User guide
Table Of Contents
- Section 1 - General information
- Section 2 - Basic operation and key functions
- Section 3 - Radio MENU SELECT options
- 3-1 Manage your waypoints list (WAYPOINT)
- Section 4 - Radio setup menu (RADIO SETUP)
- 4-1 Channel (UIC)
- 4-2 Channel names (CH NAME)
- 4-3 Ring volume (RING VOLUME)
- 4-4 Key beep volume (KEY BEEP)
- 4-5 Select units (UNITS)
- 4-6 Internal speaker connections (INT SPEAKER)
- 4-7 Set the priority channel (WATCH MODE)
- 4-8 Weather alerts (WX ALERT)
- 4-9 NMEA protocol (COM PORT)
- 4-10 Select the GPS source (GPS SOURCE)
- 4-11 Favorite channel setup - Wx key (FAV CH SETU)
- 4-1 Channel (UIC)
- Section 5 - DSC setup menu (DSC SETUP)
- 5-1 Enter or view your USER MMSI (USER MMSI)
- 5-2 Maintain your groups
- 5-3 Enter or check your ATIS MMSI (ATIS MMSI)
- 5-4 Enable ATIS functionality (ATIS SELECT)
- 5-5 Response to individual calls (INDIV REPLY)
- 5-6 Enable DSC functionality (DSC FUNC)
- 5-7 Response type to LL polling calls (LL REPLY)
- 5-8 Automatic channel switching (AUTO SWITCH)
- 5-9 DSC Test Reply (TEST REPLY)
- 5-10 Set the inactivity timer (TIMEOUT)
- 5-1 Enter or view your USER MMSI (USER MMSI)
- Section 6 - AIS setup menu (AIS SETUP)
- Section 7 - Wireless handset setup menu (HS SETTING)
- Section 8 - Sending and receiving DSC calls
- 8-1 What is DSC?
- 8-2 Sending DSC Calls
- 8-3 Send an individual call (INDIVIDUAL)
- 8-4 Acknowledgement of an individual incoming call (INDIV)
- 8-5 Reply to the Last Call (LAST CALL)
- 8-6 Send a group call (GROUP)
- 8-7 Send an all ships call (ALL SHIPS)
- 8-8 Send using the call log (CALL LOG)
- 8-9 Send using the distress log (DIST LOG)
- 8-10 View sent call log (SENT CALL)
- 8-11 Request the LL position of a Buddy (LL REQUEST)
- 8-12 Track your Buddy (TRACK BUDDY)
- 8-13 Make a DSC test call (DSC TEST)
- 8-14 View user MMSI and GPS information
- 8-15 Receiving DSC calls
- 8-16 Receiving an all ships call (ALL SHIPS)
- 8-17 Receiving an individual call (INDIV)
- 8-18 Receiving a group call (GROUP)
- 8-19 Receiving a geographic area call (GEOGRAPH)
- 8-20 Receiving a polled position call (POSITION)
- 8-1 What is DSC?
- Section 9 - DISTRESS calls
- Section 10 - AIS functionality
- Section 11 - General functionality
- Section 12 - Wireless handset functionality

Section 2 - Basic operation and key functions
All possible keys and their functions are listed here. Note that some of the keys may
not be available, depending on your B&G VHF radio model.
Key: Function:
VOL / Volume and Power
Turn clockwise to power on. Continue to turn until a comfortable volume is reached.
VOL /
will also adjust the settings of an external speaker, if connected.
SQL Squelch or Threshold Level
Sets the threshold level for the minimum receiver signal. Turn fully counterclockwise
until random noise is heard, then turn slowly clockwise until the random noise
disappears. Make another 1/4 turn clockwise for best reception in open sea conditions.
In areas of high noise (eg. close to large cities) reception may improve if sensitivity is
reduced. Either turn SQL slowly clockwise or use the LOCAL setting. See section 3-4.
16 / 9 Priority channel
Also on the handset mic. Press to cancel all other modes and to tune into the priority
channel. Press again to return to your original channel. The default Priority Channel is
CH16.
For US models: To make Channel 09 the priority channel, hold down 16/9 until a
beep sounds and 09 is displayed.
DISTRESS Send a DSC Distress Call
DSC must be active and an MMSI must be programmed. See Section 8.
Lift the red cover door then press and release DISTRESS to show the DISTRESS menu.
Select the category you want to transmit. Hold down DISTRESS for about 3 seconds
to transmit.
The DISTRESS key can also be held down continuously to transmit an “undefined”
category Distress call.
See Section 9 for more information about distress calls.
6 key handset mic V50 base station radio
B&G - V50 & H50 Operation Instructions 11