Cat. No. 20-228
OWNER’S MANUAL
DX-398
All-Band Shortwave Receiver
with Radio Data System
Please read before using this equipment.
Auto Tuning System (ATS) — the re-
ceiver finds the stations with strong
signals and stores them in memory in
order by signal strength.
and select up to nine MW/FM frequen-
cies in two pages, nine LW frequencies
in one page, and 261 SW frequencies
in 29 pages.
Rotary Tuning Dial — lets you manu-
ally tune desired frequencies. You can
select a higher tuning increment for
faster tuning or a lower one for fine tun-
ing, or lock the dial to prevent acciden-
tally changing the tuned frequency.
Edit — lets you create and edit station
names for FM/MW/LW bands, page
names for SW bands, and home/world
city names for easy identification.
Tone Control — lets you adjust the
tone setting for different types of
broadcasts such as news, music, and
so on.
Memory Lock — prevents accidental
frequency changes.
Control Lock — prevents accidental
setting changes.
Battery Power/Signal Strength Indi-
cator — displays the battery’s power
and the strength of the received signal.
Sleep Timer — lets you set the receiv-
er so it turns itself off after a length of
time you set, so you can fall asleep as
you listen to it.
Memo Label — lets you record helpful
information such as the memory loca-
tion numbers of your favorite stations.
MW Step Setting — lets you easily
change the frequency step setting to
match the MW (AM) broadcast fre-
quency step used by many other coun-
tries.
Three Power Options — let you pow-
er the receiver from internal batteries,
standard AC power (with an optional
AC adapter), or your vehicle’s battery
(with an optional DC cigarette lighter
adapter).
RF Gain Control — lets you adjust the
receiver’s sensitivity when you listen to
SW/LW/MW broadcasts, to provide
the best possible reception.
Narrow/Wide Control — lets you re-
duce interference from adjacent sta-
tions when you listen to SW, MW (AM),
and LW broadcasts.
Page Memory Location — lets you
store and select frequencies in storage
locations called pages. You can store
3
Your receiver is preset to cover the
following bands:
THE FCC WANTS YOU
TO KNOW
Band (Meters)
Frequency Range
(MHz)
This equipment complies with Part 15
of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1)
This device may not cause harmful in-
terference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, in-
cluding interference that may cause
undesired operation.
120 ................................ 2.300–2.495
90 .................................. 3.200–3.400
75 .................................. 3.900–4.000
60 .................................. 4.750–5.060
49 .................................. 5.900–6.200
41 .................................. 7.100–7.350
31 .................................. 9.400–9.990
25 .............................. 11.600–12.100
21 .............................. 13.500–13.870
19 .............................. 15.100–15.800
16 .............................. 17.480–17.900
15 .............................. 18.900–19.020
13 .............................. 21.450–21.750
11 .............................. 25.600–26.100
Your receiver might cause TV or radio
interference even when it is operating
properly. To determine whether your
receiver is causing the interference,
turn it off. If the interference goes
away, your receiver is causing it.
Try to eliminate the interference by:
• moving your receiver away from
the TV or radio
• connecting your receiver to an
outlet that is on a different electri-
cal circuit from the TV or radio
• contacting your local RadioShack
store for help
If you cannot eliminate the interfer-
ence, the FCC requires that you stop
using your receiver. Changes or modi-
fications not expressly approved by
RadioShack could void the user’s
FCC authorization to operate this
equipment.
4
CONTENTS
Preparation ........................................................................................................... 7
Connecting to Power ....................................................................................... 7
Installing Internal Batteries ....................................................................... 7
Using Standard AC Power ........................................................................ 7
Using Vehicle Battery Power ..................................................................... 8
Adjusting the Telescoping Antenna ................................................................. 9
Connecting an External Antenna .................................................................... 9
Connecting Headphones .............................................................................. 10
Listening Safely ...................................................................................... 10
Traffic Safety ........................................................................................... 10
Connecting a Tape Recorder ........................................................................ 10
Using the Stand ............................................................................................ 11
Using the Memo Label .................................................................................. 12
Setting the MW (AM) Tuning Increment ........................................................ 12
Understanding Your Receiver .......................................................................... 13
Basic Operation ................................................................................................. 15
Turning the Receiver On and Off ................................................................... 15
Lighting the Display ....................................................................................... 15
Locking the Controls ..................................................................................... 15
Setting and Viewing the Local Time .............................................................. 16
Viewing a World Time ................................................................................... 17
Changing a World City Name ........................................................................ 17
Tuning Stations .............................................................................................. 18
Selecting a Band .................................................................................... 18
Manual Tuning ........................................................................................ 18
Direct Access Tuning .............................................................................. 19
Scan Tuning ............................................................................................ 19
Tuning Preprogrammed Shortwave Stations ................................................. 20
DX-398 Shortwave Pages Chart ................................................................... 21
Adjusting the Tone ......................................................................................... 24
Special Tuning Controls ................................................................................ 24
STEREO/MONO-FM .............................................................................. 24
WIDE/NARR.-AM ................................................................................... 24
AM RF GAIN ........................................................................................... 24
Tuning SSB Stations ..................................................................................... 25
Using RDS .................................................................................................... 25
5
Memory Functions ............................................................................................. 27
Storing FM, MW, or LW Frequencies in Memory ........................................... 27
Automatic Storage ................................................................................... 27
Manual Storage ....................................................................................... 27
Storing SW Frequencies in Memory .............................................................. 28
Assigning a Name to an FM/MW/LW Station or SW Page ............................ 29
Deleting a Station You Stored ........................................................................ 30
Locking/Unlocking a Stored Station ............................................................... 30
Moving a Frequency to Another Memory Location ........................................ 30
Using Priority ................................................................................................. 31
Timer Functions ................................................................................................. 32
Using the Timer Alarms ................................................................................. 32
Setting an Alarm ..................................................................................... 32
Silencing the Alarm ................................................................................. 32
Using the Snooze Feature ...................................................................... 32
Turning a Timer Alarm On or Off ............................................................. 33
Timer Recording ..................................................................................... 33
Using the Sleep Timer ................................................................................... 33
Listening Hints ................................................................................................... 34
Reference Sources ........................................................................................ 34
Frequency Conversion ................................................................................... 34
Band Allocation .............................................................................................. 34
Amateur Radio Frequencies ................................................................... 34
International Frequencies ........................................................................ 35
Aircraft Frequencies ................................................................................ 36
Ships and Coastal Station Frequencies .................................................. 36
Time Standard Frequencies .................................................................... 36
Longwave Band ....................................................................................... 36
Listening Guide .................................................................................................. 37
Birdies ............................................................................................................ 41
Amateur Shortwave Bands in the US ............................................................ 41
Amateur Shortwave Bands (in MHz) ....................................................... 42
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 43
Care and Maintenance ....................................................................................... 44
Resetting the Display ..................................................................................... 45
Specifications ..................................................................................................... 46
6
PREPARATION
2. Slide four AA batteries into the
compartment on top of the lift-out
ribbon, according to the polarity
symbols (+ and –) marked next to
the compartment.
CONNECTING TO
POWER
You can power the receiver from inter-
nal batteries, standard AC power, or
your vehicle’s battery.
3. Replace the cover.
Cautions:
Installing Internal Batteries
• If you will not be using the receiver
with battery power for several
months, remove the batteries.
You can use four AA batteries (not
supplied) to power the receiver. For
the best performance and longest life,
we recommend alkaline batteries,
available at your local RadioShack
store.
• Dispose of old batteries promptly
and properly.
Using Standard AC Power
Cautions:
To power the receiver from standard
AC power, you need an optional AC
adapter, such as Cat. No. 273-1662.
• Always use fresh batteries of the
required size and type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries
or different types of batteries
(standard or alkaline).
Note: Connecting an AC adapter dis-
connects internal batteries.
