Radio Shack DX390 General Coverage Receiver or (Sanjean ATS
808)
WNER'S MANUAL DX-390
AM/FM WORLD-BAND PORTABLE RADIO
Please read before using this equipment
DX-390
0 a 0
k-H. 0
FE 11
Cat. No. 20- 214
7RKA Z-,'.St7
FEATURES
Your Realistic DX-390 Receiver brings the voices of the world
to
you In the 13 international shortwave (SW) bands, you can
hear news
broadcasts and other programs from sources such as the British
Broadcasting Company, Radio Cairo, and Radio Moscow.
You can get emergency information firsthand by listening to
ham
radio broadcasts. This includes single sideband (SSB) voice
transmissions and continuous wave (CW) Morse code transmissions.
In the longwave (LW) band, you can sometimes hear hurricane
reports, ship-to-shore calls, and other marine and aeronautical
services. You can tune to local broadcasts in the FM and medium-wave
(MW)
bands. (In the United States, we commonly call the MW band
the AM
band.)
Special features include the following:
PLL Synthesized Receiver - ensures accurate tuning.
Large, Fast-Response Display - shows the time, band and frequency,
signal strength, and other indicators.
Dual Time offers a primary clock, which you can set to your
local
time, and a secondary clock, which you can set for UTC (universal
time coordinate formerly called Greenwich mean time) or to
the
local time of a city ir another time zone.
Scan Tuning - scans up or down the band for the next available
station.
Memory Tuning -stores up to 45 frequencies so that you can
quickly
select your favorite stations.
Direct-Access Tuning - tunes to the frequency you enter from
the
keypad.
Rotary Tuning Adjustment sets the rotary tuning dial for fast
tuning or fine tuning, or locks the dial to prevent you from
accidentally changing the frequency.
Control Lock prevents you from accidentally turning the receiver
on
or off, changing the band or frequency, changing the clock
settings. or turning on the sleep timer or alarm (standby)
feature.
Alarm (Standby) Feature sounds the buzzer or turns on the
receiver
at a specified time.
Sleep Timer --- turns the receiver off after 60 minutes so
that you
can fall asleep as you listen.
1991 Tandy Corporation
All Rights Reserved
Radio Shack and Realistic are registered trademarks used by
Tandy
Corporation.
MW Step Setting lets you tune to MW (AM) broadcasts while
you visit
a foreign country.
RF Gain Control - sets the receiver's sensitivity for SW stations.
NarrowA/wide Control - reduces interference from other stations
in the SW, MW, and LW bands.
BFO Controls let you tune to stations that transmit in continuous
wave (CW) and single sideband (SSB).
Three Power Options - let you power the receiver from internal
batteries,
standard household AC power (requires an AC adapter), or DC
vehicle
battery power (requires a DC adapter).
Battery Power Indicator - shows you when to replace the batteries
when you power the receiver from internal batteries.
Back-Up Battery Power - keeps the clock running, protects
the stations
stored in memory, and powers the display light if the receiver's
primary
power source is interrupted.
Stereo Headphone Jack - lets you connect optional stereo headphones
so that you can listen privately and hear FM broadcasts in
stereo.
For your permanent records, we recommend you record the serial
number of your receiver in the space provided. The serial
number
is located inside the battery compartment.
Serial Number
CONTENTS
Preparation................................ 6
Setting the MW Tuning Increment............ 6
Installing Back-Up Batteries .............. 6
Connecting to Primary Power................ 7
Internal Battery Power..................... 7
AC Power................................... 8
DC Power................................... 9
Receiver Operation........................ 10
Turning the Receiver On/Off............... 10
Adjusting the Antenna..................... 11
FM........................................ 11
sw........................................ 11
LW AND MW (AM)............................ 11
Tuning.................................... 12
Selecting the Band........................ 12
Direct-Access Tuning...................... 12
Manual Tuning with Arrow Keys............. 13
Manual Tuning with Rotary Dial. .......... 13
Scan Tuning............................... 14
Memory Tuning............................. 14
Adjusting Special Tuning Controls......... 15
FM MONO/FM STEREO......................... 15
AM NARR/AM WIDE........................... 15
RF GAIN................................... 15
BFO Switch and BFO Dial................... 15
TONE...................................... 15
Receiving CW and SSB Stations............. 15
Clock Radio Operation..................... 16
Using the Dual Time Feature............... 16
Setting the Clocks........................ 16
Changing the Clock Display................ 17
Using the Alarm (Standby) Feature......... 18
Setting the Alarm Time ................... 18
Selecting Buzzer/Radio ................... 18
Silencing the Alarm ...................... 19
Turning the Alarm Off/On.................. 19
Using the Sleep Timer .................... 19
Additional Features....................... 20
Connecting Headphones..................... 20
Hearing Comfort and Your Health........... 20
Lighting the Display...................... 20
Locking the Controls...................... 20
Using the Time Zone Map................... 21
Using the Folding Stand................... 21
Listening Hints........................... 22
Reference Sources......................... 22
Band Allocations.......................... 22
Ham Frequencies........................... 22
International Frequencies................. 23
Aircraft Frequencies...................... 23
Ships and Coastal Stations................ 23
Time Standard Frequencies................. 24
Longwave Band............................. 24
Frequency Conversion...................... 24
Listening Guide........................... 25
Connecting an External SW Antenna......... 31
Portable Antenna.......................... 31
Antenna Kit............................... 31
Troubleshooting........................... 32
Maintenance............................... 34
Caring for the Receiver................... 34
The FCC Wants You to Know................. 34
Specifications............................ 35
6
PREPARATION
SETTING THE MW TUNING INCREMENT
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC)
assigns frequencies for stations in the MW band in 10-kilohertz
increments. (in the United States, we commonly call the MW
band the
AM band.) In Europe and some other parts of the world, MW
frequencies are assigned in 9-kilohertz increments. Be sure
MW
STEP is set for the part of the world you are in.
