19-1206.fm Page 1 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 10:50 AM
Cat. No. 19-1206
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
BTX-127
CTCSS • VHF/FM
Business Band Transceiver
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Flexible Antenna — provides excellent
reception.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire
or shock hazard, do not expose this
product to rain or moisture.
Belt Clip — lets you attach the transceiv-
er to your belt or waistband.
The transceiver’s preset frequencies
are:
CAUTION
!
RISK OF ELEC-
TRIC SHOCK.
DO NOT OPEN.
• 151.625 MHz (red dot)
• 151.700 MHz
• 151.760 MHz
• 151.820 MHz
• 151.880 MHz
• 151.940 MHz
• 151.955 MHz (purple dot)
• 154.570 MHz (blue dot)
• 154.600 MHz (green dot)
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT REMOVE COVER OR
BACK. NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVIC-
ING TO QUALIFIED PERSON-
NEL.
Note: Some manufacturers identify
some business band frequencies by col-
or. These “dot” frequencies are shown
above.
This symbol is intended to
alert you to the presence of
uninsulated dangerous volt-
age within the product’s en-
closure that might be of
sufficient magnitude to con-
We recommend you record your trans-
ceiver’s serial number here. The number
is on the back of the transceiver.
stitute
a
risk of electric
shock. Do not open the
product’s case.
Serial Number _________________
This symbol is intended to
inform you that important
operating and maintenance
instructions are included in
the literature accompanying
this product.
!
3
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CONTENTS
FCC Regulations ..................................................................................................... 5
FCC License Required ..................................................................................... 5
FCC Part 90 Rules ........................................................................................... 5
Additional FCC Regulations ............................................................................. 7
Preparation .............................................................................................................. 8
Installing the Battery Pack ................................................................................ 8
Charging the Battery Pack ............................................................................... 9
Connecting the Antenna ................................................................................. 10
Connecting an Optional Antenna ............................................................ 11
Using the Belt Clip .......................................................................................... 11
Connecting an Earphone/External Speaker ................................................... 11
Listening Safely ....................................................................................... 12
Traffic Safety ........................................................................................... 12
Using an External Speaker/Microphone ......................................................... 12
Setting Frequency Options .................................................................................... 13
About CTCSS ................................................................................................. 13
Using a CTCSS Frequency ............................................................................ 14
Operation ............................................................................................................... 16
Operational Hints ............................................................................................ 17
Care and Maintenance .......................................................................................... 18
Specifications ......................................................................................................... 19
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FCC Regulations
To receive:
You enter:
FCC License Required
All forms and instructions
Form 600 instructions only
Main Form 600 only
000600
006001
006002
006003
This transceiver is intended for use in
the operation of commercial activities,
educational, philanthropic, or ecclesiasti-
cal institutions, and hospitals, clinics, or
medical associations.
Form 600 schedules only
If you do not have a fax machine, you
can call the Government Forms Distri-
bution Center at 1-800-418-FORM and
request that the form and instructions
be mailed to you.
The Federal Communications Commis-
sion (FCC) requires you to have a li-
cense before you operate
this
transceiver. Unless you are already li-
censed to operate on one of the preset
frequencies, you must apply for a fre-
quency through the PCIA (Personal
Communication Industry Association), a
non-profit organization that assigns fre-
quencies nationwide to help prevent
conflicts between different businesses
using transceivers in the same area. For
more information about getting a license,
contact the PCIA at 800-759-0300, ex-
tension 3068 (in Virginia 703-739-0300,
extension 3068).
FCC Part 90 Rules
You must be familiar with Part 90 of
FCC Rules before you operate your
transceiver. The operation instructions
in this manual conform to Part 90, but
do not cover all items in Part 90.
Overall, Part 90 states that:
• You must have a valid license
before you use the transceiver.
For other questions concerning the li-
cense application, contact the FCC at
717-337-1212, or write:
FCC
P.O. Box 1040
Gettysburg, PA 17325
For the latest FCC application form and
instructions, call the FCC’s fax-on-de-
mand service at 1-202-418-0177 from a
fax machine and request one or more of
the following documents:
5
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• As licensee, you are responsible for
proper operation of all transceivers
operating under your license author-
ity.
• You must not provide a service
that is normally handled by tele-
phone or telegraph unless such
broadcasts involve the safety of
life or property or in emergencies
such as an earthquake, hurricane,
flood or a similar disaster where
normal communication channels
are disrupted.
