Uniden MHS450 User Manual
A World Without Wires
MHS450
®
UNIDEN
MARINE
2-WAY
VHF RADIO
MHS450
OWNER’S MANUAL
Making a Distress Call
For future reference, write your boat’s name & call sign here:For future reference, write your boat’s name & call sign here:
Speak slowly -- clearly -- calmly.
Make sure your radio is on.
1.
Press the 16/9-TRI button to switch to Channel 16
2.
(156.8 MHz). (If the corner of the display does not
show 16, press the 16/9-TRI button again until it does.)
Press the PUSH TO TALK button and say,
3.
“MAYDAY --MAYDAY-- MAYDAY.”
Say, “THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}.”
4.
Say, “MAYDAY{name or call sign of your boat}.”
5.
Tell where you are (what navigational aids or land-
6.
marks are near, or give your position from a GPS).
State the nature of your distress (e.g. sinking, medical
7.
emergency, man overboard, re, adrift, etc.).
Give the number of persons aboard and describe the
8.
condition of any injured persons.
Estimate present seaworthiness of your ship (e.g.
9.
how immediate is the danger due to ooding or re or
proximity to shore).
Briey describe your ship (length, type, color, hull).
10.
Say, “I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16.”
11.
End message by saying,
12.
“THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat} OVER.”
Release the PUSH TO TALK button and listen for a
13.
response.
If you do not get an answer after 30 seconds,
repeat your call, beginning at step 3, above.
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Table of Contents
Making a Distress Call ...................................(inside front cover)
Introduction ....................................................................................1
Features.......................................................................................1
Manual conventions .....................................................................1
Getting Started ...............................................................................2
What’s included ...........................................................................2
Parts of the MHS450 ...................................................................3
Front view ...............................................................................3
Back view ...............................................................................5
Parts of the charger ................................................................6
Reading the display .....................................................................6
Status message table .............................................................7
Using the menu ......................................................................7
How It Works ..................................................................................8
Normal mode operation ...............................................................9
Normal mode with Weather Alert Watch .................................9
Normal mode with Triple Watch or Dual Watch ....................10
Both Weather Alert and Triple/Dual Watch in normal mode .10
Scan mode operation.................................................................11
Using the radio in scan mode .............................................. 11
Scan mode with Weather Alert Watch ..................................12
Scan mode with Triple Watch or Dual Watch .......................12
Both Weather Alert and Triple/Dual Watch in scan mode .....13
Weather mode ...........................................................................13
Using the radio in weather mode ..........................................13
Weather mode with Weather Alert Watch .............................14
Weather mode with Triple Watch or Dual Watch ..................14
Setting Up the Hardware .............................................................15
Attaching the antenna ................................................................15
Installing the battery...................................................................15
Using the alkaline battery case .............................................16
Attaching the belt clip.................................................................17
Mounting the charger ................................................................18
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
i
Mounting on a at surface ....................................................18
Mounting on a wall ................................................................18
Using Your Radio .........................................................................19
Setting the volume .....................................................................19
Setting the squelch level ............................................................19
Changing the channel ................................................................19
Making a transmission ...............................................................20
Boosting the transmission power ..........................................20
Choosing Triple Watch or Dual Watch .......................................21
Setting the UIC channel mode (USA/CAN/INT).........................21
Changing channel names ..........................................................22
Using FIPS codes for weather alerts .........................................22
Changing display and sound options .......................................24
Contrast .....................................................................................24
Lamp adjust ...............................................................................24
Turning the key beep on and off ................................................25
Using the external speaker/mic jack .........................................25
Maintenance and Troubleshooting ............................................25
Common questions ....................................................................26
Specications ..............................................................................27
Channels and Frequencies ........................................................28
US channel frequencies and names .....................................28
Canadian channel frequencies and names ..........................29
International channel frequencies and names ......................31
Weather channel frequencies and names ............................32
CEA2009-SAME event codes....................................................33
Regulations and Safety Warnings .............................................35
Maritime radio services operation ..............................................35
Basic radio guidelines ................................................................35
FCC/Industry Canada information .............................................36
FCC RF exposure information ...................................................36
Lithium ion battery warning ........................................................37
Three Year Limited Warranty Statement....................................38
ii
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Introduction
Features
The MHS450 provides the following key features:
Submersible design
•
Complies with JIS8 water-resistant standards, which
means the radio can be submerged in 1.5 meters of
water for 30 minutes without damage.
