Radio Shack DX-350 User Manual

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Please read before usin g this equipment.
AM/FM/LW/SW1–9 12-Band
Portable Receiver
Cat. No.
20-209A
OWNER’S MANUAL
DX-350
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INTRODUCTION
Your RadioShack DX-350 is a 12-Band Portable Receiver for AM (MW), FM, long wave and worldwide shortwave broadcasts. Its nine shortwave bands put the world at your fingertips, with interna­tional broadcasts from Japan, Israel, England, Holland, Australia, and other countries around the globe.
Because the receiver is so light and compact, you can carry it with you wherever you go. You can power it from any of three sources: internal ba tt eri es, standard AC, or vehicle battery power. To get the most enjoyment from your receiver, take a few minutes to com­pletely read thi s manual before using the DX-350.
FCC NOTICE
Your receiver might cause radio or TV interference, even when it is operating properly. To determine whether or not your receiver is causing the interference, turn off your receiver. If the interference goes away, your receiver is causing the interference. Try to elimi­nate the interference by:
• Moving your receiver away from another receiver
• Connecting your receiver t o an outlet that is on a differ ent elec­trical circuit from the other receiver
• Contacting your local RadioShack store for help
If you cannot eliminate the interference, the FCC requires that you stop using your re ceiver.
©
1997 Tandy Corporation.
RadioShack is a trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
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CONTENTS
Choosing a Power Supply .......... ............ .. ....................... .......... 4
Installing Batteries ................................................................. 4
Using Standard AC Power ..................................................... 5
Using a Vehicle Battery ......................................................... 6
Operation ..................................................................................... 7
Tuning the Receiver .............................................................. 7
Adjusting the Antennas ........ ................................. ............ .... 7
Using Headphones ................................................ ................ 8
Listening Safely .............................................................. 8
Traffic Safety .................................................................. 9
Listening Guide ......................................................................... 10
Band Allocation ..................................... ............ .. .. .............. 10
Ham Radio Frequencies .. .. ........................................... 10
Time Standard Frequencies ............. ............................ 11
International Radio Stations ......................................... 11
Frequency Conversion ........................................................ 12
Care and Maintenance .............................................................. 13
Specifications ........................................................................... 15
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CHOOSING A PO WER SUPPLY
You can power the receiv er usi ng either:
• Fou r AA bat te r ies
• Standard AC power (with an optional AC adapter)
• 12-volt DC vehicle powe r (wi th an optional DC adapter)
INSTALLING BATTERIES
You need four AA batteries (not supplied) to power your receiver. For the best results, we recommend alkaline batteries, such as Ra­dioShack Cat. No. 23-552.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteri es of the req uired si ze and recomm ended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
Illus cover removal, battery installation, and cover replacement
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1. Open the battery compartment by pushing the cover in the direction of the arr ow.
2. Install four AA batteries in the battery compartment as indi­cated by the polarity symb ols (+ and –) mark on the back of the receiver. Place the batteries on top of the ribbon so you can easily lift th em out lat er.
3. Replace the cover.
USING STANDARD AC POWER
You can power the receiver from standard AC power with an AC adapter (such as Cat. No. 273-1454, not supplied).
Insert the adapter’s small connector into the receiver’s Then plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet. Internal batteries automatically disconnect.
DC 6V
jack.
Illustration of DC 6V jack w/adapter cord to AC outlet
Caution:
ers at least 150 milliamps with its center tip set to negative. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the receiver or the adapter.
The recommended adapter supplies 6 volts DC and deliv-
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USING A VEHICLE BATTERY
With a DC adapter (such as Cat. No. 14-844, not supp lied) , you can operate the receiver in a car, boat, or recreational vehicle equipped with a 12-volt DC, negative-ground electrical system.
Insert the adapter’s barrel plug into the receiver’s the adapter’s 6V/9V selector to 6V. Then plug the other end of the adapter into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket. Internal batteries automatically disconnect.
Cautions:
• The recommended adapter supplies 6 volts DC and delivers at
• Do not let the adapter’s barrel plug contact any metal parts of
least 3 00 millia mp s w i th its cente r t ip set to negative. Using an adapter that does not meet the specifications could damage the receiver or the adapter.
the vehicle when you plug the adapter into the lighter socket. This can dam age the adapt er or the v ehicle’s el ectrical syst em .
DC 6V
jack. Set
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OPERATION
TUNING THE RECEIVER
1. To turn on the receiver, press
SW/LW/AM/FM
2. Set
SW BAND 1–9
See “Listening Guide” on Page 10 for more information about each band.
3. Adjust
4. Set
TUNING
cator lights when a station is tuned properly.
