RadioShack DX-396 AM/SW/FM Stereo PLL Portable Reciever User Manual

							Cat. No. 20-226
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
DX-396
AM/SW/FM Stereo PLL Portable Receiver
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							2
FEATURES
Your lightweight and compact Ra-
dioShack DX-396 AM/SW/FM-Stereo
PLL Portable Receiver lets you choose
from a wide variety of broadcasts on
FM, AM, and SW (shortwave) bands.
The 12 international SW bands let you
tune in to the news and other programs
from such sources as the British Broad-
casting Company, Radio Cairo, and Ra-
dio Moscow, bringing the voices of the
world to you. 
Its features include:
Dual Clock
 — has a primary clock,
which you can set to your local time, and
a secondary clock, which you can set for
another time zone.
Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) Synthe-
sized Receiver
 — ensures accurate
tuning.
Direct-Access Tuning
 — directly tunes
to the desired frequency when you enter
the frequency on the keypad.
Large, Fast-Response Display
 —
shows the band, frequency, wave length
(for SW), memory, battery, time, and
other indicators.
Memory Tuning
 — stores up to 30 fre-
quencies in memory (10 frequencies in
each band) so you can easily tune to
your favorite stations.
DX/Local Control
 — helps to reduce
distortion of broadcasts. Tone Control
 — lets you set the receiv-
er to accentuate high or low frequency
sounds.
Search Tuning
 — searches up or down
the band for the next available station.
Memory Scan
 — scans the stored fre-
quencies in each band’s memory.
LED Tuning Indicator
 — lights when
the receiver tunes to a signal.
Shortwave Quick Select
 — allows you
quick access to any of the 12 shortwave
broadcast bands.
Key Lock
 — prevents you from acci-
dentally turning the receiver on or off,
changing the band or frequency, or
changing other front-panel controls.
Alarm
 — sounds a buzzer or turns on
the radio at a set time.
Sleep Timer
 — plays the radio for 90,
60, 30, or 15 minutes, then automatically
turns it off.
Headphone Jack
 — lets you connect
optional stereo headphones so you can
listen privately and hear FM broadcasts
in stereo.
© 1999 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack and Adaptaplug 
are registered trademarks used by Tandy Corporation.
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Three Power Options
 — let you power
the receiver with internal batteries (not
supplied), standard household AC pow-
er (using an optional AC adapter), or DC
vehicle battery power (using an optional
DC adapter).
Memory Backup
 — keeps the pro-
grammed stations in your receiver’s
memory for about 30 seconds without
batteries.
Frequency Step Switch
 — lets you set
the correct frequency step for different
countries.
12H/24H Clock Switch
 — lets you se-
lect a 12- or 24-hour time display.
Folding Stand
 — securely positions the
receiver at an angle.
Because this product is so versatile,
please take a few moments to review
this Owner’s Manual before you operate
your receiver.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ..............................................................................................................  5
Connecting Power  ..............................................................................................  5
Using Internal Battery Power  .......................................................................  5
Using AC Power ...........................................................................................  5
Using Vehicle Battery Power  ........................................................................  6
Setting the Time  .................................................................................................  7
Choosing the Time Format ...........................................................................  7
Setting the Primary Clock  ............................................................................  7
Setting the Secondary Clock ........................................................................  8
Setting the AM/FM Tuning Increment  .................................................................  8
Using Stereo Headphones  .................................................................................  9
Listening Safely ............................................................................................  9
Traffic Safety  ................................................................................................  9
Using the Folding Stand  .....................................................................................  9
Operation ...............................................................................................................  10
Listening to the Receiver  ..................................................................................  10
Selecting the Band  .....................................................................................  10
Selecting the International Radio Frequency Band  ....................................  10
Tuning to a Radio Station ...........................................................................  11
Using the Sensitivity Switch  .......................................................................  12
Using the Antenna  .....................................................................................  12
Storing Station Frequencies  .............................................................................  12
Erasing Stored Frequencies  .............................................................................  13
Listening Hints  ..................................................................................................  13
International Broadcast Frequencies  ................................................................  13
Time Standard Frequencies  .............................................................................  14
Frequency Conversion  .....................................................................................  14
Special Features  ...................................................................................................  15
Using the Key Lock ...........................................................................................  15
Using the Alarm  ................................................................................................  15
Setting the Alarm Time ...............................................................................  15
Turning the Alarm On/Off  ...........................................................................  15
Using the Sleep Timer  ......................................................................................  16
Troubleshooting ....................................................................................................  17
The FCC Wants You to Know  ...........................................................................  18
Specifications ........................................................................................................  19
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PREPARATION
CONNECTING POWER
You can power your receiver from:
• Internal battery power (two alkaline
C batteries, not supplied).
• Standard household AC power (with
an optional AC adapter).
• Vehicle battery power (with an
optional DC adapter).
