Humminbird DC5 User Manual

SECTION ONE

LICENSE INFORMATION
It is the responsibility of the user of this radio to ensure that all appropriate licenses have been

obtained prior to operation of the radio.
The FCC Rules and Regulations Part 80 document contains information on the licensing and

operation of VHF radios in the United States. Different applications have different licensing
requirements; however in general, if your boat already has a licensed fixed mount VHF radio, no
additional license may be required.

A FCC form 506 application for ship radiotelephone license is included with this manual. Any
additional applications or documents may be obtained by writing:

Superintendent of Documents
Government Printing Office Washington, D. C. 20402

For licensing information in Canada:
Department of Communication

300 Slater Street
Ottawa. Ontario
K1A OC8
Attn: DOS-PP

SECTION TWO

BEFORE BEGINNING

HOW VHF RADIOS WORK
The Humminbird DC5s hand-held radio is a VHF transceiver. This means that the radio has the

capability to both transmit signals as well as receive them, and operates in the VHF (very high
frequency) spectrum.
The marine band is a group of VHF frequencies between approximately 156 MHz and 163 MHz.
This band is divided into a number of discrete channels, which are numbered and further
categorized by use.
Within the marine band, 10 channels are designated for continuous weather broadcasts. These
channels are grouped into a “Weather Band” and designated “receive only” channels. You cannot
transmit on a weather channel.

The remaining frequencies are assigned for various purposes and given a channel number.
There are basically two different channel numbering and frequency assignment schedules
currently in use, which creates two different bands of frequencies: the USA band and the
International band. These two bands share the same frequencies but assign channel numbers
slightly differently, and allocate these channels for different uses.
A list of USA, International, and Weather bands including channel numbers, frequencies, and
descriptions of use is included in Section 6 of this manual.

AVAILABLE ACCESSORIES

Humminbird offers accessories that compliment and expand the capability of your hand-held
radio. These accessories are designed and manufactured to the same high standards as all
Humminbird products, and are backed by the same one-year warranty.
The Humminbird Accessory Catalog includes ordering information and descriptions of many
available accessories. All Humminbird accessories can be ordered at your full-service
Humminbird dealer or factory -direct through our Toll-Free number listed inside the back cover of
this manual.

BP-DC5: Spare battery pack (NiCd 10.8 VDC)
CLC: Cigarette lighter adapter cable. Change or operate your DC5s from a 12 VDC power

source.
WC-1: One-hour fast charger.

SECTION THREE
INSTALLATION

WHAT YOU HAVE
Please ensure that the following items are included in the box:
Item Part Number
Radio…………………………………DC5s

Antenna………………………………N/A
110 VAC charger……………………WA-110
Belt clip………………………………N/A
Operations manual…………………...530355-1
FCC license information……………. N/A
……………………………………………………..

• Charger only included with US/Canadian radios.

If any of these items are missing, call our Toll-Free Customer Support Hotline listed inside the
back cover of this manual.

INSTALLING THE ANTENNA

The antenna supplied with your DC5s is specifically tuned to optimize the radio’s transmit power
and the sensitivity of the receiver. To install, ensure the threaded base and the recessed threads
on the unit are free from debris, and screw the antenna into the base. Finger tighten only.

INSTALLING THE BELT CLIP
The belt clip performs two purposes – it can be used to carry the DC5s from a belt or pocket,

and the rubber pad works in conjunction with the charger jack cover to provide a skid-proof
stance when the radio is laying on it’s back.

If you choose to use the belt clip included with your DC5s, simply fasten it to the mounting point
using the attached screw. A flat head screwdriver or a small coin can be used. Do not over
tighten the screw or use a fastener other than the one supplied.

BATTERY REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
The battery pack is pre-installed on your DC5s. It is not necessary to remove it for charging or

normal operation. If you are using more than one battery pack you can remove the battery pack
by simply sliding it off the DC5s unit. Some force may be necessary to overcome the mechanical
detent.

When the battery pack is off the DC5s unit, care should be used to prevent damage to the
mating slide and electrical contacts on the top of the battery. Also the slide and contact area on
the bottom of the unit will be vulnerable to damage if not protected. It is best to keep the battery
pack installed even if the radio is being stored for extended periods.

BATTERY CHARGING
The battery pack included with your DC5s contains Nickel-Cadmium type rechargeable

batteries. Battery charge life (how long the battery will hold a charge) varies with a number of
factors including temperature, frequency of use, use of the transmitter, etc.
Nickel Cadmium batteries are used due to their long operational life. Proper use of your NiCd
batteries will extend both the charge life and the battery life.
NiCd batteries require regular exercises in order to maintain their full potential. A battery that is
kept at full charge continually, by charging over a long period of time (30 days) will develop a
memory effect which considerably shortens the charge life. A more common type of memory
effect is induced by uniform shallow cycling. For example, if a battery is repeatedly operated at
50% of its full capacity.

Ideally, a NiCd battery should be fully charged, fully depleted, fully charged, etc. This exercising
prevents the memory effect and ensures maximum charge life of the battery.

If a battery shows early signs of reduced charge life due to the memory effect, it is easy to
restore the battery to it’s full potential by intentionally exercising the battery several cycles from
full charge to full discharge.

The battery pack can be charged on or off the DC5s unit. Both the 110 VAC adapter and 12
VDC cigarette lighter adapter (available as an accessory) will power the DC5s for normal
operation while maintaining a trickle charge to the battery pack.

Additionally, a 1-hour quick charger is available as an accessory which enables very fast change
cycles from a 110 VAC source.

If the DC5s is used frequently or for an emergency, a back-up battery pack is a good idea.
Before using your DC5s for the first time, the battery should be fully charged. To charge the

DC5s battery, simply plug the charger into the charge jack on the rear of the battery pack. If you
are using the wall charger, the red LED light will illuminate if proper connection is made and the
battery is accepting the charge. When possible, charge the battery at room temperature. Never
charge the battery below 50 degrees F (10 degree C) or above 95 degrees F (35 degrees C)
since this could cause damage to the battery or reduce the charge life.