Uniden Solara Dsc Vhf Marine Radio Owners Manual

							9
Installing the SOLARA DSC
After you have carefully considered the various factors affecting your
choice of location, position the radio (with the bracket, microphone,
power cord, antenna and any auxiliary cables installed) into the selected
location to assure there is no interference with the surrounding items.  
Mark the location of the mounting bracket.  Remove the bracket from the
radio and use it as a template to mark the holes to be drilled for the
mounting hardware.  Drill the holes and mount the bracket with
hardware compatible with the material of the mounting surface.
Note: This HEXAGON HEAD BOLT is
only for mounting the bracket
with hardware. Do not use it for
installing the radio in the
mounting bracket.
Connect the red wire of the supplied power cord to the positive (+)
battery supply.  Connect the black wire of the power cord to the negative
(–) battery supply.  The power cord is equipped with a fuse to protect the
radio.  Use only a six (6) ampere fast blow fuse for replacement.
Connect the power cord to the keyed connector on the power pigtail.
Connect the antenna and accessories. Install the radio in the mounting
bracket and connect all cables and accessories to the appropriate jacks
and connectors.
Note: Do not use any other mounting
knobs than the ones enclosed.
Do not insert the knobs without
attaching the bracket. 
						

							10
POWER On/Off
Turn the unit On by rotating the PWR/VOL
control clockwise. 
Adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
When you turn the unit On, you will hear a
beep.
Note:When you turn On the radio for the first time after purchase,
the channel 16 will appear on the LCD.
Operation
Last Channel Memory
The SOLARA DSCmemorizes the last channel selected before you turn
Off the radio. For example, if you turn Off the radio on CH 12, the CH 12
will be on that channel when turned back On.
Note:In order for the last channel to be memorized, you must have
the radio on that channel for 3 seconds. 
						

							11
Turn SQUELCHfully clockwise.  This raises the “Squelch Gate” so high
that only very strong signals can get through.
Turn 
SQUELCHfully counterclockwise until you hear a hiss. This lowers
the “Squelch Gate” so that everything gets through - noise, weak
signals, and strong signals.
Turn 
SQUELCHback clockwise until the hiss stops. Now the “Squelch
Gate” allows strong, medium, and weak signals through.
Strong Signals
Medium Signals
Weak Signals
Noise
Strong Signals
Medium Signals
Weak Signals
Noise
Strong Signals
Medium Signals
Weak Signals
Noise
SQUELCH 
						

							12
WEATHER CHANNELS
To select Weather Channels 0-9, press
WX/ALERT/UIC.  The radio will go to the last
selected Weather Channel.  Press 
CHor 
to select a different Weather Channel.  Most
areas of the US are covered by Weather
Channels 1,2, and 3.
To exit from Weather Channel: 
Press WX/ALERT/UIC.  The radio returns to the previous Marine
channel.
SELECTING A CHANNEL
To manually select a channel, press CH or . Communication
channels are located on channel 01-28 and 60-88. Weather channels
are located on channels WX 0-9.
Note:In the US, the Coast Guard may refer to Channels 21, 22, 23
etc. as 21 alpha, 22 alpha, etc. The SOLARA shows these
channels in the USA mode as channel 21, 22, 23, etc.
COAST GUARD CHANNEL 16/CHANNEL 9 COMMUNICATIONS
To access Coast Guard Channel 16 or Channel 9 communications,
press 
16/9.  You can access Coast Guard 16 CH instantly while tuned to
another channel.  Press 
16/9again for Channel 9 Calling
communications.  Press 
16/9a third time to return to the channel
selected prior to accessing Coast Guard Channel 16/Channel 9
communications.  
The display will indicate the selected channel.
To cancel Coast Guard Channel
16/Channel 9 communications:
Press 16/9until the previous channel
setting appears.
--or--
Press WX/ALERT/UICor CH, . 
						

							13
Weather Alert
The Weather Alert mode can be activated to alert you of dangerous
weather. When Weather Alert is turned On, and a warning signal is
received, an emergency siren will sound. When the signal stops, you will
hear the active weather channel broadcast at the normal volume.
Your radio’s Weather Alert feature lets it monitor the local weather
channel for NOAA weather alert broadcasts, while allowing you to listen
to other channels.
All Channel Scan
To turn Scan On, press and hold HI/LO/SCAN/UICfor 2 seconds.
To turn Alert Scan On, press and hold 
WX/ALERT/UICfor 2 seconds.
While all channels are scanned, WX CH is scanned every 7 seconds.
ALERTappears on the LCD.
1. Press and hold 
WX/ALERT/UICfor 2
seconds when WX ALERT is Off. 
The radio turns the WX ALERT On and
the 
ALERTappears.
2. If the radio receives a 1050Hz tone, the
ALERTand channel number will blink
every other second and the alert tone
will ring.
3. When a WX ALERT signal is received,
all other functions are canceled and the
radio remains on the selected weather
channel.
When the radio is in All Channel Scan mode, scanning the
weather channel every 7 seconds.
In order to stop the alert press any key.  If you press any key
once more, the 
ALERTdisappears. The 
ALERTindicates the Weather Alert mode is activated.  To activate
the Weather Alert mode: 
						

