Sangean ATS-909X2 Radio

Important Safety Instructions

Always read and understand all safety instructions and user guides before operating the radio. Keep the manual for future reference and follow all warnings on the unit and in the instructions. Avoid using the radio near water, on unstable surfaces, or in areas with poor ventilation. Ensure proper power supply usage and do not overload electrical outlets. Never attempt to repair the unit yourself, as this may expose you to dangerous voltages and void the warranty. Servicing should only be performed by qualified professionals.

Your ATS-909X2 Radio

The ATS-909X2 is a versatile radio receiver featuring:

• Reception of FM, SW, MW, LW, and AIR bands.
• Automatic station seeking for FM, LW, MW, and SW bands.
• 1674 station memory presets across 3 databases.
• Local and International time display with 2 configurable city names.
• UKW RDS with PS, PTY, RT, and CT functions.
• AM RF gain control for enhanced reception.
• SSB (Single Sideband) reception with USB/LSB modes and adjustable tuning intervals.
• 3 alarm timers with snooze function.
• Large LCD display with backlight.
• Integrated battery charger for rechargeable batteries.

Package Contents

The package typically includes:

• ANT-60 Retractable, mobile shortwave antenna.
• Headphones.
• Sangean ATS-909X2 with carrying case.
• AC power adapter (available for Europe and USA).

Buttons and Connections

The radio features numerous buttons and connections for its various functions:

• Time Setting Button (1): For setting the clock.
• Summer Time Button (2): To activate/deactivate summer time.
• Local/International Button (3): To set local or world time.
• Speaker: Built-in speaker.
• Timer Buttons (5): For setting and viewing alarms.
• SSB/Alarm Mode Button (6): To switch between SSB bands and set alarm modes.
• LCD Display (7): Shows various information.
• Squelch Button (8): To adjust the squelch setting.
• Memory/Sleep Timer Button (10): To turn the radio on/off and set the sleep timer.
• Backlight Button (11): To adjust backlight brightness.
• Volume Control (12): Adjusts audio volume.
• Frequency Band Switch (13): Selects automatic or manual bandwidth.
• Tone Control (14): Adjusts audio tone (Music/Normal/News).
• Key Lock Button (15): Activates/deactivates key lock.
• Tuning Knob (16): Navigates menus and tunes frequencies.
• Interval Button (17): Sets tuning interval and confirms selections.
• Seek Up/Down Buttons (18): Scan for stations or navigate menus.
• Numeric Keypad (19): For entering frequencies and selecting presets.
• ATS/METER/SW Button (20): Selects SW band and meter bands.
• ATS/MW/LW Button (21): Selects MW/LW bands and initiates ATS for these bands.
• ATS/UKW Button (22): Selects UKW band and initiates ATS for UKW.
• AIR Button (23): Selects AIR band and scans pages.
• Memory Button (24): Stores radio stations.
• Frequency Button (25): For direct frequency entry.
• Bandwidth Button (26): Selects bandwidth.
• Page Button (27): Selects memory pages.
• Edit Button (28): Edits station names or city names.
• Info/Menu Button (29): Displays signal information or opens the menu.
• Enter Button (30): Confirms user input.
• Cancel Button (31): Clears input or cancels operations.
• Decimal Point Button (32): Enters decimal points and sets AM/PM.
• Telescopic Antenna (33): For improved reception.
• Fold-out Stand (34): Supports the radio.
• AUX IN Jack (35): For external audio input.
• AM EXT. ANT Jack (36): For external AM antenna.
• REC. STANDBY Jack (37): For timed recording activation.
• LINE OUT Jack (38): For stereo audio output.
• AUX IN Button (39): Activates/deactivates AUX input.
• AM RF Gain Control (40): Adjusts RF gain for AM.
• DC Input Jack (41): For external power adapter.
• Headphone Jack (42): For stereo headphone output.
• Battery Compartment (43): Holds batteries.
• Data-IN A/B Jacks (44, 45): For factory configuration only.
• Reset Button (46): Resets microprocessor and clock.
• Battery Switch (47): Selects battery type (Alkaline/NiMH/NiCad).
• MW Seek Interval Button (48): Sets MW seek interval.

