Radio Shack BTX-123 User manual

Cat. No. 19-1204
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
BTX-123
Business Band Transceiver

2
FEATURES
Your RadioShack BTX-123 Busi-
ness Band Transceiver is a porta-
ble, two-way business radio service
transceiver that you can carry al-
most anywhere. The crystal-con-
trolled circuitry provides accurate
and stable channel selection. The
transceiver is compact and light,
making it an ideal choice for your
business needs.
Your transceiver has the following
features:
Factory-Installed Crystals — let you
begin using your transceiver on
154.600 MHz as soon as you re-
ceive your license.
Two-Channel Operation — lets you
install optional crystals so you can
operate your transceiver on anoth-
er frequency.
Adjustable Squelch — helps elimi-
nate noise between transmissions.
RF Power Switch — lets you set
your transceiver’s output power lev-
el to high (for increased range) or
low (to save battery power).
Built-In Modulation Limiter Circuit —
automatically adjusts for a wide va-
riety of voice levels to ensure an un-
derstandable transmission.
3-Color Receive/Transmit/Battery
Low Indicator — lights green when
you receive transmissions, red when
you send transmissions, and yellow
when the battery is low.
Battery Charger — lets you recharge
the transceiver’s battery pack while
the battery pack is connected to or
removed from the transceiver.
Flexible Antenna with BNC Connec-
tor — provides excellent reception.
The BNC connector is designed so
you can easily attach and remove
the supplied antenna or an optional
one.
Belt Clip — lets you attach the trans-
ceiver to your belt or waistband.
We recommend you record your
transceiver’s serial number here.
This number is on the transceiver’s
back panel.
Serial Number_________________
© 1997 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.

3
CONTENTS
FCC Regulations .............................................................................................. 4
FCC License Required .............................................................................. 4
FCC Part 90 Rules .................................................................................... 5
Additional FCC Regulations ...................................................................... 6
Preparation ....................................................................................................... 7
Powering the Transceiver .......................................................................... 7
Installing/Removing the Battery Pack ................................................. 7
Charging the Battery Pack .................................................................. 7
Connecting the Antenna ............................................................................ 8
Connecting an Optional Antenna ........................................................ 9
Connecting an Earphone or Headphones ................................................. 9
Listening Safely ................................................................................. 10
Traffic Safety ..................................................................................... 10
Connecting an Extension Speaker .......................................................... 10
Using the Belt Clip ................................................................................... 10
Using an External Speaker/Microphone ................................................... 11
Changing or Adding Crystals .................................................................... 11
Ordering Crystals .............................................................................. 13
Operation ....................................................................................................... 14
Receiving Transmissions and Adjusting Squelch .................................... 14
Transmitting ............................................................................................. 15
Operational Hints ..................................................................................... 16
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................. 17
Care and Maintenance ................................................................................... 18
Specifications ................................................................................................. 19

4
FCC Regulations
This transceiver is intended for use
in the operation of commercial activ-
ities, educational, philanthropic, or
ecclesiastical institutions, and hos-
pitals, clinics, or medical associa-
tions.
Warning: Do not open your trans-
ceiver to make any internal adjust-
ments except changing or installing
new crystals. Any other internal ad-
justments can lead to illegal opera-
tion as defined by Part 90 of FCC
Rules. Such illegal operation can
lead to fines or confiscation of
equipment.
FCC License Required
Before you operate the transceiver,
the FCC (Federal Communications
Commission) requires that you:
• Obtain a license, which you can
get by submitting a completed
FCC Form 600 to the FCC (or
through the PCIA (Personal
Communication Industry Asso-
ciation) if you do not already
qualify for the supplied fre-
quency).
• Understand Part 90 of the FCC
Rules and Regulations. It is the
user’s responsibility to see that
this unit is operating at all times
in accordance with the FCC
Rules and Regulations.
• Apply for a frequency through
the PCIA unless you are already
qualified to operate on the sup-
plied frequency. The PCIA is a
non-profit organization that
assigns frequencies nationwide
to help prevent conflicts
between different businesses
using transceivers in the same
area.
For more information about getting a
license, contact the PCIA at 800-
759-0300, extension 3068 (in Virgin-
ia 703-739-0300, extension 3068).
For other questions concerning the
license application, contact the FCC
at 717-337-1212, or write:
FCC
P.O. Box 1040
Gettysburg, PA 17325
For the latest FCC application form
and instructions, call the FCC’s fax-
on-demand service at 1-202-418-
0177, provide the number of a fax
machine where you can receive doc-
uments, and request one or more of
the following documents:
All forms and instructions 000600
Form 600 instructions only 006001
Main Form 600 only 006002
Form 600 schedules only 006003

