Help a Newby

[juliet64]

Can anyone tell me were to get a copy of an operating manual for a shore line compact SX25 marine vhf radio.
PLEASE if anyone has a copy and would photocopy it i will pay costs involved.
thank you for looking

 

[Binman]

Have you tried the Internet?

 

[prv]

Have you tried the Internet?

Surely this thread *is* "trying the Internet"

I've had a quick google and can't find the manual online anywhere - in fact, most hits on the radio name are other people also trying to find a manual!

However, looking at the picture, it seems like a very basic pre-DSC radio that presumably works just like all the others of its type. So perhaps between us we might be able to answer the OP's actual question even without the manual?

Pete

 

[William_H]

If OP can post a picture or list of the front panel or controls we may be able to figure anything out for him. good luck olewill

 

[prv]

If OP can post a picture or list of the front panel or controls we may be able to figure anything out for him. good luck olewill

Here's a pic from Google, not hard.

As I said, it's a rock-simple non-DSC VHF that should be instantly understandable by anyone with a VHF operator's certificate.

Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

That looks newer than my vhf! :nonchalance:
BigLes had one,
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?1921-Compact-SX25-VHF-Radio
but his last post was in 2007, anyone know him?

 

[Seajet]

Juliet64,

PRV's point is well made; you need to have a VHF licence.

This isn't being square and officious, there really are simple things one must know; after a 30 minute read or chat and a day to think about it you should breeze through the ' exam ' - luckily we don't need ' ship radio licenses ' these days, once you have a licence and a callsign to the coastguard ( with a number to crunch into your VHF ) that's it.

 

[rob2]

Well, yes you do need a Ships License, but it's free and pretty much everlasting. Assuming the picture is of the correct model, the labels do show an operator how to use it with the possible exception of any adjustments that can be made to the scan function or setting up the Dual Watch (DW) and associated Memory functions. It's likely that a set of this age will only offer a scan of all channels, rather than a selected list, but it would be helpful if anyone can advise on how to set the channels for the dual watch function - very useful in the Solent to monitor Ch16 (calling) and Ch12 (Southampton Traffic).

Rob.

 

[VicS]

Well, yes you do need a Ships License,

And an operator's certificate. Which is what PRV was referring to.
It is not free and is only issued after passing an exam/test.

 

[prv]

the labels do show an operator how to use it with the possible exception of any adjustments that can be made to the scan function or setting up the Dual Watch (DW) and associated Memory functions. It's likely that a set of this age will only offer a scan of all channels, rather than a selected list, but it would be helpful if anyone can advise on how to set the channels for the dual watch function - very useful in the Solent to monitor Ch16 (calling) and Ch12 (Southampton Traffic).

My guess (and it may be wrong) is that you press MEM to add the current channel to the scan list (or to remove it if already there), then SCAN to scan the list. And that Dual Watch will watch between the currently-selected channel and ch16.

I'm not totally sure how you do the "shift" to get the functions like DW, DIM or MEM instead of number 4, 5, or 9, but my first guess would be the M button as it has no other obvious purpose. I just can't think what M would stand for. Otherwise try things like holding the button down for a couple of seconds or a quick double-press.

I can't read the label over the 3 - maybe "SP"? - and I don't know what it would do.

So a very quick run through of functions:

VOL knob - turn on and adjust volume
SQ knob - squelch, turn left till you hear static, then right just enough for it to stop
CH16 - jump straight to Channel 16, the distress and calling channel that you should monitor when not doing anything else
UP / DWN - step through channels
HI/LO - Change transmission strength between 1 watt and 25 watts. Using 1 watt is like talking quietly to the person in the seat next to you, 25 watts is like standing up and shouting
SCAN - loop rapidly through several channels, stopping if anything interesting happens
M - my guess is that it's like a shift key, to enable the functions that are piggybacked on some of the number keys
DW - dual watch, like scan but only between ch16 and one other channel. Go to the other channel first, then press M then 4/DW and it will monitor ch16 as well.
DIM - make the display dimmer for use at night
MEM - save a channel into the scan list. To be honest I rarely use scanning even on my much fancier radio.
Numbers - jump straight to a particular channel.

