Not exactly Maryland related caveats, but some useful information nonetheless;
a. Become familiar with:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-96
There are useful things there - cheat sheets for programming, cable information, and a link to ....
b. Get Win96 - this is the wiki page for it, and notice that it shows how to set up the DC system correctly, if you ever want to use it there...go to the bottom of...
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Win96
c. Finally there's
http://henney.com/chm/files/p96files/
which might prove useful if you want to use some pre-made up p96 files.
This is
very important Don't let any RS personnel program your 96 for you. They will use Scancat Lite Plus to do it, and it simply doesn't work all that well with the 96. For the most part - there are exceptions - most of the sales folks don't understand the scanner at all, and you'll end up reprogramming it in any case.
The 20-289 cable has officially, as I understand it, been discontinued - but the GRE USB cable seems to be working out fine. Do
not let an otherwise well meaning sales person sell you something else - it's very likely not to work.
73s and GL with the new toy...Mike