Pro-2042 Question.

[N1SQB]

My friend bought a 2042 with the optoscan 2035 board in it. He also got the floppy disk with software from opto with it. My question is what PC would he need to run that program? Will windows XP work? I never had the Opto board in my 2042 when I had it so I know nothing about running the software. Any suggestions on getting it to work for him?

Manny

 

[BinaryMode]

You're probably referring to the Probe software, and it runs in DOS.

There were only two boards made. An OS535 and a 4 something or other. The 535 is the one you really wanted.

I had two 2042's. One with and one without the OS535 Optoelectrons board. Still have the one Pro-2042 without OS535 board as I sold the other on eBay. Wish I still had it to be honest.

If you need help with DOS, ask an AI for assistance. You'll also need a computer with a COM port, or you might be able to use a Keyspan serial to USB device. It Might work but I have my doubts. You could probably get DOS from Archive.org... They also sell PCI-e COM port boards. Though, the chipset is an important factor. I have one but I can't remember the chipset now.

In Probe you can enter a long number to unlock gapless frequency coverage. I have that key somewhere. Found it in the very dark reaches of the Internet many years ago.

 

[trimmerj]

I run Probe on a windows 98 vm on a win 7 box for the Opto Board.

 

[N1SQB]

I run Probe on a windows 98 vm on a win 7 box for the Opto Board.

You're probably referring to the Probe software, and it runs in DOS.

There were only two boards made. An OS535 and a 4 something or other. The 535 is the one you really wanted.

I had two 2042's. One with and one without the OS535 Optoelectrons board. Still have the one Pro-2042 without OS535 board as I sold the other on eBay. Wish I still had it to be honest.

If you need help with DOS, ask an AI for assistance. You'll also need a computer with a COM port, or you might be able to use a Keyspan serial to USB device. It Might work but I have my doubts. You could probably get DOS from Archive.org... They also sell PCI-e COM port boards. Though, the chipset is an important factor. I have one but I can't remember the chipset now.

In Probe you can enter a long number to unlock gapless frequency coverage. I have that key somewhere. Found it in the very dark reaches of the Internet many years ago.

Thank you both very much. I will look into this and see what I can do to help him out. I have a spare Toughbook with a Com port that I could give him. I’d have to see if I still have an old windows 98 disk. The laptop has XP on it I think..

Manny

 

[pro92b]

Bob's Tips of the Month
Cellular Restoration for the PRO2035 and PRO2042 Scanners

One of our readers sent in a software code
which, when entered into the Optoelectronics
0S535 computer interface, will restore
the missing cellular telephone frequencies
in the discontinued Radio Shack PRO2035
and the current model PRO2042 base /mobile
scanners.

If you have Scan Star Plus, version 5.56
or later, or the current version of ScanCat
Gold (free update for pre -11/30/95 versions
from Computer Aided Technologies by sending
request with registration card), it will
support the restoration by entering the following
20 -digit string: 275 681 149 364 630
538 49. As we understand it, the code was
originally reserved for enabling the missing
frequency range in units provided for qualified
government agencies.

Page 108 MONITORING TIMES April 1996

---------------------------------------

There is a review of the OS535 in Monitoring Times July 1996 Page 97.

---------------------------------------

From the monitoringpost website there may be versions of the OS535
that cannot be unlocked in the cellular bands.

Opto 456/535

There are three verisons of the firmware in the Opto535 I know of. The current models are blocked out in the cellular range as of January this year to comply with the new FCC regulations. The previous model they sold to the public required a password which they would give you if you were qualified to have that range. Also there was a third verison which required no password for the cellular range which was so to law enforcements and telecommunictions companies.

 

[Ubbe]

I’d have to see if I still have an old windows 98 disk. The laptop has XP on it I think..

Probe runs in a DOS window, so both Win98 and XP will work, as will any pure DOS OS like DOS 6. I believe there are som shareware DOS versions as well that can be installed. You can probably partition the harddrive for a small amount of space to have a native DOS installation on it and have the bios boot up on that. As long as the laptop has a comport it will work with any sort of DOS version.

/Ubbe