Pro96 Upgrade from DC Area Radio Shacks?

[dc2wheel]

So I'm thinking about sending my Pro-96 back for the firmware upgrade. Has anyone successfully done this through any of the Radio Shacks in the DC area? I've heard horror stories about stores refusing to send it out, charging $50+, losing scanners, sending them to the wrong repair facility, etc. Any help would be great. Thanks,
-dc2wheel

 

[mlevin]

I would call the RS 800 number and ahve them tell yu where to ship it, then ship it there your self. I don't trust those goofs over at the local chains.

 

[baybum]

What is the 800 number?

 

[Dewey]

I took mine back to 15th & L where I bought it, but that guy was so goofy, I'm **GLAD** he actually refused to take it. I started thinking like I was messing with a chef at a restaurant, and once I left it, he would probably throw it on the floor so I could be charged for some non warranty repairs. Anyway, I dropped it off at Livingston Square in Oxon Hill. The manager was great, but did not have the Texas service center in his computer... so he routed it to West Berlin, NJ, and said he would change the routing before he actually sent it out. When I called the 800 number the next day, I was told that it was enroute to West Berlin. I called Friday, and West Berlin hadn't received it yet, but I'm hoping that they'll just reroute it to Texas as I've heard from others. I'll be calling back during the week to check again.

 

[baybum]

Again, what is the 800 number?

Mike

 

[Dewey]

I took mine back to 15th & L where I bought it, but that guy was so goofy, I'm **GLAD** he actually refused to take it. I started thinking like I was messing with a chef at a restaurant, and once I left it, he would probably throw it on the floor so I could be charged for some non warranty repairs. Anyway, I dropped it off at Livingston Square in Oxon Hill. The manager was great, but did not have the Texas service center in his computer... so he routed it to West Berlin, NJ, and said he would change the routing before he actually sent it out. When I called the 800 number the next day, I was told that it was enroute to West Berlin. I called Friday, and West Berlin hadn't received it yet, but I'm hoping that they'll just reroute it to Texas as I've heard from others. I'll be calling back during the week to check again.

Well... here's the latest:

I dropped it off on Monday, 12/6 at Livingston Square in Oxon Hill asking it to be shipped to Fort Worth (40-0804). The next day, the person answering the 800 number told me that it was marked to go to West Berlin (40-0204). After several additional status inquiries on subsequent days, I was told that it was still enroute to West Berlin, but hadn't arrived. Finally, when a status inquiry yesterday (12/15) showed it still hadn't arrived in West Berlin, the person put me on hold while they called the store. They came back and said that the store shipped it on 12/11, and directed it to Fort Worth (YEA!!!). So while it appears to have been delayed in the store, I'm still happy that it's going to the right place. I have a feeling that this delay was related to the manager trying to route it where **I** wanted it to go (he originally told be that he didn't have 40-0804 in his computer). The manager at this store is one of the best I've seen for the Radio Shacks I've visited in the Southern MD. area. More to come...

 

[tglendye]

Hey Baybum,

Not sure if you got the number yet... it's 1(800)the-shack

 

[dc2wheel]

So after going to about a half dozen 'Shacks & getting either blank stares or refusals to send it out, I went to the one at 1600 Rockville Pike. They were very helpful. The resident scanner guys there said he hadn't heard of the upgrade, but after going to the back and checking said it was no problem, they'd send it out to Fort Worth, and that turnaround time is about 10 days. Here's their info:

Radio Shack Store #01-2405
(301) 881-8323
1600 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852

-dc2wheel

 

[Dewey]

Well... here's the latest:

I dropped it off on Monday, 12/6 at Livingston Square in Oxon Hill asking it to be shipped to Fort Worth (40-0804). The next day, the person answering the 800 number told me that it was marked to go to West Berlin (40-0204). After several additional status inquiries on subsequent days, I was told that it was still enroute to West Berlin, but hadn't arrived. Finally, when a status inquiry yesterday (12/15) showed it still hadn't arrived in West Berlin, the person put me on hold while they called the store. They came back and said that the store shipped it on 12/11, and directed it to Fort Worth (YEA!!!). So while it appears to have been delayed in the store, I'm still happy that it's going to the right place. I have a feeling that this delay was related to the manager trying to route it where **I** wanted it to go (he originally told be that he didn't have 40-0804 in his computer). The manager at this store is one of the best I've seen for the Radio Shacks I've visited in the Southern MD. area. More to come...

Ok... got it back today. Manager said that confusion tracking it was because when he changed service centers to direct it to Fort Worth, the invoice number changed. Receipt reads: Repaired audio circuits. Repaired logic circuits. Aligned unit to maximum performance levels. Tested all functions. Thank you!

Receipt also shows the $49.00 charge , but I was not charged. Turned unit on, CPU now reads 1.3. While my performance is not any worse, I have not yet been able to see the "better" performance that some have reported. I'm now happy... again, Mike, the manager at the Livingston Square RS in Oxon Hill is a GREAT customer oriented manager!

 

[cohenner5377]

Surprised

I am surprised that they cannot do the firmware upgrade in the local store. All it is is a software upgrade... plug it in and run the upgrade. Radio Shack... You've got questions, we've got more questions.

Not to bash everyone at the Shack.. there are quite a few people that know what they are talking about. However, it is a stark contrast between, say CompUSA, where there are specific people who are trained in specific subjects (and know what they are talking about), and Rat Shack where they expect everyone to know everything (where most of the people do not...).

David
IPN MAR018

 

[Dewey]

Before going into a bashing flame, you may want to check the facts on what's involved in the upgrade. From all reports, a circuit board is replaced to complete the upgrade. In the end, the CPU goes to 1.3.

 

[baybum]

Is it possible to send the unit to Ft. Worth without going thru a store?


Mike

 

[firemedic2150]

Radio Shack's new slogan...
"You have questions, we have blank stares"

MMc.

 

[pro96info]

The PRO96 is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one year from the date of purchase. This warranty does not extend to upgrades in software, firmware or hardware which may become available at a later date.

The CPU upgrade to version 1.3 is a costly service that RadioShack has made available for a nominal fee of only $50. Simply bring your unit to your local RadioShack and request that it be sent in for CPU upgrade. If your associate is not aware of the service, they can confirm it's availability by contacting repair center 40-0804. Any scanners being sent in for CPU upgrade MUST be sent to repair center 40-0804 (same mailing address as the RadioShack forcefeed warehouse) and the repair MUST state "CPU VERSION 1.3 UPGRADE"

The software upgrade to version U.1.2 is now available on RadioShack's support page, with instructions available in a the PDF file listed below:
UPGRADE:
>> http://support.radioshack.com/Download/software/pro96u12.exe
INSTRUCTIONS:
>> http://support.radioshack.com/Download/software/pro96u12_Instr.pdf


Additional scanner frequency databases are also now available for the PRO96 and PRO93 scanners:
SCANCAT LITE:
>> http://support.radioshack.com/download/software/scancat/
DATABASES:
>> http://www.nat-com.org/rsd.htm [user:RadioShack / pswd:12345]


RadioShack does have Answers, guys... you just need to know what Questions to ask.