w w w. e t o n c o r p. c o m S350DL O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L A M / F M / S H O RT WAV E R A D I O S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L TABLE OF CONTENTS page DO YOU NEED HELP? We want you to thoroughly enjoy the use of this product. To take advantage of its many excellent and unique features, we urge you to carefully read the owner's manual. If you need help while learning its operation, please contact us, using the methods below. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., North American Pacific Time. 1-800-872-2228 from the U.S. 1-800-637-1648 from Canada 1-650-903-3866, worldwide FAX: 650-903-3867 customersvc@etoncorp.com Web Site: www.etoncorp.com Mailing Address: Etón Corporation 1015 Corporation Way Palo Alto, CA 94303 USA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 4 MAJOR FEATURES OF THE MODEL S350DL .............................. 5 CONTROL LOCATIONS .............................................................. 6 CONNECTING TO POWER ....................................................... 8 PRELIMINARY CONTROL SETTINGS ........................................ 10 TURNING THE RADIO ON AND OFF ....................................... 11 SIGNAL STRENGTH INDICATOR ............................................... 11 TUNING IN FM STATIONS ....................................................... 12 TUNING IN AM STATIONS ....................................................... 12 TUNING IN SHORTWAVE STATIONS ......................................... 13 SETTING THE CLOCK .............................................................15 USING THE SLEEP TIMER ..................................................... 15 ALARM CLOCK ..................................................................... 16 USING THE BACKLIGHT ....................................................... 17 USING THE RESET .................................................................17 USING THE LINE OUT SOCKETS ........................................... 18 USING THE EARPHONE JACK ................................................18 USING SUPPLEMENTARY ANTENNAS .................................. 19 INTRODUCTION TO SHORTWAVE ........................................ 20 FINDING DESIRED STATIONS ............................................... 20 WHAT ARE BANDS? ..............................................................21 SHORTWAVE BANDS .............................................................22 DAY BANDS / NIGHT BANDS .................................................23 DAYTIME LISTENING ........................................................... 24 EVENING LISTENING .............................................................. 25 WARRANTY REGISTRATION ................................................. 26 LIMITED WARRANTY TO THE ORIGINAL CUSTOMER ........... 26 SERVICE INFORMATION ...................................................... 27 2 3 S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L 1 INTRODUCTION This owner's manual is conveniently divided into two sections, BASIC OPERATION and INTRODUCTION TO SHORTWAVE. Both sections are important. 2 MAJOR FEATURES OF THE MODEL S350DL · AM 530-1710 KHz · FM 88-108 MHz · SHORTWAVE ­ continuous coverage from 3 to 28 MHz. This includes 13 international broadcast bands. 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22, 25, · Variable RF Gain Control · Rotary volume control · Variable, independent bass and treble controls · Low-pass filter for shortwave and AM reception · Left/Right line level outputs (stereo in FM) · Stereo/Mono switch · Stereo earphone socket · Carrying handle/convertible shoulder strap · Built-in telescopic antenna for FM and shortwave · Built-in ferrite bar antenna for AM · Jacks for supplementary AM, FM and Shortwave antennas · Powered by 4 D or 4AA batteries (not included), AC adaptor (included) or DC car or boat adaptor (not included) If you are new to shortwave listening, the INTRODUCTION TO SHORTWAVE section will give you all the information that you need to be successful enjoying broadcasts from around the world. 