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Copyright © 2020 RCA Communications Systems   

www.RCACommunicationsSystems.com

Communications Systems

RDR42x0 Professional Digital
Two-Way Radios

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Congratulations and Thank You for selecting 

the PRODIGI RDR42x0 Series portable two-way 

radio from RCA Communications Systems

The most trusted name in radio!

Our newest digital series professional communications products 
based on DMR technology establishes a benchmark in premium 
digital two-way radio equipment, made to perform flawlessly under the 
most demanding commercial conditions.  Cutting edge design, high-
end professional grade materials and components, simple operation 
and superior assembly quality: RCA Communications Systems has 
it all, including our exclusive no-nonsense, three-year “Warranty 
Protection Program,” one of the most comprehensive warranties in the 
communications industry.

To ensure you achieve maximum performance from your RDR4220, 
RDR4250, or RDR4280 radio, please be sure to carefully read this 
manual.

MODELS COVERED IN THIS MANUAL:

•  RDR4220V VHF Two-Way Radio
•  RDR4220U

 

UHF Two-Way Radio

•  RDR4250V VHF Two-Way Radio
•  RDR4250U UHF Two-Way Radio
•  RDR4280V VHF Two-Way Radio
•  RDR4280U

 

UHF Two-Way Radio

YEAR

WARRANTY

PROTECTION PROGRAM

CONTENTS:

Product Inspection

..........2

RCA RDR42x0 Series Overview

..........2

Preparing Radio For Initial Use Setting Up the Charger

..........3

Battery Information
Charging the Battery

..........3

Battery Storage

..........3

Attaching the Battery

..........3

Attaching / Removing the Antenna

..........3

Attaching / Removing the Belt Clip

..........4

Connecting Audio Accessories

..........4

Turn On/Off the Radio

..........4

Adjusting the Volume

..........4

Select A Channel

..........4

Programmable Buttons

..........4 

Push-To-Talk (PTT) Button

..........5

Switching Between Analog/Digital Mode

..........5

Accessing the Programmed Functions

..........5

Function Keypad

..........5

Radio Keypad (RDR4280 only)

..........5

Operational Status Indicators

..........5

Display Icons

..........6

Call Icons

..........6

LED Indicator

..........6

Audio Tones

..........6

Making and Receiving Calls
Selecting a Zone

..........7

Selecting a Channel, Subscriber ID or Group ID

..........7

Receiving and Responding to a Radio Call

..........7

Receiving and responding to an Group Call

..........7 

Receiving and responding to an Private Call

..........7

Receiving an All Call

..........7

Monitoring A Channel (Analog)

..........7

Making a Radio Call

..........7

Making a Call
Making a Group Call

..........7

Making an All Call

..........8 

Making a Private Call

..........8

Making Group / Private Call with One Touch Call Function

..........8

Emergency Operation

..........9

Initiating & Responding to Emergency Alarm

..........9 

Exiting Emergency Mode

..........9

Advanced Features 
Radio Check

..........9

Initiating Remote Monitor (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........9

Contacts Setting (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........10 

Group Call from Contacts (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........10

Private Call from Contacts (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........10

Alert Tone Settings
Activating/Deactivating Call Alert Tones Private Calls (RDR4250 / 
RDR4280)

..........10

Activating/Deactivating Call Alert Tones Group Calls (RDR4250 / 
RDR4280)

..........10

Activating/Deactivating Call Alert Tones Alert Calls (RDR4250 / 
RDR4280)

..........10

Activating/Deactivating Call Alert Tones Text Messages (RDR4250 / 
RDR4280)

..........10

Call History Features (RDR4250 / RDR4280)
Accessing the Call History

..........11

Storing an Alias or ID from a Call List (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........11

Deleting a Call from Call List

..........11

Call Alert (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........11

Receiving and Responding to a Call Alert

..........11 

Making a Call Alert from the Contact List (RDR4250 / 
RDR4280)

..........11

Text Messages Features (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

 

Navigating To Messages

..........11

Receiving Text Messages

..........11

Managing Received Text Messages

..........11 

Viewing a Text Message from the Inbox

..........11

Writing and Sending Text Messages (RDR4280)

..........12

Sending a Quick Text Message (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........12

Managing Failed-to-Send Text Messages

..........12

Resending a Text Message

..........12

Forwarding a Text Message

..........12

Managing Sent Text Message

..........12 

Viewing Sent Text Messages

..........12 

Deleting All Sent Text Messages from Sent Items

..........13

Replying to a Text Message from the Inbox

..........13

Deleting All Text Message from the Inbox

..........13

Encryption
Making and Encrypted Call

..........13

Turning Encryption On/Off

..........14

Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF)

