Cobra MR HH125 User Manual

Printed in China Part No. 480-426-P Version E

Owner’s Manual

VHF MARINE RADIO

MR HH125

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®

English

Our Thanks to You and Customer Assistance

Introduction

	Our Thanks to You	•
	Thank you for purchasing a CobraMarine® VHF radio.
	Properly used, this Cobra® product will give you
	many years of reliable service.
	How Your CobraMarine VHF Radio Works

This radio is a battery-powered portable transceiver for use afloat. It gives you two-way vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore station communications, primarily for safety and secondarily for navigation and operational purposes. With it, you can call for help, get information from other boaters, talk to lock or bridge tenders, and make radiotelephone calls to anywhere in the world through a marine operator.

Besides two-way communications, the radio can provide quick access to receive all the NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) weather channels and alert you to weather emergencies with a tone on a weather channel you can select for your area.

Customer Assistance

Customer Assistance	•

Should you encounter any problems with this product, or not understand its many features, please refer to this owner’s manual. If you require further assistance after reading this manual, Cobra Electronics offers the following customer assistance services:

For Assistance in the U.S.A.

Automated Help Desk English only.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week 773-889-3087 (phone).

Customer Assistance Operators English and Spanish.

8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time Mon. through Fri. (except holidays) 773-889-3087 (phone).

Questions English and Spanish.

Faxes can be received at 773-622-2269 (fax).

Technical Assistance English only.

www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked Questions). English and Spanish. [e-mail] (e-mail).

For Assistance Outside the U.S.A.
Contact Your Local Dealer	©2011 Cobra Electronics Corporation™
	6500 West Cortland Street
	Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA
A1 English	www.cobra.com

Introduction

Antenna

Backlit

LCD

Screen

Push to Talk Button (Talk)

Backlight/

Key Lock

Button

Dual Watch/

Scan Button

Squelch

Defeat

Button

Memory/

Escape

Button

Enter/Setup

Button

Speaker

Radio Controls

and Indicators

External Speaker/

Microphone Jack

ON/OFF/

Volume Control

Wrist Strap

Connector

Belt Clip

Engagement

Battery

Compartment

Battery Door

Latch

Channel Down Button

Channel Up Button

Power Level/

Weather Button

Instant Channel

16/9 Button

Microphone

Charge Jack

Backlit LCD Screen

and Product Features

Introduction

Backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Screen

•

Receive & Transmit

Key Tone Icon

Button Lock Icon

Icons

Signal Strength Icon

Weather Icon

Low/High Power Icons

Weather Alert Icon

Roger Beep Icon

Battery Power Icon

Scan Icon

Memory Channel Icon

UIC Active Channel

Dual Watch Icon

Map Icons

Broadcast Receive Icon

Active Channel Numbers

Simplex Operation Icon

Product Features

•

Power Settings

Roger Beep Tone (Selectable)

Select 1 or 3 watts of output power

Confirmation tone indicates the

for near or distant calling.

completion of the user’s transmission

USA/International/Canada Channels

and signals to others it is clear to talk.

On or Off selectable.

Operate on any of the three (3) different

channel maps set up for these areas.

Rechargeable NiMH (Nickel-Metal

All NOAA Weather Channels

Hydride) Batteries

Five (5) rechargeable NiMH batteries

Instant access to all National Weather

supplied with the unit provide extended

Channels, 24 hours a day.

operating time compared to alkaline

Emergency Weather Alert

batteries and have no memory effect.

Receive NOAA alerts when threatening

Five (5) AAA alkaline batteries may also

be used for emergency backup power.

weather is nearby.

12V Power Cord Included

Waterproof

Charge the NiMH batteries in a car or

Meets JIS4 waterproof standards.

boat.

Key Lock

Speaker/Mic Jack

Prevents accidental setting changes

Allows connecting optional Cobra

when key lock is set.

Lapel Speaker/Mic.

Channel Scan/Memory Scan

Memory Channels

Scan through all or memorized channels

Allows programming of up to

to find conversations in progress.

ten (10) VHF memory channels.

Instant Channel 16/9

Signal Strength Meter

Provides instant access to priority

Shows the strength of incoming

Channel 16 and calling Channel 9.

or outgoing signals.

Dual-Watch

Illuminated Buttons

Use to monitor two (2) channels at once –

Allows high visibility of all function buttons.

Channel 16 and one programmable channel.

