Cobra Electronics FRS 225 User Manual

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2-Way Radio

Operating Instructions for your

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FRS 225

Nothing comes close to a Cobra™

Family Radio Service

Ever wish you could talk to someone who wasn’t within earshot? Like contacting ski partners back at the lodge? Or letting a friend know how to find you in a busy mall? Cobra®’s microTALK® FRS 225 is a great way for friends or family to have fun and be safe by staying in touch while on the go.

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has created 14 license free frequency bands, or channels, called Family Radio Service (FRS) frequencies. These channels are in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band which means great penetration through buildings, thick forests, hills, and other dense structures.They are also FM (Frequency Modulation) signals which means crystal clear reception even in crowded, noisy environments.

FCC Warnings

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 95 of the FCC Rules, or violation of Type Acceptance requirements of Part 2 of the Rules.

Included with your microTALK®

1. Belt Clip

2. Wrist Strap

3. Two microTALK® SNAP™ removable fronts

Family Radio Service

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Features of This Product

•Two-way radio with up to a 2 mile range

• 14 channels

• 38 Privacy Codes

•Backlit LCD

•Roger beep confirmation tone

•Call feature

•SuperFlex™ antenna

•Water Resistant

•Speaker/Microphone jacks

•Belt clip

•Wrist strap

•Lock Function

Contents

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

Family Radio Service ................................................A1

FCC Warnings Included Accessories

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

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

Customer Support ...................................................A3

Operating your microTALK®

Battery Installation...................................................2

Turning On..................................................................3

Illuminating the Display ........................................3

Auto Squelch .............................................................4

Maximum Range Extender/Auto Monitor ......4

Select Channel ..........................................................5

Select CTCSS Privacy Code ...................................5

Calling Another Party .............................................6

Talking To Another Party .......................................6

Roger Beep Confirmation Tone...........................7

Listening For Another Party.................................7

Lock Function ............................................................8

microTALK® Range...................................................9

Making Life Easier And Safer ...............................10

microTALK® SNAP™ Removable Front..............11

External Microphone/Speaker Jack...................12

Caring for Your microTALK®..................................14

Frequency Ranges .....................................................16

microTALK® Specifications ....................................16

Limited Two Year Warranty....................................18

Optional Accessories................................................19

Order Form....................................................................20

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

How to Use Your Cobra

2-Way Radio

Thank you for purchasing the Cobra® FRS 225 2-Way Radio.Your microTALK® radio comes with the new microTALK® SNAP™ removable front, which allows you to customize the appearance of your radio! Several color choices are included with your purchase. For instructions on removing the microTALK® SNAP™ front, see page 11. For additional color choices available as accessories (sold separately), please see the brochure and order form included.

Customer Support

Properly used, this Cobra® product will give you years of reliable service. Should you encounter any problems with the product or not understand its many features, please refer to this owner’s manual.If, after referring to the manual, you still need help, call Cobra® Customer Service at 773.889.3087.

Our Thanks to You

Cobra® Customer Service

Live operators are available M-F 8:00 am - 6:00 pm CST at: 773.889.3087

Automated Technical Assistance available 24 hours a day,seven days a week. E-mail questions to: productinfo@cobra.com

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

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Controls and Indicators

1. Antenna

2. Microphone/Speaker

Jack

3. On/Off Volume Switch

4.LLCD Display Panel

5.? Light/Max Range Button

6. Channel Select Button

7. Speaker

8. Battery Compartment

9. Talk Button

10. Call Button

11. microTALK® SNAP™

Removeable Front

12 . Lock Button

13 . Mode Button

14 . Charge Pads

Turn the On/Off/Volume switch. An audible “tone”will indicate the unit is on.

Pull lock tab down to remove battery cover.

Insert three “AA” batteries. Position batteries according to polarity markings.

Operation

Note

Batteries are not included with microTALK® 2-way radio.Always use 3 high quality AA alkaline batteries or optional battery pack (sold separately).

Only the Cobra® NiMH battery (Part #FA-AA) pack can be recharged.

Note

When batteries are low the

indicator willblink.

Note

Visit Cobra® Electronics (www.cobra.com) for information about optional battery pack and desktop charger accessories.

