Radio Shack 20-423 Owner's Manual

Manual is about: 200-Channel VHF/AIR/UHF Desktop Scanner with WX Alert

Summary of 20-423

  • Page 1

    20-423 owner’s manual please read before using this equipment. A 200-channel vhf/air/uhf desktop scanner with wx alert.

  • Page 2: Introduction

    2 introduction ˆ introduction thank you for purchasing the radioshack 200-channel vhf/air/uhf desktop scanner. This scanner gives you direct access to over 25,000 frequencies, including those used by police and fire departments, ambulance services, government agencies, air, and amateur radio service...

  • Page 3

    3 introduction dual conversion — helps prevent interference from image frequencies. Your scanner receives these frequencies (mhz): fcc notice your scanner might cause tv or radio interference even when it is operating properly. To determine whether your scanner is causing the interference, turn off ...

  • Page 4: Contents

    4 contents this scanner has been designed to prevent reception of illegal transmissions. This is done to comply with the legal requirement that scanners be manufactured so as to not be easily modifiable to pick up those transmissions. Do not open your scanner's case to make any modifications that co...

  • Page 5

    5 contents using the delay function ............................................................................................... 20 locking out channels and frequencies ........................................................................ 20 locking out channels ..................................

  • Page 6: Preparation

    6 preparation ˆ preparation power sources using ac power you can power the scanner using the supplied 12v, 300ma ac adapter. Cautions: you must use a class 2 power source that supplies 12v dc and delivers at least 300 ma. Its center tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit the scanner's dc1...

  • Page 7

    7 preparation 3. Plug the cord into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket. Notes: • if you use a 12v dc cord and your vehicle's engine is running, you might hear electrical noise on the scanner caused by the engine. This is normal. • mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or requires a permit in so...

  • Page 8: Understanding Your Scanner

    8 understanding your scanner the scanner and connect the cable to the ant jack. Warning: use extreme caution when you install or remove an outdoor antenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead power lines. If the antenna touches a power line, contact with the antenna, ...

  • Page 9

    9 understanding your scanner wx — scans through the seven preprogrammed weather channels. Scan — scans through the programmed channels. Manual — stops scanning and lets you directly enter a channel number. L/o rvw, l/o (lock out review/lock out) — lets you review locked-out frequencies, or lets you ...

  • Page 10

    10 understanding your scanner srch — appears during service bank and direct frequency searches. Scan — appears when you scan channels. Man — appears when you manually select a channel. Pgm — appears while you program frequencies into the scanner's channels. Pri — appears when you turn on the priorit...

  • Page 11

    11 understanding your scanner service banks the scanner is preprogrammed with the frequencies allocated by fire/police, aircraft, ham radio, and marine services. In these service banks, you can search through the frequencies and store them in channels for fire/police, aircraft, ham radio, and marine...

  • Page 12

    12 understanding your scanner marine channel frequency (mhz) channel frequency (mhz) 06 156.3000 64 156.2250 07 156.3500 65 156.2750 08 156.4000 66 156.3250 09 156.4500 67 156.3750 10 156.5000 68 156.4250 11 156.5500 69 156.4750 12 156.6000 70 156.5250 13 156.6500 71 156.5750 14 156.7000 72 156.6250...

  • Page 13

    13 understanding your scanner fire/police group frequency range (mhz) step (khz) 1 33.420–33.980 20 37.020–37.420 20 39.020–39.980 20 42.020–42.940 20 44.620–45.860 40 45.880 — 45.900 — 45.940–46.060 40 46.080–46.500 20 2 153.770–154.130 60 154.145–154.445 15 154.650–154.950 15 155.010–155.370 60 15...

  • Page 14: Operation

    14 operation ˆ operation turning on the scanner/setting volume and squelch 1. Turn squelch fully counterclockwise until the indicator points to min . 2. Slide power to on to turn on the scanner. 3. Turn volume clockwise until you hear a hissing sound. 4. Turn squelch clockwise, just until the hissin...

  • Page 15

    15 operation 4. To program the next channel in sequence, press pgm and repeat steps 2 and 3. Finding and storing active frequencies searching the service banks your scanner contains groups of preset frequencies called service banks. Each service bank is associated with a specific activity (see “unde...

