Nov 20, 1998 SCANRADS.FAQ 11/20/1998 This article/file is for the benefit of all. (c) 1995-98 (All Rights Reserved) by: Bill Cheek and COMMtronics Engineering This file is for personal use only and may NOT be placed on a CD-ROM nor any other media that conveys, stores, or transports for any monetary cost including shipping & handling, without expressed permission of the author. This file can only be given away, absolutely free of charge, no strings attached. If given away, or displayed on a Web site, it MUST be intact, word-for-word with no editing, additions or deletions, except as may be authorized in writing by me, the author. -Bill Cheek- Author NOTE: This Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) file or article is one of a seies of FAQs that I regularly publish. The complete list of FAQs is given below. If this one doesn't answer your questions, try one or more of the following additional FAQs: 1. Scanner Modifications FAQ: SCANMODS.FAQ 2. Scanner Data Decoder FAQ: SCANDATA.FAQ 3. Scanner Performance FAQ: SCANPERF.FAQ 4. Scanner S-Meter FAQ: SCANSMTR.FAQ 5. Scanner Radios FAQ: SCANRADS.FAQ <--- This FAQ 6. Administrative FAQ: ADMIN.FAQ You can download the latest of any of my FAQs directly from my FTP site as follows: ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek/faqs ============================================= Bill Cheek's Scanner Radios Frequently Asked Questions File ============================================= Contents ========= 01: What is the best scanner money can buy? 02: Okay. so what is the best real scanner money can buy? Contents ======== 01: What is the best scanner money can buy? Your question is not answerable as it's phrased, because there are several classes of radios that are loosely called "scanners". A list of those classes or types is as follows: A. World Class Receivers: arguably, this class of receivers includes radios from Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Alinco, Watkins-Johnson, and WiNRADiO. These are receivers ONLY, but by virtue of their cost, and/or excellence, and/or primary purpose, and/or technical design, and/or limited market distribution, I don't call them "scanners". They're good for a lot of the same things that scanners are good for, but they're still not 'scanners'. B. Ham/Amateur Radios: includes all ham transceivers that have general coverage "scanning" receivers that cover any portion of the spectrum above and below 30 MHz. Despite the fact that these receivers can "scan", their primary appeal is to the ham radio community, and therefore aren't "scanners". C. Scanners are receivers that are legally imported into and sold within the United States. Scanners that meet my definition of of the word, cover at least 30 MHz and up, with memory scan, band search, priority, delay, and lockout functions, and which are widely marketed, either by mass-merchandizing or which are routinely advertised in a variety of radio and electronics related publications. D: Foreign scanning receivers of the type included in (C) above and otherwise excluded from (A) and (B), and which are not certified by the FCC for importation and sale in the USA. NOTE: I routinely support by bench testing, product reviews, and development of modifications only those receivers that meet my defintion of 'scanners' as discussed in (C) above. While there may be exceptions, I do not deal to any appreciable extent with radios in any class other than (C). Therefore, when I render an opinion or a rating of a 'scanner', it applies exclusively to Category (C) and does not detract from or reflect upon receivers in Categories (A), (B, and (D). Here is why: 1. Category (A) is too expensive or too narrowly distributed or too specialized for the mainstream, typical hobbyist. 2. Category (B) is too specialized, both by specific interest communities and by law. That is, ham radios are solely for the amateur radio community, despite any appeal to other markets. 3. Category (D) is illegal in the USA for one, and two, it is very difficult or impossible to acquire service manuals and parts/repair support for receivers in this class. There is little I can do to support these radios, so I usually just ignore them, despite how "good" they may be. 4. My primary objective is to meet the technical needs of the greatest number of hobbyists and to do the most possible good and stay within the law. ==================================================================== 02: Okay. so what is the best real scanner money can buy? Well, by the time I answer that, something new will come down to make me a liar or change my mind. I don't have a simple answer for that question, but let me try in so many words or less. It's kind of complicated, you see. I am going to discuss a handful of scanners that come close. PRO-2004 ======== My *favorite* scanner of all time is the PRO-2004, first