A2 English

A3 English

Table of Contents

Introduction

Introduction
Our Thanks to You....................................................................................	A1
Customer Assistance ................................................................................	A1
Radio Controls and Indicators ..................................................................	A2
Backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Screen .............................................	A3
Product Features.......................................................................................	A3
Important Safety Information........................................................................	2
Recommendations for Marine Communication ............................................	4
FCC Licensing Information............................................................................	4
Installation
Included in this Package...............................................................................	6
Wrist Strap, Belt Clip and External Speaker/Mic ...........................................	7
Batteries and Charging..................................................................................	8
Operating Your Radio
Getting Started............................................................................................	10
Setup Mode Programming..........................................................................	14
Standby, Receive and Transmit ..................................................................	18
NOAA All Hazards/Weather Radio and Alert................................................	19
Advanced Operation....................................................................................	21
Maintenance................................................................................................	27
Troubleshooting..........................................................................................	27
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
VHF Marine Radio Procedures....................................................................	28
Voice Calling ...............................................................................................	30
Radiotelephone Calls ..................................................................................	31
Emergency Messages and Distress Procedure...........................................	32
Warranty and Trademark
Limited 1-Year Warranty.............................................................................	35
Trademark Acknowledgement.....................................................................	35
Customer Service
Product Service ..........................................................................................	36
Specifications..............................................................................................	37
Appendix – English/Español
VHF Marine Channel Assignments..............................................................	48
Weather Channel Assignments ...................................................................	53
Accessories.................................................................................................	54
	Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® 1

			Important Safety Information						Important Safety Information
		Introduction						Introduction
		Important Safety Information		•				WARNINGS
		Before installing and using your CobraMarine® VHF radio, please read these						Your radio generates electromagnetic RF (radio frequency) energy when it is
		general precautions and warnings.						transmitting. To ensure that you and those around you are not exposed to excessive
		Warning and Notice Statements						amounts of that energy, DO NOT touch the antenna when transmitting. KEEP the
								radio at least two (2) inches (5cm) away from yourself and others when transmitting.
		To make the most of this radio, it must be installed and used properly. Please read						DO NOT operate with more than a duty cycle of 5% transmit, 5% receive and
		the installation and operating instructions carefully before installing and using the
								90% standby. The radio is transmitting when the Talk button is pressed and the
		radio. Special attention must be paid to the WARNING and NOTICE statements in
								transmit information shows on the LCD screen.
		this manual.
								ALWAYS use only Cobra authorized accessories.
		WARNING
								DO NOT operate the radio in an explosive atmosphere, near blasting sites,
		Statements identify conditions that could result in personal injury or loss of life.
								or in any area where signs are posted prohibiting radio transmissions.
		NOTICE						NEVER place the transceiver or microphone/speaker where they might interfere
								with operation of your vessel or cause injury.
		Statements identify conditions that could cause damage to the radio
		or other equipment.						DO NOT allow children or anyone unfamiliar with proper procedures to operate
		Safety Training Information						the radio without supervision.
								Failure to observe any of these warnings may cause you to exceed FCC RF
		This CobraMarine® radio has been tested and found to comply with the FCC RF
								exposure limits or create other dangerous conditions.
		exposure limits for use by the “General Population” and Industry Canada RF exposure
		limits for use by the “General Public.” This CobraMarine VHF radio also complies						NOTICE
		with the following guidelines and standards regarding RF energy and electromagnetic
								Your radio is waterproof only when the batteries are properly installed.
		energy levels as well as evaluation of those levels for human exposure:
						Caution
		ν FCC OET Bulletin 65 Edition 97-01 Supplement C, Evaluating Compliance with						AVOID using or storing the radio at temperatures below -4˚F (-20˚C)
		FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields.						or above 140˚F (60˚C).
		ν American National Standards Institute (C95.1-1992), IEEE Standard for Safety						KEEP your radio at least 3 ft (0.9 m) away from your vessel’s magnetic
		Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic						navigation compass.
		Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.						DO NOT attempt to service any internal parts yourself. Have any necessary
		ν American National Standards Institute (C95.3-1992), IEEE Recommended						service performed by a qualified technician.
		Practice for the Measurement of Potentially Hazardous Electromagnetic						This radio is supplied with NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) rechargeable batteries.
		Fields — RF and Microwave.						ν Use only the Cobra power cord to recharge NiMH batteries in the radio.
		General Precautions						ν Do not short circuit the batteries.
		The following WARNINGS and NOTICE information on the following page will make•						ν When replacing the batteries, dispose of the old batteries properly. The NiMH
		you aware of RF exposure hazards and how to assure you operate the radio within						batteries may explode if disposed of in a fire.
		the FCC RF exposure limits established for the radio.						ν Do not attempt to operate your radio while recharging the batteries.
								Changes or modifications to your radio MAY VOID its compliance with FCC (Federal
								Communications Commission) rules and make it illegal to use.
	2 English								Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® 3

		Marine Communication,
		Procedures & FCC Licensing
	Introduction
	Recommendations for Marine Communication		•
	The frequencies your radio uses are set aside to enhance safety afloat and for vessel
	navigation and operational messages over a range suitable for nearshore voyages.

