Optimus Cassette Player SCP 97 User Manual

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A
Cat. No. 14-1244  
OWNER’S MANUAL  
Please read before using this equipment.  
SCP-97  
Auto Reverse AM FM Stereo  
/
Cassette Player  
 
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Direction Switch — lets you change the tape’s di-  
rection to play the other side without removing the  
tape from the cassette player.  
Three Power Sources — let you power the SCP-97  
from two AA batteries (not supplied), standard AC  
power (using an optional AC adapter), or a vehicle’s  
DC power (using an optional DC adapter).  
Removable Belt Clip — allows hands-free carrying  
so you can take the SCP-97 anywhere you go.  
Note: To listen to your SCP-97 privately or in stereo,  
you need a pair of headphones or amplified speakers  
(not supplied) with a 1/8-inch mini plug. Your local Ra-  
dioShack store sells a wide variety of headphones  
and speakers.  
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CONTENTS  
Preparation ............................................................ 5  
Power Sources ..................................................... 5  
Using Internal Battery Power ............................... 5  
Using AC Power ................................................... 7  
Using Vehicle Battery Power ................................ 9  
Connecting Headphones/Speakers ................... 11  
Listening Safely ............................................... 12  
Traffic Safety ................................................... 12  
Connecting the Antenna .................................... 13  
Using the Belt Clip ............................................. 14  
Radio Operation .................................................. 15  
Cassette Operation ............................................. 19  
Playing a Cassette Tape .................................... 19  
Using Fast-Forward and Rewind ........................ 22  
Tape Tips ........................................................... 23  
Tape Quality .................................................... 23  
Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality .... 23  
Care ...................................................................... 25  
Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ..................... 26  
FCC Information ................................................ 28  
Specifications ..................................................... 29  
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PREPARATION  
POWER SOURCES  
You can power your SCP-97 from any of these power  
sources:  
• Internal battery power  
• Standard AC power  
Vehicle battery power  
Note: Connecting an adapter automatically discon-  
nects internal battery power.  
USING INTERNAL BATTERY  
POWER  
You can power the SCP-97 from two AA batteries  
(not supplied). For the best performance, we recom-  
mend RadioShack alkaline batteries.  
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Cautions:  
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and  
recommended type.  
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types  
of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable),  
or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.  
Follow these steps to install batteries.  
illus  
1. Press down on the battery compartment cover  
and slide it off in the direction of the arrow.  
2. Install the batteries as indicated by the polarity  
symbols (+ and –) marked next to the compart-  
ment, with the back battery over the ribbon.  
3. Replace the cover.  
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When the sound distorts or weakens, 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 SCP-97 for a  
week or more, or if you plan to power it using only an  
AC or DC adapter, remove the batteries. Batteries  
can leak chemicals that destroy electronic parts.  
USING AC POWER  
You can power the SCP-97 using an 3V, 300-mA AC  
adapter and a size H Adaptaplug® (neither supplied).  
Both are available at your local RadioShack store.  
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 negative and its plug must fit the SCP-97's  
!
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DC3V  
jack. Using an adapter that does not meet  
these specifications could damage the SCP-97  
or the adapter.  
• Always connect the AC adapter to the SCP-97  
before you connect it to AC power. When you  
finish, disconnect the adapter from AC power  
before you disconnect it from the SCP-97.  
Follow these steps to power the SCP-97 from a stan-  
dard AC outlet.  
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V.  
2. Insert the size H Adaptaplug into the adapter’s  
cord with the tip set to negative (–).  
3. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug into the SCP-97’s  
DC3V jack.  
4. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.  
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USING VEHICLE BATTERY  
POWER  
You can power the SCP-97 from a vehicle’s 12V  
power source (such as cigarette-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  
!
DC3V  
negative and its plug must fit the SCP-97's  
jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these  
specifications could damage the SCP-97 or the  
adapter.  
• Always connect the DC adapter to the SCP-97  
before you connect it to the power source. When  
you finish, disconnect the adapter from the pow-  
er source before you disconnect it from the SCP-  
97.  
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Follow these steps to power the SCP-97 from a vehi-  
cle’s battery.  
illus  
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V.  
2. Insert the size H Adaptaplug into the adapter’s  
cord with the tip set to negative (–).  
3. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug into the SCP-97’s  
DC3V jack.  
4. Plug the adapter into a vehicle’s cigarette-lighter  
socket.  
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CONNECTING HEADPHONES/  
SPEAKERS  
You can enjoy the SCP-97’s sound through its built-  
in monaural speaker. Or, you can connect stereo  
1
headphones or amplified speakers that have a /8-  
inch stereo plug to the SCP-97 for stereo sound.  
Your local RadioShack store sells a wide variety of  
stereo headphones and amplified speakers.  
Connect stereo headphones or amplified speakers  
with a 1/8-inch stereo plug to the  
/ANT. jack.  
illus  
Note: Connecting headphones or external speakers  
automatically disconnects the internal speaker.  
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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 volume levels.  
Extended high-volume listening can lead to per-  
manent hearing loss.  
• Once you set the volume, do not increase it.  
Over time, your ears adapt to the volume level,  
so a volume level that does not cause discomfort  
might still damage your hearing.  
Traffic Safety  
Do not wear headphones while operating a motor ve-  
hicle or riding a bicycle. This can create a traffic haz-  
ard and could be illegal in some areas.  
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Even though some headphones let you hear some  
outside sounds when listening at normal volume lev-  
els, they still can present a traffic hazard.  
CONNECTING THE ANTENNA  
When you connect headphones or amplified speak-  
ers, the headphones’ or speakers’ cord acts as the  
FM antenna, so be sure to fully extend the cord.  
When not using headphones or amplified speakers,  
you can connect the supplied antenna for better re-  
ception of FM stations.  
1
To connect the supplied antenna, insert its /8-inch  
plug into the  
/ANT. jack.  
illus  
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USING THE BELT CLIP  
The supplied belt clip lets you keep your hands free  
while you listen to the SCP-97. To attach the belt clip,  
slide it into the slots on the back of the SCP-97 and  
push up until it latches in place.  
illus  
To remove the belt clip, push down on the tab and  
slide it off in the direction of the arrow marked on the  
tab.  
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RADIO OPERATION  
1. Set TAPE• •RADIO to RADIO.  
illus  
2. Adjust VOLUME to its lowest level.  
illus  
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3. Set FM • • • AM to select the desired band.  
illus  
Position  
Band  
Left  
FM STEREO  
FM MONO  
AM  
Center  
Right  
4. Turn TUNING to select the desired station.  
illus  
5. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable listening level.  
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Notes:  
• The AM antenna is built-in. Rotate the cas-  
sette player to improve AM reception.  
• For the best FM reception, fully extend the FM  
antenna wire or the headphones’ or speakers’  
cord (whichever is connected).  
• The FM STEREO indicator lights when the  
SCP-97 receives an FM broadcast in stereo.  
To improve reception of weak FM radio sta-  
tions, set FM • • • AM to the center position to  
select the FM monaural band. The sound is  
no longer in stereo, but reception should  
improve.  
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6. Set EXTENDED BASS to ON for an enhanced  
bass effect. Set it to OFF for normal bass sound.  
illus  
7. Set TAPE• •RADIO to TAPE to turn off the radio.  
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CASSETTE OPERATION  
PLAYING A CASSETTE TAPE  
1. Take up any slack in the tape  
by turning the cassette’s hub  
with a pencil. Do not touch  
the exposed tape.  
illus  
2. Pull open the cassette com-  
partment door.  
illus  
3. With its open edge facing up, insert the cassette  
tape into the cassette guides on the door.  
illus  
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4. Close the door.  
5. Set TAPE• •RADIO to TAPE.  
illus  
6. Press PLAY. The button locks down and play  
begins.  
illus  
Note: The SCP-97 automatically plays the tape’s  
other side when the current side ends. To play  
the other side sooner, set DIRECTION to its other  
position.  
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7. Adjust VOLUME to the desired listening level.  
illus  
8. Set EXTENDED BASS to ON for an enhanced  
bass effect. Set it to OFF for normal bass sound.  
illus  
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9. To stop playback, press STOP.  
illus  
USING FAST-FORWARD  
AND REWIND  
To fast-forward the tape, press  
or  
(whichever  
is the same direction as tape play). To rewind the  
tape, press  
or  
(whichever is the opposite di-  
rection of tape play.)  
illus  
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