BTX-127 CTCSS-VHF/FM Business Band Transceiver
(190-1206) Preparation Faxback Doc. # 51120
Installing The Battery Pack
The supplied battery pack, when fully charged, provides power to your
transceiver for up to 8 hours. You must install the battery pack in your
transceiver, then charge it.
CAUTION: Do not remove the plastic wrap from the battery pack. Doing so
can permanently damage the battery.
Follow these steps to install the battery pack.
1. Unlock the battery compartment cover by sliding both of the cover's
latches toward the front of the transceiver as shown. Then slide the
cover in the direction of the arrow and lift it off.
2. With the battery printing facing up, align the contacts on the battery
pack with the contacts inside the battery compartment. Then, press
the battery pack into the compartment while applying slight pressure
to the bottom of the battery pack.
3. Slide the battery cover back into place, then slide both of the
latches toward the back of the transceiver to lock it.
To remove the battery pack, unlock the compartment, then turn the
transceiver face down and gently tap it into your palm so the battery pack
slides out.
Charging The Battery Pack
Before you use the battery pack for the first time, you must use the
supplied battery charger to charge it or about 12 to 14 hours to bring it
to a full charge.
You cannot use the transceiver while you charge the battery pack.
CAUTION: The supplied battery charger was designed specifically for your
transceiver. Use only the supplied battery charger.
Follow these steps to charge the battery pack.
1. Turn VOLUME fully counterclockwise to OFF to make sure power is turned
off.
2. Pull out the rubber cover over the CHRG jack on the side of the
transceiver, and insert the charger's barrel plug into the jack.
Then plug the other end of the charger into a standard AC outlet.
If the RX/TX indicator lights yellow when the transceiver's power is on
and you press PUSH TO TALK, recharge the battery pack.
Notes: A nickel-cadmium battery pack lasts longer and delivers more power
if you occasionally let it fully discharge. To do this, use the
transceiver until the RX/TX indicator lights yellow when you press
PUSH TO TALK.
To prevent damaging a nickel-cadmium battery pack, never charge it
in an area where the temperature is above 113 degrees F
(45 degrees C) or below 32 degrees F (0 degrees C).
IMPORTANT: At the end of a rechargeable battery pack's useful life, it
must be recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local,
county or state hazardous waste management authorities for
information on recycling or disposal programs in your area.
Some options that might be available are: municipal curb-side
collection, drop-off boxes at retailers such as your local
RadioShack store, recycling collection centers, and mail-back
programs.
Connecting The Antenna
Follow these steps to attach the supplied flexible antenna to your
transceiver.
1. Align the slots around the antenna' connector with the tabs on the
antenna jack on top of the transceiver.
2. While squeezing the base of the antenna, press the antenna down over
the jack and turn the antenna's base clockwise until it locks into
place.
Connecting an Optional Antenna
Although the supplied flexible antenna provides excellent local reception,
you can connect an optional external mobile antenna or outdoor base
station antenna to your transceiver for better reception of weak signals.
The antenna jack on the top of the transceiver makes it easy to use the
transceiver with a variety of antennas. Your local RadioShack store sells
a variety of antennas.
CAUTION: Never connect an antenna that is not specifically tuned for the
transceiver's frequency range.
Using The Belt Clip
The supplied belt clip lets you easily clip the transceiver to your belt.
Use a Phillips screwdriver to secure the clip to the transceiver's back
with the supplied screws.
Connecting An Earphone/External Speaker
To listen privately or to hear better in a large area such as a warehouse,
you can plug a monaural earphone or an external speaker with a 1/8-inch
(3.5 mm) plug (not supplied) into the EAR jack on the top of the
transceiver. This automatically disconnects the built-in speaker.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone.
Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After
you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high-volume
listening can lead to permanent hearing loss.
Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt
to the volume level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort
might still damage your hearing.
Traffic Safety
Do not use an earphone with your transceiver when operating a motor
vehicle or riding a bicycle in or near traffic. Doing so can create a
traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas.
If you use an earphone with your transceiver while riding a bicycle, be
very careful. Do not listen to a continuous broadcast. Even though some
earphones let you hear some outside sounds when listening at normal volume
levels. They still can present a traffic hazard.
