What does PRO-96 Do?

[scannerpro]

On radioshack.com I really do not understand the wording. What Digital/Analog Systems this Handheld Scanner Listen too?

Thanks for your help as always!

 

[moonies]

pro96 capabilities

Well, this scanner is top of the line as far as apco25 digital audio. I f you read the manual from shacks website you will be familiarized with what its capable of monitoring. I have 3 as well as the base version 2096 and I highly recommend the expense.

 

[James]

Admin. will probably move this to RS forum.

NOTE " Follows 9600bps control channel trunking systems" It does!

Please someone correct me, I believe " EEPROM memory backup No" is also incorrect?


Radio Scanner Features
Scanner Type Digital trunking
Handheld Design Yes
Memory Channels 5500
Preprogrammed Frequencies Yes
Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) decoding Yes
Continuous Tone Controlled Selective Squelch (CTCSS) No
AM/FM Mode Yes
Follows Analog Motorola I, II, I/II trunked radio systems Yes
Follows GE/Ericsson (EDACS) trunked radio systems Yes
Follows 9600bps control channel trunking systems No **MISPRINT**
Follows APCO 25 digital trunking systems Yes
6.25KHz channel spacing Yes
EEPROM memory backup No ?????
PC interface/cloning Yes
Frequency Storage Working memory and each V-scanner: 10 banks of 50 channels, each storing up to 1500 talk group IDs
Frequency Coverage 25-54, 108-136.9875, 137-174, 216.0025-221.9975, 222-225, 406-512, 806-823.9875, 894-960, 1240-1300 MHz
Radio Scanner Features Nearly 1,500 frequencies preprogrammed

 

[n3ncn]

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Radio Shack Scanners A forum for the discussion of all Radio Shack scanning radios and receivers

 

[mypoppa]

pro 96

It will also receive military channels.At least mine does.

 

[James]

It will also receive military channels.At least mine does.

With "extended frequencies enabled" using Win96 to unlock them yes
And receives them very well. 275-325mhz doesn't look great on paper. My personal experience seems to contradict some measurements.
Extended freq. test results:
http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win96/FreqTest.asp

While on the subject, If a radio tech. might offer some info. regarding testing in Laymans terms ie:
I have seen lots of sensitivity results/measurements. Many times broken down into something like "800-1300mhz" FM ....versus.......""800-1300"AM. Now I understand the difference between AM/FM...But as an example, the test results in test above (doesn't differentiate) I guess what I'm asking is; would a receivers sensitivity at say 225mhz FM....not...reflect (accurately?) its sensitivity at 225mhz AM ?

 

[edweirdFL]

Based on the location in you message, I looked at the database here to see what trunked systems are local to you.

System Name: Johnston County Public Safety
Location: Smithfield, NC
County: Johnston
System Type: EDACS Standard
System Voice: ProVoice and Analog

The Pro-96 will track a EDACS Standard system, but any talk groups that are ProVoice are ones you won't be able to monitor.(with any scanner on the market currently)
There's a note on the data that says that many talkgroups on this system are ProVoice.

System Name: State of North Carolina VIPER
Location: Various, NC
County: Statewide
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface

This one the Pro-96 can track. As long as a talk group is not encrypted, you should be able to monitor it.

The Pro-96 can't track LTR systems (but some other scanners can). There's none listed in your county on the DB, but here's an exampe of one that's in a neighboring county.

System Name: Direct Call-Wake County
Location: Raleigh, NC
County: Wake
System Type: LTR Standard
System Voice: Analog

I didn't see any EDACS narrowband systems in your area, but that's a flavor of EDACS that the Pro-96 can't track, but some scanners can.

Also, if you see a EDACS system listed as using ESK, then that's a system that no scanner can currently track.

Ed

 

[intrepid97]

I am seeing even more things the 96 cant do,Looks like a limited scanner all round.

It cant even trunk the 700 Mhz range which is going to be in use here in Illinois.

 

[JoeyC]

I am seeing even more things the 96 cant do,Looks like a limited scanner all round.

It cant even trunk the 700 Mhz range which is going to be in use here in Illinois.

Almost ALL scanners cannot trunk the 700 mHz band. The band as a trunking band is in its infancy.

So what are all these other things the 96 can't do. No, it doesn't do windows and it can't scratch your back. Anything else?

 

[intrepid97]

The 396 and the 996 DO trunk the 700 range and they are very comparable in price.

The 96 does NOT have continuous coverage either,No LTR Trunking,Having to "unlock" frequencies is not something that one should have to do when paying so much for a Digital scanner IMO

I think that is plenty enough for me to go Uniden when I purchase my Digital

 

[James]

The 396 and the 996 DO trunk the 700 range and they are very comparable in price.

The 96 does NOT have continuous coverage either,No LTR Trunking,Having to "unlock" frequencies is not something that one should have to do when paying so much for a Digital scanner IMO

I think that is plenty enough for me to go Uniden when I purchase my Digital

When I ordered my 96, in 2003, Uniden didn't have a scanner that would track 9600 D.
As far as LTR is concerned, it would be nice, but there isn't a system here, at least not any I would want to monitor.
Considering at the time Uniden 250D was around $400 and the "card" was $200, it was the only sensible thing to buy. (96 was $500)
As far as unlocking freqs. it takes one mouse click. Personally, I use Win96 and would be buying software for programing regardless.
So the only continuous coverage you are missing (96) is broadcast FM and TV. I have radios the size of my little finger for that.
As far as 700 goes, well it wasn't even a consideration 4 yrs. ago. It probably won't be implemented here for quite some time. When it is and if need be, I will buy something at THAT time. One thing I have learned about scanning is don't try to look too far down the road. What you buy today may be obsolete in acouple years.
Bottom line is when my PD among others started going Digital I didn't sit around waiting for Uniden to come up with something better. I'm glad I didn't. I'm more than satisfied. Don't need a scanner with a bunch of features you can't use. As far as comparable price, NOW they are. Not a couple years ago.
*edit
And a couple of peeves I don't like about Uniden in general. Why can't they make a scanner that will use Alkalines or conventional NiMh ? GOUGING
What was the deal with the 250D "card" would have been nice if they had been able to make it "upgradeable" guess that didn't work out ?

 

[James]

DELETED Duplicate.

 

[intrepid97]

I was just mentioning what the Unidens will do for me here in Illinois.

I have two towers on 700 in my area and an LTR system as well,I see what you are saying as to what you needed for you

The Illinois Starcom system is supposed to be online here shortly and I will need the Uniden for the purposes mentioned.

I'm not saying the GRE radios are no good,They just wont fit my needs here in Illinois shortly.

 

[James]

I was just mentioning what the Unidens will do for me here in Illinois.

I have two towers on 700 in my area and an LTR system as well,I see what you are saying as to what you needed for you

The Illinois Starcom system is supposed to be online here shortly and I will need the Uniden for the purposes mentioned.

I'm not saying the GRE radios are no good,They just wont fit my needs here in Illinois shortly.

Sorry if I came across like a RS stockholder

Uniden makes great radios, I have owned quite a few. Heck I still do!
My next one may very well be Uniden. I'm not a brand freak. If it's what I need. Thats what I buy.
I know it's knit picking but it gripes my @ss when a company makes proprietary battery packs though.

 

[intrepid97]

I wish Uniden would not do that as well.

 

[KE7TJK]

My Uniden Br-330T uses whatever I want for batteries; Alkaline, NiCd, NiMH.

IIRC, the 396 uses the same.

I know the older Unidens used proprietary packs, but that is no longet the case with their new, premier portables.

 

[intrepid97]

Great to hear they moved away from the proprietary packs