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| Pro-93/2053/95 Scanner Manual |
| Last Updated February 01, 2008 |
| Contents |
| Introduction | Programming Trunking Systems |
| Main Features | Programming a Fleet Map |
| Understanding Trunking | Fleet Maps |
| Understanding IDs | Programming Offset and Base Frequency |
| Understanding Banks | Programming Talk Group IDs |
| Understanding Scanner Modes | Clearing IDs |
| Receive Modes | Scanning Conventional Banks |
| Open and Closed Modes | Priority Scanning |
| Terms Used in this Document | Scanning and Trunking Banks |
| Keypad and Knob Controls | Turning ID Scan Lists On and Off |
| Setting the Squelch | Changing Open and Closed Modes |
| A Look at the Display | Changing ID Delay |
| In Scan Mode | Locking/Unlocking IDs |
| In Receive Mode | Switching Text and ID Code Display |
| In Search Mode | Switching EDACS Format Display |
| Searching for Frequencies | Special Features |
| Marine or CB Search | Text Tagging |
| Police/Fire, Air, or Ham Search | Scan/Search Delay |
| Service Search Band Charts | Locking Out Channels |
| Limit Search | Changing Receive Modes |
| Tune Search | Using the Attenuator |
| Seek Function | Turning the Keytone Off and On |
| Frequency Copy | Backlight |
| Zeromatic Tuning | Changing the Display Contrast |
| Search Skip Memory | Keylock |
| Programming Conventional Frequencies | Cloning/Uploading/Downloading |
| Deleting Frequencies | Listening to the Weather Band |
| Receiving SAME Weather Alerts |
| Scanner Reset |
| Related Links/Info |
| Introduction | Contents |
| These are another excellent batch of radios that have many fine features for scanning and trunking. However, anyone who has tried to read the manuals that come with the radios know it can be a little hard (if you're lucky) to find, read, and figure out some of the steps, especially in the searching and trunking sections. IMHO they are a mess. |
| I can’t remember everything and find myself referring back to the manual for explanations of procedures and find it frustrating trying to figure out the wording every time. I decided to write and print this for myself to make it easier to use the radio and am happy to share it with you. This should also make it easier for most people to use some of the more advanced features of the radio (and get their money’s worth if you paid full-price for the radio new) as I will try to explain procedures a little more clearly and in a more logical order. Granted, these radios aren't simple so you will have to spend some time on them but this manual will at least make it easier. If you follow the red highlighted text in the programming sections, you should find what you need to know. If you want to find out what's really going on with the radio, read everything else. |
| There are 2 firmware versions of the Pro-93. The first version 1.00 has a problem of showing the bank names of banks 0-1 in banks 8-9, fixed with the new 1.03 version (Feb 2002?). |
| I will assume you know how to obtain the basic information from the original manual such as following safety procedures, putting the batteries in, connecting the antenna, finding specs, etc. and concentrate on the main functions of the scanner. |
| Some of the better features of these radios are the seek feature in search mode that resumes searching after 5 seconds and the adjustable ID delay. The best one, in my opinion, is the ability to configure everything in the freeware, on the computer, and then just shoot it to the radio (with a one-way cable) or back to the computer (with a two-way cable). Much easier to work with the keyboard and see the monitor. You can set the attenuator globally or per channel. With a couple of keystrokes, you can view the IDs as text or code. There are 5 ID lists (20 IDs per list) to store 100 IDs for each bank. With the freeware, you can program any frequency from 5 kHz to 1.3 GHz, excluding cell. |
| Now, on the flip
side, there are some pretty annoying things about these
radios too. IDs can't be locked out in open mode. Any
IDs that are locked out (in the ID lists) will still be
heard in open mode. They really won't be locked out until
you close the bank. But when you close the bank, the
scanner only receives IDs that are programmed
into the ID lists (and not locked out). They will not
tune to many of the splinter frequencies in the VHF range
(except the 108-137 air band) like 151.0125 (it accepts
it as 151.01). An overview of the features can also be view at my Trunking Radio Comparison Chart page. |