Using An External Speaker/Microphone
An external speaker/microphone can make it easier to use the transceiver
when you clip it to your belt, so you do not have to lift the belt, so you
do not have to lift the transceiver to your mouth each time you transmit.
Plug the speaker/microphone's plug into the EAR jack and the MIC jack on
top of the transceiver. This automatically disconnects the transceiver's
built-in speaker and microphone.
Setting Frequency Options
Before you can use your transceiver, an authorized service facility must
set your transceiver to a VHF business band frequency you have a license
to use. Then, you can select a preset CTCSS (Continuous Tone Control
Squelch System) frequency and set your transceiver to use it.
Here is what you need to do to set your transceiver to use a business band
frequency and CTCSS.
1. Send your transceiver to an authorized service facility to have it set
to a business band frequency.
2. Set the DIP switches for a CTSS frequency (see "Using a CTCSS
Frequency" below).
3. Set your transceiver to that CTCSS frequency.
4. Set a DIP switch to activate or deactivate CTCSS.
You can select one CTCSS frequency at a time. If you do not want to use a
CTCSS frequency, skip Steps 2-4 above.
About CTCSS
CTCSS helps eliminate interference between different users of the same
frequency, letting you talk and listen to people who are using other
transceivers set to the same frequency and CTCSS code. This is like
having a sub-channel within a channel, giving you greater communication
flexibility. When you set a CTCSS code - there are 38 to choose from -
and turn on your transceiver's CTCSS, the transceiver transmits a tone
with your transmission, letting you communicate with anyone who has a
transceiver set to the same frequency and code. This tone is too low for
you to hear, but other transceivers can detect it.
If CTCSS is turned on and set to the same tone on the receiving
transceiver, it only receives those transmissions that include the tone.
If two different groups operate transceivers in the same area on the same
frequency, they do not hear each other's broadcasts if they both use CTCSS
and each select a different CTCSS tone. Your transceiver's default CTCSS
tone is 100 Hz.
Using A CTCSS Frequency
Follow these steps to set your transceiver to a CTCSS frequency and then
activate or deactivate CTCSS.
1. Turn VOLUME fully counterclockwise to make sure power is turned off.
2. Remove the battery compartment cover (see "Installing the Battery
Pack", above). You do not have to remove the battery pack.
3. Choose a CTCSS code from the table on the right. Then use a pointed
object such as a straightened paper clip to set the position of each
DIP switch inside the battery compartment to 1 (up) or 0 (down)
corresponding to the setting for that CTCSS code.
CTCSS
Code Freq Dip Switch Code Freq Dip Switch
(Hz) Settings (Hz) Settings
None 000000 20 131.8 010100
1 67.0 000001 21 136.5 010101
2 71.9 000010 22 141.3 010110
3 74.4 000011 23 146.2 010111
4 77.0 000100 24 151.4 011000
5 79.7 000101 25 156.7 011001
6 82.5 000110 26 162.2 011010
7 85.4 000111 27 167.9 011011
8 88.5 001000 28 173.8 011100
9 91.5 001001 29 179.9 011101
10 94.8 001010 30 186.2 011110
11 97.4 001011 31 192.8 011111
12 100.0 001100 32 203.5 100000
13 103.5 001101 33 210.7 100001
14 107.2 001110 34 218.1 100010
15 110.9 001111 35 225.7 100011
16 114.8 010000 36 233.6 100100
17 118.8 010001 37 241.8 100101
18 123.0 010010 38 250.3 100110
19 127.3 010011
4. Hold down PUSH TO TALK, then turn VOLUME clockwise until it clicks.
The transceiver sets the CTCSS code. Release PUSH TO TALK.
If the transceiver beeps once and RX/TX lights green for about 2
seconds, that means the CTCSS setting was successful.
If the transceiver beeps 3 times and RX/TX lights red for about 2
seconds, the CTCSS setting did not work. Start over at Step 1.
5. To activate the CTCSS code you set, set the first DIP switch to
1 (up). To deactivate the code, set the switch to 0 (down).
(The DIP switches are numbered left to right, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Replace the battery compartment cover.
(BR/glw/bg 01/14/99)
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