Radio Shack TCR-100 User manual

•
Cat. No. 43-273
OWNER'S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
TCR-100
'l ·-
Telephone Cassette Recorder
lladlOlllaek®

FEATURES
Your Radio Shack TCR-100 Tele-
phone Cassette Recorder is perfect
for
your home or office. It can re-
cord telephone conversations when
you make or receive calls. You can
also use
it as a tape recorder to re-
cord dictation or conversation dur-
ing a meeting.
It is easy to use and includes these
features:
Voice-Actuated Recording (VOX)
Setting -records only when
it re-
ceives sound so
you can save pow-
er and prevent blank sections on
the tape.
Normal Recording Setting -re-
cords dictation
or conversation at
the touch
of a button.
Handset Adapter-lets you record
directly from the phone you talk on.
Monitor -lets you listen
to a con-
versation through the cassette re-
corder's speaker as it is being re-
corded.
Automatic Stop -stops the cass-
ette
recorder when a cassette tape
reaches its end while playing and
recording.
The Built-In Microphone -lets
you record without connecting an
external microphone.
Cue/Review Function -advanc-
es
or rewinds the tape during play
to help you find a specific section
oil the tape.
Two Power Sources - you can
power the cassette recorder with
AC power or 4 AA batteries.
Earphone Jack -lets you connect
an earphone with a 1/s -inch plug for
private listening.
Note: It is illegal in some states to
record a conversation without the
consent of all parties to the conver-
sation, including the phone
com-
pany. Check the laws in your area
before using the telephone cassette
recorder.
For your records, we suggest
you
write your cassette recorder's seri-
al number in the space below. The
serial number is shown on the bot-
tom of the cassette recorder.
Serial Number:
©1994 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Radio Shack
is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
2

READ THIS BEFORE
INSTALLATION
Each device that you connect to
the phone line draws power from
the phone line. We refer to this
power
draw as the device'sRinger
Equivalence Number, or REN. The
REN is shown on the bottom of your
cassette recorder.
If
you are using more than one de-
vice on the line, add up all the
RENs. If the total is more than five,
your phone might not ring and your
cassette recorder might not answ-
er. In rural areas, a total
REN of
three might
impair ringer operation.
Note: You must not connect your
telephone cassette recorder to
■ Coin-operated systems
■ Party-line systems
■ Most electronic key phone sys-
tems
FCC STATEMENT
Your telephone cassette recorder
complies with Part 68 of FCC
Rules. You must, upon request, pro-
vide the FCC registration number
and the
REN to your phone com-
pany. Both numbers are shown on
the bottom of
your cassette record-
er.
This cassette recorder has been
tested and found to
comply with ap-
plicable UL standards.
WARNING: To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose
this appliance to rain or moisture.
···~··•·~- &
RISK OF ELECTRIC
1 SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN. 1 1
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICE-
ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL
Lt
This symbol is intended to
alert you to the presence of
uninsulated dangerous volt-
age within the product's en-
closure that might consti-
tute a risk of electric shock.
This symbol is intended to
alert you to the presence of
important operating and ma-
intenance (servicing) instru-
ctions in the owner's man-
ual.
3

CONTENTS
Installation ..................................................................................................... 5
Connecting
Directly to the Phone Line ................................................. 5
Connecting to the Phone ....................................................................... 5
Connecting to Power ............................................................................. 6
Using AC Power .......................................................................... 6
Using Battery Power................................................................... 6
Preparation ...........................
... ... ... ................................................................ 8
Setting the Beep Tone............................................................................ 8
Inserting a Cassette Tape ...................................................................... 8
Operation .......................
.. .............................................................................. 9
Using the Tape Counter........................................................................ 9
Recording a Phone Conversation ......................................................... 9
Regular Recording ................................................................................ 1
O
Setting RECORD MODE.............................................. ~ ......................... 10
Setting MONITOR .......................................................\ ......................... 11
Setting SPEED ...................................................................................... 11
Fast-Forward and Rewind ..................................................................... 11
PUiying Back ...............................................................................r,::· .. ··· 12_
Using an Earphone ...................................................................... :;·: ........ 12
Listening Safely .............................................................................12
Traffic Safety ...............:................................................................. 12
Care and M.aintenance ................................................................................. 13
Tape
f!ps and Techniques ................................................................... 13
Etase-Protection Tabs ................................................................ 14
Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality .............................. 14
Cleaning the Tape-handling Parts ............................................. 14
The FCC Wants You to Know ............................................................... 15
Lightning ............................................................................................... 15
Specifications ..... ~ ......................................................................................... 16
4