If the 3 watt maximum output of your radio is not sufficient for the distances you travel from the coast, consider a higher powered handheld or installing a Cobra Marine fixed mount radio with up to 25 watts of output power. (Visit www.cobra.com or your local dealer for model availability.)

If traveling far offshore, you should consider adding even more powerful radio equipment such as HF single side band or satellite radio for your vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard does not endorse cellular telephones as substitutes for marine radios. They generally cannot communicate with rescue vessels and, if you make a distress call on a cellular telephone, only the party you call will be able to hear you. Additionally, cellular telephones may have limited coverage over water and can be hard to locate. If you do not know where you are, the Coast Guard will have difficulty finding you if you are using a cellular telephone.

However, cellular telephones can have a place on board where cellular coverage is available — to allow social conversations and keep the marine frequencies uncluttered and available for their intended uses.

	VHF Marine Radio Procedures	•
	If you are not familiar with or need to brush up on the protocols that must be
	followed when using a VHF Marine Radio, please study the section beginning
	at page 28 before putting your radio into service.
	FCC Licensing Information	•
	CobraMarine VHF radios comply with the FCC (Federal Communications
	Commission) requirements that regulate the Maritime Radio Service.

The radio operates on all currently allocated marine channels and is switchable for use according to U.S.A., International or Canadian regulations. It features instant access to emergency Channel 16 and calling Channel 9 as well as NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) All Hazards Radio with Alert that can be accessed by pressing one (1) button.

Station License

An FCC ship station license is no longer required for any vessel traveling in U.S.A. waters which uses a VHF marine radio, RADAR, or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), and which is not required to carry radio equipment. However, any vessel required to carry a marine radio on an international voyage, carrying an HF single side band radiotelephone, or carrying a marine satellite terminal must obtain a station license.

FCC Licensing

Introduction

FCC license forms and applications for ship and land stations can be downloaded through the Internet at www.fcc.gov. Forms can also be obtained by calling the FCC at 888-225-5322.

International Station License

If your vessel will be entering the sovereign waters of a country other than the U.S.A. or Canada, you should contact that country’s communications regulatory authority for licensing information.

Radio Call Sign

Currently, the FCC does not require recreational boaters to have a license. The United States Coast Guard recommends that the boat’s registration number and state of registry (e.g., IL 1234 AB) be used as a call sign and be clearly visible on the vessel.

Canadian Ship Station License

You need a Radio Operator’s Certificate if your vessel is operated in Canadian waters. Radio Operator training and certification is available from the Canadian Power Squadron. Visit their website (http://www.cps-ecp.ca/english/newradiocard.html), contact the nearest field office or write: Industry of Canada, Radio Regulatory Branch, Attn: DOSP, 300 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C8.

User Responsibility and Operating Locations

All users are responsible for observing domestic and foreign government regulations and are subject to severe penalties for violations. The VHF frequencies on your radio are reserved for marine use and require a special license to operate from land, including when your boat is on its trailer.

NOTE

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two (2) conditions:

1.This device may not cause harmful interference, and

2.This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

FCC Warning: Replacement or substitution of transistors, regular diodes or other parts of a unique nature, with parts other than those recommended by Cobra may cause a violation of the technical regulations of part 80 of the FCC Rules, or violation of type acceptance requirements of part 2 of the rules.

4 English

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® 5

Included in this Package
VHFInstallationMarine Radio Protocols
Included in this Package	•
You should find all of the following items in the package with your CobraMarine VHF radio.

Radio Wrist Strap 12V Power Cord

For connection to 12-volt power sources.

Operating Instruction Manual	Spring-Loaded Belt Clip	5 Rechargeable NiMH Batteries

Wrist Strap, Belt Clip
and External Speaker/Mic
InstallationVHF Marine Radio Protocols
Wrist Strap and Belt Clip	•

	Wrist Strap	Wrist Strap
		The radio comes with the wrist strap already attached.
		It can be easily removed if you choose not to use it.
	Belt Clip Secured to Belt	Belt Clip
		Use the spring-loaded belt clip to carry the radio on your
		person.
		1.	Press open the belt clip, slide it over the belt and
			release the clip.
		2.	Insert the round guide on the back of the radio into the
			guide channel on the belt clip. The radio must be upside-
	Removing the Radio		down, as shown, to remove it from the belt clip.
		3.	Once the knob is inserted all the way into the belt clip

channel, the radio swings free but remains secure.