| These radios also have freeware that will enhance and/or enable other features not possible with just the keypad and have been noted when known. My opinion is get the Win95 freeware if you have a lot of frequencies. With all the features and setting in these new fangled devices it will save you hours of programming and frustration. It may also be easier to figure out the freeware than the keypad sequences. Alpha tagging is great but much easier with the freeware. Because of the limited amount of keys on the radios, programming a 3 letter word takes about 20 keystrokes on my Pro-95, if you can remember the sequence and don't make a mistake, after you program the bank name. See what I mean? Get the freeware. You have to dish out $20 bucks or so for a cable and there are plenty of newsgroups on the Net about these radios to help you hook up to the computer and work the freeware. You can find it here: Win95 or Win93. |
| All in all, they will compliment your scanner collection (provided you have one). |
| I hereby absolve myself from anything that happens to anyone or the scanner as a result of the information you will be reading. You are welcome to copy and/or print these pages and use them in the scanning hobby as long as don't change them or charge anyone money for them. |
| Check back often as this document will be updated and revised from time to time. |
| Main Features | Contents |
| Duel-System Trunking - you can track Motorola and GE/Ericsson trunking systems. |
| Control Channel Only Scanning - automatically determines the trunking frequencies for Motorola trunking systems only, once the control channels are programmed. |
| Data Cloning - lets you transfer the programmed data from one PRO-93 or PRO-2053 to another, (or from one PRO-95 to another). You can also download the programmed data from a PC to the scanner (using an optional one-way PC cable), or upload the programmed data to the scanner (using a two-way PC cable) with the optional freeware. |
| Simultaneous Trunk and Scan - scans conventional and trunked frequencies together at the same time. |
| 12 Character, 4-line, Dot Matrix Text Display - lets you program a text label for each channel, bank, search bank, or talkgroup ID so you can easily identify the transmission. |
| Trunking ID Delay - variable delay before searching for another talkgroup ID so you can hear more replies that are made on the same talkgroup ID. |
| 6 Service Banks - Marine, CB, Police/Fire, Air, and Ham pre-programmed search ranges and 1 programmable limit search to reduce search time and monitor interesting frequencies more quickly. |
| Tune Search - The scanner will allow you to start searching up or down from a specific frequency. |
| Search Lockouts- for each channel in the CB and Marine bands and 50 per band for each of the Ham, Air, Police/Fire, or limit search bands. |
| Attenuation - lets you program your scanner (per channel or globally) to reduce the scanner's sensitivity to strong local signals or noise caused by these signals to reduce interference. |
| 10 Channel Storage Banks - you can store up to 30 channels in each bank in the Pro-93/2053 and 100 channels in each bank in the Pro-95. |
| HyperSearch and HyperScan - searches up to 100 steps per second and scans up to 50 channels per second. |
| 10 ID-Storage Banks - lets you store and/or lock out (locked out scanning in closed mode only) 1000 IDs in 10 ID banks that have 5 sub-ID banks of 20 each. Each sub-bank can be turned on or off so you can monitor ID's you prefer. |
| Channel Lockouts - lets you lock out up to 30 channels (Pro 93/2053) and 100 channels (Pro 95) in each bank. |
| Weather Alert - can be set to automatically sound the alarm tone to advise of hazardous weather conditions when it detects the alert signal on the local National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather channel (SAME standby mode) or you can also scan and set the weather channel as a priority channel. Displays the weather event text with four alert levels so you can see and hear the reason for the alert. |
| Triple-Conversion Circuitry - virtually eliminates (depending on your location) any interference from IF (intermediate frequency) images, so you hear only the selected frequency. |
| Display Backlight - select the time the light stays on or set to constant. |
| Three Power Options (Pro 93/95) - lets you power the scanner using internal batteries; alkaline, Ni-Cad, or Ni-MH; external AC power using an optional 9 volt 300-mA AC adapter/charger (and RS ‘type B’ adaptaplug); or DC power using an optional 9 volt DC cigarette-lighter power cable. |
| Scan/Search Delay - 2 second (adjustable with optional freeware and cable) scan and search delay before moving to another channel, frequency, or trunking system so you can hear more replies that are made on the same transmission. |
