Navico VHFRS20 User Manual

Link-6

User Guide

ENGLISH

lowrance.com

Preface

Disclaimer

As Navico is continuously improving this product, we retain the
right to make changes to the product at any time which may not
be reflected in this version of the manual. Please contact your
nearestdistributor if you require any further assistance.

It is the owner’s sole responsibility to install and use the equipment
in a manner that will not cause accidents, personal injury or
property damage. The user of this product is solely responsible for
observing safe boating practices.

NAVICO HOLDING AS AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, BRANCHES AND
AFFILIATES DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT
IN A WAY THAT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE OR THAT MAY
VIOLATE THE LAW.

Governing Language: This statement, any instruction manuals,
user guides and other information relating to the product
(Documentation) may be translated to, or has been translated from,
another language (Translation). In the event of any conflict between
any Translation of the Documentation, the English language
version of the Documentation will be the official version of the
Documentation.

This manual represents the product as at the time of printing.
Navico Holding AS and its subsidiaries, branches and affiliates
reserve the right to make changes to specifications without notice.

2 |

Copyright

Copyright © 2017 Navico Holding AS.

Warranty

The warranty card is supplied as a separate document.

In case of any queries, refer to the brand website of your unit or
system: www.lowrance.com

RF Emissions notice

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set
forth for an uncontrolled environment. This device’s antenna must
be installed in accordance with provided instructions; and it must
be operated with minimum 1.8 m spacing between the antennas
and all person’s body (excluding extremities of hands, wrist and feet)

| Link-6 operator manual

during operation. Further, this transmitter must not be co-located or
operated in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

FCC Statement

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.

¼ Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with

the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a normal installation. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or televi­sion reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference
by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

Connect the equipment into an output on a circuit different

from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced technician for help.

A shielded cable must be used when connecting a peripheral to

the serial ports.

Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada Compliance

This equipment complies with ISEDC RF radiation exposure limits
set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This transmitter must not
be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna
or transmitter. This equipment should be installed and operated
with minimum distance 1.8m between the radiator & your body.

ISEDC exposition aux radiations:

Cet équipement est conforme avec ISEDC les limites d’exposition
aux rayonnements définies pour un contrôlé environnement.

Cet émetteur ne doit pas être co-localisés ou fonctionner en

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conjonction avec une autre antenne ou émetteur.

Cet équipement doit être installé et utilisé avec un minimum de 1.8
m de distance entre le radiateur et votre corps.

CE Compliance Statement

This product complies with CE under RED directive 2014/53/EU.
The relevant Declaration of Conformity is available in the following
website under model documentation section:
http://www.lowrance.com

Warning

The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that the interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from

that of the receiver

• Consult the dealer or an experienced technician for help

4 |

| Link-6 operator manual

Countries of intended use in the EU

AT - Austria HU - Hungary PL - Poland

BE - Belgium IS - Iceland PT - Portugal

BG - Bulgaria IE - Ireland RO - Romania

CY - Cyprus IT - Italy SK - Slovak Republic

CZ - Czech Republic LV - Latvia SI - Slovenia

DK - Denmark LI - Liechtenstein ES - Spain

EE - Estonia LT - Lithuania SE - Sweden

FI - Finland LU - Luxembourg CH - Switzerland

FR - France MT - Malta TR - Turkey

DE - Germany NL - Netherlands UK - United Kingdom

GR - Greece NO - Norway

Trademarks

Lowrance® and Navico® are registered trademarks of Navico.

NMEA® and NMEA 2000® are registered trademarks of the National
Marine Electronics Association.

Navico recommends that you check the radio operating licensing
requirements of your country before using this VHF radio. The
operator is solely responsible for observing proper radio installation
and usage practices.

Notes on MMSI and DSC

The user MMSI (Marine Mobile Service Identity) is a unique nine
digit number. It is used on marine transceivers that are capable of
using DSC (Digital Selective Calling). Digital Selective Calling offers
significant safety and convenience advantages over older VHF radios
without this functionality.

¼ Note: many countries do not have radio repeaters that support DSC

message relaying. However DSC can still be useful for direct ship-to­ship communication, where the other vessel is also equiped with a
DSC capable radio.

You must obtain a user MMSI and enter it into your radio in order to
use the DSC functions. Contact the appropriate authorities in your
country to obtain an MMSI number - charges may apply. If you are
unsure who to contact, consult your Lowrance dealer.

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¼ Note: DSC distress calls generated by this radio are limited to the

same range restrictions that apply to regular VHF transmissions. The
vessel sending a distress can only rely upon DSC if within range of a
GMDSS Coast Radio Station. Typical VHF range may be about 20NM,
though this varies greatly depending upon installation, antenna
type, meteorological conditions, etc.

