14-1111.fm Page 1 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Cat. No. 14-1111
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
CTR-106
Voice-Activated
Cassette Tape Recorder
14-1111.fm Page 3 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Automatic Level Control (ALC) Circuit — automatically
adjusts to the proper recording level.
Auto Stop — during playback and recording, stops the
recorder and releases the tape mechanism when the
tape reaches the end, to save battery power and protect
your cassette tape.
Three-Way Power — lets you operate your cassette re-
corder using internal batteries, an AC outlet (using an op-
tional adapter), or your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket
(using an optional adapter).
Earphone — lets you listen without disturbing others.
You can also use the earphone to monitor a recording
and check the microphone’s sensitivity.
Built-In Speaker — lets you listen to your recorder with-
out an earphone.
3
14-1111.fm Page 4 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
CONTENTS
Preparation .................................................................. 5
Powering the Recorder ........................................... 5
Using Internal Battery Power ........................... 5
Using AC Power ............................................... 7
Using DC Power .............................................. 9
Using the Earphone .............................................. 11
Listening Safely .............................................. 12
Traffic Safety .................................................. 12
Operation ................................................................... 13
Loading a Cassette Tape ...................................... 13
Playing a Tape ...................................................... 14
Using Fast-F and Rewind ..................................... 15
Using the Tape Counter ........................................ 15
Recording ............................................................. 16
Using Voice Activation (VOX) ........................ 16
Manual Recording .......................................... 17
Tape Tips .............................................................. 18
Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality ... 18
Preventing Accidental Erasure ....................... 18
Erasing a Cassette Tape ................................ 19
Maintenance .............................................................. 20
Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ........................ 21
Specifications ............................................................ 23
4
14-1111.fm Page 5 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
PREPARATION
POWERING THE RECORDER
For portable use, you can power the recorder from inter-
nal batteries. You can also power it from a standard AC
outlet or your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
Using Internal Battery Power
The recorder uses two AA batteries. For the best results,
we recommend alkaline batteries, such as RadioShack
Cat. No. 23-552. Or, you can use rechargeable nickel-
cadmium batteries, such as Cat. No. 23-125, with a bat-
tery charger (Cat. No. 23-133).
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the recommended size
and type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of
batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or
rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
5
14-1111.fm Page 6 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Follow these steps to install batteries.
Illust.
1. Slide the battery compartment cover in the direction
shown by the arrow on the cover.
2. Install two AA batteries as indicated by the polarity
symbols (+ and –) marked on the back of the
recorder.
3. Replace the cover.
Cautions:
• If you do not plan to use the recorder for a week or
more, or you plan to use only another power source,
remove the batteries.
• Always dispose of old batteries promptly and prop-
erly.
6
14-1111.fm Page 7 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Important: Your recorder is capable of using recharge-
able nickel-cadmium batteries. At the end of the batteries’
useful life, they must be recycled or disposed of properly.
Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste
management authorities for information on recycling or
disposal programs in your area. Some options that might
be available are: municipal curbside collection, drop-off
boxes at retailers, recycling collection centers, and mail-
back programs.
Using AC Power
To power the recorder from an AC outlet, you need an
AC adapter (not supplied), such as Cat. No. 273-1654.
Cautions:
• You must use an adapter that supplies 3 volts and
delivers at least 300 milliamps. Its center tip must be
set to negative, and it must have a plug that properly
fits the CTR-106’s DC 3V jack. The recommended
adapter meets these specifications. Using an adapter
that does not meet these specifications could dam-
age the CTR-106 or the adapter.
• Connecting an AC adapter automatically disconnects
internal batteries.
7
14-1111.fm Page 8 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
• Always plug the adapter into the recorder before you
plug it into the AC outlet. Always unplug the adapter
from the AC outlet before you unplug it from the
recorder.
Illust.
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V.
2. Attach the 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner
diameter barrel plug to the AC adapter’s cord with the
tip set to negative (–).
3. Insert the plug into the recorder’s DC 3V jack.
4. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
8
14-1111.fm Page 9 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Using DC Power
To power the recorder from your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter
socket, you need a DC adapter (not supplied), such as
Cat. No. 270-1560.
Cautions:
• You must use an adapter that supplies 3 volts and
delivers at least 300 milliamps. Its center tip must be
set to negative, and it must have a plug that properly
fits the CTR-106’s DC 3V jack. The recommended
adapter meets these specifications. Using an adapter
that does not meet these specifications could dam-
age the CTR-106 or the adapter.
• Connecting a DC adapter automatically disconnects
internal batteries.
• Always plug the adapter into the recorder before you
plug it into the cigarette-lighter socket. Always unplug
the adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket before
you unplug it from the recorder.
9
14-1111.fm Page 10 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Follow these steps to power the recorder from your vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
Illust.
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V.
2. Attach the 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner
diameter barrel plug to the DC adapter’s cord with
the tip set to negative (–).
3. Insert the plug into the recorder’s DC 3V jack.
4. Plug the adapter into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter
socket.