• You can let unlicensed persons
operate this transmitter, as long as
you take precautions to prevent
unauthorized transmissions.
• You must use this transceiver only
for the commercial use of your busi-
ness, and only when other commer-
cial channels (such as the
telephone) are either not available
or not practical.
• During each transmission or
exchange of transmissions, you
must identify your station with the
call sign issued to you by the
FCC, or once each 15 minutes
during periods of continuous
operation.
• You must always yield the operating
frequency to communications that
involve the safety of life or property.
• You must keep a written record of
any maintenance or modification
made to the transceiver, and you
must make this record available
for inspection upon demand by
the FCC.
• You must take reasonable precau-
tions to prevent harmful interference
to other services operating on the
same frequency.
• You must not transmit program
material of any kind used in connec-
tion with commercial broadcasting.
Violating any of the provisions of Part
90 can result in fines and/or confisca-
tion of equipment.
6
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Before you operate the transceiver,
you must obtain your license. It is ille-
gal to transmit without the appropriate
license, which you can get by submit-
ting a completed FCC Form 600 to the
FCC (or through the PCIA). Further-
more, you are required to understand
Part 90 of the FCC Rules and Regula-
tions prior to operating your transceiv-
er. It is the user’s responsibility to see
that this unit is operating at all times in
accordance with the FCC Rules and
Regulations.
Your transceiver might cause TV or radio
interference even when it is operating
properly. To determine whether your
transceiver is causing the interference,
turn off your transceiver. If the interfer-
ence goes away, your transceiver is
causing it. Try to eliminate the interfer-
ence by:
• moving your transceiver away from
the receiver
• contacting your local RadioShack
store for help
If you cannot eliminate the interference,
the FCC requires that you stop using
your transceiver.
Additional FCC Regulations
The Business Radio Service is under the
jurisdiction of the Federal Communica-
tions Commission (FCC). Any adjust-
ments or alterations that would alter the
performance of the transceiver so it no
longer meets the original FCC type ac-
ceptance or would change the frequen-
cy-determining method are strictly
prohibited.
Replacement or substitution of crystals,
transistors, ICS, regulator diodes, or any
other component that is of a unique na-
ture with components other than those
recommended can violate the technical
regulations of the FCC rules or violate
type acceptance requirement of the
rules.
7
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Preparation
Installing the Battery Pack
the battery pack into the compart-
ment while applying slight pres-
sure to the bottom of the battery
pack.
The supplied battery pack, when fully
charged, provides power to your trans-
ceiver 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 per-
manently damage the battery.
illus - show battery pack
being installed into
compartment
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 trans-
ceiver as shown. Then slide the
cover in the direction of the arrow
and lift it off.
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 transceiv-
er face down and gently tap it into your
palm so the battery pack slides out.
illus - show bat comp cover
latches being released and
cover being slid down
2. With the battery printing facing up,
align the contacts on the battery
pack with the contacts inside the
battery compartment. Then, press
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other end of the charger into a
standard AC outlet.
Charging the Battery Pack
Before you use the battery pack for the
first time, you must use the supplied bat-
tery charger to charge it for about 12 to
14 hours to bring it to a full charge.
illus - show barrel plug/
charger. Show plug being
You cannot use the transceiver while you
charge the battery pack.
plugged into CHRG and
AC plug about to be
plugged into
Caution: The supplied battery charger
was designed specifically for your trans-
ceiver. Use only the supplied battery
charger.
an 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.
Follow these steps to charge the battery
pack.
1. Turn VOLUME fully counterclock-
wise to OFF to make sure power is
turned off.
illus - show
PTT and
RX/TX lit on
front of
transceiver
illus -
show
VOLUME
2. Pull out the rubber cover over the
CHRG jack on the side of the trans-
ceiver, and insert the charger’s bar-
rel plug into the jack. Then plug the
9
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Notes:
Connecting THE Antenna
Follow these steps to attach the sup-
plied flexible antenna to your trans-
ceiver.
• A nickel-cadmium battery pack lasts
longer and delivers more power if
you occasionally let it fully dis-
charge. To do this, use the trans-
ceiver until the RX/TX indicator
lights yellow when you press PUSH
TO TALK.
illus - show
• To prevent damaging a nickel-cad-
mium battery pack, never charge it
in an area where the temperature is
above 113°F (45°C) or below 32°F
(0°C).
antenna being
connected to
transmitter
Important: At the end of a rechargeable
battery pack’s useful life, it must be recy-
cled or disposed of properly. Contact
your local, county, or state hazardous
waste management authorities for infor-
mation on recycling or disposal pro-
grams in your area. Some options that
might be available are: municipal curb-
side collection, drop-off boxes at retail-
ers such as your local RadioShack store,
recycling collection centers, and mail-
back programs.