5
If you do not have access to a fax
machine, you can call the Govern-
ment Forms Distribution Center at
1-800-418-FORM and request that
the form and instructions be mailed
to you.
FCC Part 90 Rules
You must be familiar with Part 90 of
FCC Rules before you operate your
transceiver. The operation instruc-
tions in this manual conform to Part
90, but do not cover all items in Part
90.
Overall, Part 90 states that:
• You must have a valid license
before you use the transceiver.
• As licensee, you are responsi-
ble for proper operation of all
transceivers operating under
your license authority.
• You can let unlicensed persons
operate this transmitter, as long
as you take precautions to pre-
vent unauthorized transmis-
sions.
• You must use this transceiver
only for the commercial use of
your business, and only when
other commercial channels
(such as the telephone) are
either not available or not practi-
cal.
• You must always yield the oper-
ating frequency to communica-
tions that involve the safety of
life or property.
• You must take reasonable pre-
cautions to prevent harmful
interference to other services
operating on the same fre-
quency.
• You must not transmit program
material of any kind used in con-
nection with commercial broad-
casting.
• You must not provide a service
that is normally handled by tele-
phone or telegraph unless such
broadcasts involve the safety of
life or property or in emergen-
cies such as an earthquake, hur-
ricane, flood or a similar disaster
where normal communication
channels are disrupted.
• During each transmission or
exchange of transmissions, you
must identify your station with
the call sign issued to you by the
FCC, or once each 15 minutes
during periods of continuous
operation.

6
• You must keep a written record
of any maintenance or modifica-
tion made to the transceiver,
and you must make this record
available for inspection upon
demand by the FCC.
Violating any of the provisions of
Part 90 can result in fines and/or
confiscation of equipment.
ADDITIONAL FCC REGULATIONS
The Business Radio Service is un-
der the jurisdiction of the Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC). Any adjustments or alter-
ations that would alter the perfor-
mance of the transceiver so it no
longer meets the original FCC type
acceptance or would change the
frequency-determining method are
strictly prohibited.
Replacement or substitution of crys-
tals, transistors, ICs, regulator di-
odes, or any other component that
is of a unique nature with compo-
nents other than those recommend-
ed can violate the technical
regulations of the FCC rules or vio-
late type acceptance requirement of
the rules.
Your transceiver might cause TV or
radio interference even when it is op-
erating properly. To determine
whether your transceiver is causing
the interference, turn off your trans-
ceiver. If the interference goes away,
your transceiver is causing it. Try to
eliminate the interference by:
• Moving your transceiver away
from the receiver
• Contacting your local Ra-
dioShack store for help

7
PreparATION
Powering the Transceiver
You power your transceiver using
the supplied rechargeable battery
pack. You must charge the battery
pack before you use it (see “Charg-
ing the Battery Pack”).
Installing/Removing the Battery
Pack
To install the battery pack, slide it
onto the transceiver as shown.
Caution: The battery pack fits onto
the transceiver only one way. Do not
force it.
To remove the battery pack, slide
and hold up RELEASE on the side
of the transceiver in the direction of
the arrow and slide the pack off.
Charging the Battery Pack
You must charge the battery pack
using the supplied AC adapter. It
takes about 14–16 hours to recharge
a battery pack that is fully dis-
charged. You can charge the battery
pack while it is installed or removed.
Cautions:
• Do not use the transceiver while
you are charging the battery
pack. This might damage the
transceiver, the AC adapter, or
the battery pack.
• The supplied adapter supplies
12 volts and delivers at least 100
milliamps. Its center tip is set to
positive, and its barrel plug cor-
rectly fits the battery pack’s
CHRG jack. Using an adapter
that does not meet these specifi-
cations could damage the trans-
ceiver or the adapter.
• Never use any other charger to
recharge the battery pack. This
could permanently damage your
transceiver or the battery pack.
• When you finish using the AC
adapter, disconnect it from the
AC outlet first. Then disconnect
it from the transceiver.