Display Indicators

The LCD display shows various indicators:

• Key Lock (A)
• Local/International (B)
• Summer Time (C)
• RDS CT (D)
• PM Indicator (E)
• Time (F)
• SSB (G)
• Snooze Function (H)
• Sleep Timer (I)
• Timer (J)
• Alarm with Radio (K)
• Alarm with Buzzer (L)
• Timer Number (M)
• Squelch (N)
• Tuning Interval (O)
• Signal Level (P)
• Meter Band (Q)
• kHz/MHz (R)
• Stored Station (S)
• STEP MUTE (T)
• Text Display (U)
• Memory Lock (V)
• Frequency (W)
• Memory Display (X)
• Page (Y)
• Frequency Band (Z)
• RDS Display (Aa)
• UKW Stereo (Ab)
• Battery Status (Ac)
• Bandwidth (Ad)

First Steps

Turning on the Radio

The ATS-909X2 can be powered by batteries or the AC adapter.

Option 1: Batteries

1. Open the battery compartment cover (43).
2. Insert 4 x UM-3 (AA) batteries, observing polarity.
3. Set the battery switch (47) to the appropriate position (Alkaline or NiMH/NiCad).
4. Close the battery compartment. The display will show battery capacity (Ac). Replace batteries when capacity is low or blinking.

Note: Do not mix battery types. Replace batteries within 3 minutes of removing old ones to retain clock settings.

Option 2: External AC Adapter

Use the supplied AC adapter or an equivalent 9V DC, 1.2A adapter with a positive center pin. Connect the adapter to the DC IN jack (41) and then to a power outlet. Batteries are automatically disconnected when the adapter is connected.

Setting Time Format

You can choose between 12-hour or 24-hour format. To set:

1. Press and hold the Menu button (29) to open the menu.
2. Use the Tuning knob (16) to select '24H' or '12H'.
3. Press the Interval button (17) or Enter button (30) to confirm.

Setting the Time

The time can be set with the radio on or off.

Setting Local Time and Time Zone

1. Press the Local/International button (3). The HOME indicator (B) will blink.
2. Use the Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18) to select your city or a city in your time zone.
3. Press Enter (30) to confirm.
4. Set the time using the Time Setting button (1) or numeric keypad (19).
5. Press Enter (30) to confirm. If using 12-hour format, use the Decimal Point button (32) for AM/PM.

Setting International Time

To set a second time zone for international time:

1. Press the Local/International button (3) twice. The WORLD indicator (B) will blink.
2. Select a city in the desired time zone using the Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18).
3. Press Enter (30) to confirm.
4. Switch between local and international time by pressing Local/International (3) twice, then Enter (30) once.

Summer Time

Press the Summer Time button (2) to activate or deactivate summer time. The summer time indicator (C) will appear on the display when activated.

Renaming Time Zone Cities

You can rename the pre-programmed cities:

1. Press the Local/International button (3) once or twice.
2. Press the Edit button (28). The first letter of the city name will blink.
3. Use the Tuning knob (16) or numeric keypad (19) to change characters and enter the desired name.
4. Use Seek buttons (18) to move between characters.
5. Press Enter (30) to confirm.

Listening to the Radio

Tuning Stations

The ATS-909X2 receives FM, SW, MW, LW, and AIR bands. Use the ATS function to automatically store stations.

Note: Air band frequencies (118-137 MHz) may be restricted in some countries.

For optimal reception:

• Extend the telescopic antenna (33) for FM, SW, and AIR bands.
• Connect the external AM antenna (36) for MW, LW, and SW bands. Position the antenna as high as possible.

Automatic Station Storage (ATS) - MW/LW/UKW

ATS automatically scans and stores strong signals on MW, LW, or UKW bands. Press ATS/MW/LW (21) or ATS/UKW (22) to initiate. Existing stored stations on these bands will be erased.

Automatic Station Storage (ATS) - KW

For KW band, ATS requires setting a start and end frequency. Press ATS/METER/KW (20), enter the start and end frequencies using the Tuning knob (16) and Interval button (17), then press Enter (30). The selected page will be renamed 'ATS-PRESET'.

Note: For KW ATS, only stations with sufficient signal strength are stored. Unsaved stations on the selected page are deleted.

Automatic Station Seek

Press and hold the Seek Up/Down buttons (18) to automatically scan for the next strong station.

Manual Station Seek

Use the Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18) to manually tune to stations.

