6v versus 9v
You'll notice on the schematic above that the voltage input has to pass through a diode. See the 9.0 in the circle at the input, then the 8.2 in the circle just past the diode?
The diode and filtering circuitry drops the voltage .8 volts.
If you used a 6v adapter, after it passed through the diode, you'd only be getting 5.2 volts into the radio. This would probably be enough to run the radio, but you wouldn't be able to charge the batteries fully.
I don't think current is the issue, since you could, in theory, get a 6volt adapter that supplies pretty much any current you were looking for.
In order to know if 12volts would be ok, we'd need to see more of the schematic. Does the voltage go on to a voltage regulator (if so, maybe 12v would be ok).
Without knowing, I wouldn't recomend 12v.
When I got my Pro96, I picked up a 12volt adapt-a-plug device that outputs 9 volts. It works great, and I don't have to worry about frying my $400 scanner.
I'd really like to get my hands on the rest of that schematic.
EDIT-
A search of the internet turned this up:
http://www.strongsignals.net/access/boards/viewpost.cgi?board=pro-96&num=4709&archive=0105
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"In Reply To: AC Adapter Re-visited posted by Wb8wcz on December 8, 2004 at 18:48:20:
The PRO-96 contains three voltage regulators on the input power supply. They all regulate power from both batteries and an external power supply.
One regulator is an AN77035. It supplies the digital section (CPU, DSP, etc.). This has a maximum input voltage of 30V.
Another is a TK11235CUCB. It supplies mostly the RF and audio sections. It has a maximum input voltage of 16V.
The third one is a BA05FP, and powers the audio amp for the speaker and headphones. It has a maximum input voltage of 35V.
If you stay under 16V on your external power supply, you won't hurt the radio. An unregulated 9V 1000mA wall wart that supplies 15V when unloaded (or when only loaded with a 300mA current draw) is fine. "
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