8
Follow these steps to charge the
battery pack.
1. If the battery pack is attached to
the transceiver and the trans-
ceiver is on, turn it off.
2. Plug the adapter’s barrel plug
into the CHRG jack on the side
of the battery pack. Then plug
the adapter’s power module into
a standard AC outlet.
Warning: Do not use an AC adapt-
er’s polarized plug with an exten-
sion cord, receptacle, or other outlet
unless the blades can be fully in-
serted to prevent blade exposure.
Note: A rechargeable battery pack
lasts longer and delivers more pow-
er if you let it fully discharge once a
month. To do this, simply use the
transceiver until the BUSY/TX/BATT
indicator on the front of the trans-
ceiver lights yellow when you press
PUSH TO TALK. Then fully charge
the battery pack.
Important! At the end of a recharge-
able battery pack’s useful life, it must
be recycled or disposed of properly.
Contact your local, county, or state
hazardous waste management au-
thorities for information on recycling
or disposal programs in your area.
Some options that might be avail-
able are: municipal curb-side collec-
tion, drop-off boxes at retailers such
as your local RadioShack store, re-
cycling collection centers, and mail-
back programs.
Connecting THE Antenna
Caution: To prevent damage to your
transceiver, you must connect an an-
tenna before you operate it.
Follow these steps to attach the sup-
plied flexible antenna to your trans-
ceiver.

9
1. Align the slots around the
antenna’s connector with the
tabs on the antenna jack on top
of the transceiver.
2. Press the antenna down over
the jack and turn the antenna’s
base clockwise until it locks into
place.
To remove the antenna, turn the an-
tenna’s base counterclockwise until
it unlocks, then lift it off the antenna
jack.
Connecting an Optional Antenna
The transceiver’s antenna jack
makes it easy to use the transceiver
with a variety of antennas. Instead
of the supplied antenna, you can at-
tach a different one, such as an ex-
ternal mobile antenna or outdoor
base station antenna. Your local Ra-
dioShack store sells a variety of an-
tennas.
Always use 50-ohm coaxial cable,
such as RG-58 or RG-8, to connect
an outdoor antenna. For lengths
over 50 feet, use RG-8 low-loss di-
electric coaxial cable. If your anten-
na’s cable does not have a BNC
connector, you will also need a BNC
adapter (available at your local Ra-
dioShack store).
Follow the installation instructions
supplied with the antenna, route the
antenna cable to the transceiver,
then connect it to the antenna jack.
Warning: Use extreme caution when
installing or removing an outdoor an-
tenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let
it go! It could contact overhead pow-
er lines. If the antenna touches a
power line, contact with the antenna,
mast, cable or guy wires can cause
electrocution and death! Call the
power company to remove the an-
tenna. Do not attempt to do so your-
self.
CONNECTING an Earphone OR
HEADPHONES
For private listening, pull up the at-
tached plug then connect an optional
earphone or mono headphones with
a 1/8-inch plug (available at your lo-
cal RadioShack store) to the EAR
jack on top of your transceiver, This
disconnects the internal speaker.

10
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these
guidelines when you use an ear-
phone or headphones:
• Do not listen at extremely high
volume levels. Extended high-
volume listening can lead to
permanent hearing loss.
• Set the volume to the lowest
setting before you begin listen-
ing. After you begin listening,
adjust the volume to a comfort-
able level.
• 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 use an earphone or head-
phones with your transceiver when
operating a motor vehicle or riding a
bicycle in or near traffic. Doing so
can create a traffic hazard and
could be illegal in some areas.
If you use an earphone or head-
phones with your transceiver while
riding a bicycle, be very careful. Do
not listen to a continuous broadcast.
Even though some earphones/
headphones let you hear some out-
side sounds when listening at nor-
mal volume levels, they still can
present a traffic hazard.
Connecting an Extension Speaker
In a noisy area, an extension speak-
er or an amplified speaker might pro-
vide more comfortable listening. You
can find a selection of speakers at
your local RadioShack store.
Pull up the attached plug then plug
the speaker cable’s 1/8-inch plug
into your transceiver’s EAR jack.
This disconnects the internal speak-
er.
Using the Belt Clip
You can attach the supplied belt clip
to the transceiver for hands-free car-
rying when you are on the go.