introduced by Radio Shack in late 1986. Its market life ended in May, 1989, when the PRO-2005 replaced it. I like the PRO-2004 for its innovations, size, ease of operation and because nothing like it has come out since. Here are some of its attributes and characteristics: Large, readable LCD display! Sloping, tactile keypad! All- metal (shielded) case Large roomy interior Modern design, even if mixed wired & SMT components Easy to modify for more features & improved performance Good performance, anyway, right out of the box Triple-conversion 300/400-channels, expandable to 25,600 or more! AGC-controlled front-end Seven bandpass filters Double-balanced mixers Modularized with each major section on a separate board Continuous coverage, 25-520 MHz & 760-1300 MHz (after cell mod) User-selectable AM/NFM/WFM modes User-selectable Search steps Lock-out Review Sound Squelch (skips dead or silent carriers & birdies) Can be retrofitted for computer control/data acquisition Can be made to "TrunkTrack" I don't necessarily recommend the PRO-2004 for others anymore because it is old now and Tandy no longer supports it with spare parts and service manuals. You get one that fails and it just might stay failed. Still....I think the PRO-2004 is the finest scanner of all time, and I can fix mine when they break down. For whatever it's worth, the PRO-2004 can be upgraded/ modified to include most of the specs of the PRO-2006. There are two production versions of the PRO-2004, "early" and "later". You can't tell which is which by looking at the outside, nor most of the inside. The easiest way to tell is to program the Search Limits of 868.9500 to 894.0000 and if the scanner steps in 12.5-kHz increments between 868.9500 and 870.000, then it's an "early" unit. "Later" units step 30 kHz throughout this entire band. On the inside, the CPU (IC-503) is a GRE-0327 in "early" units whereas in "later" units, it's a GRE-0327A. Obviously, "later" units are more desirable, but the older CPU can be swapped out with a newer one for the upgrade....*if* you can find one somewhere. PRO-2006 ======== My next favorite scanner of all time is the PRO-2006, also from Radio Shack, that replaced the PRO-2005 in May, 1990. The 2006 is a slightly evolved and slightly downgraded version of the PRO-2004. You will see very few differences with the schematic diagrams held side by side. Essentially, they are siblings, and almost clones. But there are differences. The differences that I don't like include: Smaller LCD display Vertical, rubber button keypad Difficult access to CPU Board and LCD Display area Smaller physical size/weight Plastic case Condensed, congested main board The differences that I like include the following: Improved Squelch circuit Improved AM mode selectivity (has additional AM IF filter) Faster CPU The foregoing are pretty much the sum and total of the differences between the PRO-2004 and the PRO-2006. Unquestionably, the PRO-2006 is the better choice for most hobbyists because Tandy still supports the 2006 with spare parts and service. That, and the 2006 is probably more reliable and less prone to failure than the 2004. So MY personal preference for the 2004 is not in any sense of the word a recommendation. It is only my preference, and largely because I can service and maintain the unit. For those who can't do that, the PRO-2006 is the hands down winner. The PRO-2006 had an active market life from May, 1990 to roughly April, 1994, when no more units were brought into the USA, thanks to the Act of Congress that outlawed "easily cellular modifiable" scanners. New PRO-2006's surfaced for about a year, thanks to a "grandfather clause" in the TDDRA of 1994, but by the end of 1994, they were pretty much all gone. There are two production versions of the PRO-2006. The early version has a dimmer switch for the back light. The later version has an on/off switch for the back light - no dimmer position. Also, on the rear panel, the nameplate data says "PRO-2006A" for later units. There is no other difference between the two. PRO-2005 ======== The PRO-2005 replaced the PRO-2004 in May 1989, and was replaced by the PRO-2006 a year later in May, 1990. It had a very short market life, with good reason as we will see below. This unit doesn't rank on my list of preferences. It's essentially a PRO-2004 without the goodies. It's identical in appearance to the newer PRO-2006, but retains the slower CPU of the PRO-2004. Gone are the large LCD display; metal cabinet; and sloping tactile keypad. It's not that I dislike the PRO-2005 - it's a darn good radio in all respects. In fact, there are few differences among the PRO-2004/5/6, period. But when it comes to choices, the 2004 is my preferred and the 2006 is my second choice. Aside from the physical appearances and redesign of the boards, the only difference between the PRO-2004 