Caution: You must use a
Class 2 power source that
Follow these steps to install the batter-
ies.
!
supplies 6 volts DC and deliv-
ers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must
be set to negative and its plug must fit
the receiver's DC IN 6V jack. The rec-
ommended adapter meets these
specifications. Using an adapter that
does not meet these specifications
could damage the receiver or the
adapter.
1. Remove the battery compart-
ment’s cover by sliding the cover
in the direction of the arrow on the
cover’s tab.
7
• When you finish using the AC
adapter, unplug it from the AC out-
let first, then disconnect it from the
receiver.
Caution: You must use a DC
cigarette lighter adapter that
supplies 6 volts DC and deliv-
!
ers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must
be set to negative and its plug must fit
the receiver's DC IN 6V jack. The rec-
ommended DC cigarette lighter adapt-
er meets these specifications. Using
an adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the re-
ceiver or the adapter.
Follow these steps to use AC power.
Caution: Always plug the DC ciga-
rette lighter adapter into the receiver
before you plug it into your vehicle's
cigarette-lighter socket. Always un-
plug the adapter from the vehicle's
cigarette-lighter socket before you un-
plug it from the receiver.
1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to
6V.
2. Line up the 5.5 mm outer diam-
eter/2.1 mm inner diameter
barrel plug with the adapter’s
socket so it reads –TIP, and insert
the plug into the socket.
Follow these steps to power the re-
ceiver from your vehicle’s battery.
3. Insert the barrel plug into the
receiver’s DC IN 6V jack.
4. Plug the adapter into a standard
AC outlet.
Using Vehicle Battery Power
1. Set the DC cigarette lighter
adapter’s voltage switch to 6V.
To power the receiver from your vehi-
cle’s battery, you need an optional DC
cigarette lighter adapter, such as Cat.
No. 273-1802.
8
2. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug
SW — Pull up the antenna base then
fully extend the antenna and point it
straight up.
into the receiver’s DC IN 6V jack.
3. Push the adapter’s plug into the
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
ADJUSTING THE
TELESCOPING
ANTENNA
For the best reception, adjust the tele-
scoping antenna for the desired band.
CONNECTING AN
EXTERNAL ANTENNA
FM — Pull up the antenna base about
halfway then fully extend the antenna
and rotate it for the best reception.
To improve SW/MW/LW reception,
you can connect an optional external
antenna (such as Cat. No. 20-181) di-
rectly to the AM EXT ANT jack on the
left side of the receiver. This automati-
cally disconnects the receiver’s built-in
antenna.
LW and MW (AM) — Rotate the re-
ceiver. The receiver uses a built-in an-
tenna for these bands.
Follow the antenna’s supplied instruc-
tions to connect it to the receiver.
9
• Once you set the volume, do not
increase it. Over time, your ears
adapt to the volume level, so a vol-
ume level that does not cause dis-
comfort might still damage your
hearing.
CONNECTING
HEADPHONES
For private listening and for stereo
sound during FM stereo broadcasts,
you can plug optional stereo head-
1
phones with a /8-inch (3.5 mm) plug
(available at your local RadioShack
Traffic Safety
store) into the
jack on the left side of
the receiver. This automatically dis-
connects the internal speaker.
Do not use headphones with your re-
ceiver when operating a motor vehicle
or riding a bicycle in or near traffic.
Doing so can create a traffic hazard
and could be illegal in some areas.
If you use headphones with your re-
ceiver, be very careful. Do not listen to
a continuous broadcast. Even though
some headphones let you hear some
outside sounds when listening at nor-
mal volume levels, they still can
present a traffic hazard.
When you connect stereo headphones
and tune to a stereo broadcast,
ST
appears on the display.
CONNECTING A TAPE
RECORDER
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these
guidelines when you use headphones.
You can connect an optional tape re-
corder to your receiver’s REC LINE
OUT jack to record transmissions.
• Do not listen at extremely high
volume levels. Extended high-vol-
ume listening can lead to perma-
nent hearing loss.
The recorder must have a line level in-
put jack.
• Set the volume to the lowest set-
ting before you begin listening.
After you begin listening, adjust
the volume to a comfortable level.
Note: If you use a recorder’s MIC IN
jack to connect to the receiver, the
sound will be distorted.
10
To connect a tape recorder, you need
a mono patch cord (not supplied) with
a 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) plug on both ends.
Your local RadioShack store carries a
wide selection of mono patch cords.
Connect one end of the cord to the
REC STANDBY jack, then connect the
other end to your recorder’s STAND-
BY IN or REMOTE IN jack. Then see
“Timer Recording” on Page 33 for
more information about using the re-
ceiver’s timers to record.
Insert the cord’s plug into the REC
LINE OUT jack on the left side of the
receiver, then connect the other end
of the cord to your tape recorder’s
LINE IN jack.
USING THE STAND
Follow the instructions provided with
your tape recorder to record transmis-
sions from the receiver.
You can position the receiver more se-
curely and possibly improve the sound
by resting the receiver on its stand.
Note: When you connect a tape re-
corder, the receiver’s built-in speaker
continues to work.
Lift the latch on the back of the receiver
to open the stand.
The REC STANDBY jack on the left side
of the receiver lets you record a broad-
cast at a preset time.
To connect a tape recorder to the re-
ceiver’s REC STANDBY jack, you need
a mono patch cord (not supplied) with
3
a /32-inch (2.3 mm) plug. And, your
tape recorder must have a STANDBY
IN or REMOTE IN jack rated at no
more than 20V, 150mA.
11
If you are in a country where the AM
frequency increments are 9 kHz, set
MW-STEP to 9k.
USING THE MEMO
LABEL
You can use the memo label under the
receiver’s stand to record helpful infor-
mation, such as the memory location
numbers of your favorite stations.
SETTING THE MW (AM)
TUNING INCREMENT
In the United States, the Federal Com-
munications Commission (FCC) as-
signs frequencies for stations in the
MW band in 10-kHz increments. (In the
United States, we commonly call the
MW band the AM band.) In Europe and
some other parts of the world, MW fre-
quencies are assigned in 9-kHz incre-
ments.
MW-STEP on the right side of the re-
ceiver is preset to 10k for use in the
United States, Canada, and many
South American countries. Depending
on the country you are in, you might
have to change the frequency step.
12
UNDERSTANDING YOUR RECEIVER
Once you understand a few simple terms we use in this manual and familiarize
yourself with your receiver’s features, you can start using your receiver to listen to
the world!
POWER — turns the receiver on and off.
— turns on the display light for about 12 seconds (if you installed batteries) or
until you press
again.
— displays the time in your area using Daylight Saving Time.
SET — lets you set the time.
STEP — sets the tuning range for manual tuning (see “Direct Access Tuning” on
Page 19).
ATS/FM — selects the FM band and lets you select FM stations using your receiv-
er’s automatic tuning system (ATS).
ATS/LW — selects the LW (longwave) band and lets you select LW stations using
your receiver’s automatic tuning system.
13
ATS/MW — selects the MW (medium wave) band and lets you select MW stations
using your receiver’s automatic tuning system.
METER/SW — selects the SW (shortwave) band, and lets you scan for a shortwave
frequency in one of the receiver’s 14 meter bands.
Number Keys — each key has a single-digit label and a band range. The single
digits are used to enter a channel, frequency, or ID number. The band range
(120m, for example) indicates the shortwave band you can tune by pressing that
key.
— enters a decimal point or clears an incorrect entry.
•
C (cancel) — cancels an entry.
F/FREQ (frequency) — lets you tune a frequency directly.
M/MEM — stores frequencies into memory.
ENTER
— enters a frequency.
TIMER 1, TIMER 2, TIMER 3 — let you select any of the receiver’s three timers.
WORLD/HOME — lets you select the time you want to display (world time or your
home time).
AM MODE — lets you set up the alarm timer.
M
— lets you lock out selected frequencies.
