West Marine VHF200 User's Manual
Contents
1. Ch Rx Freq Tx Freq Status Name Full Name 1 160 6500 156 0500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 2 160 7000 156 1000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 3 160 7500 156 1500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 4 160 8000 156 2000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 5 160 8500 156 2500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 6 156 3000 156 3000 Simplex SAFETV INTER SHIP SAFETV 7 160 9500 156 3500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 8 156 4000 156 4000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL SHIP SHIP 9 156 4500 156 4500 Simplex CALLING BOATER CALLING CHANNEL 10 156 5000 156 5000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 11 156 5500 156 5500 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 12 156 6000 156 6000 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 13 156 6500 156 6500 Simplex BRG BRG BRIDGE TO BRIDGE 14 156 7000 156 7000 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 15 156 7500 156 7500 Simplex 1 W ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTAL 16 156 8000 156 8000 Simplex DISTRESS DISTRESS SAFETY CALLING 17 156 8500 156 8500 Simplex 1 W GOVT GOVT MARITIME CONTROL 18 161 5000 156 9000 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 19 161 5500 156 9500 Duplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 20 161 6000 157 0000 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 21 161 6500 157 0500 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 22 161 7000 157 1000 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 23 161 7500 157 1500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 24 161 8000 157 2000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 25 161 8500 157 2500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 26 161 9002. mal receiving mode and the Radio UU LL Status Display will show SQUELCH LEVEL CHANGED Fig 7b Fig 7b Squelch Level Changed display 8 Transmitting a Signal 1 LJ G H To transmit a signal press the Push To MEM P Talk PTT button on the left side of the STEP radio When PTT button is released the radio returns to Receive Mode As soon as the PTT key is pressed ES TX the Radio Status Display will show KAT T the transmit power selected Fig 8a L Fig 8a Transmitting at High Transmit Power 6 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual PEC ONLY Fig 8c Message shown when trying to transmit on a receive only channel 1 USA Ii Em i i vMTT T AGILI L Fig 9a High Power Display When the PTT key is released the Radio Status Display will show TX END Fig 8b e You cannot transmit on receive only channels like the weather channels or Channels 15 and 70 If you try an error tone will sound the channel number and TX indicator will blink three times and the Radio Status Display will show REC ONLY Fig 8c After 3 seconds the radio returns to the normal display then goes back to the normal display If the PTT button is pressed when the battery condition is low the radio will send one last transmission then it will sound the Error Beep Tone with BAT LO display No further transmission will be allowed See page 8 9 Selecting the Transmit Power By law Marine
3. STEP USA INTERNATION AL CANADIAN UIC Mode display page 5 966 Do Channel Number display page 4 Battery Level display indicator page 8 LLI Radio Status Displav shows long and short channel descriptions warnings and radio information page 5 M Shown when medium transmit power is selected page 7 L Shown when low transmit power is selected page 7 LOCK Shown when keypad is locked page 16 TX Shown when transmitting page 6 BUSY Shown when radio is receiving a signal page 3 388 DO KA MEM i i i l STEP TRI Va WX ALERT ML 7 7 xx POWER ON Fig 1 Power Displav LOCK BUSY 1 Turning the Radio On Turn the Power Volume Knob clockwise until it clicks The radio will power up in the same condition as it was last used The last Channel Mode USA INT CAN Channel TX Power Key Lock Squelch Level etc are restored The Radio Status Display will show POWER ON Fig 1 2 Adjusting the Volume Turn the Volume Knob clockwise to increase volume and counterclockwise to decrease volume West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 3 3 Receive Mode 1 m LI G fi When the radio receives a signal the MEM il i i Radio Status Display will show the mes STEP sage RECEIVE Fig 3a for three sec onds before reverting to the channel description The BUSY indicator will also WA m BUSY be shown This is an indication that you RET CT T should
4. or W keys in Triple Watch will increment or decrement the monitored channel 15 Scanning Channels Scanning allows you to monitor the traffic or conversations on several channels in quick succession This can be helpful if you re trying to listing to fishing traffic on several channels or need to monitor Race Committee traffic on Channels 68 69 and 71 As the radio detects traffic on any channel in its scan list it will pause until three seconds after the last transmission then continue scanning Before you can scan channels you need to store two or more channels into the radio s scan memory 12 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual Entering and removing chan nels from memorv Use A or W kevs to select a channel to enter into scan memorv Pressing the will enter the channel into the scan memorv Fig 15a and the Radio Status Displav will show MEM SET If the channel is currentiv in the scan mem pressing the kev will remove it from the scan memorv Fig 15b and the Radio Status Displav will show MEM DEL Pressing MEM in WX Mode doesn t store the Weather Channel in memory and will result in the error tone e Pressing the MEM key while scan ning will result in the error tone Memory Scan Mode Memory Scan Mode scans the memorized channels in ascending or descending order To enter Memory Scan Mode press the SCAN key briefly Fig 15c If Channels 6 16 22 68 and
5. Welcomel Thank vou for purchasing the West Marine VHF200 This product was designed and built for boaters to use in the harsh marine environment With prop er care this product should provide vou with vears of trouble free operation Your satisfaction with this product is backed by the entire West Marine organi zation worldwide Remember e Safety and distress calls take priority over all others e You must monitor Channel 16 when you are not operating on another channel False or fraudulent distress calls are prohibited under law Information overheard but not intend ed for you cannot lawfully be used in any way e Indecent or profane language is pro hibited Service In the event that the radio fails to per form or needs servicing please send directly to our Electronics Repair Center in Hollister CA Be sure to include your return mailing information and a detailed accounting of the problems experienced and or the service requested West Marine Electronics Repair Center 2395 Bert Court Hollister CA 95023 Radio Licenses 1 Ship Station License An FCC ship station license is no longer required for any vessel traveling in US waters which uses a VHF marine radio RADAR EPIRB and which is not required to carry radio equipment A license is necessary however for a DSC MMSI number or for any vessel required to carry a marine radio on an international voyage carrying a HF single side band radi