31, 41, 49, 60, 75 and 90 meters. · Highly sensitive and selective analog tuner circuitry · Digital frequency readout · Liquid Crystal Display, (LCD), for frequency and clock · Digital clock with selectable 12/24 hour format · Wake-up timer (use as radio-play alarm clock) · Power failure backup feature · Sleep timer · Main tuning knob and independent finetuning control knob IMPORTANT NOTE: While using the owner's manual, refer to the diagram titled CONTROL LOCATIONS to locate controls, switches, sockets, and parts that are referred to in the text. 4 5 S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L 3 CONTROL LOCATION 1 Power & Sleep Button 2 Alarm Set Button 3 Time Set Button 4 Hour Set Button 5 Minute Set Button 6 Alarm On/Off Button 7 Backlight/Snooze Button 8 Battery Power Indicator 9 Signal/Strength Indicator 10 Digital Frequency Readout 11 LCD Display 12 Turning Knob (fast) 13 Turning Knob (slow) 14 Reset Button 15 MW/SW RF Gain Knob 16 Treble Knob 17 Volume Knob 18 Bass Knob 19 MW/SW1/SW2/SW3 Band Select 20 Bandwidth/FM Band Select 21 Telescopic Antenna for FM/SW 22 Carrying Handle 23 Shoulder Strap 24 DC Jack 25 Battery Compartment 26 MW/SW Antenna Jack 27 FM Antenna Jack 28 SW LPF On/Off 29 Stereo/Mono switch 30 L & R Line Out 31 Stereo Earphone Jack 6 7 S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L 4 CONNECTING TO POWER U S I N G B AT T E R I E S Open the battery compartment and insert 4 size D batteries (also called UM-1) according to the polarity diagram imprinted on the battery compartment floor. Please note the following regarding battery operation: · The S350DL has a battery power indicator in the LCD. Fresh batteries will show a full power level of three bars. If the indicator shows only one bar or the sound becomes week and distorted, replace the batteries. · Check the batteries periodically for leakage. As a precaution, remove the batteries to prevent possible leakage if it is to be stored for long periods without use. This requires a DC converter that converts the 12 volt DC source to the 6 volts required by the radio. The output of such an adaptor is 6 volts, DC, negative polarity. The plug-tip must have an outer diameter of 5.5 millimeter and an inner diameter of 2.1 millimeter. The plug-tip is plugged into the radio's DC jack. It must be capable of handling at least 200 milliamperes of current. Contact Etón for the name and location of a retailer that sells the proper converter. POWERING FROM A CAR OR B O AT 1 2 V O LT D C B AT T E RY SOURCE · Turn off the radio while replacing the batteries. USING AC POWER The S350DL is supplied with an AC adaptor that converts AC voltage to the DC voltage used by the radio. Only use the adaptor that is supplied with the S350DL or one that meets the generic specifications required by this product: output of 6 volts, DC, negative polarity; plug-tip outer diameter of 5.5 millimeter, inner diameter of 2.1 millimeter; capable of 300 milliamperes or greater. Contact Etón for the name and location of a retailer that sells the proper adaptor. NEVER USE AN ADAPTOR THAT DOES NOT MEET THESE SPECIFICATIONS, AS IT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. · The radio will turn off automatically if the batteries become too weak. 8 9 S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L 5 SETTING THE PRELIMINARY CONTROL SETTINGS Use these controls as initial guidelines. As you get to know the radio, you will develop your own `favorite' settings. · Turn the VOLUME control down to no greater than 3 so that the radio does not play loudly when first turned on. · Turn the AM/SW RF GAIN control to the 10 position. · Turn the BASS-TONE-TREBLE controls into the 5 position. · Turn the SW LPF switch to the OFF position (right side of the radio). · Turn the STEREO MONO switch to the MONO position. 6 TURNING THE RADIO ON AND OFF There are two ways to turn the radio on, with the 90-minute timer feature or without the 90-minute timer. To turn it off at any time, press the `POWER & SLEEP' button for about one second. NOTE: When SLEEP Times is off, the clock always shows in the display. 1. WITH TIMER: A quick, short press of the `POWER & SLEEP' button turns the radio on. `90' shows in the display for about three seconds, then the radio's normal frequency display shows. Turning it on this way causes it play for 90 minutes, after which its timer turns it off automatically (to minimize excess battery drain). To change this automatic turn-off time from 90 minutes to a shorter time, see the section titled USING THE SLEEP TIMER. 