About this manual

This manual is a reference guide for installing and operating a Link-6
VHF radio. Important text that requires special attention from the
reader is emphasized as follows:

¼ Note: Used to draw the reader’s attention to a comment or some

important information.

Warning: Used when it is necessary to warn personnel that

!

they should proceed carefully to prevent risk of injury and/or
damage to equipment/personnel.

6 |

| Link-6 operator manual

Contents

8 General Information

9 How to display and navigate menus
12 Key functions

15 The radio menus

15 Scan menu
16 Watch
17 Display
17 Radio setup
20 DSC setup
23 Alarms
24 Reset

25 DSC call menu

25 DSC calls
27 Track buddy
28 Contacts

30 My channels

31 Shortcuts

32 Installation

32 Checklist
33 Installation options
33 Selecting a suitable mounting location
37 First startup configuration

40 Specications

43 Channel Charts

43 EU and INTERNATIONAL channel chart
51 USA channel chart
53 CANADA Channel Chart

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1

General Information

Your Link-6 provides the following useful features:

• Prominent channel display

• Adjustable contrast settings for the LCD

• Adjustable keypad backlighting for easy night-time use

• Waterproof and submersible to comply with IPx7

• GPS latitude and longitude (LL) and time display (when connected

to a GPS source)

• Choice of High (25 W) or Low (1 W) transmission power

• 4 key handset mic with built-in speaker

• Powerful 4 W external audio output

• Access to all currently-available marine VHF channel banks (USA,

Canada, International) including weather channels where available
(model dependant)

• Dedicated CH16/9 key for quick access to the priority (international

distress) channel

• TRI key to select DUAL/TRI scan

• Dedicated Wx (Weather) key

• DSC (Digital Selective Calling) capability that meets Global DSC

Class D Standards

• Separate CH70 receiver included built in

• DISTRESS call button to automatically transmit the MMSI and

position until an acknowledgement is received

• Contacts list that stores up to 50 names with MMSI numbers

• MMSI storage for three favourite groups

• Group Call and All Ships Call facility

• LL position polling information

• Weather alert facility where available (US mode)

• ATIS facility for inland waterways (EU mode)

• With DSC Auto-Switch disable and DSC Test function

8 |

General Information | Link-6 operator manual

How to display and navigate menus

The majority of the buttons, and both of the rotary knobs, can open
menus with multiple options.

The channel knob is used to scroll through the options. The
currently selected option is indicated by a black highlight bar, and
the text is inverted to white.

Selection of a highlighted option is made by pressing the channel
knob.

If a list of options is too long for the page, a scroll bar is shown on
the right side of the screen. The black rectangle on the scroll bar
indicates the highlighted options relative position in the list.

scroll bar indicates further
options above and below
displayed text

Press the Exit button to step backwards to the previous menu page,
or exit the menus completely.

Entry of alphanumeric data

Rotate the channel knob to scroll through the alphanumeric
characters.

Press channel knob, to select and step to the next character.

To step backwards, press the MENU button. Press X to cancel entry
and return to previous menu.

LCD symbols and meanings

When the Link-6 starts up it momentarily displays the brand, model,
region, software version, and MMSI.

General Information | Link-6 operator manual

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During normal operation, the following icons may be displayed on
the screen depending on setup:

Symbol Meaning

Transmitting

Transmition power

Weather channel stored by user (EU/INT only)

Weather alert enabled

Receiver Busy with incoming signal

Missed DSC call

Duplex channel selected (off when Simplex)

Local mode enabled (used when in areas of high radio
traffic, ie inner harbour)

DSC functionality is enabled

DSC functionality is enabled, auto switching is turned
off

EU models only - must be enabled when in European
inland waterways

Low Battery warning (activates at 10.5 V)

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Channel bank is set to USA

Channel bank is set to International. (Channels
available depends on country radio cloned for)

Channel bank is set to Canada

Weather channel bank active (USA/CAN) replaces
channelbank icon temporarily

Channel is saved in the MY CHANNELS list

Track your Buddy feature is active

TRI watch or DUAL scan is active

GPS simulator is active

General Information | Link-6 operator manual

A typical display:

1.

Channel is set to high power transmit

Missed call in the DSC call log

2.

3. Channel is busy

4.

Volume is under active control

Current channel saved in ‘My Channels’

5.

6.

Track your buddy is enabled

7.

Current channel will be skipped during a scan

8.

Volume level indicator

Time (derived from GPS) - UTC offset is applied

9.

10.

Latitude/Longitude

11.

Squelch level indicator

Channel number (2 or 4 digits)

12.

The USA channel bank is active

13.