  • Page 16

    16 operation frequency flash for about 3 seconds. If you want to store the frequency anyway, press enter again. You can delete the frequency later. 4. To store the displayed frequency in the selected channel, press pgm , press the channel number you want to enter the channel and press pgm again, the...

  • Page 17

    17 operation • if you entered a frequency that is already stored in another channel, - dupl- and the lowest-numbered channel containing the duplicate frequency flash for about 3 seconds. If you want to store the frequency anyway, press enter again. • to store the displayed frequency in the selected ...

  • Page 18

    18 operation frequency number, then it automatically begins scanning again when the transmission ends on that frequency. Scanning options while scanning you can select from several options to enhance your scanning enjoy- ment. • to reverse the scanning direction at any time, press 8 8 8 8 or 9 9 9 9...

  • Page 19

    19 operation 5. To clear another channel, use the number keys to enter that channel number, then press pgm again. Or, repeatedly press pgm until the desired channel number appears. Then repeat step 4. Listening to the marine bank 1. To listen to the marine bank, repeatedly press band until marine ap...

  • Page 20: Special Features

    20 special features ˆ special features using the delay function many agencies use a two-way radio system that has a period of several seconds between a query and a reply. To avoid missing a reply, you can program a 2– second delay into any channel or frequency. When your scanner stops on any channel...

  • Page 21

    21 special features reviewing locked-out frequencies to review the frequencies you locked out, hold down l/o (l/o rvw) at least 2 seconds during a search. L-r appears. As you press 8 8 8 8 or 9 9 9 9 , all locked-out frequencies appear in sequence. When you reach the highest frequency, the scanner b...

  • Page 22

    22 special features 2. While you hold down 2 and enter , turn on the scanner. The display shows off tone or on tone . Then release the keys. Using a computer to program the scanner you can connect your scanner to a personal computer and program frequencies into the scanner from the computer using an...

  • Page 23: Guide to The Action Bands

    23 guide to the action bands ˆ guide to the action bands typical band usage primary usage as a general rule, most of the radio activity is concentrated on the following frequencies: vhf band uhf band note: remote control stations and mobile units operate at 5 mhz higher than their associated base st...

  • Page 24

    24 guide to the action bands band allocation to help decide which frequency ranges to scan, use the following listing of the typical services that use the frequencies your scanner receives. These frequencies are subject to change, and might vary from area to area. For a more complete listing, refer ...

  • Page 25

    25 guide to the action bands very high frequency (vhf) — (30 mhz – 300 mhz) vhf low band (29.7–50 mhz—in 5 khz steps) 29.700–29.790 ..................................................................................................................... Ind 29.900–30.550 ...................................

  • Page 26

    26 guide to the action bands 157.470–157.515 .............................................................................................................. Tow 157.530–157.725 ....................................................................................................... Ind, taxi 157.740 .....

  • Page 27

    27 guide to the action bands 462.9375–463.1875 ........................................................................................................... Med 463.200–467.925 ................................................................................................................ Bus fm-tv au...

  • Page 28: Troubleshooting

    28 troubleshooting ˆ troubleshooting if your scanner stops operating properly, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If the scanner still does not operate properly, take it to your local radioshack store for assistance. Resetting/initializing the scanner if the scanner's display lo...

  • Page 29

    29 troubleshooting initializing the scanner important: this procedure clears all infor- mation you stored in the scanner's memory. Initialize the scanner only when you are sure the scanner is not working properly. 1. Turn off the scanner, then turn it on again. 2. Hold down mon/cl . 3. While you hol...

  • Page 30: Specifications

    30 specifications ˆ specifications frequency coverage: ham ................................................................................................ 29–30 mhz (5.0 khz steps) vhf lo ........................................................................................... 30–50 mhz (5.0 khz ...

  • Page 31

    31 specifications audio output power (10% thd) ......................................................................... 0.8 w nominal built-in speaker ............................................................ 3 inch (77 mm), 8-ohm, dynamic type power requirements ...................................

  • Page 32

    20-423 ge-01d-5370 11a01 printed in china a radioshack corporation fort worth, texas 76102 limited one-year warranty this product is warranted by radioshack against manufacturing defects in material and workman- ship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of purchase from radioshack company...