Install Batteries

Battery Installation

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Turning On Your microTALK®

TURN SWITCH

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Note

Whenever the unit is on you can receive communications.

Turning On Your microTALK

Illuminating the Display

Push and release LIGHT/MAX RANGE button to illuminate display for ten seconds.

Select any of the 14 channels by pushing the channel up or down buttons.

Select Main Channel (1-14)

Turn on the microTALK® 2-Way Radio.

Operation

Select Channel

Note

Units must be on same channel and privacy code to communicate.

Note

Channels 8-12 generally are less used and give better results for communications in most areas.

Note

Push and hold the channel button for fast channel advance.

Operation

Note

To learn more about the range of your microTALK®, see page 9.

Range is dependent on battery condition and geographic terrain.

Auto Squelch

Maximum Range Extender

Auto Squelch can be temporarily removed to allow all signals to enter (Maximum Range Extender).

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Auto Squelch

Your microTALK® is equipped with Auto Squelch, which automatically shuts off weak transmissions and unwanted noise due to terrain conditions or if you have reached your range limit.

Push and hold LIGHT/MAX RANGE button to allow all signals to enter.

Auto Monitor

When the signal you want to hear is consistently weak, you may place the radio in Maximum Range mode without having to constantly hold the button: Press and hold the Maximum Range Extender button for five seconds.Two beeps confirm Auto Monitor is on.To return to normal operation, momentarily press the Maximum Range Extender button again or change channels.

Note

Selecting a CTCSS privacy code will allow you to only hear conversations on that selection. For example, you may be with a group of friends. If all of you select channel 7 and privacy code 1, you will hear your friends but will not hear anybody else on channel 7, privacy codes 2 through 38.

Select CTCSS Privacy Code (00-38)

Press the mode button. After a short delay,small numbers will flash next to the channel display LCD indicating the privacy code.

Select CTCSS Privacy Code

Select sprivacy code number by moving the channel button up or down. When the desired code is displayed push the mode button and release. An audible tone will confirm your selection.

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The TX/RX indicator will be displayed.

Operation

Note

While the TALK button is depressed you cannot receive incoming calls.

Note

Both units must be ON and tuned to the same channel.

Your incoming “Call”signal volume is dependent on the unit volume setting.

Roger Beep Confirmation Tone

Listening For Another Party

Operation

Calling Another Party

To alert another party that you wish to communicate:

Talking To Another Party

Push and release CALL button.The unit you are calling will hear a two second ringing tone.

Roger Beep Confirmation Tone

Calling Another Party

Note

While the TALK button is depressed you cannot receive incoming calls.

Talking To Another Party

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Release TALK button and listen for response.

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

Push and hold TALK button.

Listening For Another Party

When finished talking:

Release TALK button to receive incoming transmissions.

Your microTALK® is always in listening mode when the TALK button is not pressed.

Adjust volume by turning the On/Off Volume Switch

Your listener will hear an audible tone when you release the TALK button.

This alerts the other party that you are finished talking and it’s OK for them to begin talking.

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Operation

Lock Function

Note

To achieve maximum range the auto squelch can be overridden.Refer to Maximum Range Extender section on page 4.

microTALK

Range

Note

Call button, Range Extender button and Talk button do not lock and are fully operational while the unit is locked.

The unit cannot lock while in function mode.

Lock Function

The purpose of the LOCK function is to lock most buttons to avoid accidental operation. To engage the LOCK function:

microTALK® Range

Your microTALK® Radio has a range of up to 2 miles.This effective range can be shortened under some conditions.

Push and hold Lock button until flashes. Channel up/down and Mode buttons are now locked. An audible tone will also confirm lock function.

To “ unlock”push and hold Lock button until disappears.

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PUSH & HOLD

1. Under flat, open conditions you will experience the microTALK®’s maximum range.

2. Range can be reduced by buildings and foliage in the path of the signal.

3. Range will be further reduced by dense foliage and hilly terrain.

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5. Checking on traveling companions in another car.

6. Agree on a meeting spot after an event.

Making Life Easier and Safer

microTALK® 2-Way Radios Can Make Life Easier and Safer

As you become familiar with your microTALK® Radio you will find many of your own uses for the unit.

