QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/world/mods/tandy/pro2005r

Text File | 1994-06-04 | 16KB | 300 lines

copied from UUCP:
Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio
Subject: Review - The New Radio Shack PRO-2005 Scanner

         THE RADIO SHACK PRO-2005 PROGRAMMABLE SCANNER
                     by Bob Parnass, AJ9S

   Manufactured in Japan by  General  Research  Electronics, the  Radio
   Shack PRO-2005 is a 400 channel, wide coverage scanner radio,
   incorporating NBFM, WBFM,  and  AM  modes.  It  is  the  successor
   to the PRO-2004, the super scanner which put Radio Shack out in
   front of its competition  in the base station scanner market.

   The 2005 is basically a 400 channel PRO-2004, built using surface
   mount  components, and housed in a smaller package.

                      Frequency Coverage

   Radio Shack's last minute  decision  to  remove  cellular telephone
   frequency coverage from the PRO-2004 caused a 7 week delay in its
   introduction.  The PRO-2005 appeared in the  stores  promptly  on
   the heels of the 2004 closeout sale.  Both the PRO-2004 and
   PRO-2005  cover  25-520  and 760-1300 MHz, except for 2 gaps in the
   cellular telephone bands.  The two gaps in the 800 MHz range can be
   restored in either scanner by clipping a diode.

   A matrix of  diodes,  attached  to  the  microprocessor's input
   port, is often used to configure radios for sale in different
   markets. The diode matrix on new  the  PRO-2005 is  located on the
   vertical circuit board just behind the front panel.  There  are  2
   diodes  present,  and  holes drilled for 2 more.

                        Lots of Memory

   The PRO-2005 has the usual features  that  scanner  buffs have
   come  to  expect:   individual  channel  lockouts, selectable rescan
   delay, an external speaker  jack,  etc.  But,  the  400  channel
   capacity  of  the  PRO-2005 sets another an industry record, just as
   the 300 channel  PRO- 2004  did!  Casual scanner users may scoff at
   the usefulness of having so many channels, but seasoned
   monitorists can  have those channels filled up in no time flat,
   especially with frequencies in the vast 225-400 MHz  military air
   band, and other federal government allocations.

   With so many channels to program, one dreads the  thought of  a
   power failure, which could clear memory in a hurry.  Not to worry,
   the PRO-2005  memory  is  backed  up  by  a conventional 9 volt
   alkaline battery (not supplied).  The 400 channels are divided into
   10  banks  of  40  channels each,  and  one  can  select or deselect
   any channel bank from the scan list.  Individual channels  can  be
   locked out  in the customary way, but the PRO-2005 maintains the
   handy feature  introduced  in  the  PRO-2004,  a  LOCKOUT REVIEW.
   Successive depressions of this key step through the locked out
   channels.

   Scanners worth their keep have a priority  feature,  with channel
   1  usually designated the priority channel.  The PRO-2005 is more
   flexible; any of the 400 channels may be designated  the  priority
   channel.  When the PRIORITY key is depressed,  that  channel  will
   be  sampled  every  2 seconds,  and  the  radio  will stay there if
   a signal is heard.

   The PRO-2005 has two scan speeds, approximately 8 and  16
   channels/second, although one would probably use the fas- ter speed
   in most instances.  This is the same  speed  as the  stock
   PRO-2004,  as  measured  by your reviewer.  A diode could be added
   to  the  PRO-2004  diode  matrix  to speed up the scan and search
   rates by 25%.  The provision for extra diodes in the diode matrix
   makes  one  hopeful that  the  same speedup trick can be applied to
   the newer PRO-2005.

   When programming a channel, the  PRO-2005  firmware  sets the mode
   automatically, based on its idea of what mode is most prevalent on
   that  frequency.   This  feature  saves extra  keystrokes,  and
   makes one appreciate the thought that went into the design of  this
   radio.   The  default mode can be overridden easily, if need be,
   like to listen to a NBFM satellite in the 225-400 MHz  range,
   which  is mainly populated with AM signals.

                           Searching

   The SEARCH facility found on most  programmable  scanners allows the
   entry of a pair of frequencies, then by pressing a key, the radio
   searches frequencies  between  those limits.   The  PRO-2005
   allows  for  10 pairs of limits!  These pairs of limits are stored
   in their own memory, and don't use up any of the conventional 400
   memory channels.  One can set up several search pairs, for
   instance:

      - 46.610-46.970 MHz: cordless telephones
      - 144-148 MHz: the 2 meter ham band
      - 30.01-30.56, 32-33, 36-37 MHz: US Govt

   Another unique feature is the MONITOR  key,  which  stops the search
   and stores the frequency in one of ten special monitor memories.
   These memories are separate  from  the 400  main  memory  channels.
   The search can be restarted from where it left off by striking the
   up or  down  arrow key.