INSTALLATION
Select a location for your cassette
recorder that is out of the way of
normal activities. You can connect
the cassette recorder directly to the
phone
line or to the same phone
you talk on.
CONNECTING
DIRECTLY TO THE
PHONE LINE
Follow these steps to connect the
cassette recorder to the phone line.
1. Plug the supplied dual-prong
cord into the cassette recorder's
MIC and TEL jacks.
TEL
©@ © [Q]
EAR .,'!',l!e
Dual -Prong Cord
2. Insert the modular plug into a
modular phone line jack.
Note: If the phone line jack is not a
modular jack, you must update the
wiring. You can convert the wiring
yourself, using jacks and adapters
.available at your local Radio Shack
store. Or, you can let the phone
company update the wiring for you.
The phone company will charge
you for the installation of necessary
jacks. The USOC number of the
jack to be installed is RJ11 C.
CONNECTING TO THE
PHONE
You can use the supplied handset
adapter to connect the cassette re-
corder to the same phone you plan
to talk on.
1. Plug the supplied dual-prong
cord into the cassette recorder's
MIC and TEL jacks.
2. Plug the cord's modular plug and
the handset's cord into the hand-
set adapter.
Note: Plug the cassette
record-
er's plug into the right modular
jack and the handset's plug into
the left jack.
-Handset Adapter
Dual -Prong Cord
3. Plug the handset adapter into the
telephone's base.
5

CONNECTING TO
POWER
You can power your cassette re-
corder using either AC power (with
an
optional AC adapter) or 4 AA
batteries.
Using AC Power
Your recorder can be powered by
an optional AC
adapter that pro-
vides 6 volts, such as Cat. No. 273-
1650.
Caution: You must use a Class II,
120V
AC/6V DC adapter that de-
livers at least 300 milliamps. Its
plug must
correctly fit the cassette
recorder's DC 6V jack with the tip
set to negative. Using an adapter
that does not meet these require-
ments
could damage the cassette
recorder or the adapter.
Follow these steps to connect your
cassette recorder to AC power.
1. Set the AC adapter's voltage
switch to 6V.
2. Insert the
green-tipped barrel
plug's black end into the adap-
ter's cord to read TIP NEG.
3. Insert the green plug into the
cassette
recorder's DC sv jack.
6
Note: Connecting AC power
automatically disconnects batt-
ery power.
TEL \
@@ @ @JI .. c;7l~w...2~--~i-----,
'--M-IC--EA_R_..,'::,/!e...,...., \
,____~I
4. Plug the adapter into a standard
AC power outlet.
Using Battery Power
AC Power
Outlet
Your cassette recorder can be
powered by 4 AA batteries. For the
longest life, we
recommend alka-
line batteries (such as Radio Shack
Cat. No. 23- 552).
Follow these steps to install or re-
place the batteries.
1. Press the battery compartment
cover's tab and lift off the cover.
2. Insert the batteries into the com-
partment, as indicated by the po-
'.
larity symbols (+ and-) marked
inside the compartment.

+
q+
3. Replace the cover.
Notes:
ON OFF •
■ Replace the batteries when the
REC/LEVEL indicator dims.
■ Do not mix old batteries with new
ones, and do not mix different
types of batteries (standard and
alkaline, for example).
■ Always remove old batteries. Ev-
en leak-proof batteries can leak
and damage the cassette record-
er.
7

PREPARATION
SETTING THE BEEP
TONE
You can set the cassette recorder
to beep every 15 seconds during
recording.
Note: You might be required to set
BEEP TONE to ON so all parties
know the conversation is being re-
corded. Check the laws in your
area.
1. Remove the battery compartment
cover and remove the batteries if
they were previously installed.
2. Use a screwdriver to set BEEP
TONE
ON/OFF to ON.
9+
- ~+
1111-
+~ -
ON
Off
• •
3. Replace the batteries, if necess-
ary, and the cover.
INSERTING A
CASSETTE TAPE
1. Turn the cassette's hub with a
pencil to take up any tape slack.
8
2. Press STOP/EJECT to open the
cassette compartment door. In-
stall the cassette into the
com-
partment with the open edge of
the cassette facing you and the
full reel on the left.
3. Close the door .
Notes:
• You can buy cassettes of varying
lengths at your local Radio
Shack store.
■ Replace the tape at least once a
year, or more often if used heavi-
ly.