VOLUME
to the desired band. For shortwave, also set
to one of the bands from 1 to 9.
to tune to the desired statio n. The TUNING indi-
to a comfortable listening level.
POWER
.
ADJUSTING THE ANTENNAS
For the best reception, adjust the antenna according to this chart.
Band Frequency Range Antenna
AM
LW
FM
SW 1–9
535–1705 kHz Internal — Rotate the re-
ceiver for the best reception
150–281 kHz Internal — Rotate the re-
ceiver for the best reception
87.5–108 M Hz Telescopi ng — Extend fully and swivel for the best r e­ception
5.85–26.10 MHz Telescoping — Extend fully. do not swivel
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USING HEADPHONES
Sometimes headphones can capture the subtle difference between signals and the surrounding noise that often occurs at night. Be sure that the headphones (not supplied) have a the plug into the jack on the left of the receiver. When you plug in the headphones, the speak er is silenced . You will find a wide selec­tion of headphones at your local RadioShack store.
Illustration of headphones jack location
1
/8-inch plug. Insert
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use headphones.
• Set the volume to t he 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 high­volume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss.
• Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt to the volum e level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing.
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Traffic Safety
Do not use headphones with your receiver 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 headphones with your receiver while riding a bicycle, be very careful. Do not listen to a continuous broadcast. Even though some earphones/headphones let you hear some outside sounds when listening at normal volume levels, they still can present a traf­fic hazard.
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LISTEN ING GUID E
Worldwide, there are thousands of shortwave listeners. The short­wave hobby can be very exciting. Newscasts of a country where important events are taking place give you a sense of immediacy and participation that reports on local stations cannot deliver.
Being a shortwave listener requires no special knowledge. Random tuning is a good way to become acquainted with va rious bands and stations. But as you gain expertise, you will probably acquire spe­cial listening techniques.
BAND ALLOCATION
Certain portions of the radio frequency spectrum are set aside for specific purpos es. Each range of frequen ci es is called a ra dio band. See “Specifications” on Page 15 for the band frequencies. The fol­lowing sections list some of the most interesting band allocati ons.
Ham Radio Frequencies
Ham radio operators often broadcast emergency information when other means of communication break down. They use Morse code (called continuous wave) and single sideband. The following chart shows the continuous wave frequencies you can receive on the DX-350. The DX-350 cannot receive single sideband signals.
3,500–3,800 kHz 7,000–7,150 kHz 14,000–14,200 kHz 21,000–21,250 kHz 28,000–28,500 kHz
10
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Time Standard Frequencies
The National Bureau of Standards operates station WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado, on 2.500, 5.000, 10.000, 15.000, and 20.000 MHz. These stations broadcast the exact time of day at specified intervals.
You can pick up Canada’s station CHU on 7.335 MHz. You can pick up Australia’s station VNG on 12.000 MHz.
International Radio Stations
International commercial broadcasts are found in several bands. You can hear these most often during the evening hours between 6:00 PM and midnight (your time). Programming (often in English) usually contains news, commentaries, music, and special features reflectin g the cul ture of the specific country.
European stations often list a frequency by giving its wavelength. For example, you might hear “the 19-meter band.” (See “Fr equency Conversion” on Page 12.)
Notes:
• The following table shows some of t he mos t popular bands.
Band (in meters) Frequency Range (i n MHz)
49 5.950–6.200
*41 7.100–7.30
31 9.400–9.900 25 1 1.600 –12. 100 19 15.100–15.80 0
11
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Band (in meters) Frequency Range (in MHz)
16 17.480–17.900 13 21.450–21.850 11 25.670–26.100
* The 41-meter band is shared by ham operator s in the Unit-
ed States and international stations.
• Stations can change frequenci es. For an up-to-date listing, see RadioShack’s other popular communications magazines.
Listening to Short Wave
(Cat. No. 62-1021) or
FREQUENCY CONVERSION
The location of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). To find your way around interna­tional br oadcasts, it is helpful to be able to convert frequenci es from MHz to kHz, kHz to MHz, and MHz to m eters.
1 MHz (million) = 1,000 kHz (thousand)
To convert MHz to kHz, multiple by 1,000. For example:
9.62 M H z × 1,000 = 9620 kHz
To convert from kHz to MHz, divide by 1,000. For example:
2780 kHz/1,000 = 2.780 MHz
To convert from MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of MHz. For example:
300/ 7.1 MHz = 42. 2 5 m eters .
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your DX-350 is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for the DX-350 so you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the DX-350 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry im­mediately. Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.
Use and store the DX-350 only in normal tempera­ture environments. High temperatures can shorten the life o f elec troni c d evices, da mage ba tteri es, a nd distort or melt plast ic part s.
