While we wait on GRE to provide us with all
the information that we need to write the software program for the new
digital scanners here are some quick programming instructions for PRO 106 &
PRO 197 Digital Scanners
Following are the instructions on how to program your Radio Shack Pro-106 Scanner (Model Number 20-106) or your Radio Shack PRO-197 (Model Number 20-197) If you have owned scanners in the past and programmed them, the first thing you will notice is that these radios program in an entirely different manner than previous models. First of all if you have been trying to program the scanner with little success and want to start all over. Turn the radio off. When you see the message “welcome to object oriented scanning” when you see that message, push the following keys quickly. 0, 1 and enter. That will re-initialize the scanner back to the original factory settings. For our programming instructions, you will have 2 choices.
1. To program in a conventional or non-trunking frequency. You need to do the following. Once you turn the scanner on you will see the message “press NEW” to create objects. Push the F-1 key. To program in conventional frequencies, you will then push the F2 key. The next screen that appears will show the cursor flashing by the word Scan Lists and list 01 will appear. You will also see the frequency number 25.00000 next to frequency. Push the down arrow so that the cursor is flashing next to the word frequency. Now use the number keys to enter the frequency, for example 154.235. Be sure to also use the decimal key. After you have pushed the enter key, the cursor will still be flashing by the frequency number you just entered. If you want to change it, simply enter the frequency number again; otherwise push the down arrow until the cursor is flashing next to the word Tag. Push the select key. Now the cursor will be flashing over the letter C of the word channel. You can now tag or name your frequency.
So to name this frequency FIRE, you will use your numeric keys again. Each numeric key is also used as an alpha key. The first push of the key represents the key number for the letters contained in that key. So for the F in fire we would push key #3, then since there are three choices under key for letters, (D, E, & F) and since F is the 3rd letter, we would push #3 again. You will now see the C change to F and the cursor will move to the next letter. The same thing would be done for the next letter in FIRE or the I. The letter I is contained on key number 4, so push #4. It is also the 3rd letter in that grouping so again you would push #3. Now the letter I appears. Complete this sequence until you have your tag completed. If you make a mistake push the right arrow, and if you want to put a space between words push the right arrow twice, then push the clear key. This is only if you want to clear out a letter that is already there, otherwise just push the right arrow once.
Once you have completed your tagging push key F1. Another menu will appear. Push F1 again. Then to program in another conventional frequency, you will push the F2 key and start the process all over again. This information can be found in your owner’s manual on pages 28 through 32.
2. To program a trunking radio system. You need to do the following. Push the program key to put the scanner into the program mode. Next press F1. When the new menu appears you will press F1 again. On the next menu, use the up or down arrow to get the cursor to be flashing at TSYS. Then push the select key. The cursor should be on Type. Use the left or right arrows to pick the desired trunking system type. Once that has been picked you can use your down arrow to scroll to tag and enter a new name for the system. Once you have completed that, press the down arrow to get the cursor flashing by the word frequencies. You will now begin to enter the frequencies for the system. After you enter the first frequency by pushing the number keys (including the decimal point) and the enter key, push the down arrow to enter the next frequency. After you have entered the last frequency, push the F1 key to save the entries. Then push the save key again to save the new trunked system into memory. This will put you back into the Talkgroup menu.
To enter the individual Talkgroup id’s push the down arrow to scroll to ID. By default the ID is set to wildcard. To change the ID press the number keys to enter the specific Talkgroup ID you want. Press the enter key to save the ID. To tag the ID, push the down arrow to have the cursor by Tag. This information can be found in your owner’s manual from pages 33 – 35.