Secure Radio

External Speaker/Microphone Jack		•
Speaker/Microphone Jack	Your radio can be fitted with an optional External Speaker/

Microphone (not included), freeing your hands

for other tasks. Contact your local CobraMarine® dealer or Cobra® directly for optional accessories.

To attach the external speaker/microphone: 1. Open the speaker/microphone tab on top

of the radio.

2. Insert the plug into the speaker/microphone jack.

6 English

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® 7

		Batteries and Charging
	VHF Marine Radio Protocols
	Batteries and Charging		•
Install Batteries		The radio is is shipped with five (5) NiMH rechargeable
		batteries.

WARNING

The 12V power cord supplied with this radio is only to be used with its rechargeable batteries. Do not attempt to charge any other type of batteries in the radio as fire, explosion or battery damage will occur. Rechargeable battery life will be prolonged if extreme ambient temperatures are avoided.

When your rechargeable batteries begin to discharge too quickly, it is time to install new batteries. Your radio will also operate with five (5) high-quality AAA alkaline batteries.

Installing the Batteries

Install the AAA batteries in the slots in the battery

compartment with the batteries oriented according

to the polarity (+ & -) marks in the slots.

Initial Charge

The Cobra-provided NiMH batteries may be charged in a car or boat using the appropriate 12V power cord.

Power Source	1. Insert the power cord into the side of the radio.

2.Insert the other end of the power cord into a 12V power source.

3. Observe that the red light on the power cord glows to indicate that power is present.

4. Allow the batteries to charge for 12 to 14 hours before use.

WARNING

Only the rechargeable NiMH batteries can be recharged. You MUST use the charging device provided with this radio. Do not substitute any other type of charging adapter. Battery damage, fire or explosion may result. It is equally important to prevent the NiMH batteries from freezing to obtain best performance from them.

8 English

VHF Marine Radio Protocols

Locking Tab

Fully Charged

Partially Charged

Fully Discharged

Batteries and Charging

To Remove Batteries from Radio

1.Pivot the locking tab on the battery cover and remove it.

2.Pull the individual batteries out of the radio housing.

NOTICE

NiMH batteries are toxic. Please dispose of properly. Some marine suppliers accept old batteries for recycling and some municipal waste disposal agencies have special provisions for battery disposal.

Maintaining the Battery Charge

As you use your radio, the battery power icon will show the battery power remaining. When the icon begins to flash, it is time to recharge or change the batteries.

NOTICE

Use only the 12V power cord provided by Cobra. Do not use the power cord with alkaline batteries; only the NiMH batteries are rechargeable. Spent alkaline batteries must be discarded and replaced.

It is a good idea to keep a set of fresh, high-quality AAA alkaline batteries with your radio. Should the rechargeable batteries become discharged and no electrical power source be available, you can insert fresh alkaline batteries and continue to use your radio.

Comes Close to a Cobra® 9

Operating Your Radio	Getting Started
Getting Started	•
MR HH125 Radio	Refer to the foldout at the front of this manual to identify the
	various controls and indicators on your radio. Throughout
	this manual you will be instructed to “Press” or to “Press
	and Hold” various buttons (except “Push to Talk”) on the
	radio. “Press” means a momentary press of approximately
	one (1) second. “Press and Hold” means to hold the button
	down for approximately three (3) seconds.
	Whenever you press any button except the Talk button on
	your radio, a brief tone (beep) will sound to confirm the
	button press. With all button presses, the appropriate icon
	will appear on the LCD and the backlight will turn On. The
	backlight will stay On for 10 seconds after the button is
	released.
	At times, you will hear two (2) other sounds. Two (2) beeps
	will sound to confirm your setting changes and three (3)
	beeps will sound to notify you of an error.

Common Radio Functions

The following procedures define common operating functions of the radio when in either Marine Standby or Weather (WX) Standby modes.

On/Off/Volume Control (Clockwise)

On/Off/Volume Control (Counterclockwise)

Power/Volume Control

Power On/Off Control

The On/Off/Volume control is located at the upper right side of the radio. Turning the On/Off/Volume control past the detent position will turn the radio On or Off.

Power Saver

Your radio has a unique circuit designed to extend battery life. If there are no transmissions, signals, or button presses for ten (10) seconds, the radio will automatically switch to Power Save mode. Signal reception or any button press will take the radio out of Power Save mode.

