I have a 3500xlt i have programed in channels it scans i can hear the diff in background noise in am fm ext but it wont rec any sig am i doing something wrong or is the scanner defective

scanning for what?, not told ,AM, FM or SAT?
SCAN FAILING IS ANTENNA BAD.
(AT BEST) IT FELL OFF. THE WIRED CONNECTION MARKED ANTENNA
yes it does or FM radio will be dead. for sure!
some cars the connection is to windshield antenna
and then later windshield glass was replaced wrong
wrong glass or not plugged back in.
reading your service manual now
base radio only
SAT rec. is pin 37 roof antenna
FM rec is pin 75 ant.
with NAV or with out NAV
i will do NAV no. BOSE system factory
pin 81 window antenna AM/FM
pin 107 with NAV am/fm
as you cans see there are 4 options new
for RADIO head end and NAV choices.
we can not guess what is there.
now what you are scanning for.

WHERE IS THE REC MODE SET, SHOULD SHOW ON THE DISPLAY, IN MENU SETTINGS, SET REC MODE TO AUTO. DO YOU HEAR A RINGTONE WHEN YOU PICK UP HANDSET. IF NOT CHECK WHERE TELEPHONE CORD IS PLUGGED IN SHOULD BE LINE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE PLUG INTO EXT PHONE...

Make sure the volume is up a little and then make sure the squelch is set so you do not hear any static (white noise). Also make sure the lock button is not on. Depending on the model, make sure the channels are not locked out in the menu. Make sure there are frequencies programmed in the channels. If these suggestions don't work, tell us more about the scanner like model number, how many channels, crystal or programmable, etc.

what do i do fix this ?

The manual isn't online to my knowledge however I did find a guide on how to program it.
"Turn it on. Push the "MANUAL" button to stop it from scanning.

Push number 1, then push "MANUAL" again. This should leave you on
channel one.

Using the keypad enter the frequency you want to monitor, then push
"E." Press "REVIEW" at anytime to see what frequency is programmed
there. If the review button flashes 000.0000 on the LED readout
display, you might be entering an invalid frequency. Refer to the list
of acceptable frequencies in the Frequency Range Bands below.

Push "MANUAL" to step to channel number two. Enter the frequency. Push
"E." Push "MANUAL" to step to channel three. Repeat this process until
all the (10) channels are full, or you've run out of frequencies to
enter.

Push "SCAN" to start automatically scanning the frequencies. The
radio will stop when it hears someone talking, and resume scanning two
seconds after the conversation has stopped.

Frequency Range Bands:

20 to 29.7 MHz (10 Meter "Ham" Band)
29.7 to 50 MHz (VHF Low Band)
50 to 54 MHz (6 Meter Amateur Band)
136 to 144 MHz (Military Land Mobile)
144 to 148 MHz (2 Meter "Ham" Band)
406 to 420 MHz (Federal Government Land Mobile)
420 to 450 MHz (70cm "Ham" Band)
450 to 470 MHz (UHF Standard Band)
470 to 512 MHz (UHF "T" Band)"

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.radio.scanner/2006-01/msg00174.html
Hope this helps.

That's normal.

The Auto Muting mode mutes the audio output of the tuner if the station is not sufficciently strong to be accurately tuned. Otherwise you would hear all that interstation hash noise.

Press the FM Mode button to change it to Mono if you want to manually tune a hard-to-reach station. It will be in Mono.

Page 26:

AUTO MUTING Normally select this.
When a program is broadcast in stereo, you will hear stereo sound; when in monaural, you will hear monaural sound.
This mode is also useful to suppress static noise between stations. The AUTO MUTING indicator lights up on the display.

MO is for monitoring MOtorola trunking systems and will only work if you have programmed a system into your scanner. Most fire departments are using conventional, (FM) transmissions, not trunked systems - mainly so that volunteers and neighboring departments can follow the action and respond if needed. For a comprehensive database of active frequencies and systems in your area, visit:

www.RadioReference.com

Need the manual for your scanner? You can download and print it here:

http://scancat.com/OnLineHelp/OEM_Radio_Owners_Manuals/RadioShack-OlderManuals/Pro-96/pro96.pdf

Bill B

Hi,
Try these instructions from Wiki.answers

Turn on unit.
Press MANUAL button.
Press MANUAL button again to select the channel you want to program. Note the channel in the display. If there is a hyphenated symbol in the upper left corner the channel has been locked out. Press the LOCKOUT button once to remove the symbol or press the LOCKOUT button to lock a channel out. To find out if there is a frequency programed into that channel, press the PREVIEW button. Each digit of the frequency that is stored in memory will be displayed in the LED display. To program a new frequency into that channel, simply press the digits of the frequency you want, including the decimal point. Press the "E" keypad key to enter it into memory. If you get a "E" displayed in the LED display, the frequency was entered wrong, is not a valid frequency or is out of range for the scanner. Last but least, the scanner is not working properly. If the channel is active, (communications going over it) set SQUELCH to higher number, until you hear the communications or just noise. To set the SQUELCH, select a channel that has only noise and turn it down to the point the noise disappears. You make have to readjust it to your liking. Once you have the channels programed you can select the SCAN button to listen to all the channels or select the MANUAL button to listen to just one channel. If there are channels that you don't want to hear during the scan mode, go to MANUAL and select the channel you don't want to hear and press LOCKOUT button. Then press SCAN again it will only scan channels you want to hear.

Hope this helps.

The SONY does not scan non programmed memory channels, you must have some programmed in.

hello to ensure your`re having good sound. hook up in other way not using hdmi cables,the background noise usually indicating a good carrier frecuency but no clear check good cables,not pinched,broken or if it has radio the air antenna or fm....if you got good sound now use the hdmi cables and take a close look in the connector if all pins are good at each end saludos