6. dislodge or damage the seals 18 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual Additionallv wear or improper bat e Never transmit without an antenna tery pack installation can damage the attached to avoid damage to the radio battery compartment seal Avoid using or placing the VHF200 Keep your battery contacts clean Wipe frequently If visible corrosion appears polish with an emery cloth or similar fine abrasive in areas with temperatures below 20 C 4 F or above 60 140 Do not place in wind shields etc 23 Troubleshooting Guide Symptom Probable Cause Remedy Symptom Probable Cause Remedy Symptom Probable Cause Remedy Symptom Probable Cause 1 Remedy 1 Probable Cause 2 Remedy 2 Symptom Probable Cause Remedy Symptom Probable Cause Remedy Symptom Probable Cause Remedy The radio does not respond to key presses The channel cannot be changed Key Lock is on Press the amp key on the left side of the case below the PTT key for three seconds to unlock the key pad You have arranged to communicate with another VHF radio user on a specific channel and you can t hear them You and the other user are using different Country Codes Make sure that you are both using the same Country Mode USA International or Canadian Several channels have the same numeric designation but are either on different frequencies or the channels are used for diff
7. 72 have been entered into memory the scan sequence will go from Channel 6 to 16 to 22 to 68 to 72 to 6 to 16 and so on T The Radio Status Display will show MEM E MEMORY SCAN followed by the list of i channels in memory in this case am e Channels 6 16 22 68 and 72 Pressing the SCAN key briefly stops 7 ER Memory Scan Mode and returns the radio to the channel which was selected Fig 15b Channel 16 deleted from scan mem rior to Memory Scan The Radio Status M MO prior to Memorv Scan The Radio Displav will show SCAN STOP Fig 15c Memorv Channel Scan Displav Prioritv Scan Mode Prioritv Scan Mode scans the memorized channels in ascending or descending order but checks for traffic on Channel 16 between each memorv channel This makes it more likely that you ll be aware of important traffic on Channel 16 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 13 To enter Priority Scan Mode press and B uc Hit N hold the SCAN key for two seconds If Channels 6 22 and 68 are entered into l H memory the scan sequence will go from Channel 6 to 16 to 22 to 16 to 68 to 16 to 6 to 16 and so on The Radio Status Displav will show PRl ORITV SCAN followed the list of H 1 T T channels in memorv in this case L Channels 6 16 22 68 and 72 Fig 15d Pressing the SCAN key stops Priority Fig 15d Priority Channel Scan Display Scan Mode and returns the radio to the channel w
8. Displav will show WX MODE for three seconds and the WX indicator will be shown Fig 11 When switching back to Marine Mode the Radio Status Displav will show USA MODE or INT MODE or CAN MODE for three sec onds Fig 11b While in Weather Mode use the or W keys to select from ten weather channels Most areas of the US are covered by Weather Channels 01 02 and 03 The Radio Status Display will verify which channel you ve Fig 11b Marine Mode Display selected WEATHER 1 as you change channels If you press the 16 9 TRI key while in weather Mode the radio will change from the current weather channel to Channel 16 then to Channel 9 and then back to the weather channel The WX indicator will flash indicating that you are still in weather Mode while listening to Channels 16 and 9 e While in Weather Mode the MEM UIC SCAN H L keys will not work If they are pressed the radio will sound an error tone Fig 11a Weather Mode Display West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 9 12 Weather Alert Weather Alert is a safetv function that allows the radio to monitor the local weather channel for NOAA Weather Alerts while allowing vou to listen to other channels To set or cancel the Weather Alert func tion press and hold the WX ALERT kev The displav will switch from the current channel displav Fig 12a to the Weather Alert displav for three seconds The Radio Status Displav will show WX ALERT
9. TRAFFIC SYSTEM 64 156 2250 156 2250 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 65 156 2750 156 2750 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 66 156 3250 156 3250 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 67 156 3750 156 3750 Simplex 1 W BRG BRG BRIDGE TO BRIDGE 68 156 4250 156 4250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 69 156 4750 156 4750 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 70 156 5250 Inhibit Receive Only DSC DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING 7 156 5750 156 5750 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 72 156 6250 156 6250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL SHIP SHIP 73 156 6750 156 6750 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 74 156 7250 156 7250 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 77 156 8750 156 8750 Simplex 1 W PORT OPR PORT OPERATION SHIP SHIP 78 156 9250 156 9250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 79 156 9750 156 9750 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 80 157 0250 157 0250 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 81 157 0750 157 0750 Simplex USCG COAST GUARD 82 157 1250 157 1250 Simplex USCG COAST GUARD 83 157 1750 157 1750 Simplex USCG GOVERNMENT 84 161 8250 157 2250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 85 161 8750 157 2750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 86 161 9250 157 3250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 87 161 9750 157 3750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 88 157 4250 157 4250 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL SHIP SHIP 20 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual International Mode Frequencv Chart