The MW STEP switch is located inside the battery compartment.
Set
it before you install the back-up batteries.
INSTALLING BACKUP BATTERIES
Backup batteries power the receiver's clock and save the
stations
stored in memory if the receiver's primary power source is
interrupted.
The receiver uses three AA batteries for back-up power. For
best
performance, we recommend alkaline batteries, such as Radio
Shack
Cat. No. 23-552.
Note: You cannot operate the receiver using only the back-up
batteries. If you press POWER when the back-up batteries are
the
only available power source, E flashes on the display.
Follow these steps to install the backup batteries.
1. Remove the battery compartment's cover by pushing the
cover in the
direction of the arrow.
2. Install three AA batteries, as indicated by the illustration
near
the battery compartment. Note the polarity markings (+ and
-).
For easy removal, place the batteries on top of the lift-out
ribbon.
3. Replace the battery compartment cover, or install additional
batteries for primary power as described in "Internal
Battery
Power" under "Connecting to Primary Power."
To check the back-up batteries' power level, remove the
primary-power batteries or unplug the AC or DC adapter. Then,
look
at the receiver's display. If it is dim, replace the back-up
batteries.
7
CONNECTING TO PRIMARY POWER
You can power the receiver from internal batteries, standard
AC
power, or your vehicle's battery.
Internal Battery Power
You can power the receiver from four D batteries. For best
performance, we recommend alkaline batteries, such as Radio
Shack
Cat. No. 23-550.
Installing the Primary-Power Batteries: Follow these steps
to
install batteries for use as the primary power source.
1. Remove the battery compartment's cover by pushing the
cover in the
direction of the arrow.
2. Install four D batteries as indicated by the illustration
near the
battery compartment. Note the polarity markings (+ and -).
For
easy removal, place the batteries on top of the lift-out ribbon.
3. Replace the compartment cover.
Checking the Primary-Power Batteries: To check the primary-power
batteries, turn off the receiver. The battery power indicator
appears on the display for several seconds. Fresh batteries
show
a power level of 7. When the indicator shows a power level
of 2,
replace the primary-power batteries.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Battery Power Indicator
Notes:
ùIf you press POWER to turn on the receiver when the
primary-power
batteries are dead, E flashes on the display.
If you do not plan to use the receiver for several days,
or if you
are using another power source, we recommend you remove the
primary-power batteries. This helps protect the receiver from
possible battery leakage.
8
AC Power
AC Adapter
6V Jack
With an optional AC adapter, such as Cat. No. 273-1650, you
can
power the receiver from standard AC power.
Caution: You must use an AC adapter that supplies 6 volts
with the
center tip set to negative. It must deliver at least 400
milliamps, and its plug must properly fit the receiver's DC
IN 6V
jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications
could damage the receiver or the adapter.
Follow these steps to use AC power.
1. Set the adapter's voltage switch to 6V.
2. Line up TIP on the green-tipped barrel plug with -NEG
on the
adapter's socket, and insert the plug.
3. Insert the barrel plug's other end into the receiver's
DC IN 6V
jack. This disconnects the primary power batteries.
4. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
9
DC Power
With an optional DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 14-844, you
can
power the receiver from your vehicle's battery.
Cautions:
* You must use a DC adapter that supplies 6 volts with the
center tip set to negative. It must deliver at least 400 milliamps,
and its plug must properly fit the receiver's DC
IN 6V jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the receiver or the adapter.
* Your vehicle must have a 12-volt DC, negative-ground
electrical system.
* To protect your vehicle's electrical system, always plug
the
adapter into the receiver 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
receiver.
Follow these steps to use DC power.
1. Set the adapter's voltage switch to 6V.
2. Insert the adapter's barrel plug into the receiver's DC
IN 6V jack.
3. Insert the adapter's large plug into the vehicle's
cigarette-lighter socket. This disconnects the primary power
batteries.
10
RECEIVER OPERATION
TURNING THE RECEIVER ON/OFF
Set VOLUME to 0 before you turn on the receiver.
Press POWER to turn on the receiver.
Adjust the volume.