Using Internal Battery Power
To use battery power, you need two C
batteries (not supplied). For the best
performance and longest life, we recom-
mend RadioShack alkaline batteries.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the
required size and recommended
type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries or
different types of batteries.Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Slide the battery compartment cover
in the direction of the arrow and
remove the cover.
2. Place the batteries in the compart-
ment and on top of the attached rib-
bon, as indicated by the polarity
symbols (+ and –) marked outside
the compartment.
3. Replace the cover.
When 
BATTERY flashes on the display
or the receiver stops operating properly,
replace the batteries.
Warning: 
Dispose of old batteries
promptly and properly. Do not burn or
bury them.
Caution:
 If you do not plan to use the
receiver with batteries for a month, re-
move the batteries. Batteries can leak
chemicals that can destroy electronic
parts.
Using AC Power
You can power the receiver using a 3V,
700-mA AC adapter, such as Ra-
dioShack Cat. No. 273-1756, and a size
H Adaptaplug
® (neither supplied). Both
are available at your local RadioShack
store.
OPEN
SIZE”C” x2 BATTERIES
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Cautions:
You must use a Class 2
power source that supplies
3V DC and delivers at least
300 mA. Its center tip must be set to
positive and its plug must fit the re-
ceivers 
DC 3V jack. Using an adapt-
er that does not meet these
specifications could damage the re-
ceiver or the adapter.
• Always connect the AC adapter to
the receiver before you connect it to
AC power. When you finish, discon-
nect the adapter from AC power
before you disconnect it from the
receiver.
• If you disconnect power from the
receiver for about 30 seconds, all
information stored in memory will be
lost. However, if you disconnect the
AC adapter plug from the receiver’s
DC 3V jack and have batteries
installed, the memory stays intact. 
Follow these steps to power the receiver
from AC power.
1. Connect the Adaptaplug to the
adapter’s cord with the TIP set to
+POS.
2. Insert the barrel plug into the
receiver’s 
DC 3V jack. This discon-
nects the internal batteries.
3. Plug the adapter into a standard AC
outlet.
Using Vehicle Battery Power
You can power the receiver from a vehi-
cle’s 12V power source (such as ciga-
rette-lighter socket) using a 3V, 300-mA
DC adapter and a size H Adaptaplug
(neither supplied). Both are available at
your local RadioShack store.
Cautions:
You must use a power
source that supplies 3V DC
and delivers at least 300
mA. Its center tip must be set to
positive and its plug must fit the re-
ceivers 
DC 3V jack. Using an adapt-
er that does not meet these
specifications could damage the re-
ceiver or the adapter.
• Always connect the DC adapter to
the receiver before you connect it to
the power source. When you finish,
disconnect the adapter from the
power source before you disconnect
it from the receiver.
• If you disconnect power from the
receiver for about 30 seconds, all
information stored in memory will be
lost. However, if you disconnect the
DC adapter plug from the receiver’s
DC 3V jack and have batteries
installed, the memory stays intact.
!
!
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Follow these steps to power your receiv-
er from your vehicle’s battery power.
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to
3V.
2. Connect the Adaptaplug to the
adapter’s cord with TIP set to
+POS.
3. Insert the adapters barrel plug into
the receiver’s 
DC 3V jack. This dis-
connects the internal batteries.
4. Plug the other end of the adapter
into your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter
socket.
SETTING THE TIME
The receiver has a dual time clock so
you can set the primary clock for your lo-
cal time and the secondary clock for an-
other time zone. You can select a 12- or
24-hour clock display format.
Choosing the Time Format
1. Slide the battery compartment cover
in the direction of the arrow and
remove the cover.
2. Remove any batteries from the com-
partment.
3. Set 
CLOCK to 12H for a 12-hour for-
mat or to 
24H for a 24-hour format.
4. Replace the batteries.
5. Replace the cover.
6. Press 
POWER to turn on the
receiver and activate the format
change.
Setting the Primary Clock
Follow these steps to set your local time.
1. Press 
POWER to turn on the
receiver. 
FM 87.50 MHz appears
on the display.
2. Press 
CLOCK. 12:00 slowly
flashes.
3. Press 
TIME SET. 12:00 rapidly
flashes for 60 seconds.
4. Use the number keys to enter the
correct time while the display
flashes. For example, to enter 9:30
AM, press 
9, 3, and 0.
To enter a PM time, press 
MEMORY/
STORE AM/PM
. pm 9:30 appears
on the display.
Note:
 You can use 
> or < to set the
time instead of using the number
keys. Press 
> to advance the time or
< to set the time back.
5. Press 
TIME SET again when the time
shows correctly. The display stops
flashing, and the clock starts.
Notes:
• If you set the time using the time
tone from a time standard fre-
quency, press 
TIME SET when the
time tone sounds to synchronize the
seconds. (See “Time Standard Fre-
quencies” on Page 14.)