and 2005 is an improved AM-IF selectivity in the 2005 by virtue of an added ceramic IF filter. The short market life of the 2005, coupled with the improved and faster PRO-2006 puts the 2005 in a unique category. If you have one, enjoy it and keep it....it's a good radio. If you don't have one, then don't get one unless it's clean and cheap. Interesting, but the PRO-2005 can be easily upgraded to a PRO-2006 in a couple of ways. The most feasible is to replace the CPU IC-501 and Clock Resonator CX-501 with the parts for a PRO-2006, and then rewire the keyboard diode matrix DA501-DA504, to agree with how they're wired in the PRO-2006. Voile! You've got a PRO-2006 for all intents and purposes. The Logic boards are otherwise the same between the PRO-2005 and 2006. And since Tandy still stocks parts for the PRO-2006, this seems a practical approach for an upgrade. Another way to upgrade a PRO-2005 to a 2006 is to replace the Logic and CPU Board with one for a 2006....probably the easier way.... but last I knew, Tandy wouldn't sell whole boards to the public. So to replace the CPU and CLock Resonator and rewire the diode array remains the practical approach, I guess. The only other significant difference between the PRO-2005 and 2006 is IC-10, a CMOS bilateral switch in the Squelch circuit. This can be easily retrofitted into the PRO-2005 to complete the upgrade. The back issues of the monthly WORLD SCANNER REPORT deal with this upgrade in detail. NOTE: It is even possible to upgrade the PRO-2004 to a PRO-2006 by grafting a 2006 CPU and Clock resonator into the 2004's Logic Board. Trouble is, the PRO-2004 used a 64-pin DIP CPU while the PRO-2005/6 use a 72-pin surface mount CPU. Still, the pin functions of all three are identical, with one unused pin in the 2004's CPU and nine unused pins in the 2005 and 2006 CPUs. The 63 pin functions of all three CPUs are identical. And, in fact, I did successfully graft a 2006 CPU into one of my PRO-2004's, but it was a job that I don't know how to translate into words to tell others how to do it. PRO-2042 and PRO-2035 ===================== Would you believe these two fine radios are also clones of the PRO-2004/5/6 series? They are! Not exact clones, but mighty close! The PRO-2035/2042 don't have cellular capability, thanks to the TDDRA of 1994 that forbade "easy cellular modifications", and there is a whole new redesign of the boards and physical layouts, such that you'd need a schematic diagram to see the similarities of these five radios. Still, the designs are very close, and as such, the PRO-2035/2042 rank up there on the list of my favorite radios. The only significant differences between the PRO-2042 and the older PRO-2035 are in the firmware on board the CPU. The 2042 has more conveniences than the 2035, but otherwise they are the same rig. Both are excellent radios if you can do without cellular coverage. The so-called "cellular mods" for these two scanners are not generally worth any attention. See my SCANMOD.FAQ for details on the "VD" mod. The other "cellular" mod for the PRO-2035/2042 calls for replacment of the CPU chip (or the entire Logic/CPU board) with an unrestricted European version. Cool. Except that you pay a lot of money for 12.5 kHz steps. The "VD" mod is worthless, but if 12.5 kHz cellular steps turns you on and twitters your fritters, then go for it. NOTES ON ALL FIVE RADIOS: PRO-2004/5/6 AND PRO-2035/2042 ======================================================== All five of these rigs are capable of some hot-shot modifications, including many thousands of extra channels of Extended Memory and Search Banks. Literally, dozens of cool mods can be done to these five radios, and among my three books and eight years of the monthly WORLD SCANNER REPORT, these rigs are well covered. The PRO-2004/5/6 are especially accommodating of the CE-232 Scanner/ Computer Interface, a smart 2-way RS-232 controller and data acquisition interface with legendary power and capability to make scanning easier and more fun. The CE-232 Interface works in 1-way controller and AutoProgrammer mode with the PRO-2035 and PRO-2042. See: ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek/ce-232/ or http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek/ce-232.htm PRO-43 ====== Another member of the PRO-2004/5/6/ family and their first cousins, the PRO-2035/2042, is the handheld PRO-43. While the above five base scanners can be called 'close family', the PRO-43 isn't as close, but it is a 'second cousin'. The PRO-43 shares enough of the circuitry and specs of the Big 5 that it is one of my favorite handheld scanners....perhaps THE favorite. It is the only Radio Shack handheld GRE-made scanner to ever come with the military aero band. That feature alone is pretty awesome. The PRO-43 is capable of many mods and hacks, including continuous coverage from about 8 MHz