CommRadio CR-1A User manual
CommRadio CR-1a User Manual – Rev 1 Edition: 15 July 2015 1
USER MANUA
CommRadio CR-1a Communications Receiver
(All operating instructions and specifications apply to earlier CR-1, except I-Q over US )
AeroStream Communications – CommRadio Division
New Castle, Colorado USA
303-279-367
Email: support@commradio.com
www.commradio.com
CommRadio CR-1a User Manual – Rev 1 Edition: 15 July 2015 2
A. Introduction. Thank you for purchasing a CR- a. The CR- a is meant to be
intuitively obvious and fun to use; not requiring a manual close at hand. The CR- a
was designed to have minimal controls and no deep-menu options, yet be fast and
efficient when changing bands and modes. This manual is intended to describe the
basic controls and some features which are not obvious.
Firmware and Manual Updates. Contact su[email protected] to register
your warranty and to automatically receive automated email notices when
updates to firmware or this manual are available. You can always find the latest
on our website www.commradio.com.
Definitions:
CW: Clockwise rotation of a knob.
CCW: Counter-clockwise rotation of a knob.
Push: Momentarily push inward on a knob (<0.5 seconds)
Click: Rotate the Menu knob ( ) one detent CW or CCW.
Increment: Rotate the Tuning knob (3) a few degrees CW or CCW.
Scrolling: use [<] and [>] keys to step through options shown on display.
Symbols: Bold square brackets [ ] denote user interaction with knobs and keys:
Example: [BAND] denotes pushing the BAND key in the picture above.
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B. Front Panel Controls
1: On/Off - Volume Control - Menu Knob [M]
Description: Rotary Encoder- 2 detents per revolution
with push-in switch.
On/Off Control: Push [M] to turn - ON. Hold [M] to turn - OFF
•Volume (default): a click of the knob independently controls the
Head-set and speaker volume. There is no indication of the volume level on the display.
•Menu: Push-In [M] momentarily for Menu Selections that include:
oSpectrum: Frequency Range, Bands, Filters, Mode Selections
oControls: AGC, Squelch, Brightness
oConfiguration: Timing, Time-out, SWL-Amateur, Continent, Software Version
2: Display: 28 x 64 pixel x .5”diagonal OLED.
Organization:
a. Frequency
b. Band
c. Mode (active: highlighted box)
d. Signal Strength: S-Units
e. Filter Bandwidth
f. Power Status Icons
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3: Frequency Tuning Knob [T]
Description: Rotary Encoder- 5 increments
(no detents) per revolution
With push-in switch.
Primary Use: Frequency Selection.
Secondary Use: Push once to highlight frequency cursor.
Then, rotate to re-position frequency cursor.
Push again to exit.
4: Key-Pad Radio Controls:
[BAND] Change Bands [MODE] AM-CW-LSB-USB-FM
[STEP] Frequency Stepping [MEM] Frequency Save-Recall
[<] Left Arrow-Selection [>] Right Arrow-Selection
[<] and [>] positions the highlighted cursor as a default.
When [BAND] [MODE] [STEP] or [MEM] are pushed, then [<] and [>] are used for
associated selections by viewing the change on the display.
[ AST]: Holding the [<] key will return the radio to the last frequency that was
maintained for at least 5 seconds prior to pushing the key. This allows a rapid return
to a prior frequency, regardless of band.
5. Headphone Socket: 3.5 mm ( /8”) female-stereo-socket. Conventionally wired for
typical ear-buds or headphones. Delivers: 40 mW into 6 Ohms. Use this output for
amplified speakers or sound-card interfaces.
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C. Operating the CR-1a
1. On/Off - Volume - Menu Knob [M]
•ON: Push-In momentarily until…………………..
In 4 seconds the CR- a is ready and
displays the last frequency and
mode used before the last shut-down.
•OFF: Push-In and hold until…………………………
Release and then wait 3 seconds………..
If the CR- a does not shut down in 3 seconds, hold-in (about 6 seconds)
to force shut down.
2. Tuning Step Size - Frequency Cursor Positioning
•Cursor Positioning – Decade Control
The solid-highlighted boxes below indicate the position of the Cursor.
When the tuning knob [T] is rotated CW or CCW, the tuned frequency changes
accordingly.
There are 2 ways to change the position of the cursor:
•Use [<] or [>] to position the cursor. This is the default use of the arrow keys.
•Push [T] (momentarily) and rotate CW or CCW. Push [T] again to exit.
•Note the sequence of successive cursor position changes.
Push [>] 3 times Push [>] 3 more times
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•Cursor: Open Box – Standard Frequency Steps – HF and FM-Broadcast
An open box indicates a standard frequency step size within a band.
This occurs only if ‘Automatic Tuning-Mode’ is selected (see Menu below).
5 kHz step in international broadcast bands ( 0.000 MHz).
200 kHz step in US FM broadcast band (88. 00 MHz).
•Cursor: Highlighted Box - Standard Frequency Steps - VHF & UHF
Highlighted for 25.0 and 2.5 kHz
frequency steps, depending on band.
