Just bought PRO-164, Now Have Second Thoughts

[srschacher]

Hello.

I have owned a PRO-95 for many years, and did some research before buying a new scanner. I saw the Radio Shack sales for the PRO-160 and PRO-163, so I looked for compare/contrasts of those two scanners. It seemed that the consensus was that the PRO-163 edged out the PRO-160. I'm not sure why, but it seems like the differences between the PRO-160 and PRO-163 are:

1. 2008 model vs. 2006 model
2. 6-line display vs. 4-line display
3. 20 banks of 50 channels vs. 10 banks of 100 channels
4. Signal Stalker I vs. Signal Stalker II
5. No signal strength meter vs. signal strength meter

So I walked into a Radio Shack to get the PRO-163 when I saw the PRO-164 sitting there, at the same price of $169. It's supposed to be the same scanner, just in a handheld form. So I picked up one of these, plus the cable (which I also needed for my PRO-95, since my latest computers don't have a serial port).

When I got home, I bought Win97 (I already have Win95), copied the pre-programmed files off the PRO-164, then upgraded the firmware to version 1.06. Then I copied my programming from the PRO-95 to the PRO-164 (copy and paste back and forth).

Then I set the two scanners up side-by-side, and I was a bit surprised. I wasn't using the stock antenna. I have both the Radio Shack center loaded antenna as well as the indoor scanner antenna. I also have a Ramsey Active Antenna AA7C to boost signal strength. I was switching back and forth between the RS center-loaded and Ramsey active antennas.

First, the sound was much cleaner from the PRO-95. The PRO-160 seemed a bit distorted. Second, the PRO-95 was picking up so many more frequencies than the PRO-160, which surprised me. The PRO-95 was getting the following that the PRO-164 was skipping right past:

1. CHP in the 24 range. It would get local (within 10 miles) but not further away (30 miles). For instance, the PRO-95 was picking up San Jose and Redwood City, while the PRO-164 was only getting Contra Costa county. With the PRO-95, I can also get Marin and Napa counties, too, and even Solano and Tracy.
2. Medical in the 900 range.

I could have kep going with the testing, for aviation and such, but that was enough for me to know that the PRO-95 was doing fine. The only trunking around here that I know of is Alameda County, and I don't know if they rebanded yet (I don't listen to them anyway).

So I'm thinking of returning the PRO-164 in the next day or two. Is this a mistake? Did I buy the wrong radilo to begin with? Any advice on next steps?

Steve S

 

[dxradio2003]

Pro-164

I own a Pro-96, BCD396T, BR330, Pro-106 and a host of other radios including the Pro-164. Reception on all my radios are essentially similar, although some are "cleaner" in audio than others. What I found is the minute differences in the units are relatively minor. Sometimes the antenna makes a difference, sometimes the speaker is better in one than another, however, each radio has its strengths and weaknesses.

All I can say, in my opinion, if the difference in range is significant to you, maybe take the Pro-164 back. For me, the strenghts and weaknesses in each radio is not that significant to me when it comes to range.

The Pro-106 is the one radio I am not really happy with. For me, the interference it picks up in the 800Mhz range makes this radio unacceptable. It is really too bad because I like the features it has and digital modes it receives.

Other folks certainly have their opinions about the best and worst radios. While there is no best radio, it boils down to what is acceptable and right for you.

 

[dxradio2003]

Pro-16

I forgot to mention, I am in the SF Bay Area too and I like the Pro-164, just wish it had digital decoding capability. This is really a great scanner in my opinion for the agencies I listen to, including SJPD, SJ CHP, CDF, etc.

 

[srschacher]

Thanks for your reply.

I listen to Contra Costa signals, and would have liked to listen to Alameda County (Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore) too, but they trunk. That wasn't a problem if I put on the Radio Shack 800Mhz antenna, but I decided to forego that in favor of the general conventional listening (overall Bay Area CHP, CC Sheriff, firem aviation, medical, etc.)

For now, I'm running the two radios side-by-side to better understand the differences. I haven't entered any new trunking tables yet, but I was more interested in seeing how Signal Stalker II worked to see if I can find my community's private security patrol's frequency. I'm going to tackle the trunking rebanding shortly.

I'm also spending more time swapping antennas between the 95 and 164. I mostly use the Ramsey AA7C broadband active antenna kit, but I'm switching between that and the RS center center-loaded 20-006 antenna. Both radios are identically programmed, but the 164 seems to be a bit faster in scan mode.

So the jury is still out, but I'm not ready to convict yet. I didn't understand why people have so many scanners (beyond the hobby/collecting aspect), but now that I'm running two radios simultaneously, I can see some advantages of two, at least.

More to come...

Steve

 

[dxradio2003]

Pro-164

Just another thought, I quit using pre-amps, amplied antennas at my location. For me, it caused desenitation (I think that's the right word) which is basically overloading the radio to the point that it reduces the sensititvity/signals. For me, using a better antenna and/or outside antenna worked better.

I mostly use the Radio Shack 800Mhz antenna on the majority of my handheld radios. This seems to work great on 800, 460 and 156 mhz bands. It does not do a great job on VHF-lo, but that it to be expected.

Anyway, I guess I've been doing the radio thing much too long. My two cents.

Thanks,

---Bob

 

[N1BHH]

The 800 antenna is designed for optimal reception on the 800 range. It won't work very well on Low Band, but it will work, just not great. If you are mobile, use an external antenna, VHF quarter wave antennas work good, but a decent multi band antenna such as the Larsen NMO-150/450/80 work very good. Mine does hear the one or two Lo Band signals there are around my area.

Best antenna for home use is anything mounted outside, the higher the better. If you are in a city, it won't matter much what you have, in the suburbs, the higher the better.

My Pro-164 has been very good to me, have had no complaints to make.