FRS550W.
FRS550W.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 101 FCC Information Important: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by Uniden could void your authority to operate this unit. Do not open your radio to make any internal adjustments. Your radio is set up to transmit a regulated signal on an assigned frequency. It is against the law to alter or adjust the settings inside the radio to exceed those limitations.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 1 Contents Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Included in Your Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Battery Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Low Battery Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Belt Clip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Using Your Radio . . . .
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 2 Welcome Congratulations on your purchase of the Uniden FRS550W family radio. This product is a lightweight, palm-sized radio you can carry almost anywhere. Use it at shopping malls, amusement parks, or sporting events to stay in contact with family and friends, or in a neighborhood watch for vital communications.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 3 Included in Your Package Your package contains the FRS550W, this reference guide, and the accompanying belt clip with hardware. You will need to purchase three (3) AA ALKALINE batteries in order to operate the unit. If any of these items are missing or damaged, contact the Uniden Parts Department at (800)554-3988 M-F: 7:00 AM-5:00 PM CST.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 4 Battery Installation Your FRS550W radio uses three (3) AA ALKALINE batteries for power. To install the batteries: 1. Make sure your radio is off. Do not mix old and new batteries to avoid damage to the unit. 2. Release the battery cover clip, then remove the battery cover. 3. Insert three (3) AA ALKALINE batteries according to the polarity symbols on the inside of the battery compartment. 4.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 5 Low Battery Alert The LCD on your radio shows a battery meter in the lower right corner. The icon indicates a fully powered unit. As the batteries become low, will flash. When the batteries in the unit are low, the unit will go into a Battery Low/Sleep Mode. The Scan Mode, Monitor Mode, Transmit, Transmit Call Tone Mode, CTCSS Tone Setting Mode, VOX Sensitivity Level Setting Mode, and Vibration are disabled. Replace the batteries immediately to continue using the radio.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 6 Using Your Radio To get the most out of your new radio, read this reference guide completely before attempting to operate the unit. Turning the Radio On 2 1 1. Turn the on/off volume control clockwise to turn the unit on. When you turn on your FRS550W, the LCD backlight remains lit for 5 seconds. 2. Turn the control counterclockwise to turn the unit off. Adjusting the Volume 1. Press the MON button to hear background noise. The “BUSY” icon and icon appear. 2.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 7 Choosing a Channel and CTCSS Your radio has 14 channels and a Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) that you can use to talk to others. You can only communicate with radios that are set on the same channel and CTCSS tone code. A CTCSS tone is subaudible and selectable from the 38 standard tone frequencies. You must select the same channel as your party selected.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 8 1. Press and hold the wx/ctcss button for 2 seconds. The code indicator flashes. 2. Press the up or down button repeatedly to select one of the CTCSS codes (0-38). 3. After selecting the desired CTCSS code, press the wx/ctcss button again. The code indicator stops flashing. You must press the wx/ctcss button within 10 seconds or the unit will time out. If not, the setting will not be made. 4.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 9 Scan Mode Your radio also allows you to scan for activity from other transmitting radios regardless of the channel and code setting. Make sure all of your CTCSS codes are set to “0” prior to scanning. Otherwise, during a scan cycle, your radio will only check for that specific channel and code combination. To use the Scan feature: 1. Press the scan/vibrate button to begin scanning channels. The LCD will indicate that you are in scan mode.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 10 Monitor Mode The Monitor Mode is used to check activity on a specific channel. It will allow you to receive signals that are considered too weak. To check the channel activity: 1. Press and hold the MON button until you hear a series of beeps. You will hear background noise if the channel is clear. Don’t transmit if you hear conversation. 2. To turn Monitor Mode off, press the MON button again. Talking on Your Radio To talk to others using the radio; 1.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 11 VOX Feature The built-in Voice Activated Circuit (VOX) feature enables you to transmit automatically by speaking on the microphone of a VOX headset (not supplied) without pressing the PTT button. To activate this feature: 1. Turn off the radio. Open the SPKR/MIC cover and plug in a VOX headset (not supplied). 2. Turn on the radio while pressing the call/vox button. The VOX icon appears. 3.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 12 Vibration Alert Your FRS550W will alert you with a vibration when there is an incoming transmission. You must be on the same channel and code setting as the party with whom you are communicating. To use the vibration alert: 1. Press and hold the scan/vibrate button until the icon appears. 2. You will be alerted with a five second vibration when you receive an incoming call. 3.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 13 The call/vox, on/off volume, PTT, MON, and light/lock buttons will not be locked. Call Tone Transmission If you want to contact someone in your party, press the call/vox button. ”CALL” and the transmit icon appear on the LCD for 2 seconds. Anyone on the same channel and the same CTCSS code will be alerted with your Call Tone. Monitoring Weather Channels Your radio has 7 preprogrammed weather channel frequencies, represented by numbers 1-7.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 14 You can also select any one of the 7 channels manually. 1. Press the scan/vibrate button to stop scanning. 2. Use the up or down button to move to a higher or lower channel. 3. To resume scanning, press the scan/vibrate button again. To change the channel continuously, press and hold the up or down button for more than 1 second. Silent Keypad A tone sounds when any button is pressed. This is the default setting. This function may be silenced if you wish.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 15 Troubleshooting Problem Solution No power Message not transmitted • Reposition or replace batteries. • Make sure the PTT button is completely pressed as you transmit. • Reposition or replace batteries. • Confirm radios have the same channel and CTCSS code setting. • Make sure PTT is not inadvertently being pressed. • Reposition or replace batteries. • Obstructions, operating indoors and in vehicles may interfere with communication. Change your location.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 16 Specifications Description Channels Codes Operating Frequency Talk range Power Source Transmit Power Out Battery Life 16 14 38 STANDARD CTCSS Tone UHF - 462.550 to 467.725 MHz Up to 2 Miles 3AA Alkaline Batteries (not supplied) 500m W 50 Hours typ. Channel Frequency Chart (MHz) Channel Frequency Channel 1 462.5625 6 2 462.5875 7 3 462.6125 8 4 462.6375 9 5 462.6625 10 Frequency 462.6875 462.7125 467.5625 467.5875 467.6125 Channel 11 12 13 14 Frequency 467.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 17 WX Frequency Chart (MHz) Channel Frequency 1 162.550 2 162.400 3 162.475 4 162.425 5 162.450 6 162.500 7 162.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 18 Appendix - FRS Radio Rules FCC Part 95 Subpart B §95.191 (FRS Rule 1) Eligibility and responsibility. (a) Unless you are a representative of a foreign government, you are authorized by this rule to operate an FCC certified FRS unit in accordance with the rules in this subpart. No license will be issued. (b) You are responsible for all communications that you make with the FRS unit. You must share each channel with other users.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 19 (1) The notification to the Interference Office, Arecibo Observatory shall be made 45 days prior to commencing operation of the unit. The notification shall state the geographical coordinates of the unit. (2) After receipt of such notifications, the Commission will allow the Arecibo Observatory a period of 20 days for comments or objections.
FRS550W.qxd 7/25/00 18:10 Page 20 © 2000 Uniden America Corporation All rights reserved • Printed in China UTZZ01 875ZZ Covered under one or more of the following U.S.