EDIT — lets you assign a name for each FM, MW, or LW station or for each page
where you stored an SW station.
PAGE — lets you select either of the receiver’s memory pages (see “Memory Func-
tions” on Page 27).
PRIORITY — tunes to the priority station you set.
TUNING
/
— tunes up or down the band you selected.
14
BASIC OPERATION
Fresh batteries show a power level of
10. If the indicator shows a power lev-
el of 3 or below or BATTLOWflashes,
replace all of the batteries.
TURNING THE RECEIVER
ON AND OFF
Press POWER to turn on the receiver,
then adjust VOLUME to a comfortable
listening level.
Press POWER again to turn off the re-
ceiver.
LIGHTING THE DISPLAY
Press
to light the display in low-
light situations.
The display shows the band, frequen-
cy, time, and signal strength (with 10
as the strongest signal).
Notes:
• If you use battery power, the light
automatically turns off after 12
seconds to save battery power.
• If you use AC or DC power, the
light stays on while the receiver is
on. You must turn off the receiver
to turn off the light.
When you press POWER to turn off the
receiver, the battery power indicator
appears on the display for several
seconds.
LOCKING THE
CONTROLS
The lock feature prevents you from ac-
cidentally turning the receiver on or off,
changing the band or frequency, or us-
ing the front panel buttons.
15
M
Press
to lock all the front panel
The clock display shows a random
time when you install batteries. Follow
these steps to set the local time in the
24-hour format (0:00 – 23:59).
buttons and ROTARY TUNING.
ap-
pears.
1. Repeatedly press WORLD/HOME
HOME
until
flashes.
2. Rotate MANUAL TUNING until the
name of your city (or a city in the
same time zone) appears, then
press ENTER
beeps and the city’s name ap-
pears for 2 seconds then disap-
. The receiver
You can still adjust VOLUME, TONE,
and other controls.
HOME
pear on the display.
pears.
and the time ap-
M
To unlock the buttons, press
again.
disappears.
HOME
3. Press
SET.
flashes.
SETTING AND VIEWING
THE LOCAL TIME
Your receiver has two clocks. One dis-
plays your local time and the other lets
you display the time in any of 42 preset
world cities or a world city you specify.
Once you set your local time, the re-
ceiver automatically calculates the cor-
rect time in each of the preset world
cities or a world city that you specify
and lets you select and display that
time.
HOME
4. While
flashes, use the
number buttons to enter the cor-
rect time.
Notes:
HOME
• If
stops flashing before
you press a number button,
start again at Step 3.
The time zone map on the back of the
receiver shows the difference in hours
between UTC (Universal Time Coordi-
nate — formerly called Greenwich
Mean Time) and each time zone. To
determine your local time from UTC,
add or subtract the specified number
from UTC time. During Daylight Saving
Time, add one more hour.
• Do not precede single-digit
hours with a 0. For example,
enter 930 for 9:30 AM.
• If you make a mistake, press C
to erase the last digit, then
enter the correct digit.
16
• If you enter an invalid time, the
clock beeps twice and E(error)
appears for about 1 second.
Repeat Steps 3–4 to enter the
correct time.
CHANGING A WORLD
CITY NAME
You can change the name of any of
the preprogrammed world cities to a
name you choose, then save the new
name in the receiver’s memory.
5. Press ENTER
. The time you
set appears, and the seconds
start counting from 0.
1. Repeatedly press WORLD/HOME
Note: The receiver does not dis-
play the seconds.
HOME
until
flashes.
2. Turn MANUAL TUNING to select a
city in the same time zone as the
city you want to change.
VIEWING A WORLD TIME
3. Press EDIT. The first character of
the city’s name flashes.
Important: You need to set your local
time before following these steps. See
“Setting and Viewing the Local Time”
on Page 16.
4. Turn MANUAL TUNING to select
the desired character.
5. When the character you want
1. Repeatedly press WORLD/HOME
appears, press TUNING
to
until WORLD flashes.
move to the next position, then
turn MANUAL TUNING to enter the
next character (up to 8 charac-
ters).
2. Rotate MANUAL TUNING until the
name of the world city (or a city in
the same time zone) appears. The
current time in that city appears
on the display.
Note: If you want to correct a
character you entered, press TUN-
ING
to move back to it.
3. To save the displayed city as your
world city, press ENTER
.
6. Press ENTER
. The receiver
stops flashing. Then, the
WORLD
stores the name of the world city
you entered.
world city’s name disappears from
the display within 2 seconds.
4. To return to your home time,
repeatedly press WORLD/HOME
HOME
until
flashes. Your home
city’s name and the time in that
city appear.
HOME
stops
5. Press ENTER
.
flashing.
17
Manual Tuning
TUNING STATIONS
You can select a lower or higher fre-
Note: “Special Tuning Controls” on
Page 24 contains more information
about using your receiver’s controls.
quency by pressing TUNING
or
. The frequency changes in the fol-
lowing increments.
Band
FM
Tuning Increment
0.1 MHz
Selecting a Band
LW
9 kHz
MW
SW
9 or 10 kHz
0.005 MHz
You can also select a higher or lower
frequency by turning MANUAL TUN-
ING.
Press ATS/FM, ATS/LW, ATS/MW, or
METER/SW to select the band. (Press
ATS/MW for AM.)
To select a smaller band within the SW
band, press METER/SW again. When m
flashes on the right side of the display,
enter the desired band by pressing its
labeled key on the keypad. For exam-
ple, to select the 75 meter shortwave
band, press 3.
As you turn MANUAL TUNING, you
might find that you need the frequen-
cies to change more slowly. To
change how quickly the frequencies
change as you rotate the knob, re-
peatedly press STEP on the front of
the receiver so the arrow on the right
side of the display points to FAST or
SLOW.
18
If you set STEP to FAST, the tuning in-
crements are the same as when you
1. Press F/FREQ. The frequency dis-
play disappears and FREQ
flashes for about 30 seconds.
press TUNING
or
. If you select
SLOW, the tuning increments are
smaller so you can fine tune the fre-
quency.
2. Use the number keys and
to
•
enter the frequency, then press
ENTER
.
Notes:
Band
FM
Fast
0.1 MHz
9 kHz
Slow
0.05 MHz
1 kHz
• If you wait more than 30 sec-
onds to press a button, the pre-
vious frequency returns to the
display. Begin again at Step 1.
LW
MW
SW
9/10 kHz
5 kHz
1 kHz
1 kHz
• If you make a mistake, press C
(cancel) to erase the last digit,
then enter the correct digit.
AM Mode
set to USB
or LSB
1 kHz
40 Hz
Note: You can tune standard AM, up-
per sideband (USB), and lower side-
band (LSB) frequencies. For more
information, see “Tuning SSB Sta-
tions” on Page 25.
Scan Tuning
If you set STEP to STOP, turning MAN-
UAL TUNING has no effect at all, so
you cannot accidentally change the
frequency.
To automatically tune up or down to
the next active frequency in the select-
Note: Setting STEP to STOP locks only
MANUAL TUNING. For information
about locking the front panel buttons,
see “Locking the Controls” on
Page 15.
ed band, hold down TUNING
or
for about 1 second. The receiver
scans up or down the selected band
and tunes to the first frequency it finds
with a strong signal.
To scan for an SW (shortwave) fre-
quency in one of the 14 meter bands,
press SW, press the number button
with the meter range you want to scan,
Direct Access Tuning
Follow these steps if you know a sta-
tion’s frequency and want to directly
tune to that station.
then press TUNING
or
to scan
the band.
19
Notes:
• When scanning, the receiver only
memory locations. See “Storing
SW Frequencies in Memory” on
Page 28 for more information.
searches for frequencies with
strong signals. To search for sta-
tions with weaker signals, use one
of the manual tuning methods.
• International commercial broad-
cast programs (often in English)
usually contain news, commentar-
ies, music, and special features
reflecting the culture of the broad-
casting country. Reception for this
range is best between 6:00 PM
and midnight (your time).