   The user can select the search direction  (up  or  down), and  step
   size  of 5, 12.5, or 50 kHz, although the PRO- 2005 is intelligent
   enough to select a default step  size based  on the frequencies
   being searched.  As on the PRO- 2004, there  is  a  hidden  step
   size  of  30  kHz,  but apparently  this step size was disabled when
   the cellular telephone frequency coverage was removed.

   The selected parameters are displayed on the  LCD  panel, smaller
   than the panel in the PRO-2004.  Search speed is switchable between
   slow and fast, with fast search  being about   14
   increments/second   (versus   12   for   the Uniden/Bearcat
   800XLT).  For a 12.5 kHz  increment,  this translates  to 11.2
   MHz/minute (versus 9.6 MHz/minute for the 800XLT).

   The DIRECT key allows one to start searching up  or  down from
   whatever frequency is on the display.  Let's say the scanner is in
   MANUAL mode, and set at channel  26,  which contains  460.100 MHz.
   Striking the DIRECT then UP-ARROW keys starts the PRO-2005 searching
   upwards from  460.100.  This is a nice feature.

   The  PRO-2005 contains a "window detector" circuit, which is called
   into play during a SEARCH operation.  This circuit tries to detect
   when the radio is tuned close to the center  frequency  of  a
   station, and prevents the search from halting prematurely, off to
   the side of the signal.

   The AFC (automatic  frequency  control)  circuit  of  the Bearcat
   800XLT  often causes a search of 850 MHz signals to halt
   prematurely.  Even though the  signal  sounds  on frequency,  the
   display reads the wrong frequency.  Neither the PRO-2004 nor the
   PRO-2005 have this problem.

   The PRO-2005 includes a SOUND SQUELCH, resembling the VSC circuit on
   the Icom R-7000, which may be used during scan or  search
   operations.   With  the  the  sound   squelch enabled,  signified
   by  a red lamp above the pushbutton, the scanner will skip over
   unmodulated signals.  This  is handy for skipping over "birdies", or
   link signals with a constant carrier.  The manual warns that the
   sound squelch may be fooled  by signals  with  low  modulation,  and
   skip over them.  The PRO-2005 SOUND SQUELCH tries to detect  the
   presence  or absence  of  modulation  (not  human  speech),  so
   unfortunately, it thinks that  noisy  dead  carriers,  digital
   data  signals,  and paging tones are worth monitoring and will stop
   the scanner to listen to them.

                        Taping Facility

   A tape recorder can be connected to the TAPE  phono  jack on  the
   rear  panel, which provides 600 mV of audio at a 10,000 ohm
   impedance.  An audio filtering  circuit  rolls off  the  high
   frequency components before they reach the TAPE jack, which makes it
   impossible to use it for  picking  off  FM  subcarrier  signals.
   In addition to a rear mounted external speaker jack, there is a
   miniature head- phone jack on the front of the scanner.

   The PRO-2005 lacks a COR (carrier operated relay) output,
   like  ICOM  R7000 and older Bearcat 300 have, which would
   be useful for actuating a tape recorder.

                       Basic Performance

   To evaluate sensitivity, the PRO-2005 was  compared  with it's
   father, the PRO-2004.  Since a signal generator was not used,
   quantitative measurements could  not  be  made.  Instead,   an
   Antenna  Specialists  AV-801  antenna  was switched between radios,
   signals from stations were  compared by ear, and the results
   tabulated.

   Simply put, the PRO-2005 proved moderately more sensitive than the
   PRO-2004 on most bands tested, and just slightly more sensitive on a
   few bands.  The cost one pays for the 2005's  increased
   sensitivity  is  having to put up with hearing 800 MHz trunked
   systems  and  cellular  telephone conversations  while  searching
   the 118 - 132 MHz commercial aircraft band.  The 800 MHz
   interference  was  heard only  on the 2005, not the 2004.  Other
   than that, intermodulation  interference  from   paging
   affected   both scanners to the same degree, and on the same
   frequencies.

   Although both the 2004 and 2005 can suffer the effects of intermod,
   they are much more immune than the overly sensitive, image laden
   Bearcat 800XLT.  The PRO-2005  has  a 10 dB attenuator, operable by
   a slide switch on the rear.  The up conversion design of  both  the
   ICOM  R-7000  and Radio Shack PRO-2005 allows use of a very high IF
   (inter- mediate frequency), which  helps  avoid  image  problems.
   The  PRO-2004 owner's manual contains a frequency allocation chart
   and a section on images.  This section appears in  the  manuals
   for  other  Radio Shack models, and was thoughtlessly thrown into
   the 2005 manual.  It babbles on about  images being 21.4 MHz away
   from the real frequency -- true for simpler models, but not so for
   the PRO-2005.

   The audio  output  quality  is  good,  although  the  top mounted
   speaker  directs  the  sound at the ceiling, but adding an external
   speaker would allow the  sound  to  be directed at the user.

