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RadioShack Pro 107 iScan Review

The Radioshack Pro-107 iScan is an analog handheld trunking scanner manufactured by GRE America Inc. for RadioShack. It represents a technically capable multi-trunking receiver that uses an SD card and proprietary software to deliver flexible scanning and advanced trunk system monitoring.

Architecture & Operating Concept

• Database-Driven Operation: The scanner stores the entire USA RadioReference frequency and trunking database on an included 2 GB SD card, which can be updated or customised via PC. Traditional manual channel programming is replaced by object-oriented memory management — objects such as talkgroups, systems, agencies and playlists make organisation highly flexible.

• User Interface: Navigation uses media-player-style buttons and a backlit alphanumeric display capable of showing 16-character alpha tags for talkgroups, systems and user objects. There is no traditional keypad for direct frequency entry; programming and detailed list management are done on a computer.

Frequency & Receiver Performance

• Wide Frequency Coverage: Spans key VHF and UHF segments, covering from 25 MHz up to 1300 MHz across multiple tunable ranges including air, marine, public safety and utility bands. Step sizes vary by band segment to match standard channel spacings. It does miss the 70-80MHz VHF band, which might be an issue for some people, if you scan users in that band.

• Receiver Design: Utilises triple-conversion superheterodyne architecture for improved selectivity and stability across bands. Integrated CTCSS and DCS tone search capabilities are supported directly from the interface.

• Scan & Search Rates: Capable of scanning up to around 75 channels per second in conventional mode and about 85 channels per second in search mode, providing fast acquisition of active signals.

Trunking & Data Capabilities

• Multi-Trunking Support: The Pro-107 tracks analogue trunk systems including Motorola Type I/II (SmartNet/SmartZone), EDACS (wide/narrow/networked) and LTR systems directly via the SD database. Digital signalling is not decoded; only conventional analogue talkgroups and control channels are supported.

• Talkgroup Handling: Objects represent talkgroups and systems, meaning the number of talkgroups and sites is effectively limited only by SD card capacity and database size rather than fixed memory counts.

Interfaces & Power

• USB Connectivity: A single USB/PC interface cable provides firmware update access, data transfer and optional external power at 5 V. However, the USB interface doesn’t directly mount the SD card; an external SD reader is needed for full filesystem access.

• Power Options: Runs on two AA cells (alkaline or Ni-MH) or external USB power; internal charging via USB is supported when rechargeable cells are fitted.

Additional Technical Features

• Signal Stalker II: Near-field activity detection sweeps frequency ranges and locks on active signals.

• Search & Priority: Includes multiple predefined search ranges, one user-defined search range, priority object settings and weather priority/alert support.

• Alarms & Indicators: Programmable audible and visual alerts can be associated with objects, with support for unsquelch delays and adjustable signal threshold behaviours.

• Memory Limits: Conventional channels and trunk talkgroups scale with SD card space; specific trunking limits (e.g., up to ~32 control channels per trunk site) are imposed by the scanner’s firmware and database structure, not by rigid scanner memory counts.

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Technical Summary

The Pro-107 iScan is best categorised as a software-centric analog trunking scanner: its strength lies in database integration, broad frequency coverage and flexible object-oriented memory rather than hardware channel limits or direct manual programming. While not a digital mode scanner, it remains technically interesting for users focused on analogue trunk system monitoring and rapid database-based configuration.