• When scanning in a lower band,
the receiver searches only within
the selected band and stops at the
upper and lower limits of the band.
• Your receiver shows the short-
wave bands you can receive on
the bottom of the display.
Follow these steps to tune prepro-
grammed shortwave stations.
1. Find the country and frequency for
the shortwave station you want to
tune in the “DX-398 Shortwave
Pages Chart” on Page 21. Then
write down the page number and
memory location number shown
on the chart for that station.
2. Press SW, then press PAGE.
TUNING
PREPROGRAMMED
SHORTWAVE STATIONS
3. While PAGE is flashing, repeat-
edly press TUNING
or TUNING
or turn MANUAL TUNING until
the page number you wrote down
in Step 1 appears next to PAGE.
The name of the broadcaster’s
country also appears next to
PAGE.
Your receiver is preprogrammed with
212 of the most popular worldwide
and U.S. shortwave stations. You can
quickly tune these popular stations.
Then, when you reach the desired
page number, press ENTER
.
Notes:
4. Press a number key to enter the
memory location number you
wrote down in Step 1. The re-
ceiver tunes the station.
• You cannot change the preset
shortwave stations stored in your
receiver’s memory.
• You can store shortwave frequen-
cies into the receiver’s empty
20
Note: If you press a number key for a memory location number where there is no
station stored, MEMOFREEflashes for a few seconds. Then the receiver tunes the
station you previously tuned.
DX-398 SHORTWAVE PAGES CHART
Note: All frequencies are in MHz.
Memory Location
Country
Page
(Stations)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1 AUSTRLIA 5.995 9.580 9.860 11.800 11.880 13.755 15.365 17.795 17.860
(Radio
Australia)
2 AUSTRIA
(Radio
6.015 7.325 9.495 9.655 9.870 13.730
Austria)
3 CANADA
Radio
5.960 6.070 6.155 9.625 9.640 9.755 11.855 13.650 13.670
Canada
Intl.)
4 CHINA
(China
7.405 9.560 9.690 9.710 9.730 11.680 11.695 15.130
Radio Intl.)
5 CST RICA 5.030 6.150 6.205 7.385 9.725 13.750 15.050 15.460
(Adventist
World
USB
Radio,
Radio for
Peace Intl.)
6 CUBA
6.000 6.180 9.505 9.820 9.380 13.715 13.725
(Radio
USB
USB
Habana)
7 ECUADOR
(HCJB
5.860 9.445 9.745 11.960 12.005 15.115 15.540 21.455
USB
Voice
of Andes)
8 ENGLAND
(BBC World
Service)
5.965 5.975 6.175 6.195 9.515 9.590 9.600 9.740 9.915
21
Memory Location
Country
Page
(Stations)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
9 ENGLAND
(BBC World
Service)
11.750 11.835 12.095 15.220 15.400 15.575 17.830 17.840 21.660
10 FRANCE
(Radio
11.615 13.625 15.325 15.530 17.620
France
Intl.)
11 GERMANY
(Deutsche
Welle-Voice
of Ger-
5.960 6.040 6.085 6.145 6.185 9.515 9.535 9.615 9.640
many)
12 HOLLAND
(Radio
6.020 6.165 9.700 9.720 9.845 9.890 15.315 17.605
Netherlands
Wereldom-
roep)
13 ISRAEL
7.465 9.435 11.605 12.077 15.615 15.640
(Kol Israel)
14 JAPAN
(Radio
5.960 6.110 6.120 9.535 11.705 11.895 12.000 13.630
Japan/NHK)
15 KOREA N
(Radio
6.575 9.975 11.335 13.670
9.650 11.715 13.650 15.575
Pyongyang)
16 KOREA S
(Radio
Korea
Intl.)
17 N ZEALND 6.100 9.570 9.700 9.810 9.875 11.735 11.900 11.905 15.115
(Radio New
Zealand)
18 NORWAY
(Radio
5.905 7.440 7.465 7.520 9.560 11.840 13.800 15.340
Norway
Intl.)
19 RUSSIA
(Voice of
7.125 7.240 7.250 9.665 11.630 11.675 11.750 12.050 15.400
Russia)
22
Memory Location
Country
(Station)
Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
20 S AFRICA 3.220 5.955 9.530 9.675 11.900 15.240
(Channel
Africa)
21 SWEDEN
(Radio
6.065 6.090 7.115 7.290 11.650 13.740 15.240
Sweden)
22 SWITZLND 6.135 9.885 9.905 13.635
(Swiss
Radio
Intl.)
23 TAIWAN
(Voice of
Free
5.950 7.130 7.445 9.680 11.740 15.600 17.750
China)
24 U.S.A.
(Voice of
5.985 6.035 6.130 7.405 9.455 9.760 11.695 11.715 15.205
15.410 15.580 17.895 5.825 6.890 7.425 9.455 11.875 13.615
America)
25 U.S.A.
(Voice of
America,
WEWN)
26 U.S.A.
(WHRI,
5.745 5.760 6.040 7.315 9.495 13.760 9.955 7.355 7.395
WRMI,
WRNO)
27 U.S.A.
5.850 6.095 7.510 7.535 9.355 9.430 11.550 13.770 15.665
3.210 3.215 5.070 7.435 9.475 12.160 15.685 5.085 9.400
(WSHB)
28 U.S.A.
(WWCR,
WGTG)
29 (Open)
23
jack and setting STEREO/ MONO-FM on
the right side of the receiver to STE-
REO.
ADJUSTING THE TONE
To improve reception for weak FM ste-
reo stations, set STEREO/MONO-FM to
MONO-FM. The sound is no longer in
stereo, but the reception should im-
prove.
Set TONE to NEWS to enhance broad-
cast voices while listening to talk
shows or news programs on SW, MW,
and LW frequencies.
WIDE/NARR.-AM
Set TONE to MUSIC to enhance treble
and bass response when listening to a
music program (especially FM pro-
grams).
Set TONE to NORM to help reduce in-
terference.
A strong station that broadcasts close
to a frequency you tuned might inter-
fere with that frequency. To reduce in-
terference from adjacent stations in the
SW, MW, or LW bands, set WIDE/
NARR.-AM on the right side of the re-
ceiver to NARR.-AM. Or, if there is no
interference, set it to WIDE for better
sound.
SPECIAL TUNING
CONTROLS
STEREO/MONO-FM
AM RF GAIN
You can receive FM stereo by con-
necting stereo headphones to the
24
AM RF GAIN on the left side of the re-
ceiver lets you tune a received signal
for the best SW reception. If the signal
is weak, turn AM RF GAIN toward +. If
the sound is distorted, turn AM RF GAIN
toward –.
Note: SSB stations sound dis-
torted when you tune to them in
the normal SW band. To help you
find SSB stations, watch for
deflections on the signal strength
indicator. Since SSB is transmit-
ted with a suppressed carrier, the
signal strength indicator will move
more quickly when there is a
transmission and more slowly dur-
ing pauses in the transmission.
TUNING SSB STATIONS
SSB (single sideband) is very popular
among amateur radio and business ra-
dio users because of its superior signal
quality. Many amateurs who operate
SSB and transmit below 10 MHz gen-
erally use LSB (lower sideband), while
amateur and commercial stations who
transmit above 10 MHz generally use
USB (upper sideband). Your receiver
receives both USB and LSB transmis-
sions.
3. When you have located an SSB
station, press AM MODE to receive
the transmission. Repeatedly
press AM MODE to switch between
USB or LSB transmissions (try
LSB for frequencies below 10
MHz or USB for frequencies
above 10 MHz).
4. Set STEP to SLOW then readjust
MANUAL TUNING for maximum
intelligibility.
Follow these steps to receive SSB
stations.
1. Select an SW band (see “Select-
ing a Band” on Page 18).