Press POWER again to turn off the receiver. If you use internal
batteries for primary power, the battery power indicator briefly
appears
on the display. For more information, see "Checking the
Primary Batteries"
under "Internal Battery Power."
11
ADJUSTING THE ANTENNA
Adjust the telescoping antenna as follows.
FM
When you listen to an FM station, fully extend the antenna
and
rotate it for the best reception.
sw
For best SW reception, fully extend the antenna and point
it
straight up.
LW and MW (AM)
The receiver uses the internal antenna for the LW and MW
(AM)
bands. When you listen to these bands, rotate the receiver
for the
best reception.
Note: To improve SW reception, connect the receiver to an
external
antenna, See "Connecting an External SW Antenna."
12
TUNING
To tune to a station, select the band. Then, use one of the
following tuning methods:
*Direct-access tuning
*Manual tuning with the arrow keys
*Manual tuning with the rotary dial
*Scan tuning
*Memory tuning
Selecting the Band
Press FM, LW, MW, or SW to select
the band. (Press MW for AM.)
Direct-Access Tuning
Follow these steps to directly tune to a station.
1. Press FREQ. The frequency display disappears.
2. Press the number buttons (and decimal button where appropriate)
to
enter the frequency.
If you make a mistake, press c (cancel) to erase the last
digit.
If you wait more than 15 seconds to press a button, the previous
frequency returns to the display and you must begin again
at Step
1.
3. Press ENTER.
13
Manual Tuning with Arrow Keys
MANUAL/AUTO A
You can select a higher or lower frequency by pressing A
or v. The
frequency changes in the following increments.
Band Tuning Increment
FM 0.1 MHz
LW 9 kHz
mw 9 or 10 kHz (See "Setting the MW Tuning Increment.")
sw 0.005 MHz
(AM)
Manual Tuning with Rotary Dial
ROTARY TUNING
You can select a higher or lower frequency by turning ROTARY
TUNING.
Set FAST/FINE/LOCK to select the rotary tuning increments
or to
lock the ROTARY TUNING dial. The following table shows the
tuning
increments for the FAST and FINE settings.
FAST
FM 0.1 MHz
LW 9 kHz
mw 9/10 kHz
sw 0.005 MHz
FINE
fm 0.05 MHz
lw 1 kHz
mw 1 kHz
sw 0.001 MHz
To lock the ROTARY TUNING dial, set FAST/FINE/LOCK to lock.
This
keeps you from changing the frequency if you accidentally
touch the
dial.
Note: This locks only the ROTARY TUNING dial. For information
about locking the front-panel buttons, see "Locking the
Controls."
14
Scan Tuning
To automatically tune up or down to the next frequency in
the
selected band, press and hold down A or V for about 2 seconds.
The
receiver scans up or down the selected band and tunes to the
first
frequency it finds with a strong signal. (To scan for stations
with
weaker signals, use one of the manual tuning methods.)
The SW band consists of 13 smaller sub-bands. During scan
tuning
in the SW band, the receiver scans only within the selected
sub-band. For a list of the SW sub-bands, see "Specifications."
To scan for a SW station, first press METER. Then, press
the
correct button on the numeric keypad to select the SW sub-band.
Note: If you select the SW band and begin scan tuning outside
one
of the SW sub-bands, the receiver scans in the selected direction.
Once the receiver begins scanning within a subband, it will
not
scan outside that subband.
Memory Tuning
For easy selection, you can store the frequencies of your
favorite
stations in memory, You can store up to 18 SW frequencies
and up to
9 frequencies in each of the other bands.
Storing a Frequency: Follow these steps to store a frequency
in
memory.
1. Use direct-access or manual tuning to tune to the frequency
you
want to store,
2. Press M.
3. While m flashes, enter a memory location code.
For SW, select from 1-9 or 01-09. For other bands,
select from 1-9.
4. m stops flashing and the display shows the memory location
code.
5. Note: If you wait more than 15 seconds to press a button,
M stops
flashing and you must begin again at Step 2.
Selecting a Stored Frequency: To select a stored frequency,
press
FM, MW, LW, or SW to select the band. Then, enter the memory
location code.
15
ADJUSTING SPECIAL TUNING CONTROLS
Several controls affect the receiver's sound. Read this section
to
learn how to adjust these controls.
FM MONO/FM STEREO
To improve reception for weak FM stereo stations, set FM
MONO/FM STEREO
to FM MONO. The signal becomes monaural. but the sound might
improve. To return to a stereo signal, set FM MONO/FM STEREO
to
FM STEREO.
AM NARROW/AM WIDE
TO reduce interference from adjacent stations in the SW,
MW, or LW
bands, set AM NARROW/AM WIDE to AM NARROW.
Otherwise, set it to AM WIDE.
RF GAIN
The RF GAIN control affects signal strength for SW reception.
If
the signal is weak, turn RF GAIN toward
MAX. If the sound is distorted, turn RF GAIN toward MIN.