| 1 Priority Channel - lets you program an additional frequency, one of the conventional channels, or a weather channel and then have the scanner check that channel every 2 seconds while it scans the bank, so you don't miss transmissions on that frequency or channel. |
| Manual Access - lets you directly access any channel or frequency. |
| Key Lock - lets you lock the scanner's keys to help prevent accidental changes to the scanner's programming. |
| Battery Low Alert (Pro 93/95) - warns you when battery power gets low by beeping about every 10 seconds. |
| Key Confirmation Tones - the scanner sounds a tone when you press a key, perform an operation correctly, and an error tone if you make an error. Can be turned off. |
| Memory Backup - keeps the frequencies stored in memory for an extended time if the radio loses power. |
Your scanner can receive these bands:
| Frequency | Step Size | Frequency | Step Size |
| Range | (kHz) | Band | Range | (kHz) | Band |
| 25-29 | 5 | CB-Ham | 406-420 | 6.25 | Federal Government |
| 29-50 | 5 | VHF Lo Band | 420-450 | 6.25 | 70-cm Ham Band |
| 50-54 | 5 | 6-Meter Ham Band | 450-470 | 6.25 | UHF Standard Band |
| 108-137 | 12.5 | Aircraft Band | 470-512 | 6.25 | UHF "T" Band |
| 137-144 | 12.5 | Military Land Mobile | 806-824 | 6.25 | Public Service "800" Band |
| 144-148 | 12.5 | 2-Meter Ham Band | 849-869 | 6.25 | Public Service "800" Band |
| 148-174 | variable | VHF Hi Band | 894-960 | 6.25 | UHF Hi, 33-cm Ham Band |
| 216-225 | 5 | 1.25-Meter Ham Band | 1240-1300 | 6.25 | 25-cm Ham Band |
| Note: Don Starr has claimed that these scanners also have an extended frequency range. For more info visit his site here: Win95. |
| Understanding Trunking | Contents |
| Trunking
systems let a large group of 2-way radio users (or even
different groups of 2-way radio users) efficiently use a set
of frequencies. Instead of selecting a specific frequency
for a transmission, the user’s radio selects a
programmed trunking bank in the system when that user
presses their PTT (push to talk) button. The trunking
system automatically transmits the call on the first
available frequency, and also sends (on a different
frequency called a Data or Control channel) a code that
uniquely identifies that transmission as a talkgroup ID
(here after referred to as just ID). So when you are
trunking a system, you are listening to active IDs
transmitting in the system (each using the first
available frequency in the system). Thus, trunking
systems in general, allocate a few frequencies among many
different users.
These trunking scanners trunk two main types of systems; Motorola and Ericsson EDACS systems. These scanners will not trunktrack the newer digital systems. When you program a Motorola or EDACS frequencies into the scanner, one frequency is the data channel, and the rest are the frequencies shared by all the users. The data is continually transmitted to the field units and has a sound similar to listening to a boat engine over the phone (in manual mode; you won't hear this when you are trunking the system). This data channel is also a good check to see if you can trunk the system. If you can't hear a data channel when you step through the trunking frequencies (in manual mode), you either don't have all the frequencies or are too far away to receive the system. Motorola systems are limited to a maximum of 28 frequencies per system, Ericsson EDACS systems are limited to 25 frequencies per system. Since the trunking system might send a call and its response on different frequencies, it is difficult to listen to trunked communications using a regular scanner. This scanner lets you select and monitor the data channel frequency sent with a 2-way radio transmission within the trunking bank, so you can hear calls and responses for users and more easily "follow" conversations than with a conventional scanner. Trunkscanning is basically scanning IDs that are programmed into ID locations (same concept as frequencies into channels). You can then trunkscan just the programmed IDs. Trunking is searching for all IDs in a system (same concept as searching for frequencies in a band). |
| Radio Reference.com has an excellent page explaining the various types of trunking systems in more detail here. |
| Understanding IDs | Contents |
| Motorola IDs come in two formats: Type I and Type II. Each format displays and uses talk group IDs in slightly different ways. |
|
| EDACS IDs come in two formats: AFS (Agency-Fleet-Subfleet) and Decimal. |
|
| Understanding Banks | Contents |
| Channel Storage Banks |