2. WITHOUT TIMER: A long press of approximately 3 seconds of the `POWER & SLEEP' button turns the radio on without engaging the automatic 90-minute timer feature, causing the radio to play indefinitely when using the AC adaptor, and turning off only when the batteries drain or the radio is turned off. 7 SIGNAL STRENGTH INDICATOR When you are listening to stations, the signal strength meter, in the upper right area of the display, will show the strength level of reception. 10 11 S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L 8 TUNING IN FM STATIONS Fully extend the telescopic antenna and turn on the radio. Switch the BAND WIDTH FM AFC selector to the FM AFC ON position. FM appears in the display, as well as FM frequency numbers in the range of about 87-108 megahertz, abbreviated MHz. Use the outer `fast' tuning knob to find stations, fine tuning with the inner `slow' knob when needed. When Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) is ON, strong signals will automatically be captured and given precedence over weaker ones. With AFC turned OFF, the weak stations inbetween stronger ones will be tuned in easier. AFC ON is generally the preferred position. · Placing the STEREO MONO switch in the STEREO position enables FM reception in stereo. NOTE: The stereo is heard from earphones or headphones and it is also heard from the stereo line-level outputs when feeding their output to amplified speakers or a stereo system. · Placing the STEREO MONO switch in the MONO position will improve the quality of a poorly received station, but it will not be heard in stereophonic sound from the line level outputs. · When listening through the built-in speaker, stereophonic sound is not heard. Only monaural sound is heard from the built-in speaker. · If a station is not being received clearly, swiveling the telescopic antenna may result in improved reception. 9 TUNING IN AM STATIONS T U N I N G I N A M S TAT I O N S ( M W ) Turn on the radio and set the AM/SW BAND switch to the AM position and the bandwidth switch to wide or narrow. MW appears in the display. Use the outer `fast' tuning knob to find stations, fine tuning with the inner `slow' knob when needed. · If there is interference from adjacent stations, place the BAND WIDTH control in the NARROW position. If there is no interference, leave it in the WIDE position. THE FREQUENCY LOCK F E AT U R E The S350DL uses a unique circuit for AM and SW tuning to optimize frequency stability and minimize signal drifting. While turning either tuning knob, `Khz' flashes in the display. It stops flashing about 3 seconds after a station is tuned-in, engaging frequency-lock. · The telescopic antenna does not have to be extended for AM reception. The radio has an internal, directional, ferrite-bar antenna for AM reception. · To optimize AM reception, swivel the radio until maximum signal strength is achieved. · If there is excess background noise, turn on the SW LPF switch, which may minimize the noise. · If a station is so strong that audio distortion occurs, reduce the gain level with the AM/SW RF GAIN control knob by turning it counterclockwise. 12 13 S 3 5 0 D L O P E R AT I O N M A N UA L 10 TUNING IN SHORTWAVE STATIONS IF YOU ARE ALREADY FA M I L I A R W I T H S H O R T W AV E : Fully extend the telescopic antenna and turn on the radio. Set the AM/SW BAND switch to the SW1, SW2 or SW3 position and the BANDWIDTH switch to wide or narrow. SHORTWAVE 1, 2 or 3 appears in the display. Use the outer `fast' tuning knob to quickly go to a desired frequency that you already know or to the band that you want to tune around in, then fine tune stations with the inner `slow' knob when needed. If a station is so strong that audio distortion occurs, reduce the gain level with the AM/SW RF GAIN control knob by turning it counter-clockwise. this band, carefully listening for stations. Also try the 13 meter band (21450-21850 KHz) and 16 meter band (17480-17900 KHz), both in SW3. If it is night, turn the AM/SW BAND switch to the SW1 position. Use the fast tuning knob and tune to 5800 KHz. This is the beginning of the shortwave 49 meter band, one of the four best night bands, extending from 5800-6200 KHz. Using the slow tuning knob, tune through this band, carefully listening for stations. Also try the 25 meter band in SW2 (11600-12200 KHz ...