Sony ICF-C263 User Manual
3-266-392-21(1)
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
For your protection, please read these safety instructions completely before operating the appliance,
and keep this manual for future reference.
Carefully observe all warnings, precautions and instructions on the appliance and in the operating
instructions, and adhere to them.
INSTALLATION
Water and Moisture
Do not use powerline operated appliances near water - for example, near a bathtub, washbowl,
kitchen sink, or laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc.
Heat
Do not place the appliance near or over a radiator or heat register, or where it is exposed to direct
sunlight.
Ventilation
The slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for necessary ventilation. To ensure reliable
operation of the appliance, and to protect it from overheating, these slots and openings must never be
blocked or covered.
-Never cover the slots and openings with a cloth or other materials.
-Never block the slots and openings by placing the appliance on a bed, sofa, rug or other similar
surface.
-Never place the appliance in a confined space, such as a bookcase, or built-in cabinet, unless proper
ventilation is provided.
Accessories
Do not place the appliance on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The appliance may fall,
causing serious injury to a child or an adult, and serious damage to the appliance. Use only a cart,
stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by Sony.
-An appliance and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and
uneven surfaces may cause the appliance and cart combination to overturn.
Wall or Ceiling Mounting
If your appliance can be mounted to a wall or ceiling, mount it only as recommended by Sony.
USE
Power Source
This appliance should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label.
If you are not sure of the type of electrical power supplied to your home, consult your dealer or local
power company. For those appliances designed to operate from battery power, or other sources, refer
to the operating instructions.
Grounding or Polarization
This appliance is equipped with a polarized AC power cord plug (a plug having one blade wider than
the other), or with a three-wire grounding type plug (a plug having a third pin for grounding). Follow
the instructions below:
-For the appliance with a polarized AC power cord plug:
This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to
insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact
your electrician to have a suitable outlet installed. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized
plug by forcing it in.
-For the appliance with a three-wire grounding type AC plug:
This plug will only fit into a grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to
insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to have a suitable outlet installed. Do not defeat
the safety purpose of the grounding plug.
Overloading
Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords or convenience receptacles beyond their capacity, since
this can result in fire or electric shock.
When not in use
Unplug the power cord of the appliance from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.
To disconnect the cord, pull it out by grasping the plug. Never pull the plug out by the cord.
Power-Cord Protection
Route the power cord so that it is not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or
against them, paying particular attention to the plugs, receptacles, and the point where the cord exits
from the appliance.
Lightning
For added protection for this appliance during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and
unused for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable
system. This will prevent damage to the appliance due to lightning and powerline surges.
Object and Liquid Entry
Never push objects of any kind into the appliance through openings as they may touch dangerous
voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any
kind on the appliance.
Cleaning
Unplug the appliance from the wall outlet before cleaning or polishing it. Do not use liquid cleaners
or aerosol cleaners. Use a cloth lightly dampened with water for cleaning the exterior of the appliance.
Clean the appliance only as recommended by Sony.
Attachments
Do not use attachments not recommended by Sony, as they may cause hazards.
ANTENNAS
Outdoor Antenna Grounding
If an outdoor antenna or cable system is installed, follow the precautions below.
An outdoor antenna system should not be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other
electric light or power circuits, or where it can come in contact with such power lines or circuits.
WHEN INSTALLING AN OUTDOOR ANTENNA SYSTEM, EXTREME CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN
TO KEEP FROM CONTACTING SUCH POWER LINES OR CIRCUITS AS CONTACT WITH THEM
IS ALMOST INVARIABLY FATAL.
Be sure the antenna system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and
built-up static charges. Section 810 of the National Electrical Code provides information with respect
to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an
antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connection
to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.
Antenna Grounding According to the National
Electrical Code
SERVICE
Damage Requiring Service
Unplug the appliance from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the
following conditions:
-When the power cord or plug is damage or frayed.
-If liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the appliance.
-If the appliance has been exposed to rain or water.
-The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.
-This indicates a need for service.
-If the appliance does not operate normally when following the operating instructions, adjust only
those controls that are specified in the operating instructions. Improper adjustment of other controls
may result in damage and will often require extensive work
by a qualified technician to restore the appliance to normal operation.
