Pro-2004: Found myself a rare gem!

[N1SQB]

I was looking for a fun project to tinker around with using the usual Bill Cheek books I have. I looked on EBay for some of the oldies but goodies. ( Pro-2004/5/6 )
The pro-2006s available were not in the best of shape and are a little tight in tegards to space. I decided to look for a 2004 because I knew it had lots of real estate inside to do mods. I came across a seller that nearly made me fall back in my office chair. A Pro- 2004 in storage for years, never used, with ALL the original packaging, box, manual, antenna, etc. I made him an offer and I bought it. It’s taking a chance, like anything else you but on eBay. Mint and pristine mean different things to different people.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the box today and found out that this scanner was in fact in pristine condition, with the original backlight still shining brightly. Not a single scratch on it. I almost feel bad for all the mods I’m going to do to it. 😂
Hello Bill Cheek Mod books.😁
I just wanted to share this experience with those of you who remember these scanners as fondly as I do.

Manny.

 

[bkantor]

This was my favorite radio back in the day and I still have 3 of them (1 doesn't work correctly - I bought on eBay years ago and I think someone messed up a mod). Classic design and great reception. Have fun with it!!

 

[N1SQB]

This was my favorite radio back in the day and I still have 3 of them (1 doesn't work correctly - I bought on eBay years ago and I think someone messed up a mod). Classic design and great reception. Have fun with it!!

Thanks. I’ve had the 2005,2006 scanners but never had a chance to have a 2004 in such great shape. It looks untouched by time.
I’m gonna take my sweet time with the mods.

Manny

 

[StoliRaz]

Those always remind me of a food scale 😂 It's in great shape, always nice seeing old scanners being put back to use

 

[wtp]

i have had one since they came out.
by all means, click the light to low and leave it that way.
after 40 whatever years, mine still light up, not really bright on high, but it works.
enjoy it.
and for fun
hit program, type in a number (1) hit program, type 24.5 and STOP. don't hit enter, what do you see ?

 

[N1SQB]

i have had one since they came out.
by all means, click the light to low and leave it that way.
after 40 whatever years, mine still light up, not really bright on high, but it works.
enjoy it.
and for fun
hit program, type in a number (1) hit program, type 24.5 and STOP. don't hit enter, what do you see ?

I see 24.5245 - HF, YES! LOL ….anyway, the light is no longer an issue. Dimmer switch is now on/off switch after a simple mod. Funny thing though, I cannot find IC-2 to do a few other mods. Grrrr…

Manny

 

[wtp]

noo...i said stop at 2 4 . 5
back when it was new everyone said they had one , and this was my test.
i believe you have one and then you will under stand the line,
get back to me when you got nothing !

 

[dave524]

My 2004 went south with the cold solder joint issue that was common, 2006 is still working though although getting dim.

 

[eorange]

What did you pay for it?

 

[N1SQB]

Dave 524: This one is very clean, one owner, purchased is 1987 I believe he said. Spent a good number of years in storage in its original box, packing and all.
I swear it looks good, sounds great. No cold solder issues from what I’ve seen so far.

 

[N1SQB]

What did you pay for it?

$75. More than I wanted to pay but after hearing the background story from the seller via EBay messaging, I figured it was worth it. It obviously was. I have the original styrofoam, the plastic, the manual, original antenna, and the original box. Great find after all these years. I already did a few mods.
800 MHz. Mod
Dimmer switch now on/off
Carrier-on indicator light on front panel.

More to come. Lol

Manny

 

[eorange]

That's not bad for what you got!

 

[VK3RX]

noo...i said stop at 2 4 . 5
back when it was new everyone said they had one , and this was my test.
i believe you have one and then you will under stand the line,
get back to me when you got nothing !

 

[trp2525]

My 2004 went south with the cold solder joint issue that was common...

Apparently the Pro-2004 had some "Circuit Board Design Flaws" per Gerry at G & G Communications located in LeRoy, NY. Because of those design flaws, Gerry has listed the Pro-2004 on his list of "Scanners No Longer Repaired" on his website: G & G Communications

They must have made some circuit board improvements with the Pro-2005 and Pro-2006 as those two models are not on Gerry's no-repair list.

 

[dave524]

Apparently the Pro-2004 had some "Circuit Board Design Flaws" per Gerry at G & G Communications located in LeRoy, NY. Because of those design flaws, Gerry has listed the Pro-2004 on his list of "Scanners No Longer Repaired" on his website: G & G Communications

They must have made some circuit board improvements with the Pro-2005 and Pro-2006 as those two models are not on Gerry's no-repair list.

they can be very problematic

 

[wtp]

VK3RX, yes not you got nothing, i just don't know why it happens.
after buying the radio i went into security.
sitting one night and bored i started typing numbers into it.
i got to 24.5 and saw that.

 

[moonbounce]

The Pro 2004 scanner was my first scanner that didn't require crystals to receive a signal, lol. The Pro 2004 lasted a year and then the problems began, bad solder joints. I had it to two service shops, they worked on it for awhile but outcome was the same, the volume would go from normal listening to full blast volume. Wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't living in an apartment building at the time, lol. Some times my wife and I would go out forgetting to turn the scanner off, come home and I could hear it before I reached my door. Blamed it all on my cat until one day I was sitting beside the radio and it went full blast on it's own. I called Radio Shack told them about the problem, I didn't mention taking it to repair shops, they had me send it back to them with $100 dollars and they sent me a Pro 2006, and I still have it today.
Anyways keep an eye on it, for what you paid, it was a great deal, best of luck.

 

[PACNWDude]

VK3RX, yes not you got nothing, i just don't know why it happens.
after buying the radio i went into security.
sitting one night and bored i started typing numbers into it.
i got to 24.5 and saw that.

Never heard about this before, but just typed into one of my old Pro-2006's......2452.

 

[wtp]

without the 2 on the end.
if you type in 24.5
what then shows is 0000.0
if you type anything after that it changes.
just a weird thing.