Updates and Information
October 09, 2008
I work on S. Main St. in O'Fallon, MO right at Hwy 70. During the Manhunt this morning I had the new Pro-106 programmed with the St. Charles County Sheriff dept, O'Fallon PD, news crew and helicopter frequencies. I realize that I was only about a mile away but the scanner performed perfectly. We were able to listen in on all of the traffic and keep up with the progress while also listening to the news crews in the helicopters talking to their stations and to each other as they manuevered around the scene.
There is a learning curve to this scanner. For somebody just wanting something quick and easy to program this scanner will do that. But for those of us that have been in this hobby for a while the Pro-106 also has a lot of abilities and options. I'm looking forward to getting to understand this scanner completely and seeing what all it will do.
October 3, 2008
The new digital hand-held scanner (PRO-106) from RadioShack is available. It retails for $499.99. I will play with one over the next few days and will post a review here after I have a good understanding of the unit.
I use Scan-Cat software to program all of my scanners. I have found the software easy to use and very reliable. I have writtin Scan-Cat about the Pro-160 to find out when the upgrades will be available for this scanner and I will let you know if/when I receive a reply from them.
UPDATE: Oct. 10, 2008
It has been a week now and I haven't received a response from the Scan-Cat people but I have been doing additional research on my own. I am sure that many of you are aware of Don Starr and his scanner software. He has software available for the new GRE models that also works on the new RadioShack scanner.Win500: Manage the data in your GRE PSR-500 or PSR-600 Digital Trunking Scanner, plus monitor and control the radio. Also supports the RadioShack PRO-106 and PRO-197.September, 2008
RadioShack currently has many of their scanners on clearance. They have reduced prices on base and handheld scanners. Their current digital units have been reduced in price almost $150 while one of their 1000ch triple-trunked units has been reduced from $199 to $112. There are some really good prices available on their scanners right now.
January, 2008
GRE America now has 6 scanners available under the GRE nameplate. 3 handhelds and 3 desktop/mobile scanners. One of their handhelds is digital, triple-trunked, and has the 700MHz band. This looks like it might be a nice scanner. For further details on these new scanners just CLICK HERE.UPDATE: The new GRE PRS-500 handheld, digital, trunked scanner is one of only two scanners that I can find that receive the 700 band and are digital. The other is the Uniden 396. At this point RadioShack has a digital scanner but it doesn't receive the 700 band. If this is something that you are currently looking for take a look at the PRS-500 or the BCD396T.12/17/07
The new RadioShack scanners have started hitting the stores. These are the new PRO-164 1000-Channel Handheld Scanners. These retail for a little over $200 and they are the first of the new RadioShack scanners that cover the 700 band. This scanner is not digital, but it is triple-trunking. I'm probably going to get one later this week to check out and run through its paces to see what it can do.Update: This scanner looks and acts like the PRO-97. The only difference I see is that this new one receives the 700 band which none of the other RadioShack scanners do.12/14/07
Over the next few days, with the forecast of all the snow and ice that is coming the road crews will be very busy. Many municipalities (like here in St. Peters) dispatch their trucks through their municipal systems and you can monitor them there. For the highways and state roads you will need to monitor MoDOT. Their main frequencies for the St. Louis area are: 151.04 (District 6), 151.385 (Motorist Assist), 151.07 (Mobile-to-Mobile). All frequencies use tone: 156.7 PL11/14/07
I haven't been posting here as often as I should. I have let my monitoring fall to the side for a while. I feel that it is time for me to get back into it. I have worked on reprogramming my Pro-97 to get it more in tune with my present listening needs.I have applied for my GMRS license and am studying up to take the test for my amateur radio license. I would like to get this done by spring if at all possible.
07/18/06
I have been doing research on various monitoring organizations and think that REACT has some very good goals and ideals but that the St. Louis area really isn't covered very well by them. Gateway Area REACT used to be big but they kind of faded away over time.Tri-County REACT seems to be the current group serving the St. Louis area and they have an interesting website. I am a bit confused by the "tri" designation though. They show a map covering 4 counties: St. Louis County, City of St. Louis, Jefferson County and St. Charles County. Maybe they added a county after their original designation but I can't find any information on that.
03/09/05
Today UPS delivered my Pro-97 handheld scanner from RadioShack. It isn't in the stores yet so I had to order it. The Pro-97 comes in a blister pak like the Pro-89 does. Apparently RadioShack has decided to move away from the red and white boxes and go to see-through blister paks for their new scanners.The Pro-97 is a Triple-Trunking scanner with 1000 channels and the Signal-Stalker feature. It is also the replacement for the now discontinued Pro-95 handheld. I will post a review of this scanner after I have had a chance to play with it and test out all of its features.
02/01/05
The St. Louis Mardi Gras is coming up within a few short days. If you are going to be attending the parade or any of the festivities and would like to take your scanner along try out these frequencies: 464.200 464.225 462.125 462.3375-(Line Up) 463.600-(Medical). There will probably be quite a bit of activity on the GMRS/FRS frequencies too.11/15/2004
RadioShack has finally released their 200 channel Pro-83 Signal-Stalker scanner. I will be posting a review of this scanner here in the very near future.09/30/2004
St. Louis County has hired GennCom to put together a feasibility study on upgrading their radio system to a 700mH digital trunked system with 19 stations and 40 channels. The county council will use a bond issue to raise the necessary funds for upgrading the radio system.09/15/2004
I've been asked about the manufacturer of the RadioShack scanners. I've found that most of them are manufactured by GRE, but several are manufactured by Uniden (Bearcat) too. You can find more information on GRE at their website: http://www.greamerica.com.07/30/2004
The RadioShack Pro-96 scanner has a problem with its main CPU chip. RadioShack is aware of this and has an updated chip available. All you need to do take your Pro-96 into your nearest company owned RadioShack store and they can send the scanner to the repair center in Fort Worth to have the chip changed at no cost. There is a very specific way that the repair ticket needs to be worded to get this chip update. If the Manager in the store you take your scanner to doesn't know how to do this tell him to call his DM for the information or he can contact the manager at 01-6636 for details.03/06/2004
On March 16, 2004 the St. Louis County Police Office of Emergency Management conducted a test of the tornado warning system. There was a simulated "watch" broadcast to test schools, hospitals, etc. The countys warning sirens were also activate at this time (for 3-5 minutes). This was followed by the National Weather Service issueing a statement to the public that a "warning" exercise is in progress. You can monitor the SKYWARN frequency at 146.940.03/04/2004
I've been asked about the software update for the Pro-96 Scanner from RadioShack. It is available on the RadioShack.com website. This software update enables CQPSK reception and fine tunes the digital audio level to better match that of analog audio levels. It also provides some improvement to reception of C4FM digital signals in very weak signal conditions. All Pro-96 users should download this update and apply it to their radios.12/31/2003
I've been asked about what type of scanner I carry. I carry the Pro-97 from RadioShack. It is a 1000 channel, triple-trunking scanner. This scanner won't pick up the digital signals from departments like the City of St. Charles or the St. Charles County Sheriffs department, but it does pick up everything that I personally listen to.10/21/03
There is software available for programming the Pro 96 scanner using your computer. You can get the software from Starr Soft .com.10/20/03
RadioShack has finally released the Pro 96 (20-526) Digital Trunking handheld scanner to their stores. It is retailing for less than $500.
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 Victor H. Schlosser |
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