I am thinking about getting a radio shack pro-197 and I'm wondering how hard it will be to program and where do I get the freqencies at? are the digital freqencies different numbers than the analog numbers? I live in Wva , is there a site where you can get the digital freqencies? Thanks for any help.
Hi Kathy
Welcome to RadioReference.
You're already at the best place for frequency information, as well as resources to help you understand and program a new scanner, whether it's the
Pro-197 or another model. (Anything underlined in blue is a link.)
According to your location, Welch, WV, you are in McDowell County. The frequencies for that county can be found in the database:
McDowell County, West Virginia (WV) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
It appears that much of the county is still analog. However, WV has a statewide digital trunked system,
SIRN. Looking at that system, I see three talkgroups listed for your county: McDowell County Fire, Kimball Fire Dept, and McDowell County Sheriff .I also see three for Mercer County, a neighboring county. And, the state police and other state agencies use SIRN as well, it appears.
While you can program just the frequencies for the analog channels, trunked systems and their talkgroups require a different method.
Trunking Basics will get you started on understanding that type of system. This
Getting Started article in the Wiki has some good information and a number of links for additional information on Object Oriented scanners, which is the category for the Pro-197, among others.
In that article are links to programming tips, as well as a link to
software for that unit. The scanner can be programmed by hand, through the keyboard. Use the programming shortcuts and the
Easier to Read manual as guides on how, as well as ask questions where needed.
However, using software is much quicker, especially when entering text tags for your various channels. You also have the advantage, with software, of seeing most of the information, at one time, instead of only a couple of pieces at a time as you step through screens manually programming via the keyboard. Seeing the 'whole picture' at once makes it easier to spot and correct simple errors and omissions during data entry. Also, using software, you can save the scanner configuration as a backup, in case you need to reload later.
To use software, you would need to purchase the pc interface cable. Radio Shack does not include it with the Pro-197 or Pro-106. GRE, which makes those two scanners for Radio Shack,
does include a cable with the PSR-600 (same as the Pro-197) and PSR-500 (equivalent to the Pro-106). All three software packages (Win500, PSREdit500, and ARC500) have a 30-day trial period, so you can download each & see which you like best before you purchase any of them. Should you also decide to upgrade to a
Premium Subscriber, you can use the software to import directly from the database here on RadioReference into the software, saving time.
Also, drop by the West Virginia
forum for more localized information on systems near you.
