Radio Shack HTX-10 User Manual

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Cat. No. 19-1110

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

HTX-10

10-Meter Transceiver

FEATURES

Your RadioShack HTX-10 10-Meter Transceiver is ideal for use
in your vehicle. Its 25-watt SSB/FM and 7-watt AM output pro­vides the power you need to communicate, and its tuner covers
the entire 10-meter Amateur Radio band (including the 28.3 to

28.5 MHz Novice band). You can connect a DC power supply and
base station antenna to your transceiver to set up a base station
in your home. The transceiver’s crystal-controlled circuitry pro­vides accurate and stable channel selection, making it an ideal
choice for your amateur communications needs.

Your transceiver has these advanced features:

Large, Illuminated, Digital Display

— clearly shows the fre-

quency, functions, and incoming signal strength.

1 kHz Frequency Resolution —

lets you fine tune frequencies

for optimum transmission and reception.

Scan

— the transceiver scans its frequency range for transmis-

sions.

MIC and RF Gain Control

— lets you adjust th e microp hone and

receiver gain to match the strength of the received signal.

Switchable Noise Blank er

— reduces interference from ignition

systems, motors, and other electrical equipment.

Squelch Circuit

— compensates for signal fad ing and eliminates

signal chopping.

Automatic Gain Control

— maintains a constant volume level,

regardless of the signal strength.

Built-In Automatic Modulation Control

— ensures a constant

RF modulation level.

Universal Mounting Bra cket

— lets you mount y our tran sceiv er

securely in your vehicle or on a shelf in your home.

© 2000 Tandy Corporation.

RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.

All Rights Reserved.

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Important

Radio Operator’s License, and a call sign issued by the FCC, to
legally transmit using this transceiver. Transmitting without a li­cense carries heavy penalties. Getti ng a license is ea sier than ev­er. See “Introduction to Amateur Radio” on Page 6 for more
information.

We recommend you record your transceiver’s serial number
here. The number is on the transceiver’s back panel.

Serial Number ____________________________

: You must have a Technic ian Clas s or hig her Amateu r

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MANUAL CONVENTIONS

Your transceiver’s button s perform multiple function s. The ab bre­viation or symbol for a function is printed on, below, or above
each button.

To activate certain transceiver features, you must press

FUNC

(function) then another button.

Button names are p rinted in this man ual in s mall, bol d, capita l let­ters (such as
bers that appear on the display are printed using a distinctive
typeface (such as

PUSH FUNC

28.300

or

SCAN

). Words, symbols, and num-

or

BUSY

).

PUSH

FCC INFORMATION

This device complies wit h Part 15 of the
subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause un­desired operation.

This equip ment c omplies wit h the li mits for a C lass B digit al de ­vice as specified in Part 15 of
reasonable protec tio n ag ai nst radio and TV interferen ce in a re s­idential area. However, your equipment might cause TV or radio
interference even when it is operating properly. To eliminate in­terference, you can try one or more of the following corrective
measures:

• reorient or relocate th e receiving antenna

• increase the distance between the equipment and the radio
or TV

FCC Rules

FCC Rules

. These limits provide

. Operation is

Consult your local RadioShack stor e if the problem still exists.
You must use shielded interface cables with this equipment.

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CONTENTS

Introduction to Amateur Radio ............................................. 6

Preparation ............................................................................. 8

Attaching the Microphone Holder ...................... ...... ..... .... 8

Mounting the Transceiver ................................................. 8

Connecting an Antenna .................................................. 10

Connecting the Microphone ............................................ 12

Connecting an Optional External Speaker ...................... 12

Using Vehicle Battery Power .......................................... 13

Using the Transceiver as a Base Station ........................ 14

A Quick Look at the Controls ............................................. 16

Operation .............................................................................. 17

Setting Squelch and Receiving ....................................... 17

Transmitting .................................................................... 18

Notes on SSB Reception ................................................ 19

Special Features .................................................................. 20

Using the Special Features ............................................. 20

Using STEP ............................................................. 21

Using CALL ............................................................. 22

Using SCAN ............................................................ 22

Using LCR (Last Channel Recall) ............................ 23

Using M-LOAD ........................................................ 23

Using NB (Noise Blanker) ........................................ 23

Using SHIFT ............................................................ 24

Using T-LOW (Tone-Low) ........................................ 24

Using M-SAVE (Memory Save) ............................... 25

Using FINE (Clarifier) .............................................. 25

Using RF-G (RF Gain) ............................................. 26

Using MIC-G (Microphone Gain) ............................. 26

Turning the Key Tone on and Off .................................... 26

Care and Maintenance ......................................................... 27

Troubleshooting ................................................................... 28

Noise Reduction ............................................................. 29

Replacing the Fuse ......................................................... 30

Specifications ....................................................................... 32

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INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR
RADIO

This transceiver is a great intermediate-level tool for the experi­enced amateur radio operator. The transceiver opens a door for
you to the world from almost anywhere! All you need is an Ama­teur Radio Operato r’s Licen se (Novic e Clas s, or Tec hnician Plus,
or higher) issued by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC). If you do not have a license, it is easier than ever to get
one and help from lic ensed ope rators is avai lable. He re are a few
tips to help you get started.

You can turn on your transceiver and scan the entire band to hear
what is going on;

you get your license

in violation of federal law. That violation can lead to severe pen­alties. Note that ham o perators take th e FCC rules very se riousl y
and want nothing to do wit h “bootlegg ers” — thei r term for people
who operate without a license.

