Radio Shack PRO-99 Owner's Manual

500 channel vhf/air/uhf/800mhz handheld race scanner
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RadioShack LOGO
PRO-99 500 Channel VHF/Air/UHF/800MHz Handheld Race Scanner
OWNER'S MANUAL – Please read before using this equipment.
20-515
Two-Second Scan/Search Delay – Delays scanning for 2 seconds before moving to another channel, so you
can hear more replies.
Ten Channel-Storage Banks – Store up to 20 channels in each of 10 different banks, to group channels so
you can more easily identify calls.
20 Monitor Memories – Temporarily save up to 20 frequencies located during a search, so you can move
selected frequencies to channel storage later.
Preprogrammed Frequency Ranges – Lets you search for transmissions within preset frequency ranges or
within ranges you set, to reduce search time and select interesting frequencies.
Memory Backup – Keeps the channel frequencies stored in memory for about 1 hour during a power loss.
Triple Conversion Superheterodyne Receiver – Eliminates interference from intermediate frequency (IF)
images, so you hear only the frequency you select.
HyperSearchTM and HyperScanTM – Set the scanner to search at up to 50 steps per second and scan at up
to 25 channels per second, to quickly find interesting transmissions.
Duplicate Frequency Check – Automatically notifies you if you are about to store a frequency you have
already stored, to help avoid waiting storage space.
Tune – Tunes for new and unlisted frequencies starting from a specified frequency.
Priority Channel – Designate a channel to scan every two seconds so you do not miss important calls.
Weather Band Key – Scans seven preprogrammed weather frequencies to keep you informed about current
weather conditions.
Weather Alert – Automatically sounds the alarm tone to advise of hazardous weather conditions when it
detects the alert signal on the local NOAA weather channel.
Lock-Out Function – Set the scanner to skip over specified channels or frequencies when scanning or

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Summary of Contents for Radio Shack PRO-99

  • Page 1 RadioShack LOGO PRO-99 500 Channel VHF/Air/UHF/800MHz Handheld Race Scanner OWNER’S MANUAL – Please read before using this equipment. 20-515 Two-Second Scan/Search Delay – Delays scanning for 2 seconds before moving to another channel, so you can hear more replies. Ten Channel-Storage Banks – Store up to 20 channels in each of 10 different banks, to group channels so you can more easily identify calls.
  • Page 2 searching. Key Lock – Lock the scanner’s keys to prevent accidentally changing the scanner’s programming. Two Supplied Antennal with BNC Connector – Select the antenna that best meets your needs. The supplied stub antenna helps your scanner receive strong local signals and makes the scanner easy to carry and use at events.
  • Page 3: Fcc Notice

    . 29-54 MHz . 108-136.9875 MHz . 137-174 MHz . 406-512 MHz . 806-823.9875 MHz . 849-868.9875 MHz . 894-960 MHz This Owner’s Manual also includes the section :A General Guide to Scanning” on Page XX to help you target frequency ranges in your service area so you can search for a wide variety of transmissions.
  • Page 4: Installing Batteries

    According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), you are subject to fines and possible imprisonment for intentionally listening to, using, or divulging the contents of such a transmission unless you have the consent of a party to the communication (unless such activity is otherwise illegal). This scanner has been designed to prevent reception of illegal transmissions.
  • Page 5: Using Ac Power

    3. Place the battery holder into the battery compartment. Caution: The battery holder fits only one way inside the battery compartment. Do not force it. 4. Replace the cover. When Low Battery! flashes on the display and the scanner beeps, or if the scanner stops operating properly, replace the batteries.
  • Page 6: Charging Rechargeable Batteries

    Plug the other end of the DC adapter into your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket. Note: If you use a cigarette-lighter power cable and your vehicle’s engine is running, you might hear electrical noise from the engine while scanning. This is normal. CHARGING RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES Your scanner has a built-in charging circuit that lets you charge rechargeable batteries while they are in the scanner.
  • Page 7: Connecting An Earphone /Headphones

    2. Press the antenna down over the jack and turn the antenna’s base clockwise until it locks into place. Add illust Connecting an Outdoor Antenna Instead of a supplied antenna, you can connect an outdoor base-station or mobile antenna (not supplied) to your scanner using a BNC connector.
  • Page 8: Listening Safely

    speaker. Add illust LISTENING SAFELY To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone or headphones. . Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level. .
  • Page 9: A Look At The Keypad

    use the search function. You can also search the service-search banks, which are preset groups of frequencies categorized by type of service. When you find a frequency, you can store it into a programmable memory location called a channel, which is grouped with your other channels in a channel-storage bank.
  • Page 10: Understanding Banks

