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Maritime Radio Services Operation Warning! This transmitter will operate on channels/frequencies that have restricted use in the United States. The channel assignments include frequencies assigned for exclusive use of the U.S. Coast Guard, use in Canada, and use in international waters. Operation in these frequencies without proper authorization is strictly forbidden. For frequencies/channels that are currently for use in the U.S. without an individual license, please contact the FCC Call Cent
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Contents Uniden SOLARA DSC ............................................................................2 Included with your SOLARA DSC ..........................................................3 Controls and Indicators...........................................................................4 Installation...............................................................................................7 Choosing a Location..........................................................................7 E
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Uniden SOLARA DSC The Uniden SOLARA DSC VHF marine radio has been designed to give you a rugged, reliable instrument that will provide you with years of trouble-free service. With proper care and maintenance, your marine radio could outlast your present vessel and serve you well on-board. The full features and flexibility designed into this quality transceiver will prevent it from becoming obsolete regardless of changes in craft or geographic locations. The technical excellence of this marine r
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Included with your SOLARA DSC SOLARA DSC SOLARA DSC Radio Microphone Hanger Owner s Manual and Screws Mounting Bracket Mounting Hardware Spare Fuse and Knobs 250V 6A 3
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Controls and Indicators Front panel/Microphone 1. PTT Switch - Press to transmit and release to receive. 2. CHANNEL//- These keys are used to change the channel number up/down. These buttons are also used to move the cursor in DSC Menu mode. 3. SELECT - In the DSC Menu mode this is used to select the DSC menu options. 4. PWR/VOL (On/Off/Volume) - Turns the unit On or Off and adjusts the speaker volume. 5. DSC - Press this key to activate DSC Menu mode. 6. 16/9 - Press this key instantly change
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Rear Panel Connectors 1. DC Cord 1 2. ACC Cable 3. Antenna Connector 2 3 ACC Cable Thick Black : DC GND Orange : External Speaker (+) Black : External Speaker (—) GND Green : GPS DATA IN Brown : GPS GND Yellow : NC 5
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1. TX (Transmit) - Indicates transmitting. 2. HI (High) - Indicates transmit output is 25 Watts. 3. LO (Low) - Indicates transmit output is 1 Watt. 4. SCAN - Indicates Scan Mode has been activated. 5. ALERT - Indicates Weather Alert Mode has been activated. 6. WX - Indicate Weather Channel Mode has been activated. 7. USA - Indicates US Channel Mode. 8. CAN - Indicates Canada Channel Mode. 9. INT - Indicates International Channel Mode. 10. DSC - Indicators the radio is in the DSC mode. 11. (GPS I
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Installation Caution: The SOLARA DSC will only operate with a nominal 13.8 volt negative ground battery system. It is important to carefully determine the most suitable location for your radio on your vessel. Electrical, mechanical, and environmental considerations must all be taken into account. You should select the optimum relationship among these considerations. Keep in mind the flexibility designed into the SOLARA DSC so that you can most conveniently use it. Features which should be con
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Engine Noise Suppression Interference from the noise generated by the electrical systems of engines is sometimes a problem with radios. The SOLARA DSC has been designed to be essentially impervious to ignition noise and alternator noise. However, in some installations it may be necessary to take measures to further reduce the effect of noise interference. All DC battery wires, antenna lead, and accessory cables should be routed away from the engine and engine compartment, and from power cabli
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Installing the SOLARA DSC After you have carefully considered the various factors affecting your choice of location, position the radio (with the bracket, microphone, power cord, antenna and any auxiliary cables installed) into the selected location to assure there is no interference with the surrounding items. Mark the location of the mounting bracket. Remove the bracket from the radio and use it as a template to mark the holes to be drilled for the mounting hardware. Drill the holes and mo