OPERATION
USING THE TAPE
COUNTER
You can use the tape counter to
mark relative positions on a cass-
ette tape
during recording or play-
back. As the cassette tape moves,
the
counter advances. Before you
play a cassette tape, rewind the
cassette tape and press the button
to the right of the tape
counter to
set it to 000.
MIC
RECORDING A PHONE
CONVERSATION
You can record both sides of a
conversation on
any phone con-
nected to the same phone line as
the cassette recorder.
1. Set RECORD MODE, SPEED, and
MONITOR to the desired setting.
(See
"Setting RECORD MODE",
"Setting SPEED", and "Setting
MONITOR".)
Note: If you set RECORD MODE
to vox, when both parties be-
come silent for about 5 seconds,
the cassette
deck stops until
someone starts
speaking again.
2. Press RECORD down. Both RE-
CORD and PLAY
lock down.
When RECORD
is pressed down,
every
call made or received is
recorded.
Notes:
■ The VOLUME setting does not
affect the
recording level.
■ Conversation will be recorded
from any extension phone that
is connected to the same line.
■ The REC/LEVEL indicator flash-
es
during recording.
■ If the tape reaches the end
while the cassette recorder is
recording, it
automatically re-
leases RECORD and PLAY
and
stops.
■ To temporarily stop recording,
press PAUSE. To resume re-
cording, press PAUSE again.
3. To stop recording, press STOP
/EJECT.
9

REGULAR RECORDING
You can use your cassette record-
er as a regular cassette recorder
for dictation or conversation.
Note: Disconnect the dual-prong
cord before regular recording.
Press
RECORD down. Both RE-
CORD and PLAY buttons lock. Then
speak into the
built-in MIC from a
distance of
about 12 inches.
Notes:
■ You can set RECORD MODE to
NORMAL for continuous record-
ing. If
you set RECORD MODE to
vox, the cassette recorder starts
recording when you begin to
speak
or the recorder picks up
the sound. When there is
silence
for about 5 seconds, the cassette
recorder stops.
■ Press PAUSE to temporarily stop
the tape
while you are playing it.
Press PAUSE
again to resume
playing.
■ The REC/LEVEL indicator flashes
during recording.
To stop recording, press
STOP/
EJECT.
10
SETTING RECORD
MODE
When RECORD MODE is set to VOX,
it begins recording when the micro-
phone or phone line receives
sound, and stops recording when it
receives no sound for
about 5 sec-
onds.
When
you set RECORD MODE to
VOX, you must set the sensitivity
level. H (high) is the most sensitive
setting and
requires only a soft
sound to begin
recording. If the
tape does not stop after
about 5
seconds of
silence, set the switch
to M (medium) or L (low).
D1 □;
I
• ol
L SENSITMTY Level swttcll
'
•o
cl
Q
cl
~
•0
t
RECORO
MOOE
Swtt<h
Note: L is the least sensitive setting
and requires a
louder sound to be-
gin recording.
Set
record mode to NORMAL to re-
cord continously and use the cass-
ette
recorder's functions.

SETTING MONITOR
SPEED MONITOR
STAND~ EIC'TE«)ED OF~ • ON
IIII IIII
Set MONITOR ON/OFF to ON to list-
en to a conversation through the
cassette
recorder's speaker as it
is being recorded. Rotate VOLUME
to a comfortable listening level.
Note: If you are recording your
own phone conversation, set
MONITOR ON/OFF to OFF. Other-
wise, it might cause audio feed-
back through your telephone hand-
set
or through the cassette record-
er's speaker.
SETTING SPEED
SPEED MONITOR RECORD MODE
ST~ EXTENDED Off • ON
IIII IIIl
The SPEED switch allows you to re-
cord at regular speed or at a slower
speed. EXTENDED records twice as
long as the regular speed and at a
lower quality. Tapes recorded with
SPEED set to EXTENDED must be
played back with the cassette re-
corder set to EXTENDED.
Set SPEED to STANDARD to record
at regular speed. You can play
back the tape on this cassette re-
corder (with SPEED set to STAND-
ARD),
or any other cassette tape
player.
FAST-FORWARD AND
REWIND
TCR-tOOVCIC&ACTlVATliDTB.&PHONECAnETTERECORD&R
-REVlliiW-CU&
RECORD
PLAY
REWIND
FMT-F IIT0PtEJECT
PAUSE
•
►
--
■
•
II
• •
Press CUE/FAST-F or REVIEW/RE-
WIND when the cassette
recorder is
stopped to
wind the tape rapidly
forward or back.ward. The cassette
tape winds forward or backward
until you press STOP/EJECT.
Press and hold down CUE/FAST-F
or REVIEW/REWIND during PLAY to
fast-forward or review at a high
speed. When you release the but-
ton, the cassette recorder returns
to
normal play.
Note: When the tape is fully wound
to either reel, press STOP/EJECT to
release FAST-For REWIND.
11

