Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This Is the easist scanner that i have ever bought easy to program just like my pro-528 hand held has well.
To recieve the best reception you have to program all 800freq in motorola in stead of the fm mode,and when it does find a channel in the 800area don't save the id that it finds because there are a lot of splinnter 800freq and it just want search them after you do that.Then you want pick anything up at all if any were Digital channels.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This radio is a good radio for getting started in digital communications, the ACPO project 25 systems. Most systems will be used by this. This radio is the only radio that is affordable if you try to save up much money as you can, cause its worth it. The radio is like the Pro 95. Same frequency coverage and better reception in the 800 MHz region. Also it receives semi local weather stations.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

The only two things that I do not like about the pro-96 is; they should of made the scanner lockout more that 50 channels, and once you have accidently deleted a V-Folder it cannot be recovered even if you do a software restore. When I think about they also should of made it with a larger display with more characters.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

It is amazing and I am going to buy the base version soon. However, when I turn it on, it takes five hours before it can recieve a digital signal. So, at night I turn the volume down and plug it in so the battery doesn't die, and so it doesnt shut off. It is charging and on at night, and it is on with the batteries out of it during the day when im not using it. I wish though that I could turn it off and then turn it back on and be able to recieve digital immediately. When it can't recieve digital it makes weird white noise sounds. After about four hours if I hit it on the right side it can pick up digital. Very weird. Can someone help?? But otherwise, I would say buy it.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

The Pro-96 is by far the best radio that GRE ever produced for Radio Shack! The VFolder memory management is sheer genius, and the only "lacking" features are 700mhz trunking, signal stalker, and NAC code ability. Other than those, this is the finest radio to ever come from this line, and will be the "last great scanner" as the new Pro-106, while having great added features, is a big disappointment as far as the scatterbrained memory management goes. Dynamic Memory / Object Oriented Memory is wonderful, but they really dropped the ball by not making a way to organize it better. The Pro-96 reigns supreme!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have seen several posts regarding the short battery life of the Pro-96 scanner and offer the following.
Battery life is extended greatly if you program the scanner so that the back lighting does not come on at every key entry.
In the Pro 96 software it is done by removing the check mark in the two boxes on the start up page in the Backlight Control area.
If you enter the number 2000 in the box above the check mark boxes you can get the light on for 20 seconds. It will turn off upon a second push.
I have mine set at 3000 (thirty seconds).

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I like to use this Scanner for emergencies, ham band, cb band, Aircraft,and frs/gm/murs the thing that is great about it. Is that you can get a lot of things to listen to.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

My Pro 96 is over 4 years old and still works like it is new. Yes, programming can be a monster if you dont have the Win96 software but once you get it, its easy. My scanner has not been treated with "kid gloves" and it shows cosmetic damage, but it still works fine.
For those of you complaining of garbled digital transmissions, let me tell you, I am a dispatcher for a local police department and we have the same problem on the radio systems sometimes. I believe it is a problem with the system, not necessarily a problem with the scanner.

If I have to look real hard to find a problem with the scanner...well, one of the little rubber grips on the side came off and I lost it before I could glue it back on.
Other than that, its been great.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I bought the PRO-2096 and the PRO-96 scanners when they first came out. They both still work perfectly. I am still tempted to buy another one.

Programing can be difficult (especially when you have 5000 plus channels to fill up), but if you get programming software, you won't have to worry about poking at buttons forever.

Depending on how you set up your scanner, it can work just fine for you.

I do miss the big size scanners where you can see the buttons when you need to change a channel or bank when trying to drive safely.

Those who purchased faulty scanners, exchange it and get the software for it!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is great. The only drawback is you have to get programming software from Starrsoft. They are very not a very customer friendly company. Radio Shack should sell the software.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

The only thing I liked about this scanner is that fact that I found it easy to use, mainly due to it's similarities to the Pro-164.Unfortunately that's all I liked about it. The digital garble is really bad. Like someone mentioned in the Uniden BCD396T digital scanner reviews, at times it sounds “like someone is trying to speak under water.”I think that this unit should give the user the option to lock the scanner in digital mode. One of the biggest problems I encounter was the scanner not switching automatically to digital mode when a Tx came in. It would stay in FM mode.I monitored the LAPD North Hollywood Division, and the problem appeared to worsen as they got busier in the evening. It appears that this scanner has trouble dealing with heavy digital traffic. It appears that the Pro-96 is not the only one with the garbled sound. The Uniden appears to have the same problem. For the price that these scanners are selling and their low digital decoding performance, it's my opinion that they are way overpriced. I would not pay more than 200 hundred dollars for either one of these scanners. Again, mainly due to it's low digital performance. I think that Radio Shack and Uniden need to go back to the drawing board and give it another try. I paid [$] for mine and it's going back tomorrow, I feel sorry for those who paid the original price!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this scanner is a good scanner to use. I use it to know what is going on in the area I'm in. this scanner is very rugged i made a big mistake by carrying it on my bike on day, and i wrecked out and fell on the side i had my scanner, and wow the damage was horrible, but it was only cosmetic and when i checked inside none of the parts inside the scanner were damaged, it still works like its brand new, after some cosmetic work it looks fine. the only problem i have with this scanner is the 800mhz system here in broward, I can stand outside a police department, tune into there channel and the reception is absolutely horrible on the BSO side of things. that's the only thing i think should be improved on the scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Dont use rubbing alcohol to clean sides paint will come off cheap clear coat.But very good all around.I love it, being able to hear whats going on and sometimes going to scene of an accident or such.I use a cb antenna to further the distance I can reach.I like all the frequencies it comes with.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

It works good. I got it on a discone antenna here in Connecticut. I get all Troops off the omnilink and of course all my local PD/FD's.

