Cobra HH 38 WX ST User Manual

HH

38 WX ST

The CB Story

Cobra Electronics Corporation
6500 West Cortland Street
Chicago, IL 60707

If You Think You Need Service

For technical assistance, please call our Automated Help Desk which can assist

you by answering the most frequently asked questions about Cobra products.

[phone]

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A Consumer Service Representative can be reached through this same number

8:00 am - 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, Central Time.

Technical assistance is also available on-line in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at

www.cobra.com or by e-mail to [e-mail]

If you think you need service call 773.889.3087

“If your product should require factory service please call Cobra first before sending your unit in.
This will ensure the fastest turn-around time on your repair.”

You may be asked to send your unit to the Cobra factory. It will be necessary to furnish the follow­ing in order to have the product serviced and returned.

1. For Warranty Repair include some form of proof-of-purchase, such as a mechanical reproduction
or carbon or a sales receipt. If you send the original receipt it cannot be returned.

2. Send the entire product.

3. Enclose a description of what is happening with the unit. Include a typed or clearly print name
and address of where the unit is to be returned.

4. Pack unit securely to prevent damage in transit. If possible, use the original packing material.

5. Ship prepaid and insured by way of a traceable carrier such as United Parcel Service (UPS) or
First Class Mail: to avoid loss in transit to: Cobra Factory Service, Cobra Electronics Corporation,
6500 W. Cortland St., Chicago, IL 60707.

6. If the unit is in warranty, upon receipt of your unit it will either be repaired or exchanged
depending on the model. Please allow approximately 3 to 4 weeks before contacting us for
status. If the unit is out of warranty a letter will automatically be sent informing you of the
repair charge or replacement charge. If you have any questions, please call 773.889.3087
for assistance.

© 2011 Cobra Electronics Corporation
Printed in Thailand

Part No. 480-271-P-001

Operating Instructions
for your Cobra HH 38 WX ST

Citizens Band
2-Way Handheld
CB Radio

“Ingenious Products for Easier Communication.”

The Citizens Band lies between the shortwave
broadcast and 10-meter Amateur radio bands,
and was established by law in 1949. The Class D

1

two-way communications service was opened in

1959. (CB also includes a Class A citizens band
and Class C remote control frequencies.)

FCC Regulations

FCC regulations permit only “transmissions”
(one party to another) rather than “broadcasts”
(to a wide audience). Thus, advertising is not
allowed on CB Channels because that is
“broadcasting.”

2

3

4

FCC Warnings

All transmitter adjustments other than those
supplied by the manufacturer as front panel
operating controls, must be made by, or under
the supervision of, the holder of an FCC-issued
general Radio-Telephone Operator’s License.

Replacement or substitution of transistors, regu­lar diodes or other parts of a unique nature, with
parts other than those recommended by Cobra,
may cause violation of the technical regulations
of Part 95 of the FCC Rules, or violation of Type
Acceptance requirements of Part 2 of the Rules.

You should read and understand Part 95 (included
with this unit) of the FCC Rules and Regulations,
before operating your Cobra radio, even though
the FCC no longer requires you to obtain an
operator’s license.

What’s Included with Your HH 38 WX ST

1. High Efficiency Antenna

2. Removable Belt Clip

5

3. Wrist Strap

4. 12 Volt Cigarette Lighter Plug

5. Operating Manual

A1

Controls and Indicators

Our Thanks to You

1. B NC Antenna Connector

2. Squelch Control

3. On/Off Volume Control

4. Removable Belt Clip

5. External Speaker Jack

6. External Microphone Jack

7. Charge LED

8. NiCD Battery Charge Jack

9. DC Power Jack

10. Light Key

11 . Channel Up/Down Keys

12 . PTT (Push To Talk ) Key

13 . Battery Chamber

14. LCD Display Panel

15 . Lock Key

16 . SoundTracker® Key

17. CB/WX Weather Key and

HI/LO Power Key

18. Instant Channel 9 & 19

and Dual Watch Key

19. Function Key

20. Channel Scan

21. Microphone

Thank you for purchasing the Cobra HH 38 WX ST
handheld CB. Properly used, this Cobra product

1

2 3

SoundTracker®

will give you many years of reliable service.

14

15

16

19

20

17 18

4

21

5

6

7

8
9

10
11

12

“Cuts noise coming in...strengthens signals
going out.”

This Patent pending technology dramatically
improves transmission and reception of CB
signals.

The revolutionary SoundTracker® System
reconfigures the transmission signal which
allows it to be transferred more efficiently
through cluttered airwaves.

At the same time, it significantly reduces the
amount of static on all incoming CB signals.

The end result is a cleaner, clearer sounding
reception of signals and a more powerful
transmission which dramatically improves CB
communications.

Cobra Customer Service

Live operators are available
M-F 8:00 am - 5:30 pm Central
Time at:

773.889.3087

Automated Technical
Assistance available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. E-mail
questions to:
[e-mail]

Cobra on the World Wide Web:
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) can be found on-line at:
www.cobra.com

Customer Support

Should you encounter any problems with the
product or not understand its many features,
please refer to this owner’s manual. If, after

13

referring to the manual, you still need help,
call Cobra Customer Service at 773.889.3087.

