Garmin VHF 725e User Manual

VHF 725e

submersible marine radio

owner’s

manual

and

reference

guide

© 1999 GARMIN Corporation

GARMIN International, Inc.
1200 E 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062 U.S.A.
Tel. [phone] or 800-800-1020
Fax. [phone]

GARMIN (Europe) Ltd.
Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate,
Romsey, SO51 9AQ U.K.
Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone]

GARMIN (Asia) Corp.
3rd Floor, No. 1, Lane 45 Pao Hsing Road,
Hsin Tien, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel. [phone]-4107
Fax. [phone]-1758

All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may
be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any
storage medium, for any purpose without prior written consent of GARMIN
Corporation. GARMIN Corporation hereby grants permission to download a single
copy of this manual onto a hard drive or other electronic storage medium to be
viewed for personal use, provided that such electronic or printed copy of this
manual contains the complete text of this copyright notice and provided further that
any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited.

Information in this manual is subject to change without notice. GARMIN
Coroporation reserves the right to change or improve its products and to make
changes in the content without obligation to notify any person or organization of
such changes. Visit the GARMIN website for current updates and supplemental
information concerning the use and operation of this and other GARMIN products.

Website address: www.garmin.com

GARMIN is a registered trademark and VHF 725e is a trademark of GARMIN
Corporation. Such trademarks may not be used without the express permission of
GARMIN.

November 1999 Part Number 190-00163-00 Rev. A Printed in Taiwan

INTRODUCTION

About This

Manual

Thank you for choosing the GARMIN VHF 725e. To get
the most from your new VHF marine radio, take time to read
through this owner’s manual in order to understand all of the
operating features. This manual is organized into three
sections for your convenience:

The Introduction to the VHF 725e Features section
gives you an overview of the unit’s functional features.

The Getting Started section gets you started on using the
VHF 725e for basic radio uses.

The Appendix section contains reference information on
items such as accessories, a channel list, a troubleshooting
guide, and the index.

Before getting started, check to be certain that your VHF
725e package includes the following items. If you are missing
anything, please contact your dealer immediately.

Standard Package:

oVHF 725e Unit Owner’s Manual

oLanyard o Antenna (SMA

oBelt Clip Connector)

oNiCad Battery Pack o Charging Unit

oCharging Stand/Mounting o Alkaline Battery tray

Bracket

Refer to Section 3, Appendix A, for a list of optional
accessories available from your GARMIN Dealer.

i

INTRODUCTION

Compliance

Statements

CE COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

This device complies with the essential requirements of CE
for meeting standards EN301-178 and EN 300-828.

WARNING!

This transmitter will operate on frequencies (channels) that
have restricted use. Use of International, U.S., and Canadian
Bands presents frequencies that have restricted use. Operation
on these frequencies without proper authorization is strictly
prohibited.

In the United States Band, for example, the channel
assignments include frequencies assigned for exclusive use of
the U.S. Coast Guard. For frequencies (channels) that are
currently for use in the U.S. without an individual license,
please contact the FCC Call Center at 1-888-CALL-FCC.

ii

INTRODUCTION

Warnings

Precautions

RADIO LICENSES

The VHF 725e user accepts all responsibility for obtaining

the proper licensing before using the transmitter. In many
instances, you must have a current radio station license before
using this transceiver. It my be unlawful to operate a ship
station which is not licensed. Inquire through your dealer or
the appropriate government agency for a Ship Radiophone
license application. A government issued radio station license
is issued with the call sign which is your craft’s identification
for radio communication purposes.

OPERATOR’S LICENSE

A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit is the license
most often acquired by radio operators of small watercraft
when the radio is not required for safety purposes.

and

This permit must be posted aboard the craft or kept by the
licensed operator. Only a licensed operator may operate a
marine radio (transceiver). Others may talk over a transceiver if
the operator begins, supervises and ends the transmission.

IMPORTANT!

GARMIN strongly recommends obtaining a marine radio
user’s guide appropriate for the geographical location of
intended use. Read and follow instructions for proper use of
your marine radio. Improper usage can result in fines levied on
mariners by regulatory agencies.

iii

INTRODUCTION

Warnings

and

Precautions

IMPORTANT!

Read all instructions carefully and completely before using

the VHF 725e Marine Radio. This device is intended only as an
aid to boating safety and navigation. The performance of the
VHF 725e can be affected by many factors including environ­mental conditions and improper handling or use. It is the user’s
responsibility to exercise good safety and navigational judge­ment and the GARMIN VHF 725e should not be relied upon in
lieu of such prudence and judgement.