10. is up to the user to properly operate this transmitter to ensure safe operation Please adhere to the following to ensure that your exposure to RF elec tromagnetic energy is within the FCC allowable limits e DO NOT operate the radio without a proper antenna attached as this may damage the radio and may also cause you to exceed FCC RF exposure lim its A proper antenna is the antenna supplied with this radio by the manu facturer or an antenna specifically authorized by the manufacturer to use with this radio e DO NOT transmit for more than 50 of the total radio use time Transmitting more than 50 of the time can cause FCC RF exposure compliance requirements to be exceeded The radio is transmitting when the TX indicator is displayed on the screen You can cause the radio to transmit by pressing the PTT switch e ALWAYS maintain at least a l inch 2 5 cm separation distance between your body including the face and eyes and any surface of the radio e NEVER allow the antenna to touch the human body or to come within 1 inch when the transmitter is active e NEVER allow children to operate the radio without adult supervision and the knowledge of the following safe ty guidelines This radio is approved for use with the specific belt clip tested for body worn SAR compliance Other belt clips or body worn accessories may not comply and should be avoided Notice This equipment has been tested and found to comp
11. while scanning the radio will make an error tone and the key press will be ignored 16 Step Mode Marine radios offer a wide range of chan nels but frequently there are only 5 to 10 of interest to most recreational boaters Step Mode allows you to work with only those channels in scan memory while ignoring others Press and hold the MEM STEP key to toggle the Step Mode on or off When Step Mode is on STEP icon appears press the or V keys to select the scan memory channels When Step Mode is selected the Radio Status Display will show STEP ON for three seconds Fig 16a e When the Step Mode is deselected the Radio Status Display will show STEP OFF for three seconds Fig 16b and the STEP indicator will turn off T f Note Step Mode can be confusing if l U you re unaware that it is selected If you can t seem to select the channels that you Fig 16b Step Off Display want check for the STEP indicator on the display Press and hold MEM STEP to exit Step Mode West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 15 17 Kevpad Lock There mav be times when vou don t want to inadvertentiv press a kev on the radio s kevpad In this case vou can select Keypad Lock by pressing the amp key below the PTT key on the left hand side for two seconds This will cause the key i pad lock indicator two be shown and the L 4 L Radio Status Displav will show KEV LOCK ON Fig 18 While the kevpad is loc
12. 0 157 3000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 27 161 9500 157 3500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 28 162 0000 157 4000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 60 160 6250 156 0250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 61 160 6750 156 0750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 62 160 7250 156 1250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 63 160 7750 156 1750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 64 160 8250 156 2250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 65 160 8750 156 2750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 66 160 9250 156 3250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 67 156 3750 156 3750 Simplex BRG BRG BRIDGE TO BRIDGE 68 156 4250 156 4250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 69 156 4750 156 4750 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 70 156 5250 Inhibit Receive Only DSC DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING 7 156 5750 156 5750 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 72 156 6250 156 6250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 73 156 6750 156 6750 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 74 156 7250 156 7250 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 77 156 8750 156 8750 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION SHIP SHIP 78 161 5250 156 9250 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 79 161 5750 156 9750 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 80 161 6250 157 0250 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 81 161 6750 157 0750 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 82 161 7250 157 1250 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 83 161 7750 157 1750 Duplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 84 161 8250 157 2250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 85 161 8750 157 2750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 86 16
13. 00 Duplex 1W PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 21 157 0500 157 0500 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 22 157 1000 157 1000 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 23 161 7500 157 1500 Duplex CCG COAST GUARD 24 161 8000 157 2000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 25 161 8500 157 2500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 26 161 9000 157 3000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 27 161 9500 157 3500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 28 162 0000 157 4000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 60 160 6250 156 0250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 61 156 0750 156 0750 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 62 156 1250 156 1250 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 64 156 2250 156 2250 Simplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 65 156 2750 156 2750 Simplex RESCUE SEARCH AND RESCUE 66 156 3250 156 3250 Simplex 1 W PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 67 156 3750 156 3750 Simplex BRG BRG BRIDGE TO BRIDGE 68 156 4250 156 4250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 69 156 4750 156 4750 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 70 156 5250 Inhibit Receive Only DSC DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING 71 156 5750 156 5750 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 72 156 6250 156 6250 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 73 156 6750 156 6750 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 74 156 7250 156 7250 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 77 156 8750 156 8750 Simplex 1 W PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 78 156 9250 156 9250 Simplex SHP SHP INTER SHIP 79 156 9750 156 9750 Simplex SHP SHP INTER SHIP 80 157 0250 157 0250 Simplex SHP SHP INTER SHIP 81 157 0750 157 0750 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 82 157 1250 1