BFO Switch and BFO Dial
These controls help you tune to SW stations that transmit
in SSB
and to SW and LW stations that transmit in CW. For more
information, see "Receiving SSB and CW Stations."
For the FM and MW bands and for SW stations that do not transmit
in
SSB or CW, set the BFO switch to OFF. The BFO dial has no
effect
when the BFO switch is set to OFF.
TONE
In all bands, adjust TONE for the best sound.
RECEIVING SSB AND CW STATIONS
Some SW and LW stations transmit in Morse Code using a form
of
transmission called continuous wave (CW). Some SW stations
use a
special type of voice transmission called single sideband
(SSB).
To tune to a CW or SSB station, select the band and frequency
and
adjust the antenna as described earlier.
In addition, set the BFO switch to ON. Then, beginning at
its
midpoint, slowly adjust the BFO dial for the best sound.
16
CLOCK RADIO OPERATION
USING THE DUAL TIME FEATURE
Your receiver has two clocks. We recommend you set the primary
clock for local time and the secondary clock for UTC (universal
time coordinate - also called Greenwich mean time).
Setting the Clocks
Follow these steps to set each clock. Both clocks display
the time
in military format (0:00 - 23-.59).
1.Press the right DUAL TIME button
to display the clock you want to set. 2 (DTIME sET
The secondary clock symbol appears or disappears to show you
which display you are viewing.
2. Press TIME SET. TIME SET flashes on the display.
3. While TIME SET flashes, set the correct time by pressing
the number
buttons. For example, enter 930 for 9:30.
If you make a mistake, press C (cancel) to erase the last
digit.
Note: If you wait more than 15 seconds to press a button,
TIME SET
stops flashing and you must begin again at Step 2.
4. Press ENTER.
17
Changing the Clock Display
To Change Clock Display
To change the clock display, press the right DUAL TIME button.
The secondary clock symbol 2:<) appears or disappears
to show you
which display you are viewing.
To briefly change the clock display, press and hold down
the left
DUAL TIME button. Release the left DUAL TIME button to return
to
the previous clock display.
18
USING THE ALARM (STANDBY) FEATURE
You can set an alarm so that a buzzer sounds or the radio
turns on
at a specified time.
The alarm sounds when the display shows the alarm time -
regardless
of whether the display shows the primary or secondary clock.
If
you use the alarm feature, be sure the clock display is set
for the
correct display when the alarm time arrives.
For example, you can use the alarm to remind you to tune
to a
foreign broadcast. Set the secondary clock for UTC, set the
alarm
for the UTC broadcast time, and be sure the display shows
the
secondary clock.
Setting the Alarm Time
Follow these steps to set the alarm time. This also turns
on the
alarm.
1. Press STANDBY. STANDBY flashes on the display and the
current
alarm time appears.
DIRECT ACCESS
2. While STANDBY flashes, press the number buttons to enter
the alarm time.
If you make a mistake, press C (cancel) to erase the last
digit.
Note: If you wait more than 15 seconds to press a button,
STANDBY
stops flashing and you must begin again at Step 1.
3. Press ENTER.
STANDBY stops flashing. For a few seconds, the new alarm setting
remains on the display. Then, the clock display returns.
Selecting Buzzer/Radio
Set STANDBY BUZZER/RADIO as follows:
BUZZER: The buzzer sounds at the alarm time.
RADIO: The receiver turns on at the alarm time.
19
Silencing the Alarm
When the display shows the alarm time, the radio turns on
or the
buzzer sounds and M= flashes on the display.
After several seconds, the buzzer's volume increases. After
a few
more seconds, the volume increases again.
To silence the buzzer or turn off the receiver, press POWER.
The
flashing M= disappears. (The buzzer automatically stops or
the
receiver automatically turns off after 60 minutes.)
Turning the Alarm Off/On
To turn off the alarm, press STANDBY. While STANDBY flashes,
press C.
To turn the alarm on again, press STANDBY. While STANDBY
flashes,
press ENTER
USING THE SLEEP TIMER
The sleep timer sets the receiver to turn off after 60 minutes
so
that you can fall asleep as you listen to the receiver. Follow
these steps to set the sleep timer.
1. If the receiver is on, press POWER to turn off the receiver.
2. Press SLEEP. The receiver turns on, and k" appears
on the display.
3. Select the band and frequency.
After 60 minutes, the receiver turns off. To turn off the
receiver
sooner. press POWER.
20
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
CONNECTING HEADPHONES
Warning: To prevent possible hearing loss, set VOLUME to
0 before
you put on the headphones. After you put on the headphones,
adjust
VOLUME.
For private listening and for stereo sound during FM stereo
broadcasts, connect optional stereo headphones with a 1/8-inch
plug. Your local Radio Shack store sells a wide selection
of
stereo headphones.
Insert the headphones' plug into the receiver's Q jack. This
disconnects the receiver's internal speaker.
When you connect stereo headphones and tune to a stereo broadcast,
ST appears on the display. For best reception, fine tune the
receiver until ST remains steady.