..........14

Radio Enable/Disable (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........14

Scanning
Starting and Stopping Scan

..........14

Responding to a Scan

..........15

Scan Lists

..........15

Viewing an Entry in the Scan List (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........15

Deleting a Nuisance Channel

..........15

Restoring a Nuisance Channel

..........15

Radio Settings (RDR4250 / RDR4280)
Keypad Locked and Keypad Unlocked

..........15

Turning Keypad Tones On or Off

..........15

Setting the Power Level

..........15

Controlling the Display Backlight (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........16

Controlling the Display Brightness (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........16

Switching Day/Night Mode

..........16

Channel Display (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........16 

Man Down

..........16

Lone Worker

..........16

Squelch Level (Analog Mode Only)

..........17

Tones/Alerts

..........17 

Turning the Radios Tones/Alerts On/Off

..........17

Turning the LED Indicator On/Off (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........17

Radio PIN Lock (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........18

Turning Voice Operation Transmission (VOX) Feature On/Off

..........18

Talkaround

..........18

Function Keys (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........18

Keypad Mode (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........19

Vibration (Non I.S.(Intrinsically Safe)Modes Only)

..........19

GPS Settings (Digital Mode Only)

..........19

General Radio Information (RDR4250 / RDR4280)

..........19

CARE AND CLEANING

..........20

TROUBLESHOOTING

..........20

CONTENTS: 

(continued)

Summary of Contents for PRODIGI RDR42 Series

Page 1: ... Emergency Mode 9 Advanced Features Radio Check 9 Initiating Remote Monitor RDR4250 RDR4280 9 Contacts Setting RDR4250 RDR4280 10 Group Call from Contacts RDR4250 RDR4280 10 Private Call from Contacts RDR4250 RDR4280 10 Alert Tone Settings Activating Deactivating Call Alert Tones Private Calls RDR4250 RDR4280 10 Activating Deactivating Call Alert Tones Group Calls RDR4250 RDR4280 10 Activating Dea...

Page 2: ...e 1 Power Supply for Charger Base 1 Wrist Strap 1 2300 mAh Li Ion Battery Desktop Rapid Charger Base Power Supply for Charger Base Heavy Duty Belt Clip VHF UHF Whip Antenna RDR4220 Handheld Radio RDR4280 Handheld Radio RDR4250 Handheld Radio 1 Side Button 1 Programmable 7 Channel Knob 13 2 Way Navigation Button 19 Antenna 2 Push To Talk Button PTT 8 Top Button Programmable 14 Return Home Button 20...

Page 3: ...comply with warranty terms charge the battery using only an original RCA charger exactly as described in the charger user guide When the charger s LED illuminates red it is an indication that the battery is being correctly charged When the LED illuminates green the battery charge is complete Note Charge a new battery 12 to 14 hours before initial use for best performance Maximum battery capacity i...

Page 4: ...sic voice encryption on or off VOX On Off Toggles Voice Activated Function on or off Lone Worker On Off Toggles Lone Worker feature On or Off on per channel basis Zone Toggle RDR4220 Toggles between Channel Zone 1 and Channel Zone 2 Battery Indicator RDR4220 Indicates battery charge level low medium or high 4 5 Turn On Off the Radio 1 Rotate the On Off Volume Control Knob clockwise until you hear ...

Page 5: ...stems Dealer you will hear a short alert tone the moment the target radio the radio that is receiving your call releases the PTT button indicating the channel is free for you to respond You will also hear the Channel Free Indication tone if your call is interrupted for example when the radio receives an Emergency Call Switching Between Analog Digital Mode Each channel in your radio can be programm...

Page 6: ...ight corner of the radio s display in the Sent Items folder Switch Input Method Long press key to switch input method between LED Indicator The LED indicator shows the operational status of your radio Audio Tones Alert tones provide you with audible indications of the radio s status or the radio s response to data received Continuous Tone A monotone sound Sounds continuously until termination Peri...

Page 7: ...e shows the Caller Subscriber ID Alias 4 To respond to the call press the PTT button the LED indicator lights up red Receiving an All Call An All Call is a call from an individual radio to every radio on the same channel or a channel with the same frequency and color code as the transmitting radio It is used to make important announcements requiring the attention of all radio users When you receiv...