							14
SETTING THE TRANSMIT (TX) POWER
The SOLARA DSCtransmits on fifty-six marine frequencies and 
receives on eighty-one marine frequencies. Channel 70 of the USA,
International, and Canadian frequencies, and channel 15 of the USA
frequencies, and WX CH – are for receiving only.  The radio transmits
on channel 70 when sending DSC information.  Your radio will not
transmit on these channels.  For your reference, a listing of all the
available marine channels are located on pages 22 - 24.
Caution:It is important to remember to use the LO position in port or
for short range communications.
1. When you turn the radio On for the first
time, the unit is automatically set to
transmit at 25 watts (HI).
2. Press 
HI/LO/SCAN/UICto change the
transmitter output to 1 watt (LO).
3. Press 
HI/LO/SCAN/UICagain to
change back to 25 watts (HI).
Note:A short tone sounds everytime you press the
HI/LO/SCAN/UIC. CH13 is 1 watt (LO) channel. When the
channel is LO power channel, you can transmit at 25 watts (HI)
by pressing 
HI/LO/SCAN/UICduring the call. LO power
channels are USA Channels 13, 67, 75, 76; Canadian
Channels 13, 15, 17, 20; . 
Use low transmit power in harbors or when close to the
receiving station.You can not change the transmit power
setting on channels which are receive-only channels: all
weather channels; USA Channels 15, 70; Canadian Channel
70; International Channel 70. 
						

							15
RECOMMENDED EMERGENCY BROADCAST INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make sure your radio is on.
2. Tune to channel 16.
3. Press the microphone button and, speaking slowly – clearly –
calmly, say: 
a. MAYDAY– MAYDAY– MAYDAY for situations involving 
Immediate Danger to Life and Property: or
b. PAN – PAN – PAN for urgent situations where there in No 
Immediate Danger to Life or Property.
4. Say: THIS IS (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S
NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL’S CALL
SIGN), OVER.
5. Release the microphone button briefly and listen for
acknowledgement. If no one answers, repeat steps 3 & 4.
6. If there is no acknowledgement, or if the Coast Guard or another
vessel responds, say: MAYDAY or PAN (INSERT VESSEL’S
NAME).
7. DESCRIBE YOUR POSITION using latitude and Longitude
coordinates, LORAN coordinates, or range and bearing from a
known point.
8. STATE THE NATURE OF THE DISTRESS.
9. GIVE NUMBER OF PERSONS ABOARD AND THE NATURE OF
ANY INJURIES.
10. ESTIMATE THE PRESENT SEA-WORTHINESS OF YOUR
VESSEL.
11. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR VESSEL: (INSERT LENGTH,
COLOR, HULL TYPE, TRIM, MASTS, POWER, AND ANY
ADDITIONAL DISTINGUISHING FEATURES).
12. Say: I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16/21/82.
13. End message by saying: THIS IS (INSERT VESSEL’S NAME &
CALL SIGN).
14. If your situation permits, standby the radio to await further
communications with the Coast Guard or another vessel. If no
answer, repeat, then try another channel. 
						

							16
DISTRESS
Note: You must set the user MMSI in
order to send a Distress call.
Please see page 20 to set the
MMSI.
This feature will allow you to transmit a Distress call.
1. In order to transmit a Distress call,
press and hold 
DISTRESSfor 5
seconds. When 
DSCappears on the
display, press 
SELECTto send the
Distress call.
2. The Distress call is transmitted and it
waits for about 210 - 270 seconds for
an acknowledgement from the Coast
Guard before the Distress call is resent.
After the Distress call has been sent,
the Distress alert will sound every other
second. The radio will automatically
change to channel 16, and it also
watches channel 70 in the background
until an acknowledgement signal is
received from the Coast Guard shore
station.
To cancel the Distress call, press 
16/9.
3. If an acknowledgment is not received,
the Distress call is repeated until an
acknowledgment is received from the
Coast Guard shore station. 
						

							17
3. Select the individual you want to contact using CHand to
select the number from 0 to 9. The number will be entered when
SELECTis pressed, and blinking digit moves to the next digit.
When you enter the last digit, the confirmation screen appears. 
Press 
SELECTto transmit the individual DSC signal.
DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC)
Digital Selective Calling is the latest in Marine Radio technology. DSC is
a process of establishing a radio call and has been chosen by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) as an international standard
for establishing VHF, MF and HF radio calls. Digital Selective Calling
has also been selected as part of the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System (GMDSS).
This service will let you instantly send a Distress call with GPS position
(when optional GPS receiver is connected to the 
SOLARA DSC) to the
US Coast Guard and other vessels within range of the transmission. 
DSC will also let you initiate or receive distress, urgency, safety, position
information and routine calls to or from another vessel outfitted with a
DSC transceiver.
INDIVIDUAL
This feature allows the user to contact another boat and to automatically
switch the receiving DSC radio to desired channel.
1. Press 
DSC.
2. appears.
Press 
SELECT. 
						

							18
ALL SHIPS
This radio has the ability to send 3 types of all ships calls. The following
are examples of what these types of calls would be used for:
Urgency- This call is for a vessel not yet in Distress, but may have a
serious problem.
Safety- This call is used for a reason like debris in the Water.
Routine- This call is used for normal calls.
1. Press 
DSC.
2. Press 
CHor CHto select 
(ALL SHIPS).
3. Press 
SELECT. (URGENCY)
appears.