Some suggestions include:

microTALK

2-Way Radios Can Make Life Easier and Safer

1. Talking with fellow hikers.

2. Keeping track of the kids in a shopping mall.

3. Communicating between basement and first, second or third floor.

4. Talking to a neighbor or a friend.

TO REMOVE: Use the slight indentation between the SNAP™ front and bottom front of the unit to lift it off.

TO AT TACH: First engage the tabs into the top of the unit. Next snap in the middle tabs. Finally snap in the bottom tab.

microTALK® SNAP™ Removable Front

Your microTALK® Radio comes with the new microTALK® SNAP™ removeable front.

microTALK

SNAP™ Removable Front

External Microphone/

Speaker Jack

External Microphone/ Speaker Jack

Note

External microphone/ speaker is not included with the unit. See page 19 for optional accessories.

External Microphone/Speaker Jack

Your microTALK® 2-Way Radio can be fitted with an external microphone/speaker,freeing your hands for other tasks.

To attach the external microphone/speaker:

External Microphone/ Speaker Jack

Insert plug into the Spkr/Mic jack.

Open Spkr/Mic tab on top of unit.

Caring for Your microTALK® Radio

The microTALK® 2-Way Radio will give you years of service if cared for properly.

Here are some suggestions:

Caring for Your microTALK

Radio

Note

Modifying or tampering with the radio’s internal components can cause malfunction and will invalidate the warranty. If your radio is not performing as it should, please call Cobra® at

773.889.3087. Do not return the unit to the retailer.

3. Never place the unit in water or in a moist place.

4. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.

1. Handle unit gently. 2. Keep away from dust.

Caring for Your Radio

C. TRANSMITTER

UNIT NOMINAL

1. EFFECTIVE RADIATED POWER mW 500

2. CARRIER FREQ. STABILITY

Hz 500

3. MODULATION LIMITING KHz 2.5

4. CARRIER ATTACK TIME mS 30

5. AUDIO FREQUENCY RESPONSE @ 300 HZ dB -10 @ 2500 HZ dB 4

6. AUDIO DISTORTION % 3

7. HUM NOISE dB 38

8. TRANSIENT FREQ. BEHAVIOR a) TX ON mS 30 b) TX OFF mS 5

D. POWER SUPPLY

1. BATTERY LIFE (1:1:18 RATIO) HR 24

2. BATTERY OPERATING RANGE V 3.2 - 4.5

1716

I. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

A. FREQUENCIES

CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT

CH 1: 462.5625MHz CH 8: 467.5625MHz CH 2: 462.5875MHz CH 9: 467.5875MHz CH 3: 462.6125MHz CH 10: 467.6125MHz CH 4: 462.6375MHz CH 11: 467.6375MHz CH 5: 462.6625MHz CH 12: 467.6625MHz CH 6: 462.6875MHz CH 13: 467.6875MHz CH 7: 462.7125MHz CH 14: 467.7125MHz

B. RECEIVER

UNIT NOMINAL

1. SENSITIVITY FOR 12 DB SINAD dBm -119 FOR CALL SIG. DETECTION dBm -121

2. MAX. AUDIO OUTPUT @10% THD mW 150

3. MAX. S/N RATIO @ 1mV RF INPUT dB 45

4. SQUELCH a) SENSITIVITY dB m -121 b) ATTACK TIME mS 150 c) CLOSING TIME mS 200

5. AUDIO FREQUENCY RESP. @ 300 HZ dB -3 @ 2500 HZ dB -10

6. SIGNAL DISPLACEMENT BW +/-KHZ 5

7. ADJACENT CH. REJECTION dB 55

8. INTERMODULATION REJECTION dB 55

9. SPURIOUS RESPONSE REJECTION dB 65

SpecificationsSpecifications

Vox Headset Mic

VOX (Voice Operated Transmitter) headset and microphone allows hands-free operation. MA-VOX

Optional Accessories

Limited Two Year Warranty

COBRA® ELECTRONICS CORPORATION warrants that

its COBRA® FRS Radios, and the component parts thereof,will be free of defects in workmanship and materials for period of two (2) years from the date of first consumer purchase.This warranty may be enforced by the first consumer purchaser, provided that the product is utilized within the U.S.

