Looks like new and plays like new. I'm completely pleased with it. It IS difficult to program (and I'm a retired computer programmer!), so, instead of griping about it, I simply installed readily available software and downloaded all the freqs I wanted...

I just purchased a {refurbished} Pro 197 scanner and felt obligated to submit this review. I've never owned a scanner before and know little about radio communications. I read the manual { downloaded from Radio Shack} and reviews "BEFORE" I bought it....

Due your self a favor and invest in the software interface cable and Radio Reference subscription. DO Not try to program this scanner yourself to save money!!!! Use the resource that is out there for the information in the area you want to listen to...

Considering that most scanners like this cost over $400, this was a great buy. Just do yourself a favor and use the software and order the scanner cable and software. Don't beat yourself up trying to do something yourself that you can download in...

for close to four hundred dollars and the assurence no problem to program,it will still cost mor because you have to buy more programs to get this peice of poor to work

Nice Digital Scanner great audio I use it at home, the P25 digital is loud clear . A nice feature is the 6db audio boost that can be programmed in on any object and the Color led with different colors that can be programmed on any object example Red...

The scanner is Excellent but I never did figure out how to program it. If it wasn't for a guy in the Radio Reference Forum setting it up and sending me a file using WIN500 program, I would of never got it up and running. I have no idea how to keep the...

I find this Scanner very EASY to program, well it'a alot easyer than Uniden BC scanner's You meatheads cigarrette smokers that wine it's hard to program get your head outa your [*] and READ READ READ the [*] manuals ONLINE

I purchased the refurbished PRO-197 from radioshack.com. Everything was included (except the original box - this one was probably a display model). The scanner itself looked mint and was loaded with v1.7 CPU and the original DSP. I upgraded both using...

You would think that a[$] scanner would be ready to use out of the box. But not this one! It has to be programmed first. Istructions are very differcult to understand. V-scanner is USELESS...does not cover my area. Teck Support is non-existant.[...]