RadioShack FM Mobile Transceiver HTX 252 Owners Manual

11
CONNECTING AN ANTENNA
You must install an antenna before you can operate the trans-
ceiver. There are many different types of antennas suitable for
transceiver use. Each has its own benefits, Choose the one best
suited to your particular needs. Your local RadioShack store has
a wide selection from which to choose.
Note: If you are using the transceiver as a base station, see “Us-
ing the Transceiver as a Base Station” on Page 13.
When you install an antenna, keep in mind that, for the best per-...

12
CONNECTING THE MICROPHONE
1. Align the notch of the
microphone’s plug and
the microphone’s jack,
located on the left side of
the front panel. Then
insert the plug and turn
the metal ring clockwise
to secure the plug.
2. Slide the microphone onto the microphone holder.
To disconnect the microphone from the transceiver, turn the met-
al ring counterclockwise to loosen it.
Caution: Always disconnect the microphone by grasping its plug.
Never pull on the coiled microphone cable.
USING AN EXTERNAL SPEAKER...

13
CONNECTING POWER
Follow these steps to power the transceiver from your vehicle’s
battery.
1. Connect the supplied polarized
13.8V DC power connector to
the white power socket and
cable on the back of the trans-
ceiver. The plug and socket only
fit one way. If you can not easily
insert the plug, turn it over and
try again. Do not force it. 
2. Connect the red wire (+) (with
the in-line fuse holder) to a point in your vehicle’s fuse block
that supplies power only when the ignition is in the ACC...

14
• a base station antenna
• coaxial antenna cable and appropriate connectors
Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection of all prod-
ucts needed to set up your transceiver as a base station.
Follow these steps to use the transceiver as a base station.
1. Mount the base station antenna as described in its owner’s
manual.
Warning: Use extreme caution when you install or remove
a base station antenna. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go!
It could contact overhead power lines. If the...

15
A QUICK LOOK AT THE CONTROLS
Most of the controls on the transceiver have multiple functions.
The following charts should help you get a better idea of the func-
tion of each control.
Base Unit
Key/Control Use it to:Use with the 
F + Key to:
OFF/VOL
Turn the transceiver on/
off. Adjust the volume.Reset the
transceiver
SQ
Set the squelch level to 
block weak signals.N/A
REV
Reverse the
repeater offset.N/A
 VFO (T-SQ)
Set the transceiver to 
VFO mode.Set the tone 
squelch.
MR (MS)
Recall a frequency in...

16
Microphone 
Key/Control Use it to:Use with the 
F + Key to:
Push to 
Talk (PTT)Transmit by holding it 
down. Press to store a 
setting.Change the transmitting 
power to high or low.
UP
Increase the fre-
quency by the selected 
step value.Increase the frequency 
in 1 MHz steps.
DN
Decrease the fre-
quency by the selected 
step value.Decrease the frequency 
by 1 MHz steps.
 F (MHz)
Temporarily open the 
squelch.N/A
CALL 
(STEP)Recall the calling fre-
quency memory.Set the frequency step.
PTT
DTMF
F...

17
SCAN (PRI)
Start and stop 
scanning.Set the transceiver to 
dual watch mode.
LOCK 
(SHIFT)Lock and unlock the 
controls except PTT
, F
, 
VOL
, and SQ
. Set the repeater
offset.
Alpha-
Numeric 
KeysEnter numerical val-
ues and DTMF control
letters.N/A
DTMF
Switch to DTMF
control.N/A Microphone 
Key/Control Use it to:Use with the 
F + Key to: 

18
A QUICK LOOK AT THE DISPLAY
1.  — appears when 
F key is pressed.
2.  — indicates the keypad is locked.
3.  — indicates a negative repeater offset.
4.  — indicates a positive repeater offset.
5.
SCAN — appears when the transceiver is scanning frequen-
cies.
6.
PRI — indicates a priority frequency.
7.
T — appears when Tone Squelch (CTCSS) is enabled for
transmission only. 
8.
T-SQ — appears when Tone Squelch (CTCSS) is enabled
for both transmission and reception.
9.
Alpha-Numeric Display —
 shows...

19
OPERATION
TURNING THE TRANSCEIVER 
ON AND OFF
To turn on the transceiver, rotate VOL clockwise until it clicks. The
last used frequency and other settings appear (the default fre-
quency is 142.50 MHz, with a frequency step of 5 kHz/.005 MHz).
To turn the transceiver off, rotate 
VOL counterclockwise until it
clicks.
SELECTING FREQUENCIES
To select a frequency in the VFO (variable frequency oscillator)
mode, use either 
UP or DN on the top of the microphone or the
tuning control.
Using either method...

20
RECEIVING TRANSMISSIONS
Follow these steps to receive standard transmissions.
1. With the transceiver on, rotate 
SQ counterclockwise until
you hear a hissing sound. Then slowly rotate 
SQ clockwise
just until the noise stops.
Notes: 
•
BUSY appears when the transceiver receives a standard
transmission or if the squelch is open.
• If the transceiver picks up unwanted and weak transmis-
sions, rotate 
SQ clockwise to prevent the squelch from
opening for these transmissions. If you want to hear
weak...