Optimus CTR-109 User manual

Cat. No. 14-1116

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

CTR-109

AC•DC Portable

Cassette Recorder

14-1116.fm Page 1 Friday, January 8, 1999 10:30 AM

FEATURES

Your RadioShack CTR-109 AC•DC

Portable Cassette Recorder is a multi-

functional recorder that includes a tone

control and tape counter. Easy to use

and reliable, it is ideal for both personal

and business use. Its features include:

Automatic Stop — protects the tape

and tape handling parts by automati-

cally stopping the tape when it reaches

the end.

Tape Counter — helps you locate

specific sections on the tape.

Built-In Condenser Microphone —

gives you high sensitivity for recording

speakers from several feet away, such

as at conferences.

MIC Jack — lets you connect an op-

tional external microphone to record

from longer distances.

Automatic Level Control (ALC) Cir-

cuit — automatically ensures the

proper recording level.

Record Indicator — lights steadily to

confirm you are recording.

Tone Control — lets you customize

the sound to your personal preference.

Cue/Review — lets you listen to re-

cordings at high speed so you can find

a particular section.

Three Power Sources — letyoupow-

er the recorder from four C batteries,

standard AC power (with the supplied

power cord), or vehicle DC power (with

an optional DC adapter).

AUX Jack — lets you connect from an

external sound source so you can

record directly from it.

Supplied Earphone — lets you listen

to the recorder without disturbing oth-

ers.

Supplied Erase Plug — makes eras-

ing a cassette tape easy.

Built-In Carrying Handle — lets you

easily carry the cassette recorder any-

where you go.

Optimus and RadioShack are registered trademarks used by Tandy Corporation.

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This symbol is intended to alert you

to the presence of uninsulated dan-

gerous voltage within the system’s

enclosure that might be of sufficient

magnitude to constitute a risk of elec-

tric shock. Do not open the system’s

case.

This symbol is intended to inform you

that important operating and mainte-

nance instructions are included in the

literature accompanying this system.

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.

DO NOT OPEN.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF

ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE

COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICE-

ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVIC-

ING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

Warning: To prevent fire or shock

hazard, do not expose this product

to rain or moisture.

CAUTION !

14-1116.fm Page 3 Friday, January 8, 1999 10:30 AM

CONTENTS

Preparation.............................................................................................................5

Connecting Power .............................................................................................5

Using Internal Batteries...............................................................................5

Using AC Power..........................................................................................6

Using Vehicle Battery Power.......................................................................6

Using an Earphone............................................................................................7

Listening Safely...........................................................................................7

Traffic Safety................................................................................................7

Operation................................................................................................................8

Loading a Cassette Tape...................................................................................8

Playing a Cassette Tape....................................................................................8

Recording..........................................................................................................9

Using the Built-In Microphone.....................................................................9

Using an External Microphone..................................................................10

Recording from a Connected Audio Source..............................................10

Using the Tape Counter...................................................................................11

Tape Tips.........................................................................................................11

Recommended Tapes...............................................................................11

Erasing a Cassette Tape...........................................................................11

Preventing Accidental Erasure..................................................................12

Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality..............................................12

Maintenance .........................................................................................................13

Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts...................................................................14

Specifications.......................................................................................................15

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PREPARATION

CONNECTING POWER

You can power the CTR-109 from any

of three power sources:

• Internal batteries

• Standard AC power (with the sup-

plied power cord)

• Your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter

socket (with an optional DC

adapter)

Note: Connecting the power cord or a

DC adapter disconnects the internal

batteries.

Using Internal Batteries

You can power the CTR-109 from four

C batteries (not supplied). For the best

performance, we recommend alkaline

batteries, such as RadioShack Cat.

No. 23-551/651.

1. Press down on the battery com-

partment cover and slide it off in

the direction of the arrow on the

cover.

2. Install the batteries as indicated

by the polarity symbols (+ and –)

marked inside the compartment.

Cautions:

• Use only fresh batteries of the

required size and recom-

mended type.

• Do not mix old and new batter-

ies, different types of batteries

(standard, alkaline, or re-

chargeable), or rechargeable

batteries of different capacities.

3. Replace the cover.

When the record indicator becomes

dim, replace the batteries.

Cautions:

• Always dispose of old batteries

promptly and properly.

• Never leave dead, old, or weak

batteries in the CTR-109. They

can leak chemicals and corrode or

damage electronic circuits.

• If you do not plan to use the CTR-

109 for a week or more, or if you

plan to use an adapter only,

remove the batteries to protect the

CTR-109 from possible battery

leakage.

{

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Using AC Power

To power the CTR-109 from standard

AC power, plug the supplied power

cord into the AC IN jack on the side of

the CTR-109. Then plug the other end

into a standard AC outlet.

Cautions:

• Always plug the power cord into

the AC IN jack before you plug it

into the AC outlet, and always

unplug the power cord from the

AC outlet before you unplug it

from the AC IN jack.

• The power cord has a polarized

plug that is designed to fit into the

recorder’s jack only one way. If the

plug does not easily fit into the

jack, do not force it. Simply turn it

over and try again.

Using Vehicle Battery Power

You can power the CTR-109 from your

vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket using

a DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 273-

1802 (not supplied).

Cautions:

• You must use a DC adapter that

supplies 6 volts and delivers at

least 300 milliamps. Its center tip

must be set to negative, and its

plug ,ust correctly fit the CTR-

109’s DC IN 6V jack. The recom-

mended adapter meets these

specifications. Using an adapter

that does not could damage the

CTR-109 or the adapter.

• Always plug the adapter into the

CTR-109 before you plug it into

the cigarette-lighter socket, and

always unplug the adapter from

the cigarette-lighter socket before

you unplug it from the CTR-109.