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• When the receiver is off, the display
always shows local time. When the
receiver is turned on, the time disap-
pears and a radio frequency
appears. To see the time when the
receiver is on, press 
CLOCK. Press
CLOCK again to return to the radio
frequency display.
Setting the Secondary Clock
Follow these steps to set the secondary
clock.
1. Press 
POWER, then press DUAL
TIME
. WORLD TIME appears.
2. Press 
TIME SET. The hour digit and
WORLD TIME flash for 10 seconds.
3. While the display flashes, use the
number keys to enter the hour for
the secondary clock. Or, press 
> to
advance the hour or 
< to set it back.
Notes:
 
• The minutes change automatically,
according to the primary clock set-
ting.
• If the clock is in 12-hour format and
you press 
> or < to set the hour, PM
automatically appears on the dis-
play. If you use the number keys to
enter the hour, press 
AM/PM to note
the time is PM.
4. Press 
TIME SET again to set the
secondary clock.
To see the secondary clock time,
press 
DUAL TIME. The display
shows the time and 
WORLD TIME
for 10 seconds, then automaticallyreturns to the primary clock time or
the radio frequency display (when
the receiver is on).
To return to the primary clock or
radio frequency display before 10
seconds have passed, press 
DUAL
TIME
 again.
SETTING THE AM/FM 
TUNING INCREMENT
You can set the AM/FM tuning incre-
ment to the correct frequency used in
other countries as you travel.
1. Slide the battery compartment cover
in the direction of the arrow and
remove the cover.
2. Remove any batteries from the com-
partment.
3.
To easily receive broadcasts when
you travel to other countries
, set A/B
to A.
To easily receive broadcasts at
home
, set A/B to B.
For example, 10 kHz is used in
North and South America, while 9
kHz is dominant in Europe.
4. Replace the batteries.
5. Replace the cover.
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USING STEREO 
HEADPHONES
For private listening, connect optional
stereo headphones into the receivers 1/
8-inch jack. Your local RadioShack store
offers a wide selection of stereo head-
phones.
Note:
 The built-in speaker disconnects
when you plug in headphones.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these
guidelines when you use headphones.
• Set the volume to the lowest setting
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 use headphones with your re-
ceiver 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 headphones with your receiv-
er while riding a bicycle, be very careful.
Do not listen to a continuous broadcast.
Even though some headphones let you
hear some outside sounds when listen-
ing at normal volume levels, they still
can present a traffic hazard.
USING THE FOLDING 
STAND
You can use the stand on the back of
the receiver to prop it up so you can
easily see the clock display. Simply lift
the stand away from the receiver and
set the receiver on a flat surface.
The back of the stand shows a world
map with time zone changes. You can
use the map to help you set the Second-
ary Clock to determine broadcast times
in other parts of the world.
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OPERATION
LISTENING TO THE 
RECEIVER
Warning:
 To prevent possible ear injury
and hearing loss, set 
VOLUME to mini-
mum before you turn on the receiver. Af-
ter you turn on the receiver, set 
VOLUME
to a comfortable listening level.
Follow these steps to listen to the re-
ceiver.
1. Press 
POWER to turn on the
receiver.
2. Press 
BAND until the desired band
(FM, MW, or SW) appears on the
display. (See “Selecting the Band.” )
3. Press 
< or > or the number keys (0 –
9) to tune to the desired station.
(See “Tuning to a Radio Station” on
Page 11.)
4. Adjust your receiver’s antenna for
the best reception. (See “Using the
Antenna” on Page 12.)
5. Adjust 
VOLUME and TONE as
desired.
6. Press 
POWER to turn off the
receiver.
Selecting the Band
You can select the Frequency Modula-
tion (FM), Medium wave (MW), or the
12-band Shortwave (SW) band for oper-
ation. 
Note:
 The medium wave band is also
known as the Amplitude Modulation
(AM) band due to its modulation system.Press 
BAND until the desired band (FM,
MW, or SW) appears on the display.
•
If you select FM, FM, MHz, and
STEREO (when you tune to a stereo
broadcast) appear on the display.
Note:
 Your receiver has only one
speaker. To listen to a stereo broad-
cast, use stereo headphones (not
supplied). (See “Using Stereo Head-
phones” on Page 9.)
•
If you select MW, MW and kHz
appear on the display.
•
If you select SW, SW BROADCAST
BAND
, m, SW, and kHz appear on
the display. See “Selecting the Inter-
national Radio Frequency Band.”  to
select each international radio fre-
quency band.
Note:
 
SW BROADCAST BAND and
m only appear on the display if you
select an SW frequency that falls
between the ranges printed on the
SHORTWAVE BANDS chart printed
below the display.
Selecting the International 
Radio Frequency Band
If you select the shortwave band, you
can further choose one of the 12 inter-
national radio frequency bands using
SW SELECT.
Follow these steps to directly select one
of the 12 SW radio broadcast bands.
1. Press 
BAND to select shortwave
band.
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