funky PRO96 problem please help

[vanderneut]

I cannot receive anything very well on my Pro96. Here are the details

I can receive a Motorola handheld only to about 30 ft. away. After that, the signal just dies. When I use the two Motorolas together, I can talk about 2 miles away, no problem.

I also am trying to monitor an FM freq of 39.750. I can only hear extremely close tranmissions except on rare ocassions I can hear everything. If I plug my scanner into an OE-254, I can hear everything. So far, I am not impressed with this thing. Is the rubber ducky just a crappy antnenna? Why can't I get anything? I can't imagine that the antenna is the only problem because I can hear all the FM traffic some of the time.

 

[Chicagostretch02]

I cannot receive anything very well on my Pro96. Here are the details

I can receive a Motorola handheld only to about 30 ft. away. After that, the signal just dies. When I use the two Motorolas together, I can talk about 2 miles away, no problem.

I also am trying to monitor an FM freq of 39.750. I can only hear extremely close tranmissions except on rare ocassions I can hear everything. If I plug my scanner into an OE-254, I can hear everything. So far, I am not impressed with this thing. Is the rubber ducky just a crappy antnenna? Why can't I get anything? I can't imagine that the antenna is the only problem because I can hear all the FM traffic some of the time.

Try resetting the scanner/reinitializing it. You may have accidentally put the attenuator on and that is the culprit. Otherwise it may be the antenna or the connection to the antenna inside the unit. I have a 96 and have never had that kind of problem unless I hit the ATT button on a frequency. Good luck!

Brian

 

[LarrySC]

The second line of you post could be important. If the ATT was on it still would receive better than that. If the Motorola was VERY close to the 96 and you keyed the Mot you may have ZAPED your scanner. You cant put an 800 MHz transmitter close to an 800 MHz scanner. Instant death. Hope you figure it out. Good Luck, Larry

 

[Chicagostretch02]

If the Motorola was VERY close to the 96 and you keyed the Mot you may have ZAPED your scanner. You cant put an 800 MHz transmitter close to an 800 MHz scanner. Instant death. Hope you figure it out. Good Luck, Larry

I just learned something new. I hope for his sake it's something covered under the warranty with Rat Shack.

 

[xusmarine1979]

Either that or don't mention it. It may have not been your radio after all...

 

[Voyager]

The second line of you post could be important. If the ATT was on it still would receive better than that. If the Motorola was VERY close to the 96 and you keyed the Mot you may have ZAPED your scanner. You cant put an 800 MHz transmitter close to an 800 MHz scanner. Instant death. Hope you figure it out. Good Luck, Larry

While this is possible, I'm sure many on the list are using 800 MHz radios in close proximity to the scanner. Also, 800 MHz makes no difference - the same can be said for any other band as well.

Regardless the cause, it sounds like you either have a scanner with a blown front end or the antenna connection has come off inside the scanner. Several people have reported this problem.

If it's still under warranty - don't risk taking it apart - send it in for repair.

Joe M.

 

[busaninja]

The second line of you post could be important. If the ATT was on it still would receive better than that. If the Motorola was VERY close to the 96 and you keyed the Mot you may have ZAPED your scanner. You cant put an 800 MHz transmitter close to an 800 MHz scanner. Instant death. Hope you figure it out. Good Luck, Larry

While this is possible, I'm sure many on the list are using 800 MHz radios in close proximity to the scanner. Also, 800 MHz makes no difference - the same can be said for any other band as well.

Regardless the cause, it sounds like you either have a scanner with a blown front end or the antenna connection has come off inside the scanner. Several people have reported this problem.

If it's still under warranty - don't risk taking it apart - send it in for repair.

Joe M.

That is what happened to mine.
No biggie. I hope that is all that is wrong with yours.

 

[vanderneut]

solved

I took my handy multimeter and ohmed the antenna connector. It turns out that the center pin is somehow shorted out with the ground. I'm guessing that this is a manufacturing problem. I'll send it back and make the Radio Shack hosers fix it.

 

[loumaag]

Re: solved

I took my handy multimeter and ohmed the antenna connector. It turns out that the center pin is somehow shorted out with the ground. I'm guessing that this is a manufacturing problem. I'll send it back and make the Radio Shack hosers fix it.

Whereas you may indeed have a problem with your scanner (based on the posts so far) the check you did is less than useful. Most antenna connections are at ground potential, using a multi-meter isn't the way to check it. :shock: