PRO-43 200 Channel Programmable Scanner 200-0300 Preparation

PRO-43  (200-0300)             Preparation             Faxback Doc. # 16687

POWER SOURCES

You can power your scanner from any of the following three sources:

    Internal Batteries

    A standard AC outlet (using an optional AC adapter)

    Your vehicle's battery (using an optional DC adapter)

Using Batteries

You can operate your scanner from six AA batteries.  For longest operation
and best performance, we recommend alkaline batteries (Radio Shack Cat.
No. 23-552).  Or you can use rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries (Cat.
No. 23-125).

WARNINGS:  The scanner has a built-in circuit that recharges nickel-cadmium
           batteries inside the scanner.  However, you must never use this
           circuit when you install non-rechargeable batteries in the
           scanner.  Be sure to read "Important Information about External
           Power Jacks" and "Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries."

When the batteries are low, the display flashes and beeps sound.  When this
happens, replace all six batteries immediately (or recharge the nickel-
cadmium batteries).

1.  Remove the battery compartment cover by pressing down on the arrow and
    sliding the cover in the direction of the arrow.

2.  Remove the battery holder from the battery compartment and remove any
    old batteries.  Then install six AA batteries in the holder, as
    indicated by the polarity markings (+ and -) on the battery holder.

3.  Place the battery holder in the compartment so the holder's metal
    contacts line up with the metal contacts in the battery compartment.

4.  Replace the battery compartment cover.

Important Information about the External Power Jacks

The scanner has two external power jacks - PWR and CHG.  It is important
that you understand the purpose of each jack before you connect any
adapter to the scanner.

The PWR jack powers the scanner and disconnects the internal batteries.
You can use this jack with an external power source regardless of the type
of batteries you install.

The CHG jack supplies power to operate the scanner and also supplies power
to the internal batteries to charge them.  Use the CHG jack only when you
install rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries.

WARNING:  Never use the CHG jack with non-rechargeable batteries.  If you
          try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries, they become very hot
          and could explode.

NOTE:  See "Using External Power" for information on using external power.

CONNECTING THE ANTENNA

Attach the flexible antenna to the ANT (antenna) jack on top of the
scanner.  Slip the slot in the antenna's connector over the protrusion on
the jack.  Then press down and rotate the base of the antenna until it
locks into place.

You can remove the supplied antenna and attach a different type, such as
an external mobile antenna, telescoping antenna, or outdoor base antenna. 
Radio Shack stores sell the antenna connector adapters that you need.

Use coaxial cable to connect an outdoor antenna.  Always use 50-ohm coaxial
cable, such as RG-58 or RG-8.  For lengths over 50 feet, use RG-8 low-loss
dielectric coaxial cable.

WARNING:  If you install an outdoor antenna, follow all precautions and
          procedures mentioned in the literature that comes with the
          antenna.

CONNECTING AN EARPHONE

For private listening, plug an earphone into the earphone jack on top of
your scanner.  This automatically disconnects the speaker.  We recommend
Radio Shack's earphone Cat. No. 33-175.  In a noisy environment, mono
headphones (Cat. No. 20-210) make listening easier.

Hearing Comfort and Your Health

To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone:

    Do not listen at extremely high volume levels, especially when you use
    an earphone or headphones.  Extended high-volume listening can lead to
    permanent hearing loss.

    Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening.  After
    you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.

    Once you set the volume, do not increase it.  Over time, your ears
    adapt to the volume level, so a volume level that does not cause
    discomfort might still damage your hearing.

Traffic Safety

Do not wear headphones or an earphone while you drive a vehicle or ride a
bicycle.  This can create a traffic hazard and is illegal in some areas.

Even though some headphones and earphones are designed to let you hear
some outside sounds when you listen at normal levels, they still present a
traffic hazard.

CONNECTING AN EXTENSION SPEAKER

In a noisy area, an extension speaker might provide more comfortable
listening.  Radio Shack stores sell an extension speaker (Cat. No. 21-549)
and an amplified communications extension speaker (Cat. No. 21-541).  Plug
the speaker cable's 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) mini plug into the scanner's
earphone jack.  This disconnects the internal speaker.

UNDERSTANDING CHANNEL STORAGE BANKS

You can store up to 210 frequencies into the scanner's memory.  You store
each frequency into either a permanent memory, called a channel, or a
temporary memory, called a monitor.  There are 200 available channels and
10 available monitor memories.

To make it easier to identify and select the channels you want to listen
to, channels are divided into 10 groups of 20 channels each.  Each group
of channels is called a channel storage bank.  Perhaps the best way to
explain the use of channel storage banks is through a practical example.

Suppose you want to monitor four different agencies:  police, fire,
ambulance, and aircraft.  As a rule, each agency uses several different
frequencies and uses each frequency for a different purpose.  The police
might have four frequencies - one for each side of town.  To make it easier
to quickly determine which agency you are listening to, you could program
the police frequencies starting with Channel 1 (Bank 1).  Then start the
fire department on Channel 21 (Bank 2), the ambulance service on Channel 41
(Bank 3), and aircraft frequencies on Channel 61 (Bank 4).

This also makes it easier to listen for only one type of call.  For
example, if you want to listen to only fire calls, you can turn off all
banks other than Bank 2.  You could also use this feature to group channels
by city or by county.

You can use the 10 monitor memories to temporarily store frequencies while
you decide whether to save them in channels.  This is handy for quickly
storing an active frequency when you search through an entire band.  You
can manually select these memories, but you cannot scan them.  See
"Searching for Active Frequencies."

When you are listening to monitor memories, the 10 numbers at the top of
the display indicate the 10 monitor memories.  The bar indicates the
current monitor memory.


(llg/all-08/24/95)