parnass@ihu1h.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) (06/23/85)
x
Regency
WHAMO-10: Regency's first synthesized scanner.
Discontinued long ago. Appearance more like a crystal
scanner, with a single LED per channel. User has to
break off metal teeth on a 'comb' for each channel
according to a code book. External frequency control
unit DFS-5K optional. UHF VCO reference oscillator
drifts on some units. Soldered sheet metal shields
around some circuitry make access to some components
difficult for servicing. Comb sockets prone to bad
connections after moderate use.
TMR series: First generation crystal scanners. Come
in all varieties of band coverage. Models with both
UHF and VHF bands must use separate antennas for each
band (disadvantage in mobile installations, but can be
overcome by connecting to front ends via a capacitor).
Easy to crystal: Radio Shack crystals work well. TMRs
usually $2 and up ad hamfests, often in poor condition.
Don't pay more than $50, even if mint. Front ends must
be tuned for selected portions within the bands for
best sensitivity. Wide IF selectivity troublesome in
urban/suburban areas. Primitive digital scanning cir-
cuitry may become confused at times, but power off/on
restores sanity. Not all that bad a deal if cheap.
Replaced by Regency ACT units.
Radio Shack (made by GRE of Tokyo)
PRO2001: Early, discontinued single bank 16 channel
programmable. Reasonable coverage of the 3 traditional
bands, minus aircraft band. LED digital display as
well as an LED per channel. Mechanical lockout switch
for each channel. Delay is either on or off for all
channels at a time. High synthesizer noise level.
Troublesome plated through holes on digital board in
some units renders radio virtually unfixable. Could
never get mine to work more than a few days in a row;
always another bad connection. Some owners have no
trouble.
PRO52: Discontinued 8 channel VHF-Lo/Hi base unit. No
UHF band or provision for mobile operation. Good
little scanner despite limited frequency coverage and
Spartan lack of frills. Front mounted, vertical
speaker always a win.
PRO24: Only 4 channels in this crystal controlled por-
table. Covers the three basic bands, but no aircraft.
Easy to obtain batteries and crystals. Characteristic
Radio Shack squelch problem, fixable by changing one
resistor. All-plastic case larger than Bearcat Thin
Scan and clones.
Craig (div. of Pioneer)
4530: Discontinued Japanese 10 channel crystal con-
trolled 3 band unit. No aircraft band. Deluxe
features like priority, trimmer capacitors for netting
each channel, front panel speaker, and rugged metal
cabinet make this unit a winner. Channel lockout slide
switches have finite life. Replacing burned out incan-
descent channel lamps not fun. Grab a 4530 if you find
one in good condition.
Tennelec
Manufactured the first synthesized scanners. Company
out of business for last several years. Schematics and
parts difficult to obtain. Radios reputed to be poor
performers. I got my MS-2 and MCP-1 basket cases for
free and sometimes regret taking them. Not worth fix-
ing unless you have access to DTL/RTL chips and circuit
diagrams.
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Bob Parnass, Bell Telephone Laboratories - ihnp4!ihu1h!parnass - (312)979-5414