11
Use a Phillips screwdriver to attach
the belt clip to the back of the trans-
ceiver with the two supplied screws
and washers. Then slide the belt clip
over your belt or waistband.
Using an External SPEAKER/
Microphone
To connect an external speaker/mi-
crophone (such as Cat. No. 19-312
or 19-314) to the transceiver, pull up
the attached plug then plug the
speaker/microphone’s 3/32-inch
plug into the transceiver’s MIC jack
and its 1/8-inch plug into the trans-
ceiver’s EAR jack. This disconnects
the transceiver’s speaker.
CHANGING OR ADDING Crystals
Your transceiver comes with a pair of
crystals installed in Channel A for
operation on 154.600 MHz. You can
order crystals from your local Ra-
dioShack store for Channel B or as
replacements for Channel A. Be
sure to specify the transceiver’s cat-
alog number — 19-1204.
Important: Channel A crystals are
soldered in, and can only be re-
placed by a qualified technician.
You must request a frequency as-
signment from the PCIA before or-
dering crystals. Call the PCIA at 800-
759-0300, extension 3068 (in VA,
call 703-739-0300, extension 3068).
They will advise you of the required
information as well as the current
fees. Then send your FCC Form 600
to the PCIA. They will assign a fre-
quency and forward the application
to the FCC.
Your transceiver can operate from
152.255 to 156.250 MHz on any of
the business radio frequencies au-
thorized by the FCC. To determine
the crystals you need to order, use
the formulas under “Ordering Crys-
tals” on Page 13. You can order the
crystals through your local Ra-
dioShack store.

12
Follow these steps to install crys-
tals.
1. Remove the battery pack and
the antenna.
2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to
remove two of the screws on
the battery guide plate as
shown. Then loosen the other
two screws on the battery guide
plate about 4 full turns. (This
makes it easier to reinstall the
back cover later).
Note: You do not need to loosen
or remove the battery contact
plate’s two screws.
3. Pull up the rubber plug covering
the MIC and EAR jacks to
expose both jacks.
Caution: PUSH TO TALK on the
side of the transceiver is under
spring tension, and it might
come loose when you remove
the back cover in the next step.
To avoid losing PUSH TO TALK
and its spring, place your hand
over PUSH TO TALK while
removing the back cover.
4. Use a Phillips screwdriver to
remove all four screws from the
transceiver’s back cover. Then,
while holding PUSH TO TALK
with one hand, carefully remove
the back cover.
5. Install or replace the new crys-
tals in the sockets. Be sure to
install the receive and transmit
crystals in the correct sockets as
shown.
6. Replace the back cover and
secure it with the four screws.

13
7. Replace the two screws you
removed from the battery guide
plate, then tighten all the
screws.
8. Replace the battery pack and
the antenna.
Ordering Crystals
To determine the crystals you need,
use the following formulas:
Transmit Crystal:
Operating Frequency
8
Receive Crystal:
Operating Frequency — 10.7 (MHz)
4
For example, to transmit and re-
ceive on 151.455 MHz, specify a
transmit crystal of 18.931875
(151.455 MHz/8) and a receive
crystal of 35.18875 MHz ( (151.455
– 10.7 MHz)/4).
We recommend you only order crys-
tals for this transceiver through your
local RadioShack store. If you do
purchase them from another source,
the following information might be
helpful:
• Case Type: HC-50/T
• Load Capacitance: 20 pF

14
OPERATION
RECEIVING TRANSMISSIONS
AND ADJUSTING SQUELCH
Note: Make sure the transceiver’s
antenna is connected before you
turn it on.
1. Turn SQUELCH fully counter-
clockwise.
2. Turn on the transceiver by turn-
ing VOLUME clockwise until
you hear a click and a hissing
sound.
3. Turn SQUELCH clockwise until
the hissing sound stops.
Notes:
• The BUSY/TX/BATT indicator
on the front of the transceiver
lights green when the trans-
ceiver receives a transmis-
sion.
• If the transceiver picks up
unwanted, partial, or very
weak transmissions, turn
SQUELCH clockwise to
decrease the transceiver’s
sensitivity to these signals. If
you want to listen to a weak or
distant station, turn
SQUELCH counterclockwise.
4. Set CHANNEL to A or B.
Note: Your transceiver comes
with crystals installed in channel
Position A. To use other frequen-
cies, you must first install crys-
tals in channel position B inside
the transceiver (see “Changing
or Adding Crystals” on Page 11).

15
5. If you are using the supplied
antenna, hold the transceiver so
the antenna is vertical.
6. Adjust VOLUME to a comfort-
able listening level.
7. To conserve battery power, set
RF POWER to LO. Or, if the
person you are transmitting to
has trouble receiving your sig-
nal, set RF POWER to HI.
8. To turn off the transceiver, turn
VOLUME toward OFF until it
clicks.
Transmitting
1. Follow Steps 1–7 in “Receiving
Transmissions and Adjusting
Squelch” on Page 14.
2. Hold the transceiver 2–3 inches
from your mouth. Hold down
PUSH TO TALK and speak into
the microphone on the front of
the transceiver in a normal
voice.
The BUSY/TX/BATT indicator on
the front of the transceiver lights
red when you press PUSH TO
TALK.
3. When you finish speaking,
release the button.
4. To turn off the transceiver, turn
VOLUME toward OFF until it
clicks.
Notes:
• The transceiver’s automatic
modulation circuit adjusts the
microphone’s sensitivity for a
wide variety of voice levels.
• Do not speak too loudly when
transmitting. It does not make
your signal any stronger, and
might distort your transmission.
• Do not hold down PUSH TO
TALK when you are not talking.
(This is called dead keying.)