Page 8: ...l your radio must be configured with the Private Subscriber ID as a TX Contact on the channel the Subscriber ID of the radio you are transmitting to 1 Turn the Channel Selector Knob to select the desired channel 2 When on the desired channel press the PTT button to make the call the LED indicator lights up red 3 Hold the radio vertically 1 to 2 inches 2 5 to 5 0 cm from your mouth and then speak c...

Page 9: ...not press the key Pressing the key while the radio is waiting for acknowledgment will terminate all retries and exits Radio Check Initiating Remote Monitor RDR4250 RDR4280 only If enabled this feature allows you to remotely monitor listen another radio in your radio system without disturbing the user of that radio No audible or visual notification is shown on the target radio Only RDR4250 and RDR4...

Page 10: ...shows the Private Call Icon and the Subscriber ID Alias 6 Hold the radio vertically 1 to 2 inches 2 5 to 5 0 cm from your mouth and then speak clearly into the microphone Note If Talk Permit Function is enabled wait for the Talk Permit Tone to sound before speaking 7 Release the PTT button to listen 8 When any user in the group responds the LED lights up solid green The display shows the Private C...

Page 11: ...all History and press to select 3 Press or to navigate to the desired list and press to select The most recent entry is displayed first 4 Use the or button to scroll through the list 5 After locating the desired contact press PTT to initiate a call Storing an Alias or ID from a Call List RDR4250 and RDR4280 Only 1 When viewing an entry from the Call History list press to select 2 Press or to navig...

Page 12: ...o the home screen Note Your RCA Communications Systems Dealer can program a One Touch Access programmable function key to send a Quick Text Message to a predefined Subscriber ID Alias or Group ID Alias Managing Sent Text Message Once a message is sent to another radio it is saved in the Outbox The most recent sent text message is added to the top of the Outbox List The Outbox folder is capable for...

Page 13: ...Key ID you will either hear a garbled transmission Basic Encryption or radio s audio will be muted PRODIGI Advanced Encryption The LED lights up solid green while the radio is receiving an encrypted transmission Note Encryption is available only in digital mode The feature must be enabled and programmed by your RCA Communications Systems Dealer Replying to a Text Message from the Inbox 1 Press to ...

Page 14: ...ction key This must be programmed by your RCA Communications Systems Dealer You can also use the radio menu as described in the Starting and Stopping Scan section RDR4250 and RDR4280 Only When scan is initiated your radio will look for and detect matching activity on all channels groups included in the scan list see Scan Lists section for more information Auto Scan Your radio automatically starts ...

Page 15: ...shows Keypad Unlocked and returns to the Home screen Turning Keypad Tones On or Off You can enable or disable keypad tones if needed 1 Press to access the main menu 2 Press or to navigate to Settings and press to select 3 Press or to navigate to Radio Settings and press to select 4 Press or to navigate to Tone Alerts and press to select 5 Press or to navigate to Keypad Tone and press to select 6 P...

Page 16: ...ess or to navigate to Radio Settings and press to select 4 Press or to navigate to Day Night Mode and press to select 5 Press or to switch to Day Mode or Night Mode and press to select 6 The display shows Success Man Down Man Down is an optional feature If the feature is not activated in the radio contact your RCA Communications Systems Dealer Note Your radio must be programmed by your RCA Communi...

Page 17: ... to navigate to Settings and press to select 3 Press or to navigate to Radio Settings and press to select 4 Press or to navigate to Tones Alerts and press to select 5 Press or to navigate to the desired function and press to select OK OK Radio Silent Keypad tones Text Message Private Call Group Call Alert Call Power Up Low Battery Annunciation Scan TX Inhibit Lone Worker TOT 6 Press to select 7 Pr...

Page 18: ...hinery or when close by to other radio users If VOX is programmed by your RCA Communications Systems Dealer you may manually turn it On or Off Press the programmed VOX programmable function key to toggle VOX On Off You may also use the radio menu RDR4250 and RDR4280 Only by following the process outlined below 1 Press or to navigate to Settings and press to select 2 Press or to navigate to Radio S...

Page 19: ... Vibration and press to select 5 Press or to Enable or Disable vibration 6 The display shows Success General Radio Information RDR4250 and RDR4280 Only Your radio contains information of the following Serial Number Radio ID Radio Alias Model Frequency Range Firmware Version Hardware Version Database Version Bootloader Version Language Version Picture Version Last Prg Date To access the information...

Page 20: ...sing the radio to corrosives solvents or spirits Avoid exposing the radio and it s battery to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time Symptom Solution Radio will not power on a The battery needs charging Recharge the battery or replace it with a fresh one b The battery is not properly installed Remove the battery and reattach it The operating time is noticeably shorter than normal even thoug...

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