Official PRO-97 Discussion Thread

[unitcharlie]

i love the ltr tracking... and can't wiat unitil the radio is programmed enough to use as i do the radio it will replace (my trusty pro92b).... and can't wait til don finishes win 97.... my fingers are killing me.....

 

[Schnoor1648]

LTR Repeater Finder

I just got a PRO-97 and I have been testing the LTR Repeater Finder function. It appears as if you can program multiple channels in the LTR mode and then scan then conventionally. When the scanner stops on an active frequency it will display an ID number if it is monitoring LTR traffic. Then, if you push the MAN button, it will display "R" and a number following it indicating the home channel number. As many people here already know, the format is displayed as AHHUUU with HH being the Home Repeater Number. But a transmission might have a Home Repeater Number of 5 and be on repeater channel 9 on a given transmission. This may be the best scanner yet for mapping LTR systems.

 

[safetyobc]

Would it be safe to say that this is a good comparison to the 250D
without digital card? I know the 97 has close call and skywarn, what else does the 97 have over the 250 or the 250 have over the 97? I am thinking of selling the 250 and picking up a 97 in the near future. What is your opinion?

 

[Schnoor1648]

LTR Repeater Finder

I have experimented some more with this and I have observed that some UHF frequencies when in the manual mode with LTR selected will alternate between more than one repeater number. I suspect that this means that the frequency is a part of an LTR related, but not pure LTR system. For example, it could mean that thye frequency is part of a system that uses Passport or something similar.

 

[Eng74]

I just checked UPS tracking for my 97 and it has has held by origin location on it. Anyone ever get anything like this before?

 

[dustin486]

Eng74, Normally that means that they have delayed it to do an extensive inspection on the package.

 

[peterjmag]

Just got my Pro-97 today and I must say I am impressed. The audio is much louder and more clear then other GRE models and the sensitivity is much improved as well. The backlight key pad is outstanding and much like the Pro-96. I ordered it on Wednesday evening from Radio Shack through the Direct2you option and it came via UPS today as in Friday. What a fast and prompt transaction! I can't wait for Win97 to come out. Good job Radio Shack and GRE.

P.J. Maguire

 

[Eng74]

Eng74, Normally that means that they have delayed it to do an extensive inspection on the package.

Sounds like they may have ran over it in good UPS tradition.

 

[DaveIN]

Re: LTR Repeater Finder

I just got a PRO-97 and I have been testing the LTR Repeater Finder function. It appears as if you can program multiple channels in the LTR mode and then scan then conventionally. When the scanner stops on an active frequency it will display an ID number if it is monitoring LTR traffic. Then, if you push the MAN button, it will display "R" and a number following it indicating the home channel number. As many people here already know, the format is displayed as AHHUUU with HH being the Home Repeater Number. But a transmission might have a Home Repeater Number of 5 and be on repeater channel 9 on a given transmission. This may be the best scanner yet for mapping LTR systems.

Also look for the "255" talkgroup (the UUU in your example) during the data burst, this is associated with the home repeater.

It's working good with 400 MHz regular systems also. Passport systems will ocassionally give repeater numbers, but above the 20'th LCN number.

As for the audio, I see no difference between the 97 and 96 (in analog mode). The display characters are bigger on the 96 than the 97, this makes the 96 display look different. 8)

 

[EricCottrell]

Re: LTR Repeater Finder

I have experimented some more with this and I have observed that some UHF frequencies when in the manual mode with LTR selected will alternate between more than one repeater number. I suspect that this means that the frequency is a part of an LTR related, but not pure LTR system. For example, it could mean that thye frequency is part of a system that uses Passport or something similar.

Hello,

Passport is not decodable by any current scanner. Some Passport systems output Regular LTR on some channels and behave like a regular LTR repeater except the CW ID is group 255 instead of 253.

You will see alternating groups when two groups homed to the same home repeater are using the system. If you see these two lines alternating:
0-11-120 R11
0-11-054 R05
Then you are listening to repeater number 11. 0-11-120 is talking on repeater number 11 and 0-11-054 is talking on repeater number 5. The R information means go to this repeater.

Idle bursts and CW IDs are the best ways to nail down the repeater number. Unfortunely scanners tend to not display group 255 which is used for idle (and CW ID for Passport Regular LTR). If group 0-11-120 stops transmitting in the above example but 0-11-054 still is then repeater number 11 will transmit a quiet carrier with only LTR data on it. It would transmit:
0-11-255 R11
0-11-054 R05
repeater number 5 would have voice on it and transmit
0-11-054 R05
Unfortunely scanners tend to only display the 0-11-054 information so you are not sure if you are listening to repeater number 11 or 5.

I do not own a 97 so I do not know how it behaves. The R display improves the situation but you still have to be aware of the context.

73 Eric

 

[scanfan03]

Has anyone compared the Pro-97 to the BC 246T? I am looking for a comparison in 800MHz sensitivity.

 

[Schnoor1648]

LTR Repeater Finder

Eric, so if I see 255 displayed when I hear a key-up every 10 seconds that means it is LTR and the R # is valid?

 

[WayneH]

Re: LTR Repeater Finder

Eric, so if I see 255 displayed when I hear a key-up every 10 seconds that means it is LTR and the R # is valid?

Yes. The channel it identifies is the one you want to use when programming it in.

-Wayne

 

[Junior08]

Eng74,

Did I read correctly when you said Win96 allows for centering of tags? I have a new 2096 programmed with Win96, and not sure how to use this feature, if it has it? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

[DonS]

Eng74,

Did I read correctly when you said Win96 allows for centering of tags? I have a new 2096 programmed with Win96, and not sure how to use this feature, if it has it? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Click on the "Channels" tab in Win96. On the Edit menu, select Justify Alpha Tags. Depending on the option(s) you select, spaces will be inserted in the various tags so that they appear left, center, or right justified on the scanner.

 

[Junior08]

Don,

Thanks for a fast reply.

 

[cnmsales]

Just wondering what is the pro-97 running in cost?

Thanks.

 

[Eng74]

Just wondering what is the pro-97 running in cost?

Thanks.

$199 + tax and free shipping from RS D2U. There went the state tax refund!

 

[cnmsales]

So would you say its better than the PRO-2051? And if so why.

 

[safetyobc]

alpha tags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and handheld is portable, take it anywhere!