Garmin VHF 315 Installation Instructions

VHF 315 SERIES

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Important Safety Information

WARNING

See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and other
important information.

CAUTION

To avoid possible personal injury, always wear safety goggles, ear protection, and a dust mask when drilling,
cutting, or sanding.

NOTICE

When drilling or cutting, always check what is on the opposite side of the surface to avoid damaging the vessel.

Tools Needed

• Pencil

• Drill

• 22 mm (7/8 in.) drill bit or hole saw

• 3 mm (1/8 in.) drill bit

• 13 mm (1/2 in.) drill bit

• 4.76 mm (3/16 in.) wrench (for mounting the handset connector)

• Additional drill bits appropriate for the surface and hardware

• Phillips screwdriver

• Rotary cutting tool or jigsaw (for mounting the active speaker)

• Marine sealant (optional)

Mounting Considerations

NOTICE

This device should be mounted in a location that is not exposed to extreme temperatures or conditions. The
temperature range for this device is listed in the product specifications. Extended exposure to temperatures
exceeding the specified temperature range, in storage or operating conditions, may cause device failure.
Extreme-temperature-induced damage and related consequences are not covered by the warranty.

• You must mount the device in a location where it will not be submerged.

• You must mount the device in a location with adequate ventilation where it will not be exposed to extreme
temperatures.

• If possible, you should mount the device horizontally, with the top of the device facing upward.

• If you must mount the device vertically, you should orient it so the connectors do not point upward. This
helps avoid potential water retention around the connectors.

GUID-395B9869-0DCF-4E17-A266-0D9FF08A27DE v2April 2021

Antenna Mounting and EME Exposure

WARNING

Radio operators with cardiac pacemakers, life-support machines, or electrical medical equipment should not be
exposed to excessive radio-frequency (RF) fields, because the RF field may interfere with the function of their
medical equipment.

CAUTION

This device generates and radiates radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy (EME). Failure to observe
these guidelines may expose people to RF radiation absorption exceeding the maximum permissible exposure
(MPE).

Garmin® declares a MPE radius of 2.48 m (97.64 in.) for this system, which was determined using 25 W output
to an omni-directional, 6 dBi gain antenna. The antenna should be installed to maintain a distance of 2.48 m
(97.64 in.) between the antenna and all people.

Mounting the Device

NOTICE

If you are mounting the device in fiberglass, when drilling the pilot holes, use a countersink bit to drill a
clearance counterbore through only the top gel-coat layer. This will help to avoid cracking in the gel-coat layer
when the screws are tightened.

Before you mount the device, you must select a mounting location and determine the mounting hardware
needed for the surface.

NOTE: Mounting hardware is included with the device, but it may not be suitable for the mounting surface.
1 Place the device in the mounting location and mark the location of the pilot holes.
2 Using a bit appropriate for the surface and the mounting hardware, drill a pilot hole for one corner of the

device.

3 Loosely fasten the device to the surface with one corner and examine the other three pilot-hole marks.
4 Mark new pilot-hole locations if necessary.
5 Remove the device from the mounting surface.
6 Drill the appropriate pilot holes for the other three marks.
7 Secure the device to the mounting location.

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Active Speaker Mounting Considerations

NOTICE

This device should be mounted in a location that is not exposed to extreme temperatures or conditions. The
temperature range for this device is listed in the product specifications. Extended exposure to temperatures
exceeding the specified temperature range, in storage or operating conditions, may cause device failure.
Extreme-temperature-induced damage and related consequences are not covered by the warranty.

The included active speaker is optional, and is not required when installing the VHF 315 device. When selecting
a mounting location for the active speaker, observe these considerations.

• To avoid interference with a magnetic compass, do not install the active speaker closer than 50 cm (19.6 in.)
to a compass.

• You must install the active speaker inline with a GHS™ 11 handset.

• You must install the active speaker within 1.2 m (48 in.) of the location you want to connect the GHS 11
handset.

• You must install the active speaker connected to the primary handset (connected to the GHS 11 STATION 1
port) in the wheelhouse or an adjacent room, in accordance with FCC law.

• You can use the included 10 m (32 ft.) extension cable to connect the active speaker to the VHF radio. You
must select a mounting location for the speaker where you can connect the extension cable to the active
speaker and to the GHS 11 STATION 1 port on the VHF radio. If needed, additional extension cables are
available from your Garmin dealer.

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Mounting the Active Speaker

NOTICE

Be careful when cutting the hole to mount the speaker. There is only a small amount of clearance between the
case and the mounting holes, and cutting the hole too large could compromise the stability of the speaker after
it is mounted.

Before you can mount the speaker, you must select a mounting location.

1 Trim the template and make sure it fits at the mounting location.
2 Secure the template to the mounting surface.
3 Using a 13 mm (1/2 in.) drill bit, drill a hole inside the corner of the line on the template to prepare the

mounting surface for cutting.

4 Using a rotary-cutting tool or jigsaw, cut the mounting surface along the inside of the dashed line on the

template.

5 Place the speaker in the cutout to test the fit.
6 If necessary, use a file and sandpaper to refine the size of the cutout.
7 After the speaker fits correctly in the cutout, ensure the mounting holes on the speaker line up with the pilot

holes on the template.

8 If the mounting holes on the speaker do not line up, mark the new pilot-hole locations.
9 Using a 3 mm (1/8 in.) drill bit, drill the pilot holes.
10 Remove the template from the mounting surface.
11 Install the included mounting gasket on the back of the speaker.

12 Make the necessary wiring connections (Connecting the Active Speaker to the VHF Radio and Handset,

page 7).

13 Place the speaker in the cutout.
14 Secure the speaker to the mounting surface using the included M4 screws .
15 Snap the screw cover in place.

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