SCT-86  (140-0654)          Hints and Tips             Faxback Doc. # 7287

Cassette tapes have a built-in erase-protection feature.  Each cassette
has a pair of removable plastic tabs on its back edge.  These tabs tell
the recorder that it is alright to record on the tape.

To prevent accidental erasure of a tape you want to save, carefully break
off the appropriate tab.

A small sensor inside the cassette compartment checks to see if the tab is
in place.  If the sensor finds the tab, it allows you to record.  If the
tab is missing, the sensor detects this and prevents you from pressing
[RECORD].  If you later want to record on the cassette, you can do so by
placing a piece of plastic tape over the tab opening.

Caution:  Never try to force the [RECORD] button down if you have removed
          the erase-protection tabs.  You can damage the mechanism.

For the quickest and most thorough tape erasure, use a bulk tape eraser
available at your local Radio Shack store.

Note:  When you use a bulk tape eraser, removal of the cassette's
       erase-protection tabs does not prevent erasure of the cassette.

CLEANING THE TAPE HEADS

After every 20 hours of operation, clean the tape heads and related parts.
If you do not do this, metal oxide particles accumulate on the
recording/playback head.  This accumulation can degrade the high-frequency
response, interfere with tape travel, and might cause your tape to become
tangled in the mechanism.

Use a tape head cleaning kit available at your local Radio Shack store.

(br/all-8/11/94)