Could I have bricked my Pro-197?

[chadwicklee]

Could I have bricked my Pro-197? The screen on it shows nothing but the back light. No words are there. And nothing will download from the scanner.

What are the signs of a bricked scanner (Pro-197)?

 

[RonnieUSA]

Could I have bricked my Pro-197? The screen on it shows nothing but the back light. No words are there. And nothing will download from the scanner.

What are the signs of a bricked scanner (Pro-197)?

Have You tried restarting it?

 

[chadwicklee]

Yes, i turned it off then back on, pressed 0,2 ent. Then any button twice and still a blank screen.

That's the only way I know to restart it or set it to factory defaults.

 

[chadwicklee]

It's like something happened to the original firmware. Can I get the original firmware some place on the internet? Or is this thing scrap?

 

[n5ims]

Yes, i turned it off then back on, pressed 0,2 ent. Then any button twice and still a blank screen.

That's the only way I know to restart it or set it to factory defaults.

Try the 0,5 instead of the 0,2 reset (page 80 of the manual). Will do what 0,2 does, plus clear working memory (perhaps the error is there) and perform a memory test (should let you know if you have a hardware memory error).

Destructive, executes EEPROM memory test, then clears working memory and resets all Global settings to factory defaults. Does not affect V-Scanners.

 

[chadwicklee]

Okay, thanks for your help. Still no response from the scanner. Should I move to the next step anyone? Firmware

 

[Michael-SATX]

Q: Chadwickee, what was the last thing you did to it ~ you did not tell us in your post ?
Q: You did say that you cannot upload or download in software right ? no WX RX either ?
Q: Were you in the process of updating either the firmware or DSP version ?
Or was it just working one minute and then just went poof during op or next power on?
Remember in troubleshooting something you always suspect the power supplly first !
So if it's not working fine on it's AC adapter then check it's voltage to make sure it's ok.
Next remember it came with the DC car cord as well that you could maybe try as well.
Good luck and hopefully things will be GREat if your covered under it's 1 year warranty ?
If not the perhaps take it to your local Radio Shack and pay the $20 repair estimate fee
to find out what is wrong and how much the repair department would charge to fix it !

 

[alwayslookin]

I would try to reinstall the firmware on it. see if that works if you can. just my 2 cents.

 

[Jakemcgraw]

Okay, thanks for your help. Still no response from the scanner. Should I move to the next step anyone? Firmware

To initialize the scanner press 0, then 1, and then the Enter key.

 

[chadwicklee]

Q: Chadwickee, what was the last thing you did to it ~ you did not tell us in your post ?
Q: Were you in the process of updating either the firmware or DSP version ?
Or was it just working ine minute and then just went poof ?
Remember in troubleshooting something you always suspect the power suplly first !
So if it's not working fine on it's AC adapter then check it's voltage to make sure it's ok.
Next remember it came with the DC car cord as well that you could maybe try as well.
Good luck and hopefully things will be GREat if your covered under it's 1 year warranty ?
If not the perhaps take it to your local Radio Shack and pay the $20 repair estimate fee
to find out what is wrong and how much the repair department would charge to fix it !

Thanks, yes I avoid giving the last thing I did because it was dumb. I didn't have the car charger it's my cousin's scanner. Wasn't sure if he had one. I went to RadioShack to buy one, they didn't have it so I went to fry's. Like a big dummy I stuck a speaker line in to the PC/IF port. Then plugged it into the cigarette lighter for a second and thought it wasn't a good ideal. I think that may have fried it.

Had got it working finally this morning after most of the day yesterday on it.

 

[chadwicklee]

It was a car charger.

 

[Michael-SATX]

Chad, Chad, Chad, sooo lemme git diss straight "You have fried your cousins scanner not yours
by thinking to feed 12V power into the PC/IF jack on the front panel would be a gQQd idea ?
Dude are you serious ??? Also, Radio Shack DOES CARRY replacement power adapters
for the Pro-197 and DONT LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENT ! Take the scanner in with
you and if one RS associate cannot stroll over to the AC Adapters and select the proper
adapter AND the correct "adaptaplug" free tip that comes with it ~ jump to the next associate
Remember, this is VERY important that the AC Adapter's tip plug be alligned to be "Tip Positive" !

ps ~ So you took an 1/8" headphone jack type cable then stripped one side of it to bare wires
then decided the see if a $424.99 Digital Scanner would power up that way instead of the jack
in the back of the unit marked "Power" ? Maybe because you didn't have a T-Type plug adapter?

btw~You are not communicating clearly when in one of your last posts you make the statements:
"Had got it working finally this morning after most of the day yesterday on it" and then this"
"It was a car charger" are you saying it's fixed now and that the car charger was the problem ?
.
Bottom Line: By telling us everything ... your "Helping Us ~ Help You" that's how the forum works !

