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VHF50 VHF Radio
Owner’s Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................2
Service...............................................2
Licensing............................................2
LCD Description.................................3
Turning the Radio On ........................3
Adjusting the Volume.........................3
Receive Mode....................................4
Squelch Control .................................4
Changing Channels ....................
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Welcome! Radio Licenses: Thank you for purchasing the West 1. Ship Station License Marine VHF50. This product was An FCC ship station license is no longer designed and built for boaters to use in required for any vessel traveling in US the harsh marine environment. With prop- waters which uses a VHF marine radio, er care this product should provide you RADAR, EPIRB, and which is not with years of trouble-free operation. required to carry radio equipment. A Your satisfaction with this product i
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LCD Description HL Transmit power indicator: L=Low, H=High SCAN Indicates that the radio is in Memory Scan or Priority Scan Mode MEM Indicates that the channel is entered into the Scan Memory WX Indicates that the radio is in Weather Mode USA/INTERNATIONAL/ Current DW Indicates that the radio is in Dual CANADIAN (UIC) Mode channel Watch Mode indicator indicator TX Shown when transmitting Volume indicator BUSY Shown when receiving LOCK Shown when keypad is locked Battery level indicator; mor
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3. Receive Mode When the radio is receiving a signal, the BUSY indicator will be displayed (Fig. 2). This indicates that you should not trans- mit until the BUSY indicator is no longer displayed. 4. Squelch Control The Squelch Control reduces the static Fig. 2: Busy Indicator and noise heard on the radio, but allows strong signals to be heard clearly. To adjust the squelch setting, press the SQL/HL key briefly. The radio’s display will show SQL (Fig. 3). Press the s or t keys to increase or d
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6. Changing Between USA, International, and Canadian Modes Different areas of the world use different VHF frequencies, although the channel designation (1–88) may be the same. There are three modes: USA, Interna- tional, and Canadian. Press and hold the Fig. 5a: USA Mode Display VOL/UIC key for two seconds change from USA to International; to change from International to Canadian; and to change from Canadian to USA (Fig. 5a- 5c). Three seconds after the last key stroke, the Country Mode Display
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7. Transmitting a Signal To transmit a signal, press the Push-To- Talk (PTT) key on the side of the radio. While transmitting, the TX indicator will appear (Fig. 6a). When the PTT key is released, the radio will return to Receive Mode. • You cannot transmit on receive-only channels like the Weather Channels Fig. 6a: TX indicator or Channels 15 and 70. If you try, an error tone will sound, the Channel Number and TX indicators will blink three times, and then go back to the normal display (Fig.
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9. Battery Level and Low Battery Displays The Battery Level is shown using the Battery Level Indicator (1–3 bars). More bars mean more battery capacity is left. When the battery condition is very low, the entire Battery Level Indicator will blink. Fig. 8: Low Battery Display • The BAT LO message will show when the battery condition is very low (Fig. 8). • If the battery condition is very low and the PTT key is pressed, the radio will sound the error tone and allow one final transmission. 10. Lis
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11. Channel 16/9 Key Each time the 16/9 key is briefly pressed, the radio will change from Channel 16 to Channel 9 and back to the starting chan- nel (Fig. 10a, 10b). For example, if the starting channel is Channel 61, pressing the 16/9 key will change the channel from 61 to 16 to 9 and back to 61. • If the radio is scanning, it will change Fig. 10a: Channel 16 Display to Channel 16 after the first press, Channel 9 after the second press, and will continue scanning after the third press. • If
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13. Scanning Channels Scanning allows you to monitor the traffic or conversations on several channels in quick succession. This can be helpful if you’re trying to listen to fishing traffic on several channels, or need to monitor Race Committee traffic on Channels 68, 69, and 71. As the radio detects traffic on any channel Fig. 11c: Dual Watch/Weather Mode Display in its scan list, it will pause until three seconds after the last transmission, then continue scanning. Before you can scan channels,
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• Pressing the SCAN/MEM key while scanning will stop scanning and revert to the Start Channel. This is defined as the channel which was shown on the radio’s display prior to pressing the SCAN/MEM key. • You cannot scan channels while in Weather Mode. • If you have not entered any channels into scan memory, the radio will sound the error tome when the SCAN/MEM key is pressed. • If there is only one channel in scan memory, the radio will sound the error tone and change to that channel. • If the PT
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Mode. The LCD display will show the squelch level (which can be changed with the s or t keys) and the radio will continue to scan. • If VOL/UIC key is pressed for over two seconds while scanning, the radio will stop scanning and change to Country Selection Mode. • If the SQL/HL key is pressed and held for two seconds while scanning, the radio will make an error tone. 14. Auto Back-Light If any key is pressed, the display and key- pad light will turn on and remain on for 10 seconds after the la
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When the radio is placed in the SC50 16. Restoring Factory charger base and power is present, the Settings LED on the front of the charger base will be red. If you wish to reset all of the customized settings to the original factory settings, The VHF50 can use the optional DC200 hold the WX/DW key down while turning Cigarette Lighter Cord. The DC200 can on the radio. Please note that the your power the SC50 charger base from any customized settings and channels stored cigarette lighter socket.
