[Scan-DC] RE: Pro-197

[oldsdoug at hotmail.com]

Thanks Jeff, most helpful!  I purchased the BuTel software today, having used it before, and was gonna go get a programming cable but something else came up so will get that tomorrow.

After I bought the software I started to get mad at the darn radio for all the garbles and thought, shoot, I shouldn't have bought the software, I'd return the thing, so your hint about attenuation is also very valuable - will take a look at that... hadn't thought of it but that could be the problem as I would expect the signal strength to be quite strong here.  Yeah, I had been under the impression that the earlier models were quite sensitive and figured that these would be at least as good, hence my disappointment with the garbled reception.

Sounds like most of you guys here who have these radios are ahead of where I am on the curve, so again, I appreciate the advice and comments!  Will keep you posted on my "progress"!

Regards,

Doug

----------------------------------------
> Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:59:48 -0500
> From: jeff at krauss.ws
> Subject: Pro-197
> To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net; oldsdoug at hotmail.com
>
>
>>Message: 2
>>Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:52:18 -0500
>>From: 
>>Subject: [Scan-DC] Radio Shack PRO-197 - Questions and comments
>>To: 
>>Message-ID: 
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>>
>>First, many thanks to those who gave us the word about the $200-off
>>sale price on the PRO-197 (and its portable mate, whatever that
>>is). I ordered one before Xmas and had it shipped to a friend since
>>I was away, and picked it up yesterday. So far, so good, but a
>>couple of questions, if anybody else has one. First, I think that
>>the programming for Montgomery County may be out of date, as I don't
>>think it has the four talkgroups that they added and those that were
>>reassigned on the fire side - 7-Kilo was one of them, I don't recall
>>the other three right now.
>
> The 7K, 7L, 71K and 71L talkgroups are in the Vscanner 1
> pre-programmed file, but their TG numbers are not in sequence with
> the other FD talkgroups. In any event, you should consider adding a
> wildcard TGRP object for the Montgomery County TSYS if you want to
> listen to things like snowplows and other non-public safety
> transmissions. If so, you'll need to add specific TGRP objects for
> the two MOSCAD TGs and then lock them out.
>
> BTW, I use the WIN500 software.
>
>
>>Also, I'm betting that the system for Arlington VA is not the "new"
>>one... not sure whether I have Arlington activated but haven't heard
>>anything so far.
>
> Right. I added the Arlington P25 TSYS and TGRP objects into the same
> scanlist that the Arlington analog system is on. I hear transmissions
> on both systems.
> I also added TSYS objects and TGRP objects for WMAA, Washington Gas,
> BWI, Fort Detrick and WMATA into a different scanlist. But then I
> locked out the WMATA system because all I heard was bus drivers and
> supervisors.
>
>>I suspect that this receiver isn't quite as good as the Uniden
>>radios, was hearing some garbles last night... right now I have the
>>back-of-set antenna on it in an outside room, with antenna up about
>>10 inches, it seems to work better that way than with the antenna
>>fully extended... no garbles from the BC-796 with the same setup on
>>the other side of the wall.
>
> These radios have a reputation for being very sensitive. So
> sometimes the garbling problem is due to front end overload. Some
> have reported success by adding attenuation (ATT) on some systems.
>

_________________________________________________________________
Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills.
http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008