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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Virginia Beach, VA on 11/27/2008
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.
from Columbus Ohio on 11/26/2008
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.
from Herndon, VA on 11/20/2008
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.
from Texas on 11/4/2008
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!
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).
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.
from Birmingham, Alabama on 10/11/2008
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.
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!
from Key West on 10/2/2008
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.
from North Hollywood, California on 9/20/2008
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!
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.
from Rich,VA on 8/30/2008
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.
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.
the sound has never worked [...]
from Chattanooga, TN USA on 8/2/2008
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.
from Mahtomedi, MN on 7/25/2008
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.
from Nashua, NH on 7/23/2008
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?
from Michigan on 7/17/2008
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.
this scanner is great for storms and just personal use
from UP, Michigan on 7/8/2008
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.
from Indianapolis, Indiana on 7/8/2008
I bought this scanner to replace pro 164 since Indianapolis Police and Fire went all digital. For [$] I expected better reception from this scanner. ON many channels the signals are very garbeled and it chatters allot. I don't buy the excuss that the channels are encripted as per the manual. Not all of the channels are encripted. I would reccomend getting the Win96 program for easyer scanner programming especially Digital channels and talk groups. Over all I am disapointed in this scanner for the price. But looking online at other scanner makers they all have problems in Digital mode.
from Stankyville, Tennessee on 6/29/2008
This used to be my favorite scanner, but it has been succeeded by the GRE PSR-500. GRE manufactures this scanner for RadioShack. The PSR-500 is essentially an improved version of this scanner for the same price. There's no reason to by the previous generation when you can get the current generation for the same price. Unfortunately, RadioShack has been selling this model for[$]since its debut.
from Chattanooga, TN USA on 6/18/2008
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.
Best scanner i have ever owned.
from Denton, MD on 6/13/2008
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.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
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.
from Peru, Indiana on 6/1/2008
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!
from Morrisville,PA on 5/28/2008
I'm a Firefighter & EMT and i listen to it 24/7.
it picks up great and easy to program off the computer.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Saint Paul Minnesota on 5/20/2008
this is the best radio I have owned.good size,great signal.only change i wish they made is more priority chennels.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
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.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Helena, Alabama on 5/14/2008
This scanner is the top scanner on the market. [...]This scanner is undoubtly the best scanner out there today.
from Cork City Ireland on 5/8/2008
bought it in florida brought it home to Ireland works very well also bought a pro 50 scanner twenty years ago still going strong
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.
i think it awsome . but cant get used to the CB band it echos a lot, and TRS Programing was my hardest!
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.
[0 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
this is way to high when you can buy a baircat for almost half and it dose even better
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
I thought it was to expensive for what you get. [...]Had to purchase frequencies on line after pruchase of scanner.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
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 $5 three surrounding counties so I get all the action that is going on. Unit does seem to drain batteries so that is a Con. Other than this I am very pleased with the scanner.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Oak Hill, VA on 3/27/2008
This is great. The only thing I dont like about it is that my local police station broadcasts with scramblers and I cannot always pick them up. So, you would propably be better off buying the tripple trunking scanner. It's about [$]
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
I use this scanner 24/7 and it is great. [...]
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 [$])
[2 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Toledo, OH Lucas County on 3/4/2008
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.
[4 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
from norcal on 2/26/2008
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.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
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.
[0 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Memphis, TN on 2/9/2008
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. [...]
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Beaumont, Texas on 1/26/2008
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.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
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!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Raleigh, NC on 12/16/2007
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
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from SF Bay Area, CA on 12/15/2007
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.
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
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
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! [...]
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Fauquier County, VA on 12/1/2007
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!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Rockville, Md. on 11/27/2007
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.
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.
from Fallbrook, California on 11/19/2007
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.
One of the best scanners i have ever used. graet recive.
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.
from Rapid city mi on 11/16/2007