Official PRO-97 Discussion Thread

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grem467

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since i sent my bc246t back, ive been thinking of replacing it with a pro-97... just a couple of questions..

does the signal stalker work like on the pro-83/BC246? im confused about the "1mhz slice" thing.. can you only stalk 1mhz at a time, or do you use that to narrow down the search range, or you can stalk the whole band?

also does it do PL/DPL like the pro-92, where you can have it detect PL OR DPL, but not both without switching modes? in other words, on the 92, there are 2 modes.. one for CTCSS and another one for DPL.. same here?
 

scanfan03

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grem467 said:
since i sent my bc246t back, ive been thinking of replacing it with a pro-97... just a couple of questions..

If you don't mind me asking, why did you take the BC 246T back?

Or are you the person who got a used one from a company and took it back? If so, you can order a BC 246T from Bearcatscanner.com, I got mine from them in very good condition, at the cheapest price, and in the fastest time.
 

grem467

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unfortuantly i was the one :(

its not that i dislike the scanner... i just am curious about the differences... mainly mil-air.

at this point im on the fence about what i want to do:

a. get another 246
b. get a pro-97
c. wait for the 396 and stretch my pro-92/pro-83 combo out just a wee bit longer.
 

safetyobc

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wait for the 396 and you'll have a 246 on steroids!!!!!!!!! :D

I too am looking hard at the 97. I really like it.......but I also have a 246t and like it too?
 

grem467

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the 97 would fit all my requirements for now, assuming the signal stalk works the same as on the uniden based receivers. if the 246 had mil-air, it would be a no-brainer.

if someone clarified the "1mhz slice" thing on the 97's close call, i sure missed it.
 

safetyobc

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Check out pages 50, 51, and 52 of the manual, it explains the signal stalker II functions.

Pro-97 Manual


It says it sweeps through freqs in 1 mhz steps and if an active freq is detected, it sweeps it in finer sweeps to determine the correct freq.

It says the 1 mhz step is in "special stalker" mode too?
 

safetyobc

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I am sure it is in the manual but I am very tired and have read two manuals today, (97 and 396) Does the 97 scan both trunked and conventional in the same bank and does the 97 scan programmed freqs and signal stalker at the same time like the 246t?
 

safetyobc

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grem467 said:
so it ONLY signal stalks in 1mhz increments?

eww


no in the manual it says that after finding an active freq by scanning the 1mhz steps it then scans it in smaller steps to find the correct freq.
 

DaveIN

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Don't forget the Signal Stalker II also has the "Special" mode, Police/Fire frequency only search mode, or up to 10 search different bands :idea:

Now if it only had a Signal Stalker limit search :idea: Maybe Stalker III :?:

From the manual:

"Signal Stalker II
Your scanner’s Signal Stalker II feature provides a powerful
new tool for you to rapidly detect, monitor and store
frequencies for nearby radio transmissions. The Signal
Stalker II feature is similar in functionality to portable
frequency counters that cost much more than your scanner,
but provides many advantages over typical portable
frequency counters. For example:
The Signal Stalker II allows you to sweep the entire range of
your scanner’s design frequencies, or you can specify those
frequency ranges that you wish to sweep and exclude ranges
that you do not want to sweep. This allows you to omit
frequency ranges with constant strong frequency activity,
such as those with paging or broadcast transmitters. Many
portable frequency counters will remain locked to a nearby
constant signal, such as a paging or broadcast transmitter,
and will not function properly until you have left the vicinity
of the transmitter.
The Signal Stalker II feature is more sensitive than portable
frequency counters and will detect transmissions at a greater
distance. You can activate the Attenuator to reduce the
sensitivity if desired.
Once an active frequency is found, the transmission is played
through your scanner’s speaker, and you can quickly store it
in any of your scanner’s memory locations.
Your scanner’s Signal Stalker II functions when you press
and hold for approximately 1 second. The Signal Stalker
II function can be set to watch for activity on all band
frequencies or Police/Fire frequencies only. To change the all
bands to police/fi re or vice versa, press FUNC then <SS>.
You can also turn on/off frequency sub-bands using the
corresponding number keys while Signal Stalker II is active.
Press FUNC then Up or Down, you can change the normal Signal
Stalker II operation to the Special Signal Stalker II operation.
In the Special Stalker operation, Sp. Stalker appears and the
frequency range is divided by 1 MHz segment. If you lock
out 5 frequencies within a 1 MHz segment, the scanner will
skip that segment in subsequent sweeps. See “Using Signal
Stalker II with Lockout” below.
using Signal Stalker II with lockout
The scanner’s lock out feature can be used to bypass
unwanted transmissions while using the Signal Stalker II.
Press L/OUT when the scanner is stopped on an undesired
transmission. Press FUNC L/OUT to review or clear locked out
frequencies in the Signal Stalker II. You can lock out 150
frequencies while searching all bands and 50 frequencies
while searching Police/Fire frequencies.
Signal Stalker II functions by rapidly sweeping through the RF
spectrum in 1 MHz segments. If RF signal energy is detected
in a 1 MHz segment, Signal Stalker II will sweep through the
1MHz segment in fi ner steps until the source of the RF signal
energy is found.
Certain segments of RF spectrum are used by high power
transmitters, such as paging transmitters. The Signal Stalker
II can detect these transmitters easily, even at great distances
due to their high transmitter output power. You can press
L/OUT when the Signal Stalker II stops on these undesired
transmissions to prevent the Signal Stalker II from stopping
on them in future sweeps, however, the Signal Stalker II will
still see their RF signal energy when sweeping through the 1
MHz segment. This will cause the Signal Stalker II to execute
another fine step search of the 1 MHz segment. Of course, if
you have locked out the undesired transmissions, the Signal
Stalker II will not stop on them again, however, the overall
sweep performance of the Signal Stalker II will be impacted.

