Cobra MR F57B User Manual

A1
English
Our Thanks To You And
Customer Assistance
Introduction
Owner’s Manual
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
English
Customer Assistance
Class-D Fixed Mount VHF Radio
MR F57W
MR F57B
Printed in China Part No. 480-1015-P Version A
Thank you for purchasing a CobraMarine
®
VHF radio.
Properly used, this Cobra
®
product will give you
many years of reliable service.
How Your CobraMarine VHF Radio Works
This radio is a VHF transceiver for fixed mounting on your boat. It gives you 2-way
vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore station communications, primarily for safety
and secondarily for navigation and operational purposes. With it, you can call for
help, get information from other boaters, talk to lock or bridge tenders and make
radiotelephone calls to anywhere in the world through a marine operator.
Besides 2-way communications, in the U.S.A., the radio can provide quick
access to receive eight NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration) and two Canadian weather channels for alerting you to weather
emergencies with a tone on a weather channel you can select for your area.
Customer Assistance
Should you encounter any problems with this product, or not understand
its many features, please refer to this owner’s manual. If you require further
assistance after reading this manual, Cobra Electronics offers the following
customer assistance services:
For Assistance In The U.S.A.
Automated Help Desk English only.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week 773-889-3087 (phone).
Customer Assistance Operators English and Spanish.
8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time Mon. through Fri. (except holidays)
773-889-3087 (phone).
Questions English and Spanish.
Faxes can be received at 773-622-2269 (fax).
Technical Assistance English only.
www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked Questions).
English and Spanish. productinfo
@cobra.com (e-mail).
For Assistance Outside The U.S.A.
Contact Your Local Dealer
©2015 Cobra Electronics Corporation
6500 West Cortland Street
Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA
www.cobra.com

Cobra MR F57B Specifications

General

Brand	Cobra
Model	MR F57B
Category	Radio
Language	English

Summary

Customer Assistance

Assistance Services

Details customer support options and contact information for Cobra Marine VHF radio.

Transceiver Controls and Indicators

Control Panel Overview

Identifies and describes front panel buttons, knobs, and displays.

Rear Panel Connections

Describes rear panel connectors for accessories.

Key Product Features

Feature Highlights

Summarizes major functionalities like Rewind-Say-Again, DSC, Tri-Watch, etc.

Installation and Durability

Mentions mounting kits and waterproof rating.

Important Safety Information

General Safety Warnings

Outlines crucial warnings and notices for safe operation.

RF Exposure Safety Training

Provides guidelines for safe RF exposure.

Marine Communication Recommendations

Radio Usage Recommendations

Advice on effective marine radio communication.

FCC Licensing and Information

FCC Licensing Requirements

Details FCC compliance and licensing needs.

VHF Marine Radio Procedures

Basic Radio Procedures

Call sign, maintenance, and calling other vessels.

Voice Calling Protocols

Making Voice Calls

Procedures for initiating calls on channels 16/9, limits, and identification.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

DSC System Overview

Explanation of DSC technology and benefits.

Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)

MMSI Number Information

Details on obtaining and using an MMSI.

Radiotelephone and Distress Calls

Emergency Call Procedures

Steps for distress calls and emergency signals.

Distress Call Procedures

Voice Distress Call Steps

Step-by-step guide for voice distress calls.

DSC Distress Call Process

How to send DSC distress calls.

Package Contents and Accessories

Included Items

List of items in the radio package.

Optional Accessories

Information on purchasing accessories.

Radio Installation Guidelines

Mounting Options

Surface and flush mounting instructions.

Microphone Bracket Installation

How to install the microphone bracket.

Power Connection and Warnings

Electrical Power Connection

Connecting the radio to the power source.

Power and Fuse Notices

Important notes on power draw and fuses.

Antenna Requirements and RF Exposure

Antenna Installation and Safety

Antenna requirements and RF exposure compliance.

External Device Connections

Connecting Auxiliary Devices

Connecting speakers and GPS.

Getting Started with Your Radio

Controls, Tones, and Alarms

Overview of controls, tones, and alarm types.

Power, Volume, and Squelch

Basic adjustments for operation.

Basic Radio Operations

Squelch, Channel, and Power Settings

Adjusting squelch, changing channels, and power levels.

Transmitting Messages

Procedure for transmitting.

Setting Up Your Radio

Navigating Settings and Display Customization

Accessing menus and adjusting screen settings.

Customizing Radio Functions

Tone, Channel Maps, and Time Adjustments

Setting confirmation tone, channel maps, and time.

Advanced Set-Up Options

Time Format and Priority Channel

Setting time format and priority channel.

Weather Alert Configuration

Enabling/disabling weather alerts.

GPS Menu Configuration

GPS Coordinate System Setup

Selecting coordinate system for GPS.

Radio Status and Self-Test

GPS Status Screen

Viewing GPS signal strength and satellite data.

Radio Self-Test Function

Performing radio self-tests.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Setup

DSC Introduction and MMSI Entry

DSC benefits and MMSI number input.

DSC Contact Management

Individual and Group Contact Management

Storing individual contacts and group MMSI.

DSC Communication Settings

Position Request Reply and Auto Channel Switch

Configuring reply types and channel switching.

Manual Time and Position Entry

Manually entering time and location data.

Advanced Operation Modes

Weather Alerts and Quick Channel Access

Using weather alerts and Channel 16+.

Tri-Watch Functionality

How to use and exit Tri-Watch.

Memory Scan Operation

Memory Channel Management

Programming and clearing memory channels.

Using Memory Scan

Entering and exiting memory scan.

Special Radio Features

Public Address and Burp Feature

Using PA system and speaker burp.

Rewind-Say-Again® Feature

Replaying and recording audio.

DSC Distress Call Procedures

Sending DSC Distress Calls

Steps to initiate a DSC distress call.

Cancelling Distress Calls

How to abort a distress call.

DSC Call Reception and Transmission

Receiving Distress Calls and Sending All Ships Calls

Handling distress calls and sending general broadcasts.

DSC Call Types and Operations

All Ships Call Reception and Geographical Calls

Receiving general calls and sending geo calls.

Individual Call Procedures

Sending and receiving individual calls.

DSC Group Calls and Position Requests

Group Call Management

Sending and receiving group calls.

Sending Position Requests

Requesting station positions.

Position Request Management

Sending and Receiving Position Requests

Details on position request flow.

Position Send Functionality

Position Send Operations

Sending and receiving position data.

Call Log and Testing

Call Log Management and Testing

Reviewing, deleting logs, and performing test calls.

Maintenance and Specifications

Radio Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Keeping the radio in good condition and solving problems.

Technical Specifications

Detailed technical data of the radio.

VHF Marine Channel Assignments

Channel Usage Overview

Summary of channel assignments in English.

VHF Marine Channel Assignments

Detailed Channel Assignments

Specific channel uses and notes.

VHF Marine Channel Assignments

Channel Usage Details

Further channel usage information.

Weather Channel Assignments

Weather Channel Frequencies and Notes

Frequencies and usage notes for weather channels.

Warranty Information

Limited 3-Year Warranty and Exclusions

Warranty terms and conditions.

Product Service and Support

Factory Service Procedures

Steps for sending the radio for repair.

Flush Mount Template

Template for flush mounting installation.