| The radios have 10 banks of 30 (Pro 93/2053) or 100 (Pro 95) channels. Channel numbering starts with 000 and goes to 029 (Pro 93-2053) or 099 (Pro 95) in the first bank. Banks number 0-9. You can also program your trunking frequencies and conventional frequencies into the same bank as well to utilize channel space better. |
| Use each channel-storage bank to group frequencies, such as those for police, fire, ambulance, aircraft, and/or trunking systems. For example, your police department might use 20 frequencies while the fire department uses 15 and a trunked EMS systems uses 5 trunked frequencies. You could program the EMS frequencies starting with channel 000, (the first channel in bank 0), the police frequencies starting with channel 005, and the fire department frequencies starting with channel 025. EDACS systems have to start at channels 001, 101, 201, etc. and follow a LCN order but you can still use 000, 100, 200, etc. for a conventional frequency. |
| For each trunking bank, the scanner will allow you to program only one EDACS system (with conventional frequencies), or only one Motorola system (with conventional frequencies). |
| Tip: Theoretically, you could also program more than one trunking system into a bank as long as you could only monitor one at a time, in different locations, far enough apart, so the system you are monitoring wouldn't interfere with the other system (which would confuse the radio). But remember, the scanner can be set to decode only one type of ID (MO or ED) per bank. |
| Service Bands |
| The scanners also have 5 service bands pre-programmed with frequencies and 1 limit search to allow you to create your own search band. Search bands SR2 (Police/Fire), and SR4 (Ham) are divided into groups or sub-bands of frequencies that can be turned on or off within the bands. |
| Understanding Scanner Modes | Contents |
| Receive Modes |
| Each channel can have its own receive mode: AM, FM, (FM) ED (EDACS), or (FM) MO (Motorola). |
| Open and Closed Modes |
| Each channel bank can be set to open or closed mode. |
| In
open mode the scanner will receive: (1) all
channels in AM and FM modes, that are not locked out. |
| In
closed mode the scanner will receive: (1) all
channels in AM and FM modes, that are not locked out. |
| In other words, |
| If you want to hear all IDs, scan in open mode. If you want to hear specific IDs, program them into the scan lists and scan in closed mode. If you want to hear specific IDs and not hear other IDs, program them into the scan lists, lock out the ones you don't want to hear, then scan in closed mode. |
| Terms Used in This Document | Contents |
|
| Searching- the process of searching for frequencies in frequency bands. |
| Scanning- the process of stepping through conventional channels in scan banks. |
| Trunktracking (open mode)- the process of searching for talkgroup IDs in trunked systems, in scan banks. |
| Trunkscanning (closed mode)- the process of stepping through talkgroup IDs in ID lists, in trunked systems, in scan banks. |
| You search for frequencies in frequency bands. |
| You scan programmed channels in scan banks. |
| You trunktrack for IDs in trunking systems (in scan banks). |
| You trunkscan programmed IDs in ID lists (in trunking systems [in scan banks]). |
| Manual Mode- the mode the radio is in when it’s just on, doing nothing but monitoring a channel. |
| Program Mode- used for storing frequencies, limit searches, priority channels, trunking frequencies/systems/fleet maps, and talkgroup ID lists. |
| Trunking Mode- used for trunking and programming trunking frequencies and functions. |
| Scanning Mode- the mode the radio is in when scanning and/or trunking. |
| Search Mode- the mode the radio is in while performing a service, limit, or tune search. |
| Open and Closed Modes- You search all IDs in Open mode or just programmed IDs in Closed mode. |
| Clone Mode- used for cloning scanners and uploading/downloading to/from scanners using a computer. |
| At certain times, the radio can be in more than one mode at a time such as program and trunk mode to program trunked functions. |
| Keypad and Knob Controls | Contents |
| Your scanner's keys might seem confusing at first, but this information should help you understand each key's function. |
|
 |
 |
Locks the keypad to prevent accidental program changes; turns on/off the display backlight. |
| SEARCH | Selects the 5 search banks or limit search. |
| L/OUT | Locks/unlocks selected channels while scanning; locks/unlocks specified frequencies during a limit or service search. |
| PGM | (Program) - Puts scanner in program mode; steps to next channel in program mode. |
