Radio Shack 21-1812 User manual

Owner’s Manual
Cat. No. 21-1812
nNo License Required!
n14 Channels
nQuiet Code Feature
nBacklit Display
nWater and Shock
Resistant for Sport Use
n300 mW Output Power
nCall Button
nAuto Squelch
nBuilt-In Charger
Two-Wa
y
Personal Radio
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INTRODUCTION
RadioShack welcomes you to the next gen-
eration of personal communication —the
Family Radio Service (FRS). FRS is a new
license-free, two-way, short-range voice ra-
dio service that lets families and groups
keep in touch with each other on specific
reserved channels.
Your RadioShack Two-Way Personal Ra-
dio is a lightweight, palm-sized radio that
you can carry almost anywhere. It has 14
channels and 8 different quiet codes. If
someone else is using the channel you se-
lected, select another channel or use the
quiet feature (see “Using Quiet Codes” on
Page 12). You can talk with a person who
has an FRS radio if both radios are tuned to
the same
channel and quiet code.
Your radio has
auto-squelch , which means
you won’t hear anything on a channel un-
less someone is transmitting nearby on the
same channel. You can turn off auto-
squelch to hear weaker, distant transmis-
sions (see “Auto-Squelch” on Page 13).
©1998 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a registered trademark
used by Tandy Corporation.
We recommend you record your radio’s
serial number here. The number is on the
radio’s back panel.
Serial Number:
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PREPARATION
INSTALLING BATTERIES
Your radio uses three AA batteries (not
supplied) for power. We recommend alka-
line batteries, such as RadioShack Cat.No.
23-552. You can also use rechargeable
nickel-cadmium batteries (Cat. No. 23-125
or 23-149). Before you usenickel-cadmium
batteries, you must charge them (see
“Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries” on
Page 4).
Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Be sure the radio is off, then pull down
the latch at the bottom of the radio and
remove the battery compartment
cover.
2. Use a pointed object such as a pen to
set CHRG inside the compartment to
OFF (for alkaline batteries) or ON (for
nickel-cadmium batteries).
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Warning: Never set CHRG to ON if
you use non-rechargeable batteries.
Non-rechargeable batteries can get
hot or explode if you try to recharge
them.
3. Install the batteries as indicated by the
polarity symbols (+ and –) inside the
compartment. Then replace the cover.
Caution: Do not mix old and new bat-
teries or different types of batteries.
The radio’s range decreases as battery
power decreases. For the longest range,
keep fresh batteries installed in the radio.
When flashes, replace (or recharge)
the batteries.
Charging Nickel-Cadmium
Batteries
You can recharge nickel-cadmium batter-
ies while they are in the radio. Set CHRG to
ON, install the nickel-cadmium batteries in
the radio, and connect an external AC or
DC adapter to the radio’s DC 9V jack (see
“Connecting an AC Adapter” on Page 6 or
“Connecting a DC Adapter” on Page 7).
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Warning: Do not connect either adapter to
the radio if non-rechargeable batteries
(such as alkaline batteries) are installed
and
CHRG is set to ON, or if you are unsure
of the switch’s position. Non-rechargeable
batteries can get hotor explode if you try to
recharge them.
Before using nickel-cadmium batteries for
the first time, charge them for at least 10
hours to bring them to a full charge. Dis-
charged batteries take about 10 to 18 hours
to fully recharge. If you use the radio while
the batteries are charging, charging takes
longer.
Notes:
• Nickel-cadmium batteries last longer
and deliver more power if you occa-
sionally let them fully discharge by
using the radio until flashes.
• To prevent damage to nickel-cadmium
batteries, never charge them in an
area where the temperature is above
113°F (45°C) or below 40°F (4.4°C).
Important: At the end of a rechargeable
battery’s useful life, it must be recycled or
disposed of properly. Contact your local,
county, or state hazardous waste manage-
ment authorities for information on recy-
cling or disposal programs in your area.