1. Align the slots around the
antenna’s 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.
10
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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 an-
tennas. Your local RadioShack store
sells a variety of antennas.
illus - show belt clip
being attached to
transceiver with screws
Connecting an Earphone/External
Speaker
Caution: Never connect an antenna that
is not specifically tuned for the transceiv-
er’s frequency range.
To listen privately or to hear better in a
large area such as a warehouse, you
can plug a monaural earphone or an
1
external speaker with a /8-inch (3.5
mm) plug (not supplied) into the EAR
jack on thetop of the transceiver. This
automatically disconnects the built-in
speaker.
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.
illus - show earphone/speaker
being connected to EAR
11
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Listening Safely
Using an External Speaker/
Microphone
To protect your hearing, follow these
guidelines when you use an earphone.
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 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.
• 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 vol-
ume 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 vol-
ume level that does not cause dis-
comfort might still damage your
hearing.
illus - show ext. speaker/
mike being connected to
top of transceiver
Traffic Safety
Do not use an earphone with your trans-
ceiver 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 trans-
ceiver while riding a bicycle, be very
careful. Do not listen to a continuous
broadcast. Even though some ear-
phones let you hear some outside
sounds when listening at normal volume
levels, they still can present a traffic haz-
ard.
12
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Setting Frequency Options
About CTCSS
Before you can use your transceiver, an
authorized service facility must set your
transceiver to a VHF business band fre-
quency you have a license to use. Then,
you can select a preset CTCSS (Contin-
uous Tone Control Squelch System) fre-
quency and set your transceiver to use
it.
CTCSS helps eliminate interference
between different users of the same
frequency, letting you talk and listen to
people who are using other transceiv-
ers 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 transmis-
sion, 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 oth-
er transceivers can detect it.
Here is what you need to do to set your
transceiver to use a business band fre-
quency and CTCSS.
Send your transceiver to an authorized
þ
service facility to have it set to a busi-
ness band frequency.
Set the DIP switches for a CTCSS fre-
À
quency (see “Using a CTCSS Frequen-
cy” on Page 14).
Set your transceiver to that CTCSS
Ã
frequency.
Set a DIP switch to activate or deacti-
Õ
If CTCSS is turned on and set to the
same tone on the receiving transceiv-
er, it only receives those transmissions
that include the tone. If two different
groups oper-ate transceivers in the
same area on the same frequency,
they do not hear each other’s broad-
casts if they both use CTCSS and
each select a different CTCSS tone.
Your transceiver’s default CTCSS tone
is 100 Hz.
vate CTCSS.
You can select one CTCSS frequency at
a time. If you do not want to use a CTC-
_
SS frequency, skip Steps 2 4 above.
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CTCSS
none
Using a CTCSS Frequency
000000
Follow these steps to set your transceiv-
er to a CTCSS frequency and then acti-
vate or deactivate CTCSS.
1
67.0
000001
000010
000011
000100
000101
000110
000111
001000
001001
001010
001011
001100
001101
001110
001111
010000
010001
010010
010011
010100
010101
010110
010111
011000
2
3
71.9
1. Turn VOLUME fully counterclock-
wise to make sure power is turned
off.
74.4
4
77.0
5
79.7
2. Remove the battery compartment
cover (see “Installing the Battery
Pack” on Page 8). You do not have
to remove the battery pack.
6
82.5
7
85.4
8
88.5
3. Choose a CTCSS code from the
table on the right. Then use a
pointed object such as a straight-
ened 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.
9
91.5
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
94.8
97.4
100.0
103.5
107.2
110.9
114.8
118.8
123.0
127.3
131.8
136.5
141.3
146.2
151.4
illus - show DIP switch
inside battery compartment
set to any setting
Dip Switch Setting Key:
0 = down
1 = up
CTCSS
Freq
(Hz)
DIP Switch
Setting
Code
25
Freq
(Hz)
DIP Switch
Setting
Code
156.7
011001
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(up). To deactivate the code, set the
switch to 0 (down).
CTCSS
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
162.2
167.9
173.8
179.9
186.2
192.8
203.5
210.7
218.1
225.7
233.6
241.8
250.3
011010
011011
011100
011101
011110
011111
100000
100001
100010
100011
100100
100101
100110
6. Replace the battery compartment
cover.