•
Memory scan mode
Lets you save channels to memory and monitor them
in quick succession.
Transmitter rower level select
•
Lets you boost the transmitter power from 1 Watt to 2.5
or 5 Watts for added transmission distance.
Battery level display and low battery alert.
•
Triple or dual watch operation
•
Checks the Coast Guard Distress/Hailing channels 16
and 9 in the background.
All marine VHF channels for the U.S., Canada, and
•
international waters
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
•
(NOAA) weather channel watch
Sounds a warning tone when a hazard alert is issued
for your area.
Manual conventions
This manual uses several different type styles to help you
distinguish between different parts of the radio:
BOLD SMALL CAPITALS indicates an actual button or
•
knob on the radio.
Italics indicate text on the display, such as menu
•
options, prompts, and conrmation messages.
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
1
Getting Started
Antenna
MHS450 Radio
Charging Cradle
(RSC550)
AC Adapter
(AD-0007)
DC Adapter
(DC550)
Alkaline Battey
Case (BT550)
(batteries not
included)
Lithium Ion
Battery (BP550)
Belt Clip
(CLIP550)
Wrist Strap
Mounting Hardware
Antenna
MHS450 Radio
Charging Cradle
(RSC550)
AC Adapter
(AD-0007)
DC Adapter
(DC550)
Alkaline Battey
Case (BT550)
(batteries not
included)
Lithium Ion
Battery (BP550)
Belt Clip
(CLIP550)
Wrist Strap
Mounting Hardware
What’s included
If any pieces are missing or damaged, contact Uniden (see
back cover for contact information).
2
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Parts of the MHS450
Antenna
LCD
display
1/2.5/5W
button
CHANNEL UP &
DOWN buttons
VOLUME-POWER
knob
(Turn clockwise
to increase
volume.)
Microphone
16/9-TRI
(triple/dual
watch)
button
WX-ALERT
(weatheralert) button
SCAN-MEM
(scanmemory)
button
MENU button
SQUELCH knob
(Turn clockwise
to decrease
channel noise.)
ENTER button
PUSH TO
TALK
button
Speaker
Jack for
external
microphone
or speaker
Wrist strap
anchor
Antenna
LCD
display
1/2.5/5W
button
CHANNEL UP &
DOWN buttons
VOLUME-POWER
knob
(Turn clockwise
to increase
volume.)
Microphone
16/9-TRI
(triple/dual
watch)
button
WX-ALERT
(weatheralert) button
SCAN-MEM
(scanmemory)
button
MENU button
SQUELCH knob
(Turn clockwise
to decrease
channel noise.)
ENTER button
PUSH TO
TALK
button
Speaker
Jack for
external
microphone
or speaker
Wrist strap
anchor
Front view
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
3
BUTTON
PUSH TO TALK
16/9-TRI
MENU
ENTER
CHANNEL UP
CHANNEL
DOWN
WX-ALERT
SCAN-MEM
1/2.5/5W
Press to... Press and hold to...
Transmit on a channel.
Note: You cannot transmit while the radio is in
st
1
press: Go to Channel 16.
2nd press: Go to Channel 9.
3rd press: Go back to the
original channel.
the charger.
Turn on Triple Watch or
Dual Watch mode (see
page 21).
Display the radio menu.
Choose an option on a menu.
Move up one channel at a time
or move up one option at a
time in a menu screen.
Move down one channel at a
time or move down one option
at a time in a menu screen.