Handle the DX-350 gentl y an d caref ully . Droppi ng it can damage circuit boards and cases and can cause the DX-350 to work improperly.
Keep the DX-350 away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature wear of parts.
Wipe the DX-350 with a dampened cloth occasion­ally to keep it looking new. Do not use harsh chem­icals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to clean the DX-350.
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Use only fresh batteries of the recommended size and type. Always remove old or weak batteries. They can leak chemical s t hat destr oy elect roni c cir­cuits.
Modifying or tampering with the DX-350’s internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate the it’s warranty and void your FCC authorization to use it. If your DX-350 is not performing as it should, take it to your local RadioS hack store for assist ance.
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SPECIFICATIONS
Power Supply ............................................................ 4 AA batteries
AC/DC adapter 6V 150 mA center negati ve
Frequency Ranges:
FM .................................. .................................. 87.5–108 MHz
AM .................................................................... 530–1710 kHz
LW ...................................................................... 150–281 kHz
SW1 (49 m) .................... ................................. 5.90–6.20 MHz
SW2 (41 m) .................... ................................. 7.10–7.35 MHz
SW3 (31 m) .................... ................................. 9.40–9.90 MHz
SW4 (25 m) .................... ............................. 1 1.60–12.10 MHz
SW5 (21 m) .................... ............................. 13.57–13.87 MHz
SW6 (19 m) .................... ............................. 15.10–15.80 MHz
SW7 (16 m) .................... ............................. 17.48–17.90 MHz
SW8 (13 m) .................... ............................. 21.45–21.85 MHz
SW9 (11 m) .................................................. 25.67–26.10 MHz
Sensitivity: ........................................ Max for 50 mW output 8 Ohm
631 µV at 1,000 kHz
Usable sensitivity for 20 dB S/N 1,000 µV at 1,000 kHz
Speaker ......... .. ...................................... 2.5 Inch, 8 Ohm, 0.5 Watt
Output Power
Headphones Jack
Dimensions (HWD) ............................................ 4 × 7 × 1
.......
200 mW 8 Ohm (10% THD) for built-in speaker
10 mW per channel for headphones
................................................
3.5 mm, 32 Ohm
(105 × 176 x 39 mm)
1
/2 Inches
Weight (without batteries) ...................................................... 14 oz
(400 g)
Specifications are typical; individual units mi ght vary. Specificat ions are subject to change and improvement without notice.
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Limited Ninety-Day Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in mate­rial and workmanship unde r normal use for ninet chase from RadioShack compan franchisees a nd d ealers . EXCEPT AS P ROVID ED HERE IN, Radio Shack MA KES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IM PLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PUR­POSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIM­ITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED DIR ECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PER­FORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM INCONVENIENCE, LOSS O F TIME, DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES , EVEN IF RadioSh ack HAS BEEN ADV ISED OF THE POSSI BILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Some states do not allow the lim itations on how lon the exclusion o f incidental or consequen tial dam a exclusions ma In the event of a product defect durin the RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to an RadioShack will, at its option, unless otherwise provided b fect b with one of the same or similar desi placed parts and pr oducts, and products on which a refu nd is made, bec ome the propert the performance of war rant warranted for the remainder of the ori repair or repl ace ment of t he p roduct mad e afte r the expir ation of the w arra nt riod. This warrant acts of God, abuse, accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usa instructions, improper installation or maintenance, alteration, li dence o f excess vo lt a RadioShack Author ized Servi ce F acili t ies; (d) cosmetic dama costs of product removal, installation, set-up service ad This warrant which var
RadioShack Customer Relations, Dept. W, 100 Throckmorton St., Suite 600,
not apply to you.
product repair without charge for parts and labor; (b ) replace the product
of RadioShack. New o r rec ondition ed par ts and pr od ucts may be used in
does not cov er: (a) damage or failure c aused by or attributable to
e or current; (b) any repairs other than thos e provi ded by a
e; (e) tran sportation, shipping or insurance costs; or (f)
ives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
from state to state.
-owned stores and authorized RadioShack
the warranty period, take the product a nd
n; or (c) refund the pu rchase price. All re-
service. Repaired or rep laced pa rts and products are
inal warranty period. You will be charged for
; (c) consumabl es suc h as fus es or batte r-
Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell
(90) days from the date of pur-
an implied warr anty lasts or
es, so the above l imitations or
RadioShack stor e.
law: (a) correct the de-
pe-
e, failure to follow
htning or other inci-
ustment or reinstallation.
3/97
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
4A7 Printed in Taiwan
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