Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Radio Shack PRO-2026

Category: Receivers: Scanners

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Radio Shack PRO-2026
Reviews: 7MSRP: 229.99 (1995 catalog)
Description:
Your new Realistic PRO-2026 100-Channel Mobile Programmable Scanner lets
you in on all the action! The PRO-2026 gives you access to more than
30,000 frequencies used by police departments, fire departments,
ambulances, aircraft, ham radio operators, and transportation services.
You can store up to 100 frequencies into your scanner's channels, and
you can scan and change your channel selection at any time.
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074
AD0AR Rating: 2020-06-15
Good for it's day Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Friend commandeered both I had to provide streaming channels to internet. Good scanner back in the day. They've both been working overtime for the last 2 years without a glitch 24/7. Could use filtering to eliminate the CTCSS tones though.
KN0I Rating: 2020-06-15
Difficult to use without the manual Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Not impressed with programming, as it is definitely not very intuitive to use. The manual is very elusive even after 30+ minutes of Googling; lots of phishing sites come up when searching. If anyone has access to the manual, I'd really appreciate getting a copy!! The link on the description is not for the general public, so it should just simply be removed.

As far as performance, it isn't the fastest scanner out there, but it is respectable for the age. It covers a wide range of bands, but doesn't do digital or trunking.
K6SDW Rating: 2010-02-19
Solid Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine many many years -- actually the scanner got thrown in a box for at least 10 years if not more. So, about a year ago I dusted the thing off, put 12v to it and receiver is working like it was new!!

Very simple scanner, like a previous reviewer pointed out no bells or whistles like the new stuff, no trunking for sure.....

BIG complaint, as a house scanner if you lose power and thus 12volts the scanner memory goes blank and you have to reprogram the entire receiver again!! .... Way not cool, but I guess it was the technology of its time. So, two 6v lantern batteries and a 12v relay wired to switch batteries to the memory backup line when power drops solved that problem.

If ya can find one cheap and still working, grab it!

73
KG4RND Rating: 2010-01-22
Good Basic Scanner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I would have to rate this scanner a 4 only if you live in a rural area. When installed in a mobile environment it tends to get quite a bit of intermod when driving through any major towns. Also, it doesn't have room filling audio so an external speaker would be a usefull accessory for this radio. If you live in the city I would give this radio a 3 due to these issues. If you don't live in intermod alley this scanner is a pretty good scanner for basic monitoring of local police, fire and rescue services. Unless, your area has gone digital or uses trunking. Overall it's good for what i use it for so I give it a 4.
N0VKG Rating: 2008-02-24
Oldie, still good... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this one since about the early 1990s. It has been reliable all of these years. Still works today, though its slow scanning speed is showing just how old this
radio is. The radio works best when used with
RF filters placed in-line with the antenna. Mainly stop-band filters on:

- 152-152.500Mhz (Stop-Band)
- 158.100 & 158.700Mhz (Stop-Band)
- 454-455Mhz (Stop-Band)
- 869-897Mhz (Stop-band)
- 928-935Mhz (Stop-band)

If no filters, short antennas also help.
The radio can easily be overwhelmed by intermod in dense urban areas/cities.
AF4KK Rating: 2006-05-10
Been using mine for years!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
While the Radio Shack Pro-2026 doesn't do digital, trunkung, CTCSS or any of those other do-dads (such as my Uniden 796D), it scans conventional channels very quickly, about 100 channels per second. At that speed, it can even cover trunking systems by scanning each possible channel for activity! It works very well for what it does and it's been doing it for years! I actually have 2 and one is even cellular-capable (although most cell calls are digital these days anyway).
KA5VCQ Rating: 2006-04-28
Oldie but a Goodie Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had one of these pre-ban cellular capable scanners back in the mid-90's. Why or how I lost it I can't recall.

It took a few months of searching but I found another one back in 2005. It's one of the best
"no-frills" scanners Realistic/Radio Shack ever produced. For repeater monitoring and analog public service it is a solid performer.