BTX-128 CTCSS/VHF Business Band Transceiver
(190-1217)                 Preparation                Faxback Doc. # 51189

Installing The Battery Pack

The supplied battery pack, when fully charged, provides power to your 
transceiver for up to 10 hours.  You must install the battery pack in your 
transceiver, then charge it.

CAUTION:  Do not remove the plastic wrap form the battery pack.  Doing so
          can permanently damage the battery.

Follow these steps to install the battery pack.

1.  Turn the volume control on top of the transceiver fully
    counterclockwise until it clicks to make sure power is turned off.

2.  Unlock the battery compartment cover by sliding both of the cover's
    lathes toward the back of the transceiver until you see the orange
    tabs underneath the latches.  Then slide the cover in the direction of
    the arrow and lift it off.

3.  With the battery label 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.

4.  Slide the battery cover back onto the transceiver, then slide both of
    the latches toward the front of the transceiver to lock it.

To remove the battery pack, unlock the compartment and remove the cover, 
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 for about 16 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 the volume control on top of the transceiver fully
    counterclockwise until it clicks to make sure power is turned off.

2.  Pull out the rubber cover from the charging jack on the side of the
    transceiver, then insert the charger's 3/32 inch plug into the jack.
    Plug the other end of the charger into a standard AC outlet.

3.  When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC outlet
    and the transceiver.

When the transceiver beeps about 3 to 4 seconds after you turn it on or 
each time you release 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 it beeps when you release 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 mailback
            programs.

Connecting the Antenna

CAUTION:  Always connect the supplied antenna to the transceiver before
          you use it.

Thread the supplied flexible antenna clockwise into the top of the 
transceiver to attach it, or counterclockwise to remove it.

Using The Belt Clip

Align the belt clip to the mounting rails on the back of the transceiver, 
then push the clip down until it clicks to lock it.

To remove the belt clip, slide it up while pulling the tab toward the 
clip.

Using An External Speaker/ Microphone

An external speaker/microphone (not supplied) can make it easier to use 
the transceiver when you clip it to your 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 earphone and microphone jacks on the side of 
the transceiver.  This automatically disconnects the transceiver's built
in speaker and microphone.

Listening Safely

To protect your hearings 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.

Setting Frequency Options

Before you can use your transceiver, you 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.  Select a business band frequency you have a license to use then set
    your transceiver to that frequency (see "Selecting a Business Band
    Frequency", below).

2.  Select a CTCSS frequency then set your transceiver to the code that
    uses that frequency (see "Using a CTCSS Frequency", below).

Your transceiver's default CTCSS frequency is 100 Hz.  You can select one 
CTCSS frequency at a time.  If you do not want to use a CTCSS frequency, 
simply do not set your transceiver to use one.

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 broadcast if they both use CTCSS 
and each select a different CTCSS frequency.

Selecting A Business Band Frequency

1.  While holding PUSH TO TALK, turn on the transceiver.  You hear
    "frequency" and the current frequency setting ("frequency nine," for
    example).

2.  Choose a business band frequency from the following table.

             FREQUENCY

      FREQ. (MHz)    YOU HEAR

       151.625         one
       151.955         two
       154.570        three
       154.600         four
       151.700         five
       151.760         six
       151.820        seven
       151.880        eight
       151.940         nine

3.  Repeatedly press PUSH TO TALK to scroll through the transceiver's
    business band frequencies.  When you hear the business band frequency
    you have a license to use, release PUSH TO TALK.

4.  Press MONITOR twice to store the frequency.

(EB 1/25/99)
(EB - Rev. 3/15/99)