Radio Shack Optimus SCP-86 User manual

Cat. No. 14-1227
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
SCP-86
AM/FM Stereo Cassette Player
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FEATURES
Your Optimus SCP-86 AM/FM Stereo Cassette Play-
er delivers high-fidelity stereo sound through your
headphones or amplified speaker system. Because
the SCP-86 is portable, you can listen to cassette
tapes or the AM/FM radio indoors or out.
Important: To listen to your SCP-86, 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.
Its features include:
Automatic Reverse — automatically changes the
tape direction at the end of a tape side so you can
continuously play both sides of a cassette tape.
Tape Direction Control — lets you change the
tape’s direction at any time without having to eject
the tape and turn it over.
Dolby B Noise Reduction — reduces background
and tape noise to improve the sound of your tapes.
©1996 Tandy Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
Optimus is a registered trademark 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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Extended Bass — lets you get a powerful, heavy
bass sound.
Tape Selector — lets you select the proper equal-
ization for normal or CrO2/metal cassette tapes.
Three Power Sources — let you power your SCP-
86 from internal batteries (not supplied), standard AC
power (with an optional AC adapter), or your
vehicle’s battery (with an optional DC adapter) so
you can listen to music almost anywhere.
Belt Clip — lets you attach the SCP-86 to your belt
for hands-free carrying when you are on the go.
Take a few minutes to read this manual so you can
enjoy all the features of your SCP-86.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ........................................................... 5
Connecting to Power ....................................... 5
Using Battery Power ................................ 5
Using AC Power ....................................... 7
Using Vehicle Battery Power .................... 9
Using Headphones or Speakers ................... 11
Listening Safely ...................................... 11
Traffic Safety .......................................... 12
Using the Belt Clip ......................................... 12
Operation ............................................................ 13
Playing the Radio .......................................... 13
Playing a Cassette Tape ................................ 14
Using Fast Forward and Rewind ................... 17
Changing the Tape Direction ......................... 18
Dolby Noise Reduction .................................. 18
Tape Tips ............................................................. 19
Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality .. 19
Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ................ 20
Care and Maintenance ....................................... 21
Specifications ..................................................... 22
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PREPARATION
CONNECTING TO POWER
You can power your SCP-86 from:
• Internal batteries
• AC power (using an AC adapter)
• Your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket (using a
DC adapter)
Using Battery Power
To power the SCP-86 from internal batteries, you
need two AA batteries. For the best performance and
longest life, we recommend alkaline batteries, such
as RadioShack Cat. No. 23-557.
You can also use rechargeable nickel-cadmium
batteries (Cat. No. 23-125). These batteries (and a
battery charger, Cat. No. 23-133) are available at
your local RadioShack store.
Caution: Do not mix old and new batteries, different
types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or recharge-
able), or rechargeable batteries of different
capacities.
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Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Open the battery compartment cover by press-
ing down and sliding it in the direction of the
arrow on the cover, then lifting open the cover.
Caution: The battery compartment cover is
hinged. Do not try to remove it.
2. Insert the batteries into the compartment as indi-
cated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked
outside the battery compartment.
3. Close the cover.
If the OPE/BATT indicator becomes dim during oper-
ation or does not light when you turn on the SCP-86,
replace (alkaline) or recharge (nickel-cadmium) both
batteries.
Caution: Always dispose of old batteries promptly
and properly.
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Important: This product is capable of using re-
chargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. At the end of
the batteries’ useful life, they must be recycled or dis-
posed of properly. Contact your local, county, or
state hazardous waste management authorities for
information on recycling or disposal programs in your
area. Some options that might be available are:
municipal curbside collection, drop-off boxes at re-
tailers, such as your local RadioShack store,
recycling collection centers, and mail-back programs.
Using AC Power
To power the SCP-86 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-86’s DC 3V
jack. The recommended adapter meets these
requirements. Using an adapter that does not
meet these requirements could damage the
SCP-86 or the adapter.
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• Be sure you connect the adapter to the SCP-86
before you plug it into the AC outlet and that you
unplug the adapter from the AC outletbefore you
unplug it from the SCP-86, to prevent damage to
the SCP-86 or the adapter.
Follow these steps to connect the SCP-86 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 barrel plug into the adapter’s
cord, with the tip set to negative.
3. Insert the plug into the SCP-86’s DC 3V jack.
4. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
Note: Connecting the AC adapter automatically dis-
connects the internal batteries.
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Using Vehicle Battery Power
To power the SCP-86 from your vehicle’s battery,
you need a DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 270-1560.
Cautions:
• You must use a DC adapter that supplies 3 volts
DC power and delivers at least 200 milliamps. Its
center tip must be set to negative, and its plug
must properly fit the SCP-86’s DC 3V jack. The
recommended adapter meets these require-
ments. Using an adapter that does not meet
these requirements could damage the SCP-86.
• Be sure you plug the adapter into the SCP-86
before you plug it into the cigarette-lighter
socket, and that you unplug the adapter from the
cigarette-lighter socket before you unplug it from
the SCP-86, to prevent damage to the SCP-86
or the adapter.
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Follow these steps to power the SCP-86 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 barrel plug into the adapter’s
cord, with the tip set to negative.
3. Insert the plug into the SCP-86’s DC 3V jack.
4. Plug the other end of the adapter into the vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
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