User Manual
Model: BF-888S PLUS
3.1 Charging the Radio
Charging the Radio
The radios can be charged directly by using the supplied charging cradle. A single radio can charge using the Micro USB port to connect to a USB
power source. For fastest charging, turn off the radio before charging.
Warning!
To avoid the risk of personal injury or property damage from fire or electrical shock, only use the accessories specifically designated for this
product. Using the Micro USB Port
(1) Connect the included AC adapter with Micro USB connector cable to the radio's Micro USB port. Connect the other end to an outlet that
provides USB charging power (NOT to a USB hub).
(2) Charge the batteries for 6 hours until the battery indicator either stops flashing.
3.2 Using the Charging Cradle
(1) Connect the included AC adapter with USB connector cable to the charging cradle's Micro USB port. Connect the other end to a standard AC
wall outlet.
(2) Set the charging cradle on the desk or tabletop, and place the radio in the charging cradle with the keypad facing forward.
(3) Charge the batteries for 6 hours.
Note:
•
Use only the supplied batteries, charger, and AC adapter or approved accessories.
•
Charge time may vary depending on the battery life remaining.
•
The batteries must be installed for the unit to operate, even if the unit is also connected to external power.
•
If battery power is low, you cannot operate the radio even using external power. Allow the batteries to charge before using.
*If you try to transmit while power is low, the radio will automatically turn off.
Chapter4. Radio Overview
Main controls and parts of the radio
Chapter5. Basic Operations
5.1 Power on/off and volume adjustment
Rotate the
Power/Volume
knob clockwise to turn the radio on. Rotate the control clockwise /counter-clockwise to adjust the volume level as you
prefer. To turn the radio off, rotate the control counter-clockwise till hearing a mechanical “click”.
5.2 Transmission
To communicate, all radios in your group must be set to the same channel. Briefly press the
Monitor
to enable the Monitor feature in order to
make sure that the frequency is not busy, and then press the
PTT
key. Release the
PTT
key to receive. Only one user at a time can talk during radio
communications. Therefore, it is important not to transmit when you are receiving a communication and use the transmission mode sparingly to
allow other users to talk. Transmission consumes a significant amount of energy and should therefore be used sparingly to prolong the battery life.
If you are unable to contact a station that you have no problems in receiving, the station may be using CTCSS tones or DCS codes.
5.3 Monitor
The Monitor feature is for excluding (opening) the Squelch, in order to listen to signals that are too weak to keep the Squelch permanently opened.
Hold down the
Monitor
to enable such function.
5.4 Scan
This function can be activated only by means of the optional programming software. To enable the Scan function, all 16 channels must be
programmed. If you turn on the radio on channel 16, the scanning will automatically start. Whenever any signal is detected, the scanning will stop
on a busy channel. If the PTT is pressed, you will transmit on the latest busy channel. Channel 16 is the priority channel; therefore if you don’t pick
up any signal when you press PTT, the radio will transmit on channel 16.
5.5 Squelch
The Squelch function suppresses noises on free channels and allows receiving even weak signals. BF-888S PLUS has 10 different Squelch levels that
can be set by programming software: 0 means that the Squelch is turned off; from level 1 to level 9 you will have different levels of noise reduction.
The higher is the level, the louder will be the Squelch. By default, the Squelch level of BF-888S PLUS is set on level 4. Make sure you do not set an
5.6 CTCSS/DCS tones
CTCSS and DCS tones are similar to access codes and enable the radio to communicate only with the users that are tuned on the same channel and
have set the same code. For each channel, you can set up to 50 CTCSS tones and 210 DCS codes. The CTCSS/DCS tones are a sort of “access codes”
and enable the radio to communicate only with the other users set on the same frequency and on the same CTCSS/DCS tone. Undesired signals
