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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USING HEADPHONES OR
SPEAKERS
To connect headphones or an amplified speaker sys-
tem, insert the mini-plug into the SCP-86’s jack.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines
when you use headphones.
• 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 discomfort
might still damage your hearing.
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Traffic Safety
Do not wear headphones while operating a motor ve-
hicle or riding a bicycle. This can create a traffic haz-
ard and can be illegal in some areas.
Even though some headphones are designed to let
you hear some outside sounds when listening at nor-
mal volume levels, they still can present a traffic haz-
ard.
USING THE BELT CLIP
The belt clip lets you keep your hands free while you
listen to the SCP-86. To attach the belt clip to the
SCP-86, slide 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 from the SCP-86, push in on
PUSH RELEASE, slide the belt clip down, then lift it
off.
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OPERATION
PLAYING THE RADIO
1. Set TAPE/RADIO to RADIO. The OPE/BATT indi-
cator lights.
2. Set FM ST/FM/AM to the desired band. Set it to
FM ST for stereo sound on FM stations.
Notes:
• For the best FM reception, fully uncoil the
headphones’ or speaker’s cord.
• The AM antenna is built-in. Move the SCP-86
to improve AM reception.
• To improve reception for weak FM stereo sta-
tions, set FM ST/FM/AM to FM. The sound will
be monaural, but reception should improve.
3. Rotate TUNING to select a radio station.
4. Adjust VOLUME to the desired listening level.
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5. To increase bass sounds, slide E-BASS up-
wards.
6. To turn off the radio, set TAPE/RADIO to TAPE.
PLAYING A CASSETTE TAPE
1. Gently pull open the cassette compartment door
and insert a pre-recorded cassette into the
guides with the exposed tape edge facing out.
Then close the door.
2. Set TAPE/RADIO to TAPE.
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3. Set the tape select switch to NORM for normal
bias cassette tapes or to CrO2/METAL for chrome
or metal cassette tapes.
4. Slide DOLBY NR upwards if you are playing a
cassette tape that was recorded with Dolby B
noise reduction (see “Dolby Noise Reduction” on
Page 18).
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5. Set the reverse mode switch to the desired posi-
tion.
One-Time Playback ( ) plays both sides of
the tape, then stops.
Continuous Playback ( ) alternately plays
each side of the tape until you press STOP
.
6. Press PLAY. The OPE/BATT indicator lights
and the tape begins to play.
7. Adjust VOLUME to the desired listening level.
8. To increase bass sound, slide E-BASS upwards.
9. To stop the tape, press STOP
.
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USING FAST FORWARD AND
REWIND
When the tape is stopped, press or to re-
wind or fast-forward it. To stop the tape before it
reaches the end, press STOP.
Note: To protect the tape after the tape has fully
wound to either end, press STOP to release the
or button.
Tape Direction Press to
Fast-Forward Press to Rewind
FWD (Forward)
REV (Backward)
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CHANGING THE TAPE
DIRECTION
You can change the tape’s direction using the FWD/
REV switch. To listen to the tape’s forward side (fac-
ing out), set the switch to FWD. To listen to the tape’s
reverse side (facing in), set the switch to REV.
DOLBY NOISE REDUCTION
Your cassette player uses the Dolby B Noise-Reduc-
tion system to reduce background noise or tape hiss
on your tapes. When a Dolby-encoded tape is re-
corded, the Dolby circuit listens to the program mate-
rial to find soft passages where you might later be
able to hear the tape noise. The Dolby NR system in-
creases the recording level during these passages.
When you play the tape, the circuit reduces the vol-
ume of these passages to their original levels and re-
duces the level of tape hiss to as little as one-third of
the usual noise level.
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TAPE TIPS
The following tips can help you get the best perfor-
mance and the longest life from your SCP-86.
Note: For the best performance, use only regular
length (60- or 90-minute) cassette tapes. Long-
playing cassette tapes, such as C-120s, are not
recommended because they are extremely thin and
can tangle easily.
RESTORING TAPE TENSION AND
SOUND QUALITY
After you play a cassette tape several times, the tape
might become tightly wound on the reels. This can
cause playback sound quality to deteriorate.
To restore the sound quality, fast-forward the tape
from the beginning to the end of one side, then com-
pletely rewind it. Then loosen the tape reels by gently
tapping each side of the cassette’s outer shell on a
flat surface.
Caution: Be careful not to damage the cassette
when tapping it. Do not touch the exposed tape or
allow any sharp objects near the cassette.
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CLEANING THE TAPE-HANDLING
PARTS
Dirt, dust, or particles of the tape’s coating can accu-
mulate on the tape heads and other parts the tape
touches. This can greatly reduce the performance of
the SCP-86. You should clean the tape-handling
parts after about every 20 hours of tape player oper-
ation. Your local RadioShack store sells a complete
line of cassette deck cleaning supplies.
1. Remove the batteries and disconnect any other
power source.
2. Open the cassette compartment cover.
3. Press PLAY to expose the tape-handling
parts.
4. Use a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol
or tape head cleaning solution to clean the
playback head, pinch rollers, tape guides, and
capstans.
5. When you finish cleaning, press STOP and
close the cassette compartment cover. Then
reconnect power.
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