526 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
526 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
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THE RADIO SHACK PRO-2006 PROGRAMMABLE SCANNER
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by Bob Parnass, AJ9S
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The Radio Shack PRO-2006 is a 400 channel, wide coverage
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scanner radio, manufactured in Japan by General Research
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Electronics. It is the successor to the PRO-2005 and a
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grandchild of the PRO-2004, the super scanner which put
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Radio Shack out in front of its competition in the base sta-
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tion scanner market.1
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The PRO-2006 is almost identical to the discontinued PRO-
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2005, with the exception that the PRO-2006 boasts
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HyperscanTM, a catchy way of saying that it scans fast --
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about 26 channels/second versus the PRO-2005's 16
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channels/second rate.2 At about $400, the PRO-2006 is $20
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cheaper than the PRO-2005 was. Both scanners are built
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using surface mount components and are housed in a gray
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plastic cabinet.
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Frequency Coverage
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The PRO-2006 covers 25-520 and 760-1300 MHz, except for 2
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gaps in the cellular telephone bands. The two gaps in the
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800 MHz range can be restored all the Radio Shack continuous
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coverage scanners by removing a diode. Diode D502 is the
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culprit in the PRO-2005 and PRO-2006.
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A matrix of diodes, attached to the microprocessor's input
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port, is often used to configure radios for sale in dif-
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ferent markets. The diode matrix on new the PRO-2006 is
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located on the vertical circuit board just behind the front
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panel. There are 2 diodes present, and holes drilled for 2
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more.
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Lots of Memory
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__________
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1. "Product Review: The Radio Shack PRO-2004 Programmable
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Scanner," by Bob Parnass AJ9S, in The Radio Enthusiast,
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February 1987, and Monitoring Times, March 1987.
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2. "Product Review: The Radio Shack PRO-2005 Programmable
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Scanner," by Bob Parnass AJ9S, in The Radio Enthusiast,
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June 1989, and RCMA Journal, August 1989.
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- 2 -
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The PRO-2006 has the usual features that scanner buffs have
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come to expect: individual channel lockouts, selectable 2
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second rescan delay, an external speaker jack, etc. Casual
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scanner users don't need 400 channels, but scanner hobbyists
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can have those channels filled up in no time flat, espe-
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cially with frequencies in the vast 225-400 MHz military air
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band, and other federal government allocations.
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With so many channels to program, one dreads the thought of
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a power failure, which could clear memory in a hurry. Not
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to worry, the PRO-2006 memory is backed up by a conventional
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9 volt alkaline battery (not supplied), which should be
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replaced every 6 months or so.
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The 400 channels are divided into 10 banks of 40 channels
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each, and one can select or deselect any channel bank from
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the scan list. Individual channels can be locked out in the
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customary way, but the PRO-2006 maintains the handy feature
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introduced in the PRO-2004, a LOCKOUT REVIEW. Successive
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depressions of this key step through the locked out chan-
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nels.
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Scanners worth their keep have a priority feature, with
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channel 1 usually designated the priority channel. The
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PRO-2006 is more flexible; any of the 400 channels may be
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designated the priority channel. When the PRIORITY key is
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depressed, that channel will be sampled every 2 seconds, and
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the radio will stay there if a signal is heard.
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The PRO-2006 has two scan speeds, which measured approxi-
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mately 13 and 26 channels/second. While scanning at high
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speed, the PRO-2006 won't skip over weak signals like some
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of the AOR-2515 scanners do. Adding diode D501, situated at
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an unmarked location between D502 and D503 sped up the PRO-
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2005 scan and search rates by 25%. Adding the same diode in
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the PRO-2006 has no effect on the scan or search rates.
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It has been claimed that a PRO-2005 could be made into a
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PRO-2006 by merely replacing the CPU clock crystal with one
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of a higher frequency. Don't believe it. Changing the
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PRO-2005 clock speed would affect both the rescan delay and
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the priority rate, and they would no longer be 2 seconds
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long, as they are in the PRO-2006.
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When programming a channel, the PRO-2006 firmware sets the
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mode automatically, based on its idea of what mode is most
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prevalent on that frequency. This feature saves extra keys-
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trokes, and makes one appreciate the thought that went into
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the design of this radio. The default mode can be overrid-
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den easily, if need be, like to listen to a military mid-air
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refueling operation in the 225-400 MHz range, which is
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- 3 -
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mainly populated with AM signals.
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Searching
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The SEARCH facility found on most programmable scanners
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allows the entry of a pair of frequencies, then by pressing
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a key, the radio searches frequencies between those limits.
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The PRO-2006 allows for 10 pairs of limits! These pairs of
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limits are stored in their own memory, and don't use up any
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of the conventional 400 memory channels. One can set up
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several search pairs, for instance:
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- 46.610 - 46.970 MHz: cordless telephones
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- 144 - 148 MHz: the 2 meter ham band
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- 418.625 - 418.900: Drug Enforcement Administration
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Another unique feature of the better Radio Shack models is
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the MONITOR key, which stops the search and stores the fre-
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quency in one of ten special monitor memories. These
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memories are separate from the 400 main memory channels.
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The search can be restarted from where it left off by strik-
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ing the up or down arrow key.
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The user can select the search direction (up or down), and
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step size of 5, 12.5, or 50 kHz, although the PRO-2006 is
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intelligent enough to select a default step size based on
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the frequencies being searched. As on the PRO-2004 and
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PRO-2005, there is a hidden step size of 30 kHz, but this
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step size is only used in the cellular phone band after res-
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toring full 800 MHz coverage.
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The selected parameters are displayed on the LCD panel,
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smaller than the panel in the PRO-2004.
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The DIRECT key allows one to start searching up or down from
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whatever frequency is on the display. Let's say the scanner
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is in MANUAL mode, and set at channel 26, which contains
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460.100 MHz. Striking the DIRECT then UP-ARROW keys starts
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the PRO-2006 searching upwards from 460.100. This is a nice
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feature.
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The PRO-2006 contains a "window detector" circuit, which is
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called into play during a SEARCH operation. This circuit
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tries to detect when the radio is tuned close to the center
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frequency of a station, and prevents the search from halting
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prematurely, off to the side of the signal.
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- 4 -
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The AFC (automatic frequency control) circuit of the Bearcat
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800XLT often causes a search of 850 MHz signals to halt
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prematurely. Even though the signal sounds on frequency,
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the display reads the wrong frequency. Neither the PRO-2004
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nor the PRO-2006 have this problem.
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The PRO-2006 includes a SOUND SQUELCH, resembling the VSC
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circuit on the ICOM R-7000, which may be used during scan or
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search operations. With the the sound squelch enabled, sig-
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nified by a red lamp above the pushbutton, the scanner will
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skip over unmodulated signals. This is handy for skipping
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over "birdies", link signals with a constant carrier, or
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baby monitors when baby is asleep.
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The manual warns that the sound squelch may be fooled by
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signals with low modulation, and skip over them. The PRO-
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2006 SOUND SQUELCH tries to detect the presence or absence
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of modulation (not human speech), so unfortunately, it
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thinks that noisy dead carriers, digital data signals, and
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paging tones are worth monitoring and will stop the scanner
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to listen to them.
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Taping Facility
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A tape recorder can be connected to the TAPE phono jack on
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the rear panel, which provides 600 mV of audio at a 10,000
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ohm impedance. An audio filtering circuit rolls off the
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high frequency components before they reach the TAPE jack,
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which makes it impossible to use it for picking off FM sub-
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carrier signals. In addition to a rear mounted external
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speaker jack, there is a miniature headphone jack on the
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front of the scanner.
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The PRO-2006 lacks a COR (carrier operated relay) output,
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like ICOM R7000 and older Bearcat 300 have, which would be
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useful for actuating a tape recorder.
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Basic Performance
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To evaluate sensitivity, the PRO-2006 was compared with it's
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grandfather, the PRO-2004. Since a signal generator was not
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used, quantitative measurements could not be made. Instead,
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an Antenna Specialists AV-801 antenna was switched between
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radios, signals from stations were compared by ear, and the
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results tabulated.
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Simply put, the PRO-2006 proved more sensitive than the
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PRO-2004 on all bands tested, and much more sensitive in the
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850 MHz range. The earlier PRO-2005 was also more sensitive
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- 5 -
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than the PRO-2004, but both the PRO-2005 the PRO-2006 let
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800 MHz trunked systems and cellular telephone conversations
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bleed through while searching the 118 - 132 MHz commercial
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aircraft band. The 800 MHz interference was heard on the
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2005 and PRO-2006, not the 2004.
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Although the PRO-2004, PRO-2005, and PRO-2006 can suffer the
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effects of intermodulation, they are much more immune than
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the overly sensitive, image laden Bearcat 800XLT. Intermo-
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dulation from paging appeared on several frequencies above
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1000 MHz, in a region not many people monitor. Oddly, audio
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from television channel 50 was heard on 1251.625 MHz. The
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PRO-2006 has a 10 dB attenuator, operable by a slide switch
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on the rear. The attenuator helps eliminate intermod, but
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few people would want the attenuator enabled while scanning
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or searching as it degrades both wanted and unwanted sig-
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nals. A programmable attenuator feature, selectable for
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each channel, would have been a better idea.
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The up conversion design of both the ICOM R-7000 and Radio
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Shack PRO-2006 allows use of a very high IF (intermediate
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frequency), which helps avoid image problems.
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The audio output quality is good, although the top mounted
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speaker directs the sound at the ceiling, but adding an
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optional external speaker allows the sound to be directed at
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the user's head.
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Unfortunately, the audio level of AM signals is somewhat
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below that of NBFM signals, requiring a slightly different
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setting of the volume control, although this has improved
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over the PRO-2005. When scanning both AM and NBFM modes,
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one has to find a compromise position of the volume control.
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The PRO-2006 squelch control has a small amount of hys-
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teresis, an improvement over its GRE ancestors. Too much
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hysteresis is like having too much play in a car's steering
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wheel, or backlash in a gear set. This hysteresis forces
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one to keep the squelch at a tighter setting, missing weaker
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signals when scanning or searching.
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Mechanical and Electrical Construction
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The newest scanners use tiny surface mount components, which
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permits manufacturers to cram more circuitry into smaller
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cabinets. This technology makes home repair and circuit
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modification almost impossible. The "lick and stick" parts
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are so small it's are difficult to tell a surface mount
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resistor from a capacitor, and components are rarely marked
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with their values.
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- 6 -
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The PRO-2006 is smaller and lighter than the 2004. It is
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enclosed in a gray plastic cabinet, with a plastic front
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panel. If one is going to pay $400, one deserves to own
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some metal, but several stages are internally shielded in
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their own metal compartments. The entirely plastic cabinet
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of the older PRO2003 allowed wideband noise to radiate out
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of the scanner and into nearby shortwave receivers.
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The PRO-2006 vertical front panel is an advancement over the
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sloping panel of the 2004. You can stack the scanner on top
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of other equipment and see the controls without standing up.
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If sitting directly on a table, two hinged plastic feet,
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padded with rubber bumpers, can fold out from under the
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front of the radio to tilt it at a good viewing angle.
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There is a single BNC antenna connector on the rear of the
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PRO-2006, and the radio is supplied with telescoping antenna
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which screws in through a hole in the top of the cabinet.
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Internal construction is excellent, and the internal shield-
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ing is commendable. Interstage shielding is very important
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in a wide band receiver, to prevent it from "hearing
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itself", an undesirable phenomena which results in birdies.