Nothing like finally breaking that digital barrier. Listening to the state police is awesome. Much better action.

I've owned my Pro 95 for 5 years, rarely turned it off. Well least not until I got this Pro-96.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

the sound has never worked [...]

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have had the Pro-96 for about two months now and it continues to perform superbly. Using Win96 to program it makes all the difference in updating and making the trunking channels make sense when listening. I use it at home and mobile. Reception is great. This is a fine scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I use the product at my house, but get poor reception. I live about 10 miles away from the next county and get poor reception on those counties frequencies. It is easy to use and program and the baattery lasts a long time.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I use this when ever I am on the road, or walking around town. Whats great about this is I can hear all the action when not home. Why miss a important call?

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have owned my scanner now for over a year. This scanner is not for the weak of heart or mind. No this is not your grandma's scanner, nor is it for someone without the mental capacity or without the time or patience to learn a complicated Scanner of this style.. The Unit has a lot of very neat features and the Virtual memory is great for getting started. When you have many features it takes time to learn how to use them. From the other reviews I have read, people seem to think it is a plug and play... Not the case. I have been in communications for over 12 years and I have found this to be a very good scanner.. I replaced the original antenna with something that works better for 800 MHZ frequencies. For those who don't know, anything over 400 MHZ has short range to begin with!! Digital signals are shorter yet. So be prepared to replace the antenna with either a mobile or a home antenna. A good High gain rubber duck antenna is also suggested. Also Please if you are going to leave a review for others to read, use spell check or have your mother read it before you submit it.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this scanner is great for storms and just personal use

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have to admit this is the best scanner I have ever owned, and radio shack clonned mine to theirs for free so i didnt have to do any programming, but for the [$]price tag it should at least include a charger.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I bought this scanner to replace pro 164 since Indianapolis Police and Fire went all digital. For [$] I expected better reception from this scanner. ON many channels the signals are very garbeled and it chatters allot. I don't buy the excuss that the channels are encripted as per the manual. Not all of the channels are encripted. I would reccomend getting the Win96 program for easyer scanner programming especially Digital channels and talk groups. Over all I am disapointed in this scanner for the price. But looking online at other scanner makers they all have problems in Digital mode.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This used to be my favorite scanner, but it has been succeeded by the GRE PSR-500. GRE manufactures this scanner for RadioShack. The PSR-500 is essentially an improved version of this scanner for the same price. There's no reason to by the previous generation when you can get the current generation for the same price. Unfortunately, RadioShack has been selling this model for[$]since its debut.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Having been out of the scanning hobby for many years, I have been very impressed with the Pro-96. It has very sophisticated capabilities but with any equipment of such capabilities, learning to use and program it takes a while.

Win96 Software ($30) works very well with the Pro-96 and will greatly simplify programming it via your PC versus using the Pro-96's compact keyboard. I bought the PC cable/driver from Radio Shack and it works fine with Win96 Software.

Do not be put off by the some of the complexity but do your homework by reading the manual, visiting www.radioreference.com forums and using software and the PC interface to program it.

The Pro-96 works very well at home and in a mobile environment. In our location, the rubber duckie-type antenna seems to work just fine.

We purchased 2100 mah ni-mh rechargeable batteries as a set of normal alkaline batteries will only last a little over a day of continuous use. We purchased the AC adapter for home use and the 12 volt adapter for vehicle use. The AC adapter charges the rechargeable batteries just fine.

www.radioreference.com is a tremendous source of information which is extremely useful in setting up and maintaining the Pro-96...especially for trunked systems (TalkGroup identification, etc.). This source of info makes it much easier to know what you're really listening to instead of just the TalkGroup ID...adding a text label makes it much easier to know what radio communication/agency/business you're tuned into.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Best scanner i have ever owned.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is FANTASTIC! I live on Marylands eastern shore and can pick up things from Annapolis even though it has alot of static it still picks it up and when I go over there I have plenty of room for the hugh amount of frequencies that Annapolis and Baltimore have.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Clear reception, but I wish the range were better. I have been looking into antenna options. The unit itself is not very rugged and I have not been able to find a protective case, which is very, very annoying. ([...] we want protective cases for our expesive electronics! And we are willing to pay for them. $$$$$)Mine came pre-programmed so that was easy. I will say the manual was informative but monsterous! You'll need a week to read it.Mine is in need of repair (reference, not durable) and I have had one heck of a time figuring out how to send it in.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

My dad is a police officer and I listen to it constantly. Its good to know all of the police signals and codes and listen to whats going on in your town, great produce!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I'm a Firefighter & EMT and i listen to it 24/7.
it picks up great and easy to program off the computer.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this is the best radio I have owned.good size,great signal.only change i wish they made is more priority chennels.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

would like to have priorty options when in the trunking mode like the pro 94 does. the first channel in each of the ID banks can be used as a priorty channel. also the display could be brighter like the pro 97. I use the leather carry case from my pro 63, a little big but protects it. otherwise it,s a great radio. I found a few digital freq. on a system that was supposed to be going all digital since 2002.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is the top scanner on the market. [...]This scanner is undoubtly the best scanner out there today.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

bought it in florida brought it home to Ireland works very well also bought a pro 50 scanner twenty years ago still going strong

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is the most complicated scanner to use I have ever owned. You have to buy commercial software and it will not download into the scanner. It halts about half way through. The manual is no use at all and I recieved no help from the local Radio Shack. They new less about it than I did. I would not recommend it to anyone for anything. It is being used as a bookend by me. That is the only good thing I have found it to good for.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

i think it awsome . but cant get used to the CB band it echos a lot, and TRS Programing was my hardest!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I can't even moniter the 9600 Baud digital system here. The Sheriff (3600 baud is wonderful) Waste of money and you get ZERO support from RS. Good luck with any of them even knowing what the scanner does or how to operate it. Even with the very outdated firmware flash no luck.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this is way to high when you can buy a baircat for almost half and it dose even better

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I thought it was to expensive for what you get. [...]Had to purchase frequencies on line after pruchase of scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Being a member of our town fire service it is good to know that my family can stay on top of what is going on while out on a working job. Scanner was easy to program [...] I purchased for $5 three surrounding counties so I get all the action that is going on. Unit does seem to drain batteries so that is a Con. Other than this I am very pleased with the scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is great. The only thing I dont like about it is that my local police station broadcasts with scramblers and I cannot always pick them up. So, you would propably be better off buying the tripple trunking scanner. It's about [$]

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I use this scanner 24/7 and it is great. [...]