   Unfortunately, the audio level of AM signals is  somewhat below that
   of NBFM signals, requiring a different setting of the volume
   control.  When scanning both  AM  and  NBFM modes,  one  has  to
   find  a  compromise position of the volume control.

   The PRO-2005 squelch control has a wee bit too much  hysteresis, a
   trait inherited from its ancestors.  It's like having too much play
   in a car's steering wheel, or  backlash  in  a gear set.  This
   hysteresis forces one to keep the squelch at a tighter setting,
   missing weaker  signals when scanning or searching.  It's not as
   sloppy as in the early PRO-2004s.  I've successfully eliminated this
   problem  completely  by  replacing  a  single resistor on the
   800XLT, as well as the PRO-2002, PRO-2003,  PRO-2004  and PRO-24
   scanners.

                    Mechanical Construction

   The PRO-2005 is lighter than the 2004.  It is enclosed in a  gray
   plastic cabinet, with a plastic front panel.  If one is going to pay
   $420, one deserves to own some metal, but  several  stages are
   internally shielded in their own metal compartments.  The entirely
   plastic cabinet of  the older  PRO2003  allowed  wideband noise to
   radiate out of the scanner and into nearby shortwave receivers.

   The PRO-2005 vertical front panel is an advancement  over the
   sloping  panel  of  the 2004.  Now you can stack the scanner on top
   of other equipment and  see  the  controls without standing up.  If
   sitting directly on a table, two hinged plastic feet, padded with
   rubber bumpers, can fold out  from  under  the  front of the radio
   to tilt it at a good viewing angle.

   There is a single BNC antenna connector on  the  rear  of the
   PRO-2005,  and  a single telescoping antenna is supplied.

   Internal construction  is  excellent,  and  the  internal shielding
   is  commendable.  Interstage shielding is very important in a wide
   band receiver,  to  prevent  it  from "hearing  itself", an
   undesirable phenomena which results in birdies.  The PRO-2005
   owner's manual lists the birdie frequencies.   The  shielding  is
   much better in the PRO- 2005 than in the 800XLT, which uses no
   shielding  around the  800  MHz  converter stage, and probably
   accounts for some of the birdies in the Bearcat.

   Frequencies and other indicators are displayed on a backlit  LCD
   (liquid crystal display) panel, and the level of backlighting can be
   dimmed by a pushbutton switch.

   Vision impaired scanner buffs will appreciate the conventional
   raised  rubber  keyboard  in  the PRO-2005, which replaced the flat
   membrane  keyboard  in  the  PRO-2004.  Only moderate pressure is
   required for actuation, and key depressions are confirmed by a mild
   "beep" audio tone.

   The PRO-2005 is the right size to fit under the dashboard of
   intermediate sized cars.  Although it can be operated on 12 VDC,
   neither  a  mobile  power  cord  nor  mounting bracket  are
   provided.   These  items were included with earlier, pre-PRO-2004
   Radio Shack models.  The  AC  power cord  is  not detachable, and
   would have to be bundled up to keep it out of the way in a mobile
   installation.

                        Owner's Manual

   The user manual is outstanding compared with the fold out sheet
   furnished with Uniden scanner.

   A single page frequency allocations  chart  is  included, but  is
   not current.  There is no schematic.  Thankfully, detailed service
   manuals for  Radio  Shack  scanners  are usually available for $7.50
   or $10.00.

   The PRO-2005 is warranted for 1 year, which  is  reassuring.

                        What's Missing?

   So with all these neat features, what's missing from  the
   PRO-2005?   A  "search  and store" mode, like that on the ICOM R7000
   and older Bearcat 250 would have been nice.  A lighted  keyboard
   and a signal strength meter would also be welcome, as would a mobile
   mounting  bracket  and  SCA output jack.

                            Summary

   If all one wants is a scanner to monitor local police and fire,
   there are certainly cheaper and simpler models than the PRO-2005.
   This  scanner  is  for  those  who  enjoy actively  exploring
   voice  communications in the VHF/UHF spectrum.  If you already own a
   PRO-2004 and  have  added the  diode  to expand it to 400 channels,
   there is little to be gained by purchasing a new PRO-2005 --
   unless,  of course, you are a passionate scanner collector.

   The PRO-2005 has  the  right  features  and  performance,
   especially  for  scanning  the  wide 225-400 MHz military aircraft
   band.  Good design should not to  be  taken  for granted.   GRE
   engineers used the power of the microprocessor to implement
   useful  features  in  the  PRO-2005.  Similar  processing
   horsepower was not used so wisely in the Yaesu FRG-9600.

   At about $420, the PRO-2005 provides a  good  alternative to those
   not wishing to spend $1050 for an ICOM R7000.

Bob Parnass AJ9S,  AT&T Bell Laboratories