-If the appliance has been subject to excessive shock by being dropped, or the cabinet has been
damaged.
Servicing
Do not attempt to service the appliance yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage or other hazards.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Replacement parts
When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts
specified by Sony that have the same characteristics as the original parts.
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other hazards.
Safety Check
Upon completion of any service or repairs to the appliance, ask the service technician to perform
routine safety checks (as specified by Sony) to determine that the appliance is in safe operating
condition.
Antenna Discharge Unit
(NEC Section 810-20)
Grounding Conductors
(NEC Section 810-20)
Antenna Lead-in Wire
Ground
Clamps
NEC-NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE
Electric Service
Equipment
Ground Clamps
Power Service Grounding Electrode System
(NEC Art 250 Part H)
FM/AM PLL Synthesized
Clock Radio
ICF-C263
Operating Instructions
Dream Machine is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
Printed on 100% recycled paper using
VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)free vegetable oil based ink.
2004 Sony Corporation Printed in China
For customers who purchased this product in the
USA
Please register this product on line at
http://www.sony.com/productregistration.
Proper registration will enable us to send you
periodic mailings about new products, services,
and other important announcements.
Registering your product will also allow us to
contact you in the unlikely event that the product
needs adjustment or modification. Thank you.
WARNING
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose the unit to rain or moisture.
To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet.
Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
Do not install the appliance in a confined space, such
as a bookcase or built-in cabinet.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place objects
filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.
This symbol is intended to alert the user
to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the
product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk
of electric shock to persons.
This symbol is intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating
and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the
appliance.
* The graphical symbols are at the bottom of the
unit.
INFORMATION
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following
measures:
— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
— Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
— Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
— Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/
TV technician for help.
You are cautioned that any changes or
modifications not expressly approved in this
manual could void your authority to operate
this equipment.
Features
• FM / AM Digital Tuning Clock Radio
• Dual alarm setting
• 15 station memory presets with 5 direct access
buttons
• Nap timer / Extendable Snooze functions
• LCD Brightness Control
• Sleep function
Precautions
• Operate the unit only on 120 V AC, 60 Hz.
•To disconnect the power cord (mains lead), pull it
out the plug, not by the cord.
• Do not leave the unit in a location near a heat source
such as a radiator or airduct, or in a place subject to
direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical
vibration, or shock.
• Do not place the unit on surfaces (rugs, blankets,
etc.) or near materials (curtains, draperies) that
block the ventilation holes.
• Should any liquid or solid object fall into the unit,
unplug the unit and have it checked by qualified
personnel before operating it further.
• When the casing becomes soiled, clean it with a soft
cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution.
Never use abrasive cleaners or chemical solvents, as
they may mar the casing.
If you have any questions or problems
concerning your unit, please consult your
nearest Sony dealer.
Troubleshooting
Should any problem occur with the unit, make the
following simple checks to determine whether or not
servicing is required.
If the problem persists, consult your nearest Sony
dealer.
The clock does not show the correct time.
• Has an electrical power outage lasting more than 1
minutes occurred?
The radio or buzzer alarm does not sound at
the preset alarm time.
• Has the desired radio or buzzer alarm been
activated? (i.e. Is “
“ ” or “ ” displayed?)
The radio alarm is activated but no sound
comes on at the preset alarm time.
• Has VOLUME been adjusted?
The preset stations may be deleted from the memory,
if a maintenance service is performed.
Please note down your settings in case you want to
preset them again.
” or “ ” and
Specifications
Time display
12-hour system
Frequency range
FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz (Channel step 0.1 MHz)
AM: 530 - 1,710 kHz (Channel step 10 kHz)
Speaker
Approx. 6.6 cm (2
Power output
150 mW (at 10 % harmonic distortion)
Power requirements
120 V AC, 60 Hz
Dimensions
Approx. 172.5 × 61.9 × 154.7 mm (w/h/d)
7
/8 × 2 1/2 × 6 1/8 inches) including projecting
(6
parts and controls
Mass
Approx. 610 g (1 lb 21.5 oz)
Design and specifications are subject to change
without notice.
5
/8 inches) dia. 8 Ω
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The PRESET TUNING 3
button has a tactile dot.