PLAYING BACK
1. Set RECORD MODE to NORMAL.
2. Press FAST-For REWIND as ne-
cessary to position the tape.
3. Press PLAY to begin tape play-
back.
4. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable
listening level.
5. Press STOP/EJECT to stop play. If
the cassette tape
plays to the
end, the cassette
deck automa-
tically releases PLAY and stops.
Note: Press PAUSE to temporarily
stop the tape while you are playing
it. ·Press PAUSE again to resume
playing.
USING AN EARPHONE
To connect earphone's (not suppl-
ied), insert the
earphone's 1/a -inch
plug into the EAR jack on the side
of the cassette recorder. Set MONI-
TOR OFF/ON to ON.
You will find a wide selection of
earphones at your local Radio
Shack store.
12
VOWhE
--
TEL
10
MC
Note: The speaker automatically
disconnects when you plug in an
earphone.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow
these guidelines, especially when
you use an earphone.
■ Do not listen at extremely high
volume levels. Extended high-
volume listening can lead to
permanent hearing loss.
■ Set the volume to its lowest level
before
you begin listening. After
you put on the earphone, adjust
the volume to a comfortable list-
ening level.
■ Do not increase the volume once
you have established a comfort-
able listening level. Over time,
your ears adapt to the volume
level, so a volume level that does
not cause discomfort might sti II
damage your hearing.
Traffic Safety
Do not wear an earphone while
operating a motor vehicle or riding
a bicycle. This can create a traffic
hazard and is illegal in some areas.
Even though some
earphones are
designed to let you hear some out-
side sounds when listening
at nor-
mal volume levels, they still pre-
sent a traffic hazard.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your TCR-100 Telephone Cassette
Recorder is an example of superior
design and craftsmanship. The fol-
lowing suggestions will help you
care for your cassette recorder so
you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the cassette re-
corder dry. If it gets
wet,
wipe it off immedi-
ately. Liquids might
contain minerals that
can corrode the elec-
tronic circuits.
Use and store the cas-
sette
recorder only in
normal temperature en-
vironments. Temperat-
ure extremes
can short-
en the life of
electronic
devices, and distort or
melt plastic parts.
Handle the cassette re-
corder gently and care-
fully. Dropping it can
damage circuit boards
and
can cause the cas-
sette
recorder to work
improperly.
Keep the cassette re-
corder away from dust
and dirt,
which can
cause premature wear
of parts.
Use
only fresh batteries
of the
recommended
size and type. Always
remove old or weak bat-
teries. They
can leak
chemicals that can des-
troy electronic circuits.
Wipe the cassette re-
corder with a damp
cloth occasionally to
keep it looking clean
and new. Do not use
harsh
chemicals, clean-
ing solvents, or strong
detergents.
Modifying or tampering with the
cassette
recorder's internal comp-
onents can cause a malfunction
and might invalidate its warranty.
If the cassette recorder is not per-
forming as it should, take it to your
local Radio Shack store for assist-
ance.
TAPE TIPS AND
TECHNIQUES
The following tips can help you get
the best performance and the long-
est life from
your cassette record-
er.
Note: Do not use endless or C-120
cassette tapes. C-120 tape is very
thin and
tangles easily.
13

Erase-Protection Tabs
Most cassette tapes have two er-
ase-protection tabs -one for each
side of the tape. When a tab is in
place,
you can erase or record on
that tape side. When the tab is not
in place, you cannot erase or re-
cord on that side.
To prevent your recordings from
being accidentally erased or re-
corded over, carefully break off the
erase-protection tabs, using a
screwdriver or similar tool.
SideA Up
"-SideB
Tab
"-Side A
Tab
If you later decide to erase or re-
cord over the tape, you can place a
piece of tape over the holes.
14
Side ATab
...
EQ1f--: ---: D-3
Note: When covering the holes,
cover only the position that was
originally protected by the plastic
tab.
Restoring Tape Tension
and
Sound Quality
After you play a cassette tape seve-
ral times, the tape
might become
tightly wound on the cassette 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 comp-
letely rewind it. Then loosen the
tape reels by
gently tapping each
side of the cassette's outer shell on
a flat surface.
Note: Be careful not to damage the
cassette when tapping it.
Do not
touch the exposed tape or allow
any sharp objects near the cass-
ette.
Cleaning the Tape-handling
Parts
Dirt, dust, or particles of the tape's
coating can accumulate on the
tape heads and other parts that the
tape touches. This can greatly re-
duce the performance of the casse-
tte recorder. Use the following
cleaning procedure after about
every 20 hours of tape player oper-
ation.

