Introduction
5
Nothing comes close to a Cobra
®
Recommendations for
Marine Communication
4
English
Important Safety Information
Introduction
General Precautions
CAUTION
■
Your radio is waterproof only when the antenna and batteries
are properly installed.
■
Avoid using or storing the radio at temperatures below -4˚F (-20˚C)
or above 140˚F (60˚C).
■
Keep your radio at least three (3) feet (0.9m) away from your
vessel’s magnetic navigation compass.
■
Do not attempt to service any internal parts yourself. Have any
necessary service performed by a qualified technician.
■
Changes or modifications to your radio may void its compliance
with FCC rules and make it illegal to use.
■
This radio is supplied with six (6) NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride)
rechargeable batteries.
■
Use only the Cobra
®
charger to recharge NiMH batteries in the radio.
■
Do not short circuit the battery pack.
■
When replacing the batteries, dispose of the old batteries
properly. NiMH batteries may explode if disposed of in a fire.
Recommendations for Marine Communication
•
The frequencies your radio uses are set aside to enhance safety afloat and for vessel
navigation and operational messages over a range suitable for nearshore voyages.
If the five (5) watt maximum output of your radio isn’t sufficient for the distances
you travel from the coast, consider installing a CobraMarine
™
fixed mount radio with up
to twenty-five (25) watts of output power. (Visit www.cobra.com or your local dealer
for model availability.)
If you will be going far offshore, you should consider adding even more powerful
radio equipment such as HF Single Sideband or Satellite Radio for your vessel.
The U.S. Coast Guard does not endorse cellular telephones as substitutes for marine
radios. They generally cannot communicate with rescue vessels and, if you make a
distress call on a cellular telephone, only the party you call will be able to hear you.
Additionally, cellular telephones may have limited coverage over water and can be
hard to locate. If you don’t know where you are, the Coast Guard will have difficulty
finding you if you’re using a cellular telephone.
However, cellular telephones can have a place on board — to allow social
conversations and keep the marine frequencies uncluttered and available for
their intended uses.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: FCC LICENSING INFORMATION
•
CobraMarine
™
VHF radios comply with the FCC (Federal Communication
Commission) requirements that regulate the Maritime Radio Service.
Station License
An FCC ship station license is no longer required for any vessel traveling in U.S.A.
waters which uses a VHF marine radio, RADAR, or EPIRB (Emergency Position
Indicating Radio Beacon), and which is not required to carry radio equipment.
However, any vessel required to carry a marine radio on an international voyage,
carrying a HF single side band radiotelephone, or carrying a marine satellite
terminal must obtain a station license.
FCC license forms and applications for ship and land stations can be downloaded
through the internet at www.fcc.gov/forms. Forms can also be obtained by calling
the FCC at 888-225-5322.
VHF Marine Radio Protocols