USING RDS
The receiver displays information
about FM radio stations that transmit a
Radio Data System (RDS) signal.
When the receiver receives an RDS
station, the station’s call letters appear
on the display. Also, if the station
broadcasts CT (clock time) informa-
tion, the receiver automatically cor-
rects the displayed time.
2. If you know the frequency of an
SSB station, enter that frequency.
Or, scan the band for SSB stations
by slowly rotating MANUAL TUN-
ING, tuning through the selected
band until you hear an SSB sta-
tion. Or, scan the band for USB or
LSB stations by holding down
TUNING
or TUNING
for
about 2 seconds until you hear an
USB or LSB station
25
Follow these steps to use RDS.
1. Turn on the receiver.
2. Tune the receiver to an FM station
that transmits RDS (and CT) infor-
mation.
3. Set TIME SET on the right side of
the receiver to AUTO.
4. Make sure that your local time (as
described in “Setting and Viewing
the Local Time” on Page 16) has
been set correctly. (The receiver
compares the CT information with
your local time to display the cor-
rect time at the broadcaster’s loca-
tion).
5. If your time zone is using Daylight
Saving Time, repeatedly press
until
appears.
26
MEMORY FUNCTIONS
Besides tuning to the preprogrammed
shortwave stations (see “Tuning Pre-
programmed Shortwave Stations” on
Page 20), you can store and then
quickly tune up to 94 frequencies in
your receiver’s memory locations. The
memory locations are grouped into
pages (nine memory locations per
page).
stations (from strongest to weakest) in
the FM, LW, and MW memory loca-
tions until all the memory locations are
occupied. This feature helps you find
local stations in another city by simply
pressing a memory location button.
Note: You cannot use this feature to
store SW stations.
To use ATS, hold down ATS/FM, ATS/
LW, or ATS/MW for about 3 seconds.
The receiver beeps and the selected
band and ATSflash. Then the receiv-
er automatically scans and stores the
strongest frequency into the first avail-
able memory location. It continues to
scan and store frequencies until it fills
the nine memory locations in that
page.
You can store up to 18 FM frequen-
cies (2 pages), 18 MW frequencies (2
pages), and 9 LW frequencies (1
page) into your receiver’s FM/MW/LW
memory locations. You can store fre-
quencies automatically (see “Automat-
ic Storage”) or manually (see “Manual
Storage”).
Additionally, you can store frequencies
into any empty memory location in the
receiver’s SW memory pages (see
“Storing SW Frequencies in Memory”
on Page 28). There are 40 empty lo-
cations scattered throughout the pag-
es, and all 9 locations in Page 29 are
blank. See “DX-398 Shortwave Pages
Chart” on Page 21.
The first stored station appears. Once
the receiver has stored nine stations
in Page 1, press PAGE to select the
next page. Then hold down ATS/FM or
ATS/MW again to store the other avail-
able frequencies. The receiver beeps
when it finishes automatically tuning
stations.
STORING FM, MW, OR
LW FREQUENCIES IN
MEMORY
Manual Storage
1. Press ATS/FM, ATS/MW, or ATS/LW
to select the band where you want
to store a frequency.
2. Tune to the frequency you want to
store.
Automatic Storage
You can set your receiver’s automatic
tuning system (ATS) so it automatically
stores all available FM, LW, and MW
27
3. Repeatedly press PAGE to select
the page where you want to store
the frequency. 1 or 2 appears
under PAGE.
ING
or
to select a new
frequency, press M/MEM, then
press the number key for the
memory location. After a few sec-
onds, the receiver beeps and
stores the new frequency in the
memory location.
Notes:
• PAGE flashes only when the
receiver is set to SW mode.
5. Press ENTER
to store the fre-
• If you wait more than 10 sec-
onds to press PAGE, PAGE
stops flashing.
quency in the flashing memory
location. The receiver beeps and
a bracket appears around the
memory location number where
you stored the frequency, to show
that the frequency was stored
there.
• If you pressed ATS/LW in Step
1, PAGE does not appear be-
cause there is only one LW
page.
4. Press M/MEM. MEMO flashes for
about 12 seconds. The number for
the first available empty memory
location for the selected page
flashes next to MEMO.
STORING SW
FREQUENCIES IN
MEMORY
Follow these steps to store shortwave
frequencies into empty memory loca-
tions in the shortwave page.
1. Press METER/SW to select the
shortwave band.
2. Tune to the frequency you want to
store. The currently selected page
number appears under PAGE.
Note: If an empty memory loca-
tion number does not flash, all
memory locations are full in the
band you selected. If this hap-
pens, clear a memory location
3. Press M/MEM. PAGE and MEMO
flash for about 10 seconds.
(see “Deleting
a
Station You
Stored” on Page 30) then store
the frequency. Or, to replace a
stored frequency with a new fre-
quency, repeatedly press TUN-
28
4. While PAGE and MEMO flash,
repeatedly press TUNING or
location for about 2 seconds.
The receiver beeps and stores
the new frequency in the mem-
ory location.
to select the page where you
want to store the frequency.
The page’s number appears
under PAGEand the name of the
page’s country appears as you
ASSIGNING A NAME TO
AN FM/MW/LW STATION
OR SW PAGE
press TUNING
or
. For
each page, the number of the first
available empty memory location
in that page flashes next to MEMO.
To help you easily identify stored fre-
quencies, you can assign a name (up
to 8 characters) to an FM, MW, or LW
memory location, or to an SW page.
1. Select a band (see “Selecting a
Band” on Page 18).
Note: If you wait more than 10
seconds to press TUNING
or
2. Repeatedly press PAGE to select
the page number where you
stored the desired frequency.
, PAGEand MEMOstop flash-
ing. If this happens, start again at
Step 3.
3. For an FM, MW, or LW station,
use the number keys to enter the
desired memory location number.
5. Press ENTER
to assign the
frequency to the flashing memory
location. The receiver beeps and
a bracket appears around the
number where you stored the fre-
quency.
4. Press EDIT. A cursor flashes
under the displayed frequency for
about 30 seconds.
5. While the cursor flashes, turn
MANUAL TUNING until you see the
first character you want to use.
Notes:
• If the receiver’s memory is full,
MEMOFULL appears when you
press a number key.
• To replace a frequency you
stored with a new frequency,
repeatedly press TUNING
or TUNING
to select a new
frequency, press M/MEM, then
hold down the number key cor-
responding to that memory
29
Note: If you wait more than 20
seconds to turn MANUAL TUNING,
the cursor stops flashing. If this
happens, start again at Step 4.
LOCKING/UNLOCKING A
STORED STATION
After storing your favorite stations, you
can lock any of them in memory. This
helps you avoid overwriting the station
if you accidentally use the receiver’s
ATS automatic store feature.
6. When the character you want
appears, press TUNING
to
move to the next position, then
rotate MANUAL TUNING to select
the next character.
To lock or unlock a station, recall the
station, press M/MEM then press
Note: If you want to correct a
character you entered, press TUN-
M
.
appears (locked) or dis-
ING
7. When you have finished entering
the name, press ENTER
to move back to it.
appears (unlocked).
.
MOVING A FREQUENCY
TO ANOTHER MEMORY
LOCATION
DELETING A STATION
YOU STORED
Note: These steps show you how to
move a frequency to another memory
location on the same page. To move
the frequency to another memory lo-
cation on a different page, follow the
steps in “Storing FM, MW, or LW Fre-
quencies in Memory” on Page 27 or
“Storing SW Frequencies in Memory”
on Page 28.
1. Select a band (see “Selecting a
Band” on Page 18).
2. Press ENTER
.
3. Repeatedly press PAGE until the
page with the desired frequency
appears.
4. Use the number keys to enter the
memory location number.
1. Select a band (see “Selecting a
Band” on Page 18).
5. Press M/MEM.
2. Recall the memory location num-
ber of the frequency you want to
move.