14. 1 9250 157 3250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 87 161 9750 157 3750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 88 162 0250 157 4250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual Canadian Mode Frequencv Chart Ch Rx Freq Tx Freq Status Name Full Name 1 160 6500 156 0500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 2 160 7000 156 1000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 3 160 7500 156 1500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 4 156 2000 156 2000 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 5 156 2500 156 2500 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 6 156 3000 156 3000 Simplex SAFETY INTER SHIP SAFETY 7 156 3500 156 3500 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 8 156 4000 156 4000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 9 156 4500 156 4500 Simplex CALLING BOATER CALLING CHANNEL 10 156 5000 156 5000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 11 156 5500 156 5500 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 12 156 6000 156 6000 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 13 156 6500 156 6500 Simplex 1 W BRG BRG BRIDGE TO BRIDGE 14 156 7000 156 7000 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 15 156 7500 156 7500 Simplex 1 W ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTAL 16 156 8000 156 8000 Simplex DISTRESS DISTRESS SAFETY CALLING 17 156 8500 156 8500 Simplex 1 W SAR STATE CONTROL 18 156 9000 156 9000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 19 156 9500 156 9500 Simplex CCG CANADIAN COAST GUARD 20 161 6000 157 00
15. 2 West Marine VHF200 VHF Radio Owner s Manual Table of Contents oti roro UTor Mx 5 e LICENSING LCD Description Turning the Radio On Adjusting the Volume Receive Model Changing Channels Channel Descriptions Changing Between USA International and Canadian Modes 5 Adjusting the Squelch 6 Transmitting a Signal 6 Selecting the Transmit Power 7 Battery Level Display 8 Weather 9 Weather 10 16 9 Operatioki i 11 Triple Watch Mode 12 Scanning Channels 12 STEPMede 15 Kevpad HOCK casio 16 Restore Factory Settings 16 Time Out Transmit Setting 17 Display Back Light 17 Battery Options for the VHF200 17 Maintenance arena nai 18 Troubleshooting Guide 19 USA Frequency Chart 20 International Frequency Chart 21 Canadian Frequency Chart 22 WX Frequency Chart 23 Accessories and Parts 24 24 Warnings and Safety Precautions 25 Emergency Communications 26
16. 57 1250 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 83 157 1750 157 1750 Simplex CCG COAST GUARD 84 161 8250 157 2250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 85 161 8750 157 2750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 86 161 9250 157 3250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 87 161 9750 157 3750 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 88 162 0250 157 4250 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 22 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual WX Frequencv Chart Channel No MHz Name WXO0I 162 5500 WEATHERI WX02 162 4000 WEATHER2 WX03 162 4750 WEATHER3 WX04 162 4250 WEATHER4 WX05 162 4500 WEATHERS WX06 162 5000 WEATHER6 WX07 162 5250 WEATHER7 WX08 161 6500 WEATHER8 WX09 161 7750 WEATHER9 WXIO 163 2750 WEATHRIO West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 23 Accessories Model Description Order SWIV200 Swivel Belt Clip with Button and Mounting Screw 3895638 SC200 12 Hr Std Charger with Bucket and AC power supply 3895463 DC200 DC Cigarette Lighter power supply for Std Charger 3895554 CLIP200 Fixed Belt Clip with Mounting Screws 3895687 BT200 Alkaline Battery Tray 3895562 BP200 Nickel Metal Hydride Rechargeable Battery Pack 3895497 ANT200 Flexible Rubber Antenna 3895547 Optional Rapid Smart Charger RSC200 90 Min Rapid Smart Charger with AC power supply 3895489 West Marine VHF 200 Radio Specifications Dimensions Operating Voltage 7 2Vdc Battery Capacity 1350mAH Ni mH Transmitter Frequency Range 156 025 157 425 Output Power SW 1W 0 5 Spurious
17. Emission 65 5W 55 1W AF Distortion lt 5 Max Deviation lt 5KHz Frequency Stability 5ppm FM Hum amp Noise 40dB Microphone Type Condenser Adjacent Channel Power gt 70dBc Current Drain 1 5A 0 7A Receiver Frequency Range 56 050 163 275 Sensitivity 0 2uV Adjacent Channel Selectivity gt 70dBc Intermodulation Distortion gt 65dBc Spurious Response gt 70dBc AF Output 0 5W Speaker Impedance 8 Ohm Performance specifications are nominal value unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without notice 24 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual Warning Xour West Marine 200 generates RF electromagnetic energv when transmitting This radio was designed to meet the FCC s rules and reg ulations for the maximum permissible exposure to radio frequencv energv This design was tested and found to be compli ant to the strict requirements established bv the FCC This radio was designed for and is classi fied as Occupational Use mean ing it must be used only during the course of employment by individuals aware of the hazards and the ways to minimize such hazards This radio is not intended for use by the General Population in an uncontrolled environment It s use is restricted to work related operations only where the radio operator must have the knowledge to control his or her exposure conditions for satisfying the higher expo sure limit allowed for Occupational Users Caution It
18. FFIC SYSTEM COMMERCIAL 3 156 1500 156 1500 Simplex CG ONLY COAST GUARD GOVT ONLY 5 156 2500 156 2500 Simplex VTS COML VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM COMMERCIAL 6 156 3000 156 3000 Simplex SAFETY INTER SHIP SAFETY 7 156 3500 156 3500 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 8 156 4000 156 4000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 9 156 4500 156 4500 Simplex NON COML NON COMMERCIAL 10 156 5000 156 5000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 11 156 5500 156 5500 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 12 156 6000 156 6000 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 13 156 6500 156 6500 Simplex 1 W BRG BRG BRIDGE TO BRIDGE 14 156 7000 156 7000 Simplex VTS VESSEL TRAFFIC SYSTEM 15 156 7500 Inhibit Receive Only ENVIRON ENVIRONMENTAL 16 156 8000 156 8000 Simplex DISTRESS DISTRESS SAFETY CALLING 17 156 8500 156 8500 Simplex 1 W GOVT GOVT MARITIME CONTROL 18 156 9000 156 9000 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 19 156 9500 156 9500 Simplex COMMERCL COMMERCIAL 20 157 0000 157 0000 Simplex PORT OPR PORT OPERATION 21 157 0500 157 0500 Simplex CG ONLY COAST GUARD ONLY 22 157 1000 157 1000 Simplex CG COAST GUARD 23 157 1500 157 1500 Simplex CG ONLY COAST GUARD ONLY 24 161 8000 157 2000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 25 161 8500 157 2500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 26 161 9000 157 3000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 27 161 9500 157 3500 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 28 162 0000 157 4000 Duplex MAR OPER MARINE OPERATOR 61 156 0750 156 0750 Simplex CG COAST GUARD 63 156 1750 156 1750 Simplex VTS VESSEL