DSC functionality is enabled, but autoswitch is off

14.

15.

Weather alert function is enabled

General Information | Link-6 operator manual

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12 |

Key functions

The following describes the direct functions of the keys/knobs.
Where necessary, additional detail on any menus accessed by keys is
covered in following chapters.

11

12

13

4

1

3

9

2

5 6 7 8 9 10

1.

Channel knob / Press to Select

Tur n knob for channel selection, menu scrolling, alphanumeric entry, and
fine adjustment of backlight level (dependent on active menu).

Short press to make selections in menus.
Long press to open MY CHANNELS.

2.

VOL / SQL
Volume and Squelch level.
Short press knob to select which control to adjust. Which is currently
selected is indicated by a small triangular arrow above the level bar for
each option. Turning the knob clockwise increases setting, anti-clockwise
decreases it.
Long press to open SHORTCUTS.

EXIT

3.

Press EXIT when navigating menus, to clear incorrect entries, to exit from a
menu without saving changes, and to back up to the previous screen.

DSC CALL / MENU SELECT

4.

Short press to enter the DSC Call Menu and make DSC calls.
Long press to open the MENU SELECT page.

Power / Backlight

5.

Short Press to adjust backlight level sequentally.
Repeated short press of the power button will step through large backlight
adjustments. The Channel knob can be used to make finer adjustments.
Long press to turn radio on or off.

Weather Channel

6.

Short press (US/CAN models): press to hear the most recently selected
NOAA/Canadian weather station.
For all other models, changes channel to user programmed choice.
Long press (non US/CAN models only): to store current channel as the

General Information | Link-6 operator manual

weather channel.

7.

SCAN

Short press to enter ALL SCAN mode.
ALL SCAN sequentially scans all channels for activity.
When a signal is received, scanning stops at that channel and the BUSY icon
appears on the screen. If the signal ceases for more than 5 seconds, the
scan automatically resumes.
Turn the channel knob to temporarily skip over (lock out) a busy channel
and resume the scan. The direction turned determines if the scan goes
up or down the channel numbers (ie ‘forward’ or ‘reverse’). If it is still busy
when the scan completes a full cycle, it will stop again at this channel. Note
that it is not possible to skip over the priority channel.
Press ENT to permanently skip over the channel. The SKIP icon will show on
the LCD for this channel.
To cancel a skipped channel, select the channel while in normal mode
(non-scan mode) then press the ENT key - the SKIP icon will disappear.
Repowering the radio also restores all skipped channels.
Press SCAN or EXIT while scanning is active to stop at the current channel
and return to normal operation.
Long press SCAN from normal operation to enter the SCAN menu.

8.

TR I (WATCH)

Short press to start DUAL WATCH or TRI WATCH (if ‘watch’ channel set)
Long press to set the current channel as the watch channel.

When a short press is made on the TRI key, the radio will either switch to
DUAL or TRI watch mode depending on whether a watch channel has
been setup.
Without a watch channel the radio will go to DUAL WATCH, where the
channels ‘watched’ are the current channel and the priority channel (the
distress channel, CH16 for most countries).
With a watch channel selected, TRI WATCH is enabled, where the channels
‘watched’ are the current channel the ‘watch’ channel, and the priority
channel (the distress channel, CH16 for most countries).
If the radio is set to ‘Country: USA’, two priority channels are watched ­Channel 9 and Channel 16.

9.

16 / 9 (radio and handset)

Short press to change to priority channel. Press again to return to original
channel.
For US models: Long press to make Channel 09 the priority channel.
The default Priority Channel is CH16.

DISTRESS

10.

Short press to start a distress call, where the nature of distress can be
selected from a list.
Long press the distress button to initiate an ‘undesignated’ distress call.
This call is broadcast to all DSC equipped radios, so will create an alarm on
every DSC radio within range.
If position information is available it will be included in the transmition.

General Information | Link-6 operator manual

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H/L

11.

(handset mic only)

Transmission Power.
Press to toggle between high (25 W) or low (1 W) transmission power for
the entire channel bank. The HI or LO selection is shown on the LCD.
Some channels allow only low power transmissions. Error beeps will sound
if attempting to change the transmission power while on one of these
channels.
Some channels allow only low power transmissions initially, but can be
overridden to high power by pressing (and holding) H/L after depressing
PTT. Keep the H/L button pressed down after releasing the PTT button, if
wanting to transmit again on high power.

12. +

(handset mic only)

/ -

Channel change.
Short press (+) goes up one channel, or (-) goes down one channel.
Holding either key will, after a short delay, step rapidly through the
channels.

13. PTT (handset mic only)

Push-to-talk button.
Press button to transmit. Only depress for duration of message to be

broadcast. Radio can’t receive while it is transmitting.