Direct Frequency Entry

Press the Frequency button (25), then enter the desired frequency using the numeric keypad (19) and Decimal Point button (32).

Tuning Interval Setting

Adjust the tuning interval for manual scanning using the Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18). Access this setting via the Menu (29) by selecting 'FM STEP' or using the MW/AM Interval button (48).

Bandwidth Setting

Use the Bandwidth knob (13) to select automatic or manual bandwidth. Manual selection is done via the Bandwidth button (26). Different bandwidths are available for different bands.

Stereo Reception

The ATS-909X2 supports stereo reception for FM stations. The stereo indicator (Ab) appears when a stereo signal is received. Stereo output is available via headphones or the LINE OUT jack (38).

Volume Adjustment

Use the Volume knob (12) to adjust the listening volume.

Storing Stations

Up to 1674 stations can be stored in 3 databases. To store a station:

1. Press the Memory button (24). The memory indicator (X) and preset number (S) will blink.
2. Press Enter (30) to store on the first available preset, or use Page (27) and numeric keys (19) to select a specific preset.

Note: If a preset is already occupied, the existing station will be moved to the next available slot.

Storing Stations - KW

For KW stations, after pressing Memory (24), select the desired page using Page (27) and Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18). Then press Enter (30) to store on the first available preset, or use numeric keys (19) for a specific preset.

Recalling Stored Stations - MW/LW/UKW/AIR

1. Select the desired band.
2. Use the Page button (27) to select the memory page.
3. Press a numeric key (19) to recall the station.

Recalling Stored Stations - KW

1. Select the KW band.
2. Use the Page button (27) and Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18) to select the desired page.
3. Press Enter (30) to confirm. The radio will scan the page for the strongest signal.
4. Press a numeric key (19) to recall the station.

Securing Stored Stations

To prevent accidental deletion, press the Bandwidth button (26) after storing a station. A 'MEMO LOCK' indicator will appear. Pressing Bandwidth (26) again will unlock the station.

Deleting Stored Stations

Recall the station, press Memory (24), then press Cancel (31). Secured stations cannot be deleted without first unlocking them.

Moving Stored Stations

Recall the station, press Memory (24), select the desired page with Page (27), and then press the numeric key (19) for the target preset. If the target preset is occupied, stations may swap positions or the existing station will be moved.

Renaming Stored Stations - MW/LW/UKW/AIR

Recall the station, press Edit (28), and use the Tuning knob (16) or numeric keypad (19) to change the station name.

Renaming Stored Pages - KW

For KW band, recall a page, press Edit (28), and use the Tuning knob (16) or numeric keypad (19) to change the page name.

Advanced Tuning Functions

Meter Band Selection - KW

After selecting the KW band, you can choose a meter band for specific frequency ranges. Press ATS/METER/KW (20) repeatedly to cycle through meter bands and select one using the numeric keypad (19), Memory (24), Frequency (25), or Cancel (31) buttons. Refer to the manual for the corresponding frequencies for each meter band.

Single Sideband (SSB) Reception - KW/MW/LW

SSB is popular for its efficiency. To receive SSB signals:

1. Tune to the desired SSB station.
2. Adjust the AM RF Gain control (40) to maximum.
3. Select the KW, MW, or LW band.
4. Press the SSB button (6) repeatedly to switch between MW, USB, and LSB modes. The SSB indicator (G) will show the selected mode.
5. Use the Tuning knob (16) for fine-tuning.

Tuning Interval Setting

Adjust the tuning interval for manual scanning via the Menu (29) by selecting 'SSP STEP' or using the Tuning knob (16) or Seek buttons (18).

Bandwidth Setting

Use the Bandwidth knob (13) to select automatic or manual bandwidth. Manual selection is done via the Bandwidth button (26). Different bandwidths are available for different bands.

Scan One Page - AIR

With the AIR band active, press the AIR button (23) to scan stations on the current page. The radio stops when a signal is detected. If no signal is received within the scan delay, it continues scanning.

Squelch Adjustment

The squelch function (8) helps filter out background noise during automatic scanning. Adjust the squelch level using the Squelch knob (8) to skip unwanted stations or interference. It's recommended to keep the squelch level as low as possible.

RF Gain Adjustment

The AM RF Gain control (40) adjusts the RF amplification for AM broadcasts. Higher gain can improve reception of distant signals but may cause saturation in strong RF fields. Reduce gain if saturation occurs.