Follow these steps to use vehicle bat-

tery power.

1. Set the DC adapter’s voltage

switch to 6V.

2. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug

into the CTR-109’s DC IN 6V jack.

OPTIMUS

CTR-109 CASSETTE RECORDER

AC/DC/BATTERY

DC IN 6V AUX EAR REM MIC TONE VOLUME

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3. Insert the adapter’s larger plug

into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter

socket.

USING AN EARPHONE

For private listening, insert the sup-

plied earphone’s 1/8-inch plug into the

EAR jack.

Note: Connecting the earphone auto-

matically disconnects the built-in

speaker.

Listening Safely

To protect your hearing, follow these

guidelines when you use the ear-

phone.

• Set the volume to the lowest set-

ting before you begin listening.

After you begin listening, adjust

the volume to a comfortable level.

• Do not listen at extremely high vol-

ume levels. Extended high volume

listening can lead to permanent

hearing loss.

• Once you set the volume, do not

increase it. Over time, your ears

adapt to the volume level, so a vol-

ume level that does not cause dis-

comfort might still damage your

hearing.

Traffic Safety

Do not wear an earphone while operat-

ing a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle.

This can create a traffic hazard and

can be illegal in some areas.

Even though some earphones let you

hear some outside sounds when lis-

tening at normal volume levels, they

still can present a traffic hazard.

DC IN 6V AUX EAR REM MIC TONE VOLUME

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OPERATION

LOADING A CASSETTE

TAPE

1. Take up any slack in the tape by

turning one of the cassette’s hubs

with a pencil.

Caution: If you do not remove the

excess slack, the tape could

become tangled in the record/

playback mechanism.

2. Press STOP/EJECT to open the

cassette compartment door.

3. Load the cassette into the slot in

the door with its open edge out,

the side you want to play facing

up, and its full reel to the left.

4. Close the door.

PLAYING A CASSETTE

TAPE

1. Load the cassette tape.

2. Press PLAY. The cassette plays

until it reaches the end of the side,

then it automatically stops.

Notes:

•PressPAUSE to temporarily

stop playback. Press PAUSE

again to resume playback.

• If you hold down REWIND/

REVIEW or FAST-F/CUE while

the tape is playing, you can

hear the tape as it moves at a

faster speed. This makes it

easy to locate a specific part of

a recording. When you release

REWIND/REVIEW or FAST-F/

CUE, the tape plays at its nor-

mal speed.

MICROPHONE

PLAY REWIND FAST-F STOP PAUSE

EJECT

REVIEW CUE

RECORD

MIC

PLAY REWIND FAST-F STOP PAUSE

EJECT

REVIEW CUE

RECORD

CTR-109 CASSETTE RECORDER

AC / DC / BATTERY

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3. Adjust VOLUME and TONE as

desired.

4. Press STOP to completely stop

playback before it automatically

stops. Press STOP/EJECT again to

open the cassette compartment

and remove the cassette tape.

RECORDING

Notes:

• Before you load a cassette tape

for recording, be sure its erase-

protection tabs are in place (see

“Preventing Accidental Erasure”

on Page 12).

• The recorder’s Automatic Level

Control (ALC) circuit automatically

adjusts the recording level. VOL-

UME has no effect on recording.

Using the Built-In Microphone

1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one

you want to record over, into the

cassette compartment.

2. Place the CTR-109 2 to 3 feet

from the recording source.

3. Press RECORD to begin record-

ing. Both PLAY and RECORD lock

down.

Note: To temporarily stop record-

ing, press PAUSE. Press PAUSE

again to resume recording.

4. Speak into MIC.

5. Press STOP/EJECT to stop record-

ing.

REM MIC TONE VOLUME

MIC

PLAY REWIND FAST-F STOP PAUSE

EJECT

REVIEW CUE

RECORD

CTR-109 CASSETTE RECORDER

AC / DC / BATTERY

MIC

PLAY REWIND FAST-F STOP PAUSE

EJECT

REVIEW CUE

RECORD

CTR-109 CASSETTE RECORDER

AC / DC / BATTERY

14-1116.fm Page 9 Friday, January 8, 1999 10:30 AM

Using an External

Microphone

You can connect an external micro-

phone (not supplied) with a 1/8-inch

plug to the CTR-109. Your local

RadioShack store sells a variety of mi-

crophones.

Note: Connecting an external micro-

phone automatically disconnects the

built-in microphone.

Follow these steps to record using an

external microphone.

1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one

you want to record over, into the

cassette compartment.

2. Insert the microphone’s plug into

the CTR-109’s MIC jack.

Note: If the external microphone

has a separate, smaller plug for

remote operation, insert that plug

into the REM jack. Then you can

use the microphone’s remote

switch to stop or start recording.

3. Press RECORD to begin record-

ing. Both PLAY and RECORD lock

down.

DC IN 6V AUX EAR REM MIC TONE VOLUME

Note: To temporarily stop record-

ing, press PAUSE. Press PAUSE

again to resume recording.

4. Speak into the external micro-

phone.

5. Press

STOP/EJECT to stop record-

ing.

Recording from a Connected

Audio Source

You can record directly from an exter-

nal audio source, such as a radio, tape

deck, or CD player. To make the con-

nection, you need a suitable mono

patch cord with a 1/8-inch plug (avail-

able at your local RadioShack store).

Note: Before you connect an external

audio source to the recorder, be sure

the source’s and the recorder’s volume

controls are set to their minimum set-

tings.

Follow these steps to record from an

external audio source.

Note: If you connected an external mi-

crophone, disconnect it.

1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one

you want to record over, into the

cassette compartment.

14-1116.fm Page 10 Friday, January 8, 1999 10:30 AM

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