19. ON After three seconds the displav will switch back to the current channel dis plav Fig 12b While in Weather Alert Mode the radio will check the last used weather channel for alert tones everv seven seconds When an alert tone is detected the radio will cancel the Alert option and change to the weather channel It will also sound an alert detect alarm at maximum volume for 10 seconds e If you re using Weather Mode and the Alert option is on the radio will mute the speaker even though there is a signal until an alert tone is detect ed This allows you to be aware of alerts but without having to listen to the weather continuously Fig 12c WX ALERT e When an alert tone is detected the Scan and Triple Watch functions are cancelled i t n T HE A A VN I i Fig 12c Weather Alert Displav in Weather Mode 10 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual warm MISTRESS USANO LI E wi MINNI CAMI NU LUIIL Fig 13c Channel 9 NON COML Display 13 16 9 Operation By pressing the 16 9 TRI key briefly the radio will change from Channel 16 to Channel 9 and back to the start channel For example if the start channel is Channel 24 pressing the 16 9 TRI will change the channel from 24 to 16 to 9 and back to 24 Fig 13a 13c If the 16 9 TRI key is pressed in Weather Mode Weather Mode is paused temporally and the radio will change from Channel 16 to Channel 09 to Weather Mode in turn Whi
20. VHF radios must be able to transmit at 1 watt power as well as the radio s maximum transmit power The West Marine VHF200 radio actually has three transmit powers 5 watts HD 1 watt MED and 0 5 watts LOW The general rule is to use the lowest transmit power that results in clear com munications with whomever you are com municating At distances less than a mile for example 0 5 watts may result in clear and consistent communications and will have the benefit of greatly extended bat tery life Pressing the H L key will change the transmit power from 5 watts HI to 1 watt MED to 0 5 watts LOW and back to 5 watts with each press The Radio Status Display will indicate the newly selected transmit power as follows When High Power is selected the bottom of the screen will Radio West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 7 Status Displav will show XMIT HI for three seconds Fig 9a e When Medium Power is selected the Radio Status Display will show STEP XMIT MED for three seconds and the M indicator will show Fig 9b e When Low Power is selected the Radio Status Display will show XMIT LOW for three seconds and the L indicator will show Fig 9c Certain channels are limited by law to 1 watt transmit power USA Mode Channel 13 17 67 77 INT Mode Channel 15 17 CAN Mode Channel 13 15 17 20 66 TT Therefore the radio will automatically select 1 watt power when operating on these channels and effort
21. ds largely on how much time you spend transmitting and what transmit power you use Charging the BP200 A feature of the NiMH pack is that you can recharge at any time The standard charger SC200 will completely recharge the BP200 battery pack in approximately 12 hours If you need the radio prior to a full charge you can remove it from the charger base at any state of charge The BP200 will not be damaged by extended charge time The best way to use the bat tery pack is to detach the battery pack after full charge In SC200 when the radio and BP200 are placed in the SC200 charger base and power is present the LED on the front of the charger base will be red The VHF200 also includes the DC200 Cigarette Lighter Cord The DC200 can power the SC200 charger base from any cigarette lighter socket The DC200 plugs into the charger base in the same socket as the AC power supply Use of the Optional RSC200 Rapid Smart Charger For faster charging of the BP200 battery pack the optional RSC200 Rapid Smart Charger can be used It will completely recharge the BP200 in 90 minutes or less depending on state of discharge The RSC200 is a smart charger and will not damage the BP200 even if the radio is left in the charger base for long periods The best way to use the battery pack is to detach the battery pack after full charge The RSC200 can only be powered by AC current When the radio and BP200 are placed in the RSC200 charger ba
22. ency call and what to do if you hear one An excellent source for information on marine communications is Chapman Piloting Seamanship and Small Boat Handling We recommend that you con sult Chapman s for more information and also consult the web at one of the follow ing web sites www boatingsafety com www boatsafe com nauticalknowhow radi o htm Mayday for Distress Communications Mayday calls are only for when your ves sel or crew face grave and imminent danger and immediate help is required Therefore you should not transmit a Mayday call unless you re likely to lose a life or your boat Procedure for making a Distress Call Select Channel 16 and high transmit power Transmit as follows 1 Mayday Mayday Mayday 2 This is Name of Vessel Repeat three times 3 Your call sign or other indication of the vessel Repeat three times 4 Located at your position The position can be in latitude and longi tude or can be in reference to a known object Be specific Near a Red buoy or South of the Lighthouse is too easy to misinter pret 5 State The nature of the distress and assistance required Examples tak ing on water medical emergency fire dismasting aground in surf 6 State Any other information which might facilitate the rescue Examples of adults and children on board other communications devices life raft on board color of ves
