Optimus SCP-99 User manual

Cat. No. 14-1243
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
SCP-99
Auto Reverse Digital AM/FM
Stereo Cassette Player
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FEATURES
Your Optimus SCP-99 Auto Reverse Digital AM/FM
Stereo Cassette Player delivers excellent stereo
sound through your headphones or amplified speak-
er system. The SCP-99 is portable so you can listen
to cassette tapes or the AM/FM radio just about any-
where.
Important: To listen to your SCP-99, you need a pair
of headphones or amplified speakers (not supplied)
with a 1/8-inch mini-plug. Your local RadioShack
store sells a wide variety of headphones and speak-
ers.
The SCP-99’s features include:
AM/FM Digital PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) Tuning
— gives you precise tuning and drift-free reception.
Automatic Reverse — changes the tape direction at
the end of a tape side so you can continuously play
both sides of a cassette tape.
Dolby B Noise Reduction — reduces tape back-
ground noise to improve the sound you hear.
©1998 Tandy Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack and Optimus are registered trademarks
used by Tandy Corporation.
Dolby B noise reduction manufactured under license from
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “DOLBY” and the
double-D symbol are trademarks of
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
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Preset Equalization — lets you select one of four
preset sound characteristics for playback: classic,
pop, rock, or jazz.
Tape Selector — lets you play normal or high bias/
metal tapes.
Slim Design — lets you carry the SCP-99 almost
anywhere.
30-Station Memory — lets you store up to 30 of
your favorite radio stations for quick tuning.
Sleep Timer — lets you set the SCP-99 to turn off af-
ter a specified time so you can fall asleep as you lis-
ten to the radio or a cassette tape.
Three Power Options — let you power your SCP-99
from internal batteries (not supplied), standard AC
power (with an optional AC adapter), or your vehi-
cle’s battery (with an optional DC adapter).
Belt Clip — lets you attach the SCP-99 to your belt
for hands-free carrying when you are on the go.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ........................................................... 5
Connecting Power ........................................... 5
Connecting Headphones or Speakers .......... 11
Using the Belt Clip ......................................... 13
Setting the Frequency Ranges and Steps .... 13
Resetting the SCP-99 ................................... 16
Using the Radio .................................................. 17
Memory Tuning ............................................. 19
Locking the Hold Switch ................................ 22
Using the Tape Player ........................................ 23
Playing a Tape .............................................. 23
Changing the Tape Direction ......................... 26
Using Fast-Forward and Rewind ................... 27
Tape Tips ....................................................... 27
Using the Sleep Timer ........................................ 29
Care and Maintenance ....................................... 31
Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ................ 31
The FCC Wants You to Know ....................... 33
Specifications ..................................................... 34
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PREPARATION
CONNECTING POWER
You can power your SCP-99 from:
• Internal batteries (not supplied)
• AC power (using an optional AC adapter)
• Your vehicle’s battery (using an optional DC
adapter)
Note: Connecting an adapter automatically discon-
nects internal batteries.
Using Batteries
The SCP-99 can use two AA batteries for power. For
the best performance and longest life, we recom-
mend alkaline batteries, such as RadioShack Cat.
No. 23-557.
You can also use rechargeable nickel-cadmium bat-
teries (Cat. No. 23-125). Use a battery charger (Cat.
No. 23-133) to recharge nickel-cadmium batteries.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and
recommended type.
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• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types
of batteries (standard, alkaline, or recharge-
able), or rechargeable batteries of different
capacities.
Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Press down and slide the battery compartment
cover in the direction of the arrow marked on the
cover, then lift open the cover.
Caution: The battery compartment cover is
hinged. Do not try to remove it.
2. Put the batteries into the compartment as indi-
cated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked
beside the compartment.
3. Close the cover.
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The SCP-99’s battery indicator shows the amount of
battery power remaining. The indicator consists of
three sections — the more sections that appear, the
higher the battery power. If appears and flashes
or the SCP-99 stops operating properly, replace (al-
kaline) or recharge (nickel-cadmium) both batteries.