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this is a good scanner, although you spend a lot of money on the extras (like an 800 Mhz antenna, the reason it don't come with one is so they can get more money out of you) battery charger/adapter and USB cable for downloading firmware from its website (for about [$])

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

RS - we need a newer firmware than v1.4 for this radio. A 13-tower digital P25 simulcast/multicast system here is unusable on this radio as not even half of the signals make it out on the radio. A single tower digital system is just fine, but this radio is a disaster on the multisite system. Please issue a firmware update, then I would love this radio, but for now I am not pleased with its performance.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great scanner. The initial programming is a little tough, but now I can pick up signals from over 100 mi. away, perfectly clear. Amazing amount of channels, I programed the channels by county and have altogether too much fun. Haven't found anything to complain about, it works perfectly. Great battery life. I use alkalines and have had my scanner on for 3 days and haven't had to change the batteries yet. Definately worth the price. I do wish it came with the AC adapter(273-0027), but that's an easy buy, just bring your scanner in to your local R.S. and they will find the correct size plug. Happy scanning.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Good scanner, way too high on the price. Has great reception,easy to program with correct software,don't even try manually! Stock antenna no good. Very light weight, no problems at all, have owned it since 2005. Recommend it to anyone, just have to know how to program it and read the users manual.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I've wanted one of these since since they came out, but the price is ridiculous. This scanner is especially unattractive since the GRE PSR-500 is the same price and far superior. [...]

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I bought this scanner cause a friend of mine told me that it was a good scanner, well, This scanner is very over rated. It doesn't even come with a charger to charge the batteries or power the unit.If I pay [$] dollars for a radio, I expect to get a charger or power supply to power the unit. Drains the battery pack with in a few hours. (not good) I would not recommend this scanner to a friend. Controls are very diffecult to use. Not satsfied with this radio at all. Returned the radio the next day.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great radio. Does a good job decoding trunking systems with only the control channels programmed-saves lots of space. Display easy to read once you get used to it. I HIGHLY recommend getting some kind of programming software, it makes programming TONS easier. I couldn't imagine using the full resources of the radio without it! Military UHF Aircraft can be enabled with software but performance in this band is very spotty, depending on the specific portion of the band-some come in well, others do not. Would not recommend this radio if you are wanting to avidly monitor Mil. UHF band.
Wish they would include a Quick Reference card for most used functions.
I also have a Pro-2096 in my truck which interfaces with the handheld without a problem. Usually I'll program the Pro-96 in the house with the laptop, then use the Pro-96 to program the Pro-2096 in the truck.
I found the manual for the 96 better then the manual for the 2096, it had usful info on the sides of many pages.
"Rubber Duck" antenna included with the radio performs VERY well.
My only problem is I have to constantly consult the manual to perform many functions which could just be the nature of the beast. After all, it is a complicated radio that does a lot of things for you. The days of 2 or 3 switches on a scanner are over and I may just have to get used to it!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Be careful before purchasing this scanner. It will not pick up the 700-MHZ frequencies of the North Carolina VIPER system that Raleigh and Wake County EMS is currently using. There are other manufacturers' digital scanners that will pick up frequencies in the 700-MHZ range.

Frequencies from http://www.radioreference.com:
Raleigh/Wake EMS 700Mhz/800Mhz Conventional Frequencies:
Raleigh/Wake Public Safety has several 700Mhz Frequencies to be used on scenes where 800MHz penetration into buildings is less than useable. The Frequencies are as follows:
Direct_1 Direct_2 Direct_3 Direct_4 VEHRPTR
764.150Mhz 764.175Mhz 764.200Mhz 764.400Mhz 794.400Mhz 764.400Mhz