Signal Stalker II features a special lockout mode that causes
the scanner to skip a 1 MHz segment if five or more lockouts
exist in that 1 MHz segment. To activate this mode, press
FUNC UP while in the Signal Stalker II mode. If a 1 MHz segment
contains 5 or more lockouts it will be skipped entirely while
Signal Stalker II is sweeping. Use FUNC L/O to review or clear
locked Signal Stalker II frequencies.

To clear a locked-out frequency, select that frequency, then
press CL.
Priority mode is not available while using the Signal
Stalker II."
 

labdog98f

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Has anyone tested this scanner against the Pro-43 or BC250D for Mil-Air listening sensitivity? If so, how would you rate the Pro-97?

I checked the OM that is now on the RS site, but they SKIP listing specs for 225-406 on either FM or AM!

I am guessing that AM will be between 2-3uV based on 216-225/406-512 specs on AM.

Scott
 

safetyobc

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I like this scanner (the looks of it anyway). I am thinking seriously about getting one. I saw a Pro-99 today and it impressed me. Never have been close to a operating GRE scanner before. I really like the way it looked, screen display was crystal clear even in direct sunlight! If the 97 is similar as far the display goes, I'll get one! I think.

Can anyone send me some pics of the scanner stopped on a freq and on a motorola system? Just stopped on any conventional freq so I can see what the display looks like. Or point me to some pics. I saw those back on page 5 of this thread, anyone have anything else. Thanks for any info. Does it display the PL tones?

Also when is the Win97 expected to be out? Any idea?
 

unitcharlie

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DonS said:
Probaby 2-3 weeks. I had to add... (see below)

this is like waiting for Christmas as a kid... the day that a Win 97 icon pops up between the Win 96 and Win 99 icons when I open Don's page...
my fingers have aged thirteen years in the past week!
 

Eng74

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The best way to describe the Pro-97 is a child of the Pro-92 and Pro-99. The display is the same as the 99 with trunking of the 92 (well it does have CC only for Motorola, unlike the 92). One thing that I think is pretty neat with the 97 is when you are scanning the banks on line 4 it shows the bank name that you are scanning. One other thing that is new to this radio is you can change the welcome screen without a computer program. The only down side i have found with this is Win 97 is not out right no so getting it set up all the way is taking some time. I have forgot how long it can take to program a scanner by hand.
What I would like to see in the "next GRE analog trunker" . V-folders would be nice, even with 1000 channels it is nice to make folders and be able to change them and not have to have a laptop with you to change the radio. A better stock antena, already have the RS 800Mhz antena on it it seems like it is a better all around antena. Maybe a better way to get to TG id's in the manual mode. GRE to come out with a USB interface cable and maybe even go back to the 92/2067 days when they gave you the clone cable with both radios.
 

scnnr

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safetyobc said:
I like this scanner (the looks of it anyway). I am thinking seriously about getting one. I saw a Pro-99 today and it impressed me. Never have been close to a operating GRE scanner before. I really like the way it looked, screen display was crystal clear even in direct sunlight! If the 97 is similar as far the display goes, I'll get one! I think.

Can anyone send me some pics of the scanner stopped on a freq and on a motorola system? Just stopped on any conventional freq so I can see what the display looks like. Or point me to some pics. I saw those back on page 5 of this thread, anyone have anything else. Thanks for any info. Does it display the PL tones?

Also when is the Win97 expected to be out? Any idea?

Here is a picture that I found in the photos section of the Pro 97 yahoo groups
 

c_gutta

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PRO 97 in some RS Stores

I work at Radio Shack in Columbus, OH. We got an order today and it had 2 PRO 97's in it. We don't sell alot of scanners in my store so I am sure stores that sell lots of scanners in trunked areas will get it soon too. I didn't expect it so soon in stores. I thought they would be getting rid of more of the 95's before they shipped them to stores.
If your store doesnt have one, ask them what stores in the district do. You can go buy it there. Store transfers are a last resort now.
 

cnmsales

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Was at my shack today and asked them when they would be getting them in. He said the franchise stores wouldnt be getting them for a while.
 

c_gutta

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cnmsales said:
Was at my shack today and asked them when they would be getting them in. He said the franchise stores wouldnt be getting them for a while.

That may be true. I know company owned stores are different.
 
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