    1/PRI – Enter a 1, or inputs characters 0 through 9 in text mode. Or, sets and turns the priority function on or off. 2/DLY – Enter a 2, or inputs characters A through C in text mode. Or, programs a 2-second delay for the selected channel.
  • Page 11: Service Banks

    SERVICE BANKS The scanner is preprogrammed with the frequencies allocated by car band, Marine, FRS/GM/MU, Police/Fire, aircraft, and ham radio bands. This is handy for quickly finding active frequencies instead of searching though an entire bank (see “Searching the Preprogrammed Bands” on Page XX). Note: The frequencies in the scanner’s service banks are preset.
  • Page 12 1:Display 1:Car# Display (Car number mode) 2:Channel Disp. (Channel number mode) 2:Prog. Ch Data (Program channel data) 1:Easy Car# PGM (Easy car number program) 2:Normal Ch PGM (Normal channel program) 3:Prog.Pri Ch Da (Program priority channel data) 1:Program Freq. (Program frequency) 2.Program Text 3:Tone Data 4:Delay...
  • Page 13 storage bank and channel, and press MAN to advance to that channel. Note: For direct channel entry, press MAN, enter the channel storage bank (0-9) and channel number (00-49) where you want to store a frequency, then press MAN again, For example, Bank 3, Channel 23 is entered as "323".
  • Page 14: Scanning Channels

    3. Press channel number then press ENT to select the channel you desired. 4. Press 2 to enter the Program Text. 5. Enter the text using number keys. (see "Text Input Chart"). Note: If you make a mistake, press < or > to move to the character you want to change. For example, to identify amateur (ham) radio transmissions in the 6 meter range, input "HAM 6m"...
  • Page 15: Using Ctcss

    . To change the scanning direction, press ^ or v while scanning. The scanner scans through all channels (except those you have locked out) in the active channel storage banks (see "Turning Channel Storage Banks Off and On" on Page XX and "Locking Out Channels and Frequencies"...
  • Page 16 area and listen only to the group that is of interest to you by specifying the group’s specific CTCSS code. CTCSS can also help reduce instances where interfering signals cause your scanner to stop on one channel. There are two ways you can program your scanner to operate with CTCSS. If you know the CTCSS code that is used on a particular frequency, you can manually enter the code when you are programming the scanner, or any time afterwards.
  • Page 17: Searching And Tuning

    In certain circumastances you may wish to completely clear the contents of a channel. One example would be to create empty channels in a selected channel storage bank so the frequency copy function has empty channels available for copied frequencies. 1.
  • Page 18 Aircraft Limit Search (User configurable) Follow these steps to select preprogrammed search bands and search them for active frequencies. 1. Repeatedly press SRCH to select your desired search bank (SR0, SR1, SR2, SR3, SR4, SR5, or SR6). 2. In the marine and FRS/GMRS/MURS bands, you can directly select a channel or search through the band. When M appears at the left most position of the second line, you can directly select a channel (refer to "Search Band Charts"...
  • Page 19 150.9875-152.0000 152.8700-153.7250 154.4825-154.5050 154.5100-154.525 154.5275-154.54625 6.25 154.5475-154.6075 154.6100-154.6250 460.0000-470.0000 12.5 851.0000-868.9875 12.5 936.2125 937.1500 937.2000 937.2875 450.0000-159.9875 12.5 Search bank: SR1 Marine band Channel Frequency (MHz) 156.0500 156.2500 156.3000 156.3500 156.4000 156.4500 156.5000 156.5500 156.6000 156.6500 156.7000 156.7500 156.8000 156.8500 156.9000 156.9500 157.0000/161.6000...
  • Page 20 157.3500/161.9500 157.4000/162.0000 156.1750 156.2550/160.8250 156.2750 156.3250 156.3750 156.4250 156.4750 156.5250 156.5750 156.6250 156.6750 156.7250 156.8750 156.9250 156.9750 157.0250 157.0750 157.1250 157.1750 157.2250/161.8250 157.2750/161.8750 157.3250/161.9250 157.3750/161.9750 157.4250 Search bank: SR2 FRS/GMS/MURS band Channel Frequency (MHz) 462.5625 462.5875 462.6125 462.6375 462.6625 462.6875 462.7125 467.5625 467.5875...
  • Page 21 467.6625 467.6875 467.7125 462.5500 462.5750 462.6000 462.6250 462.6500 462.6750 462.7000 462.7250 151.8200 151.8800 151.9400 154.5700 154.6000 Search bank: SR3 Police/Fire department band Group Frequency (MHz) Step (kHz) 33.4200-33.9800 37.0200-37.4200 39.0200-39.9800 42.0200-42.9400 44.6200-45.8600 45.8800 45.9000 45.9400-46.0600 46.0800-46.5000 153.7700-154.1300 154.1450-154.4450 154.6500-154.9500 155.0100-155.3700 155.4150-155.7000 155.7300-156.210 158.7300-159.2100...
  • Page 22: Using Zeromatic

    465.0125-465.6375 12.5 856.2125-860.9875 866.0125-868.9875 12.5 Search bank: SR4 Aircraft band Frequency (MHz) Step (kHz) 108.0000-136.9875 12.5 Search bank: SR5 Ham band Group Frequency (MHz) Step (kHz) 29.0000-29.7000 50.0000-54.0000 144.0000-148.0000 420.0000-450.0000 12.5 Search bank: SR6 Programmable limit search band Searching Active Frequencies in Your Desired Frequency Range You can search a specific range of frequencies by programming SR6 with lower and upper frequency limits.
  • Page 23: Manually Tuning A Frequency

    Zeromatic setting. When this feature is turned on, Zeromatic ON briefly appears in the display, then z appears at the first digit of the second line. When searching with Zeromatic on, the scanner will automatically tune to the correct center frequency (or the step increment closest to the correct center frequency). When searching or tuning with Zeromatic off, the scanner will unmute faster on a detected signal but the frequency may not be exact.
  • Page 24: Listening To Wx Channel

    appears in the scanner's display. 2. If you want to copy the frequency into bank 9, press ENT. It is stored in the first available vacant channel in the bank. Or press your desired bank number to store, then press ENT to store the frequency in the selected bank.
  • Page 25: Storing A Car Number And Frequency

    crews and corner watchers, pace car drivers, security officers, emergency personnel, track officials, and representatives of governing organizations such as NASCAR, SCCA, and NHRA all use radios to communicate with each other during a race. You might also hear transmissions from the news media and reporters, local police departments, and paramedics and doctors at the local hospital.
  • Page 26: Adding Frequencies To A Car Number

    3. Enter the frequency (including the decimal point) you want to associate with the car number by using the number keys and ./CLEAR. 4. Press ENT to store the frequency. The car number and frequency are stored in the first available channel. ADDING FREQUENCIES TO A CAR NUMBER 1.
  • Page 27: Scanning By Car Number

    three digits, enter the number only. One of the car number's frequencies appears. 3. Repeatedly press ^ or v to view each of the car numbers you entered. As you press ^ or v, you see all associated frequencies and 0.00000. DELETING A FREQUENCY FROM A CAR NUMBER 1.
  • Page 28 The priority feature lets you scan through channels and still not miss important or interesting calls on a frequency you select. You can program one frequency into the priority channel. As the scanner scans, if the priority feature is turned on, the scanner checks the priority channel for activity every 2 seconds. 1.Press and hold FUNC about 2 seconds.
  • Page 29: Locking Out Channels Or Frequencies

    LOCKING OUT CHANNELS OR FREQUENCIES You can lock out channels to force the scanner to skip and ignore any traffic while scanning. You can also lock out up to 50 frequencies while searching to skip undesired transmissions. Locking Out Channels To lock out a channel while scanning, press FUNC then press 3/L/OUT when the scanner stops on the channel.
  • Page 30 . You can lock out as many as 50 frequencies in each search bank. If you try to lock out more, Memory Full! will appear in the display, and you will be unable to lock out any more frequencies until some have been cleared.
  • Page 31: Using Backlight

    cancel clear. USING BACKLIGHT You can turn on the display's backlight for easy viewing in the dark. Press LIGHT to turn on the light for 5 seconds. If necessary, you can change the lighting time. See "Changing the Backlight Duration" below. To turn off the light sooner, press LIGHT again.
  • Page 32: Using On-Air Programming

    Once you program your scanner, you can protect it from accidental program changes by turning on the key lock feature. When the keypad is locked, the only controls that operate are FUNC, LIGHT, SQUELCH, and VOLUME. You cannot activate the key lock while you are entering a frequency into a channel. 1.
  • Page 33: Using Clone Mode

    One Way (Receive Only) USING CLONE MODE You can transfer the contents of the current scanner working memory to and from another PRO-99 scanner using an optional connecting cable with 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) phone plugs on both ends (use RadioShack part number 42-2420 available at your local RadioShack store).
  • Page 34: A General Guide To Scanning