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have owned two PRO-96 units since early 2005. One has been in use almost daily, with no problems. The second unit was purchased as a backup and was hardly used in the first year. The main CPU failed just within the warranty period, so that was a free repair. One needs to burn-in a new scanner for 10+ hrs straight, before it can be considered reliable.Anyway, in 2004/2005, the county I work in as a fire-medic went to a 3600 baud Motorola Smartzone digital (IMBE/APCO P-25) trunked system operating in the 480 MHz range. I, and a large group of other active & retired FFs, PD officers, and hams made a group purchase of PRO-96s so we wouldn't be shut-out from monitoring. The system doesn't have I-Call/Private Call available, so I didn't care about that capability. Encryption is limited to a few select law talkgroups, and besides, it's illegal to decode public safety radio encryption anyway. We also use a few PRO-2096 units here at work to monitor other talkgroups that we don't want in our Motorola radios' scan lists.For those who think the scanner is overpriced, realize the development that GRE did to build this unit. DVSI, the company that developed the IMBE/APCO P-25 protocol, also receives royalties for digital decoding equipment that is built. If you don't think you'll *ever* need APCO P-25 monitoring capability, then you might consider a less expensive scanner.The Win96 software from [@] is invaluable. It expands the frequency coverage to enable 200/300 MHz AM mil-air and 700 MHz non-trunked reception. It also is the only way to enter multiple tables for Motorola trunking (as needed by the system I monitor). The Win96 software allows one to easily manage all the 5500 possible channel/frequency entries. Don Starr, the Win96 developer, worked closely with GRE on the software.LTR capability would be nice to have, but I don't have much need for it in my capacity or area. The V-Folder function is invaluable for travel. You can pre-load the V-Folders with info you entered into Win96 (or loaded from [@]) fairly quickly, and easily recall it when you are in the areas you want to monitor.Compared with our Motorola XTL5000 mobiles and XTS5000 portables, the digital reception of the PRO-96 is quite good. It doesn't have the bit error correction that the Motorola radios do, but the Moto units cost over $3000!I've also found that the VHF-High reception is quite good in my area, even with the stock antenna. The stock antenna does not do well on VHF-Low (=CHP freqs), but that't to be expected from a stubby duck. A longer and top-loaded duck antenna works quite well for VHF-Low & High. The EDACS trunked reception on the PRO-96 works well, but not as well as the GE/Ericsson or M/A Com radios I've listened to simultaneouslyThe speaker audio is better than any hand-held scanner I've ever owned, but not as good as a Motorola or Bendix King H/T. For mostly mobile use, the PRO-96 benefits from an amplified mobile speaker. The earphone jack circuit is attenuated for hearing protection, so this makes the external speaker input lower than it should be. This can easily be defeated by shorting the earphone jack body to the radio chassis (BNC antenna jack body) with a small jumper wire. This is normally done internally (open the case up), but can be done externally temporarily. The PRO96 Yahoo! Group is a great resource for this scanner.I give it a 4.6 star rating, as the case plastic is ok, but not up to commercial/public safety portable radio quality.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Is one of the best scanners i have ever used. I did wish it had the 700mhz range. The oweners manul is hard to fallow , other than that great scanner. The pro-96 is my primary scanner in my house,jay

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

use this scanner and really liking it. Tried the newest Uniden scanners and literally wanted to throw them away but decided not to so I would be able to get my $ back so I would be able to get the 96. Funny thing is 15 yrs ago the sales people at [...] would know alot about their products. The people in my area knew SQWAT apparently they were in the mood to just sell cellphones! No one knew anything on how to operate the thing. First person init sold me the 97 but found out on my own that it did not receive mil a/c freq's. So i returned it and got this one. Had to research the main freq's and the the call groups in order to get the dig freqs. Otherwise it works great. Hope it lasts me a long time! [...]

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Win96, cable 20-047 and Teamspeak. All a must to add value to your purchase. Visit Radio Reference for all the freqs you need to program it. Teamspeak Server/Client is awesome as well which will let you listen to the scanner when your away using the internet. I also have the Pro-2096 for my vehicle. Love them both!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great Scanner. Easy to Program with V-Scanner folders. However WIN96 and Cable 20-047 are a must to customize. (for example multiple custom extended trunking tables can only be programmed with WIN96 i.e. wash dc police) The 800 MHz Scanner Antenna 20-283 really makes a difference with reception a requirement if you have to deal with 800 MHz analog signal. Programming on the handheld requires a lot of reading a re-reading the manual. My only compliant is it’s not loud enough to hear in the car with the windows down. And maybe the display could be brighter and support more characters of text.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I bought the BC296D and the Pro-96 both. While the BC has more channels, it does not do half as well as the Pro on reception for digital. Simple to program and easy to use. Love it.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I've been listening to two Pro 96 units owned by local ARES and RACES Ham operators here in Fallbrook, California. During the fires they were part of our "life line". I've been looking at the Uniden Digital and Pro 96.[...] I hope this price isn't a sign that the 96 is being discontinued and a NEW and better unit is being introduced soon. More likely the sales people are tired of trying to answer questions about programming it. LOL. JB - K6QVA - Quiet Voice Audio.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

One of the best scanners i have ever used. graet recive.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is great... It might be the oldest of the currently produced digital scanners but the digital reception is great. GRE (The OEM of the Pro-96) does a great job compared to Uniden on the digital and overall sound quality.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

i like it but it is a had scanner to program it, i just use the v-scan for the apco 25 syastem here in michigan

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

The Radio is GREAT. Programing it was a cinch. Operating it is awesome. Reception is more than I expected. It picks up Digital very nicely. Even monitoring the Railroads is AWESOME. DO NOT use the stock Antenna that comes with this Radio,it sucks. Get yourself an Antenna that will suite your Scanning needs. Trust me.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is rugged, I've dropped it or knocked it onto the floor more times than I can count, and it is still ticking. It was recommended to me to 'upgrade' the antenna, so I got the one offered by [...] and it did seem to improve.As for battery life, my batteries last all day. I use the [...] rechargeables and haven't been disappointed one iota. My scanner is on almost 24/7, either on batteries or plugged in. I do make certain that I drain the batteries about once every few months, don't know if that helps or not, but whatever I'm doing is working!Thankfully I have a friend that programs my scanner for me, or that would be an issue. I think that makes a big difference having a 'local person in the know' program it beyond just [...] staffers. I would highly recommend asking around for someone local willing to assist you.I wish that the scanner came with a base in which to stand it on, because it is top heavy, one of the reasons why I knock it over all the time. That would be my only complaint, which is minor.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I'm going to be completly honest. This is one of the most complex scanners I have ever owned. It has thousands of options to work with BUT by far the most fun. The manuel may look big, but seriously, who reads them anyway. Of couse your going to have to read a little but it's fairly organized and well explained. I have had mine for about two years and have never had a problem or wanted a new one. I live about 15 miles from any town and I get wonderful reception inside my house, of course that means that the cities have powerful repeaters but if your having trouble getting good reception, and don't plan on going mobile, get the 2096 with an outdoor antenna. Like I said though, I have the Mobile 96 and I just use it at home with the antenna it came with. Have fun with your new 96!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

