Bearcat thin scan

[kb3isq]

I have a Bearcat 2-4 thin scan and am trying to open the case. I removed the two screws but can't open it. Any one opened one?

 

[trentbob]

The quick answer to your question is yes I have. I purchased an Electra thin scan gold model as shown here which was the VHF High and UHF, The Identical unit in Black was the VHF high low and the silver one was aircraft.

I purchased it new, I'm going to say maybe 1981 and it's been at least 40 years since I opened it up to do some soldering on the antenna connection. I wish I still had the radio, but eventually got rid of it when the metal case just got too many dents in it and the crystals were useless. I probably dumped it about 10 years ago.

I really can't remember any tricks to it but it wasn't a particularly smooth operation with the battery door and phone plug, slide switches on the top and the volume and squelch wheels on the side.

I wish I had the radio in my hand to look at but I don't. I realized my failing memory doesn't help your cause but let me research this afternoon and see if I can't find any clear pictures of the back and sides of the radio which might trigger my memory.

Could I ask what your target is in opening it? What's the issue it's having. Mine actually worked fine when I dumped it, I just didn't need it anymore and it wasn't worth the postage to list it.

 

[Nasby]

Look for screws under anything that is stuck on. Like the serial number/frequency coverage sticker on the back. There’s likely more than just 2 screws that need removed.

 

[kb3isq]

Radio works on DC power but not on Batteries

 

[trentbob]

Something's going to trigger my memory from when took mine apart. Look for screws inside the battery compartment!

 

[steve9570]

I had one 1980. Bought at the now closed You Do It store Needham Ma.
Great little rig for its time. Never took it apart though no need to.
Good luck.
Steve

 

[mikewazowski]

The quick answer to your question is yes I have. I purchased an Electra thin scan gold model as shown here which was the VHF High and UHF, The Identical unit in Black was the VHF high low and the silver one was aircraft.

My VHF Hi/Lo is gold.

 

[trentbob]

My VHF Hi/Lo is gold.

I believe it, you can actually read the VHF UHF on the gold radio in the photo above.

VHF low was slowly disappearing around 1980 and so was Electra. I would be curious if your radio is 1981 or higher and if it was made in Cumberland, Indiana or Puerto Rico.

Mine was made in the USA. I never actually saw anyone with a black VHF high low and I never saw a silver aircraft only. Only in photos. Other than the colors and the band assignments those radios were exactly the same.

This gold VHF High UHF that I had was an excellent radio. Wonderful performance.

Electra made a couple of bombs in the early 80s, the Bearcat 160 which was a mobile design made in Puerto Rico and believe it or not, it had a hum louder than the SDS 200 did LOL, the other stinker was the electra Bearcat 100 keyboard entry handheld. Pure junk, when Uniden bought Electra in 1983 they fixed that radio, especially with regard to the double A battery pack constantly falling out and they replaced the proprietary screw on antenna with BNC and kept the same name.

As I had said I have taken the radio apart but it was close to 40 years ago and I no longer have the unit. If you have yours available what would your opinion be for the original poster. Regarding the two screws that he already removed, I just don't remember if there were two screws hidden in the battery compartment or what the secret was to getting the radio apart. Unfortunately I don't have mine anymore.

 

[Golay]

I remember selling one of those. The buyer wouldn't pay me until he heard traffic on all four channels.

 

[eorange]

I remember selling one of those. The buyer wouldn't pay me until he heard traffic on all four channels.

I'll have to remember that the next time I buy a modern scanner. Prove all 1000 channels work and then I'll pay!

 

[trentbob]

I remember selling one of those. The buyer wouldn't pay me until he heard traffic on all four channels.

Not the original bearcat scanners from Electra that we listened to as the first Crystal controlled bearcat releases and competed with Regency, but as time went on.. even with the famous programmable Electra Bearcat 101, diodes would go dead and you would have one slot that didn't work so I can understand the buyer's concern. Never had that problem on the thin scan.

@kb3isq, could you be so kind as to let us know if you ever got into the thin scan to repair the problem with the battery compartment? Probably obvious and easy.

And if you don't mind could you let us know what color your thin scan is, gold, black or silver, and of course what two bands did it cover? Just curious. Was there any screws hidden under labels? Was there two hidden screws in the battery compartment? Unfortunately we don't have anyone who has a model, to look at, including me.

Just curious if the question posed in this thread was solved. Thanks.

 

[kb3isq]

Not the original bearcat scanners from Electra that we listened to as the first Crystal controlled bearcat releases and competed with Regency, but as time went on.. even with the famous programmable Electra Bearcat 101, diodes would go dead and you would have one slot that didn't work so I can understand the buyer's concern. Never had that problem on the thin scan.

@kb3isq, could you be so kind as to let us know if you ever got into the thin scan to repair the problem with the battery compartment? Probably obvious and easy.

And if you don't mind could you let us know what color your thin scan is, gold, black or silver, and of course what two bands did it cover? Just curious. Was there any screws hidden under labels? Was there two hidden screws in the battery compartment? Unfortunately we don't have anyone who has a model, to look at, including me.

Not the original bearcat scanners from Electra that we listened to as the first Crystal controlled bearcat releases and competed with Regency, but as time went on.. even with the famous programmable Electra Bearcat 101, diodes would go dead and you would have one slot that didn't work so I can understand the buyer's concern. Never had that problem on the thin scan.

@kb3isq, could you be so kind as to let us know if you ever got into the thin scan to repair the problem with the battery compartment? Probably obvious and easy.

And if you don't mind could you let us know what color your thin scan is, gold, black or silver, and of course what two bands did it cover? Just curious. Was there any screws hidden under labels? Was there two hidden screws in the battery compartment? Unfortunately we don't have anyone who has a model, to look at, including me.

Just curious if the question posed in this thread was solved. Thanks.

Gold, L/V/U. cleaned terminals and pried them p and now woks. Thanks to all.

 

[trentbob]

That's good that it was just the contacts, I think I see some of the confusion here. These were the two band, 4 channel units as I described, gold, black and silver, I had the gold on the left which was VHF high and UHF. They also made a four band, six-channel unit, they were all gold.

 

[RoninJoliet]

I still have a 4 channel Fannon Courier Slim Scan VHF-UHF , when I purchased it 40 years ago they did a mod of increasing the audio,... Bought it from a dealer in Colorado , at the time was a neat scanner....

 

[donc13]

@kb3isq

The thin scan 4-6 has 3 screws on the back. 2 by the battery compartment, 1 on the back upper left, just above the crystal cover.

Don't know if that helps or not

 

[trentbob]

@kb3isq

The thin scan 4-6 has 3 screws on the back. 2 by the battery compartment, 1 on the back upper left, just above the crystal cover.

Don't know if that helps or not

I thought so, what I had worked on and opened 40 years ago was the 2 4.. and I felt there was a hidden screw/ screws in the battery compartment, however, the original poster has acknowledged that he ended up just cleaning out the battery contacts and the radio worked without having to open her up.👍