RCA RP6200 Operation & User’s Manual

following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. In accordance with FCC requirements, changes or modifications not expressly approved by Thomson Consumer Electronics could void the user’s authority to operate this product. CAUTION: Scanning is a great pass time. You can listen to exchanges between police, fire departments, ambulances, military organizations, government agencies, private companies, aircraft and amateur radio stations. Owning and operating this scanner is legal in so far as you do not intentionally intercept the following electronic and wire communications: • Cellular, cordless or private telephone conversations transmit through means of telephone signal transmissions. • Pagers transmissions. • Scrambles of encrypted transmissions. As amended the Federal Electronic Communication Privacy Act (ECPA) states you could be fined and/or imprisoned for intentionally listening to, using or disclosing the contents of such a transmission unless a party in the communica- tion has consented-unless such an activity is otherwise legal. In some areas/states it is unlawful to operate a scanner. Please check the laws in your area as they may change from time to time. Thomson Consumer Electron- ics assumes no liability for the operation of this scanner. WARNING: In some areas/states it is unlawful to operate a mobile scanner. Please check the laws in your area. Thomson Consumer Electronics assumes no liability for the operation of this scanner.

FIRST THINGS FIRST ........................................................................ 2 POWERING UP ................................................................................. 2 RESETTING AND INITIALIZING ........................................................... 2 CONNECTING THE ANTENNAS .......................................................... 3 OPTIONAL ANTENNA .................................................................. 3 BUTTONS AND CONTROLS ................................................................. 4 THE DISPLAY .................................................................................. 5 USING THE SCANNER ....................................................................... 6 ADJUSTING VOLUME AND SQUELCH .................................................. 6 PROGRAMMING FREQUENCIES ........................................................... 7 USING DELAY .................................................................................. 8 TEMPORARILY STORING AN ACTIVE FREQUENCY IN MONITOR MEMORY ................................... 8 SHIFTING A FREQUENCY FROM MONITOR MEMORY TO A CHANNEL ....................................... 9 SCANNING CHANNELS...................................................................... 9 MONITORING ONE CHANNEL .......................................................... 10 LOCKING OUT CHANNELS .................................................................. 11 CLEARING A CHANNEL ...................................................................... 11 TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS .................................................................. 12 EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................. 13 CARE AND MAINTENANCE ................................................................ 14 SERVICE INFORMATION .................................................................... 14 INDEX ........................................................................................... 15 LIMITED WARRANTY ....................................................................... BACK COVER INTRODUCTION Congratulations! You are now the owner of a brand new RCA RP-6200 20-Channel FM Scanning Receiver. Your new scanner will provide for you all the excitement and action of police in pursuit, ambulances en route and fire trucks on the scene. You’ll know the latest changes in weather conditions, be able to warn family and friends where the latest accidents are on the highways...plus much more! With the capacity to scan more than 22,000 frequencies at 16 channels per second, your new RCA FM Scanning Receiver allows you to be involved in your community from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy!

POWERING UP Your scanner has an external jack. Plug in the AC adapter supplied by inserting the barrel end into the DC 12V jack on the back of the unit. Your scanner has a memory backup that begins to work moments after plugging in the adapter. Stored information will be stored for approximately 1 hour after the removal of power for any reason. RESETTING AND INITIALIZING When connecting your scanner to its power source, the display may lock up or show erroneous messages. These situations are simply and easily fixed by resetting the scanner. To reset: 1. Make sure the scanner is ON. 2. Press the RESET button on the back of the scanner with a pointed object, such as a paper clip. If the above steps fail to reset your scanner, it is possible you will have to re-initialize the unit. Do this only if you are sure resetting the scanner has not worked. Initializing the scanner clears all stored information from the unit’s memory. NOTE: The provided adapter supplies 12 volts DC power (300 milliamperes) with a center positive plug. Should you decide to use an adapter other than the one provided, please make sure it meets the above specifications. Failure to do so may cause a safety hazard or damage the unit.

FIRST THINGS FIRST To initialize: 1. Make sure the scanner is ON. 2. Press and hold the CLEAR button. 3. Quickly press and release the RESET button. 4. When the display disappears, release the CLEAR button. CONNECTING THE ANTENNAS Your scanner comes with a telescoping antenna for better reception. To attach the antenna, screw it into the provided hole on top of the unit. Adjust its length when necessary to receive better reception. OPTIONAL ANTENNA While the telescoping antenna provides satisfactory reception for local signals, your scanner has been equipped with an ANT jack so you can attach a multiband outdoor antenna - not provided - for even better reception. To install: 1. Choose the highest location possible to mount the antenna, then do so according to the directions provided by its manufacturer. 2. Plug the antenna cable into the ANT jack on the back of your scanner.

CLEAR ------------- This button erases an incorrect entry. •/DELAY ---------- This button allows you to enter a decimal point when programming frequencies or a two-second delay for a specific channel. ENTER/L-OUT --- This button enters a frequency into a channel or lets you lock out a specific channel. MANUAL --------- This button interrupts the Scan mode and allows you to enter a channel number. 0/MON ------------ This button allows you to enter a zero or access the Monitor Memory. PGM --------------- This button initiates the Program function and allows you to enter frequencies into channels memory. SCAN -------------- This button activates an automatic scan of all the pro- grammed channels. SEARCH --- These buttons activate a search for stations transmitting in a particular frequency range. The following list is presented in alphabetical order and provides general information about each button and control on your scanner. ENTER 0 . PGM 9 7 8 CLEAR 6 4 5 MANUAL 3 1 2 L-OUT MON DELAY SCAN CH -MHz- -kHz- SQUELCH VOLUME POWER MIN MAX MIN MAX ON OFF

SCAN ---------- appears when you scan channels. SEARCH ------appears during frequency search. and ------indicate the search direction. DELAY -------- appears when you have programed the scanner to pause for two seconds on the selected channel before continuing to scan. MON -----------appears when you are in monitor or search mode. PROGRAM --- appears when you program a frequency into a channel. 88 --------------- is the channel number L/O -------------- appears when you have manually selected a locked out channel. 888.888 ------- is the frequency. MANUAL SCAN SEARCH 888.888 The display lets you know what your unit is doing. The following is a list of display messages you will encounter and what they mean. 88 MON DELAY PROGRAM L/O

ADJUSTING VOLUME AND SQUELCH 1. Turn the VOLUME knob counterclockwise to MIN and the SQUELCH knob clockwise to MAX. 2. Turn the POWER knob to ON. The display will show SCAN, a channel number and a frequency. NOTE: When turned on, the scanner may automatically begin scanning channels and frequencies. 3. Press MANUAL to stop the display from scanning. A channel and frequency will appear in the display. 4. Turn the VOLUME knob clockwise 1/5 turn. However, if the scanner is in the middle of a transmission, wait until it finishes before turning the knob. 5. Turn SQUELCH knob slowly counterclockwise until there is an audible hissing sound. 6. Now turn the SQUELCH knob clockwise until the hissing sound stops. NOTE: Should the scanner begin to pick up partial, weak or unwanted transmissions, simply rotate the SQUELCH knob clockwise. This decreases the scanner’s sensitivity to these frequencies.

PROGRAMMING FREQUENCIES Your scanner is capable of storing up to 20 frequencies in memory locations called channels. To program frequencies: 1. Press MANUAL and then enter the channel you want to program. The current channel will appear on the left of the display and the one you just entered will appear on the right. 2. Press PGM and wait for PROGRAM to appear in the display. 3. Enter the frequency of your choice. 4. Press ENTER/L-OUT to store the frequency. NOTE : Should you make an incorrect entry, Error will show in the display. Simply press the CLEAR button and repeat Step 3. If you want the scanner to pause 2 seconds on a particular frequency before scanning the next channel, see the next section - USING DELAY. 5. Repeat Steps 1-4 to program additional channels not in sequence or Steps 2- 4 to do so in sequence. After entering the frequencies of your choice into the scanner’s channel memory, you can scan those channels or manually select them.

USING DELAY Some agencies use two-way radios that allow for pause between transmissions. To avoid missing the reply to a query, your scanner has been equipped with a Delay feature that allows you to pause on a specific frequency for longer than the scanner would normally allow. To activate Delay for a specific channel, select a channel and press •/DELAY until DELAY appears in the display. To activate Delay when the scanner stops on an active transmission while scanning channels or searching frequencies, quickly press •/DELAY while the transmission is still active. DELAY will appear in the display. The scanner will now pause for two additional seconds before resuming its scan after the end of the transmission on that frequency. To turn the DELAY feature off, press •/DELAY while the transmission is still active. DELAY will disappear from the display. TEMPORARILY STORING AN ACTIVE FREQUENCY IN MONITOR MEMORY You may find a frequency that sparks your interest but you are not sure you want to program it into a channel. Use the scanner’s Monitor Memory to temporarily store the frequency until you decide. To temporarily store: 1. Press MANUAL or PGM. 2. To start your search from a specific frequency, enter the frequency number. To start from a preset channel, press MANUAL, the channel number and MANUAL or PGM. 3. Press to search up from the frequency or down from the frequency. The scanner will stop searching when it finds an active frequency. It will continue to hold at that frequency until the transmission ends. It will resume searching immediately upon the end of the transmissions.

4. Press or to continue the search while the scanner has pause for an active frequency. 5. When you find the frequency you want to temporarily store in the scanner’s Monitor Memory, press 0/MON. To listen to the frequency you have stored in monitor memory, press MANUAL or PGM and then 0/MON. You cannot find the frequency by scanning for it. SHIFTING A FREQUENCY FROM MONITOR MEMORY TO A CHANNEL 1. Press PGM and then enter the channel number into which you want to store the frequency from monitor memory. 2. Press PGM and then 0/MON. The entered channel will flash in the display and the frequency in the monitor memory also appears. 3. Press ENTER to lock in your choice. SCANNING CHANNELS Press SCAN to begin a scan of all the unlocked channels. The scanner will stop when it encounters an active channel. When the transmission ends and the channel becomes inactive, the scanner automatically begins scanning again. You can make the scanner pause for two seconds after the channel becomes inactive by pressing DELAY. Adjust the SQUELCH knob to eliminate the hissing sound between transmissions or the scanner will not scan. NOTE: To stop the scanner from immediately resuming its search upon the transmissions end, press •/DELAY. The scanner will now pause for two seconds after the frequency becomes inactive.

frequencies that lie mainly within its “line of sight,” meaning you probably will not be able to receive transmissions from beyond the visible horizon. USING THE SCANNER MONITORING ONE CHANNEL There may come a time when you want to monitor a specific channel for an unspecified amount of time. For example, you might stumble onto an exciting exchange between police officers in foot pursuit. Because there will be periods of silence between the officers’ transmissions to one another, you will have to manually select this channel or risk the scanner taking an inopportune moment of silence to start scanning for more active frequencies. To make sure you don’t miss a detail: 1. Press the MANUAL button. 2. Enter the channel number and press the MANUAL button again. If the scanner is already in the process of scanning and lands on the channel you want to hear, simply press the MANUAL button once.

the channels. At least one channel must be active. USING THE SCANNER LOCKING OUT CHANNELS You can lock out channels you do not want to monitor, such as a continuously active weather channel, thereby making your scanner much more effective. To lock out a channel: 1. Press the MANUAL button. MANUAL will appear in the display. 2. Enter the channel number you want to lock out and then press MANUAL again. 3. Press the L-OUT button. L/O will appear in the display. Now when the scanner scans the channels, it will skip over the ones you have locked out. You can still manually select any channel previously locked out. To unlock a channel, manually select the locked out channel. Press the L-OUT button. L/O should disappear from the display. CLEARING A CHANNEL 1. Press the PGM button. 2. Manually enter the channel number you want to clear and then press the PGM button again. 3. Press the CLEAR button and hold it down while pressing the ENTER button.

outlet. • Make sure the AC adapter is not faulty. Replace the adapter and try again. There is no reception • The placement of the scanner is not suitable. or poor reception. Relocate the unit. • Check to make sure the antenna is correctly installed. • Check to make sure the frequencies are properly programmed. Reprogram if necessary. Error appears in the display. • Indicates a programming error. Verify the frequency and reprogram if necessary. Keys will not function. • Reset the scanner. Display is randomly scanning. The frequency entered will • If the display shows no error message, you may not display. have entered a frequency between two acceptable frequency intervals. Re-enter the correct frequency.