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19. Troubleshooting Guide Symptom: The radio does not respond to key presses. The channel cannot be changed. Probable Cause: Key Lock is on. Remedy: Press the I key (on the left side of the case, below the PTT key) for three seconds to unlock the key pad. Symptom: You have arranged to communicate with another VHF radio user on a specific channel, and you can’t hear them. Probable Cause: You and the other user are on different Country Codes. Remedy: Make sure that you are both using the same Co
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USA Mode Frequency Chart Ch. Rx Freq Tx Freq Status Name Full Name 1 156.0500 156.0500 Simplex VTS/COML VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM/COMMERCIAL 3 156.1500 156.1500 Simplex CG ONLY COAST GUARD,GOVT ONLY 5 156.2500 156.2500 Simplex VTS/COML VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM/COMMERCIAL 6 156.3000 156.3000 Simplex SAFETY INTER-SHIP SAFETY 7 156.3500 156.3500 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 8 156.4000 156.4000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 9 156.4500 156.4500 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 10 156.5000 156.5000 Simplex COM
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International Mode Frequency Chart Ch. Rx Freq Tx Freq Status Name Full Name 1 160.6500 156.0500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 2 160.7000 156.1000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 3 160.7500 156.1500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 4 160.8000 156.2000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 5 160.8500 156.2500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 6 156.3000 156.3000 Simplex SAFETY INTER-SHIP SAFETY 7 160.9500 156.3500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 8 156.4000 156.4000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL (SHIP-SH
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Canadian Mode Frequency Chart Ch. Rx Freq Tx Freq Status Name Full Name 1 160.6500 156.0500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 2 160.7000 156.1000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 3 160.7500 156.1500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 4 156.2000 156.2000 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 5 156.2500 156.2500 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 6 156.3000 156.3000 Simplex SAFETY INTER-SHIP SAFETY 7 156.3500 156.3500 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 8 156.4000 156.4000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 9 156.4500 156.4500 Sim
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WX Frequency Chart Channel No. (MHz) Name WX01 162.5500 WEATHER1 WX02 162.4000 WEATHER2 WX03 162.4750 WEATHER3 WX04 162.4250 WEATHER4 WX05 162.4500 WEATHER5 WX06 162.5000 WEATHER6 WX07 162.5250 WEATHER7 WX08 161.6500 WEATHER8 WX09 161.7750 WEATHER9 WX10 163.2750 WEATHR10 Accessories Model Description Order # SWIV200 Swivel Belt Clip with Button and Mounting Screw 3895638 BC50 12 Hr. Std. Charger with Cradle and AC power supply 5471495 DC200 DC Cigarette Lighter power supply for Std. Charger 38
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radio to transmit by pressing the Warning: Your West Marine VHF50 generates RF electromagnetic energy “PTT” switch. when transmitting. This radio was • ALWAYS maintain at least a 1-inch designed to meet the FCC’s rules and reg- (2.5 cm) separation distance between ulations for the maximum permissible your body (including the face and exposure to radio frequency energy. This eyes) and any surface of the radio. design was tested and found to be compli- • NEVER allow the antenna to touch ant to the
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West Marine VHF50 Radio Owner’s Manual 19
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Three-Year Limited Warranty IMPORTANT: Evidence of original purchase, such as the original receipt, a cancelled check, or a credit card receipt is required for warranty service. WARRANTOR: WEST MARINE PRODUCTS, INC. (“WEST MARINE”) ELEMENTS OF WARRANTY: WEST MARINE warrants for three years, to the original retail owner and user, this product to be free from defects in materials and craftsmanship with only the limitations or exclusions set out below. WARRANTY DURATION: This warranty to the ori