1. Remove the batteries and dis-
connect any other power source.
2. Open the cassette compartment
door.
3. Press PLAY to expose the tape-
handling parts.
4. Use a cotton swab dipped in tape
head
cleaning solution or denat-
ured
alcohol to gently clean the
pinch roller, capstan, and record
and erase heads.
~-~~
Pinch Roller
~·~~,
Erase Heads
Cotton Swab
5. When you finish cleaning, press
STOP and close the compart-
ment.
Radio
Shack carries a complete
line of cleaning accessories. ·
THE FCC WANTS YOU
TO KNOW
In the unlikely event that your cas-
sette
recorder causes problems on
the phone line, the phone
company
can disconnect your service. The
phone
company attempts to notify
you in advance. If advance notice
is not practical, the phone com-
pany notifies you of your right to
file a complaint with the FCC.
Also, the phone
company can
make changes to its lines, equip-
ment, operations, or procedures
that could affect the operation of
your recorder. The phone company
notifies you of these changes in ad-
vance, so
you can take steps to
prevent interruption of
your phone
service.
LIGHTNING
Your cassette recorder has built-in
protection circuits to reduce the
risk of damage
from surges in
phone and
power line current.
These protection
circuits meet or
exceed FCC requirements. How-
ever, lightning striking the phone
line or power lines can damage
your cassette recorder.
Lightning damage is not
common.
Nevertheless, if you live in an area
that has frequent
electrical storms,
we suggest that
you unplug your
cassette recorder during storms to
reduce the possibility of damage.
15

SPECIFICATIONS
Power Supply ....................... AC/DC Power Adapter: Input 120V AC 60 Hz
Output 6V DC 300 mA
6VDC, 4 AA Batteries
Power Consumption (Maximum) ...................................................... 3.0 Watts
Telephone Modular
Jack ...................................................................... RJ11 C
Tape Speed ......................................................................... 17
/a ips and
15
'16 ips
Tape System................................................................... Two Track, Monaural
Recording System............................................................................... AC Bias
Erasing System.................................................................................
DC Erase
Rewind Time (MC-60) .................................................................120
Seconds
Safety Standards ................................................... FCC Part 68 and UL-1459
Speaker .......................................................................... Dynamic, 31/2 Inches
Dimensions .....................................................115 t16x 81 '16 x 55 '16 Inches (HWD)
Weight ................................................................ 1
lb 8 oz (Without Batteries)
Specications are
typical; individual units may vary. Specifications are sub-
ject to change without notice.
Operating Parameters
This information is supplied to assist
you in answering technical questions
from
your phone company.
Interface .......................................................................................... Loop Start
Modular Jack USOC Number .............................................................. RJ11 C
16

NOTES
17

18

19

1A4
RADIO SHACK LIMITED WARRANTY
This telephone product is warranted against manufacturing defects in material and
workmanship for one (1) year from the date of purchase from Radio Shack company
owned stores and authorized Radio Shack franchisees and dealers. Within this period
Radio Shack will repair the telephone product without charge for parts and labor. Simply
bring your Radio Shack sales slip as proof-of-purchase date to any Radio Shack
store. •
This warranty does not cpver damage or failure caused by or attributable to Acts of God,
abuse, misuse, impropei"• abnormal usage, faulty installation, improper maintenance,
lightning
or other incidence of excess voltage, or any repairs other than those provided
by a Radio Shack Authorized Service Facility, or transportation costs.
Radio Shack Is not responsible or liable for Indirect, special, or consequential
damages arlalng out of or In connection
with .the use or performance of the
product or other damages
with respect to loss of property, loss of revenues or
profit, or costa of removal, Installation or relnstallatlon.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RADIO SHACK MAKES NO EXPRESS
WARRANTIES, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
IS LIMITED IN ITS DURATION TO THE DURATION
OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES SET FORTH HEREIN. Some states do not
allow the limitation
or exclusion of incidental or consequential damages and some states
do
not allow limitation or exclusion of implied warranties; therefore, the aforesaid
limitation(s)
or exclusion(s) may not apply to the purchaser.
There will be charges rendered for repairs to the product made after the expiration of the
aforesaid one (1) year warranty period.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
We Service What We Sell a1a1
RADIO SHACK
A Division of Tatldy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas
76102
Printed in Hong Kong