CAUTIONS

For these reasons, the operator should exercise the follow­ing precautions to ensure proper and reliable use of the
GARMIN VHF 725e.

DO NOT operate this transceiver within 1 meter of the

ship’s navigational compass.

DO NOT recharge batteries except in methods descried in

this manual

DO NOT use this transceiver for inappropriate communica-

tions. Know and observe the International Rules
for Marine Radio Operation.

iv

SECTION ONE Introduction

Packing List....................................................................i

Regulatory Agency Compliance Statement........................ii

Cautions.....................................................................iii-iv

SECTION TWO Getting Started

Unit Description...............................................................2-3

Keys and Function Displays............................................4-9

Maritime Radio Services Operation.............................10-14

Installing the Antenna.........................................................15

Installing Batteries..........................................................15-16

Selecting a Channel.......................................................16-17

Setting the Squelch Threshold..............................................17

Adjusting the Volume...........................................................18

Scanning Channels.........................................................18-19

Tri-Watch........................................................................19-20

Programming a Call Channel.......................................20

Receiving and Transmitting...........................................21-23

Backlighting the LCD Display and Keypad..........................24

Using the Key Lock Feature..................................................24

GETTING

STARTED

Table of

Contents

SECTION THREE Appendices

Appendix A - Optional Accessories...........................25-26

Appendix B - Specifications...........................................27

Appendix C - VHF Channel List.............................28-29

Appendix D - Maintenance and Troubleshooting........30-32

Appendix E - Messages...................................................33

Appendix F - Glossary.....................................................34

Appendix G - Index.........................................................35

Appendix H - Warranty and Service Information................36

1

GETTING
STARTED

Unit

Description

Squelch Key

Flexible Antenna

LCD Display Screen

Press To Talk (PTT)

Key

Hi/Low Power-Lock

Key

Tri-Watch -

Channel 16 Key

Power/Backlighting

Key

Call Programming/

Call Key

Battery Pack

2

Scan Key

Memory Key

Channel Band

Selection Key

+/- Volume Control

Keys

UP/DOWN Arrow
Channel Selection

Keys

Microphone

Speaker

GETTING

STARTED

Description

The VHF 725e is a 5 watt marine VHF communications
transceiver in a convenient handheld package.

A keypad located on the front of the unit provides one­hand control of communication features. The knobless
design allows push-button Squelch and Volume adjust­ment. A single button press provides a manual Squelch
Override function. Tri-Watch monitoring mode allows
simultaneous monitoring of emergency channel (16), Call
channel and a working channel programmed by the user.
The channel 16 key allows you to toggle between emer­gency and working channels.

A 1” high by 1-3/8” wide LCD display provides
indication of all features and functions of the VHF 725e.
The scan feature allows the operator to select up to 10
channels for continuous monitoring in any combination of
U.S.A., Canadian, and International bands.

Unit

Call Channel programming allows you to select and
program a channel for regular conversation for instant
access by pressing the Call key. The high/low key toggles
the transmitter power level from between five watts and
one watt. When held for more than one second, it locks
and unlocks the “Key Lock” function to prevent inadvert­ent changing of unit settings and modes.

The power key turns the unit off and on and, when
pressed briefly after the unit is powered on, enables the
display backlighting feature and illuminates the keys on
the front of the unit.

Small size and light weight characterize the portability
of the GARMIN VHF 725e.

3

GETTING
STARTED

Keys &

Function

Displays

Power/Backlighting

Key

Channel Up &

Channel Down Keys

Eleven keys provide access to all of the

unit’s features and functions. When any key
(except the PTT key) is pressed, the unit will
acknowledge by emitting a single beep confir­mation tone. Some keys have dual functions
and those keys on the front of the unit are
illuminated when the display backlighting
feature is active.

Power/Backlighting Key - This key turns on
the unit when pressed and released, and turns
the unit off when pressed and held for more
than one second. Briefly pressing and releasing
the power key when the unit is on will activate
the backlighting feature and will last for five
seconds after the last key is pressed.

Channel Up and Channel Down Keys ­Pressing these CH arrow keys sets the operating
channel. Pressing these keys while the Squelch
key is pressed and held, sets the squelch
threshold level.