Listen to the current weather
conditions in your area.
Start scanning the channels
saved in memory.
Move quickly up the
channels.
Move quickly down the
channels.
Monitor weather channels for alerts (any area).
Save a channel into
memory or remove a
channel from memory.
Change the transmit power
(see page 20).
KNOB
VOLUMEPOWER
SQUELCH
4
Turn clockwise to...: Turn counter-clockwise to...:
Turn on the radio or
increase the volume.
Raise the squelch level
to reduce channel noise.
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Decrease the volume or turn off
the radio.
Lower the squelch level to hear
weaker signals.
Back view
(BACKLIGHT/
KEY LOCK)
button
PUSH TO TALK
button
Battery latch
Belt clip
Battery
charging
contacts
(BACKLIGHT/
KEY LOCK)
button
PUSH TO TALK
button
Battery latch
Belt clip
Battery
charging
contacts
BUTTON
PUSH TO
TALK
BACKLIGHT/
KEY LOCK
Press to... Press and hold to...
Transmit on a channel. Note:
You cannot transmit while the
radio is in the charger.
Turn on the LCD and
keypad backlight.
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Lock and unlock the keypad.
5
Parts of the charger
Powerinput jack
(DC 12V-13.8V )
charge
LED
charging
latch
Screw holes
for wall
mounting
Screw holes
for flat surface
mounting
Powerinput jack
(DC 12V-13.8V )
charge
LED
charging
latch
Screw holes
for wall
mounting
Screw holes
for flat surface
mounting
Memory
Alert
Transmit power
level (1 Watt, 2.5
Watts, 5 Watts)
Current channel
is stored in
memory
Status messages
(see status
message table)
Current channel
number
Channel mode
(USA, CANada,
INTernational)
Weather Alert
Watch on
Current band
Battery level icon
Memory
Alert
Transmit power
level (1 Watt, 2.5
Watts, 5 Watts)
Current channel
is stored in
memory
Status messages
(see status
message table)
Current channel
number
Channel mode
(USA, CANada,
INTernational)
Weather Alert
Watch on
Current band
Battery level icon
Lights while the battery is charging and turns off when
CHARGE LED
the battery is fully charged. (If a fully charged battery
is placed in the cradle, the LED does not light.)
Power input jack
(DC 12V-13.8V)
Reading the display
The LCD screen displays different information depending on
Use ONLY the AC or DC adapter that came with your
radio! The DC adapter must connect to a 12-13.8V
power supply with a negative ground.
the current status of the radio:
6
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Status message table
MENU
USA/CAN/INT
Lamp Adjust
Contrast
Dual/TriWatch
Key Beep
FIPS Codes
Channel Name
Exit
ENTER
MENU
USA/CAN/INT
Lamp Adjust
Contrast
Dual/TriWatch
Key Beep
FIPS Codes
Channel Name
Exit
ENTER
Message Displays When
(Channel Name)
TRANSMITTING
RELEASE PTT KEY
CHANNEL SCAN You turn on scanning mode.
TRIWATCH You turn on triple watch mode.
TRIWATCH SCAN You turn on triple watch mode while scanning.
DUALWATCH You turn on dual watch mode.
DUALWATCH SCAN You turn on dual watch mode while scanning..
BATTERY LOW
Using the menu
Here are some hints on using the software menu:
Press the MENU button
•
to open the menu.
The currently-selected
item is highlighted in
reversed out text.
Use the CHANNEL UP
•
button to move up a line
in the menu; use the
CHANNEL DOWN button
to move down a line in
the menu.
Press the ENTER button to choose the selected item.
•
Select Exit to close the menu.
•
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
No other status message is needed (see the
channel lists starting on page 28)
You press the PUSH TO TALK button.
You press the PUSH TO TALK button but you
cannot transmit at the moment (for example,
because you are on a receive-only channel).
The battery power level is too low for normal
operation (appears with the battery power level
icon ).
