Realistic HTX-100 User manual

OWNER'S MANUAL
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HTX-100
10-METER SSB/CW MOBILE TRANSCEIVER
Please read before operating this transceiver
Cat. No. 19-1101
~EALIShC

2
INTRODUCTION
Your Realistic® HTX-100 10-Meter SSB/CW Mobile Trans-
ceiver is one of the most technologically advanced
1a-meter transceivers available today. It is a perfect choice
for a novice's first ham radio, or as
an addition to an
established ham operator's equipment. We designed your
transceiver to be compact, durable, and ideal for mobile
applications.
Although we made the HTX-100 transceiver small, we
packed it with these advanced features:
RIT (Receiver Incremental Tuning) Control- permits
you to fine tune the receiver to match the received signal.
10 Memory Channels -make it easy to switch to the
popular frequencies in your area.
High or Low Output Power -lets you switch between
25 Watts and 5 Watts of output power.
RF GAIN Control -allows you to increase or reduce the
amount of gain for received signals.
CW and SSB Modes -allow you to send Morse code
(CW) or communicate by voice
on the upper side band.
Note: You must have an FCC Radio Amateur Operator's
License to legally transmit using your transceiver. Trans-
mitting without a license carries heavy penalties.
Caution: We do not warrant your transceiver to be
waterproof. If you use your transceiver around water, take
care to prevent moisture from getting inside
it.
For your important records, we urge you to record the serial
number of your transceiver in the space provided below.
You will find the serial number on the back panel of the
transceiver.
Serial Number: ---------------
©1988 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Realistic and Radio Shack are registered trademarks of Tandy Corporation.

A QUICK LOOK AT YOUR TRANSCEIVER
FRONT PANEL
RF POWER/SIGNAL Indicators
F.LOCKIOUT Switch (Frequency Lock)
NB/OUT Switch (Noise Blanking)
TXIRX Switch
MICROPHONE
Jack
Phones Jack
MODE Button
STEP Button
SOOK Button
STORE Button
Display
RIT (Receiver Incremental Tuning)
Control
RF GAIN/Output Power Control
VOLUME/Power Control
SQUELCH Control
Tuning Control
UP and DOWN Buttons
MEMORY Button
3

BACK PANEL MICROPHONE
KEY Jack
EXT. SP. (External Speaker) Jack
UP and DOWN Buttons
ANT (Antenna) Connector
POWER Jack
Push-To-Talk Switch
4

INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR RADIO
We designed your HTX-1 00 transceiver to be the perfect
first radio for anyone entering the exciting world of amateur
radio. From your car, home, or boat, you will find that your
transceiver opens a door to the world -literally!
All you
need is a source of electricity, a suitable antenna, and,
most important of all,
an Amateur Radio Operator's License
issued by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
You might already have a license. In fact, you might have
been a ham operator for many years. But, if you do not
have a license, you will find that it is easy to get one, and
that there
is much help available. Here are afew tips to help
you get started.
First, go ahead and hook up your transceiver as described
in the "Installation" section of this manual. Use the receiver
to tune around on the band to see what is going on. Do not
even think of transmitting until you get your license!
That is very important. Transmitting without a license is a
violation of Federal law that can lead to severe penalties.
Also, ham operators take the FCC rules very seriously and
want nothing to do with
bootleggers- their term forpeople
who operate without a license.
Second, find out if there is a ham radio club in your area.
There are thousands of clubs across the country, so there
is probably at least one
in or near your own community. The
people at the store where you boughtyour equipment might
be able to tell you. If not, and if you do nothear anyone talk-
ing about a local club in your area as you tune around the
band with your receiver, write to the American Radio Relay
League (ARRL) for information on howto contact their local
affiliate. Most clubs welcome newcomers and are glad to
help you get your license.
Next, start studying for your license. Do not let the word
study scare you, because most people can go from know-
ing absolutely nothing about amateur radio to passing the
basic (Novice) class license exam
in fewer than 40 hours of
study spread out over a couple of weeks. The exam tests
your knowledge of basic radio regulations, elementary
radio theory, and slow speed Morse Code. Many clubs
teach license classes (a fun and easy way to learn about
amateur radio), and there are good books, cassette tapes,
computer prqgrams, and many other study aids available.
The ARRL publishes a book, Tune in the World with Ham
Radio which is usually packaged with two tape cassettes
and has all you need to know. Radio Shack stores also sell
FCC License Preparation packets for Novice, Technician,
and General Class licenses.
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You are now ready to take your exam. You do not have to
go to an imposing Federal office building in a big city to take
the test, because these days the FCC has authorized ham
volunteers to give all the exams. For a Novice license, the
examiners can
be any two ham operators with General or
higher class licenses that are at least 18 years of age and
are not related to you. And the Novice exam is free!
The Novice Class license allows you to use your HTX-100
transceiver between 28.1 MHz and 28.5 MHz. You can
transmit CW (Morse Code) on any frequency, but you can
only transmit voice on 10-meter band frequencies from
28.3 MHz to 28.5 MHz. Your HTX-100 can tune up to
29.6999 MHz, but these higher frequencies are reserved
for higher-class licensees. Keep
on practicing and learning,
and soon you will have legal access to all the frequencies
accessible with your transceiver. There is no rush, though.
Your Novice license is good for ten years, and even then
you can renew it indefinitely.
Eventually, you will want to get a higher class of amateur
license, with more privileges. Exams for Technician, Gen-
eral, Advanced, and Extra Class licenses are given by
three-member Volunteer Examiner Teams. Hundreds of
exam sessions are held across the country every month,
most
on weekends. (You can take the Novice exam from a
Volunteer Examiner Team, too, if it is more convenient.)
When you are ready, you can get a schedule of exam
opportunities
in your area from the ARRL.
We have mentioned the ARRL several times. That is
because the League
is the national organization that repre-
sents amateur radio
in the United States. The League has
more than 150,000 members; most of
them· ham operators,
but many are ham operators-to-be. Here is the address of
ARRL Headquarters.
The American Radio Relay League
225 Main Street
Newington, CT
06111
The ARRL staff helped us prepare this section of the
owner's manual, and they would
be glad to hear from you if
you need more information, or if you would like to join!
Amateur radio
is a great hobby that has enriched the lives
of millions of people the world over. Radio Shack takes
pride
in bringing to you the HTX-100 transceiver to enrich
your life.