23. erent purposes Channel 16 the Distress Safety and Calling channel is the same on all three bands You cannot change the transmit power setting You are on a channel which is limited to 1 watt transmit power e g Ch 13 or you are on a receive only channel e g WX Change to an unrestricted TX RX channel The SCAN key does not start the scan function No channels are in the scan memory Use the MEM key to enter desired channels into the scan memory Squelch is not adjusted correctly Adjust the squelch to the point that background noise just disappears Radio just does not seem to be operating correctly The radio has become confused by an unusual pattern of key presses Turn off the radio Hold down the 16 9 TRI key while turning the radio on This process will reset the radio to the original factory settings Radio will not power up The battery is exhausted Recharge the battery pack or use the BT200 alkaline battery tray with fresh alkaline batteries You can hear transmissions but the other radio cannot hear you The transmit power is set to low Use the H L key to select a higher transmit power setting West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 19 USA Mode Frequencv Chart Ch Rx Freq Tx Freq Status Name Full Name 1 156 0500 156 0500 Simplex VTS COML VESSEL TRA
24. for warranty service WARRANTOR WEST MARINE PRODUCTS INC WEST MARINE ELEMENTS OF WARRANTY WEST MARINE warrants for three years to the original retail owner and user this product to be free from defects in materials and craftsmanship with only the limitations or exclusions set out below WARRANTY DURATION This warranty to the original retail owner and user shall terminate and be of no further effect 36 months after the date of original retail sale battery pack warranty duration is 12 months or one year The warranty is invalid if the Product is A damaged or not maintained as reasonable or necessary B modified altered or used as part of any conversion kits subassemblies or any configurations not sold by WEST MARINE C improperly installed or programmed D serviced or repaired by someone other than an authorized WEST MARINE service center as provided below for a defect or malfunction covered by this warranty E used in any conjunction with equipment or parts or as part of any system or subsystem not manufactured by WEST MARINE or F installed or programmed by anyone other than as detailed by the Owner s Manual for this product THIS WARRANTY IS NON TRANSFERRABLE STATEMENT OF REMEDY In the event that the product does not conform to this warranty at any time while this warranty is in effect warrantor will either at its option repair or replace the defective unit and return it to you without charge for parts service
25. hich was selected prior to Priority Scan Mode The Radio Status Display will show SCAN STOP Notes on Scanning e You cannot scan channels while in Weather Mode e f you have not entered any channels into memory the radio will sound the error tone when the SCAN key is pressed e fthere is only one channel in memo ry the radio will beep and change to the that channel If the PTT key is pressed while in Scanning Mode but while the radio is stopped to receive traffic the radio will transmit on the current channel If the PTT key is pressed while scan ning and the radio is not stopped for traffic the radio will transmit on the channel which was shown on the radio s display prior to pressing the SCAN key e Xoucan change the order in which the channels are scanned by pressing the A or W keys while scanning If the 16 9 TRI key is pressed briefly the radio will switch from Channel 16 to Channel 9 and back to Scan Mode in turn e Pressing the WX key while scanning will change to Weather Channel Mode 14 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual e Pressing the SQL UIC key briefly less than one second while scan ning will change to Squelch Change Mode The LCD display will show the squelch level and will continue to scan e If SQL UIC key is pressed for over two seconds while scanning the radio will stop scanning and change to Change Country Mode page 5 If the MEM key or the H L key is pressed
26. ip conversations are list ed as NON COMMERCIAL in the description Examples are Channels 68 69 71 and 72 6 Changing Between USA International and Canadian Modes Different areas of the world use different VHF frequencies although the channel designation 1 88 may be the same There are three modes USA International and Canadian Press and hold the UIC key for two seconds to change from USA to International to Canadian Modes in turn e When Country Mode is changed Channel 16 is automatically selected not the last channel used Fig 6a 6c e Radio Status Display will verify your selection with SEL USA SEL INTERNATIONAL and SEL CANADIAN West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 7 Adjusting the Squelch The Squelch Control reduces the static and noise heard on the radio but allows strong signals to be heard clearly To adjust the squelch setting press the SQL UIC key quickly The Radio Status Display will show SQL 0X where X is the current squelch setting Fig 7a Press the A or V keys to adjust the squelch set ting from 00 to 08 Higher settings allow only stronger signals will be heard while lower settings allow weak signals to be received and possibly annoying static Generally the squelch control should be set for the lowest setting that eliminates unwanted static Level 00 allows all signals to be heard e After no buttons are pressed for 3 seconds the radio will return to nor n tl
27. ked the kevpad will not respond to kev presses Press the kev for another two seconds to unlock the kevpad This will extinguish the Lock indicator and show KEV LOCK OFF on the Radio Status Displav When keys are locked only the PTT key and amp key function e Locking the keypad can be confus ing When the radio doesn t seem to be operating properly see if the LOCK indicator is on 18 Restore Factory Settings To reset all of the customized settings to the original factory settings hold the 16 9 TRI key down while turning on the radio Customized settings and channels stored in memory will be lost when facto ry settings are restored Fig 18 Key Lock Display Display Factory Settings Country Mode USA Last Used Channel Channel 16 WX Mode il ia Disabled Last Used WX Channel 01 Key LOOK its e Eee Disabled Triple Watch Disabled WX Alert nee veni Disabled STEP Zuge pd et Disabled TX Output Power High All Channel MEM Disabled squelch 4 TOV tM 5 minutes 16 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 19 Time out Transmit Setting Nothing is more disruptive to Marine VHF communications than when some boater has his or her microphone PTT key pressed accidentally The problem is that there is no way to notify him that the problem exists since the radio canno