Pete

 

[prv]

And an operator's certificate. Which is what PRV was referring to.
It is not free and is only issued after passing an exam/test.

I think Rob knows that - he was referring to Seajet saying "luckily we don't need ' ship radio licenses ' these days", which is obviously incorrect.

Pete

 

[Seajet]

Actually we don't need ship radio licenses now as in pay for and stick the plaque in the window so I rather think I was correct.

 

[prv]

Actually we don't need ship radio licenses now as in pay for and stick the plaque in the window so I rather think I was correct.

Actually we do still need ship radio licenses as in "Ship Radio Licenses", so I rather think you should stop digging



No, you don't need to stick it in the window any more, but that wasn't the question.

Pete

 

[Seajet]

Actually we do still need ship radio licenses as in "Ship Radio Licenses", so I rather think you should stop digging



No, you don't need to stick it in the window any more, but that wasn't the question.

Pete

Not as in any officialdom just a form, no payment so go dig yourself and go and find a proper subject.

 

[prv]

Not as in any officialdom just a form, no payment so go dig yourself and go and find a proper subject.

Pete

 

[alan17]

To remain legal fully complying with the regs!

 

[LadyInBed]

I think the M button might be 'Marina Channel' (37)

 

[prv]

I think the M button might be 'Marina Channel' (37)

Hmm, you could be right.

(Note to the OP: this is a misnomer, very few marinas use channel M nowadays. It's mostly used by sailing clubs, particularly to organise racing activities)

In that case I don't know how you "shift" to the functions on the number keys, maybe by holding them down?

Pete

 

[juliet64]

Thank you one and all i is my intention to sit the exams for radio use..... i just felt it would be useful to be able to operate the radio and yes it seems straight forward but there are some operations that are not obvious. and yes it is the model in to above pics only its new and still in its box but no manual.
i do however appreciate you help and advise.

Dave

 

[VicS]

My guess (and it may be wrong) is that you press MEM to add the current channel to the scan list (or to remove it if already there), then SCAN to scan the list. And that Dual Watch will watch between the currently-selected channel and ch16.

I'm not totally sure how you do the "shift" to get the functions like DW, DIM or MEM instead of number 4, 5, or 9, but my first guess would be the M button as it has no other obvious purpose. I just can't think what M would stand for. Otherwise try things like holding the button down for a couple of seconds or a quick double-press.

I can't read the label over the 3 - maybe "SP"? - and I don't know what it would do.

So a very quick run through of functions:

VOL knob - turn on and adjust volume
SQ knob - squelch, turn left till you hear static, then right just enough for it to stop
CH16 - jump straight to Channel 16, the distress and calling channel that you should monitor when not doing anything else
UP / DWN - step through channels
HI/LO - Change transmission strength between 1 watt and 25 watts. Using 1 watt is like talking quietly to the person in the seat next to you, 25 watts is like standing up and shouting
SCAN - loop rapidly through several channels, stopping if anything interesting happens
M - my guess is that it's like a shift key, to enable the functions that are piggybacked on some of the number keys
DW - dual watch, like scan but only between ch16 and one other channel. Go to the other channel first, then press M then 4/DW and it will monitor ch16 as well.
DIM - make the display dimmer for use at night
MEM - save a channel into the scan list. To be honest I rarely use scanning even on my much fancier radio.
Numbers - jump straight to a particular channel.

Pete

Hmm, you could be right.

(Note to the OP: this is a misnomer, very few marinas use channel M nowadays. It's mostly used by sailing clubs, particularly to organise racing activities)

In that case I don't know how you "shift" to the functions on the number keys, maybe by holding them down?

Pete

Pretty much agree

A single press ( maybe held briefly) on the 3, 4, 5, and 9 buttons will take you to the alternative function because there are no channels beginning with those numbers . Only 0, 1 2, 6, 7, and 8 are the first digits of channel numbers.

M - My guess will be direct access to Channel M1 (like my very old radio not programmed for M2)

Like you I cannot read the alternative function on the #3 button. Is it SP to mute the speaker.


It is very similar to the Seavoice (Seafarer) in the boat I used to crew.