Find out if there is a ha m radi o c lub in your area. Most clu bs wel­come newcomers and are glad to help you get your license.
There are thousands of clubs acro ss the country, so there is prob­ably one in or near your own community. Often, the staff at your
local RadioShack store can help you locate a club.

however, do not attempt to transmit until

. If you transmit without a license, you are

If you do not hear anyone talking about a local club in your area
as you listen to local transmissions, write to the American Radio
Relay League (ARRL) at th e foll owin g addre ss, to fin d out ho w to
contact a local affiliate. The ARRL is the national organization
representing amateur radio in the United States. The league has
more than 150,000 members. Most are ham operators, or mem­bers in the process of obtaining their lice ns e.

The American Radio Relay Leagu e

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111

http://www.arrl.org

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Start studying for the licen se exams . Do not be inti midated b y the
word “study,” for most people can go from knowing absolutely
nothing about amateur radio to passing the Novice and Techni­cian written exams in less than a month.

The exams test yo ur knowledg e of basi c radio regulatio ns and el ­ementary ra dio theory. Many cl ubs hold license clas ses, which
can be a fun and easy way to learn about amateur radio. There
are good books, cassette tapes, computer programs, and many
other study aids ava ilable. Your loc al RadioShack st ore sells

License Preparation

censes. While you are no longer required to learn Morse code for
a Technician Class lice nse, we enc ourage y ou to learn it any way
so you can advance to higher levels of operating privileges.

The examiners for a Novice license test can be any two ham op­erators who hold a genera l or hig her class li cense an d who are a t
least 18 years old and are not related to you. There is no fee to
take the Novice exam. As soon as you pass the Novice exam,
you can immediately take the Technician exam. There is a small
fee required for taking th e Technic ian exam, and the test mu st be
administered by a three-member Volunteer Examiner Team.
Contact the ARRL for a schedule of exam opportunities in your
area.

A Novice Class or Techni cian Plus (or higher) license lets you use
the HTX-10 to communicate directly with other operators.

study guides for amateur radio operator li-

FCC

Amateur radio is a great h obby that has enriched th e li ves of mil­lions of people a ll over the world . The ARRL wo uld be glad to hear
from you if you need more information or would like to join!

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PREPARATION

ATTACHING THE MICROPHONE
HOLDER

You can connect the microphone holder horizontally or vertically
to either side of the transceiver or to another location in your ve­hicle.

Use the supplied screws and lock washers to secure the holder
to the side of the transceiver.

Or, follow these steps to attach the holder to another location in
the vehicle (such as the dashboard).

1. Using the holder as a template, mark the positions for the
mounting screw holes at the desired location.

2. At each marked position, drill a hole slightl y sm all er th an t he
supplied mounting screws.

Caution:

mounting surface.

3. Attach the holder at the mounting location using the sup­plied machine screws and lock washers.

Be careful not to drill into anything behind the

MOUNTING THE TRANSCEIVER

The most common mo un ting lo cation for this trans ceive r is un der
a vehicle's dashboard. If you use the HTX-10 as a base station,
however, you can place it on a desk, shelf, or table (see “Using
the Transceiver as a Base Station” on Page 14).

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If you are mounting the transceiver in a vehicle, choose a loca­tion where:

• you can easily reach the transceiver.

• wires and cables are clear of the vehicle's pedals or other
moving parts.

• the transceiver is not directly in front of heating vents.

• all wires and cables can reach their connection points.

Warning:

to avoid damage to th e tra nsc ei ve r or v ehi cl e, a nd to av oid injury
to anyone in the vehicle during sudden starts or stops.

Follow these steps to mount the transceiver using the supplied
hardware.

1. Using the mounting bracket as a template, mark the posi-

2. In each marked location, drill a hole slightly smaller than the

3. Using a Phillips screwdriver, attach the mounting bracket to

If you use the trans ceiver in a ve hicle, mount it securely

tions for the screw holes on the mounting surface.

supplied mounting screws.

Caution:

mounting surface.

the mounting surface with the supplied mounting screws
and flat washers.

Be careful not to drill into objects behind the

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4. Attach the transceiver to the mounting bracket using the

s

supplied rubber washers and mounting knobs.

(Rubber washer

not shown)

CONNECTING AN ANTENNA

There are many diffe rent types of transceiv er antennas for mobile
transceivers. Each antenna type has its own benefits, so choose
the one that best m eets you r needs. Yo ur local Ra dioSha ck store
sells a wide variety of antennas.

Note:

If you are us ing t his trans ceiv er as a b ase statio n, se e “Us-

ing the Transceiver as a Base Station” on Page 14.
When you choose an antenna, keep in mind that for the best

performance you should mount the antenna:

• as high as possible on the vehicle

• as far as possible from sources of electrical noise

•vertically

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Once you choose an antenn a, follow
its mounting instru ctions. Then route
the cable to the transce iver and co n-

ANT

nect the cable to the

jack on the

back of the transceiver.

Cautions:

• Avoid routing the cable next to
sharp edges or moving parts,
which might damage the cable.

• Do not run the cable next to
power cables or other radio
antenna cables.

• Do not run the cable through the engine compartment or
other areas that produce extreme heat.

To achieve your radio's maximum range, adjust the antenna's
Standing Wave Ratio (SWR). You can use an SWR meter (not
supplied) to adjust the SWR for your antenna.

Follow the instruction s supplied wit h the SWR mete r and antenna
to adjust your ante nna 's SWR to the lowest pos si bl e v alu e. SWR
values of 2.0:1 are generall y acceptable , with readings of 1.5:1 or
lower being more desirable.

Caution:

You might damage your transceiver if you use it at a

high SWR value.

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