Cobra Electronics MRF80 Users Manual

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Setup

GRP MMSI Menu

GRP MMSI ID Entry

POS RPLY Menu

Position Reply Setting

To Enter a Group MMSI Number:

1. Enter the Setup menu and scroll to GRP MMSI menu.

2. Press the Enter button. A blinking cursor displays at the

first digit under GRP MMSI ID ENTRY. The leading zero (0) will be entered automatically.

3. Turn the Channel knob or press microphone Channel Up/Down buttons to scroll through the number list to the

digit of the Group MMSI number being entered.

4. Press the Enter button to select the digit.

5. Press the Channel Preset buttons to move within the

field.

6. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until all nine (9) digits of the Group MMSI number are entered.

7. Press the Enter button when all digits are listed.

8. Check that the number is entered correctly.

9. Press the Enter button to return to the Setup menu.

Position Request Reply Type

DSC radios with GPS send the position of a vessel to another station. This is useful for rendezvous and rescue situations.

Determine if the radio should automatically respond to all Position Requests received or if it should provide a Position Request alert and that can be manually selected and then provide a response.

To Set the Position Request Reply Type:

1. Enter the Setup menu and scroll to POS RPLY menu.

2. Press the Enter button and observe the current setting —

AUTO or MANUAL.

3. Move the selection arrow to change the setting.

4. Press the Enter button to select the setting.

5. When the changes are complete, exit the POS RPLY menu and return to the Setup menu.

English

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Setup

INDV DIR Menu

Name Select Menu

Individual Directory Entry

Individual Directory

DSC can be used to call another vessel or station directly. This allows the user to make a call to a specific vessel that could be monitoring any channel. An alarm will sound on the receiving radio to make that station aware of your individual call. Up to 20 names and associated MMSI numbers may be stored in the radio for quick access.

To Enter or Edit Names or MMSI Numbers in the Individual Directory:

1. Enter the Setup menu and scroll to INDV DIR menu.

2. Press Enter to enter the individual directory.

3. Name and MMSI contents of the current location shows

on the display

4. Press Enter to start entering Name data.

5. Rotate the Select button or the microphone up/down

buttons to select alpha or numeric characters.

6. Press F1 or F2 function buttons to advance to the next

character.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the complete Name entry has

been made.

8. Press the Enter button to enter characters in the MMSI

field.

9. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the complete MMSI entry has

been made.

10. Press the Enter button to accept the entry.

11. When the changes are complete, exit the INDV DIR

menu and return to the Setup menu.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Setup

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Operation

The Send menu displays when the Distress button is pressed.

NOTE

This radio follows Class-D DSC protocol with a

dedicated Channel 70 receiver.

Sending Distress Calls

Sending and receiving distress calls and acknowledgements on Channel 70 can be a lifesaver for mariners.

NOTE

The DSC call:

■

Sounds the distress alarm at all receiving stations.

■

Informs receiving stations of the sender’s identity (MMSI).

■

Informs receiving stations of the nature of the emergency.

■

Informs receiving stations of sending position when a GPS device is connected or a position is manually entered.

DSC operation does not provide receiving stations with information like number of persons aboard or injuries. This specific information must be communicated by voice on Channel 16 to the station that acknowledges a DSC Distress call.

To Send a DSC Distress Call:

1. From Standby mode, lift the spring-loaded red door on the transceiver and press the Distress button. The

Distress Button

Distress menu displays with an arrow pointing to SEND.

•

English

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Operation

Distress Button

Distress Send

Nature of Distress

Distress Quick Select

Distress Call Waiting

Distress Exit

There are three (3) choices:

■ Send a distress call automatically, with your position, if

you are connected to a GPS. Or send the call, without your position, if not connected to a GPS.

■ Include a Nature of Distress message with the distress

call.

■ Abort the distress call process and return to Standby

mode.

2. Choose one of the following: Send an Automatic Distress Call: Press and hold the Distress button.

Include a Nature of Distress Message with Distress Call:

a. Turn the Channel knob or press the microphone

Channel Up/Down buttons to move the arrow to

MANUAL.

b. Press the Enter button to access the position entry

screen.

c. Turn the Channel knob or press the microphone

Channel Up/Down buttons to manually select from the

list of pre-programmed Nature of Distress calls — UNDESIGN, FIRE, FLOODING, MORE..., COLLISION.

d. Press the Enter button to select the message. e. Press and hold the Distress button when prompted.