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
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Operation
Note: You can only communicate with
another transceiver that is using the
same channel and/or the same CTCSS
code as your transceiver.
3. To conserve battery power, slide
HI/LO to LO. If the person you
transmit to has trouble receiving
your signal, slide HI/LO to HI.
1. Turn VOLUME clockwise to turn on
the transceiver, turn SQUELCH fully
counterclockwise until you hear a
hissing sound, then adjust the vol-
ume to a comfortable listening level.
illus - show HI/LO switch
4. To transmit, hold down PUSH TO
TALK. Then hold the transceiver
about 3 inches from your mouth
and speak slowly in a normal
voice. The RX/TX indicator lights
red.
illus - show VOLUME being
adjusted
illus - show PUSH TO
TALK and RX/TX
indicator
2. If you did not set the transceiver to
use a CTCSS code, wait until there
is no signal on the channel. Then
turn SQUELCH clockwise until the
background noise between signals
stops.
5. Release PUSH TO TALK when
you finish your transmission.
illus - show SQUELCH
being adjusted
6. To turn off the transceiver, turn
VOLUME counterclockwise until it
clicks.
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Operational Hints
Your transceiver’s range varies depend-
ing on factors such as position, terrain,
and battery condition. Buildings absorb
transmitted signals and, if they contain
metal, might completely block the sig-
nals. Trees and heavy cloud formations
have a similar effect, though not as se-
vere. If you are near a lake or the ocean,
you might get excellent range.
To ensure maximum range, operate the
transceiver with the battery pack fully
charged. As the voltage decreases, the
range decreases.
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Care AND Maintenance
Your RadioShack BTX-127 CTCSS • VHF/FM Business Band Transceiver is an exam-
ple of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care
for your transceiver so you can enjoy it for years.
• Keep the transceiver dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might
contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.
• Use and store the transceiver only in normal temperature environments. Tem-
perature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices, damage batteries,
and distort or melt plastic parts.
• Keep the transceiver away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature wear
of parts.
• Handle the transceiver gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage circuit
boards and cases and can cause the transceiver to work improperly.
• Use only a battery pack of the required size and type. Battery packs can leak
chemicals that damage your transceiver’s electronic parts.
• Wipe the transceiver with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. Do
not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to clean the
transceiver.
Modifying or tampering with the transceiver’s internal components can cause a mal-
function and might invalidate your transceiver’s warranty and void your FCC authori-
zation to operate it. If your transceiver is not performing as it should, take it to your
local RadioShack store for assistance.
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Specifications
Frequency Range ................................................................... 150.775–157.740 MHz
Channels ................................................................................................................... 1
Modulation Type .................................................................................................... FM
Antenna Impedance ....................................................................................... 50 Ohm
Microphone ...................................................................................... Condenser Type
Power Supply ....................................................... 7.2V 950 mAh Ni-Cd Battery Pack
Note: The supplied battery charger does not operate at temperatures below
32°F (0°C) or above 113°F (45°C).
Sensitivity at 12dB SINAD ................................................................................ 0.5 µV
Bandwidth .................................................................................................... 12.5 KHz
Adjacent Channel Rejection .............................................................................. 45 dB
Audio Output Power ............................................. 200mW @ 8 ohm (10% distortion)
Audio Distortion .................................................................................................... 7 %
Transmit Power ............................................................................................... Hi: 2W
Lo: 600 mW
Harmonic Emission ........................................................................................... 55 dB
1
3
9
Dimensions (HWD) .......................................................... 5 /2 × 2 /8 × 1 /16 Inches
(140 × 60 × 35 mm)
Weight (with battery pack) .................................................................................. 14 oz
(0.4 kg)
Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to
change and improvement without notice.
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Limited One-Year Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in
material and workmanship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of
purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized Ra-
dioShack franchisees and dealers. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, Ra-
dioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FIT-
NESS 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 PER-
SON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE
CAUSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PERFORMANCE OF
THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WAR-
RANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING
FROM INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF TIME, DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE,
OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSE-
QUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF RadioShack HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts
or the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limita-
tions or exclusions may not apply to you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product
and the RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any Ra-
dioShack store. RadioShack will, at its option, unless otherwise provided by
law: (a) correct the defect by product repair without charge for parts and labor;
(b) replace the product with one of the same or similar design; or (c) refund
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
10A8
Printed in Hong Kong
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