do not buy this scanner.Batteries do not last over 2 hours.Manual difficult to figure out[...]Wish I would have saved my money!!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I like the digital. Very clear audio when APCO signal is received. Will not decode digital encryption, however. There are some digitally encrypted police channels out there but not very many (cost of the radios). I wished this radio was a bit smaller, had stronger audio and close-call signal capture. I would recommend the Starrsoft win 96 to program the scanner. Comes with 5000 dynamically programmed systems.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Wow! After the first hour, programming was a piece of cake. Love this unit. Highly recomend Win96. Makes programming a breeze!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

i have had this radio for about a year now. its not the first Radioshack scanner i have had but it is the best and the last. This radio was made by GRE (which is better then the uniden made RadioShack scanners) and is an ok scanner. it doesnt do 700MHz band). Although 700MHz band can be opened up Via software (win96) The only major thing i see is it has alot of decode fall off on Illinois starcom 21 maybe need firmware udate that isnt yet out?

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Scanner has great rf rx, and great audio. P25 decode is very good. PL/DPL decode feature is very nice also.
However it is missing some features that my 14yr old BC9000 already has.
1. user selectable channel spacing 5,6.25,10,12.5,
25/30 khz spacing
2. WFM for reception for FM and TV audio signals

Great for P25 an aircraft, but needs improvements in the area's described, also needs AC adapter/charger.
I do recommend to others for 800mhz P25 system being used by my county, but for all the stuff I monitor, I need to use 2 scanners.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Purchased this scanner & had to return it, as I discovered it does not have 700 Mhz frequencies. Some trunking systems are beginning to incorporate 700 frequencies (LATIE, for one in La.) and this scanner does not have. Too bad, as it seemed better than a Uniden BC396T, which does have 700 Mhz freqs. [...]

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great radio. Reception/audio is awesome. Trunking can be confusing. Big display. For the price, it should come with an ac adapter. If you have the software to program the scanner, which is highly recommended, it is very easy and quick to get this scanner operating. More pros than cons.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I bought this unit yesterday and had it working within a hour. It can be somewhat diffcult to program I myself still have a few bugs to work out! But, I bought it to listen to my local police and with a little help [@] and repeatedly looking at the manual I was able to get it going. I say if you have money to "burn" this seems to be a good scanner, a little expensive but well worth it if you live in a area that requires having digital and you enjoy hearing whats going on around you as it happens.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I really love this scanner but you would think for being Radio Shack's flagship portable scanner, and at [$], it should have LTR. This is where Uniden's BCD396 wins out over the PRO-96. Heaven forbid you need to monitor an LTR system, as you will need to spend another [$] to buy the PRO-97. One does digital but doesn't have LTR while the other does LTR but doesn't do digital. What was Radio Shack thinking? Great scanner but this is something the PRO-96 falls short in (and why Uniden likely gets a lot of sales over the shack). I would recommend this model ONLY if you were certain you would NOT need LTR capability.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Rough start-up until, you understand "the process" it uses and then, piece of cake. The manual - explains just about nothing important. My Pro 97 "hears" a little better both have the 800 MHz (extra) antenna. 96 has longer battery life than the 97. I have the county on analog (ergo the 97) and the Capital City on Digital (the 96) 96 can do both but I might miss something so I usually use both. 96 is great for hearing the multitude of repeaters.
AND IMPORTANT - I used the Pro 96 in Vegas - WOW! I sat in my room (good idea not to carry it around!) and what you will hear is really HOT STUFF. Room cleaners, eh, floor/show activity, better and then the security stuff. WOW!
I would recommend it - but ask or email someone to have them show you how "easy" it is to program. Search FIRST - store the control channel - THEN program the mode/trunk channels.
Worth the money - even though expensive. (price of two HT's)

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great scanner. Does everything that I need except it doesn't have the iCall or private call feature that I wanted. I bought it for the digital feature but make sure it is avaliable in your area or you're just spending your money for a feature you can't use unless you travel. The BC246T is a great companion to the PRO-96 and with both you can get everything. Happy Scanning.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is a very great scanner one of the best hand helds i ever had but it needs a carring case. so you can keep the dust off the buttens and screen and to keep the case clean.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have had this unit for over a year. When I first started using it I was amazed at the reception. However about 6 months after I got it I started to notice the reception becoming intermittent then gone for good. I sent it in for repair [...]. Once I received it back it worked great for about 2 months and now it's doing the same thing again.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