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Operation POWER On/Off Turn the unit On by rotating the PWR/VOL control clockwise. Adjust the volume to a comfortable level. When you turn the unit On, you will hear a beep. Note: When you turn On the radio for the first time after purchase, the channel 16 will appear on the LCD. Last Channel Memory The SOLARA DSC memorizes the last channel selected before you turn Off the radio. For example, if you turn Off the radio on CH 12, the CH 12 will be on that channel when turned back On. Note: In ord
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SQUELCH Turn SQUELCH fully clockwise. This raises the “Squelch Gate” so high that only very strong signals can get through. Strong Signals Medium Signals Weak Signals Noise Turn SQUELCH fully counterclockwise until you hear a hiss. This lowers the “Squelch Gate” so that everything gets through - noise, weak signals, and strong signals. Strong Signals Medium Signals Weak Signals Noise Turn SQUELCH back clockwise until the hiss stops. Now the “Squelch Gate” allows strong, medium, and weak signals
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COAST GUARD CHANNEL 16/CHANNEL 9 COMMUNICATIONS To access Coast Guard Channel 16 or Channel 9 communications, press 16/9. You can access Coast Guard 16 CH instantly while tuned to another channel. Press 16/9 again for Channel 9 Calling communications. Press 16/9 a third time to return to the channel selected prior to accessing Coast Guard Channel 16/Channel 9 communications. The display will indicate the selected channel. To cancel Coast Guard Channel 16/Channel 9 communications: Press 16
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All Channel Scan To turn Scan On, press and hold HI/LO/SCAN/UIC for 2 seconds. To turn Alert Scan On, press and hold WX/ALERT/UIC for 2 seconds. While all channels are scanned, WX CH is scanned every 7 seconds. ALERT appears on the LCD. Weather Alert The Weather Alert mode can be activated to alert you of dangerous weather. When Weather Alert is turned On, and a warning signal is received, an emergency siren will sound. When the signal stops, you will hear the active weather channel broadcast at
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SETTING THE TRANSMIT (TX) POWER The SOLARA DSC transmits on fifty-six marine frequencies and receives on eighty-one marine frequencies. Channel 70 of the USA, International, and Canadian frequencies, and channel 15 of the USA frequencies, and WX CH – are for receiving only. The radio transmits on channel 70 when sending DSC information. Your radio will not transmit on these channels. For your reference, a listing of all the available marine channels are located on pages 22 - 24. Caution: It
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RECOMMENDED EMERGENCY BROADCAST INSTRUCTIONS 1. Make sure your radio is on. 2. Tune to channel 16. 3. Press the microphone button and, speaking slowly – clearly – calmly, say: a. "MAYDAY – MAYDAY – MAYDAY" for situations involving Immediate Danger to Life and Property: or b. "PAN – PAN – PAN" for urgent situations where there in No Immediate Danger to Life or Property. 4. Say: "THIS IS (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S CALL SIGN), OVER".
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DISTRESS Note: You must set the user MMSI in order to send a Distress call. Please see page 20 to set the MMSI. This feature will allow you to transmit a Distress call. 1. In order to transmit a Distress call, press and hold DISTRESS for 5 seconds. When DSC appears on the display, press SELECT to send the Distress call. 2. The Distress call is transmitted and it waits for about 210 - 270 seconds for an acknowledgement from the Coast Guard before the Distress call is resent. After the Distress ca
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DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC) Digital Selective Calling is the latest in Marine Radio technology. DSC is a process of establishing a radio call and has been chosen by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as an international standard for establishing VHF, MF and HF radio calls. Digital Selective Calling has also been selected as part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This service will let you instantly send a Distress call with GPS position (when optional GPS r
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ALL SHIPS This radio has the ability to send 3 types of all ships calls. The following are examples of what these types of calls would be used for: Urgency - This call is for a vessel not yet in Distress, but may have a serious problem. Safety - This call is used for a reason like debris in the Water. Routine - This call is used for normal calls. 1. Press DSC. 2. Press CH or CH to select (ALL SHIPS). 3. Press SELECT. (URGENCY) appears. 18
