CommRadio CTX-10 User manual

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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USER’s MANUAL
CommRadio
CTX-10 Amateur Radio Transceiver
AeroStream Communications –CommRadio Division
New Castle, Colorado USA
www.commradio.com
303-279-3671
Email: [e-mail]
Copyright © 2018
Commradio div. AeroStream Communicatons All Rights Reserved
No portion of this manual bay be reproduced without permission
of CommRadio / AeroStream Communications

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Revision Status
REVISION
DATE
COMMENTS
PRELIM
05/05/2018
Pre-Release Copy

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Contents
CommRadio........................................................................................................................ 1
CTX-10 Amateur Radio Transceiver ................................................................................... 1
Revision Status....................................................................................................................... 2
IMPORTANT WARNINGS.................................................................................................. 5
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 7
Firmware and Manual Updates.............................................................................................. 8
Actions, Abbreviations & Symbols Used in this Manual...................................................... 9
Quick Start Guides............................................................................................................... 10
Quick Start Guide - Receiver Setup................................................................................. 10
Quick Start Guide – CW Transceiver Setup.................................................................... 11
Quick Start Guide – SSB Transceiver Setup ................................................................... 12
Display................................................................................................................................. 13
Control Knob [M]................................................................................................................ 14
Transmitter........................................................................................................................... 15
Keyer................................................................................................................................ 16
PTT AUDIO..................................................................................................................... 16
TUNING MODE ............................................................................................................. 16
Receiver ............................................................................................................................... 17
Filter................................................................................................................................. 17
AGC Speed ...................................................................................................................... 17
SQUELCH....................................................................................................................... 18
BRIGHTNESS................................................................................................................. 18
STEP TIMING................................................................................................................. 18
TIMEOUT........................................................................................................................ 18
RAPID TUNE.................................................................................................................. 18
Key Pad................................................................................................................................ 19
Key Pad - BAND............................................................................................................. 19
Key Pad - MODE............................................................................................................. 19
Key Pad - STEP............................................................................................................... 19
Key Pad - MEM............................................................................................................... 19
Key Pad - <LEFT ARROW>........................................................................................... 20
Key Pad - <RIGHT ARROW>........................................................................................ 20
Tuning Knob [T].................................................................................................................. 20

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Rear Panel............................................................................................................................ 20
Power Input...................................................................................................................... 20
USB.................................................................................................................................. 20
Headphone ....................................................................................................................... 21
SPKR................................................................................................................................ 21
KEY ................................................................................................................................. 21
ACC ................................................................................................................................. 21
MIC.................................................................................................................................. 23
HF .................................................................................................................................... 23
Ground ............................................................................................................................. 23
CTX-10 Technical Notes..................................................................................................... 24
CTX-10 Power................................................................................................................. 24
Battery Protection Circuit................................................................................................ 24
Internal Li-ION Battery Charger ..................................................................................... 24
Monitoring Voltage Input at power jack and Battery Charging ...................................... 25
CTX-10 Specifications......................................................................................................... 25
CTX-10 Control Knob [M] Functional Logic Tables (maybe)............................................ 26

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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IMPORTANT WARNINGS
READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY to learn all of the features of the CTX-10. Understanding
that you’ll want to use the radio immediately, we’ve included several Quick Start Guides
right up front.
SAVE THIS MANUAL as it contains important safety and operating instructions.
FCC 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.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
AeroStream/CommRadio could void the user's authority to operate this transceiver under
FCC regulations.
WARNING RF EXPOSURE! This device emits Radio Frequency (RF) energy. Extreme
caution should be observed when operating this device. If you have any questions
regarding RF exposure and safety standards please refer to the Federal Communications
Commission Office of Engineering and Technology’s report on Evaluating Compliance with
FCC Guidelines for Human Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (OET Bulletin 85).
WARNING HIGH VOLTAGE! NEVER touch an antenna or internal antenna connector
during transmission. This may result in an electrical shock or burn.
WARNING! NEVER operate the transceiver while driving a vehicle. Safe driving requires
your full attention—anything less may result in an accident.

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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NEVER apply more than 20 V DC, such as a 24 V battery, to the power input jack on the
transceiver rear panel. This could cause a fire or damage the transceiver.
NEVER let metal, wire or other objects touch any internal part or connectors on the rear
panel of the transceiver. This may result in an electric shock or could cause a fire or
damage the transceiver.
NEVER expose the transceiver to rain, snow or any liquids.
DO NOT use or place the transceiver in areas with temperatures below –10°C (+14°F) or
above +60°C (+140°F). Be aware that temperatures on a vehicle’s dashboard can exceed
+80°C (+176°F), resulting in permanent damage to the transceiver if left there for
extended periods.

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the CTX-10 amateur radio transceiver. Tracing its
evolutionary roots to the commercial/military/avionics worlds, and borrowing
receiver and design elements from the highly successful CommRadio CR-1 and
CR-1a receivers, the CTX-10 is the latest product from the mind of Don Moore,
N0HDX.
The CTX-10 was designed to be rugged and user-friendly with a minimum number
of user interface interactions to produce the desired system functional change.
Standard equipment user replaceable internal Lithium Ion batteries provide power
for a day’s casual operation. The ability to provide operational power and
simultaneously recharge the batteries from most any 5 to 20 VDC source provides
low-cost portable expansion capability and unlimited field operation. Standard
equipment internal wide-range automatic antenna tuner and CW keyer provide
everything you need for full functionality in one lightweight, die-cast aluminum
package with no need for supplementary cooling solutions during high duty cycle
operations.
It is the purpose of this manual to provide you with one source for basic through
advanced operations, trouble-shooting, fielding notes and FAQs. This manual will
be maintained as an up-to-date online PDF document, suitable for printing or
reference on most any electronic device.

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Firmware and Manual Updates
Contact [e-mail] to register your warranty and to automatically
receive automated email notices when updates to firmware or this manual are
available. The most recent version of this manual, system firmware, additional
support information and related topics of interest can always be found on our
website: www.commradio.com

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Actions, Abbreviations & Symbols Used in this Manual
[AGC] Automatic Gain Control – automatically adjusts RF gain
[ATU] Antenna Tuning Unit – matches CTX-10 to antenna
[BAND] The [BAND] key on the keypad
Click Rotate the Control Knob [M] one detent {CW} or {CCW}
CW Continuous Wave, as in Morse Code
{CW}Clockwise rotation of a knob
{CCW} Counter Clockwise rotation of a knob
<LEFT ARROW> The lower left button on the key pad
[M] Control Knob, the left knob on the front panel
[MEM] The [MEM] key on the keypad
[MODE] The [MODE] key on the keypad
PUSH Quickly push in and release (holding for less than ½ second)
<RIGHT ARROW> The lower right button on the key pad
[STEP] The [STEP] key on the keypad
[T] Tuning Knob, the right knob on the front panel

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev PRELIMINARY 05 APR 2018
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Quick Start Guides
Quick Start Guide - Receiver Setup
Connect a suitable 5 – 20 VDC power source to the Power Input jack on the rear panel.
Connect an antenna to the HF jack on the rear panel.
Press Control Knob [M] in for two seconds and release. You will see the
WELCOME! Screen and the standard frequency display screen.
Turn Control Knob [M] {CW} until a suitable audio volume level is heard. Select
the desired mode by pressing keypad button MODE repeatedly. Select the desired
amateur band by pressing the keypad button BAND repeatedly. Turn Tuning Knob [T]
to select the desired frequency.
In this PRELIMINARY User’s Guide, Text in RED ITALIC are works in process
Adjust step size of tuning.
Turn off when done.