| ENTER | Completes the entry of frequencies, IDs, and text. |
| (.) DELAY | Enters a decimal point or space; programs delay time for the selected channel/search bank; hyphen in trunking ID programming. |
| CL | (Clear) - Clears an incorrect entry. |
| Number Keys | Enter a channel or a frequency; turn groups on and off in search mode; select which banks to scan in scanning mode; enter numbers or characters for programming text. |
| Turning On The Scanner And Setting the Squelch | Contents |
| 1. Turn SQUELCH fully counter-clockwise to min. |
| 2. Turn VOLUME/OFF clockwise until it clicks and you hear a hissing sound. |
| 3. Turn SQUELCH clockwise until the hissing stops and then just a little more. |
| If you are using the scanner for the first time, straight out of the box, you should see all zeros in the frequency display. The scanner will not scan or trunktrack until you program frequencies into the banks. However, you can do a search. |
| A Look at the Display | Contents |
| The display has indicators that show the scanner's current operating status. The display information helps you understand how your scanner operates. |
| In Scan Mode | Contents |
|
 |
| 4th Line |
| PRIon will appear if the priority feature is on. PRIwx will appear if the weather channel is set as the priority channel. BATT. Lo - blinks when the scanner's battery is low. |
| In Receive Mode | Contents |
|
 |
| P will appear to the right of the channel if the priority feature is on. |
| A will appear to the right of the channel if the channel is attenuated. |
| D will appear to the right of the channel if the delay is set for the channel. |
| L will appear to the right of the channel if the channel is locked out. |
 or  will appear to
show the search direction. |
| - or + appears just to the left of the receive mode to show if the bank is closed (-) or open (+). |
| MO, ED, FM, or AM will appear in the top right to show the receive mode of the channel. |
| 2nd Line |
| 0000.00000 shows the frequency on the second line. VC will appear to the left of the frequency while scanning if it is a trunked voice channel. |
| 3rd Line |
| Bank 0 Ch 00 appears to show the bank and channel or just the channel name if programmed. |
| 4th Line |
| If the receive mode of the channel is AM or FM, the bank name appears (if programmed). |
If the
receive mode of the channel is MO, in scan mode the ID
# (or tag if programmed)
appears. In manual mode, MOT: none appears
until an ID is received. If it is the control channel, MOT:
CNTRL, (or active IDs) appears.
In program mode, the bank tag will appear
if (if programmed). A  will appear to
the right of the ID if the channel is receiving. |
| If the
receive mode of the channel is ED, in scan mode the ID
# (or tag if programmed)
appears. In manual mode, ED: none
appears. If it is the control channel, ED: CTL-xx
(LCN of the control channel), will appear until there is
activity, then IDs appear and will
'flicker' if multiple IDs are received. In program mode, the bank
tag will appear if (if programmed). A will appear to
the right of the ID if the channel is receiving. |
| Displays the bank name or Priority Channel if the priority channel is receiving. |
| BATT. Lo blinks when the scanner's battery is low. Pri Channel - will appear if the priority channel is receiving. |
| In Search Mode | Contents |
|
 |
| a will appear to the right of the search band if the global frequency attenuate feature is on and set to on. |
| D will appear to the right of the search band if the delay is turned on for the channel (SR0 or SR1) or if the delay for the band is turned on (SR2-5). |
| L will appear to the right of the search band if the frequency is locked out in manual mode in search bands SR0 and SR1. |
| or will appear to
show the search direction. |
| MO, ED, FM, or AM will appear in the top right to show the receive mode. |
| 2nd Line |
| M appears on the left when search band SR0 or SR1 is in manual mode. |
| S appears on the left in search band SR0 or SR1 when searching and receiving and the line will blink while receiving in seek mode. |
| z appears on the left in search bands SR2-SR5 if zeromatic tuning is on and the line will blink while receiving in seek mode. |
| 0000.00000 appears to the right to display the frequency and will blink while receiving in seek mode. |
| 3rd Line |
| Channel -- appears while searching in search band SR0 or SR1. |
| Group 012345 will appear while searching search bands SR2 and SR4 and the cursor will blink under the current search group. A . (dot) will replace the number if the group is turned off. |
| ** PAUSED ** appears on the third line when a search is paused. |