Hearing Comfort and Your Health
Do not listen to your receiver at extremely high volume levels,
especially when listening through headphones. Extended high-volume
listening can cause permanent hearing loss.
LIGHTING THE DISPLAY
Press LIGHT to light the display. The display light automatically
turns off about 15 seconds after you release LIGHT.
LOCKING THE CONTROLS
The lock feature helps prevent you from accidentally turning
the
receiver on or off. changing the band or frequency, or changing
other front-panel controls.
21
Set the lock switch to = to lock the front-panel buttons.
Set the
switch to the other position to unlock the buttons.
Notes:
ùThis locks the ROTARY TUNING dial and the front-panel
buttons. You
can still adjust VOLUME, TONE, and other controls.
ùTo lock only the ROTARY TUNING dial, see "Manual
Tuning with Rotary
Dial" under "tuning."
USING THE TIME ZONE MAP
Most shortwave stations announce broadcast times in UTC (universal
time coordinate). The time zone map on the back of the receiver
shows the difference between UTC and each time zone.
To determine your local time, add or subtract the specified
number
from UTC. During daylight savings time, subtract 1 more hour.
USING THE FOLDING STAND
You can position the receiver more securely and possibly
improve
the sound by resting the receiver on its stand. Lift the latch
on
the back of the receiver to open the stand.
22
LISTENING HINTS
Shortwave listening is a hobby with thousands of participants
worldwide. It requires no special knowledge or skills, but
your
enjoyment increases as you gain experience and develop special
listening techniques.
The information in this section can help you make the most
of your
listening time.
REFERENCE SOURCES
Many books and magazines about shortwave listening are available
through your local library or newsstand. Consult sources such
as
the World Radio Handbook, Radio Amateur's Handbook, Passport
to
World Band Radio, Monitoring Times, and Popular Communications.
These publications can help you learn about the conditions
that
make long-distance reception possible and provide up-to-date
listings for shortwave broadcasts in English and in foreign
languages.
BAND ALLOCATIONS
Certain portions of the radio spectrum are set aside for
specific
purposes.
Note: Bands are often referred to by wavelength. For example,
the
19meter band refers to the range of frequencies whose waves
are
about 19 meters long.
Ham Frequencies
Tuning to the ham radio frequencies can be interesting and
helpful,
because ham operators often broadcast emergency information
when
other means of communication break down.
Ham radio operators use the following bands, Portions of
these bands
are set aside for continuous wave (CW) Morse code communication
or for
single sideband (SSB) voice communication. as shown below.
160 meters: 1,800 - 2,000 kHz: SSB
80 meters:
3,500 - 3,800 kHz: CW
3,800 - 4,000 kHz: SSB
40meters:
7,000 - 7,150 kHz: CW 7,150 7,300 kHz: SSB
20 meters:
14,000 - 14,200 kHz: CW 14,200 14,350 kHz: SSB
15meters:
21,000 - 21,250 kHz: CW 21,250 - 21,450 kHz: SSB
10 meters:
28,000 - 28,500 kHz: CW 28,500 - 29,700 kHz: SSB
Note: These ranges are not precisely observed everywhere
in the world.
23
International Frequencies
International commercial broadcasts are found in the following
SW
bands. These programs (often in English) usually contains
news,
commentaries, music, and special features reflecting the culture
of
the broadcasting country. You might find it easiest to hear
these
broadcasts between 6:00 p.m. and midnight (your time).
Band (in meters) : Frequency Range (in MHZ)
* 120: 2.300 - 2.495
* 90: 3.200 - 3.400
* 75: 3.900 - 4.000
60: 4.750 - 5.060
49: 5.950 - 6.200
41: 7.100 - 7.300
31: 9.500 - 9.900
25: 11.650 - 12.050
21: 13.600 - 13.800
19: 15.100 - 15.600
16: 17.550 -- 17.900
13: 21.450 - 21.850
11: 25.670 - 26.100
* These bands are reserved for stations in tropical areas.
- Ham operators and international stations share 7.100 -
7.300 M
Hz. Interference is heavy in this range.
Aircraft Frequencies
Aircraft on international routes sometimes use SW. Most transmissions
are in SSB, although you can still hear some AM transmissions.
Here are some ranges where you might hear aircraft communications.
4,650-4,750 kHz
6,545-6,765 kHz
8,815-9,040 kHz
10,000-10,100 kHz
11,175-11,400 kHz
13,200-13,360 kHz
15,010-15,100 kHz
17,900-18,030 kHz
Ships and Coastal Stations
Most transmissions from ships and coastal stations are in
SSB and
CW. You can hear these transmissions in the following bands.
2,000 - 2,300 kHz
4,063 - 4,139 kHz
4,361 - 4,438 kHz
8,195 - 8,181 kHz
12,330-12,420 kHz
13,107 - 13,200 kHz
16,460 - 16,565 kHz
The Coast Guard and small boats use this band, with 2,182
kHz
set aside as the international distress and emergency channel.
24
Time Standard Frequencies
The following frequencies announce the exact time of day
at
specified intervals.
WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado:
2,500 kHz 5,000 kHz 10,000 kHz 15,000 kHz 20,000 kHz
CHU in Canada: 7,335 kHz
VNG in Australia: 4,500 and 12,000 kHz
Longwave Band
The 150 - 540 kHz range is known as the longwave band. Reception
for
this range is best between 6:00 p.m. and midnight (your time).
Most stations in this range serve as beacons for aircraft
and marine
navigation by continuously transmitting their call letters.
Through your local library, you can find books on air and
marine navigation,
which contain lists of the beacon stations and their locations.
Some ships also use this range, with 500 kHz set aside as
an
international distress and emergency station.
Most stations in this range use CW (Morse code), although
some use
AM voice transmission for weather broadcasts.
FREQUENCY CONVERSION
The tuning location of a station can be expressed in frequency
(kHz
or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). The following information
can
help you make the necessary conversions.
To convert from MHz to kHz, multiply by 1,000. For example:
9.62 MHz x 1000 = 9620 kHz
To convert from kHz to MHz, divide by 1,000. For example:
2780 kHz / 1000 = 2.780 MHz
To convert from MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of
MHz.
For example:
300 / 7.1 MHz = 42.25 meters
25
LISTENING GUIDE
The following list contains some of the more frequently heard
stations. All stations operate in English unless otherwise
specified.
You can hear these stations throughout North America. However,
reception varies based on the season, time of day, and a number
of
other conditions.
This information can change at any time. For sources of yearly,
up-to-date listings, see "Reference Sources" under
"Listening Hints."
26
kHz: Station: Location: Remarks
3,223: Radio SR: Swaziland
3,265: Radio Mozambique: Maputo, Mozambique:
3,300: Radio Cultural: Guatemala City, Guatamela: Religious
Programs
3,380: Radio Iris: Esmeraldas, Ecuador Programs in Spanish
3,385: FR3: Cayenne, French Guiana: Programs in French
3,396: Radio Kaduna: Kaduna, Nigeria
4,750: Radio Bertoua: Bertoua. Cameroon
4,755: lmo Regional Radio: Imo, Nigeria
4,777: Radio-TV Gabon: Libreville, Gabon: Programs in French
4,795: Radio Nueva America: La Paz, Bolivia Programs in Spanish
4,820: Radio Paz y Bien Ambala, Ecuador Programs in Spanish
4,832 Radio Reloi: San Jose, Costa Rica: Programs in Spanish
4,855: Radio Clube do Para: Belem, Brazil Programs in Portuguese
4,890: National Broadcasting Commission: Papua, New Guinea
4,915: Voice Kenya: Nairobi, Kenya
4,920: Australian Broadcasting Commission: Brisbane, Australia
4,945: Radio Colosal: Neiva, Colombia Programs in Spanish
4,965: Radio Santa Fe: Bogota, Colombia: Programs in Spanish
4,980: Ecos del Torbes: San Cristobal, Venezuela Programs
in Spanish
5,020: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Service: Honiara, Solomon
Islands
5,057: Radio Gjirokaster: Gjirokaster. Albania: Programs in
Albanian
27
kHz: Station: Location: Remarks
5,950: Guyana Broadcasting Service: Georgetown, Guyana
5,954: Radio Casino: Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
5,960: Radio Canada International: Montreal, Canada
5,980: Radio RSA: Johannesburg, South Africa
6,005: CFCX: Montreal, Canada
6,025: Radio Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Programs in
Chinese
6,045: Radio Australia: Lyndhurst, Australia
6,055: Nihon Shortwave Broadcasting Company: Tokyo,Japan:
Programs in Japanese
6,060: Radio Nacional: Buenos Aires, Argentina: Programs in
Spanish
6,075: Radio Sutatenza: Bogota, Colombia: Programs in Spanish
6,090: Radio Luxembourg: Ville Louvigny, Luxembourg
6,095: Polskie Radio: Warsaw, Poland
6,105: Radio New Zealand: Wellington, New Zealand
7,140: Trans World Radio: Monte Carlo, Monaco
7,170: Radio Noumea: Noumea, New Caledonia: Programs in French
7,300: Radio Tirana: Tirana, Albania
9,475: Radio Cairo: Cairo, Egypt
9,515: Voice of Greece: Athens, Greece
9,525: Radio Korea: Seoul, South Korea
9,530: Spanish Foreign Radio: Madrid, Spain
9,535: Swiss Radio International: Berne, Switzerland
28
kHz: Station: Location: Remarks
9,540: Radio Prague: Prague, Czechoslovakia
9,570: Radio Bucharest: Bucharest, Rumania
9,575: Italian Radio and Television Service: Rome, Italy
9,610: Radio-TV Algeria: Algiers, Algeria: Programs in Arabic
9,620: Radio Berlin International: Berlin, Germany
9,645: Radio Norway: Oslo, Norway
9,720: Radio Iran: Tehran, Iran: Programs in Farsi
9,745: HCJB: Quito, Equador
9,770: Austrian Radio: Vienna, Austria