When I first purchased the scanner a few years ago, I was very impressed. But, that only lasted a few days. I didn't have trouble programming it except at first, but most people do. The first thing that went bad was the antenna connection. I personally know 3 other people who have this scanner with the same problem. The connection between the antenna and the board is very weak and breaks easily. Apparently there is some complication with not being able to get it repaired by the RadioShack warranty. I personally re-soldered it myself to get it to hold in place. If you've ever looked inside the case of the scanner, you will see that there is 75% open space, unlike the Uniden BCD396T. The Uniden BCD396T, for the same price, is a million times better. If you have any choice at all for a digital scanner, get the Uniden. They are easier to program, very tough, with strong antenna connections and loaded with more features. The only advantage the Pro-96 has over the BCD396T is that sometimes it decodes APCO-25 audio slightly faster, and the AGC seems to be more effective.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This Radio is amazing, it is great for people who get in to Dx'ing. It does PL codes, and ID's Trunked Systems. Also has the best audio Quality on FM AM MOT ED and APCO-25 of any scanner I have ever had. A score out of ten I give it an 11!!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have had only Uniden scanners for years,My first Radio Shack scanner ROCKS, awesome reception.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I had both this and the Bear Cat scanners. There is NO comparison. I sold my Bear Cat. The Radio Shack scanner is all ready programmed, easy to operate and customize programming, batteries last all day not just a few hours, great support compared to no support. I was a Programmer/Analyst for 20 years. I spent 2 weeks trying to program the Bear Cat and still had to buy software and pay someone to program it, seconds to program the Radio Shack. Everything is better about the PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner, hands down!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I purchased this scanner less than four hours ago. From my local Radio Shack customer service rep(s) during check-out to a couple of hours of personal-use, I'm absolutely astonished with the capability of my new digital scanner! No patronization intended, but immediate performance of this scanner along w/ my Radio Shack knowledgeable representative(s) again prove to be total 'CLASS-ACT' and then some!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Programming instructions in the owners manual leaves a lot to be desired, a lot of it was not correct and it was mostly trial and error for me, but eventually got it. Reception with the stock antenna was poor, went to Radio Shack and purchased a high grade antenna for trunking scanners and the static cleared and got crisp, clear reception. All in all its a great scanner once you get it going.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I LOVE THIS SCANNER. BEST ONE EVER MADE BY GRE. The only issue I have with it is the CPU upgrades aren't covered by warranty and they cost $100 to be upgraded. Other then that the firmware is easy to upgrade. The Pro96 and the Pro2096 decodes the CQPSK (Simulcast)systems far better then the Unidens will.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Love the difference between analog and this digital scanner. Reception is very good(I live in a National Forrest). A bit difficult to program. This scanner is just what the PROS AND RETIRED PROS need.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Started with an analog uniden. I was able to get HAM freqs quite often, but no police or medical. After research, I learned that my area had turned to a digital system. Purchased the Pro96 in February, 2007. Very easy to program with the software. The V-Folders allow for many different varieties of settings depending on your location. It will be several years before I consider switching this one out. Excellent Radio Shack customer service. I bought the unit, they hooked it up to their PC and programmed it right there on the spot. I brought it home, hooked it up to my pc to see what they had put on there. Perfect! Now, in order to shut the thing up, I have to turn it off.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Best Scanner I have ever owned. Easy to program, since i am used to a Pro-95. Not much digital in the area, but i am planning ahead. Would be nice if it had LTR trunking.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Love the product.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

The best handheld p-25 capable scanner i've ever owned. Even though it's 4 years old. It's still popular with the scanner hobbyist. Just wished their was more upgrades available for this scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

All Bucks and Mont. County went to ditigal , and being a fire fighter and wanting to hear what is going on. Gotta have it!!!!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Good reception w/1.3 upgrade however rebanding has started in my area and there is no support for this radio yet. R.S. needs to get some upgrades to keep up with the changing 800-900mhz bands. Splinter mode will not help. good upgrades so far just need to keep them coming. The pro 96 is still a better radio than uniden, ive got both. 96 has better reception but signal stalker would make it a good deal.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

very expensive model but very worth it. the fire companies here all went digital so couldnt hear much without it. it was different to go from the pro95 to the pro96. i feel it was easy to program but according to my friends im a programing master

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

A little hard to use at first, but once you figure it out you wont beleive what you have been missing on the digital channels.( If the police, fire, and rescue havent gone digital in your area, they will soon!) I cant put it down!! I love it!! The only draw back is that Radio Shack doesnt include any power cords for the unit. For the price of the scanner at least the home power cord should be included!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

solid scanner , a bit complicated if your just starting out but the manual is very detailed and once you get the hang of it its all gravy

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have been really pleased with the quality of this scanner and I can listen to my local and state police clear as day.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

One year using Pro96. Very good sensitivity. Good selectivity. Sold the BCD396T after side by side evaluation. DSP 1.3 upgrade not usable in this area. Factory installed DSP 1.2 produces better results. Recently bought Pro2096 also. Good performance using DSP 1.2 also. Still waiting for 700 MHz firmware from manufacturer.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Since owning this unit, I have been impressed by the quality of reception after upgrading the dsp to 1.3!! I notice that when you have a scanner the news seems like the old version of obtaining the news because half the details they describe on the news is on the my scanner. Also, I wish there was a carrying case for this scannner to enhance the life of the scanner (just a thought)!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Goes great with ProCom 96 and Win 96 with the serial patch cable! Win 96 also allows you to open up the overall frequency coverage of the Pro-96. Digital quality is above par for me, weather thats a 3600 or 9600 baud control channel with APCO voice. Upgradeable DSP software is also a plus.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Like the scanner... had a friend program it because I failed Rocket Science Class in college. As long as he's around to help me with the programming I will keep the radio.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

ive been listening to scanners since 1968.i know its digital and not conventional.i like the display style.reception is fair.i have a lot of friends who can nolonger enjoy listening due to the price.i think if the price was lower,sales would go up.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I've been listening to scanners for about 15 years now and this is probably the last one I'll need. It works absolutely great in my area. The only problem I find is the interference.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Not worth the money at all radio shack has over charged for this peice of juck some times it will pick up my calls and some times it won't I half to keep moving the scanner just to get to get to or three calls In a day don't buy this save your hard earned money

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Also have a Uniden BC296 and the digital reception on the Pro96 is much better.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I gave it a 5 because it's the clearest ... best receptive unit in the handhels up to $300.00 price range. It outperforms my AOR I paid $300.00 for! There is one bad fallback ,,, the volume and squelch button on top of each other ... pain in rear !