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General Information | Link-6 operator manual

2

The radio menus

A long press of the MENU button opens MENU SELECT page. The
following shows the menu structure (top and 2nd level only):

ALL SCAN
ALL CHANNELS + 16

SCAN

WATCH

DISPLAY

RADIO SETUP

DSC SETUP

ALARMS

RESET

MY CHANNELS
MY CHANNELS + 16
EDIT MY CHANNELS (choose channels)

DUAL WATCH
TRI WATCH
SET WATCH CHANNEL (choose channel)

TIME DISPLAY (ON / OFF)
POS DISPLAY (ON / OFF)
COG/SOG (ON / OFF)
BACKLIGHT (0-10)
CONTRAST (0-10)

SENSITIVITY (DISTANT/LOCAL)
UIC (USA/INT’L/CANADA)
POWER OUTPUT (HIGH/LOW)
CH NAME (>)
KEY BEEP (0-10)
UNITS (>)
INT SPEAKER (ON/OFF)
EXT SPEAKER (ON/OFF)
GPS (>)
TIME (>)
VESSEL CALLSIGN (>)

DSC FUNCTION (X)
USER MMSI (>)
ATIS FUNCTION (ON/OFF)
SEA/INLAND USE (SEA/INLAND)
ATIS MMSI (>)
GROUP SETUP (>)
INDIVIDUAL ACKN. (AUTO/MANUAL)
POS ACKNOWLEDGE (>)
AUTO SWITCH (ON/OFF)
TEST ACKNOWLEDGE (AUTO/MANUAL)
RX DISTR WHILE OFF (X)
TIMEOUT (>)

GPS ALERT (>)
WX ALERT (>)
DSC ALARM (>)

(YES/CANCEL)

(EU cloned radio only)
(EU cloned radio only)
(EU cloned radio only)

(US cloned radio only)

Key:

(>) further menu options

(X) toggle selection. ‘X’ means option enabled.

Scan menu

This menu is for choosing a scan mode to enable, as well as
selection of the channels scanned per the MY CHANNELS list.

¼ Note: Scanning is not available if ATIS mode is turned on.

All scan

Scans all channels cyclically.

All channels + 16

Scans all channels cyclically, but checks the priority channel after
every channel step

The radio menus | Link-6 operator manual

| 15

My channels

Scan all channels selected in EDIT MY CHANNELS

My channels + 16

Scans all channels selected in EDIT MY CHANNELS, while also
checking the priority channel after every channel step.

Edit my channels

Allows creation of a custom list of channels - used in a MY
CHANNELS scan.

Watch

This menu is for choosing a watch mode to enable, as well as
selection of the watch channel. Watch modes can be thought of as
a channel scan on a subset of channels, where scanned channels
are ‘listened’ to briefly every 3 seconds, to determine if there is any
active radio communication.

16 |

¼ Note: Watch modes are not available if ATIS mode is turned on.

Dual watch

Select this to watch the current channel and the priority channel
(Channel 16).

TRI watch

Select this to watch the current channel, the user selected ‘watch’
channel, and the priority channel (Channel 16).

Set Watch Channel

Allows a watch channel to be selected from all available channels.
Selected channel is used by TRI WATCH mode.

¼ Note: If the radio is configured for USA market, two priority channels

are watched: Channel 9 and Channel 16.

The radio menus | Link-6 operator manual

Display

This menu allows the user to partially customize the screen
information displayed, and adjust the screen for best visibility to suit
the user and operating conditions.

Time display

Select to switch the display of Time to ON or OFF.
If turned ON, the display of COG/SOG is turned off, due to screen
space constraints.

LOC (Local Time) is displayed below the time if a UTC (Coordinated
Universal Time) offset has been entered; otherwise UTC is shown in
it’s place if no offset has been applied.

POS display

Select to switch ON or OFF the display of position provided from
connected GPS.

COG/SOG

Select to switch ON or OFF the display of COG/SOG provided from
connected GPS.

If turned ON, Time display is turned OFF, due to screen space
constraints.

Backlight

Select to make adjustment to the backlight level using the Channel
knob. Range is OFF, then 1 to 10.

Contrast

Select to make adjustment of the screens contrast, using the
Channel knob. Range is 00 to 10.

Radio setup

The Radio setup menu covers settings that are typically configured
at installation, and seldom need changing.

Local/Dist

Use LOCAL/DIST to improve the sensitivity of the receiver either
locally (LOCAL) or over distances (DIST).

LOCAL is not recommended for use in open sea conditions. It is
designed for use in areas of high radio noise; for example, close to a

The radio menus | Link-6 operator manual

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