Abort the Distress Call Process:

If the Distress button is pressed by mistake or to discontinue resending an automatic distress message:

a. Turn the Channel knob or press the microphone

Channel Up/Down buttons to move the arrow to EXIT.

b. Press the Enter button to return to Standby mode.

NOTE

You may also press the ESC (escape) key to return to

the Standby mode.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

Distress Call MMSI Directory Match

Distress Call Received

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Operation

The Distress alarm sounds to confirm that the message is transmitted. At the end of the transmission, the radio maintains a watch on Channel 16 and Channel 70 for an acknowledgement. Press any button to turn Off the alarm and return to Standby mode.

■

If an acknowledgement is received, the Distress alarm sounds again and the responding party’s MMSI number displays on the LCD.

■

If no acknowledgement is received, the radio resends the message at approximately five (5) minute intervals until an acknowledgement is received or the Distress call is aborted.

Receiving Distress Calls

When a vessel is within range of a DSC Distress call, the radio receives the call, sounds the Distress alarm, and switches to Channel 16. All DSC calls that are received will sound one (1) alert alarm. See pages 35-36 for descriptions of the different alarms. Press any button to turn Off the alarm. The received call information continues to display on the LCD.

When a Distress Call is Received:

1. Press any button to turn Off the alarm and return to Standby mode on Channel 16.

2. Read and write down the distress information that

displays on the LCD (position data may or may not be shown); then determine whether to answer the call.

3. Respond, if appropriate, by pressing and holding the Ta lk button to transmit on Channel 16.

4. The received information is placed into the Call Log. See page 77 for more information on viewing the Call Log.

5. If MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identify) matches a contact from the Individual Directory entry stored in your radio, the name identification displays and the alarm sounds to identify the Name of the matching MMSI member.

6. Press ESC after viewing the display to return to normal Standby mode.

NOTE

The radio automatically switches to Channel 16 upon

English

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

All Ships Call Menu

All Ships Call Select

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Operation

receiving a DSC Distress call and the alarm will sound for approximately two (2) minutes. Press any button to clear the Distress alarm instantly.

Regarding Distress Relay Calls

This radio cannot send Distress Relay calls. Only large ships and shore stations, with specially equipped radios, can send Distress Relay calls.

Receiving Distress Relay Calls

This radio does respond to a Distress Relay call just as it responds to a Distress call.

Sending an All Ships Call

Use the DSC All Ships call for the same urgency and safety purposes as the Pan and Securite voice calls as well as sending Routine messages to all stations at once. The DSC All Ships call reaches all stations in radio range. Use the DSC All Ships call for urgent, but not life-threatening situations or to broadcast a safety warning to all vessels in the area. Use the DSC All Ships call judiciously for Routine calls.

To Send an All Ships Call:

1. In Standby mode, select a channel to communicate a

routine call. The radio uses Channel 16 for urgent and safety calls.

2. Press the Call/Setup button to enter the Call Setup menu.

3. Scroll to type of call. The display shows: URGENCY, SAFETY, ROUTINE or EXIT. Select the type of call.

4. Press the Enter button to send a message.

All Ships Call Send

NOTE

The radio display requires confirmation before

sending Urgency and Safety calls.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Introduction

Operating Your Radio

All Ships Call MMSI Directory Match

Digital Select Calling (DSC) Product Features

Operation

5. Depending on the type of message selected, the radio automatically switches to a voice channel.

a. After Urgency and Safety calls, the radio switches to

Channel 16. Once on channel, press the Tal k button to send the Urgency or Safety voice message.

b. After a Routine call, the radio switches to the channel

selected in step 1. Once on channel, press the Tal k button to send the Routine voice message.

DSC equipped radios that receive a DSC All Ships call message are automatically switched to the channel selected by the sender to hear a voice message.

To return to Standby mode, without sending a message, scroll to EXIT and press the Enter button.

Receiving an All Ships Call

All Ships calls received from stations within range of the radio sound the Distress alarm and switch the radio to Channel 16.

When an All Ships Call is Heard:

1. Press any button to turn Off the alarm and return to Standby mode.

2. Read and write down the MMSI information of the vessel

sending the call as well as the date and time of the call.

3. Listen to the incoming voice message on the channel the radio selects for the incoming All Ships call.

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