Pro-43

[eagle2046]

Anyone remember this one, Radio Shack Realistic Pro-43, still have mine, great for aircraft reception and other VHF. Display is getting a little old but still readable.

 

[hill]

I had one back in day. Great for mil air.

Only issue was these scanners had a keypad that would stop working.

 

[Paco-Jerte]

got one and still works like a champ and keyboard is 100% functional

 

[G7RUX]

Most keyboards of this type are resistive pads operating on PCB traces, usually using the rubber keymat as the spring. When they start to misbehave it is usually caused by wear or dirt on the pads and traces so a simple clean with isopropyl alcohol often helps a lot. Sometimes the wear is excessive but the resistive rubber pads can be refreshed using carbon paint with good success.

 

[wtp]

the good old days...

RigPix Database - RadioShack/Realistic - Pro-43 (20-300)

RadioPics Database - RadioShack/Realistic - PRO-43

 

[bkantor]

I still have mine but it does have the dreaded keyboard issue - I really need to carve out some time and see if I can clean as outline above. It was one of the best RS handhelds of all the radios I own (and owned)

 

[fourwd1]

I still have mine but it does have the dreaded keyboard issue - I really need to carve out some time and see if I can clean as outline above. It was one of the best RS handhelds of all the radios I own (and owned)

I still have mine too, it's really good on aircraft band.

 

[bearcatrp]

I pulled my pro 26 out of the closet a few years back. Great analog scanner. Does extremely well on airband.

 

[GadgetGeek]

I still have a PRO-43 too. Still works great.

 

[eagle2046]

I still have my Pro-43 too, still works great although the LCD display is getting a little light but still readable, don’t think there is an option to adjust brightness and contrast. The keypad still works ok but was wondering would I have to take the radio apart to clean the keyboard with IPA if in the future I need to do that. And yes as others have said, it is great on the Aircraft band.

 

[Dustin1967]

Had a PRO43 back in the day, it was the bomb for picking up cell frequencies.

 

[eagle2046]

I had to modify my Pro-43 to receive blocked cell phone frequencies if I remember correctly, cut some diodes, SMD resistors, etc. Federal law still requires radio scanners to block these specific 800–900 MHz ranges to get FCC certification, even though analog cellular networks no longer exist. After I modified the radio I was able to receive those frequencies. At that time I was able to receive some analog frequencies but now nobody uses that now, all digital now.

 

[redbeard]

I had one of these back in the day but I didn't have it for long. What I recall was a tinny speaker and too many birdies.