3. Changing Bands [BAND]
•Push [BAND]
•Note highlighted box indicating Amateur or Shortwave
banding and the current band.
•< or > to scroll through associated bands.
•Or: push [BAND] repetitively to scroll upward through bands.
•Amateur and Shortwave listening bands are listed in section G.
•To exit: rotate [T], or allow timeout to occur.
4. Changing Modes [MODE]
•Push [MODE]
•< or > to scroll through modes CW- SB-USB-AM and FM ( FM only above 25 MHz)
•Or: push [MODE] repetitively to scroll through available modes.
•To exit: rotate [T], or timeout.
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5. Frequency Stepping [STEP]
The CR-1a Steps sequentially through frequencies and does not stop on a
channel or frequency if a signal is present (not a scanner).
•Push [STEP] to start stepping in increments corresponding with the
cursor position.
•Cursor range: 00 kHz to 0 Hz.
•Steps within the selected band boundaries.
•To stop stepping: Push [STEP] or rotate [T].
•To reverse stepping direction (while stepping): [<] or [>]
6. Memory [MEM]: Save-Recall-Step
•Save a frequency example:
Save 8. 50 MHz to Memory page 2, slot (memory location) 4.
Push [MEM]. There are 8 pages of memory. Each page has 8
slots. Use [<] or [>] to index through pages. Select page 2. Note the tuned
frequency is shown in upper right of display.
Push [MEM] to enter the selected page. Use [<] or [>] to
index through memory slots.
Hold [MEM] 2 seconds.
Exit options (return to Main display):
•Rotate [T] increment CW or CCW. The frequency will not change until next increment.
•Timeout (see Menu Timeout selections on page ).
•Recall a frequency example:
Recall 8. 50 MHz from Memory page 2, slot 4.
Push [MEM]. There are 8 pages of memory. Use [<] or [>] to index through
pages. Select page 2. Note the tuned frequency is shown in upper right of
display.
Push [MEM] to enter the selected page. Use [<] or [>] to
index through memory slots. Select slot 4.
Push [MEM] (momentarily).
Exit options if frequency not selected:
•Rotate [T] increment CW or CCW.
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D. MENU. Push the Menu Knob [M] inward momentarily to enter MENU options.
1. FI TER Bandwidth Selections: are the most frequent and therefore the fastest to
access using the push-in switch on the Menu knob [M].
The first push [M] defaults to Filter selections:
5 kHz (total bandwidth) is presently selected:
A second push [M] highlights the current selection:
Rotate [M] CW or CCW to view the available filter
bandwidths.
The selection is made immediately and is audible.
Exit options:
Push [M] to continue clicking to next menu selection
Rotate [T] increment CW or CCW. The frequency will
not change until next increment.
Timeout (see Menu Timeout selections on page ).
Bandwidth selections are MODE dependent as follows:
CW 500 Hz, .0, .8, 2.2 & 2.6 kHz
SSB .8, 2.2 & 2.6 kHz
AM 2.6, 5, 7.5, & 5 kHz
NBFM 5 & 25 kHz
FM Broadcast 200 kHz (USA) 00 kHz (Europe/Asia)
CW clicks of Menu Knob:
2. Frequency Range Selection (HF-VHF-UHF): Next CW Click after the first push of [M]:
Push [M] to highlight. Then Rotate [M] to select HF, VHF or UHF
Rotate [T] or timeout to return to Main display:
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Exit options:
•Push [M] to continue clicking to
next menu selection.
•Rotate [T] increment CW or
CCW. The frequency will not
change.
•Timeout (see selections below).
•Above screen images indicate selection of VHF or UHF after timeout.
3. Band Key Configuration: Next CW Click of [M]:
Rotate [M] to select Shortwave or Amateur [BAND] key configuration.
Same exit options.
4. Automatic or Manual Tuning-Mode Controls: Next CW Click of [M]:
Switch between automatic and manual frequency step size and mode while tuning through
amateur and shortwave bands.
Automatic:
Provides automated mode changes and standard frequency steps.
Provides: Rapid Tune for speed-tuning (page 2).
To Select:
Push [M] to highlight:
Rotate [M] to select Automatic or Manual.
Same exit options.
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CCW Menu Options: are accessed by pushing [M] to enter Menu from the main frequency
display. (Filter bandwidth selection is always the default). Rotating [M] CCW accesses options
that are less frequently used.
Note: all menu items are sequential and can be accessed by
CW or CCW rotation.
5. AGC Speed: AGC attack time equals AGC decay time. There are 3 speeds available.
Push [M] to enter Menu options (filter bandwidth always the default)
and rotate [M] click CCW.
Exit options:
•Push [M] to continue clicking to next menu selection.
•Rotate [T] increment CW or CCW.
•Timeout.
6. HF Squelch Control: is available up through 30.0 MHz
Rotate [M] click CCW past AGC SPEED.
Push [M] to highlight.
Rotate [M] CW to advance or CCW to retard Squelch.
Same Exit options.
7. VHF-UHF Squelch Control:
Rotate [M] click CCW past HF SQUELCH.
Push [M] to highlight.
Rotate [M] CW to advance or CCW to retard Squelch.
Same Exit options.
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