 

[chadwicklee]

Chad, Chad, Chad, sooo lemme git diss straight "You have fried your cousins scanner not yours
by thinking to feed 12V power into the PC/IF jack on the front panel would be a gQQd idea ?
Dude are you serious ??? Also, Radio Shack DOES CARRY replacement power adapters
for the Pro-197 and DONT LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENT ! Take the scanner in with
you and if one RS associate cannot stroll over to the AC Adapters and select the proper
adapter AND the correct "adaptaplug" free tip that comes with it ~ jump to the next associate
Remember, this is VERY important that the AC Adapter's tip plug be alligned to be "Tip Positive" !

ps ~ So you took an 1/8" headphone jack type cable then stripped one side of it to bare wires
then decided the see if a $424.99 Digital Scanner would power up that way instead of the jack
in the back of the unit marked "Power" ? Maybe because you didn't have a T-Type plug adapter?

btw~You are not communicating clearly when in one of your last posts you make the statements:
"Had got it working finally this morning after most of the day yesterday on it" and then this"
"It was a car charger" are you saying it's fixed now and that the car charger was the problem ?
.
Bottom Line: By telling us everything ... your "Helping Us ~ Help You" that's how the forum works !

Yes, I plugged a 12V power into the PC/IF jack for a second or so. In the package comes an array of tips. There was not one that fit the rear power supply, so I was thinking usb= power. Dumb, yes I know.

No, I did not strip the cord it had two prongs to fit on the adapter that runs to the cigarette lighter in the car.

I'm really embarrassed if I messed up his scanner.

p.s. Radio Shack customer's service is lacking.

 

[chadwicklee]

Called Radio Shack Earlier...

Called RadioShack earlier he said they didn't have a repair program unless you had the insurance at purchase.

 

[Michael-SATX]

Yes, I plugged a 12V power into the PC/IF jack for a second or so. In the package comes an array of tips. There was not one that fit the rear power supply, so I was thinking usb= power. Dumb, yes I know.

No, I did not strip the cord it had two prongs to fit on the adapter that runs to the cigarette lighter in the car.

I'm really embarrassed if I messed up his scanner.

p.s. Radio Shack customer's service is lacking.

USB Does equal power but only 5 volts and not 12 volts like that scanner needs to operate.
So is you cousin going to have your head on a platter for frying his expensive scanner unit ?
It would still sound like the scanner still in not working normally, you just get an LCD backlight right ?
We also have not heard if this scanner is still under it's standard 1 year warranty or if he purchased an
extended RSSP service plan for 2 or 3 years was possible. Is your scanner under warranty
and how long ago was it purchased from Radio Shack or is it used ? Is it yours now or your cousins?
What were you doing with his scanner ~ is he having you install it in his vehicle or something ?

btw~Yes Radio Shack DOES have a repair option to offer and the RS associate will see this button
to click on in the same screen that they use to ring up a sale. It's an icon called "Repair" and presto !
Always remember in life if you ask the same question to 3 diff people you will get maybe 3 diff answers.
Your job in this life is to learn how to ask enough diff people that same question until you have the correct answer !
My rule in life is many people just don't know info, don't care enough or just have not learned it yet to help you.

ps ~ If you have an associate that can't or won't help you, then ask for the manager or asst manager.
If no, then jump to the next store ! I can assure you that there are MANY great associates at Radio Shack.

 

[chadwicklee]

USB Does equal power but only 5 volts and not 12 volts like that scanner needs to operate.
So is you cousin going to have your head on a platter for frying his expensive scanner unit ?
I would still sound like the scanner still in not working normally, you just get an LCD backlight right ?
We also have not heard if this scanner is still under it's standard 1 year warranty or he has an
extended RSSP service plan or 2 or even 3 years was possible.
What were you doing with his scanner ~ is he having you install it in his vehicle or something ?

ps ~ If you have an associate that can't or won't help you then ask for the manager or asst manager.
If no, then jump to the next store ! I can assure you that there are MANY great associates at Radio Shack.

I was actually surprised that he wanted me to work on it. Well I guess he might complain a little, but if I have to I'll replace it. He works nights so it's hard to reach him.

Well he wanted me to program it for him and I figured the easiest way was to hook it to the computer and run the software. That worked fine tell this afternoon when I decided I might get better reception while in town (as we live in a rural area). So in order to do this I would need a car charger to test it for him.

Actually to be honest after all this installation stuff I thought it was pretty cool. I figured eventually i night have to get one for myself.

Oh, the scanner does have the orange back light on...that's working fine. There is no text messages though.

Thanks for the help and questions.

 

[Michael-SATX]

OK Chad, so you never said if your cousin recently purchased that scanner and if less that a year ago?

 

[chadwicklee]

He didn't tell me and I didn't think to ask.

 

[RonnieUSA]

The PC/IF jack does Not look like a USB Port.
What were You smoking, when You did that?

 

[chadwicklee]

The PC/IF jack does Not look like a USB Port.
What were You smoking, when You did that?

LOL! I didn't imply that it looked like a usb port. It was more that it would have looked like the wire that runs from the computer to the scanner is all.

Just to much coffee and staying up late.