PRO-197 review, likes, dislikes, comments thread

[Jteams18]

Poor Reception

I know this is an old thread, but I figured I would try my luck...

I got the PRO-197 about 5 months ago, and use it in my car in Fairfax County, which is relatively cluttered radio-wise. I used to use the radio shack 800mhz antenna, but reception was starting to get very choppy and poor. I upgraded to the Austin Spectra antenna, and was expecting to hear a huge upgrade. However, I still get the first 5-10 seconds of every transmission cut off. I listen primarily to the Fairfax County Fire Department, which uses 800mhz talkgroups.

I saw the post earlier about setting the digital delay from 600ths to 200ths of a second. However, right now I am sitting next to my scanner while listening to the radio reference live feed on my iTunes, and there is a distinct 5-10 second cut off in the beginning of each transmission on my scanner. Is it just something with the traffic around here, that I am doomed to? Or is there some setting I can program or some antenna I should get?

Thanks

 

[WX9RLT]

I thought I would post my likes and dislikes. I just bought the Pro-197 at RS for $330 + tax

I thought the price was decent, still kind of high though.

Dislikes:
My first problem the sales people at RS were RUDE and DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLICE SCANNERS! I highly suggest buying it online, and skip the poor customer service! They need to train the employees on their products and manners!

The 2nd problem, programming the scanner! OMG I had to go buy the cable and software, to program this. It is nearly impossible to program by hand, like the older models. So be prepared to buy the software! $40 and its a trial version of 7 days, Man, they really stick it to us nowadays!

3rd problem, audio reception. I know this is covered alot in this thread, so I won't go into details.

4th problem, price


Alright, I will get into the positive stuff now, LOL

Likes:
you can change the LED light on certain freq

you can change an audio alert as well, on certain freq ......these two features are nice! It lets you know when certain freq. are being used.

Priority weather and SAME

FAV channels, you can scan only your fav channels

Pre-Programmed VS - Are handy if they have your area. They unfortunately, didnt have mine, but this is still a good feature for those who live in those areas.

Skywarn, yes, its on many other models, but still an awesome feature

With the software, you can modify alot of settings


Overall, I would rate it a C, maybe a C+

If you have the extra cash, buy the Uniden 996XT

I was VERY dissappointed in the sales people, and programming this scanner. Insane is the best word to describe my experience. Be ready to send more money of the cable/software. $40 cable, and $40 on software.

 

[WX9RLT]

Oh, I forgot, it has VERY poor aircraft reception too.


(It wouldn't let me edit my post, so I had to make a new post, sorry)

 

[SaltwaterCowboy]

Program a scanner

I am having a problem programing a Pro 163/164 Triple trunk scanner. I need to find a place in Newport News Va where I can get it programmed, I have searched everywhere, but I am sure someone knows a person who could do it for a small fee.

I intend to pick up the programming cable today. I know I should have ordered one with the scanner, but this lapse has allowed me to try out programming by hand. Compared to the Uniden 996, the 197 is easier to enter alphanumeric tags directly from the keypad rather than twiddling the scroll knob.

LIKES
------
+ I like the ability to go directly to a channel (object, if you must) by entering its address.

+ FINALLY somebody has figured out how to apply individual delay settings to each trunked talkgroup. What took them so long?

+ Option to display talkgroups in hexadecimal, the way God intended.

+ Ability to display and act on individual unit id. Try this with your favorite console id.

+ Favorite list could be useful, although I have not tried it yet.

+ Many parameters are programmable by the user rather than being set in stone.

+ The audio from the built-in speaker is stoooopid loud! I can barely adjust this thing to a reasonable late-night volume so I don't wake up the whole house. I think it should do nicely in my car with the windows open, however.


DISLIKES
----------
- Less buttons, more display!

- Need some way to see that an object is temporarily locked out, besides cycling power.

- Nobody needs more than 16 characters, just like no PC needs more than 64KB of RAM, right?

- They just couldn't put a real USB-mini port on the scanner? Really?? In 2008??? My cell phone has one. My camera has one. The RoIP gateways we make at work have one. Oh, gotta sell those cables with the overpriced USB-PC/IF converters on them. "The camera is free, the film costs $50 per roll."

- Toggling another scan list by punching a numeric key seems to force it to abandon the active talkgroup in this scan list and resume scanning, right in the middle of a transmission. Note that I mean listening to a call on an object in scan list 1 while turning off scan list 3, for example. Maybe it was a big fire call and I wanted to lock out the other distractions in advance, but not kill the fire call I was intently monitoring. That can really irritate a power user like me. In fact, I am irritated by it.


I'm sure there are more, but I need to play with this scanner a lot more. I don't know yet whether 20 scan lists will be enough, considering that scan lists are the only means to segregate sets of channels. I have been spoiled with 100 x 10 sets, but I only use a handful of those at a time.

Add your likes, dislikes, and review comments to this thread, maybe we can all learn a thing or two.[/QUOTE]

 

[Jakemcgraw]

I bought my Pro-197 online almost 2 months ago, at the $329.99 sale price + used an oline coupon for $40.00 at that time...I like GRE products alot, and i think the Pro-197 is one of the best i have owned to date...i have mountains around me and lots of big trees ,,ect here in the country and the Pro-197 still picks up signals very well, especially our P25 digital system,,,I use the stock supplied telescopic antenna with very good results,,,just for trying, i also used the GRE 800 mhz antenna, with adapter and it really picks up the P25 digital quite good, which runs in the 453.000 mhz to 460.000 range...surprisingly 46.00 mhz low band is also very good overall....Id recommend the Pro-197 to anyone looking at a base/mobile digital scanner !

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

Best Price Yet On PRO-197

I just had to pick up another, since I found them on ebay for 259.00 new (item 25078958482). By the way, I just checked and out of six there is one left so if you're smart jump on it.

Got the cable off ebay also for $20 shipped (just one of them for sale - won bid). Total = $299 shipped with cable...and I have to say it's the best base scanner deal around, period. It really gives me everything I need for an unbeatable price. I'm experiencing great sensitivity too in my new location, about 25 miles from the sites I am trying to monitor (and they are not high atop mountains but on modest towers in a simulcast system).

The digital decode is superior to uniden, and I've spent plenty of time with both.

Sound volume is great, and audio quality is excellent.

Con? Wish it had a blue light like my old 2006...but....

Bottom line? Best digital scanner deal going.

 

[broonzbane]

Oh, I forgot, it has VERY poor aircraft reception too.


(It wouldn't let me edit my post, so I had to make a new post, sorry)

See this post...it will definitely solve your problem! The culprit is likely FM radio stations in your area, although it could be other powerful VHF transmitters in your area. Determine the source of the overload, and purchase the appropriate filter from Dale.

http://forums.radioreference.com/ra...o-197-front-end-sensitivity-issue-solved.html

broonzbane

 

[WX9RLT]

broonzbane, whats the link to the item?
I would like to buy one for my Pro-197

 

[broonzbane]

broonzbane, whats the link to the item?
I would like to buy one for my Pro-197

I sent a link to you in the other thread...

broonzbane