| 4th Line |
| The Band Name will appear on the fourth line. |
| BATT. Lo blinks when the scanner's battery is low. |
| Searching for Frequencies | Contents |
| With a service bank search, You can search for CB, Marine, Police/Fire, Aircraft, or Ham transmissions without knowing the specific frequencies used in your area. The scanner is pre-programmed with all the frequencies allocated to these services. |
| Or, you can program the Limit search to search within any lower and upper frequency. |
| Or, you can search up or down from a specific frequency using the Tune feature. |
| Marine or CB Search | Contents |
| The CB and Marine bands are actually frequencies pre-programmed into special channels. You are not searching from a lower frequency to a higher frequency. |
| To start a Marine(SR0) or CB(SR1) Search, press search until SR0 (for Marine) or SR1 (for CB) appears in the display. M will appear in the upper left. Press FUNC then SEARCH to start searching. S will appear in the upper left while searching. The channel numbers and search band name will appear in the display. Pressing FUNC and SEARCH again will stop the search. |
| Note: if you exit the SR1 (CB) search without stopping the search, the scanner will start searching automatically the next time you return to the band until you press FUNC then SEARCH while in the band to stop searching. You must press FUNC then SEARCH each time you enter the SR0 (Marine) to start searching. |
| To change
search directions or continue searching, press the or button. |
| To turn the Seek function on or off, press FUNC then 7 while searching. Seek ON or OFF will briefly appear on the bottom line. The frequency will blink while receiving when the Seek function is turned on. See Seek Function. |
| To Pause on a channel, quickly press PAUSE to stop searching. **PAUSED** appears in the display. To resume searching, press PAUSE again. |
| To Step
through the channels one at a time, press PAUSE.
Press the or button to step
through the channels. To resume searching, press PAUSE
again. Or, to See the channel numbers, press FUNC then SEARCH to stop the search. Press the or button to step
through the channels. To resume searching, press FUNC
then SEARCH again. |
| Note: You may also directly enter the channel number when **PAUSED** appears in the display. |
| To Lock out a channel, quickly press L/OUT while the channel is displayed. |
| To Unlock a channel, See Search Skip Memory. |
| To turn the Delay on or off for a channel, quickly press DELAY while the channel is displayed. See Scan/Search Delay. |
| To Attenuate a channel, quickly press ATT while the channel is displayed. See Using the Attenuator. |
| To exit searching, press MANUAL. |
| Police/Fire, Air, or Ham Search | Contents |
| To start
a Police/Fire (SR2), Air (SR3), or Ham (SR4) Search, press SEARCH
until you find the desired band and the scanner should
start searching automatically. In the Air band only,
pressing FUNC then will restart
searching up from the lowest frequency. Pressing FUNC
then will restart
searching down from the highest frequency. |
| To change
search directions or continue searching, press the or button. |
| To turn the Seek feature on or off, press FUNC then 7 while searching. Seek ON or OFF will briefly appear on the bottom line. The frequency will blink while receiving when the Seek function is turned on. See Seek Function. |
| To Pause on a frequency, quickly press PAUSE to stop searching. **PAUSED** appears in the display. To resume searching, press PAUSE again. |
| To Step
through the frequencies one at a time, press PAUSE.
Press the or button to step
through the frequencies. To resume searching, press PAUSE
again. |
|
| To Unlock a frequency, See Search Skip Memory. |
| To turn band groups on or off, in the Police/Fire (SR2) and Ham (SR4) bands press the number keys (0-3 or 0-5) to select the group. See Service Bands and Search Band Charts. |
| To Attenuate a band group, in the Police/Fire (SR2) or Ham (SR4) bands, press ATT while the group is being searched. See Using the Attenuator. |
| To turn the Delay on for the band, press DELAY to pause before searching resumes after the transmission ends. See Scan/Search Delay. |
| To turn Zeromatic Tuning on or off for the band, press FUNC then 0. See Zeromatic Tuning. |
| To Copy a frequency into a channel, See Frequency Copy. |
| To Copy a frequency into the priority channel, quickly press FUNC then PRI while the channel is displayed. The display will flash twice and the frequency will be copied into the priority channel. See Priority Scanning. |
| To exit searching, press MANUAL. |
| Search Band Charts | Contents |
|