Radio Shack HTX-245

            The radio Shack HTX-245 is a very compact dual band VHF/UHF transceiver. Actually, it could almost be considered a triple band radio, since it is capable of receive only operation on the weather bands. It follows in the footsteps of the preceding HTX-200 and HTX-400. I picked up the first of these little radios (an HTX-200), because it was a neat little thing, and was inexpensive enough to almost be considered disposable. It soon became one of my favorites. I was able to take with me anywhere, and was always able to hit part of the local repeater net with the little beast.

            An HTX-400 followed, and when I spotted the HTX-245 at a good price, I was delighted. I now have the full set, and a matching external microphone/speaker as well. This is the smallest multi-band radio I own. Within its extensive capabilities, the radio does everything you could wish.

            The most serious limitation is the 700 mw output power, which is all this little radio can muster under battery operation. When used with an AC adapter (6v@1.2mAh), the radio puts out 1.5 watts. Radio Shack has discontinued carrying it's entire amateur radio line, due to lack of sales. This is a shame really, as I remember this being one of the first chain stores to sell amateur gear. I got all of my initial study guides for getting my ticket here. These were part of the last effort by Radio Shack to keep a presence in the amateur radio market. Oh well, time moves on.

            Though this radio begs for comparison with my Yaesu FT-530, they are really two completely different animals. The FT-530 is much larger, much more powerful, and quite a bit more expensive. Though I love the FT-530, in some ways the little HTX-245 is much more satisfying to operate. It is smaller, lighter, less complicated, and in many ways more practical. It is also quite a bit less cumbersome than the big Yaesu. I picked this little beast up off of eBay, for about $85 including shipping and a little external microphone. A photo of the three little Radio Shack minis is shown above.
        As a general rule, this radio was a bit more well received than its littermates, the HTX-200 and HTX-400. These other little radios were not so well received, possibly because they were a bit ahead of their time, in concept if not in design. All of these small units are repeater radios, designed for close in use with repeaters, or short range communications with companions. As this is the way that most people use 2 meter these days, and is almost the only way that 70 cm is ever used. It was a good design parameter. So by the time this radio was released, people had become more accepting of the concept. Another plus for the HTX-245 is that at 700 mw, it is more than three times as powerful as Radio Shack's other compact radios. It also has a full keypad, which greatly adds to its utility.
       Frequency is selected in user configurable steps of 5, 10, 12.5, 25, 50 kHz, or 1 MHz, by use of simple up and down arrow buttons on the face of the unit, or by use of the top mounted frequency knob. These may be cycled through manually, or scanned. Fifty memory locations are available for favorite frequencies. For repeater use, offset may be set from 0-8 mhz in 100khz steps. The unit is also capable of generating, and responding to a series of 50 subaudable continuous tones for repeater, call, or paging use.
       Standard convenience, and operation features include earphone and external microphone jacks, external power jack, back lit display, and key lock. During normal operation, the display itself shows the frequency, signal strength, status of the tone squelch, and offset, along with indicating transmit or receive function. It also displays a number of menus when the unit is being set up, and indicates the battery when the unit is first turned on.

        The 16 key DTMF tone pad is a nice feature and is something the other little Radio Shack minis do not have. It permits sending dual tones for autopatch squelch break or other purposes. It also permits the saving of auto patch sequences for regular use. Without the autopatch, the keypad itself is handy for direct entry of frequencies and other information.

        Because of the small size of the unit, everything must serve multiple functions. This can sometimes make navigating the menus and setting the unit up, a bit confusing. The best advice I can offer is to carefully read through the manual, and set the features up one at a time as you need them. Most features are activated through front face buttons, in combination with the function key that is located under the PTT switch on the side of the radio.

        Upon first working with one of these little radios, I tried to set everything up all at once, and managed to lose my audio completely. The radio would still transmit, and it would still show activity on the display for receive, but there was no audio no matter what I did. Finally, I simply had to entirely clear all of my settings (done by depressing the mo and func buttons while turning on). This restored my audio. I eventually discovered that I had set a tone for receive, as well as for transmit. What this did was blank out my audio unless a received signal generated a proper tone.

        One thing that I have trouble getting used to is that the squelch is not adjustable by the top mounted knob; but must be set on the keypad. The other Radio Shack minis use a center volume/power knob, with a squelch collar. This radio has a power button on the front face, and uses the center top mounted knob for frequency selection, and the collar for volume. Squelch may be broken at any time by depressing the DTMF button. Even so, I have no real complaints about the unit.  The sound is good, and I have not yet found the need for using the optional mike, or earphone. Regarding the use of rechargeable batteries, it is said that their slightly lower voltage will reduce the unit's output to a bit less than the stated 700mw, but that they are marginally usable.