to 1 GHz. Yes, shortwave! Not that it works very good down that low, but the mod does unleash the force. The PRO-43 is a very cool radio and certainly the last of its kind. There are newer and snazzier handhelds out and about, but when it comes to more steak and less sizzle, the PRO-43 is hard to beat. CAVEAT: The PRO-43A that came out around March-April of 1994 is neither cellular nor shortwave modifiable, and is not counted in the PRO-43 discussion. The PRO-43A is a good scanner, but.... The PRO-43 works with the CE-232 Scanner/Computer Interface in 1-way controller and AutoProgrammer mode. PRO-64 and PRO-2041 =================== The PRO-64 (handheld) and PRO-2041 (base) are electronic clones of each other, (electronically identical) and what I would call 'third cousins' to the family of the PRO-2004/5/6 and PRO-2035/2042 and a first cousin of the PRO-43. Good as these scanners are, they're even better when you consider that they come with a built in computer interface. Five bucks worth of parts and a free program lets you program these scanners with 400 channels of frequencies in about 45-seconds! Now ain't that slick! For more info, go to the following Web site: http://www.access.digex.net/~kplotkin/scanner.htm The PRO-64 and PRO-2041 are well covered in the monthly WORLD SCANNER REPORT, where we've found these two rigs to be eminently hackable and modifiable. PRO-26 and BC-3000XLT ===================== There is no relationship of the PRO-26 and BC-3000XLT to the family of the PRO-2004/5/6/203/2042/43/64/2041. That "family" was made by GRE-Japan while the PRO-26 and BC-3000XLT were made by Uniden in Taiwan. The PRO-26 and BC-3000XLT are close clones of each other, however. They are not identical, but you'd have to study their schematic diagrams for a while to spot the differences. For all practical purposes, they are alike. Some say the BC-3000 is a little better than the PRO-26, but that's not cut and dried. These two radios are great performers and have excellent potential for mods and hacks. Forget cellular; it ain't going to happen shy of the low-rent "VD" mod or replacement of their CPUs with European versions. Neither of these so-called cell mods are acceptable in my books and they all cost a lot of money, time, and trouble for sub-par results. UNIDEN SCANNERS =============== Uniden is best known for selling lots of sizzle and no steak. I know...I know, some of you don't want to hear that. Sorry, I just tell it like it is. Back in the early 80's, Uniden stopped making high quality hardware when they introduced "flatpacking" to their CB radio line (radios on a chip). Don't believe me? Look up John Leavens, formerly of CardKit Electronincs, who can tell you all about how Uniden switched their philosophy of manufacturing. Generally speaking, especially in Uniden's base scanner line, you buy firmware more so than hardware. All radios nowadays are microprocessor and firmware based, but Uniden takes this concept to the ultramax! Software is cheap compared to hardware. Not since the Muntz TV's of the 1960's have I seen such sparkling, glittering chassis on the outside and near vacuums on the inside. Uniden has made some good radios in their time, including the BC-200XLT, BC-205XLT, BC-3000XLT, and the PRO-26. The common factor here is that these four are handheld scanners. Uniden seems incapable or unwilling to make comparable quality base scanners, though their latest offering of the BC-9000XLT might well be a sleeper. At least, it comes with more firmware frills and sizzle than any prior offering. Uniden's TrunkTracking BC-895XLT is also connectable to a computer. I don't know how well it works, but see: http://www.autowinnet.com/freetrack.html In general, I don't recommend Uniden scanners. Read my lips; I don't advise against them....I just don't whoop them up. I'm not comfortable with their marketing tricks and hype. Uniden goes after the masses with a hokey glitz'n'glitter, the price of which is included in the cost of the scanner. You end up buying software, sizzle, glitz, and glamor. In my opinion, the "flank steak" is tough and you don't get much. As usual, there are exceptions.......... THE TRUNKTRACKER SCANNERS ========================= So far, Uniden is the only manufacturer so far of TrunkTracker scanners, including the PRO-90, BC-235XLT, BC-895XLT, and now, the PRO-91 and PRO-2050. The PRO-90 and BC-235XLT are identical clones and the new PRO-2050 in a base package might well be a clone of these two. The PRO-2050 is not a clone of the BC-895XLT, despite both being base scanners. I'll have to hand it to Uniden on their TrunkTrackers. The TT radios seem to be a fair mix of sizzle and steak, and they certainly do track the Motorola trunked systems. The BC-895XLT is computer controllable though Uniden doesn't support it, but I hear that 3rd parties are offering control software