6. Press C (cancel).
3. Press M/MEM. MEMO and the
memory location where the sta-
tion is programmed flash.
30
4. Use the number keys to enter the
new memory location number.
The receiver beeps.
3. Press PRIORITY to store the page
with the desired station in the pri-
ority location.
Note: If you previously stored a
priority station, pressing PRIORITY
replaces it.
USING PRIORITY
You can store one MW/LW/FM station
as the priority station, then quickly re-
call it.
4. To tune to the priority station,
press PRIORITY. The receiver
tunes to the page you selected
then to the strongest frequency
among the 9 preset stations.
1. Tune to your favorite station.
2. Press M/MEM.
Note: If there is a stronger station
on the page you selected, the
receiver might tune to it instead of
the station you selected.
3. Press PRIORITY to store the sta-
tion in the priority location.
Note: If you previously stored a
priority station, pressing PRIORITY
replaces it.
5. Press the memory location num-
ber you selected in Step 1 under
“Tuning Preprogrammed Short-
wave Stations” on Page 20 to tune
to the priority station.
4. To tune to the priority station,
press PRIORITY. The receiver
tunes to the priority station.
The receiver stores a SW priority sta-
tion differently than an MW/LW/FM
station. It stores a page containing 9
stations (including the SW station you
want to store as the priority station) in
a memory location.
1. Use the steps under “Tuning Pre-
programmed Shortwave Stations”
on Page 20 to tune to the page
where you stored your favorite
shortwave station.
2. Press M/MEM to store the page
containing the desired station.
31
TIMER FUNCTIONS
Silencing the Alarm
USING THE TIMER
ALARMS
When the display shows the alarm
time, the radio turns on or the buzzer
Your receiver has three timer alarms.
You can set these alarms to sound
(buzzer or radio) at a time you set.
sounds and
, 1, 2, or 3, and
TIMER
or
flash on the display.
If you selected the buzzer, its volume
increases after several seconds. After
a few more seconds, the buzzer’s vol-
ume increases again. Then, after 60
seconds, the buzzer turns itself off
and sounds again the next day at the
set time.
Setting an Alarm
1. If you want the radio to turn on at
the alarm time, tune to the desired
station. Then press M/MEM. MEMO
and the memory location where
the station is programmed flash
for about 10 seconds.
If you selected the radio, it automati-
cally turns off after 60 minutes. To si-
lence the radio or the buzzer sooner,
press POWER to turn off the receiver.
2. Press TIMER 1, TIMER 2, or TIMER
3 twice.
number, and
, the selected timer
(buzzer) flash for
TIMER
, 1, 2, or 3, and
or
dis-
TIMER
about 10 seconds.
appear and the alarm sounds again
the next day at the set time.
Note: If MEMO stops flashing
before you press TIMER 1, TIMER
2, or TIMER 3, start again from
Step 2.
Using the Snooze Feature
To silence the buzzer or radio alarm for
about 5 minutes, press any button ex-
3. To select the type of alarm (buzzer
or radio), repeatedly press AM
Z
Z
M
Z
cept POWER,
, or
.
MODE until
for the buzzer or
flashes above
. This temporarily
for the radio flashes next to
silences the buzzer or radio and then it
sounds again. You can repeat this for
up to 30 minutes using the buzzer
alarm or up to 60 minutes using the ra-
dio alarm.
.
TIMER
Note: If
or
, stops flashing
before you press AM MODE, start
again from Step 2.
4. Use the number keys to enter the
time you want the alarm to sound.
Note: The snooze feature does not
work if a plug is connected to the REC
LINE OUT jack.
5. Press ENTER
.
6. Turn the receiver off.
32
Turning a Timer Alarm
On or Off
USING THE SLEEP
TIMER
To turn off the alarm so it does not
sound again, press TIMER 1, TIMER 2,
The sleep timer lets you set the re-
ceiver to turn off in an amount of time
you set.
or TIMER 3. Then press C while
TIMER
flashes.
1. With the receiver off, hold down
POWER until the receiver beeps
and turns on. 90 appears and
flashes.
If you want to turn on a timer alarm
again, press TIMER 1, TIMER 2, or TIM-
ER 3. Then press ENTER
and 1, 2, or 3flash.
while
TIMER
After a few seconds, 90 disap-
Timer Recording
pears and
stops flashing.
You can connect a tape recorder to
the receiver and have it record starting
at a preset time.
2. Tune to the desired station.
After the preset number of minutes, the
receiver turns off. To turn off the re-
ceiver sooner, press POWER.
Connect your tape recorder as de-
scribed in “Connecting a Tape Re-
corder” on Page 10 and set your tape
recorder to record. Then follow the
steps in “Using the Timer Alarms” on
Page 32 to have the radio start to play
at the time you want.
To change the playing time after you
set it, hold down POWER. The sleep
timer changes from 90 → 80 → 70 →
60 → 50 → 40 → 30 → 20 → 10 → 90
minutes, repeating the sequence as
you hold down POWER. Release POW-
ER when the desired amount of time
appears.
When the radio plays at the time you
set, the tape recorder starts and
records the broadcast.
33
LISTENING HINTS
Shortwave listening is a hobby with
thousands of participants worldwide. It
requires no special knowledge or
skills, but your enjoyment increases as
you gain experience and develop spe-
cial listening techniques.
using the frequency’s wavelength. For
example, the 19-meter band refers to
the range of frequencies with waves
about 19 meters long.
Use the following equations to convert
kHz, MHz, and meters.
The information in this section can help
you make the most of your DX-398.
To convert MHz to kHz, multiply by
1,000. For example:
9.62 MHz × 1000 = 9,620 kHz
REFERENCE SOURCES
To convert kHz to MHz, divide by
1,000. For example:
Many books and magazines about
shortwave listening are available
through your local library or news-
stand. Consult sources such as the
World Radio Handbook, Radio Ama-
teur’s Handbook, Passport to World
Band Radio, Monitoring Times, and
Popular Communications. These pub-
lications can help you learn about the
conditions that make long-distance re-
ception possible and provide up-to-
date listings for shortwave broadcasts
in English and in other languages.
2780 kHz ÷ 1000 = 2.780 MHz
To convert MHz to meters, divide 300
by the number of MHz. For example:
300 ÷ 7.1 MHz = 42.25 meters
To convert meters to MHz, divide 300
by the number of meters. For exam-
ple:
300 ÷ 42.25 meters = 7.1 MHz
BAND ALLOCATION
FREQUENCY
CONVERSION
Certain bands are set aside for specific
purposes.
A band is a group of frequencies.
Sometimes, bands are grouped ac-
cording to their wavelengths, in
meters. The tuning location of a station
can be expressed as a frequency (kHz
or MHz) or a wavelength (meters).
Amateur Radio Frequencies
Tuning to the amateur radio frequen-
cies can be interesting and helpful, be-
cause amateur radio operators often
broadcast emergency information
when other means of communication
break down.
Amateur radio operators generally re-
fer to the frequencies they operate on
34
Amateur radio operators use the fol-
lowing bands. Portions of these bands
are set aside for continuous wave
(CW) Morse code communication or
for single sideband (SSB) voice com-
munication, as shown below.
International Frequencies
International commercial broadcasts
are found in the following shortwave
bands. Programs (often in English)
usually contain news, commentaries,
music, and special features reflecting
the culture of the broadcasting country.
Reception for this range is best be-
tween 6:00 PM and midnight (your
time).