Cautions:
• If you do not plan to use the SCP-99 for a week
or more, or if you plan to use only AC or DC
power, remove the batteries. Batteries can leak
chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.
• Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly.
Do not burn or bury them.
Important: This product is capable of using re-
chargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. At the end of
the batteries’ life, they must be recycled or disposed
of properly. Contact your local, county, or state haz-
ardous waste management authorities for informa-
tion on recycling or disposal programs in your area.
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Some options that might be available are: municipal
curbside collection, drop-off boxes at retailers such
as your local RadioShack store, recycling collection
centers, and mail-back programs.
Using AC Power
To power the SCP-99 from a standard AC outlet, you
need an AC adapter such as Cat. No. 273-1654.
Cautions:
• You must use an AC adapter that supplies 3
volts DC power and delivers at least 200 milli-
amps. Its center tip must be set to negative, and
its plug must properly fit the SCP-99’s DC 3V
jack. The recommended adapter meets these
specifications. Using an adapter that does not
meet these specifications could damage the
SCP-99 or the adapter.
• Be sure to connect the adapter to the SCP-99
before you plug it into the AC outlet, and unplug
the adapter from the AC outlet before you
unplug it from the SCP-99.
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Follow these steps to connect the SCP-99 to AC
power.
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V.
2. Insert the adapter’s 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3
mm inner diameter tip into the adapter’s cord, so
it reads –TIP.
3. Insert the plug into the SCP-99’s DC 3V jack.
4. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
Using Vehicle Battery Power
To power the SCP-99 from your vehicle’s battery,
you need a DC adapter such as Cat. No. 273-1810
or 270-1560.
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Cautions:
• You must use a DC adapter that supplies at
least 3 volts and delivers at least 200 milliamps
of DC vehicle battery power. Its center tip must
be set to negative, and its plug must fit the SCP-
99’s DC 3V jack. The recommended adapter
meets these specifications. Using an adapter
that does not meet these specifications could
damage the SCP-99 or the adapter.
• Always plug the adapter into the SCP-99 before
you plug it into the cigarette-lighter socket, and
unplug the adapter from the cigarette-lighter
socket before you unplug it from the SCP-99.
Follow these steps to power the SCP-99 from your
vehicle’s battery.
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V.
2. Insert the adapter’s 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3
mm inner diameter tip into the adapter’s cord, so
it reads –TIP.
.
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3. Insert the plug into the SCP-99’s DC 3V jack.
4. Plug the other end of the adapter into the vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
CONNECTING HEADPHONES OR
SPEAKERS
To connect your headphones or amplified speaker
system (not supplied), insert the 1/8-inch mini-plug
into the SCP-99’s jack.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines
when you use headphones.
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• 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 volume levels.
Extended high-volume listening can lead to per-
manent hearing loss.
• Once you set the volume, do not increase it.
Over time, your ears adapt to the volume level,
so a volume level that does not cause discom-
fort might still damage your hearing.
Traffic Safety
Do not wear headphones while operating a motor ve-
hicle or riding a bicycle. This can create a traffic haz-
ard and could be illegal in some areas.
Even though some headphones let you hear some
outside sounds when listening at normal volume lev-
els, they still can present a traffic hazard.
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USING THE BELT CLIP
The supplied belt clip lets you keep your hands free
while you listen to the SCP-99. To attach the belt
clip, insert the belt clip’s latches into the slots on the
cassette player and slide it up until it locks into place.
To remove the belt clip, push in on PUSH RELEASE,
slide the belt clip downward, then lift it off.
SETTING THE FREQUENCY
RANGES AND STEPS
The SCP-99 is set to tune frequencies in steps (in-
crements) of 10 kHz (AM) and 0.2 MHz (FM) as used
in the United States.
In Europe and some other countries, frequency rang-
es and steps are not the same as those in the United
States. For example:
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In North and South America:
AM: 530–1710 kHz (10 kHz increment)
FM: 87.5–108.1 MHz (0.2 MHz increment)
Note: Actual FM broadcast frequencies are
assigned between 88 and 108 MHz.
