The original manual is notoriously bad at explaining battery installation.
Step 1 – Open the back: Use a small Phillips screwdriver. Do not strip the tiny screws. Step 2 – Battery orientation: Insert an unprotected flat-top 18650 lithium-ion battery. Positive (+) terminal goes towards the top of the radio (near the SMA antenna connector). Negative goes towards the bottom. Step 3 – Power on: Long press the Power/VF button for 1.5 seconds. If the screen flashes and dies, your battery is low or inserted backward. Step 4 – Antenna: The SMA connector is fragile. Do not over-tighten. For SW/HF, a 5-7 meter long wire is best. For FM, use the included telescopic whip.
Warning: Do not transmit on this radio—it is a receiver only. Applying transmit power from another radio into the ATS-20's antenna jack will destroy the Si4732 chip instantly.
The ATS-20 (and the upgraded ATS-20+) are compact SI4732-based all-band radio receivers popular in the ham radio community. Because these are often sold as DIY kits or unbranded imports, a single "official" printed manual can be hard to find, but you can use the following guide for operation and resources. Quick Start & Basic Controls
Power On/Off: Most units use a dedicated slide switch or a long press on the volume/encoder knob.
Band Selection: Short press the BWS or Band button to cycle through FM, AM, and various SW (Shortwave) bands. ats-20 radio manual
Tuning: Rotate the main encoder knob. Short-pressing the knob typically changes the tuning step (e.g., 1kHz, 5kHz, 10kHz).
Mode Switch (SSB): For Shortwave, use the Mode button to switch between AM, USB, and LSB (Single Side Band).
Volume: Controlled via a dedicated potentiometer or a secondary function of the encoder. Advanced Settings & Terminology
If your unit is running custom firmware (like the Goshante ATS-20 Exa), you may see these settings in the menu:
SM (Soft Mute): Adjusts the threshold for audio muting when signals are weak (range 0–32). TX alignment:
SVC (SSB AVC): Enables or disables Automatic Volume Control specifically for Single Side Band.
Syn (Sync Mode): A toggle for synchronous detection in SSB to improve signal clarity.
SSM (SSB Soft Mute Mode): Choose between RSS (based on signal strength) or SNR (based on signal-to-noise ratio). Manuals & Firmware Resources
Since the ATS-20 shares architecture with the more advanced ATS-25, their manuals are often used interchangeably for firmware-related functions:
Comprehensive Guide: A detailed ATS-25 User Manual (PDF) is often cited by users as the best reference for shared software features. Carrier suppression and balance (for SSB): adjust the
Community Discussions: The ATS-20/25 Facebook Group is the primary hub for troubleshooting and finding the latest firmware files.
Technical Diagram: For hardware enthusiasts, technical layouts and wiring diagrams are frequently shared on GitHub repository discussions. im looking for ATS-20 Diagram
Forget the tiny pamphlet. Print this quick reference and tape it to the back of your ATS-20:
POWER ON: Long-press VF
SELECT MODE: Long-press Filter (AM > LSB > USB)
SAVE MEMORY: VFO mode > Long-press VM > Long-press VF
RECALL MEMORY: Short-press VM > Rotate Encoder
SSB TUNING: 10 Hz steps (press encoder to change step speed)
RESET DEVICE: Pinhole reset button next to USB port (paperclip)
HIDDEN MENU: Power off > Hold VOL + Power
Controls how "wide" the receiver listens. This is a DSP filter simulation.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Radio won't turn on | Dead 18650 battery | Recharge via USB-C for 4 hours. Use a 1A charger. | | No SSB audio | Wrong sideband or BFO offset | Toggle USB/LSB. Access hidden menu to adjust BFO. | | FM sounds distorted | Overload | Extend the antenna only partially. Enable FM RF gain if available. | | Display flickers | Low battery voltage | Replace or recharge the 18650. | | Can't hear AM stations | Bandwidth too narrow | Short press Filter until set to 6.0 kHz or higher. | | Encoder skips frequencies | Dirty encoder | Rotate the knob rapidly 20 times. Or open and spray contact cleaner. |