ACCESSORIES PROVIDED
Two Two
Washers Screws
Microphone Power Cord
Holder
Microphone
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Four Four Four
Four
Mounting Knobs
Mounting Bracket
Lock
Flat
Screws
Washers Washers
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INSTALLING YOUR TRANSCEIVER
You can install your transceiver in your vehicle, boat, or
home. You can even
set up several places for your trans-
ceiver. To mstall your transceiver in several places, you
need
an extra power cord (Radio Shack Cat. No. 21-550)
and a 6-amp slow-btowfuse (Cat. No. 270-1291).
MOBILE INSTALLATION
Mounting Your Transceiver
1 Select a location for your transceiver that is conve-
nient and not mthe wayof
the driverorpassengersin
the vehicle.
Use the suppliectrnounting bracket.as a.temptate.
and mark the Jocatk)ns of1he four screW'"hotes on the
mounting surface.
Read the instructions carefully. If you are unsure
of any
connection, have a professional installer complete the
instalfation.

3
4
5
Drill 1/
16
-inch pilot holes for the supplied screws at the
marked locations. Take care not to drill into or
damage objects behind the mounting surface.
Secure the bracketto the mountjng location using the
supplied self-threading screws, flat washers and
·lock-washers.
Attach the microphone holder to either the leftor right
sjde ofyour transceiver, as shown, using the supplied
screws and washers.
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6
7
10
Attach your transceiver to the mounting bracket using
the four mounting knobs.
Plug the microphone into the microphone jack on the
front of your transceiver and secure it with the
threaded metal collar.

Connecting a Mobile Antenna
Of course, before you connect an antenna to your trans-
ceiver, you mustfirst select the appropriate antenna. Radio
Shack stores sell several antennas suitable for use on the
10-meter band. These antennas are designed for citizen's
band radio, but can be easily adjusted to work perfectly
on
the 10-meter band. Follow the instructions that come with
the antenna to trim the element to the correct length.
1 Mount the antenna
on a suitable location on your
vehicle according to the antenna's instructions. For
best performance, position the antenna as high as
possible on your vehicle.
2 Route the antenna cable to the location of your trans-
ceiver. Be sure to avoid sharp edges or moving parts
that might damage the cable. Also, do not route the
cable next to power cables, other antenna cables, or
through areas of extreme heat.
3 Screw the antenna cable's connector onto the ANT
connector on the back of your transceiver.
If necessary, remove the transceiver from the bracket
to access the connector.
If you do not buy the antenna from a Radio Shackstore, you
probably need to buy antenna cable for your antenna. We
designed your transceiver to operate into a 50-ohm load.
We recommend that you use RG-58/U cable to connect the
antenna to your transceiver. This cable has the correct rat-
ings for best performance.
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Connecting to Power
We designed your transceiver to connect to a 12-volt,
negative ground power system. This is the most common
type of power system used in vehicles, but determine the
type of power system your vehicle uses before you connect
power.
If you cannot determine the polarity of your vehicle
1
2
3
12
Use a voltmeter or test light to locate a point
on the
vehicle's fuse block that provides power only when
the vehicle's ignition is
in the ON or ACC position.
Then, turn off the ignition and remove the fuse from
that point
on the fuse block. Turn on the ignition, and
determine which side of the fuse now has voltage.
This is the battery side of the fuse. Mark this point,
and replace the fuse you removed.
Disconnect the vehicle's positive
(+)terminal cable.
This prevents damage to your vehicle or your trans-
ceiver if you accidentally cross a wire.
Cormect the bare end of the red wire to'the point you
marked in Step 1.
or are unsure, contact your dealer for information.
Warning: Do notconnect power if you have not installed an
antenna. Transmitting without an antenna attached
damages your transceiver.

