Official PRO-83 Discussion Thread

[Brad-a-lator]

how does it work

Hi i got a radioshack pro83 for christmas but i dont no how to use signal stalker or weather alert on it maybe you can help.

 

[eyes00only]

Re: how does it work

Hi i got a radioshack pro83 for christmas but i dont no how to use signal stalker or weather alert on it maybe you can help.

Did you get the manual for the scanner?

Jerry

 

[Brad-a-lator]

I got the manual for it but when i try to turn signal stalker or weather it dosent work right. please help!!!!!!!:!:

 

[eyes00only]

I've haven't heard a weather alert yet. When the unit is on and scanning, do this; push func then hold THEN do it again. Your display should have search/dly & alt on, and 6 dashes & the little target like symbol FLASHING. Be sure your not near paging towers etc. A good test is FRS radios, or your work radio if you have them

Jerry

 

[RDCat]

anyone have the freeware offered by whomever it was that shared the files ,on the pro 83 group?


anyone like it???

 

[Highlander_821]

I have it, it works. I don't use it too much, but it was a nice offer and I certainly got more than my money's worth. The Pro-83 is pretty easy to program by hand.

 

[BigJohn114]

Antenna replacement

Hello All,

Perhaps this question is more appropriate for the Antenna board but within the context of this discussion, I will pose it here:

Given the "close call" (frequency activity detector) feature of this radio, what would be the best replacement antenna to use for "window of opportunity" activity searches. Obviously, in a shopping mall one would want to be invisible whereas driving by in a car one would have more lattitude as to size. Anybody have any opinions?

Regards, John.

the Icom FA-1443B is a good one. 8)

 

[Brad-a-lator]

does anybody know about any of the fires in neb. this past weekendFeb-6-05? im amazed at how good it picks up do they make other antennas for the pro 83?

 

[scanfan03]

does anybody know about any of the fires in neb. this past weekendFeb-6-05? im amazed at how good it picks up do they make other antennas for the pro 83?

As long as the antenna has a BNC end (which most do), it will work on this scanner. If the antenna says it is a scanner antenna, it should work with your scanner.

 

[bee]

Can someone tell me, why one cannot search the 148.000-174.000 MHz range with the pro 83? This is a very good place to search for frequencies if one does not need trunking, and is just interested in conventional systems!

Thanks

 

[eyes00only]

Can someone tell me, why one cannot search the 148.000-174.000 MHz range with the pro 83? This is a very good place to search for frequencies if one does not need trunking, and is just interested in conventional systems!

Thanks

I agree that is is really bad that the 83 wont search the 148 to 174 range! I'm glad that I only paid $60 for mine. The Signal Stalker is a great feature, and the scanner performs pretty darn good for the price.

Jerry

 

[Dubbin]

Re: belt clip

where can i get a belt clip for my 83?
what is the item number as well......
sent to me without one

Just call Radio Shacks parts dept and order one. You can find the number on there website.

 

[eyes00only]

Re: belt clip

where can i get a belt clip for my 83?
what is the item number as well......
sent to me without one

Just call Radio Shacks parts dept and order one. You can find the number on there website.

Or just go to Walmart in the cellphone dept. and get a universal belt clip. The kind that you put the small button on the scanner, and the holder on your belt works great. I would not use one for a heavy & expensive unit, but for the 83 it's great.

Jerry

 

[unitcharlie]

sorry for the following stupid questions:
1) which software would I need to program this radio, if more than one flavor which would be the easiest to use, which is the least expensive....
2) how user friendly is this radio (for someone who is just getting into scanning and doesn't really need/want trunking)?

thanx in advance for the help....

 

[johnvassel]

For someone unfamiliar with scanners, it shouldnt be too bad. My biggest problems with it is the way it does things the opposite of what I've gotten used to with other equipment.
As far as software, I use Scan-cat lite, it performs its function just fine. (And was free a few months back for the pro-83 only)

john

 

[eyes00only]

I don't know why you would want to spend the money for a cable. You cannot text tag the 83, and it only has 200 channels, and it's EASY to program.

Jerry

 

[unitcharlie]

I program scanners for a number of people and it is so much easier to keep them in a digital form so I can plug in to the scanner to be programmed and flash them in....

any more it is just easier to open the software and then the appropriate file and feed it to the scanner....

EDIT

Thanx John... that's what I am looking forhow does SCL work for the PRO 83? (Have you heard anything about how it works with the PRO 94B?, just wondering--make the purchase a little easier to sell to the book keeper--I have a 94b to program also....)

You said it acts the opposite of other gear, how so and what does it do--so I can help the guy whose radio I will be programming..... although this is his first scanner, so he should have less trouble than the rest of us....

thanx again for the help....

 

[eyes00only]

It sounded like money was a concern, and a cable cost money. For a digital scanner with 1000+ channels, I can see the need for a cable & software. As always, just my humble opinion 8) .

Jerry

 

[unitcharlie]

Hi Jerry,
I appreciate the concern for money.... although the boss would be paying for the software---the least expensive stuff that I can find that does what we need the better.... in the past three years I have assembled a many dozens of freq lists for different people whose scanners I keep updated--all of this is on a 256 mb jump drive so I can reprogram those folks who have been with me a while as well as customize a list for each new person whose radio I program.... that is unless they live somewhere with a pre-existing list....

 

[eyes00only]

Well darn, if the boss is paying, GO FOR IT :!: .

Jerry