Presetting Your
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SNOOZE
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RADIO ON
/BAND
OFF
ALARM
RESET
AC power cord
FM wire antenna
Favourite Station
—Preset Tuning
You can preset up to 10 stations in FM (5 stations in
FM1, 5 stations in FM2), and 5 stations in AM.
Presetting a Station
1 Follow steps 1 to 4 in “Playing the Radio”
and manually tune into the station you wish
to preset.
2 Hold down the preset button you wish to
preset for more than 2 seconds.
Example: Display window when you set FM
The preset number “2” and “ ” flash in the
display.
Two beeps sound, and “2” and “
flashing.
To preset another station, repeat these steps.
To change the preset station, tune into the desired
station and hold down the PRESET TUNING 1
to 5 button. The new station will replace the
previous station on the preset button.
Tuning into a Preset Station
1 Press RADIO ON/BAND to turn on the
90 MHz in the PRESET TUNING 2
button for FM2.
” stop
1 Perform steps 1 to 5 in “To set the Alarm
Time”.
2 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – to select
“BUZZER” alarm mode.
3 Press ALARM SET A or B.
Two short beeps will confirm the setting.
Setting the Alarm Mode
Before setting the alarm mode, be sure to set the alarm
time (See “Setting the Alarm”).
Press ALARM MODE repeatedly until the desired
mode is selected.
Each press of ALARM MODE changes the indication
on the display as follows:
No alarm
Indication
If the same alarm time is set for both radio and buzzer
alarm (ALARM A and B), the radio alarm (ALARM
A) takes priority.
or or
or
or
To Doze for a Few More
Minutes
Press SNOOZE/SLEEP OFF.
The radio or buzzer turns off but will automatically
come on again after about 10 minutes. Every time you
press SNOOZE/SLEEP OFF, the snooze time
changes as follows:
radio.
The maximum length of the snooze time is 60
minutes.
The display shows the snooze time for a few seconds
and returns to show the current time. When you press
SNOOZE/SLEEP OFF after the current time
appears, the snooze time starts from 10 minutes again.
The alarm setting indicator keeps flashing the whole
time.
To Stop the Alarm
Press OFF•ALARM RESET to turn off the alarm.
The alarm will come on again at the same time the
next day.
VOLUME
There is a tactile dot beside
volume to show the direction
to turn up the volume.
2 Press RADIO ON/BAND to select the
band.
3 Press the desired preset button.
4 Adjust the volume using VOLUME.
After a few seconds, the display will return to the
current time but the preset button number will
remain.
Note
Holding down the desired PRESET TUNING button
for more than a few seconds in step 3 will replace the
previous station on the PRESET TUNING button
with the station you tuned into.
Setting the Sleep
Timer
You can enjoy falling asleep to the radio using the
built-in sleep timer that turns off the radio automatically after a preset duration.
Press SLEEP.
The radio turns on. You can set the sleep timer to
duration of 90, 60, 30, or 15 minutes. Every press
changes the display as follows:
OFF
Two short beeps sound when the display returns to
“90”.
“ ” will appear in the display when the duration
time is set.
The radio will play for the time you set, then shut off.
To turn off the radio before the preset time
Press SNOOZE/SLEEP OFF or OFF•ALARM
RESET.
To Use Both Sleep Timer
and Alarm
You can fall asleep to the radio and also be awakened
by the radio or buzzer alarm at the preset time.
1 Set the alarm (See “Setting the Alarm”) .
2 Set the sleep timer (See “Setting the Sleep
Timer”).
90
15
60
30
B Setting the Buzzer Alarm
Setting the Clock
1 Plug in the unit.
“AM 12:00” flashes on the display.
2 Press CLOCK SET for a few seconds
until a beep sounds.
The hour starts to flash on the display.
3 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the
correct hour appears.
To set the current time rapidly, hold down TUNE/
TIME SET + or –.
4 Press CLOCK SET once.
The minute starts flashing.
5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 to set the minute.
Two short beeps sound, and the counting of the
seconds starts.
If you quit during the clock setting, after about 65
seconds the previous display will return.
To set the current time from zero seconds, press
CLOCK SET with the time signal in step 5.
Setting the
Brightness of the
Backlight
Press BRIGHTNESS to select high, middle or low
for the display according to your preferences.