9,800: Radio Kiev: Kiev, USSR
9,835: Radio Budapest: Budapest, Hungary
10,040: Voice of Vietnam: Hanoi, Vietnam
11,655: Israel Radio: Jerusalem, Israel
11,690: Radio Kuwait: Kuwait, Kuwait
11,705: Radio Sweden: Stockholm, Sweden
11,720: Radio Moscow: Moscow, USSR
11,735: Radio Sofia: Sofia, Bulgaria
11,745: Voice of Free China: Taipei, China
11,815: Radio Japan: Tokyo,Japan
11,825: Radio Tahiti: Papeete, Tahiti: Programs in Tahitian
11,835: 4VEH Cap: Haitien, Haiti
11,845: Radio Canada International: Montreal, Canada
11,850: Deutsche Welle: Cologne, Germany
29
kHz: Station: Location: Remarks
11,890: Voice of Chile: Santiago, Chile
11,900: Radio RSA: Johannesburg, South Africa
11,910: BBC: London, England
11,930: Radio Havana: Cuba Havana, Cuba
11,935: Radio Portugal: Lisbon, Portugal
11,945: Radio Peking: Peking, China
11,955: Voice of Turkey: Ankara, Turkey
11,980: Radio Moscow: Moscow, USSR
15,038: Saudi Arabian Broadcasting Service: Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia:
Programs in Arabic
15,084: Voice of Iran: Tehran, Iran: Programs in Farsi
15,135: Radio Moscow: Moscow, USSR
15,165: HCJB: Quito, Ecuador
15,190: ORU: Brussels, Belgium
15,205: All India Radio: New Delhi, India
15,260: BBC: London, England
15,265: Finnish Radio: Helsinki, Finland
15,275: Radio Sweden: Stockholm, Sweden
15,305: Swiss Radio International: Berne, Switzerland
15,310: Radio Japan: Tokyo,Japan
15,320: Radio Australia: Melbourne, Australia
15,400: BBC: London. England
15,430: Radio Mexico: Mexico City, Mexico: Programs in Spanish
15,465: Radio Pakistan: lslamad, Pakistan Programs in Urdu
30
kHz: Station: Location: Remarks
17,720: Radio France International: Paris, France
17,825: Vatican Radio: Vatican City
17,860: Austrian Radio: Vienna, Austria
21,495: Israel Radio: Jerusalem, Israel
21,525: Radio Australia: Melbourne, Australia
21,625: Israel Radio: Jerusalem, Israel
21,645: Radio France International: Paris, France
21,735: Radio-TV Morocco: Rabat, Morocco Programs in Arabic
25,790: Radio RSA: Johannesburg, South Africa
31
CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL SW ANTENNA
To improve SW reception, connect an external antenna.
PORTABLE ANTENNA
You can connect a portable external antenna directly to the
telescoping antenna. We recommend Cat. No. 278-1374.
ANTENNA KIT
You can make an antenna using a shortwave antenna kit, such
as
Cat. No. 278-758. This requires a two-conductor 1/8-inch plug,
such as Cat. No. 274-288.
Follow these steps to connect the receiver to the antenna.
1. Connect a lead-in wire to the antenna.
2. Unscrew the cover from the 1/8 inch plug.
3. Thread the lead-in wire through the plug's cover. Then,
solder the
wire to the terminal that leads to the plug's tip.
4. A ground wire might provide additional improvement in
reception.
If you want to use a ground wire, thread a ground wire through
the
plug's cover, and connect it to the plug's ground terminal.
Then, connect the ground wire to an earth ground, such as
a metal
cold water pipe.
5. Replace the plug's cover.
6. Insert the plug into the receiver's AM EXT ANT jack.
32
TROUBLESHOOTING
Your receiver should give you years of trouble-free service
if you
follow the instructions given in this manual.
If you have problems, the chart below might help you solve
them.
If you still have problems after following the suggestions
below,
take the receiver to your local Radio Shack store where our
personnel
will assist you and arrange for service if needed.
Problem: Cause
Display is dim, incorrect, or does not appear.:
- Primary and back-up batteries are weak or dead.
. Temperature or humidity is too high.
E flashes on the display. . Receiver is not connected to
a
primary power source.
. You are using batteries as the primary power source and
the batteries
are weak or dead.
No sound . The primary-power batteries are weak.
. VOLUME is set too low.
. Headphones are plugged into the receiver.
(This disconnects the receiver's internal speaker.)
. AC or DC adapter is not firmly plugged in.
. AC or DC adapter is plugged into the receiver but not plugged
into power
source. (Plugging an adapter into the receiver automatically
disconnects the primary-power batteries.)
33
Problem: Cause
Weak or intermittent sound
The primary-power batteries are weak.
* Antenna needs adjusting.
* Metal is blocking the signal. Move the receiver near a window
when you
use it inside a vehicle or metal frame building.
* See tuning. Frequency needs fine Tuning.
Scan stops where there is no clear signal.