A2

A3

How to Use Your

Cobra

Contents

Features ..........................................................................1

The CB Story .................................................................A1

FCC Regulations
Included Accessories

Controls & Indicators ...............................................A2

Our Thanks to You .....................................................A3

SoundTracker® System
Customer Support

Operating Your HH 38 WX ST

Antenna ....................................................................... 2

Battery Installation .................................................. 3

Belt Clip .......................................................................3

Turning on Your CB ................................................. 4

Setting Squelch ........................................................4

Selecting a Channel ................................................ 6

LCD Display ................................................................ 7

Transmit/Receive .....................................................8

One Touch Channel 9 & 19 ..................................10

All Channel Scan ......................................................11

Dual Watch ................................................................. 12

Weather Channels ................................................... 14

Power High/Low ......................................................16

Battery Capacity Level ............................................18

SoundTracker® System ........................................... 19

Lighted Display ......................................................... 23

Lock Key ......................................................................24

In Vehicle Use ............................................................ 25

How Your CB Can Serve You ................................26

A Few Rules You Should Know ...........................26

Weather Channel Messages .................................27

Channel 9 Emergency Messages .......................28

CB 10 Codes ...............................................................30

Frequency Ranges .....................................................32

HH 38 WX ST Specifications ..................................33

Warranty Information .............................................34

Optional Accessories ................................................35

If You Think You Need Service ...........Back Cover

HH

38 WX ST

Features of This Product

• 40 CB Channels

• 10 Weather Channels

• Full Feature LCD Display

• Dual Channel Watch

• Full Channel Scan

• Battery Level Meter

• External Speaker/
Microphone Jack

• Instant Channel 9 & 19

• High/Low Power Saver

Switch

• BNC Antenna Connector

• Lock Key

1

Operation

Operation

Attach Antenna

Note

To increase range as a porta­ble, use CA41 telescopic load­ed long range antenna.
(See Accessory Page 35).

Attach Antenna

1

Insert.

2

Turn clockwise. 1⁄4 turn.

Install Batteries

Press and
hold down
on arrow
and slide

1

Remove battery chamber cover. Press down
on arrow and slide.

2

Install batteries by polarity markings.

3

Replace cover.

NiCD rechargeable batteries
should be charged a minimum
of 12 hours with a CA-45C
charger.

Attach Belt Clip

Battery
Installation

Note

Ignoring polarity markings (+/-)
can cause damage to both the
unit and the batteries.

The HH 38 WX ST requires
9 “AA” alkaline or NiCD
batteries (not included with
the unit).

When batteries are low or need
charging the BATTERY icon
will flash on the LCD display.
Replace alkaline batteries or
recharge NiCD batteries.

NiCD rechargeable batteries
should be charged a minimum of
12 hours with a CA-45C charger.

NiCD rechargeables should have
a rating of 1.2 vdc, 750 Mah.

Attach Belt Clip

Note

Clip slides up to attach and
slides down to remove.

1

Slide belt clip up on

rails of base until
tab locks.

2

To remove belt clip,

lift tab out and slide
belt clip down.

32

Operation

Turning On

Note

When you turn on the
HH 38 WX ST , a series of tones
will be heard and the icons will
briefly appear on the LCD
display.

LCD lights on for 5 seconds.

Setting Squelch

Gate closed

Turning On

Rotate ON - OFF Volume Control clockwise.

Setting Squelch

Squelch is the “control gate” for incoming signals.

2

Fully counterclockwise opens the

“gate” and all signals enter.

Gate open

Gate set to Desired
Squelch Setting (DSS)

1

Turn volume up

louder than normal.

4

2

Fully clockwise

closes the “gate”,
allowing no
incoming signals.

3

To achieve the Desired Squelch Setting (DSS),

turn the Squelch control counterclockwise
until you hear noise. Now turn the control
clockwise just until the noise stops. This is the
DSS setting.

5

Operation

Select Channel

Note

For quick advance, push and
hold arrow key(s).

or

Note

When switching from one
channel to another, squelch
will need to be reset. See Setting
Squelch on pages 4 and 5.

Select Channel

1

Turn power ON.

2

For higher channel,

push UP arrow key.

3

For lower Channel,

push DOWN
arrow key.

LCD Display

All needed information is displayed on LCD
display panel.

LCD Display

6

7

Operation

Stop

Antenna must be
installed before TX

Note

While PTT button is
depressed you cannot
receive transmissions.

Note

During transmit, your
outgoing transmission power
is measured in watts and
displayed on the bar graph.

Transmit / Receive

1

To transmit, push and hold PTT button.

2

The TRANSMISSION POWER METER will be

displayed when transmitting.

3

Hold mic about
2 inches from
mouth. Speak
in a normal
voice.

3

Release PTT button to receive incoming

transmissions.

Operation

Note

Your HH38 WX ST is always
ready to receive incoming
signals when the PTT button is
released.

When you are receiving an
incoming signal, the strength
of that signal will be displayed
on the bar graph.

The INCOMING SIGNAL STRENGTH METER will be
displayed when a signal is received.

8

9