7
How It Works
The MHS450 radio has three main operation modes, normal
mode, scan mode, and weather mode.
Mode What it does
Normal
mode
Scan
mode
Weather
mode
In addition to the three operation modes, the MHS450
provides three different watch modes which you can activate
during any operation mode. In the watch modes, the radio
briey checks for activity on a specic channel, then returns
to its previous operation.
Weather Alert
Watch
Triple Watch
Dual Watch
Monitors a single marine
channel and lets you talk
on that channel
Monitors all the channels
you save into memory
Monitor the selected
NOAA weather channel.
Watch mode What it does To turn it on/off
Checks the last-used
weather channel for hazard
alerts every 7 seconds
Checks channels 16 and 9
for activity every 2 seconds
Checks channel 16 for
activity every 2 seconds
Note: Private boats must monitor channel 16 whenever they are underway. Water-going vessels should
have either Triple Watch or Dual Watch on at all times.
Use it when you
want to...:
Monitor a channel or
talk to another radio.
Check a small group
of regularly-used
channels for trafc
You want to hear the
current or forecasted
weather in your area
Press and hold WX-ALERT
for 2 seconds
Press and hold 16/9-TRI
for two seconds
Change Triple Watch to
Dual Watch in the menu,
then press and hold 16/9-
TRI for 2 seconds
To turn it
on/off
(default
mode)
Press SCAN-
MEM.
Press WX-
ALERT.
8
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
Normal mode operation
wx
WX-ALERT on:
Every 7 seconds, the
radio checks the last-
used weather channel.
Monitoring Channel 25
wx
WX-ALERT on:
Every 7 seconds, the
radio checks the last-
used weather channel.
Monitoring Channel 25
To transmit, remove the radio from the charger, then
•
press and hold the PUSH TO TALK button. Release the
button when you are nished talking.
For the best sound quality, hold the microphone about
•
two inches from your mouth while you’re talking.
Press the CHANNEL UP button to move up one channel
•
at a time. Press and hold the button to scroll quickly up
the channels.
Press the CHANNEL DOWN button to move down one
•
channel at a time. Press and hold the button to scroll
quickly down the channels.
To change the transmit power, press the 1/2.5/5W
•
button. The transmit power switches to the next
transmit power each time you press the 1/2.5/5W button.
Normal mode with Weather Alert Watch
If you activate Weather Alert Watch while operating in normal
mode, the radio checks the most recently-used weather
channel every seven seconds. If it detects a weather alert for
your area, it will switch to the last-used weather channel. (If
you are actively transmitting, the radio waits until you nish
your transmission before checking the weather channel.)
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
9
Normal mode with Triple Watch or Dual Watch
09
16
09
16
09
16
Triple Watch on:
Every 2 seconds, the radio checks channels 9 & 16.
Monitoring Channel 25
09
16
09
16
09
16
Triple Watch on:
Every 2 seconds, the radio checks channels 9 & 16.
Monitoring Channel 25
wx
Every 7 seconds, the
radio checks the last-
used weather channel.
WX Alert Watch
09
16
09
16
09
16
Every 2 seconds, the radio
checks channels 9 & 16.
Triple Watch
Monitoring Channel 25
wx
Every 7 seconds, the
radio checks the last-
used weather channel.
WX Alert Watch
09
16
09
16
09
16
Every 2 seconds, the radio
checks channels 9 & 16.
Triple Watch
Monitoring Channel 25
If you activate Triple Watch while operating in normal mode,
the radio checks channels 16 and 9 every two seconds; with
Dual Watch turned on, the radio only checks channel 16. The
radio will not check channels 16 or 9 while you are actively
transmitting; it waits until your transmission is nished and
then checks the channels.
Both Weather Alert and Triple/Dual Watch in normal mode
You can activate Weather Alert Watch and Triple/Dual Watch
at the same time. The radio performs both checks at their
scheduled time:
10
Uniden MHS450 Radio Owner’s Manual
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