In Europe and other countries:
AM: 531–1602 kHz (9 kHz increment)
FM: 87.5–108 MHz (0.05 MHz increment)
In Japan:
AM: 531–1629 kHz (9 kHz increment)
FM: 76–108 MHz (0.1 MHz increment)
To listen to the radio in another country, follow these
steps to change the frequency ranges and steps.
Caution: Changing the frequency ranges and steps
erases all stored stations.
1. Press RADIO ON/OFF BAND to turn on the radio.
2. To listen to Japan’s frequencies and steps, hold
down both AUTO PRESET and TUNING UP for
about 7 seconds. JP appears briefly and a beep
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sounds, then the display shows the lowest fre-
quency for the selected band.
To listen to Europe’s and other countries’ fre-
quencies and steps, hold down both AUTO PRE-
SET and TUNING DOWN for about 7 seconds.
EU appears briefly and a beep sounds, then the
display shows the lowest frequency for the
selected band.
To return to the local (U.S.) setting, hold down
both TUNING DOWN and UP
for about 7
seconds.
US appears briefly and a beep sounds,
then the display shows the lowest frequency for
the selected band.
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RESETTING THE SCP-99
If the SCP-99’s display locks up or does not work
properly after you connect power, you must reset it.
To reset the SCP-99, short both of the the copper
pads in the RESET hole behind the cassette compart-
ment door by touching them with the tip of your head-
phones’ or speakers’ plug.
Caution: If you short the copper pads with anything
other than the speakers’ or headphones’ plug, you
may damage the SCP-99.
Important: Resetting the SCP-99 clears all the set-
tings you have stored. Reset the SCP-99 only when
you are sure it is not working properly.
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USING THE RADIO
1. Repeatedly press RADIO ON/OFF BAND until the
display shows the desired band (AM, FM1, or
FM2).
Note: FM1 and FM2 store stations in the same
frequency range, but in different (separate)
memory locations.
2. Set FM ST/MONO to FM ST for stereo sound on
FM stations, or to MONO for monaural sound.
Notes:
• The AM antenna is built-in. Move the SCP-99
to the best position for AM reception.
• For the best FM reception, fully uncoil the
headphones’ or speakers’ cord.
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• To improve reception for weak FM stereo sta-
tions, set FM ST/MONO to MONO. The sound
will be monaural, but reception should
improve.
3. Tune to the desired station using manual, seek,
or memory tuning.
Manual — Press TUNING UP or DOWN
to
tune up or down the band.
Seek — Hold down TUNING UP or DOWN
for about 2 seconds. The SCP-99 automatically
searches up or down the band and stops when it
finds the next strong station.
Memory — See “Memory Tuning” on Page 19.
4. Adjust VOLUME to the desired listening level.
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5. Repeatedly press PRESET EQ (equalizer) to
select classic, pop, rock, or jazz sound charac-
teristics. A bar appears above the selected
sound’s name on the display.
6. To turn off the radio, repeatedly pressRADIO ON/
OFF BAND until the display clears.
MEMORY TUNING
You can store up to 10 AM and 20 FM (10 each in
FM1 and FM2) stations in memory, automatically or
manually.
Storing Stations Automatically
Follow these steps to have the SCP-99 search the
selected band and store the first ten stations it finds
into memory locations 1–10.
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1. Repeatedly press RADIO ON/OFF BAND until the
desired band (AM, FM1, FM2) appears.
2. Hold down AUTO PRESET for about 2 seconds
until the SCP-99 starts searching.
When the SCP-99 finds a station, it plays it for
about 3 seconds then stores it in memory. Then
the SCP-99 continues searching. After storing
ten stations in that band, the SCP-99 plays the
last station stored.
Note: If you do not want to store a particular sta-
tion, press AUTO PRESET while that station is
playing. The SCP-99 automatically tunes to then
stores the next station.
Storing Stations Manually
1. Repeatedly press RADIO ON/OFF BAND until the
desired band appears (AM, FM1, FM2).
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