If the recorder does not operate properly when
Note:
powered from your vehicle’s battery, unplug the adapter
from the cigarette-lighter socket and clean the socket to
remove any ashes or other debris.
10
14-1111.fm Page 11 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
USING THE EARPHONE
You can use the earphone for private listening. You can
also monitor a recording and check the microphone’s
sensitivity (see “Using Voice Activation (VOX)” on
Page 16).
1
EAR
Insert the earphone’s /8-inch plug into the
jack.
Illust.
Note: Connecting the earphone disconnects the record-
er’s built-in speaker.
11
14-1111.fm Page 12 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when
you use an earphone.
• Do not listen at extremely high volume levels.
Extended high-volume listening can lead to perma-
nent hearing loss.
• Set the volume to its lowest level before you begin
listening. After you put on the earphone, adjust the
volume to a comfortable listening level.
• Do not increase the volume once you have estab-
lished a comfortable listening level. 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 an earphone while operating a motor vehicle
or riding a bicycle. This can cause a traffic hazard and
could be illegal in some areas.
Even though some earphones let you hear outside
sounds when listening at normal volume levels, they still
can present a traffic hazard.
12
14-1111.fm Page 13 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
OPERATION
LOADING A CASSETTE TAPE
1. Take up any slack in the cassette tape by turning the
hub with a pencil to prevent the tape from becoming
tangled in the tape mechanism. Do not touch the
tape.
Illust.
2. Open the cassette compartment door by lifting it at
the notch. Insert a cassette tape into the door guides
so the cassette’s open edge faces out, the side you
want to play or record on faces the compartment win-
dow, and the full reel is to the left.
Illust.
3. Close the cassette compartment door.
13
14-1111.fm Page 14 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
PLAYING A TAPE
1. Load a cassette.
PLAY
2. Press
.
Illust.
VOLUME
3. Adjust
to the desired level.
Illust.
STOP
4. To stop the tape, press
or let the tape auto-
matically stop when it reaches the end.
14
14-1111.fm Page 15 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
USING FAST-F AND REWIND
FAST-F
To rapidly advance or rewind the tape, press
REWIND
or
. The button locks, and the tape fast-for-
STOP
wards or rewinds to the end or until you press
.
STOP
When the tape reaches the end, press
to re-
lease the button and the tape-handling parts.
Illust.
USING THE TAPE COUNTER
The tape counter shows you the tape’s current playing
position, making it easier to locate a particular segment.
Before you play a tape, press the reset button to reset the
counter to 000. As the tape plays, note the position you
want to return to later.
Illust.
15
14-1111.fm Page 16 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
RECORDING
Notes:
• We recommend you use normal bias (Type I) cas-
sette tapes, such as RadioShack LN and XR tape.
• We recommend regular length (60- or 90-minute)
cassette tapes. We do not recommend long-play cas-
sette tapes, such as C-120s, because they are thin
and can easily tangle.
• The ALC (automatic level control) circuit automati-
VOLUME
cally sets the recording level.
has no effect.
RECORD
Caution: Never try to force down
after you
remove an erase protection tab (see “Preventing Acci-
dental Erasure” on Page 18). You might damage the re-
corder.
Using Voice Activation (VOX)
1. Load a blank cassette (or one you want to record
over) into the tape compartment.
VOICE ACTIVATION
IN
2. Set
to
.
Illust.
16
14-1111.fm Page 17 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
3. Press RECORD. Recording begins when the voice-
activation mechanism detects a sound.
Illust.
4. To cause soft sound levels to activate recording,
rotate VOLUME/VOX SENS toward MAX. To automati-
cally record only louder sounds, rotate VOLUME/VOX
SENS toward MIN. (This does not change the volume
of the recording.)
The RECORD BATTERY indicator lights during
recording. The louder the sound, the brighter the indi-
cator glows.
Manual Recording
Set VOICE ACTIVATION to OUT, then press
RECORD to
record continuously. For the best quality recordings,
place the recorder 1 to 5 feet from the sound source.
Recording automatically stops when the recorder
reaches the end of the tape side. To manually stop
recording, press
STOP.
17
14-1111.fm Page 18 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
TAPE TIPS
Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality
After you play a cassette tape several times, the tape
might become tightly wound on the reels. This can cause
playback sound quality to deteriorate.
To restore the sound quality, fast-forward the tape from
the beginning to the end of one side, then completely re-
wind it. Then loosen the tape reels by gently tapping each
side of the cassette’s outer shell on a flat surface.
Caution: Be careful not to damage the cassette when
tapping it. Do not touch the exposed tape or allow any
sharp objects near the cassette.
Preventing Accidental Erasure
Cassette tapes have two erase-
protection tabs — one for each
side. When a tab is in place, you
can record on that side. To pro-
tect a recording from being acci-
dentally recorded over or
erased, use a screwdriver to re-
move one or both of the cassette
tape’s erase-protection tabs.
Illust.