COBRA® will, without charge, repair or replace,at its option, defective FRS radios, products or component parts upon delivery to the COBRA® factory Service Department, accompanied by proof of the date of first consumer purchase, such as a duplicated copy of a sales receipt.

You must pay any initial shipping charges required to ship the product for warranty service, but the return charges will be at Cobra®'s expense, if the product is repaired or replaced under warranty.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you mayalso have other rights which vary from state to state.

Exclusions: This limited warranty does not apply;

1) to any product damaged by accident; 2) in the event of misuse or abuse of the product or as a result of unauthorized alterations or repairs; 3) if the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed;

4) if the owner of the product resides outside the U.S.

All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are limited in duration to the length of this warranty. COBRA® shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential or other damages; including, without limitation, damages resulting from loss of use or cost of installation.

Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and/or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Cobra® Electronics Corporation

6500 West Cortland Street Chicago,Illinois 60707 USA

QUALITY SEALQUALITY SEAL

You Can Find These Fine Accessories At Your Local Cobra® Dealer

If you wish, you can order directly from Cobra®.

Order by phone

Call 773.889.3087 (Press 1 from the main menu) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. M-F CST.)

Order by mail or fax

Call 773.889.3087 for pricing. Fill out order form on next page, and mail/fax directly to Cobra®.

Order over the Web

www.cobra.com

Ear Bud Mic with PTT

Compact earbud and microphone with Push-to-Talk switch. MA-EBM

Lapel Speaker/Microphone

Remote microphone/speaker with Push-to-Talk switch. MA-SM

Replacement Belt Clip

FA-BC2



FA-AA

Insert with charging contacts 

below facing out

2 Port Desktop Charger

Charges two NiMH battery packs (FA-AA) or two FRS 225 radios. (Note: appearance may vary) FA-CS

NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack

High performance Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack for multiple charging. FA-AA

Accessory Order Form

Please print clearly Name Address (No P.O. Box) City State Zip Telephone ( ) Credit Card No. Exp. Date Customer Signature Circle One: Visa MasterCard Discover

Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.Offer valid in Continental U.S. only.

For credit card orders fill out order form and fax to: 773.622.2269 or call 773.889.3087 (Press 1 from the main menu) 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, M-F, CST.

Make check or money order (no stamps) payable to: Cobra® Electronics Attn: Accessories Dept. 6500 West Cortland Street Chicago, IL 60707 USA

$25.00 and under $4.75 $25.01 - $40.00 $6.95 $40.01 - $80.00 $9.25 $80.01 - $120.00 $10.25 $120.01 - $160.00 $11.75 $160.01 and up $14.50

Amount Shipping/ of Order Handling

Shipping & Handling

For AK,HI and PR please add an additional $15.00 for UPS shipments.

Subtotal (Tax if applicable) Shipping/handling

Total

Tax Table

Illinois residents add 8.75% Indiana residents add 5% Michigan residents add 6 % Ohio residents add 5% Wisconsin residents add 5%

MA-VOX Vox Headset Mic MA-EBM Ear Bud Mic with PTT MA-SM Lapel Speaker/ Microphone FA-AA NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack FA-CS 2 Port Desktop Charger FA-BC2 Replacement Belt Clip

Item # Description Cost Ea. Qty. Amount

Prices subject to change without notice.

The Cobra® line of quality products also includes:

•Citizens Band Radios

•microTALK® Radios

•Radar/Laser Detectors

• GPS

•SafetyAlert® Traffic Warning Systems

•Accessories

• HighGear™ Accessories

Nothing comes close to a Cobra

™

Cobra® Electronics Corporation 6500 West Cortland Street Chicago, IL 60707 USA

Part No. 480-004-P

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

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

(773) 889-3087

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A Consumer Service Representative can be reached through this same number

8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, CST.

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

www.cobra.com or by e-mail to productinfo@cobra.com

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 of 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 printed 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 West Cortland Street,Chicago, IL 60707 USA.

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.

If You Think You Need Service

Cobra Electronics FRS 225 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual