FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
1. MICROPHONE INPUT
An 8-pin, lock ring type, mic connector is used.
8 pin Mic Socket
2. MICROPHONE GAIN CONTROL
Increases or decreases the energy developed in the
microphone amplifier circuit. The gain increases as the
control is rotated clockwise. For optimum setting, press
the push-to-talk (PTT) switch on the microphone,
adjust the mic gain control until all segments of the
S/RF display are lit. Next, rotate the control
counterclockwise until the last segment of the display
starts to flicker. The S/RF display is the bar graph
located on the lower edge of the LCD screen.
3. RF GAIN CONTROL
Adjusts the receiver sensitivity to both signals and
background noise. This affects the distance at which a
signal can be detected. Turning the control
counterclockwise reduces the receiver sensitivity. This
is particularly useful in areas where large volumes of
traffic (signals) are present. The S/RF display indicates
the received signal’s strength. The S/RF display is the
bar graph located on the lower edge of the LCD
screen.
NOTE: The RF Gain may need to be reduced under
certain conditions. The optima has a very sensitive
receiver with a 3-6db increase in sensitivity over
previous models. Under certain conditions the active
AGC can cause the received audio to distort and this
should be corrected by reducing the RF gain which will
cause the noise to reduce and the signal to be
readable once more.
IMPORTANT!
Operating some of the features in 4 through 9
require the use of the FUNCTION control. To
activate the function control, momentarily push the
CLARIFIER knob inwards, the FUNC prompt will be
displayed in upper left-hand corner of LCD. Push
the control again briefly to deactivate the function
control.
Buttons pictured in orange on a black background
indicate Clarifier must be pressed to access.
Buttons pictured in White on black background can just
be pressed to access.
4. STEP \ NB \ 1
STEP
: Tuning Step. The
STEP
control selects frequency
resolution in either 1 kHz, 10 kHz or 100 kHz steps. Press
the
STEP
button, one of the digits will flash on and off.
Press the
STEP
button again to change stepping resolution.
To tune frequencies in either 10 kHz or 100 kHz increments,
press the
STEP
button until the desired digit is
flashing. Rotate the
VFO
control in either direction.
The entire frequency range of the OPTIMA can be stepped
through in 1, 5, 10 or 100 kHz increments.
To tune in 1 kHz increments, press the
STEP
button
until the 1 kHz digit flashes on and off. Rotate the
VFO
control clockwize or anticlockwize to scroll.
NOTE:
When stepping in 1 kHz increments, you are
NOT
limited to tuning within a 10 kHz frequency range.
The Default Step function is 5khz on the OPTIMA
NB
: Noise Blanker. Noise blanker on and off control.
This circuit eliminates pulse type interference usually
associated with automotive ignition systems. To activate
the noise blanker, press the FUNC control and then press
the NB button. NB will appear on the LCD indicating the
noise blanker is turned on. To turn off the noise blanker,
repeat the same process.
1
: Memory Channel 1. After programming this button is
memory channel 1. See M.LOAD \ M.SAVE control for
programming instructions.
5.
LCR
\
M-Scan
\ 4
LCR
: Last Channel Recall. Press the LCR button to
return to the last frequency that was transmitted on for
more than 3 seconds.
Memory Scan
To activate the Memory Scan, press the
FUNC
control and then press the
M-SCAN
button. The
radio will now commence scanning just the memory
channels.
Memory Channel 4.
After programming this button
is memory channel 4. See
M-RECAL
\
M.SAVE
control
for programming instructions.
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