police scanner…. help plz!!!!!!!!!?

police scanner…. help plz!!!!!!!!!?
i jus bought a pro-528 police scanner from radioshack, do i have to PROGRAM any frequenices in? OR can I jus SCAN untill it comesto something, and while scanning and i hear something i want to here, is there anyway u can pause the channel so i can listen without programing it. i got all my codes im jus to lazy to program them all in.
and im wondering if i turn on the squelch will it stop while im on scan and keep that channel it landed up on, and do i press the number 1 on the key pad to scan for HAM, or do i have to program in frequncies frist in order to scan i kno it come swith 150 frequncies already, it tells me all the frequincies the manual and their in the sytem alreadyu, and WHAT IS THE RANGE ON THE HANDHELD SCANNER? and where would find frequencies for the HAM radios????

Best answer:

I dunno about HAM radio, but you do have to program scanners. Don’t ask me how, my husband is a cop and a fireman so I just know from watching him program his radios and scanners. I DO know you may not be able to pick up certain frequencies because many use different MHz. Most of the big police departments use 800s.

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3 Comments for police scanner…. help plz!!!!!!!!!?

  • 1. sportscam_guru  |  May 13th, 2008 at 6:56 am

    I know this sounds pretty lame, but if you take the unit into Radio Shack, those guys are generally die-hard enthusiasts with their electronics equipment and are happy to spend time with you explaining how it works – they might even have a manual for you to use in case you can’t find yours.

    I’d avoid the mall stores (they typically employ the cell phone experts and are younger), and go to a standalone store (where the salespeople are generally a little older and have a history with this particular technology).

    But call a few Radio Shacks (store locator on the website should give you quite a few choices in your area) and talk to the guy on the phone. Ask a few questions, and ask if you can bring it in with you for a little “training”. Most of these guys probably won’t turn you down, and will be able to give you tips and tricks, too.

    Good luck!

  • 2. tyler  |  May 13th, 2008 at 7:12 am

    You have to program them all in yourself….and Google the frequencies

  • 3. rec9140  |  May 13th, 2008 at 8:12 am

    Yes, you need to program the scanner to receive the frequencies (channels) you want to listen to be it police, fire, ems, amateurs, or what ever.

    Radio Shack is the LAST PLACE to get info on how to program or what to program. Purchase your radio and RUN FROM THE STORE! They are nothing more than cell phone kiosks now, especially those in malls. Don’t waste money on Police Call books either, outdated, and no longer in print since 2005.

    Join this group to get help with your radio:
    groups.yahoo.com/group/PRO-528/

    Also purchasing the cable and prorgamming software for the scanner will assist you a great deal. This is available at Radio Shack, thats the only thing you need from them.

    Range depends on your terrain, the systems your monitoring and the frequency. If your monitoring a UHF (400-512MHz) system in simplex then its about 2-3 miles. A repeater would be 20-40 miles.

    With an outside antenna and good coax (NOT FROM RADIO SHACK) then you can dramatically increase the range of listening.

    Amateur radio is allocated as follows:

    arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/allocate.html

    Join the list above, and they can assist you in how your scanner works.

    This FAQ may help you with a lot of your first time questions too.
    strongsignals.net/access/content/new_user.html

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