for it. Try this site: http://www.autowinnet.com/freetrack.html Basically, I'm not sold on this first generation of TrunkTrackers, despite the fact that they work and the public seems to have accepted them. I'll tip my hat, that's for sure, but I'm all for waiting to see what GRE-Japan comes up with. And we all know that "Version 1.0" of anything these days isn't the best that can be done. So I am waiting for the competition to gear up and/or for the 2nd generation of TrunkTrackers to come. Someone has to buy into the first generations of new stuff. If you are so disposed, you won't get any argument from me. If you have a conservative "wait and see" attitude, you'll find me in your company. Besides, I've found a way to "track the trunks" with a PRO-2004. PRO-2005, or PRO-2006, and TrunkFollow to beat the tar out of those TrunkTrackers, so pardon me for my lack of interest in Uniden's glitz'n'glitter. For alternative methods of TrunkTracking, see: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek/trunk.htm AOR SCANNERS ============ AOR appears to not want to sell very many scanners in the USA. They have a yo-yo, switchy-swatchy pattern to their marketing and technical support. Their service manuals are both expensive and deplorable. AOR seems to serve a cultist, elitist, niche scanning community. Despite that their top of the line radios might well be second to none, I just don't support them. If you have an AOR scanner and like it, I understand why. But you are a minority and AOR apparently doesn't want to do anything about it. I prefer to serve the majority, and so there is little more I can say about AOR scanners. NEW PLAYERS IN THE SCANNER GAME =============================== Relm and Sony are new players on the scanner scene. I don't know anything about these rigs yet; the Sony is much too new, and the Relm just doesn't have much of a market penetration yet. People say it's a good radio; maybe they're right, and maybe they're just defending the wisdom of their purchase. I think both are doomed to bit-player and niche status, but time will tell. Meanwhile, with rare exception, I give my stamp of recommendation only to those radios that have withstood the test of time. The johnny-come-lately's may well be good scanners, but if that's true, then they will pass the test of time. AOR's AR-8000 is one such example. It's been around for some time and continues to do well despite more advanced models recently introduced. YUPITERU SCANNERS ================= It is illegal to import "Yupi" scanners into the USA, because they are not certified by the FCC for sale here. Furthermore, Yupiteru seems to not give a whit about the US market, so why should I give a hoot about them? There is also the question about sending good USA money to markets that do not return some benefits to our community. Not only that, but service and support for Yupiteru radios are either nonexistent or at best, 3000 miles away. However, you can't get a service manual for these scanners. You buy a Yupi and you risk running afoul of the law; as well as having dead meat on your hands should the unit ever fail. Some people claim the Yupi radios are the best they've ever used. I hear little of anything bad about them. So the issues you have to deal with are patriotic ones, and those of service and support, and last, but not least, legal issues. So far, no one's been nailed for importing a Yupi scanner, but somewhere, someday, someone's going to be the first. Could it be you? WORLD CLASS RADIOS ================== There is a class of radio, not properly called a scanner, but without a name or a home anywhere else. I call them "world class radios" for lack of a better term. These include wide coverage receivers from Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu. Kenwood and Yaesu seem to have slithered out of this market realm, leaving Icom pretty much uncontested at this time. Kenwood's RZ-1 and Yaesu's FRG-9600 are much too old to be real competition now, but these are classics, and if you can snag one cheap, you may have a deal that's worth it. Icom has a number of entries in this class, including the R-9000, R-7000, R-7100, R-10, R-1, etc. I don't count these rigs in my recommended lists because they really don't fill the defintion of "scanner" in the important ssense of the word, and their cost is way out of proportion to scanners as we know them. Most of these rigs certainly qualify as "great" radios, but they are not scanners. COMPUTER-BASED RADIOS ===================== A new class of radio has recently emerged....computer- based receivers, of which there are two: Icom's PCR-1000 and several class acts from WiNRADiO. This class of radio is characterized by their total worthlessness without a computer. These radios depend on a computer as an integral part of the operation. Several new and upgraded versions of