Changing AM
Channel Step
The AM channel step differs depending on area.
The channel step of this unit is factory-set to 9 kHz or
10 kHz to change the setting as shown below to be
able to listen to the radio.
Area Channel step
North and South America 10 kHz
Other countries/regions 9 kHz
1 Press OFF•ALARM RESET to turn off
the power.
2 Press PRESET TUNING 1 and
SLEEP at the same time for more than 5
seconds.
Two short beeps will sound, and the AM channel
step will be changed. If you proceed to step 2, the
channel step will change again.
Notes
•When the AM channel step is changed, the preset
stations for AM will be initialized.
•When the AM channel step is changed, the FM
channel step also will be changed.
Playing the Radio
—Manual Tuning
1 Press RADIO ON/BAND to turn on the
radio.
The display shows the band and frequency for a
few seconds and then changes back to the current
time.
2 Press RADIO ON/BAND to select the
band.
Each press changes the band as follows:
AM
When using FM1 or FM2 preset mode, you may
listen to the radio on either mode (See “Presetting
Your Favourite Station”).
FM1
FM2
3 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – to tune
into the desired station.
Two short beeps sound when the minimum
frequency of each band is received during tuning.
4 Adjust volume using VOLUME.
To check the station being received
Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – lightly. The display
shows the band and frequency for a few seconds and
then returns to the previous display.
To turn off the radio, press OFF•ALARM RESET.
Improving the
Reception
FM: Extend the FM wire antenna fully to increase
reception sensitivity.
AM: Rotate the unit horizontally for optimum
reception. A ferrite bar is built into the unit.
Do not operate the unit over a steel desk or metal
surface, as this may lead to interference of reception.
Setting the Alarm
This clock radio is equipped with 2 alarm modes—
radio and buzzer. Before setting the alarm, make sure
to set the clock (see “Setting the Clock”).
To Set the Alarm Time
1 Press ALARM SET A or B for a few
seconds.
After one beep, “RADIO” or “BUZZER” and the
hour will flash on the display.
2 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the
desired hour appears.
To set the hour rapidly, hold down TUNE/TIME
SET + or –.
3 Press ALARM SET A or B.
After one beep, the minutes will flash.
4 Repeat step 2 to set the minutes and press
ALARM SET A or B.
After one beep, the alarm mode is entered.
5 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – until the
desired alarm indicator flashes.
You can choose one mode among “RADIO” and
“BUZZER.” Set the alarm mode as follows:
– RADIO: see “A Setting the Radio Alarm.”
– BUZZER: see “B Setting the Buzzer Alarm.”
A Setting the Radio Alarm
For the radio alarm, the station you specified as the
wake-up station is played.
1 Perform steps 1 to 5 in “To set the Alarm
Time”.
2 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – to select
“RADIO” alarm mode.
3 Press ALARM SET A or B to select the
desired wake-up station.
After one beep, “WAKE UP” appears and the
preset number flashes on the display.
4 Press TUNE/TIME SET + or – to select
the desired wake-up station.
Preset number changes in the order as follows:
AM P1 to 5
P
-
“P–” is the last received station.
You can directly select the desired wake-up
station by pressing RADIO ON/BAND or the
PRESET TUNING button while the indication
“P–” is not displayed.
5 Press ALARM SET A or B.
Two short beeps will confirm the setting.
FM1 P1 to 5FM2 P1 to 5
To Deactive the Alarm
Press ALARM MODE repeatedly so that “ ”
or “
off.
” and “ ” or “ ” go
Using the NAP
Timer (Count Down
Timer)
The NAP timer sounds the buzzer after a preset time
duration.
Press NAP repeatedly until the desired minutes is
displayed.
Every press changes the display as follows:
OFF
(current time)
Two short beeps sound when the display returns to
“10”.
The NAP indicator turns on, “ ” and the NAP
time are displayed for a few seconds.
NAP timer starts counting down the NAP time.
When selected NAP time has passed, the beep sound
comes on, and the NAP indicator and “
display flash.
To Stop NAP Timer
Press NAP or OFF•ALARM RESET to turn off the
buzzer.
To Deactive NAP Timer
Press NAP. The NAP indicator and “ ” go off.
120
10
20
90
30
60
” on the
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