28. le Channel 16 and 09 are displayed the WX icon will blink to indicate that Weather Mode is temporally paused If the 16 9 TRI key is pressed while scanning scanning is paused tem porarily and it changes from Scanning Mode to Channel 16 to Channel 09 to Scanning Mode in turn If the 16 9 TRI key is pressed in Triple Watch Triple Watch operation is paused temporarily and it changes from Triple Watch to Channel 16 to Channel 09 and back to Triple Watch in turn West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 11 di m a 14 Triple Watch U 5 i 1 Triple Watch is a handv feature that lets MEM monitor a channel of interest to STEP TRI yet maintain a watch on Channels 9 and 16 Let s say you need to monitor Channel 15 the Environmental Channel but don t want to miss important safety or distress messages on Channel 16 Simply select Channel 15 with the A or W keys then press and hold the 16 9 TRI key The TRI icon will be displayed Every two seconds the radio will quickly moni tor Channels 16 and 9 before returning to your selected channel The Radio Status Display will show the three channels being monitored Fig 14a fthere is traffic on Channel 9 the radio will monitor Channel 9 until the signal stops while checking Channel 16 every two seconds Fig 14a e fthere is traffic on Channel 16 the radio will monitor Channel 16 until Fig 14b Triple Watch Display the signal stops Fig 14b Pressing the
29. ly with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residen tial installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency ener gy and if not installed and used in accor dance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communica tions However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the inter ference by one or more of the following measures Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced marine electronics technician for help West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 25 24 Emergencv Communications One of the most important reasons to have a radio on board vour boat is so you can make distress calls to rescue agencies like the US Coast Guard State Boating Authorities County Sheriffs and towing organizations There are three acknowledged levels of severity when making an emergency call and it s impor tant to know what to do if you should have to make an emerg
30. not transmit until the BUSY indi cator is not showing When the signal ceases the radio will dis Fig 3a Receive Display play STAND BY Fig 3b e After three seconds the display returns to the channel name T G 4 Changing Channels U To change channels press the A or V MEM keys e If the A or V key is pressed for more than one second the channel will change rapidly WA aH e radio displays memory status n T T and TX Power status of the channel L C i C C C as you change the channels Fig 4 Fig 4 Channel number and memory status 4 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual II BP OPER Fig 5 Current Channel MAR OPER Display ron Lm dg MEM G STEP EL CAN Fig 6b Select International Mode Fig 6c Select Canadian Mode 5 Channel Descriptions The Radio Status Display indicates the type of channel you have selected with both a long and a short description Fig 5 The long description will scroll from right to left and will be replaced by a shorter description that stays in the Radio Status Display There is no universal agreement on how to describe each chan nel and some channels have different purposes depending on where vou re located in the US but we ve done our best to provide helpful information See the appendix for a complete list of long and short channel descriptions pp 20 23 e Channels used by recreational boaters for ship to sh
31. or any other cost except ship ping and handling incurred by warrantor or its representatives in connection with the performance of this warranty Warrantor at its option may replace the unit with a new or refurbished unit THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH ABOVE IS THE SOLE AND ENTIRE WARRANTY PER TAINING TO THE PRODUCT AND IS IN LIEU OF AND EXCLUDES ALL OTHER WAR RANTIES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER WHETHER EXPRESS IMPLIED OR ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WAR RANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER OR PROVIDE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OR PAY MENT OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES Some states do not allow this exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you LEGAL REMEDIES This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary form state to state This warranty is void outside the United States of America PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING PERFORMANCE OF WARRANTY If after following the instructions in Owner s Manual you are certain that the Product is defective pack the Product carefully preferably in its original packaging The product should include all parts and acces sories originally packaged with the Product include evidence of original purchase and a note describing the defect that has caused you to return it The Product should be shipped f
32. otelephone or marine satellite termi nal For more information see the FCC s Fact Sheet PR 5000 14 FCC license forms including applications for ship 506 and land station licenses can be downloaded via the Internet at www fcc gov forms To obtain a form from the FCC call 888 225 5322 2 Radio Call Sign Currently the FCC does not require recre ational boaters to have a Ship Radio Station License The USCG recommends that the boat s registration number and the state to be used 3 Canadian Ship Station Licensing You do not need a license if your vessel is not operated in sovereign waters of a country other than Canada or the USA If you do need a license contact their near est field office or regional office or write Industry Canada Radio Regulatory Branch Attn DOSP 300 Slater Street Ottawa Ontario Canada K1A OCA 2 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual LCD Description ooo LIL L STEP TRI WX ALERT ML LOCK NA AR TX BUSY mM 6D 6D l M UM EN EN VN EM FN VINI LCD Display 1 A A MA ALA ALA MARA MA A wy eX 99899 Ui T N LS Y 2 vi Ak 019 FIS E AL wes 7 4 1 A MEM Pit Shown when channel is in scan memory page 14 Shown when radio is in STEP mode page 15 TRI Shown when Triple Watch has been selected Page 12 WX Shown when radio is in Weather WX Mode page 9 ALERT Shown when radio is in Weather Alert Mode page 10
33. reight pre paid by traceable means to WEST MARINE s Authorized Service Center at West Marine Authorized Service Center 2395 Bert Court Hollister CA 95023