C PGM

Call Channel

Programming/

Call Key

Volume Increase &

Volume Decrease

Keys

4

Call Channel Programming/Call Key ­Pressing this key for longer than 1 second after
selecting a channel from one of the channel bands
will store that channel as the calling channel to
be accessed whenever the Call key is pressed. You
can program a Call channel for each of the three
bands (USA/Canadian/International).

NOTE: Selection of appropriate call channels is
based on a working knowledge of available
channels and their designated uses.

Volume Increase and Volume Decrease Keys ­Pressing the plus and minus keys increases or
decreases the volume of received transmissions
and audio tones.

Memory Key - Pressing this key after selecting a
channel places that channel into the scanning
memory. Pressing this key when a channel is stored
in memory (as indicated by the MEM icon on the
display) will remove the channel from memory. A
maximum of ten channels can be stored in
memory.

Scan Key - Pressing this key starts the scanning
of channels entered into memory. Pressing this
key while scanning disables the scan feature
while retaining the selected channels in memory.

GETTING

STARTED

Keys &

Function

Displays

Memory Key

Scan Key

USA

U/I/C (USA/International/Canadian) Frequency
Bands Key - This key allows the operator to

select from the three channel bands. Pressing
and releasing the key sequences through the
three bands. The band selected is displayed on
the LCD screen.

Channel 16 and Tri-Watch Key - Pressing this
key once will monitor channel 16 (the emer­gency channel). Pressing again will return to the
last used regular channel. Pressing and holding
the key for more than 1 second will activate Tri­Watch which monitors channel 16 and the
programmed Call channel for the currently
monitored band and a working channel..

PTT (Press To Talk) Key - This Key allows the
operator to transmit over those regular band
channels that permit transmission. Press and
hold the key to talk and release to receive.

CAN

U/I/C Frequency

Bands Key

Emergency
Channel

Regular
Channel

Channel 16 Key

TRI

Emergency
Channel

Working Channel

Tri-Watch Key

PTT

PTT Key

INT

Call
Channel

5

GETTING
STARTED

Keys &

Function

Displays

Squelch Key

H/L Power Key

Squelch Key - This key breaks the squelch
(unmutes the audio) when pressed and held. It
is also sed to set the squelch threshold (the
level at which only strong signals can be
received). The squelch threshold is set by
pressing and holding the squelch key while
using the UP/DOWN keys to adjust the
squelch level from 0 to 9. At level 0, all signals
can be heard, while at level 9, only the stron­gest signals can be heard. Adjusting the squelch
level eliminates weak, unwanted signals, as
explained on page 17.

H/L (High/Low) Power Key - This key toggles
the transmitter power level from High (5 watts)
to Low (1 watt) when pressed and released. It
also locks the keypad when pressed and held
for more than one second.. The Power key,
PTT key, backlighting key and the Squelch key
still function in the Lock mode. Locking the
keypad prevents inadvertent changing of
channel settings and feature modes.

6

The VHF 725e LCD Display Screen gives
indication of channels being monitored, battery
power level, volume level, and the status of all
unit features.

Channel Number Indicator - This large
numeral display indicates the selected operating
channel or the squelch threshold setting when
the squelch key is pressed. This indicator is
always active.

Channel Band Indicator - This display provides
indication of the regular channel band selected,
U.S.A., International, or Canadian.

Call Channel Indicator - This display provides
indication that a call channel is currently being
received or transmitted on.

GETTING

STARTED

Keys &

Function

Displays

Channel Number Indicator

Channel Band Indicator

Memory Channel Indicator - This display, in
conjunction with the Channel Number Indica­tor, indicates that the channel number displayed
has been entered into the unit memory for
selection when the scan feature is active.

Tri-Watch Indicator - This display appears
along with the Emergency (16) and Call
Channel indicators to give notification that the
Tri-Watch (three channel monitoring) feature is
active.

Call Channel Indicator

Memory Channel Indicator

Tri-Watch Indicator

7

GETTING
STARTED

Keys &

Function

Displays

Lock Indicator

Battery Level Indicator

Lock Indicator - This indicator is displayed
when the Lock feature is active.

Battery Level Indicator - This battery shaped
icon displays information about battery
capacity in 25% increments. This indicator is
always active.

Squelch Indicator - This display appears
whenever the SQ, squelch key is presses for
either squelch override or setting of the squelch
threshold.

Squelch Indicator

Low Battery Indicator

Volume Indicator

8

Low Battery Indicator - This indicator flashes
on and off when the battery capacity drops to
10% or below.

Volume Level Indicator - This band of
gradually rising bars provides an indication of
the volume setting. This indicator is always
active.