160 meters:
1,800–2,000 kHz: SSB
80 meters:
3,500–3,800 kHz: CW
3,800–4,000 kHz: SSB
Frequency
Band
Range
(in meters)
(in MHz)
40 meters:
120
*
2.300–2.495
3.200–3.400
7,000–7,150 kHz: CW
7,150–7,300 kHz: SSB
90
75
*
*
3.900–4.000
20 meters:
* 60
49
4.750–5.060
14,000–14,200 kHz: CW
14,200–14,350 kHz: SSB
5.900–6.200
**41
31
7.100–7.350
15 meters:
9.400–9.990
21,000–21,250 kHz: CW
21,250–21,450 kHz: SSB
25
11.600–12.100
13.500–13.870
15.100–15.800
17.480–17.900
21.450–21.750
25.600–26.100
21
10 meters:
19
16
28,000–28,500 kHz: CW
28,500–29,700 kHz: SSB
13
11
Note: These ranges are not precisely
observed everywhere in the world.
* These bands are reserved for sta-
tions in tropical areas.
** Interference is heavy in the 41m
band (7.100–7.300 MHz) because am-
ateur radio operators and international
stations share this range.
35
Aircraft Frequencies
Time Standard Frequencies
Aircraft on international routes some-
times use SW. Most transmissions are
in SSB, although you can still hear
some MW transmissions. Here are
some bands where you might hear air-
craft communications.
The following frequencies announce
the exact time of day at specified inter-
vals.
WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado:
2,500 kHz
5,000 kHz
10,000 kHz
15,000 kHz
20,000 kHz
4,650–4,750 kHz
6,545–6,765 kHz
8,815–9,040 kHz
11,175–11,400 kHz
13,200–13,360 kHz
15,010–15,100 kHz
17,900–18,030 kHz
CHU in Canada: 7,335 kHz
VNG in Australia:
4,500 and 12,000 kHz
Ships and Coastal Station
Frequencies
Longwave Band
The 150–519 kHz range is known as
the longwave band. Most stations in
this range serve as beacons for aircraft
and marine navigation by continuously
transmitting their call letters. Recep-
tion for this range is best between 6:00
PM and midnight (your time).
Most transmissions from ships and
coastal stations are in SSB and CW.
You can hear these transmissions in
the following bands.
2,000–2,300 kHz*
4,063–4,139 kHz
4,361–4,438 kHz
8,195–8,181 kHz
12,330–12,420 kHz
13,107–13,200 kHz
16,460–16,565 kHz
Some ships also use this range, with
500 kHz set aside as an international
distress and emergency station.
Most stations in this range use CW
(Morse code), although some use AM
voice transmission for weather broad-
casts.
* The Coast Guard and small boats
use this band, with 2,182 kHz set aside
as the international distress and emer-
gency channel.
36
LISTENING GUIDE
The following list contains some of the more frequently heard stations. All stations
broadcast in English unless otherwise specified. You can hear these stations
throughout North America. However, reception varies based on the season, time of
day, and a number of other conditions.
This information can change at any time. For sources of yearly, up-to-date listings,
see “Reference Sources” on Page 34.
kHz
Station
Location
Remarks
3,223
3,265
3,300
Radio SR
Swaziland
Radio Mozambique
Radio Cultural
Maputo, Mozambique
Guatemala City,
Guatemala
Religious Programs
3,380
3,385
Radio Iris
FR3
Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Programs in Spanish
Programs in French
Cayenne,
French Guiana
3,396
4,750
4,755
4,777
4,795
Radio Kaduna
Kaduna, Nigeria
Bertoua, Cameroon
Imo, Nigeria
Radio Bertoua
Imo Regional Radio
Radio/TV Gabon
Libreville, Gabon
La Paz, Bolivia
Programs in French
Programs in Spanish
Radio Nueva
America
4,820
4,832
4,855
Radio Paz y Bien
Radio Reloj
Ambala, Ecuador
San Jose, Costa Rica
Belem, Brazil
Programs in Spanish
Programs in Spanish
Radio Clube do
Para
Programs in
Portugese
4,890
National
Papua New Guinea
Broadcasting
Commission
4,915
4,920
Voice Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya
Australian
Brisbane, Australia
Broadcasting
Commission
4,945
4,965
4,980
Radio Colosal
Radio Santa Fe
Ecos del Torbes
Neiva, Colombia
Bogota, Colombia
Programs in Spanish
Programs in Spanish
Programs in Spanish
San Cristobal,
Venezuela
5,020
5,057
Solomon Islands
Broadcasting
Service
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Radio Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster, Albania
Programs in Albanian
37
kHz
Station
Location
Remarks
5,950
Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
Broadcasting
Service
5,954
5,960
5,980
Radio Casino
Puerto Limon,
Costa Rica
Radio Canada
International
Montreal, Canada
Radio RSA
Johannesburg, South
Africa
6,005
6,025
CFCX
Montreal, Canada
Radio Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Programs in Chinese
Programs in Japanese
6,045
6,055
Radio Australia
Lyndhurst, Australia
Tokyo, Japan
Nihon Shortwave
Broadcasting
Company
6,060
Radio Nacional
Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Programs in Spanish
Programs in Spanish
6,075
6,090
Radio Sutatenza
Bogota, Colombia
Radio
Luxembourg
Ville Louvigny,
Luxembourg
6,095
6,105
Polskie Radio
Warsaw, Poland
Radio New Zealand
Wellington, New
Zealand
7,140
7,170
Trans World
Radio
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Radio Noumea
Noumea, New
Caledonia
Programs in French
7,300
9,475
9,515
9,525
9,530
Radio Tirana
Radio Cairo
Tirana, Albania
Cairo, Egypt
Voice of Greece
Radio Korea
Athens, Greece
Seoul, South Korea
Madrid, Spain
Spanish Foreign
Radio
9,535
9,540
Swiss Radio
International
Berne, Switzerland
Radio Prague
Prague,
Czech Republic
9,570
9,575
Radio Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania
Rome, Italy
Italian Radio and
Television Service
38
kHz
Station
Location
Remarks
9,610
9,620
Radio-TV Algeria
Algiers, Algeria
Programs in Arabic
Radio Berlin
International
Berlin, Germany
9,645
Radio Norway
Radio Iran
Oslo, Norway
9,720
Tehran, Iran
Programs in Farsi
9,745
HCJB
Quito, Ecuador
Vienna, Austria
Kiev, Ukraine
9,770
Austrian Radio
Radio Kiev
9,800
9,835
Radio Budapest
Voice of Vietnam
Israel Radio
Radio Kuwait
Radio Sweden
Radio Moscow
Radio Sofia
Budapest, Hungary
Hanoi, Vietnam
Jerusalem, Israel
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Stockholm, Sweden
Moscow, Russia
Sofia, Bulgaria
Taipei, Taiwan
10,040
11,655
11,690
11,705
11,720
11,735
11,745
Voice of Free
China
11,815
11,825
11,835
11,845
Radio Japan
Radio Tahiti
4VEH
Tokyo, Japan
Papeete, Tahiti
Cap Haitien, Haiti
Montreal, Canada
Programs in Tahitian
Radio Canada
International
11,850
11,890
11,900
Deutsche Welle
Voice of Chile
Radio RSA
Cologne, Germany
Santiago, Chile
Johannesburg, South
Africa
11,910
11,930
BBC
London, England
Havana, Cuba
Radio Havana
Cuba
11,935
11,945
11,955
11,980
15,038
Radio Portugal
Radio Beijing
Voice of Turkey
Radio Moscow
Lisbon, Portugal
Beijing, China
Ankara, Turkey
Moscow, Russia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian
Broadcasting
Service
Programs in Arabic
39
kHz
Station
Location
Remarks
15,084
15,135
15,165
15,190
15,205
15,260
15,265
15,275
15,305
Voice of Iran
Tehran, Iran
Programs in Farsi
Radio Moscow
HCJB
Moscow, Russia
Quito, Ecuador
ORU
Brussels, Belgium
New Delhi, India
London, England
Helsinki, Finland
Stockholm, Sweden
Berne, Switzerland
All India Radio
BBC
Finnish Radio
Radio Sweden
Swiss Radio
International
15,310
15,320
15,400
15,430
Radio Japan
Radio Australia
BBC
Tokyo, Japan
Melbourne, Australia
London, England
Mexico City, Mexico
Radio Mexico
Programs in
Spanish
15,465
17,720
Radio Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Paris, France
Programs in Urdu
Radio France
International
17,825
17,860
21,495
21,525
21,625
21,645
Vatican Radio
Austrian Radio
Israel Radio
Vatican City
Vienna, Austria
Jerusalem, Israel
Melbourne, Australia
Jerusalem, Israel
Paris, France
Radio Australia
Israel Radio
Radio France
International
21,735
25,790
Radio-TV Morocco
Radio RSA
Rabat, Morocco
Programs in Arabic
Johannesburg, South
Africa
40
BIRDIES
Birdies are the products of internally generated signals that make some frequencies
difficult or impossible to receive. If you program a birdie frequency, you hear only
noise on that frequency. The most common birdies to watch for on this receiver are:
450 kHz
3,844 kHz
9,000 kHz
10,250 kHz
21,868 kHz
18,000 kHz
20,490 kHz
21,835 kHz
Notes:
• See “Storing SW Frequencies in Memory” on Page 28 for more information
about using the shortwave page 29.
