Pro-96

[Lightbarcollector]

So was given a radioshack pro-96 and was told he cant get anything out of the speaker, so he gave it to me to look at.

Only thing i can guess is the speaker is totally shot, BUT when i hook up a pair of headphones to the jack i get nothing, put in an external speaker jack…….nothing.

Took out the speaker from the scanner and did the headphones/external speaker again to it and get nothing.

Is it just totally dead or should i try and find a new internal speaker for it?? It still turns on and scans just no audio, even the weather frequencies get no audio

 

[tvengr]

Any noise with open squelch? Try a different antenna.

 

[Lightbarcollector]

No noise on squelch or with the extra antennas i have

 

[RaleighGuy]

Is it just totally dead or should i try and find a new internal speaker for it?? It still turns on and scans just no audio, even the weather frequencies get no audio

If the speaker AND headphones don't work, why would you want to find a new speaker for it? Sounds like a connection or something more than speaker issue.

 

[tvengr]

I would take the scanner apart and reseat the plugs inside and check for broken wires. A scanner that old may have an open electrolytic capacitor(s). If it stops on talkgroups and frequencies, you probably have a bad electrolytic in the audio circuit. Solid state devices are generally more reliable. Check for bad solder connections. Bad solder joints on circuit boards tend to fail after about 10 or 15 years.

 

[Lightbarcollector]

I would take the scanner apart and reseat the plugs inside and check for broken wires. A scanner that old may have an open electrolytic capacitor(s). If it stops on talkgroups and frequencies, you probably have a bad electrolytic in the audio circuit. Solid state devices are generally more reliable. Check for bad solder connections. Bad solder joints on circuit boards tend to fail after about 10 or 15 years.

Only wires I really see are just for the speaker, but will do what you said and see what happens.

Told him if anything he probably will have a scanner paperweight

 

[tvengr]

What DSP firmware is the scanner showing?

 

[Lightbarcollector]

F1.0 ??

 

[tvengr]

Turn the scanner off. Turn the scanner on. At the welcome screen, press 3 on the keypad. Let me know the DSP App Ver.

 

[Lightbarcollector]

CPU: F1.4
DSP-app F1.2
DSP-VOC: F1.0

 

[tvengr]

You have DSP firmware, but it is out of date. Version 1.4 is available.

 

[Lightbarcollector]

Any way to update it, or would it have to be done on computer??

My internet is shut off for the time being due to service disconnected

 

[tvengr]

Yes, you need a computer, but not the internet, to do the update. Here is the updater and instructions: Save the attached zipped file do your computer and extract. The updater and instructions are in the extracted folder.

 

[Lightbarcollector]

Okay. Im currently limited to phone for internet, but data is unlimited.

 

[wx2watch]

Yes, you need a computer, but not the internet, to do the update. Here is the updater and instructions: Save the attached zipped file do your computer and extract. The updater and instructions are in the extracted folder.

I have a Pro96 (I bought it new - I'm the original owner) that is currently doing everything I need it to do - monitoring a phase 1 P25 system (166.950 MHz).

It shows a firmware of 1.0, would upgrading to 1.4 give me anything I don't currently have? (i.e. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...??)

Thanks.

 

[Nasby]

I have a Pro96 (I bought it new - I'm the original owner) that is currently doing everything I need it to do - monitoring a phase 1 P25 system (166.950 MHz).

It shows a firmware of 1.0, would upgrading to 1.4 give me anything I don't currently have? (i.e. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...??)

Thanks.

If your Pro96 is receiving properly, I wouldn’t update the firmware. There have been instances where newer firmware improves performance on certain systems but degrades it on others.

 

[tvengr]

The 1.4 DSP firmware worked well with the Baltimore County simulcast system after I updated the scanner for a firefighter. It wouldn't receive the trunked system at all with the old or new DSP firmware until I adjusted VR4 inside the scanner to compensate for frequency drift. Of course, the frequency drift isn't going to cause a complete loss of audio unless it is extreme. It affects the NOAA VHF weather frequencies far less than 800 MHz P25 trunked systems. With the squelch open, there should still be noise unless all conventional frequencies use PL tones which weather does not.

 

[wx2watch]

I do appreciate the background information.

Guess I'll go with my initial inclination - I'll let that sleepin' dog remain as it is - No sense in asking for the upgrade blues since my Pro96 does what I want, for now!

 

[cherubim]

I have a Pro96 (I bought it new - I'm the original owner) that is currently doing everything I need it to do - monitoring a phase 1 P25 system (166.950 MHz).

It shows a firmware of 1.0, would upgrading to 1.4 give me anything I don't currently have? (i.e. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...??)

Thanks.

DSP v1.2 works best for monitoring P25 conventional and trunked systems . Much less motorboating (raw digital data that is not demodulated).