Cobra Electronics PR3550WX User Manual

The Cobra line of quality products includes:

CB Radios • microTALK®Radios • Radar/Laser Detectors • Safety Alert®Traffic Warning Systems • Handheld GPS Receivers • Mobile GPS Navigation Systems • HighGear CobraMarine™ VHF Radios • Power Inverters • Accessories

Accessories •

For more information or to

order any of our products,

please visit our website:

www.cobra.com

Nothing comes close to a Cobra

English

Owner’s Manual

TWO-WAY RADIO MODEL

PR 3550 WX

Nothing comes close to a Cobra

Printed in Philippines

Part No. 480-166-P

Version B

English

Introduction

Staying in touch with your family and friends is convenient and easy when using your microTALK radio. Some of the many uses you will discover include:

Making Life Easier and Safer

Communicating with others while hiking, biking, and working; keeping track of family and friends at a crowded public event; checking with travel companions in another car; talking with neighbors; arranging meeting spots with others while shopping at the mall.

Belt Clip

Secure your microTALK radio while on the go.

ying your microTALK

Carr

radio with

you is easy when using the belt clip. The belt clip easily attaches to your belt,

purse or backpack. Simply squeeze the clip and place it where you prefer.

Customer Assistance

For Assistance in the U.S.A.

In this user’s manual, you should find all the information you need to operate your microTALK

radio. If you require further assistance after reading this manual, Cobra Electronics offers the following customer assistance services:

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 6:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday (except holidays) 773-889-3087 (phone).

Questions

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

Technical Assistance

English only. English and Spanish. productinfo

www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked Questions).

@cobra.com (e-mail).

For Assistance Outside the U.S.A.

Contact Your Local Dealer

English

est Cortland Street

6500

Chicago, Illinois 60707 U.S.A.

www.cobra.com

Introduction

Assistance

Warranty

Assistance

Warranty

Antenna

Button

Call

Button

Max Range

English

Talk

Light/

Button

Product Features

Wrist Strap

Compartment

Battery Door

External Speaker/ Microphone/Charge Jack

Connector

Belt Clip

Battery

Latch

On/Off Volume

Knob

Mode/Lock

Button

Backlit LCD Display

Enter/ Hi•Low Power

Button

Channel Up

Button

Channel Down

Button

Speaker/ Microphone

Introduction

Features

• Two-Way Radio

With up to an 10 mile (16 km) range

22 Channels

• Seven shared with FRS/GMRS, seven FRS only, eight GMRS only

38 Privacy Codes

•

• 10 Channel NOAA

All Hazards Radio

• Hands-Free Operation (VOX)

• VibrAlert Silent Paging

• 10 Channel Memory

• Signal

Strength Meter

• Scan Channel, privacy code, memory

Selectable

•

Hi•Low Power

In GMRS

Backlit

•

LCD Display

• Button Lock

• Call Alert 10 selectable tones

Speaker/

•

Microphone/ Charge Jack

• Roger Beep Selectable on/off

Battery/

•

Power Saver

• Keystroke Tones Selectable on/off

Auto Squelch

•

• Maximum Range

Extender

• Belt Clip

Transmit Icon

English

Product Features

Backlit LCD Display

Call Alert and

VibrAlert®Icon

Signal Strength

Meter Icon

Hi•Low

Power Icon

Receive/

Channel Numbers

Battery Level

Indicator

Important FCC Licensing Information

This radio operates on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies which require a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license. See page 22 for licensing and other

ormation.

related inf

Maximum range may vary and is based on unobstructed line-of-sight communication under ideal conditions.

Lock Icon

Keystroke Tones Icon

Roger Beep Icon

Vox Icon

Memory Icon

CTCSS Privacy Code Numbers

Power Saver Icon

Scan Icon

NOAA All Hazards Radio Icon

Memory Location Number

Introduction

Assistance

Warranty

Operation Customer Assistance Warranty

Caring for Your microTALK®Radio

Your microTALK®radio will give you years of trouble-free service if cared for properly. Handle the radio gently. Keep the radio away from dust. Never put the radio in water or in a damp place. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.

Remove Belt Clip

Batteries

To install or replace batteries:

1. Remove belt clip by releasing belt clip

latch and sliding clip up.

Pull Up Latch

2. Pull up on the battery door latch to

remove the battery compartment cover.

3. Insert four AAA batteries. (Always use high

Insert Batteries

quality alkaline batteries.) Position batteries according to polarity markings.

4. Replace battery compartment cover

and belt clip.

Contact your local Cobra dealer or Cobra directly for optional battery pack and wall charger accessories.

The Basics to Get You Started

Your microTALK®radio is easy to use. To get started, simply:

1. Rotate the On/Off Volume knob to turn on your radio.

2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down

button to select a channel.

Both radios must be tuned to the same channel/privacy code to communicate.