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The PRO-2006 owner's manual lists dozens of birdie frequen-
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cies. The shielding is much better in the PRO-2006 than in
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the 800XLT, which uses no shielding around the 800 MHz con-
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verter stage, and probably accounts for some of the birdies
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in the Bearcat.
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Frequencies and other indicators are displayed on a backlit
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LCD (liquid crystal display) panel, and the level of back-
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lighting can be dimmed by a pushbutton switch. As with the
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PRO-2005, the poor contrast on the small LCD panel makes it
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difficult to read a frequency more than just a few feet
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away, and is nowhere near as good as the greenish blue
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fluorescent display in the old Bearcat 300.
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However, physically challenged and vision impaired scanner
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buffs will appreciate the conventional raised rubber key-
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board in the PRO-2006, Only moderate pressure is required
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for actuation, and key depressions are confirmed by a mild
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"beep" audio tone.
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The PRO-2006 is the right size to fit under the dashboard of
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intermediate sized cars, but there are few concessions to
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those wanting to use this scanner in a vehicle. Perhaps
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Radio Shack has been influenced by repressive laws restrict-
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ing mobile scanners in a minority of states, like New Jer-
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sey.
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- 7 -
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Although it can be operated on 12 VDC, neither a mobile
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power cord nor mounting bracket are provided. These items
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were included with earlier, pre-PRO-2004 Radio Shack models.
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The AC power cord is not detachable, and would have to be
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bundled up to keep it out of the way in a mobile installa-
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tion.
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Owner's Manual
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The user manual is much better than the fold out sheet fur-
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nished with Uniden scanner.
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A single page frequency allocations chart is included, but
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is very general. Trunked radio systems are mentioned, but
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only briefly. Most people buying PRO-2006s probably have
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other scanners and so will be somewhat familiar with scan-
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ning.
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The up conversion design of the Radio Shack PRO-2004/5/6
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allows use of a very high IF (intermediate frequency), which
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all but eliminates image problems. Ironically, the PRO-2006
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owner's manual contains a section on images. This section
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appears in the manuals for most other Radio Shack models,
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and was thoughtlessly included in the PRO-2006 manual. It
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babbles on about images being 21.4 MHz away from the real
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frequency -- true for simpler models, but not so for the
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PRO-2006.
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There is no schematic. Thankfully, detailed service manuals
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for Radio Shack scanners are usually available for $12.00 or
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so.
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The PRO-2006 is warranted for 1 year, which is reassuring.
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What's Missing?
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So with all these neat features, what's missing from the
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PRO-2006? It would have been better to have more channel
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banks with fewer channels in each bank, say 20 banks of 20
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channels. A "search and store" mode, like that on the ICOM
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R7000 and older Bearcat 250 would have been nice, and such a
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circuit is being marketed by Key Research. A lighted key-
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board and a signal strength meter would also be welcome, as
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would a mobile mounting bracket and SCA output jack.
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A frequency query facility, as found in the Uniden 200XLT,
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would have been very useful to finding in what memory chan-
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nel a given frequency is stored.3 Mega-channel scanners
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- 8 -
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really need this feature and it would have been trivial to
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implement in the PRO-2006 firmware.
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Summary - It's Tops
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If all one wants is a scanner to monitor local police and
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fire, there are certainly cheaper and simpler models than
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the PRO-2006. This scanner is the best base/mobile scanner
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available at time of writing. AOR's AR-2515 has more chan-
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nels, but its buggy firmware and tendency to skip active
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channels prevent it from taking top honors. At about $400,
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the PRO-2006 scans much better than the ICOM R7000, a great
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VHF/UHF communications receiver, priced at over $1000.
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The PRO-2006 has the right features and performance, espe-
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cially for scanning the wide 225-400 MHz military aircraft
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band and the newer federal law enforcement radio systems
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with their dozens of channels.
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__________
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3. "Uniden/Bearcat 200XLT Scanner Review," by Bob Parnass,
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AJ9S. The Radio Enthusiast, August 1988.
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