    1. Turn on both scanners. 2. Connect the connecting cable to each scanner's PC/IF jack. ** CLONE MODE ** Press UP to send Remove cable to exit. appears in the scanner's display. 3. Press ^. Confirm send data? 1 -> YES Press other key for NO. appears in the scanner's display. 4.
  • Page 35: Guide To The Action Bands

    GUIDE TO THE ACTION BANDS Typical Band Usage (MHz) VHF Band Low Range 29.00-50.00 6-Meter Amateur 50.00-54.00 Aircraft 108.00-136.00 U.S. Government 137.00-144.00 2-Meter Amateur 144.00-148.00 High Range 148.00-174.00 UHF Band U.S. Government 406.00-420.00 70-cm Amateur 420.00-450.00 Low Range 450.00-470.00 FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band 470.00-512.00 800 Band Law Enforcement 806.00-824.00 Conventional Systems...
  • Page 36: Band Allocation

    These frequencies are subject to change, and might vary from area to area. For a more complete listing, refer to the Police Call Radio Guide including Fire and Emergency Services, available at your local Radio Shack store. Abbreviations...
  • Page 37 Radio/TV Remote Broadcast Pickup TAXI Taxi Services TELM Telephone Maintenance Tow Trucks TRAN Transportation Services ( Trucks, Tow Trucks, Buses, Railroad, Other) Trunked Systems FM-TV Audio Broadcast USXX Government Classified UTIL Power & Water Utilities WTHR Weather HIGH FREQUENCY (HF) – (3 MHz – 30 MHz) 10-Meter Amateur Band (28.0-29.7 MHz) 29.000-29.700 VERY HIGH FREQUENCY (VHF) –...
  • Page 38 47.020-47.400 47.420 American Red Cross 47.440-49.580 IND, PUB 49.610-49.990 6-Meter Amateur Band (50-54 MHz) 50.000-54.000 Aircraft Band (108-136.975 MHz) 108.000-121.490 121.500 AIR Emergency 121.510-136.975 U.S. Government Band (137-144 MHz) 137.000-144.000 GOVT, MIL 2-Meter Amateur Band (144-148 MHz) 144.000-148.000 VHF High Band (148-174 MHz) 148.050-150.345 CAP, MAR, MIL 150.775-150.980...
  • Page 39 157.450 157.470-157.515 157.530-157.725 IND, TAXI 157.740 158.130-158.460 BUS, IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 158.730-159.465 POL, PUB, ROAD 159.480 159.495-161.565 TRAN 161.580-162.000 OIL, MARI, RTV 162.0125-162.35 GOVT, MIL, USXX 162.400-162.550 WTHR 162.5625-162.6375 GOVT, MIL, USXX 162.6625 162.6875-163.225 GOVT, MIL, USXX 163.250 163.275-166.225 GOVT, MIL, USXX 166.250 GOVT, RTV, FIRE...
  • Page 40 Low Band (450 – 470 MHz) 450.050-450.925 451.025-452.025 IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 452.0375-453.000 IND, TAXI, TRAN, TOW, NEWS 453.0125-454.000 PUB, OIL 455.050-455.925 457.525-457.600 458.025-458.175 460.0125-460.6375 FIRE, POL, PUB 460.650-462.175 462.1875-462.450 BUS, IND 462.4625-462.525 IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 462.550-462.925 GMR, BUS 462.9375-463.1875 463.200-467.925 FM-TV Audio Broadcast, UHF Wide Band (470 –...
  • Page 41: Frequency Conversion

    Public Safety Band – Locally Assigned 866.0125-868.9875 33-Centimeter Amateur Band (902 – 928 MHz) 902.000-928.000 Private Trunked Band 935.0125-939.9875 General Trunked Band 940.0125-940.9875 FREQUENCY CONVERSION The tuning location of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). The following information can help you make the necessary conversions.
  • Page 42: Troubleshooting

    your nearest RadioShack, use the store locator feature on RadioShack’s website (www.radioshack.com), or call 1-800-The Shack (843-7422) and follow the menu options. Modifying or tampering with the scanner’s internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC authorization to operate it.
  • Page 43 28-54 5 kHz 108-136.9875 12.5 kHz 137-174 5, 6.25 or 7.5 kHz 406-512 12.5 kHz 806-823.9875 6.25 kHz 849-868.9875 6.25 kHz 894-960 6.25 kHz Channels of Operation 500 channels Sensitivity (20 dB S/N): 28-54 MHz 0.3 uV 108-136.9875 MHz 0.7 uV 137-174 MHz 0.5 uV 406-512 MHz...
  • Page 44 (122 x 67 x 31 mm) Weight (without antenna and batteries) 5.8 oz. (165 g) Limited One-Year Warranty Will add Address & Date Code...

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