Volume Control

Volume is controlled by turning the On/Off/Volume control.

νTo increase the volume, turn the On/Off/Volume control clockwise.

νTo decrease the volume, turn the On/Off/Volume control counterclockwise.

10 English

Operating Your Radio

Speaker/Mic Jack

Talk Button

Getting Started

Radio Speaker and Microphone

The internal Radio Speaker and Microphone are located on the bottom front face of the radio below the lower control buttons.

An optional Speaker/Microphone jack is located at the top of the radio between the antenna and the On/Off/Volume control. Flip the protective cap open and insert the plug into the jack.

Talk Button

Press and hold the Talk button to transmit messages. Release the Talk button to stop transmitting. If the Talk button is pressed while on a receive only channel, a three beep error signal will sound.

Squelch Control	Squelch Control
	This radio is equipped with an automatic squelch control.
	Squelch filters weak signals and radio frequency (RF) noise
	so you can hear the main signal clearly.

To receive weak signals, the automatic squelch can be turned Off (opened) by pressing the Squelch Defeat button. You will likely hear a lot of static and RF noise along with the weak signal.

Press the Squelch Defeat button for up to five (5) seconds to briefly open squelch. To hold squelch open for longer periods, press and hold the Squelch Defeat button for more than five

(5) seconds. Squelch will remain open until you press the Squelch Defeat button again or you change channels.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® 11

OperatingVHF MarineYourRadioRadioProtocols

Backlight/Key Lock Button

Key Locked Buttons

Key Lock Icon

Channel Up/Down Buttons

Currently On Channel 88

12 English

Getting Started

Backlight/Key Lock Button

The LCD will be illuminated by the backlight as long as any button is pressed and will remain On for 10 seconds after the button is released.

To Display the Backlight Momentarily:

Press the Backlight/Key Lock button. The backlight will remain On for 10 seconds. If the backlight is already On, a press of the Backlight/Key Lock button will turn it Off.

Key Lock

To prevent accidental changes to your settings, you can lock all of the buttons on the front of the the radio along with the Squelch Defeat button.

To Lock or Unlock the Buttons:

Press and hold the Backlight/Key Lock button for two

(2) seconds. The Key Lock icon will appear or disappear in the LCD. When Key Lock is On, pressing any of the buttons on the front of the radio will result in a three (3) beep error message.

Both the Backlight/Key Lock button and the Talk button are active — you can Receive (Rx) or Transmit (Tx) a message with Key Lock On, but you cannot change the channel.

Channel Up/Down Buttons

Your radio will Receive (Rx) and Transmit (Tx) VHF signals on the channel indicated on the LCD display. You can change the channel at any time using the Channel Up/Down buttons.

To Change Channels:

Press the Channel Up/Down buttons.

If you are on Channel 88, pressing the Channel Up button will advance to Channel 01. If you are on Channel 01, pressing the Channel Down button will advance to Channel 88.

You can press and hold the Channel Up/Down button for fast advance. The beep sound will occur only at the first press of the buttons and not during fast advance.

If the new channel selected is restricted to low power, the radio will automatically switch to Low Power mode and the Low Power icon will appear on the LCD.

If the radio is in the Key Lock mode, the channel will not change and the three (3) beep error signal will sound.

OperatingVHF MarineYourRadioRadioProtocols	Getting Started
Scan Button	SCAN Button

Press and release the SCAN button to scan all channels. The SCAN icon will display on the LCD display. Scanning begins at lower channels, and scans to higher channels. Press Channel Up/Down button to change the scan direction.

When a signal is received in SCAN mode, the radio will pause 10 seconds before resuming SCAN operation. The scan will stop when the Talk button is pressed.

NOTE

Memory channels need to be saved to effectively enter the Memory Channel mode and scan all memory channels. See page 25.

HI/LO Power Button

High/Low (HI/LO) Power Button

Your radio can transmit selectively at 1 or 3 watts of power. Cobra suggests you maintain the low power setting for

short-range communication. You will conserve battery life and avoid overpowering nearby stations by using a low power signal. Use the High Power setting for long-range

communications or when you do not receive a response to a signal sent at 1 watt.

To Toggle Between HI/LO Power Modes:

Press the Power Level/Weather button. The LCD will show which mode is in effect. Some channels are restricted for a maximum use of 1 watt. Your radio will automatically set the power to Low Power mode when you select those channels.

NOTE

Some channels, frequency bands and countries of use might not be able to operate in High Power mode.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® 13