Menu Settings

Access the menu by pressing and holding the Menu button (29). Use the Tuning knob (16) to navigate and the Interval (17) or Enter (30) buttons to select options. Menu settings include:

• RDS CT: Update time via RDS CT.
• Format: Manual time setting or ignore RDS CT.
• [24H]/[12H]: Set 24-hour or 12-hour format.
• Backlight: Adjust backlight timeout (10s, 20s, 30s).
• FM Stereo: Set FM reception to AUTO or MONO. MONO can reduce noise.
• Soft Mute: Enable or disable soft mute for UKW signals to reduce noise from fading signals.

Alarms

Setting an Alarm

Up to three alarms can be set using the Timer buttons (5). You can choose a radio station or buzzer as the alarm sound.

1. Press a Timer button (5). The timer display (J), number (M), and alarm mode (K/L) will blink.
2. Press the SSB button (6) to select the alarm mode (Radio or Buzzer).
3. Use the numeric keypad (19) to enter the alarm time.
4. Press Enter (30) to confirm the alarm time and mode. A confirmation tone will sound.
5. If using 12-hour format, use the Decimal Point button (32) for AM/PM.
6. If the Radio alarm mode is selected, tune to and store the desired station first. Then press the Timer button (5) corresponding to the alarm to assign the station.

When an Alarm Sounds

Press the Power button (10) to stop the alarm.

Snooze Function

Press any button (except Power or Backlight) to snooze the alarm for 5 minutes. The snooze indicator (H) will light up.

Deactivating an Alarm

Press the Timer button (5) for the active alarm, then press Cancel (31) to deactivate it. The alarm number (M) will disappear.

Sleep Timer

Set the Sleep Timer to automatically turn off the radio after a specified duration (10-90 minutes). Press and hold the Power button (10) until the desired setting appears in the display. The Sleep Timer indicator (I) will light up.

Displaying Signal Data

Press the Info button (29) to view signal information such as station name, signal strength (RSSI), noise level (SNR), and database. The manual provides a table detailing the information displayed for different bands and RDS/RBDS data.

RDS Function - UKW Only

The Radio Data System (RDS) transmits additional information from UKW stations. When RDS is active, the station name and RDS indicator (Aa) will appear. If RDS CT is displayed, the time has been automatically updated. RDS CT can be enabled/disabled in the menu settings.

Pressing the Info button (29) while tuned to an RDS-enabled station allows you to view Program Service (PS), Program Type (PT), and Radio Text (RT).

Radio Battery Charging

Rechargeable NiMH or NiCd batteries (AA) can be charged when the radio is off. Ensure you are using compatible batteries. Set the battery switch (47) to NIMH/NICAD. The charging indicator (9) will blink red during charging and display 'BATT FULL' when complete. If charging anomalies occur, 'BT-X-CHECK' will be displayed.

Display Brightness

Use the Backlight button (11) to adjust display brightness or turn it on/off.

Software Version

View the software version via the menu or by pressing the Enter button (30) with the radio off. This information is for reference only.

Tone Control

Use the Tone control knob (14) to adjust the sound for music, normal listening, or news. It can also help reduce interference on AM, USB, and LSB bands.

Key Lock

Activate the key lock by setting the switch to the ON position (15). The lock indicator (A) will appear. Set to OFF to unlock.

AUX Input

Connect external audio devices (e.g., iPod, MP3 player) to the AUX IN jack (35) and press the AUX IN button (39). Audio will play through the radio's speakers. Volume is controlled by the radio's volume knob (12).

Standby Recording / Line Out

The LINE OUT jack (38) provides a fixed audio output level, suitable for connecting to external recorders or audio systems. The STANDBY OUT jack (37) can be used to activate certain external recorders, like the Sangean DAR-101, via an alarm.

Headphone Jack

Connect headphones to the 3.5mm headphone jack (42) for private listening. The internal speaker is automatically muted.

Reset Button

The reset button (46) on the bottom of the radio resets the microprocessor and clock. Other settings and stored stations are retained.

Technical Data and Specifications

Technical Data

Specifications

The product barcode contains information such as serial number, manufacturing month/year, and product code.

Disposal: The WEEE symbol indicates that this product should be disposed of separately from household waste according to European Directive 2012/19/EU to minimize environmental impact.