3. Press and hold the Talk button while speaking into the microphone.

4. When finished talking, release the Talk button and listen for a response.

•

Nothing comes close to a Cobra

Assistance

Warranty

Assistance

Warranty

Assistance

Warranty

Operation

Assistance

Warranty

otice

aution Warning

Installation

ustomer

ssistance

On/Off Power

Battery Low

Battery Save Mode

Using Your Radio

Turning on Your microTALK®Radio

To turn on your radio:

1. Rotate the On/Off Volume knob clockwise

on your radio and adjust the volume.

to turn A series of tones will indicate the radio is

Your microTALK mode, ready to receive transmissions. The radio is always in Talk, Call or Mode/Lock buttons are pressed.

Battery Low

Your microTALK®radio has a battery level meter that shows when battery power is decreasing. The greater the number of bars visible, the stronger the battery level. When the battery level is low, the last bar and “bALo” will flash indicating your batteries should be replaced or, if using rechargeable batteries, recharged.

Auto Battery Save

Your microTALK®radio has a unique circuit designed to extend battery life. If there are no transmissions for 10 seconds, the radio will automatically switch to

Power Saver icon will flash in the display.

the This will not affect the radio’s ability to receive incoming transmissions.

radio is now in Standby

Standby mode, except when the

Battery Save mode and

on.

Operation

•

Talk Button

Communicating with Another Person

To talk to another person:

Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction

•

1. Press and hold the Talk button.

Two Inches (five cm) from Mouth

2. With the microphone about two inches

(five cm) from your mouth, speak in a normal voice.

3. Release the Talk button when you are

finished talking and listen for a response.

You cannot receive incoming calls while

•

pressing the

Talk button.

Both radios must be tuned to the same channel/privacy code to communicate.

Channel Buttons

•

Channel Number

Channels

To select a channel:

1. With the radio on, select any of the

22 channels by pressing the or Channel Down button.

Channel Up

•

Both radios must be tuned to the same channel to communicate.

Channels 1 through 7 are shared by FRS and GMRS. Channels 8 through 14 are FRS only. Channels 15 through 22 are GMRS only.

See page 21 for FRS/GMRS frequency allocations and compatibility charts.

Listening

Listening for a Response

When you are finished talking:

1. Release the Talk button to receive incoming

transmissions. Your microTALK

Standby mode while the Talk or

always in Call buttons are not pressed.

radio is

•

English

Nothing comes close to a Cobra

Assistance

Warranty

Assistance

Warranty

Operation

Assistance

Warranty

aution Warning

ustomer

Assistance

Volume Knob

Call Button

Enter/Hi•Low Button

Hi Power Icon

Low Power Icon

Light/Max Rang

English

Using Your Radio

Volume

To adjust the volume:

1. Rotate the On/Off Volume knob.

Call Button

To alert another person that you are calling:

1. Press and release the Call button.

The other person will hear a two second call tone. This tone is used only to establish voice communications.

See page 19 on how to select from 10 available call tone settings.

Selectable High•Low Power Output

When in close proximity to another party or during favorable conditions, you can switch

High to Low Power to extend battery life.

from

This feature applies to GMRS Channels 1 through 7 and 15 through 22 only. Channels 8 through 14 operate exclusively on low power.

To toggle between high and low power:

1. Press and hold the Enter/Hi•Low button for

two seconds.

When using Channels 1 through 7 and 15 through 22 on high power, the will be visible on the display

When using those channels on low power and on Channels 8 through 14, the will be visible on the display.

Display Illumination

To illuminate your display:

1. Press and release the Light/Max Range

button to illuminate the display for 10 seconds.

Hi icon

Low icon

Operation

•

Auto Squelch/Maximum Range

Your microTALK®radio is equipped with Auto Squelch, which automatically shuts due to terrain and conditions. This slightly reduces the

at which signals can be heard.

Range

off weak transmissions and unwanted noise

You can turn off auto squelch to allow all signals to be

Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction

•

Maximum

received and extend the maximum range of your radio.

Light/Max Range

To briefly turn off auto squelch:

1. Press the Light/Max Range button

for less than five seconds.

If you hear two beeps, you have turned the maximum range extender

on (see below).

To turn maximum range extender on:

•

1. Press and hold the Light/Max Range button

for at least five seconds until you hear two beeps which indicates the maximum range extender is

on.

To turn maximum range extender off:

1. Press and release the Light/Max Range

button or change channels.

Lock Feature

The Lock feature locks the Channel, Mode/Lock and Enter/Hi•Low

buttons to prevent accidental operation.

Power

Mode/Lock Button

To turn the lock feature on or off:

•

1. Press and hold the Mode/Lock button for

two seconds.

A double beep sound is used to confirm your

on or off request. When in Lock mode,

Lock Mode

lock the

Lock icon will be displayed.

•

Nothing comes close to a Cobra

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