Need help with used scanner...

[respectmidnight]

I just bought a used Radio Shack hand-held scanner off eBay and it was pre-programmed with a bunch of frequencies from some other place. I just want to delete ALL the stuff on here and start from scratch. I followed the instructions that came on the CD, but it just isn't working. Is there any way to get rid of all this pre-programming that is like formatting a hard drive?

I've never had a scanner before and all of the information I have found doesn't seem to match up.

I need specific instructions,...button by button, on how to program in and listen to ALL law enforcement frequencies in Columbus, Indiana and Bartholomew county.

 

[scannerfreak]

How bout you start by telling us what scanner it is you have

 

[W9NES]

How about a Radio Shack Model Number.? This should be a Pro number.

 

[respectmidnight]

Pro-164 Analog Scanner

How bout you start by telling us what scanner it is you have

Pro-164 Analog Scanner 'Triple Trunking'.

 

[KC2GVX]

When you power on, try pressing 0 then 1 and follow the prompts to reset the scanner.

 

[respectmidnight]

does nothing

When you power on, try pressing 0 then 1 and follow the prompts to reset the scanner.

I've had other people tell me to do this. I have no idea what this is supposed to do, but it does absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. I'm thinking that your assuming I am supposed to be on some mode or screen that I have no idea I am supposed to be on. Please, assume NOTHING! When I turn it on accross the top it says: GA and a black triangle a few spaces down.
The next line: Weather and I think a 3
next line: 162. something something 000
next line: FIPS: Code (s) Set
next line: NOAA Weather

I have no idea what this means but all I know is I push zero then one and it says: nothing different.

now what?

 

[kb9sxk]

I've had other people tell me to do this. I have no idea what this is supposed to do, but it does absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. I'm thinking that your assuming I am supposed to be on some mode or screen that I have no idea I am supposed to be on. Please, assume NOTHING! When I turn it on accross the top it says: GA and a black triangle a few spaces down.
The next line: Weather and I think a 3
next line: 162. something something 000
next line: FIPS: Code (s) Set
next line: NOAA Weather

I have no idea what this means but all I know is I push zero then one and it says: nothing different.

now what?

That is how you set the weather alert.

 

[mdcrquinn]

reseting the scanner

If you reset the scanner, you will lose all proloaded freqs. Just a heads up. The manual is still downloadable from radioshack website.

 

[Trekker65]

I've had other people tell me to do this. I have no idea what this is supposed to do, but it does absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. I'm thinking that your assuming I am supposed to be on some mode or screen that I have no idea I am supposed to be on. Please, assume NOTHING! When I turn it on accross the top it says: GA and a black triangle a few spaces down.
The next line: Weather and I think a 3
next line: 162. something something 000
next line: FIPS: Code (s) Set
next line: NOAA Weather

I have no idea what this means but all I know is I push zero then one and it says: nothing different.

now what?

The scanner appears to be locked into the Weather Alert "SAME" standyby mode. Try pressing the scan button first to get the scaner to scan channels then turn off the scanner. (The scan button is in the upper left side of the keyboard) Follow these steps next:

Initializing the Scanner
If the scanner’s display locks up or does not
work properly after you connect a power
source or install batteries, you might need to
initialize it.
Caution: This procedure clears the
scanner’s memory. Initialize the scanner
only after trying all other methods to
correct issues.
To initialize the scanner:
1. Turn off the scanner, then turn it on again.
“Multi-system Trunking Scanner”
appears.
2. While “Multi-system Trunking
Scanner” appears, press 0. You must press zero while the message is still on the screen or it will not work.
3. Press 1.
4. Press ENT. “Initializing please
stand by” appears for about 5 seconds.
When the initialization is complete, M000
appears on the second line of the display.
“Bank 0 Ch 00” appears.
Note: Do not turn off the scanner until
the initialization is complete

 

[Trekker65]

Did That Work?

If you have initialized the scanner, now you have the "blank hard drive" as you suggested. Follow these steps to begin adding the frequencies for your area:
Note....This website has all the freqs you need. Just click on the datatbase tab and follow the instructions. Good luck and don't give up, it is all worth it once you have it programmed and begin scanning.

Go to RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for the latest
frequency references.

To program a channel:
1. Press MAN.
2. Enter the bank (0-9) and channel number
(00-99) where you want to store the
frequency (Example: 101 for Bank 1,
Channel 1).
3. Press MAN again. “M” and the bank and
channel number appear.
4. Press PROG. “M” changes to “P”.
5. Use the number keys to enter the
frequency (including the decimal point).
If you make a mistake, press CLEAR to
delete a single digit or hold CLEAR about
2 seconds to start over.
Note: Your scanner automatically
rounds to the nearest valid frequency.
For example, if you enter 151.553, your
scanner rounds to 151.550.
6. If necessary, press MODE to change the
receiving mode. Usually not necessary!
7. Press ENT.
If the frequency is already stored in the
bank, “Dupl.Freq. ChXXX” appears. To
copy the duplicate frequency anyway,
press ENT or press CLEAR to cancel.
If you made a mistake in Step 5, “Invalid
Freq.” briefly appears and the scanner beeps
when you press ENT. Go back to step 5 again.
FOLLOW STEP 4 AND 5 UNTIL YOU HAVE ENTERED ALL THE FREQS THAT YOU WANT.
8. Press MAN again. “M” and the bank and
channel number appear.
Note: For information about adding text
tags to a channel or bank, see “Text Tags”
on Page 52.

 

[W9NES]

***If you will look at the top of the RadioReference.Com web page find the ICON maked WIKI. There will be a list of topics,Go to models.Go to Radio Shack and then find your Radio Shack Pro-164.All of the infomation you need will be there.***

 

[Trekker65]

Some of Columbus is Trunked

Some of the freqs that you want to listen to in Columbus are trunked. See page 38 and 39 of your scanner instruction manual for programing those types of freqs.