        A little radio like this is nearly useless without a good local repeater network. Some of the better local repeaters are listed below. All are programmed into this unit. For those new to repeater use, a repeater is generally named for the frequency upon which it transmits. There are some repeaters that work on a single frequency (simplex), receiving a transmission, recording it, and then retransmitting; but this is rare. Most repeaters work in duplex mode, receiving on one frequency, and retransmitting in real time on another.  Standard offset (upon which the repeater receives, and the user transmits) is generally 600 KHz above or below the transmit frequency.
        This is a very small radio, but does offer a couple of accessories. The main accessory is the external speaker/microphone. I am not certain as to how necessary such an accessory might be, with such a small radio; but what the heck. This microphone will also work with the other small Radio Shack handhelds. It is a handy little thing, and also happens to fit my Midland, and Cherokee radios, and probably some others as well. In common with the other Radio Shack minis, the HTX0245 is burdened with a non-standard threaded antenna connector, rather than the more standard bayonet types used by everyone else, and by most of the other radio Shack handhelds as well. Adapters are available. The included antenna is a very short, and very odd soft rubber unit a nerf antenna.

        The radio can also take an external power supply. Radio Shack offered two chargers, and a power supply. It warns in the manual, that chargers do not make good power supplies, and power supplies do not make good chargers. True enough, but I had no problem running the radio off of my standard power supply, and charging it off of a charger for another radio. In a refreshing change, the manual is very explicit on voltages, connector types,  and polarities of chargers and power supplies.

        These little radios would seem to be lacking in one major area, and that is in the area of power packs. For hand held use, no power packs are available. Instead, the unit requires three standard AA batteries. This is not as much of a disadvantage as may once have been the case, and can even be a good thing in most circumstances. There are no drop in chargers available; but internal charging (Radio Shack advises this can take as much as ten hours) is no great hardship.

     Standard rechargeable batteries are far less expensive than was once the case, and have become quite a bit more capable. The new NiMH rechargeable batteries are capable of supplying higher voltage than the classic NiCD types - sometimes even higher than that of a standard throwaway battery that has begun to run down. In addition to this, use of standard batteries means no worries about not being able to find a battery pack that will fit, or paying an outrageous charge to buy one. I wish my Yeasu FT-530 used standard batteries.
            It has been stated in various places on the web that this radio should not be used with rechargeable batteries. I am not certain how this got started but it is not true. Modern rechargeables, particularly the new NiMH types often have higher voltages than the standard carbon or alkaline battery. This is particularly true as the disposable batteries begin to discharge. Within the battery compartment of this little radio is a switch that is set for use of regular or rechargeable batteries. Setting the switch to the proper configuration, assures proper operation. it also prevents overheating and possibly exploding batteries that are not meant to be recharged.

            The unit uses three AA batteries, for a standard voltage of 4.5v at nominal, or 3.6 at the usual NiCD voltages. These voltages permit operating with 700 Mw of power. A nice feature is that upon turning the unit on, the display shows the current battery voltage. Using a 6 volt external supply will permit the full 1.5 watts of transmit power. The battery cover is unique, and frustrating, in that it does not slide down. It is not difficult to do, but it is different from the way that it is done on nearly every other handheld on the market. Once unlocked, the battery cover lifts straight up. Sometimes it pays to read the manual.

        All of these little radios were blown out the door, a decade or so ago, at fire sale prices. This was when Radio Shack decided it no longer wanted to serve the ham radio market - pretty ironic when you consider the name and original product line of the store. The blow out prices devalued these radios a bit, but now prices are beginning to go up, as more radio amateurs realize just how handy these radios can be, and the quality of their construction. The HTX-245 makes a great first impression, is small enough to be taken anywhere, and usually powerful enough to get the job done. Everything is smooth, streamlined, and sealed against the elements. Though it has nothing like the power or capability of my big FT-530, it may very well become one of my favorite radios for knocking around and having fun. If you aren't having fun, than what is the point of a hobby?

Local Repeaters programmed into this radio

Repeater	Transmit (user receive)	Receive (user transmit)	Tone	Offset	Location
MRC	146.910	146.310	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
MAARS	145.130	144.530	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
WARC	147.390	147.990	127.3	600Khz +	Pewaukee
SEWFARS	146.820	146.220	127.3	600Khz -	Wales
MRAC	145.390	144.790	127.3	600Khz -	Milwaukee
Pewaukee 443.125+    448.125+    127.3 5 Mhz +   Oconomowoc 442.025 447.025 + 127.3 5 Mhz +   Delafield 444.125 449.125 + 127.3 5 Mhz +   Menomonee Falls 444.425 449.425 + 127.3 5 Mhz +   Milwaukee 442.650 447.650 + 127.3 5 Mhz +