16
Operational Hints
Your transceiver’s range varies de-
pending on factors such as position,
terrain, and battery condition. Build-
ings absorb transmitted signals and,
if they contain metal, might com-
pletely block them. Trees and heavy
cloud formations have a similar ef-
fect, though not as severe. If you
are near a lake or the ocean, you
might get excellent range.
To ensure maximum range, operate
the transceiver with the battery pack
fully charged. As the voltage de-
creases, the range decreases.

17
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your transceiver is not working as it should, these suggestions might help you
eliminate the problem. If the transceiver still does not operate properly, take it to
your local RadioShack store for assistance.
Problem Possible Causes Remedies
The transceiver does
not work at all. The battery pack is not properly connected. Attach the battery pack to the transceiver (see
“Installing/Removing the
Battery Pack” on
Page 7).
The battery pack is not
charged. Charge the battery pack (see “Charging the Bat-
tery Pack” on Page 7).
Be sure the adapter is
plugged into a working
AC outlet and is fully in-
serted into the CHRG
jack.
Poor or no reception. Improperly connected an-
tenna. Be sure the antenna is properly connected.
SQUELCH is not correct-
ly adjusted. Adjust SQUELCH clock- wise (see “Receiving
Transmissions and Ad-
justing Squelch” on
Page 14).
The transceiver does
not transmit. PUSH TO TALK not fully pressed. Fully press PUSH TO TALK.

18
CARE AND Maintenance
Your RadioShack BTX-123 Business Band Transceiver is an example of superior
design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for the
transceiver so you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the transceiver dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liq-
uids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.
Handle the transceiver gently and carefully. Dropping it can dam-
age circuit boards and cases and can cause the transceiver to
work improperly.
Use and store the transceiver only in normal temperature environ-
ments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic de-
vices, damage batteries, and distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the transceiver away from dust and dirt, which can cause
premature wear of parts.
Wipe the transceiver with a damp cloth occasionallyto keep it look-
ing new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong
detergents to clean the transceiver.
Modifying or tampering with the transceiver’s internal components can cause a
malfunction and might invalidate your transceiver’s warranty and void your FCC
authorization to operate it. If your transceiver is not performing as it should, take
it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.

19
Specifications
Transmitter
Frequency Coverage ...................................................... 152.255–156.250 MHz
Frequency Tolerance ............................................................................ ±1.5 kHz
Type of Modulation ........................................................................................ FM
RF Power ........................................................................................... 1 W (high)
0.6 W (low)
Deviation ................................................................................................. ±5 kHz
Spurious Rejection .................................................................................... 45 dB
Minimum Operating Voltage .................................................................. 6.5 Volts
Current Drain ........................................................... 500 mA (high power mode)
Receiver
Sensitivity (SINAD 12 dB) ........................................................................ 0.5 µV
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (20 dB) .................................................................. 1.0 µV
AF Power Output ................................................................................... 250 mW
Adjacent Channel Rejection ...................................................................... 50 dB
Squelch Sensitivity (Start) ........................................................................ 0.5 µV
Stop Voltage .......................................................................................... 6.5 Volts
Distortion (1 mV Input, 3 kHz Deviation) ....................................................... 5%
General
Power Requirements ...................................................................... 8.4 Volts DC
Antenna Length ................................................................................ 57/8 Inches
(150 mm)
Dimensions (HWD) .................................................... 21/2 ×11/2 ×61/3 Inches
(65 ×35 ×160 mm)
Weight ..................................................................................................... 15.5 oz
(439 g)
Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject
to change and improvement without notice.

RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
6A7 Printed in Hong Kong
Limited Ninety-Day Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing de-
fects in material and workmanship under normal use for ninety (90)
days from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned
stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers. EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WAR-
RANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PUR-
POSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE
WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN. EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY
OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PERSON
OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAM-
AGE CAUSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PERFOR-
MANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH
OF THIS WARRANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY
DAMAGES RESULTING FROM INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF TIME,
DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN
IF RadioShack HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied war-
ranty lasts or the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so
the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the