34. s to change the transmit power will result in the error tone MEM MEM STEP e You cannot change the transmit power setting on channels which are receive only channels all weather channels USA Mode Channel 15 70 INT Mode Channel 70 CAN Mode Channel 70 Fig 9c Low Power Display e Pressing the H L key while scanning or while in the Weather Mode will result in the error tone and transmit power will not change 10 Battery Level Display The battery level is checked periodically and is shown using the Battery Level Indicator 1 3 bars More bars indicate more battery capacity is left When the battery capacity is very low the low battery warning alarm will sound every 10 seconds the low battery message LOW BATT will be shown on the Radio Status Display and the battery indicator will blink Fig 10 e When the low battery warning mes sage is displayed the radio allows one final transmission but it will not allow further transmissions Fig 10 Low Battery Warning Display 8 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 11 Weather Mode Virtuallv all areas of the US and manv areas around the world are covered bv VHF weather reports on one of 10 chan nels These reports provide current condi tions forecasts and warnings of danger ous weather 24 hours per day way NA n Press and release the WX ALERT key to T U U toggle between Weather and Marine Modes In Weather Mode the Radio Status
35. se and power is present the LED on the front of the charger base will be red if the power is on but the radio is being charged or green if the radio is fully charged BT200 Alkaline Battery Pack The BT200 alkaline battery pack can be used as a backup to the BP200 battery pack when charging may not be possible or convenient It holds 6 AA batteries When the alkaline batteries have dis charged dispose of them safely They cannot be recharged using the supplied chargers Make sure to observe the polarity shown on the inside of the alkaline battery tray when installing the batteries Alkaline batteries have excellent shelf life when kept in a cool environment but they can leak under certain circumstances If you store your radio for extended periods we recommend that you remove the alka line battery tray from the radio 22 Maintenance e VHF200 is designed to provide years of trouble free operation with virtually no maintenance Follow these simple procedures to ensure that the VHF200 continues to deliver top performance e Rinse the VHF200 thoroughly with fresh water after exposure to salt water Otherwise the radio s keys switches and controllers may become inoperable due to salt crys tallization e Be Careful The VHF200 employs JIS 7 waterproof construction sub mersion to 1 m depth for 30 min However waterproofness cannot be guaranteed over time Extreme shock dropping etc may crack the case or
36. sel size of vessel of injuries type of help or equipment needed After making a Mayday call allow the Coast Guard other rescue agencies or other boaters to contact you If you don t hear from anyone in a minute repeat your message 26 West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual Pan Pan for Urgencv Messages Since Mayday calls are only for grave and imminent danger what should you say if you re aground or lost or running low on fuel Ordinary calls for assistance can use the urgency signal Pan Pan pronounced pon pon Procedure for making an Urgency Call Select Channel 16 and high transmit power Transmit as follows 1 Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan 2 This is Name of Vessel 3 Your call sign or other indication of the vessel 4 Located at your position The position can be in latitude and longi tude or can be in reference to a known object Be specific Near a Red buoy or South of the Lighthouse is too easy to misinter pret 5 State The nature of the distress and assistance required Examples aground require medical assistance lost out of fuel engine problems Since these calls do not normally require immediate response it s common to make contact with a rescue agency or another boat and shift to a working frequency like Channel 6 Intership Safety Channel or Channel 22 Coast Guard Working Channel Boat to Boat Calls When calling ano
37. t receive traffic The VHF200 has a Time Out Transmit feature that allows you to set a maximum period of PTT key press time before the radio will revert to Receive Mode This is set at the factory at five minutes but you can enter any value from one to twenty minutes or turn off the feature entirely To change the Time Out Transmit setting press and hold the MEM key and turn the power on Set the TOT time by pressing wag the A or W keys Fig 20a T MOM T T e The TOT Range is 00 01 20 RAM i IL i e 00 TOT off e 01 1 minute Fig 19b Transmit Time Exceeded display e 20 20 minutes After setting the TOT press the PTT but ton to save and exit to Receive Mode e If a transmission exceeds the TOT time the radio will stop the transmis sion and return to Receive Mode The message TRANSMIT TIME EXCEEDED will show in the Radio Status Display at the bottom of the screen Fig 20b 20 Display Back Light If any key is pressed the display and key pad light will turn on and remain on for ten seconds after the last key press 21 Battery Options for the VHF200 The VHF200 comes with both the BP200 NiMH Nickel Metal Hydride recharge West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 17 able batterv back as well as an BT200 alkaline batterv trav For most use the BP200 battery pack will provide conven ient long life service and will operate Vour radio for approximatelv 12 hours on a charge The length of service depen
38. ther boater here are some tips to keep in mind 1 Monitor Channel 16 for traffic before you begin to transmit This is espe cially important if there is an emer gency in your area and Channel 16 is being used for emergency communi cations 2 Keep your communication on Channel 16 as brief as possible It s a party line only one boat in your area can use it at a time 3 If Channel 16 is clear say Osprey Name of other vessel this is Mildew name of your vessel Over First say their boat name then say your boat name 4 They should respond Mildew this is Osprey Switch to Channel 68 Over 5 You respond This is Mildew switch ing to Channel 68 Out Both operators would then change to Channel 68 or one of the other ship to ship channels like 9 69 71 72 or 78 and continue their conversation assuming the channel was free When the conversa tion is complete both boats would switch back to monitoring Channel 16 You can also monitor a channel other than Channel 16 for traffic related to fishing a boat regatta or other event Dual or Triple Watch will be helpful since they allow you to hear hailing calls on Channel 16 while listening to conversations that inter est you West Marine VHF200 Owner s Manual 27 Three Vear Limited Warrantv IMPORTANT Evidence of original purchase such as the original receipt a cancelled check or a credit card receipt is required
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