Radio Shack Portable Cassette Recorder User manual

Owner’s Manual Please read before using this equipment.
Cassette Tape
Recorder

2
©1999, 2001 RadioShack Cor
p
oration.
All Ri
g
hts Reserved.
RadioShack and RadioShack.com are re
g
istered trademarks
used b
y
RadioShack Cor
p
oration.

Contents
Features ................................................................. 3
Preparation ............................................................ 4
Using Battery Power ........................................ 4
Using AC or DC Power .................................... 6
Connecting an Earphone ................................. 7
Listening Safely ........................................ 8
Traffic Safety ............................................. 8
Operation ............................................................... 9
Loading a Tape ................................................ 9
Playing a Tape ................................................. 9
Using Fast-Forward and Rewind .................... 10
Using Cue and Review ................................... 10
Recording ....................................................... 10
Tape Tips ........................................................ 12
Restoring Tape Tension
and Sound Quality .................................. 12
Erasing Tapes ......................................... 12
Preventing Accidental Erasure ................ 13
Care ...................................................................... 14
Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ................. 14
Specifications ...................................................... 15

3
Features

Features
Your RadioShack Cassette Tape Recorder is a con-
venient and reliable solution for recording live audio.
It is small enough to fit in a briefcase or purse, so you
can take it almost anywhere.
RECORD/BATTERY —
lightswhenthe tape recorder
is recording, or lights during
play, fast forward and rewind
functions if the batteries are
weak.
STOP
FAST-F/CUE and
REWIND/REV — let
you fast forward, rewind,
and listen to recordings
at high speed forward or
backward.
RECORD
PLAY
Built-In
Microphone
VOLUME
Built-In Speaker — lets
you listen to your recorder
without an earphone.
DC 3V Jack —
lets you operate
your cassette re-
corderusinganAC
outlet or your vehi-
cle’s battery power
(using optional
adapters).
PHONES — lets you
plug in an earphone for
private listening.

4Preparation

Preparation
USING BATTERY POWER
You can power the tape recorder with two AA batter-
ies (not supplied). For the best performance and long-
est life, we recommend RadioShack alkaline
batteries.
You can also use rechargeable nickel-cadmium bat-
teries. These batteries and a battery charger are
available at your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and
recommended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types
of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable),
or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
• Always dispose of old batteries promptly and
properly. Do not burn or bury them.
1. Press down and slide the battery compartment
cover in the direction of the arrow, then lift open
the cover.

5
Preparation
Caution: The battery compartment cover is
attached to the recorder. Do not try to remove it.
2. Put the batteries in the compartment as indicated
by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked outside
the compartment.
3. Close the cover.
Notes:
• When the sound distorts or weakens, or if the
BATTERY/RECORD indicator lights while the
recorder is playing, fast-forwarding or rewinding a
tape, replace the batteries or recharge the
rechargeable batteries with the proper charger.
• If you do not plan to use the tape recorder for a
week or more, or if you plan to power it using only
an AC or DC adapter, remove the batteries. Bat-
teries can leak chemicals that can damage elec-
tronic parts.
Important: The EPA certified RBRC®
Battery Recycling Seal on the nickel-
cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery indicates
RadioShack is voluntarily participating
in an industry program to collect and re-
cycle these batteries at the end of their useful life,

6Preparation
when taken out of service in the United States or
Canada. The RBRC program provides a convenient
alternative to placing used Ni-Cd batteries into the
trash or the municipal waste stream, which may be il-
legal in your area. Please call 1-800-THE-SHACK (1-
800-843-7422) for information on Ni-Cd battery recy-
cling and disposal bans/restrictions in your area.
RadioShack’s involvement in this program is part of
the company’s commitment to preserving our envi-
ronment and conserving our natural resources.
USING AC OR DC POWER
To power the recorder from an AC outlet or your vehi-
cle’s battery power, you need an AC or DC adapter
and a size H Adaptaplug(neither supplied, available
at your local RadioShack store).
Cautions:
You must use a (Class 2 for AC) power
source that supplies 3V DC and deliv-
ers at least 300mA. Its center tip must
be set to negative and its plug must fit the tape
recorder’s DC 3V jack. Using an adapter that
does not meet these specifications could dam-
age the tape recorder or the adapter.
!

7
Preparation
• Always connect the adapter to the tape recorder
before you plug it into the power source, and
unplug the adapter from the power source before
you unplug it from the tape recorder.
1. If necessary, set the adapter’s voltage switch to
3V.
2. Attach the Adaptaplug to the adapter’s cord with
the tip set to negative (–).
3. Insert the barrel plug into the recorder’s DC 3V
jack. This disconnects the internal batteries.
4. Plug the other end of the adapter into the power
source.
CONNECTING AN EARPHONE
You can use the supplied earphone to listen to a tape
privately. You can also use the earphone during re-
cording to listen to what the recorder is picking up
through its microphone (see “Recording” on
Page 10).
To use the earphone, insert its 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) plug
into the cassette recorder’s PHONES jack.

8Preparation
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when
you use an earphone.
• 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.
Traffic Safety
Do not wear an earphone 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 earphones let you hear some out-
side sounds when listening at normal volume levels,
they still can present a traffic hazard.

9
Operation

Operation
LOADING A TAPE
1. To prevent the tape from becoming tangled in the
tape mechanism, take up any slack in the tape by
turning the hub with a pencil. Do not touch the
tape.
2. Lift open the tape compartment door and insert a
tape into the door’s guides with the full reel to the
left, the tape’s open edge facing out, and the side
you want to play/record on facing the compart-
ment’s door.
3. Close the compartment door.
PLAYING A TAPE
1. Load a prerecorded tape.
2. Press PLAY. PLAY locks down and the tape plays.
3. Adjust VOLUME to the desired level.
4. To stop the tape before it automatically stops at
the end, press STOP.

10 Operation
USING FAST-FORWARD AND
REWIND
To rapidly advance or rewind the tape, press FAST-F/
CUE or REWIND/REV. The button locks, and the tape
fast-forwards or rewinds to the end or until you press
STOP.
USING CUE AND REVIEW
Holding down FAST-F/CUE during play allows you to
hear the tape playback at high speed to cue it and
quickly locate a desired section on the tape. When
you release FAST-F/CUE, the recorder resumes nor-
mal playback.
Holding down REWIND/REV during play allows you to
hear the reverse tape playback at high speed to re-
view the tape (play the tape in reverse at high speed).
When you release REWIND/REV, the recorder re-
sumes normal playback.
RECORDING
Tape quality greatly affects the quality of the record-
ing. We recommend normal bias (Type I, 60- or 90-
minute) tapes, available at your local RadioShack