4
5
6
Connect the bare end of the black wire to a metal
chassis part.
Note: Modern vehicles have many non-metallic
parts. If you connect the black wire to one of these
parts, or if one of these parts insulate the black wire
from the vehicle's main chassis, your transceiver
does not work.
Reconnect the vehicle's positive terminal cable. Turn
on the ignition and use avoltmeter or test light to con-
firm that +12V is supplied to the connector.
Turn off the ignition, and plug the power cord's
connector into the POWER jack
on the back of your
transceiver.
Note: The power cord's connector and the POWER
jack are polarized, so the connector only plugs in one
way.
Black
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MARINE INSTALLATION
You can mountyour transceiver in your boat, but be sure to
protect it from spray and splash. Your transceiver is not
waterproof and could be a serious hazard if you try to oper-
ate it when it is wet. Also, if salt water gets on or in your
transceiver, the controls and connections will corrode.
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Mounting Your Transceiver
When selecting a place to mount your transceiver in a boat,
keep
in mind the following guidelines.
Select a location that:
• Is sturdy enough to support your transceiver.
• Is not exposed to spray or splash.
•
Is close to the battery or fuse block.
• Allows you to route the power cord away from the
engine compartment and walkways.
•
Is as close to the antenna as possible. See "Connecting
to a Marine Antenna" for further considerations.
• Is shielded from direct sunlight.
•
Is several feet away from the compass.

1
2
3
4
Use the supplied mounting bracket as a template,
and mark the locations of the four screw holes
on the
mounting surface.
Drill 1/
16
-inch pilot holes for the supplied screws at the
marked locations. Take care not to drill into or
damage objects behind the mounting surface.
Secure the bracket to the mounting location using the
supplied self-threading screws, flat washers and
lock-washers.
Attach the microphone holder to either the left or right
side ofyour transceiver, as shown, using the supplied
screws and washers.
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5
6
16
Attach your transceiver to the mounting bracket using
the four mounting knobs.
Plug the microphone into the microphone jack on the
front of your transceiver and secure it with the
threaded metal collar.

Connecting a Marine Antenna
See "Connecting a Mobile Antenna" for information on
antenna selection. An antenna mounted in a boat requires
aground that can be either a metal hull or a ground made of
tin-foil or copper sheeting. This ground should cover an
1
2
3
Mountthe antenna on a suitable location on your boat
according to the antenna's instructions. For best per-
formance, position the antenna
as high as possible
on your vehicle.
Route the antenna cable from the antenna to the
location of your transceiver. Be sure to avoid sharp
edges or moving parts that might damage the cable.
Also, do not route the cable next to power cables,
other antenna cables, or through areas of extreme
heat.
Screw the antenna cable's connector onto the ANT
connector
on the back of your transceiver.
area of 12 square feet (1 square meter) or more and con-
nect to the outer shield of your antenna cable. Your
transceiver should also have
an adequate ground.
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Connecting to Power
1 Determine where you are going to connect the power
cable. If your boat has a fuse block, see Step 1 of
"Connecting to Power" under "Mobile Installation." If
your boat does not have afuse block, you will connect
the power cable directly to the positive
(+)terminal
on the battery.
2 Connect the bare end of the red wire to the point you
determined
in Step 1.
3 Connectthe bare end of the black wire to
an electrical
ground, such as the negative(-) terminal of the bat-
tery.
Plug the power cord's connector into the POWER
4 jack
on the back of your transceiver.
Note: The power cord's connector and the POWER
jack are polarized, so the connector plugs in only one
way.
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Warning: Do not connect power ifyou have not installed an
antenna. Transmitting without an antenna attached
damages the transceiver.
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FIXED INSTALLATION
When you are installing your transceiver at a fixed location,
positioning is notcritical. Place it where it
is easy to operate,
and where it is not
in any danger of being dropped.
Connecting a Fixed Antenna
1 Select
an outdoor antenna that is designed for the
10-meter band or that can be tuned to the 10-meter
band.
2 Install the antenna according to its instructions.
3 Route the antenna cable to the location of your trans-
ceiver.
4 Screw the antenna cable's connector onto the ANT
connector
on the back of your transceiver.
WARNING WARNING WARNING
When you are installing or removing a fixed station
antenna, use extreme caution. If the antenna starts to fall,
let it go! It could contact overhead power lines. If the
antenna
Is In contact with the power line, touching It
could kill you! Call the power company and have them
remove the antenna.
Do not attempt to remove the antenna
yourself.
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Connecting to Power
When you use your transceiver at a fixed location, you must
have .an adequate power supply. Select a power supply
that provides a regulated 12-14 volts and that can supply at
least 6 amps.
Note: Make all power connections with the power supply
turned off.
1
2
3
20
Connect the bare end of the red wire to your power
supply's positive(+) terminal.
Connect the bare end of the black wire to your power
supply's negative(-) terminal.
Plug the power cord's connector into the POWER
jack on the back of your transceiver.
Note: The power cord's connector and the POWER
jack are polarized, so the connector plugs
in only one
way.
Warning: Do not apply power to the transceiver if you have
notconnected
an antenna. Transmitting without an antenna
attached damages your transceiver.