Some options that might be available are:
municipal curb-side collection, drop-off
boxes at retailers such as your local Ra-
dioShack store, recycling collection cen-
ters, and mail-back programs.
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Connecting an AC Adapter
You can charge the radio from a standard
AC outlet using an optional AC adapter
(such as Cat. No. 273-1665).
Warning: Do not use an AC adapter’s po-
larized plug with an extension cord, recep-
tacle, or other outlet unless the blades can
be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure.
Cautions:
• The recommended AC adapter sup-
plies 9 volts and delivers at least 300
milliamps. It has a barrel plug with a
center negative tip that correctly fits
the radio’s DC 9V jack. Using an
adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the radio
or the adapter.
• To protect your radio and AC adapter,
always plug the adapter into the radio
before you plug it into the AC outlet,
and always unplug the adapter from
the AC outlet before you unplug it
from the radio.
•MakesureCHRG inside the battery
compartment is set to ON and nickel-
cadmium batteries are installed (see
“Installing Batteries” on Page 3).
1. Plug the adapter’s 3.4 mm outside
diameter/1.3 mm inside diameter bar-
rel plug into your radio’s DC 9V jack.
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2. Plug the other end of the adapter into
a standard AC outlet. The CHARGE
indicator lights.
Connecting a DC Adapter
You can charge the radio from your vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket using an op-
tional DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 270-
1560 or 273-1810.
Cautions:
• The recommended DC adapter sup-
plies 9 volts and delivers at least 300
milliamps. It has a barrel plug with a
center negative tip that correctly fits
the radio’s DC 9V jack. Using an
adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the radio
or the adapter.
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• To protect your vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem, always plug the adapter into the
radio before you plug it into your vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket. Always
unplug the adapter from the vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket before
you unplug it from the radio.
•MakesureCHRG inside the battery
compartment is set to ON and nickel-
cadmium batteries are installed (see
“Installing Batteries” on Page 3).
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 9V.
2. Connect the 3.4 mm outer diameter/
1.3 mm inner diameter tip to the
adapter cord, matching TIP to –.
3. Plug the adapter’s barrel plug into
your radio’s DC 9V jack.
4. Plug the other end of the adapter into
your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
The CHARGE indicator lights.
Note: If the radio does not charge properly,
unplug the adapter from the cigarette-light-
er socket and clean the socket to remove
ashes and debris.
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ATTACHING THE BELT
CLIP
Use the supplied
belt clip to take your
radio along when
you are on the go.
Use a coin or screw-
driver to screw the
belt clip to the radio,
then slide the clip
over your belt or
waistband.
CONNECTING AN
OPTIONAL MICROPHONE/
SPEAKER
To use the radio private-
ly, connect an optional
headset with micro-
phone (such as Cat. No.
19-312) or microphone
and earphone communi-
cation headset (such as
Cat. No. 19-316) into the
SP and MIC jacks.
This connection automatically disconnects
the internal speaker and the PTT button.
Or, you can connect a mono earphone
(such as Cat. No. 33-175) into the SP jack
and use the radio’s PTT button as usual.
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OPERATION
CONTROLS
VOL/OFF —turns on or off the radio and ad-
justs the volume.
PTT —To talk, hold down this button and
wait about 1 second, then speak into the
microphone. The TX indicator lights. Re-
lease PTT when you finish speaking.
CALL —sends a paging tone to all radios
tuned to the same frequency. (Important:
Do not hold down CALL for more than 10
seconds. The FCC does not allow you to
send a continuous tone for more than 10
seconds at a time on FRS frequencies.)
MON —turns off the auto squelch (see “Au-
to-Squelch” on Page 13). To turn auto
squelch back on, release this button.
QUIET —sets the quiet code and turns on
or off the quiet feature (see “Using Quiet
Codes” on Page 12).
VOL/OFF
PTT
CALL MON
QUIET
CHANNEL LIGHT/LOCK
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