* This is caused by birdies - internally generated signals
mixed with
external signals. Using an outdoor antenna might reduce these
signals.
The following frequencies are prone to birdies-.
450 kHz
3,844 kHz
9,000 kHz
10,250 kHz
18,000 kHz
20,490 kHz
21,835 kHz
21,868 kHz
Frequency does not change when you turn ROTARY TUNING.
* FAST'FINE,'LOCK switch is set to LOCK.
ROTARY TUNING and frontpanel buttons do not respond.
If = appears on the display, the lock switch is set to LOCK.
34
MAINTENANCE
CARING FOR THE RECEIVER
Your Realistic DX-390 Receiver is an example of superior
design and
craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care
for
your receiver so that you can enjoy it for years.
* Use only fresh batteries of the recommended size and type.
Never leave dead or weak batteries in the receiver. They might
leak chemicals that can damage the receiver. If you are not
going
to use the receiver for several days, remove the batteries.
* Keep the receiver dry. If it does get wet, wipe it dry immediately.
Liquids can contain minerals that can corrode the electronic
circuits.
* Use and store the receiver only in normal temperature environments.
Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices
and
distort or melt plastic parts.
* Keep the receiver away from dust and dirt, which can cause
premature wear
of parts.
* Handle the receiver gently and carefully. Dropping it can
damage
circuit boards and can cause the receiver to work improperly.
* Wipe the receiver with a dampened cloth occasionally to
keep it
looking new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents,
or strong detergents to clean your receiver.
Modifying or tampering with your receiver's internal components
can
cause a malfunction and might invalidate the receiver's warranty
and void your FCC authorization to operate the receiver. If
your
receiver is not performing as it should, take it to your local
Radio Shack store where our personnel will assist you.
THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW
Your receiver might cause interference on other radio/tv
devices even when
it is operating properly. To determine whether your receiver
is causing the
interference, turn off your receiver. If the interference
goes away, your
receiver is causing the interference.
Try to eliminate the interference by:
Moving your receiver away from the other device
ùConnecting your receiver to an outlet that is on a
different electrical
circuit from the other device
ùContacting your local Radio Shack store for help
If you cannot eliminate the interference, the FCC requires
that you
stop using your receiver.
35
SPECIFICATIONS
Semiconductors:
LSI ...... 1
FET .......... 8
ic ...... 11
Diodes.....................................................
49
Transistors................................................
45
Circuit:
FM................................................. Heterodyne
LW/MW/SW...................... Double-Conversion Heterodyne
Frequency Range:
FM.......................................... 87.5 - 108 MHz
LW............................................. 150 - 519
kHz
mw............................................. 520 - 1710
kHz
sw................................... 1.711 29.999 MHz
SW Sub-Bands-.
2.300- 2.495 MHz (120 meters)
3.200- 3.400 MHz (90 meters)
3.900- 4.000 MHz (75 meters)
4.750- 5.060 MHz (60 meters)
5.950- 6.200 MHz (49 meters)
7.100 - 7.300 MHz (41meters)
9.500 - 9.900 MHz (31meters)
11.650- 12.050MHz (25 meters)
13.600- 13.800MHz (21 meters)
15.100- 15.600MHz (19 meters)
17.550 - 17.900MHz (16 meters)
21.450- 21.850M Hz (13 meters)
25.670- 26.1 00MHZ (11 meters)
Antenna:
LW/MW......................................... Built-In Ferrite
sw.......................... Telescoping or Optional External
FM................................................. Telescoping
Output......................................... 700 mW @ 10%
THD
Jacks-.
External Power..................................... DC IN
6V
Stereo Headphones................................... 1 8 Inch
Power Sources:
Back-Up........................................... 3 AA Batteries
Primary........................................... (4) D Batteries
AC (Requires Optional Adapter; 6V/400mA Center Tip Negative)
DC (Requires Optional Adapter: 6V/400mA Center Tip Negative)
Batery Life (Alkaline Batteries):
Back-Up (Radio Off................................. Up to
375 Days
Primary..................... 75 Hours Continuous Operation
@ 50 mW
Dimensions................................ 7 1/2 x 11 7/8
x 2 7/8 Inches
Weight.................................... 3.64 lbs (Without
Batteries)
36
RADIO SHACK LIMITED WARRANTY
This product is warranted against defects for 90 days from
date of
purchase from Radio Shack company-owned stores and authorized
Radio
Shack franchisees and dealers. Within this period, we will
repair
it without charge for parts and labor. Simply bring your Radio
Shack sales slip as proof of purchase date to any Radio Shack
store. Warranty does not cover transportation costs. Nor does
it
cover a product subjected to misuse or accidental damage.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RADIO SHACK MAKES NO WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not permit limitation
or
exclusion of implied warranties; therefore, the aforesaid
limitation(s) or exclusion(s) may not apply to the purchaser.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may
also
have other rights which vary from state to state.
RADIO SHACK
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Printed in Taiwan
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as
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done our best to ensure the information provided is accurate, please realize
the use of any information on this site is solely at your discretion and we
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