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

It is best scanner on the market. Wish it had the LTR system. Would recommand to any body that wants to know what is going around them.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This unit is ok, but the 1.3 upgrade didn't work well around my state. Also it doesn't track the 700mhz system that is becoming active here. But I must say its easy to use. But I will be going to Uniden radios from now on.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is the only scanner i've ever owned. In my area it is essential to have this scanner because, your safety is a major concern in most big cities. I chose this scanner because it has the APCO 25 technology & NOAA weather mode with stand-by. In a dangerous situation or not I find that having this scanner is essential to the safety and welfare of people.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Much, much better than the Bearcat and cheaper besides. I like the clone feature too. And it does talk groups!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This has been a hobby of mine for almost 15 years and I would have to say after using my PRO 96 for just over a year now that this is the best one I have ever owned. Excellent reception for everything whether analog or digital, Trunked or conventional this one has no problem doing it all. I can only think of 2 things otherwise to recommend. The first is to purchase the deluxe antenna as it helps quite a bit with harder to hold signals verses the antenna included. The second would be to purchase the cable and Win96 software as this will allow you to not only experience a much easier time programming, it will also allow you to activate the extended range option which will allow you access to the 700MHz band that some agencies are starting to use.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Exceeded my expectations.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

A bit complicated to learn, but in 30 years of scanning....this is the best scanner I have ever owned.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

It depends on what your looking for... The PRO-97 features the "Signal Stalker" which this unit does not have. The channel spaceing for the ACFT band should be 8.33khz but it is 12.5khz... Radio Shack should produce a digital version of the PRO-97. That would be even better.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

The Pro96 has great third party software (win96) making it easy to program and by using radioreference import for most cities the Pro96 rate outstanding! Best features: -excellant squelch -good reception -good sound -both analog and digital performance are outstanding. -low price compared to the nearest competion. -Reliable track record of hardware performance. The main disadvantage is it doesn't have some of the newest features and frequencies compared to the 396t. Kansas City is not using any of the new freq so that is not an issue.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This Scanner is amazing it works like a champ and I would defenutly recomend it to anyone who's city is APCO Digital Pro-26.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

For the price you need to include the power cord.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Radioshack made the pro-96 the best. I use it most of the day for entertainment and can't put it down.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is the Best Scanner I've owned, My base station is a little better but this lil bugger is great

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

graet scanner, i hear all of the important things that are going on around me. great value for the money

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Easy to use once you understand that it already comes preprogrammed for most areas of the US. It's not only a great scanner, but also a good battery charger :)

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

COST TO MUCH FOR WHAT IT DOES

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Reception is good; just need at least the 800mhz which i bought and works wonders now the big test with a car antena which i have one but need to get a better one; but all in all awesome scanner

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I've had this scanner for well over a year,and was going to sell it after purchasing a top of the line Uniden 396 because of its added features and extended frequency range.Well,after using the Uniden for a week I ended up returning it and keeping the Pro 96.The Pro 96 has better sensitivity and is easier to program if you don't have a computer.Hopefully, they will update this scanner soon and add signal stalker.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Scanner to hard to program, display makes no sense at all. I have had several Radio Shack Scanners, including a PRO 2021, that has rarely been shut off in 15 years, and still works great. I use the scanners in R.E.A.C.T. but this new one has me stumped on how to program, the inst. bk is usless, to many turn and turn there pages.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this is by far a great radio worth the price

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this is without a doubt a fantastic scanner. I've own'ed all the rest and this is the best!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

BEST SCANNER EVER!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

you can't beat this, I've trye'd the other's and still the radio-shack's pro-96 is technology at it's finest!!! try to top that.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I got two of these scanner's yesterday and I just Love them radio shack programed them for me after all they do have quality produck's

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have owned many scanners and the Pro-96 is the best I have ever owned.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great scanner!!! Cant say nothing bad about it!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Digital is not used much in the Iowa City area. If you purchase this scanner be ready with plenty of batteries, it eats them like candy.....

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Bad digital reception at only 2.5 miles from the APCO 25 transmitter forced me to think my radio was bad. Took it back for an exchange and the second had the same problem. It's a nice radio with many features, but tough to use and bad signal quality.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is the best scanner that i have ever had; other scanners that i had including pro-92; BC72XLT; BC898T can not top this scanner

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

One of the best and easiest scanners I've ever used. Programming is intutive, and the optional pc cable makes it even easier. A bit pricey for a toy...how bad do you want Digital?

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is a good scanner, but the learning curve is very steep. Once you get it programmed, it works like a champ. I love the large memory it has - I can have all of the frequencies for both home and campus and still have plenty of room to add some when I travel.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I think this is the best scanner i have ever had and recomend it highly

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

It's an ok scanner however the use of it is hard. programing it took me forever i had to go back to the store i got it from and they had to call another store to get someone to talk use through programing.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

A very well made scanner. Easy to use and is very clear. Minor complaints include the volume levels seem to be either really really low or very loud. Other then that it could be smaller. Great scanner for the price!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

It isn't harder than any other scanner to program. Don't be intimidated by the "digital" trunking system label. The win96 software is a winner, too. Has great audio.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Very well made scanner. Had no problem programming it. I previously used my Pro 95 and it has about the same method of programming it. The only problem im having is where I live the signal is not the best so the Digtal signal get distorted because the signal strength isnt the best so the scanner switches to FM mode then the sound gets distorted. But over all it is a exellent scanner. I also suggest buying the "Scanner/PC Interface Cable" it really helps in programing the scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

i think anyone who likes to know whats going on this is the one you need. you can hear more then one city at a time even in trunking. not hard to use or understand it. any one can use it.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Very good scanner for digital trunking very good for vhf frequencies to has alot of features. But it lacks features like miltrary air.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Finally I can listen to Delaware freqs again. As a volunteer FF it puts me back in the action. For the price I would have thought it should come with some more accessories, at least a download cable.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is great. I use it for work and have had no problems yet. No lag- gives me plenty of time to get out if I need to. Works good everywhere, even in the back rooms or vaults. Get one!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I live in hollywood florida and work in Miami as a police dispatcher. I listen to my scanner all the time never miss a beat. My fellow officers also are inpressed with the pro 96. It works just like it states without fail. Keep up the good work.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Love this scanner. Needed help setting it up to specs. Once it was setup it worked great. Fairly Easy to use, but would recommend that someone just starting out try something less sophisticated.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Sort of expensive, but that's the price you pay to receive digital. There's software available online to simplify programing. Even without the software and no prior scanner experience, I was able to program the unit to pick up pretty much everything I wanted to hear. Battery life is decent.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

