CommRadio CTX-10 User manual

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 2018
1
USER’s MANUAL
and
Knowledge Base
CommRadio
CTX-10 Amateur Radio Transceiver
AeroStream Communications –CommRadio Division
New Castle, Colorado USA
www.commradio.com
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 E4 - 15 NOV 2018
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Revision Status
REVISION
DATE
COMMENTS
PRELIM
05/05/2018
Pre-Release Copy
A1
05/15/2018
Initial Release
B
06/26/2018
Added FAQs, added more Tech Notes
C
07/27/2018
Multiple Updates per revised Firmware
D
07/28/2018
Added ATU information
E4
11/15/2018
[T] switch deactivation, non-iambic keyer, MEM, zero-beat
TX ON_OFF elimination, AGC OFF

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 2018
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Contents
CommRadio........................................................................................................................ 1
CTX-10 Amateur Radio Transceiver ................................................................................... 1
Revision Status....................................................................................................................... 2
IMPORTANT WARNINGS.................................................................................................. 5
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 7
Firmware, Manual Updates and Social Media....................................................................... 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 .................................................................... 12
Quick Start Guide – SSB Transceiver Setup ................................................................... 14
Quick Start Guide – discussion of Digital Data Modes, directly connected to PC ......... 16
Display ................................................................................................................................. 19
Control Knob [M] ................................................................................................................ 20
Transmitter........................................................................................................................... 21
Keyer................................................................................................................................ 21
PTT AUDIO..................................................................................................................... 22
TUNING MODE ............................................................................................................. 22
Receiver ............................................................................................................................... 23
Filter................................................................................................................................. 23
AGC Speed ...................................................................................................................... 23
SQUELCH ....................................................................................................................... 24
BRIGHTNESS................................................................................................................. 24
STEP TIMING................................................................................................................. 24
TIMEOUT........................................................................................................................ 24
RAPID TUNE.................................................................................................................. 25
Key Pad ................................................................................................................................ 26
Key Pad - BAND ............................................................................................................. 26
Key Pad – MODE (MODE select function) .................................................................... 26
Key Pad – MODE (Morse Code reader function) ........................................................... 26
Key Pad - STEP ............................................................................................................... 26
Key Pad - MEM ............................................................................................................... 27
Key Pad - <LEFT ARROW>........................................................................................... 27

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 2018
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Key Pad - <RIGHT ARROW> (Tuning resolution function) ......................................... 28
Key Pad - <RIGHT ARROW> (Tuning Knob lock function)......................................... 28
Tuning Knob [T] .................................................................................................................. 28
Rear Panel ............................................................................................................................ 29
Power Input...................................................................................................................... 29
USB.................................................................................................................................. 29
Headphone ....................................................................................................................... 29
SPKR................................................................................................................................ 29
KEY ................................................................................................................................. 30
ACC ................................................................................................................................. 30
MIC .................................................................................................................................. 31
HF .................................................................................................................................... 31
Ground ............................................................................................................................. 31
CTX-10 Technical Notes ..................................................................................................... 32
CTX-10 Power ................................................................................................................. 32
Battery Protection Circuit ................................................................................................ 32
Internal Li-ION Battery Charger ..................................................................................... 32
Monitoring Voltage Input at power jack and Battery Charging ...................................... 33
The Beauty of a COLD BOOT ........................................................................................ 33
Morse Code Reader.......................................................................................................... 33
Beware of interrupting a …Powering Down… Process .................................................. 33
The LOCK function ......................................................................................................... 33
USB Power Bricks for the CTX-10? ............................................................................... 34
Bar Armor for the CTX-10 .............................................................................................. 35
A Peek inside the CTX-10!.............................................................................................. 36
Ambient Noise Gate (ANG) – SSB Audio Processing.................................................... 37
Antenna Tuning Unit – ATU – Some details! ................................................................. 37
CTX-10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ...................................................................... 38
Q. What was the purpose of the piece of wire wrapped under the Control Knob? ......... 38
Q. The rear of the radio is marked 10 – 20 VDC for power input, but the User’s Guide
says 5 – 20 VDC. Which is it?......................................................................................... 38
Q. When I whisper into the microphone nothing is transmitted. Is my radio broken?.... 38
Q. How should I clean and protect the finish of my radio? ............................................. 38
Q. How do I ‘Zero Beat’ an incoming CW signal that I want to answer?....................... 39
CTX-10 Specifications......................................................................................................... 39

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 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 E4 - 15 NOV 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.
TEMPERATURE RANGE - It is acceptable to charge and use the CTX-10 in the temperature
range of 0° – 45° C (32° - 113°F). It is acceptable to store the CTX-10 in the temperature
range of -20° to 45° C (-4° - 113°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.

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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, CW Keyer and CW
Reader 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
viewing on most any electronic device. Be sure to always check the FAQs from
each new revision for the latest and greatest information!
Manual written by Bob Martin, WB2KTG.
Comments and questions regarding the manual or the CTX-10 in general may be
addressed to me at: com[email protected]

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 2018
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Firmware, Manual Updates and Social Media
Contact [email protected] or register online at www.commradio.com 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
The direct dropbox link for the latest user’s manual and system firmware and
firmware update instructions is:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o52isgpavqz2org/AACRWiWTE5wNPN9pwO_PeMK
Ya?dl=0
If you’re a friend of social media, CommRadio is on Facebook and Yahoo! Groups,
as well as RadioReference.com.

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 2018
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Actions, Abbreviations & Symbols Used in this Manual
[AGC] Automatic Gain Control – automatically adjusts RF gain
[ANG] Ambient Noise Gate – automatic SSB audio processing
[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
LOCK A function of the <RIGHT ARROW> button to LOCK controls
[M] Control Knob, or Menu 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
[RX] Receive, Receiver
[STEP] The [STEP] key on the keypad
[T] Tuning Knob, the right knob on the front panel
[TX] Transmit, Transmitter
UNLOCK Opposite of LOCK Returns radio to normal operations

CommRadio CTX-10 User Manual – Rev E4 - 15 NOV 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
using a standard 5mm barrel, 2.5mm pin plug. An external power source is not necessary
if the internal batteries have sufficient charge. See below for determining battery charge
status.
Connect an antenna cable to the BNC HF jack on the rear panel. The use of a suitable SO-
239 Female to BNC Male adapter may be required to connect from an existing antenna
cable to the CTX-10’s BNC connector. These adapters are available in right angle as well as
straight configurations as illustrated below.
Press Control Knob [M] in for two seconds and release. You will see INITIALIZING, the
WELCOME! Screen, then the standard frequency display screen.