones, beeping, static/distortion, etc... )

In my opinion, the PRO-95 unit is overally better than the -83 in all of those fields.

 

[pro92b]

#1 The PRO-83 uses only 2 AA cells and will not have the audio power of a handheld that uses 4 or 6 cells.

#2 Beeps occur at the end of an EDACS transmission. Since the PRO-83 is not a trunking radio you cannot eliminate the beeps.

#3 Static indicates poor signal. A better antenna may help.

#4 The squealing may be overload from a nearby paging station. There are filters available for this but they are awkward to use on a handheld.

#5 The PRO-95 will have higher audio output and may be more immune to overload. I have not kept up with the status of the PRO-95, but if Radio Shack still sells them, you can try one and return it if it falls below expectations.

 

[sesj]

Thank you both for your input on these devices... I think I'll give the 94 or 95 a try and see if there is an improvement.

Steven

 

[qoatzecotl]

The squealing could also be data being passed over the voice channel... There's nothing you can do about that with the PRO-83, PRO-94 or PRO-95...

 

[sesj]

thanks again for all of your help... I actually picked up the 94 since they didn't have the 95. It's working TONS better in my area.... Now I'm just trying to read the manual, and read the manual and READ THE MANUAL to figure out the features. It's slowly coming together.. but I'm having a hard time finding the EMS/Paramedic frequencies in my area.
That's the main thing I want to hear.

I'm in Kansas City...and would like to pick up Med-Act in Johnson County, Kansas and MAST (Metropolitan Ambulance Service Trust) in Kansas City, Missouri (might be Jackson County, MO). If anyone might know the frequencies (or trunk info), that would be great.

 

[qoatzecotl]

thanks again for all of your help... I actually picked up the 94 since they didn't have the 95. It's working TONS better in my area.... Now I'm just trying to read the manual, and read the manual and READ THE MANUAL to figure out the features. It's slowly coming together.. but I'm having a hard time finding the EMS/Paramedic frequencies in my area.
That's the main thing I want to hear.

I'm in Kansas City...and would like to pick up Med-Act in Johnson County, Kansas and MAST (Metropolitan Ambulance Service Trust) in Kansas City, Missouri (might be Jackson County, MO). If anyone might know the frequencies (or trunk info), that would be great.

Did you try the RadioReference Database?

 

[sesj]

I see some listed there.. but didn't get anything when entering the freqs into the p-83.... I'll try again using the pro-94 and see if I have better luck.

I guess I should have done that before posting the message hehe...sorry about that.. but thank you for pointing me back in that direction!

 

[sesj]

So far so good with the new 94 scanner... I like it a lot better.

The only thing I'm wondering about is the antenna. The one from the factory seems adequate for most transmissions, but the 800mhz ones are still contain some static.

Does that antenna at Radio Shack with the 800mhz printed on it in red help much, or is it just a marketing ploy?

Thanks for the help....

 

[DreamMasher]

Does that antenna at Radio Shack with the 800mhz printed on it in red help much, or is it just a marketing ploy?

Oh yeah, but of course it provides better reception in the 800s. A whole lot better than the stock antenna. On every other band it pretty much provides the same type of reception as the stock ducky.

 

[CookeCityScanner]

I bought the pro 83 as a second scanner, my first being the BCT8. The BCT8 picks up LOTS of frequencies and lots of activity. The pro 83 can hardly pick up anything. At the moment Im using an RS Discone on a high mast and I switch it between the scanners. So I know its the scanners fault. WX frequencies that I used to have to drive about 50 miles to get reception on with the BCT8 came in loud and clear once I put up the Discone. When i first got the pro 83 it also received them. Now it wont receive them or anything else it seems. All the functions work properly just seems like the sensitivity went to hell. Any ideas. Thanks.

 

[KE5BCP]

If it's still in the period when you can exchange it, do so. I've found that the sensitivity of the 83 with the RH771 antenna is equal to, if not better than my Pro 95. Perhaps you got a lemon?

 

[Cary]

RE: Pro-83 short battery life

If you use rechargable batteries, keep in mind that they are not all created equal. The higher the mAH capacity rating the longer it is likely to run.

Also, if you use the Pro-83 in the car or at home in a stationary location, using the external mobile or home power supply will save the batteries for when you need the portability and when it is turned off, will recharge the batteries. Since some of the use is powered by an external source and it is at least partially recharged between portable use, the batteries seem to fit my needs much better.

If you use the Nimh type batteries they are much less likely to be damaged by partial charges than the older cadium style. (I know the literature claims they will not develop "memory" but I have had it happen enough not to believe it. Fortunately running the batteries down completely [not lower than 10 % of total capacity] and recharging them fully for several cycles seems to fix it.)

 

[BaLa]

Re: Question about Pro-83

#1 - Do many of you notice the volume isn't all that loud?
#5 - Lastly...Is the Pro-95 a better unit to get in order for better reception, louder speaker, and all of the other concerns I addressed above (tones, beeping, static/distortion, etc... )

#1, definitely not as loud as the 95.
I have both the 83 and 95 in my car.


#5, it depends on what you want/need.
If you want trunking for example, the 83 wouldn't really be a good option anyways.

 

[eyes00only]

The Pro 95 is a MUCH BETTER unit. The 83 is more of a toy, but the Signal Stalker is nice function.

Jerry[/color}

 

[RadioMarkW]

Just Got a 83 and?!?!?!?!

I have some problems and a couple of questions.

I have noticed that the service search for Police and Fire is not all that complete and misses several common frequencies dispite claiming it has all frequencies for those services.

It does seem very complete in the 800-900 bands.

However, I do not have much in that area around here. Is there a way to limit the service searches?

Also, in any of the scan/search modes including signal stalker, I seem to get a LOT (and I do mean a LOT) of false captures (Birdies) with only faint static that CANNOT be sqwelched out.

This is very problematic and very much limits my use of this scanner. It seams to scan fine for a while then lock onto one of these frequencies.

And sometimes they travel whithin a certain band.

Primarily low band 39.000's and also 400.000's.

They are often more than the lockout will take care of.

Did I just get a lemon?!?!?!?

Thanks,

Mark
Two pro-95's and a new pro-83

 

[CapStar362]

I picked up one of these units today, and the Signal Stalker feature is indeed pretty cool. Doesn't seem overly sensitive, but it certainly works. I'll have to play with it for a few days and see if it's worth while or not. Surely is a nice compact scanner, and hopefully some PC software appears for it soon.

software from RS doesnt work for a Pro-83, yet the Pro-83 manual specifically states it will.

I just wanted to comment on the battery life.

go get a pair of Metal-Hydrade <-- whatever they are called. on a full charge, i get about 4-7 hours usage depending on how i keep my volume levels. use heaphones..... make that number about 6-9 hours.