LOVE IT!!!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I bought a Uniden Bearcat scanner and after 2 months I could not get it programmed right. (I was a great Programmer Analyst for 20 years.) I couldn�t even return it. I got this Radio Shack scanner and BAM! All ready programmed and support at the store. There is NO comparison between the Pro96 and any other hand held scanner. Just do yourself and the salesmen a favor. Call around to find who is their scanner Guru and let him have the sales commission. You will find not every store has a Guru and you will greatly appreciate their help when called on. I am in a profession that depends on a reliable scanner and I not only insist my people get the Pro96, but I tell my competition too. AND! On www.radioshack.com there are fantastic tutorials and on-line manuals.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner is GREAT, I havent been able to listen to the local Police since they switched to APCO 25. I agree there are a few minor points that detract slightly. But it still gets 5 stars!!!!!!!!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Very nice scanner.Works great. Would also like to see "close call" feature added and a nice carry case too.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

this is the Best Scanner I have ever owned & operated! & is upgradable has mine is now at this time!

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Best digital radio on the market. DSP works like a charm and decodes APCO 25 quickly. 4 for features because of the alpha tags...

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

nice unit, has weak volume and squelch pots. mine will need repair soon and many have had the same problems with this part wearing out quickly.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I would like to see a leather case with this handheld for protection, and also close call would be nice. Overall I this scanner.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I have had scanner since they first came out. I have owned around 20 over the years. Many brands. This unit excells in audio quality, and reception. I like the fact that it can be run on regular / or regular rechargable batteries and not a "battery pack". I agree that the manual is lacking, and wish you could lock out, and/or select specific talkgroups for priority. A previous reviewer said that the digital audio was sporatic. For digital you must be closer than analog...but if you are it's clearer. I am having trouble updating the software with the internet download. All-in-all I would reccomend the unit.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Its a good radio for the most part, but it has bugs! In a lock-out bank, the radio brings in talkgroups that it isn't supposed to on an APCO-25 9600 baud system. You can't set a priority talkgroup. There isn't any close call feature. The plastic case is a bit on the weak side. It doesn't pick up APCO-25 digital transmissions as well as it should. The audio quality is outstanding.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

just north of where i live is northwest chentral dispatch DIGITAL system and i have to say its so nice knowing whats going on around me agian. the 96 is a ture work of art sound very clear and works very well the only thing i have problems with it is that silver face what happened to black? and the color of the light i find it hard to look at at night

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

I had this unit about 8 months now.This unit includes the Digital 800 Meg the clarity of reception of these channels is very poor and hard to understand and non of the radio shack stores in my area could tell me why. Even after exchanging my original unit the clarity of digital is not worth the price tag of this unit. I would recommend waiting on a furure unit that has the bugs worked out.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Great scanner, but manual is VERY basic when it comes to programming and troubleshooting when programming. Also due to the number of banks, frequencies, and test tags involved in the programming of trunked frequencies, I highly recommend a third party computer program (Win96) for programming this scanner. Other than the manual, this is the greatest scanner I have ever owned.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is the third scanner that I have owned. (Pro-95 & and old RCA Scantrac) This is by far the best scanner that I have bought, it was very easy to setup. The best edition from the pro-95 that I have is the backlit display which is great for use at night. It picks up about anything that I need to hear. The I would of liked to of had the the ability of listening to LTR, that is my biggest problem with this model.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Excellent scanner, and it really shines on APCO25 digital. However, on the down side, text tags are kind of lacking compared to the Uniden scanners.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This is the best scanner I have owned, a huge jump up from the pro-95. I can listen to the MPSCS system here in Detroit with ease.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Overall, been using the PRO96 for over a month. This replaced my PRO92, and is a vast improvement over the PRO92. The supplied antenna isn't all that good, but the 800MHz antenna (Cat# 20-283) brings in 800 MHz and UHF signals much better; VHF-Hi signals are adequate. VHF-Lo signals with supplied antennas are almost non-existent. Still the same poorly written manual when dealing with trunking systems, especially when working with systems other than the default Type II. But once you get the hang of programming trunked systems and the fleetcodes, programming is easy. Light features are much better than before. The only complaint is with the APCO-25 mode: When programming, you lose the digital mode and can't verify if a frequency you've programmed is correct, until you start to scan function. And sometimes I have to turn off and on the scanner 2-3 more times to get digital mode to work. Otherwise, this is much better than the Uniden digital scanners. The EDACS is excellent, but do miss the capablity to monitor LTR systems.

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

Much better APCO-25 audio quality than the Uniden 250D/296D handhelds and the 785D/796D and slightly cheaper too. A few things that would be nice would include a 16 character display, and Motorola zone ID numbers when trunking a Motorola SmartZone system in addition to the already featured system ID number., and LTR trunking capability (like the Pro-97/2051/2055).

Comments about RadioShack PRO-96 Digital Trunking Handheld Scanner:

This scanner rivals the Uniden BC-296, and it is cheaper! This GRE scanner has unbeatable reception and has great audio for the APCO transmitting stations. I used this one while in Santa Maria CA and I loved the way it worked. If you are in the market for a scanner that does APCO...get this one. Your major cities are already programmed...you don't have to do anything.