WiNRDiO are out now. Icom apparently isn't going to announce anything new until 1999 The PCR-1000 follows Icom's tradition of speed. If it weren't so slow, it would have no speed at all. It's slower than a slug. But it does go portable by virtue of operation and control from an RS-232 serial port. And it does have some impressive technical specs for its coverage of LF into UHF. A little pricey, the PCR-1000 has made its mark and its loyal users appear to be satisfied with it in most respects aside from speed (or the lack thereof...) The WiNRADiOs cruise at 50-cps, and along with their standard RF Spectrum Scope and optional Digital Suite, is probably the better buy at a price significantly lower than the PCR-1000, and with a very powerful control program that's regularly updated and released FREE to downloaders. The WR-1000i covers 500 kHz to 1300 MHz, less cellular, but there are ways to deal with that. I can't tell you how, but if you look around, you should discover it. The specs for the Icom PCR-1000 and WiNRADiOs are easily examined at the companies' Web sites, so I'll dispense with pitting one against the other. Both are great radios, but if you are undecided, you really need to do some homework and not take anyone's word for validating your decision. The Icom loyalists are too anxious to defend their choices while WiNRADiO just doesn't have a lot of market penetration yet. Still, my choice is for the WiNRADiO, maybe because the hardware and software are undergoing constant upward revision and the company is very responsive to its customers. Just send them an e-mail and see for yourself. Then send Icom an e-mail...if you can. WiNRADiO has a high-end model, the WR-3000x, that isn't certified for sale in the USA. That, and its $2000 price tag make it pointless to discuss it here, but some people have come by one and speak highly of its awesome capabilities, including visual DSP! SUMMARY: As you can see, I really can't recommend a "best radio for the money". I have my preferences, and I told you about them. Take 'em with a grain of salt, or take 'em to the bank, I don't care. What matters more is that you be exposed to a diversity of thought and opinion. I am not a "company man" who minces words and wonders why we all can't get along. I deal in straight shooting and am happy to leave it to future generations to figure out why we all can't get along. All I know is that we don't, and I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. You can try to understand the differences between the various classes of radios and even the differences between manufacturers before choosing the radio of your dreams. All too often, the best today is not the best tomorrow, or the best up front is not the best overall. Maybe there is no single "best". For a fact, many scannists nowadays own and operate two or more radios. One thing to keep in mind...or get in mind....is that the entire face and nature of radio are changing, from the politics to the technology to the very content. What was good for and applied to radio of yesteryear is not good for or applicable to radio of tomorrow. Change is apparent everywhere. Be aware of those changes and learn how to cope with them and how to go with the flow. There is less to listen to these days and I don't see that trend changing any time soon. It's only going to get "worse" as more and more radio services see the economics and privacy of cellular, PCS, and other means of private and/or digital communications. But these very changes mean new opportunities in the offing. One example is how for many years, it took an expensive, sophisticated 3rd party instrument to decode RTTY, FAX, and CW. Now a couple bucks worth of parts and some free software do all that and much more. See my Scanner Data Decoder FAQ (SCANDATA.FAQ.) There may be less to listen to, but there sure is more to decode. ============================================================= That's it for now. I will keep this FAQ updated. If you see things that need to be added to it, by all means, let me know. If this FAQ fails to address your question(s), then hit me with 'em again, but be specific. And be detailed with symptoms and observations if you need tech support on mods or troubleshooting and diagnosis. Use e-mail. Copyrighted (c) 1998 (All rights reserved) Revised 11/20/98 ------------------------------------------------ -- Bill Cheek - President/CEO/Publisher \ / COMMtronics Engineering/World Scanner Report \ / Box 262478 ~ San Diego ~ CA ~ 92196-2478 \ / Voice: 619-578-9247 (1:30-5:30pm, PST, weekdays \/ Fax: 619-578-9247 (any time) /\ E-mail: bcheek@cts.com / \ ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek / \ http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek / \ ------------------------------------------------ -- ========================END OF FILE===========================