18
14-1111.fm Page 19 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
If you later decide to record on a tape side after you have
removed the erase-protection tab, place a piece of strong
plastic tape over that side’s erase-protection hole. Be
sure you cover only the hole originally covered by the
erase-protection tab.
Illust.
Caution: Removing the erase-protection tabs does not
prevent a bulk eraser from erasing a cassette tape.
Erasing a Cassette Tape
To record over a cassette tape, simply record as usual.
The cassette deck records over the previous recording.
You can quickly erase both sides of a cassette tape using
a bulk tape eraser, such as Cat. No. 44-232.
19
14-1111.fm Page 20 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
MAINTENANCE
Your CTR-106 Voice-Activated Cassette Tape Recorder
is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The
following suggestions will help you care for your recorder
so you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the recorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it
dry immediately. Liquids might contain
minerals that can corrode the electronic cir-
cuits.
Use and store the recorder only in normal
temperature environments. Temperature
extremes can shorten the life of electronic
devices and distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the recorder away from dust and dirt,
which can cause premature wear of parts.
Handle the recorder gently and carefully.
Dropping it can damage circuit boards and
cases and can cause the recorder to work
improperly.
20
14-1111.fm Page 21 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Use only fresh batteries of the required
size and type. Batteries can leak chemicals
that damage your recorder’s electronic
parts.
Wipe the recorder with a damp cloth occa-
sionally to keep it looking new. Do not use
harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or
strong detergents to clean the recorder.
Modifying or tampering with the recorder’s internal parts
can cause a malfunction and might invalidate your re-
corder’s warranty. If your recorder is not operating as it
should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assis-
tance.
CLEANING THE TAPE-HANDLING
PARTS
Dirt, dust, or particles of the tape’s coating can accumu-
late on the tape heads and other parts that the tape
touches. This can greatly reduce the performance of the
cassette player. To prevent noise and poor high-frequen-
cy response, clean the cassette player’s tape-handling
parts after about 20 hours of use. Your local RadioShack
store sells cassette deck head-cleaning kits.
21
14-1111.fm Page 22 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
1. Disconnect all power sources.
2. Open the cassette compartment door.
3. Hold down the erase protection tab sensor, then
press RECORD to expose the tape-handling parts.
4. Use a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol or
tape head-cleaning solution to clean the record/play
head, pinch roller, capstan, erase head, and tape
guides.
Illust.
5. When you finish cleaning, press STOP and close the
compartment. Then reconnect power.
22
14-1111.fm Page 23 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
SPECIFICATIONS
Tape System.................... 2 Track, Monophonic Cassette
(For use with normal bias tape (Type I) only)
Tape Speed.....................................17/8 ips (4.75 cm/sec)
Wow and Flutter....................................... 0.35% (WRMS)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio...............................................42 dB
Erase System ....................................................... Magnet
Record System .................................................... AC Bias
Power Requirements:
DC ......................Two AA Batteries (Cat. No. 23-552)
or 12 Volts from a Vehicle’s Cigarette-Lighter
Socket with DC Auto Adapter,
3 Volt DC Output (Cat. No. 270-1560)
AC ................................... 120 Volts with AC Adapter,
3 Volt DC Output (Cat. No. 273-1654)
Size (HWD).................................51/16 × 31/2 × 11/4 Inches
(128 × 89 × 32 mm)
Weight..................................................................... 7.1 oz
(201 g)
Specifications are typical; individual units might vary.
Specifications are subject to change and improvement
without notice.
23
14-1111.fm Page 24 Thursday, July 1, 1999 12:55 PM
Limited Ninety-Day Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and
workmanship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from Ra-
dioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES
AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO
THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RE-
SPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RE-
SPECT TO ANY LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT
OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY
DAMAGES RESULTING FROM INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF TIME, DATA, PROP-
ERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF RadioShack HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the
exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclu-
sions may not apply to you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product and the
RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store. Ra-
dioShack will, at its option, unless otherwise provided by law: (a) correct the defect by
product repair without charge for parts and labor; (b) replace the product with one of the
same or similar design; or (c) refund the purchase price. All replaced parts and prod-
ucts, and products on which a refund is made, become the property of RadioShack.
New or reconditioned parts and products may be used in the performance of warranty
service. Repaired or replaced parts and products are warranted for the remainder of the
original warranty period. You will be charged for repair or replacement of the product
made after the expiration of the warranty period.
This warranty does not cover: (a) damage or failure caused by or attributable to acts of
God, abuse, accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, failure to follow instruc-
tions, improper installation or maintenance, alteration, lightning or other incidence of ex-
cess voltage or current; (b) any repairs other than those provided by a RadioShack
Authorized Service Facility; (c) consumables such as fuses or batteries; (d) cosmetic
damage; (e) transportation, shipping or insurance costs; or (f) costs of product removal,
installation, set-up service adjustment or reinstallation.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which
vary from state to state.
RadioShack Customer Relations, Dept. W,
100 Throckmorton St., Suite 600, Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell
3/97
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
6A7
Printed in Hong Kong
|