• Interference from devices such as dimmer switches and motors and atmo-
spheric conditions can disrupt shortwave listening. You can minimize interfer-
ence by moving the receiver away from the source of noise, or turning off the
offending device. Shortwave stations sometimes change their operating fre-
quency to avoid interfering with other stations, to improve reception during dif-
ferent seasons, or to take advantage of signal propagation changes due to sun
spots. For this reason, a given station might not be found on the frequency
listed in memory. Reception of these stations can also be affected by rapid
changes in the ionosphere. Sometimes the station you are listening to might
fade out completely. These occurrences are normal shortwave listening condi-
tions.
AMATEUR SHORTWAVE BANDS IN THE US
Amateur radio operators in the U.S.A. are found in the bands listed here. They op-
erate mostly in LSB (Lower Side Band) mode. Morse code operators are generally
found in the lower areas of each band. The amateur radio operators with the most
advanced classification are found in the upper areas of each band.
41
Amateur Shortwave Bands (in MHz)
3.500 – 4.000 MHZ
80 Meters
7.000 – 7.300 MHz
14.0 – 14.350 MHz
21.000 – 21.450 MHz
28.000 – 29.700 MHz
40 Meters
20 Meters
15 Meters
10 Meters
10.100 – 10.150 MHz 30 Meters
18.068 – 18.168 MHz 17 Meters
24.890 – 24.990 MHz 12 Meters
42
TROUBLESHOOTING
We do not expect you to have any problems with your receiver, but if you have a
problem, the information in this chart might help. If the problem persists, take the
receiver to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
SYMPTOM
POSSIBLE CAUSE
SUGGESTION
Weak or intermittent
sound.
The internal batteries
are weak.
Check the batteries and
replace or recharge
them as necessary.
The antenna must be
adjusted.
Adjust the telescoping
antenna or connect an
external antenna.
The signal is blocked by
metal or concrete.
Move the receiver near a
window when you use it
inside a vehicle or metal-
frame building.
The frequency is not
tuned properly.
Fine-tune the frequen-
cy. See “Tuning Sta-
tions” on Page 18.
Scanning stops on a fre- The frequency is not
Fine-tune the frequen-
cy. See “Tuning Sta-
tions” on Page 18.
quency that has an un-
clear transmission.
tuned properly.
The frequency is one of
the receiver’s birdie fre-
quencies.
Tune another frequency.
Frequency does not
change when you turn
ROTARY TUNING.
FAST/SLOW/STOP is set
to STOP.
Set FAST/SLOW/STOP to
FAST or SLOW.
M
ROTARY TUNING and
front panel buttons do
not respond.
The keypad is locked
Press
.
(
appears on the
display).
43
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your RadioShack DX-398 All-Band Shortwave Receiver with Radio Data
System is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following
suggestions will help you care for your receiver so you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the receiver dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liq-
uids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic cir-
cuits.
Use and store the receiver only in normal temperature environ-
ments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic
devices, damage batteries, and distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the receiver away from dust and dirt, which can cause pre-
mature wear of parts.
Handle the receiver gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage
circuit boards and cases and can cause the receiver to work im-
properly.
Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended
type. Batteries can leak chemicals that damage your receiver’s
electronic parts.
Wipe the receiver with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking
new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong de-
tergents to clean the receiver.
Modifying or tampering with the receiver’s internal components can cause a
malfunction and might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC authoriza-
tion to operate it. If your receiver is not performing as it should, take it to your
local RadioShack store for assistance.
44
RESETTING THE
DISPLAY
If the display shows random charac-
ters or does not work properly, you
might need to reset it.
Important: This procedure clears the
set time and resets the receiver’s mi-
croprocessor (the component that
controls how the receiver operates),
but all stations remain stored. Reset
the receiver only when you are sure it
is not working properly.
To reset the display, insert a pointed
object, such as a straightened paper
clip, into the RESET hole on the bot-
tom of the receiver. Then gently press
and release the button inside the hole.
45
SPECIFICATIONS
Circuit:
FM ..................................................................................................... Heterodyne
LW/MW/SW ........................................................... Dual-Conversion Heterodyne
Frequency Range:
FM ................................................................................................... 88–108 MHz
LW .................................................................................................. 153–519 kHz
MW .............................................................................................. 520–1,710 kHz
SW ......................................................................................... 1.711–29.999 MHz
SW Sub-Bands:
2.300 – 2.495 MHz (120 meters)
3.200 – 3.400 MHz (90 meters)
3.900 – 4.000 MHz (75 meters)
4.750 – 5.060 MHz (60 meters)
5.900 – 6.200 MHz (49 meters)
7.100 – 7.350 MHz (41 meters)
9.400 – 9.990 MHz (31 meters)
11.600 – 12.100 MHz (25 meters)
13.500 – 13.870 MHz (21 meters)
15.100 – 15.800 MHz (19 meters)
17.480 – 17.900 MHz (16 meters)
18.900 – 19.020 MHz (15 meters)
21.450 – 21.750 MHz (13 meters)
25.600 – 26.100 MHz (11 meters)
Antenna:
LW/MW .................................................................................................... Built-In
SW ................................................................... Telescoping or Optional External
FM .................................................................................................... Telescoping
Output ............................................................................... 300 mW @ 10% THD
Jacks:
External Power .................................................................................... DC IN 6V
Stereo Headphones ................................................................................ 1/8-Inch
AM External Antenna .......................................................................... DC IN 6V
3
Record Standby ........................................................................... /32-Inch Mono
Record Line Out ............................................................................ 1/8-Inch Mono
Power Sources:
Primary ......................................................................................... 4 AA Batteries
AC (Requires Optional Adapter) ....................... 6V/300mA, Center Tip Negative
DC (Requires Optional Adapter) ...................... 6V/300mA, Center Tip Negative
Battery Life (with Alkaline Batteries) ........................................ 13 Hours @ 50 mW
Dimensions (HWD) ............................. 51/8 × 83/4 × 11/4 Inches (130 × 223 × 33 mm)
Weight (without batteries) ............................................................... 24.7 oz (700 g)
Included Accessory ......................................................................... Carrying Pouch
Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to
change and improvement without notice.
46
NOTES
47
Limited Ninety-Day Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workman-
ship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from RadioShack 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 LIABIL-
ITY OR RESPONSIBILITY 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 WAR-
RANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM INCONVE-
NIENCE, LOSS OF TIME, DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF RadioShack HAS BEEN AD-
VISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion of in-
cidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions 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. RadioShack will, at its option, un-
less 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 products, and products on which a refund is made, become the prop-
erty 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 instructions, improper installation or
maintenance, alteration, lightning or other incidence of excess 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, 200 Taylor Street, 6th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell
04/99
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
3818626A
08A00
Printed in Taiwan
|