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VHF Marine Radio Protocols
Operating Your Radio
29
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
Standby/Receive
and Transmit
Standby/Receive and Transmit
•
Marine Standby and Receive (Rx) Mode
Marine Standby mode is the default mode for the radio whenever it is turned on.
From this mode, you can change current settings by becoming familiar with the
different key functions in Marine Standby mode. While in Marine Standby mode, the
user will be able to transmit by pressing the Push to Talk (Talk) button. Signals in
Receive (Rx) mode will be received on the selected channel(s), and alerts broadcast
by NOAA will activate the corresponding NOAA weather alert channels in your radio.
NOTE
Coast Guard alerts are broadcast on Channel 16. You must have the WX Alert
turned On to receive NOAA weather alerts. While in Marine Standby mode, you
will receive any messages sent on the channel to which you are tuned.
Transmit (Tx) Mode
Transmit (Tx) mode gives you the ability to interact with
safety services, other vessels and shore stations. When you
use this capability, be sure to follow the procedures and to
observe the courtesies that govern its use so everyone
benefits. See Appendix to help you select the proper
channels.
To Transmit a Message:
1. Check to see that your radio is set to a proper channel for
the type of message you plan to send.
2. Toggle to the Low Power setting.
3. With the microphone about 2 in. [51 mm] from your
mouth, press and hold the Talk button and speak into the
microphone. The Transmit icon will appear on the LCD.
4. Release the Talk button when you are finished speaking.
Your radio can only operate in either Transmit (Tx) or
Receive (Rx) mode at any given time. You will not hear
the response to your message unless the Talk button is
released. If the Battery Power icon begins blinking on the
LCD when the Talk button is pressed, the radio will NOT
transmit.
28
English
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
Operating Your Radio
Standby/Receive
and Transmit
NOTE
If the Talk button is held down for five (5) minutes,
the radio will automatically sound a series of beeps
and cease transmitting to prevent unwanted signal
generation and battery drain. As soon as the Talk
button is released, it can be pressed again to
resume transmission.
NOAA Weather Channels and Alert
•
Monitoring the weather will probably be a frequent use of your radio. NOAA provides
continuous, around-the-clock broadcasts of the latest weather information. Taped weather
messages run every four (4) to six (6) minutes and are revised every two (2) or three (3)
hours, or as needed. The Coast Guard also announces weather and other safety warnings
on Channel 16. Smart boaters keep an eye on safety and an ear to the radio — and never
let the weather catch them unaware.
NOAA Emergency Weather Alert
In the event of a major storm or other weather condition requiring vessels at sea or on
other bodies of water to be notified, NOAA broadcasts a 1050 Hz tone that receivers such
as your CobraMarine VHF radio can detect and warn you of a weather alert condition.
When the Weather Alert mode on your radio is On, this signal will produce a loud tone
from the speaker in the radio and will automatically
switch to the alerting weather channel
so the alert broadcast
can be heard.
NOAA Test Alert System
To test this system, NOAA broadcasts the 1050 Hz signal every Wednesday sometime between
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in each local
time zone. Any receiver that can detect the weather alert tone may
use this service to verify that this system is functioning properly.
Low Power Mode
Check Channel Number
Talk Button
Transmit (Tx) Icon
Receive (Rx) Icon