Sensitivity ............................... (20 dB signal-to-noise ratio) 30-54 MHz ......................... 1uV 137-174 MHz ..................... 1uV 380-512 MHz ..................... 1 uV Spurious Rejection 30-54 MHz ......................... 50 dB at 40 MHz 137-174 MHz ..................... 50 dB at 154 MHz 380-512 MHz ..................... Not Specified Selectivity +/- 10 kHz ........................... -6 dB +/- 20 kHz ........................... -50 dB IF Interference Ration 10.7 MHz ............................ 70 dB at 154 MHz Scanning Rate ......................... 16 channels/sec Search Rate ............................. 16 steps/sec Delay Time .............................. 2 sec IF Frequencies ......................... 10.7 MHz and 455 kHz Frequency Coverage VHF-Lo ............................... 30-50 MHz (in 5 kHz steps) HAM ................................... 50-54 MHz (“) GOVERNMENT ................... 137-144 MHz (“) HAM ................................... 144-148 MHz (“) VHF-Hi ................................ 148-174 MHz (“) HAM/GOVERNMENT ......... 380-450 MHz ( in 12.5 kHz steps) UHF-Lo ............................... 450-470 MHz (“) UHF-Hi ................................ 470-512 MHz (“) Squelch Sensitivity Threshold ........................... 1.0 uV Tight (S+N)/N ..................... 25 dB Antenna Impedance ............... 50 ohms Audio Power ........................... 1.0 Watts nominal Built-in Speaker ...................... 3” 8 ohm, dynamic Power Req ............................... 120V AC, 60 Hz, 8 Watts Dimensions ............................. 2 1/16 x 8 1/4 x 6 7/8” (HWD) Weight ..................................... approx. 23 oz (.65 kg) without antenna

• This unit is to be kept dry at all times. Should the unit become wet, dry immediately with a soft cloth. Electronic circuits may corrode should they come in contact with liquids containing minerals. • Do not drop the unit. Circuit boards may be damaged and cause the scanner to malfunction if it is dropped. • Store unit at normal temperatures. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Excessive hot or cold temperatures may damage or disfigure plastic parts and/ or shorten the life of electronic devices. • To prevent premature wear and tear on parts, keep the unit clean and free of dust and dirt. • Do not use harsh chemicals, solvents or strong detergents to clean the unit. • Do not attempt to alter or modify the internal component’s of the unit. Such actions may violate and/or void the unit’s warranty and/or the FCC’s authorization for the unit’s operation. SERVICE INFORMATION This product should be serviced only by those specially trained in appropriate servicing techniques. For instructions on how to obtain service, refer to the warranty in this guide. Attach your sales receipt for future reference, or write down the date you purchased/received this product as a gift. This information will be valuable if service should be required during the warranty period. Purchase Date____________________________________________ Name of Store ____________________________________________

0/MON 4, 5 A Adjusting volume & squelch 6 Antennas 3 B Buttons and controls 4 C Care and maintenance 14 Clear 4 Clearing a channel 11 D DELAY 5, 8 Display messages 5 E ENTER 4 Equipment specifications 13 F FCC information Inside Cover I initializing 3 L L/O 5 L-OUT 4 Locking out channels 11 M MANUAL 4,5 MON 5 Monitoring one channel 10 P PGM 4 Powering Up 2 PROGRAM 5 Programming frequencies 7 R Reset 2 S SCAN 4,5 Scanning channels 9 SEARCH 4,5 Service information 14 Shifting a frequency from monitor memory to a channel 9 Squelch 6 T Temporarilly storing an active frequency in monitor memory 8 Troubleshooting tips 12 U Using delay 8 V Volume 6 W Warranty Back Cover

97-46 Printed in China ©1997 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Trademark(s) ® Registered Marca(s) ® Registradas What your warranty covers: • Any defect in materials or workmanship. For how long after your purchase: • One year. (The warranty period for rental units begins with the first rental or 45 days from date of shipment to the rental firm, whichever comes first.) What we will do: • Provide you with a new or, at our option, a refurbished unit. • The exchange unit is under warranty for the remainder of the original product’s warranty period. How to make a warranty claim: • Properly pack your unit. Include any cables, etc., which were originally provided with the product. We recommend using the original carton and packing materials. • Include in the package evidence of purchase date such as the bill of sale. Also print your name and address and a description of the defect. Send standard UPS or its equivalent to: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Product Exchange Center 32 Spur Drive El Paso, Texas 79906 • Insure your shipment in case of loss or damage. Thomson accepts no liability in case of damage or loss. • Pay any charges billed to you by the Exchange Center for service not covered by the warranty. • A new or refurbished unit will be shipped to you prepaid freight. What your warranty does not cover: • Customer instruction. (Your Owner’s Manual provides information regarding operating instructions and user controls. For additional information, ask your dealer.) • Installation and setup service adjustments. • Batteries. • Damage from misuse or neglect. • Products which have been modified or incorporated into other products. • Products purchased or serviced outside the USA. • Acts of God, such as but not limited to lightning damage. How state law relates to this warranty: • This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state. If you purchased your product outside the USA: • This warranty does not apply. Contact your dealer for warranty information. LIMITED WARRANTY NEED HELP? If you need any help with this product, please contact our Scanner Customer Service Line at: 1-888-SCAN-4-RCA.