Garmin VHF 115-215 Marine Radio User Manual

Garmin VHF 115-215 Marine Radio

Introduction

WARNING

See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and other important information.

Radio Overview

1. DISTRESS Lift the door and press to send a DSC distress call with a programmed MMSI number.
2. VOL/SQ Press the dial to switch between volume or squelch. Rotate the dial to adjust the volume or squelch level.
3. Select the key that corresponds to the on-screen item to select the item.
4. SELECT On the home screen, rotate the dial to change the channel. On the home screen, press the dial to toggle weather channels. Rotate the dial to highlight an item in a list. Press the dial to select an item.

Handset Overview

1. PTT: Hold to broadcast.
2. Up or down: Select to change the channel on the radio.
3. North America: 16/9, International: 16+ Select to toggle between preset channels.

Home Screen

1. Radio system status, settings, and alerts
2. International, Canadian, or USA frequency band
3. Latitude 1
4. Longitude 1
5. Time 1
6. Speed over ground (SOG) or course over ground (COG) 2
7. Soft-key functions change depending on your current activity
8. Working channel

Basic Operation

Turning the Device On and Off

Hold PWR.

TIP: You can set the device to turn on automatically.

Adjusting the Radio Volume

1. Set the squelch level to MIN before you adjust the radio volume (optional).
2. Turn the VOL/SQ dial to increase or decrease the radio volume.

Adjusting the Squelch Level

You can adjust the sensitivity level of the squelch to filter out background noise. When you increase the squelch level, you hear fewer weak background signals when you are receiving.

1. Press the VOL/SQ dial. SQUELCH appears on the screen.
2. Turn the VOL/SQ dial counterclockwise until you hear audio.
3. Turn the VOL/SQ dial clockwise until there is no background noise.

Selecting the Frequency Band

You can switch between the USA, International, or Canadian frequency bands.

NOTE: The VHF 115i/215i radio may need a software update to access the USA and Canada bands. Visit garmin.com/support/software/marine for information on updating the software on your radio.

1. Select MENU > CHANNEL > FREQUENCY BAND.
2. Select a frequency band.

Selecting a Channel

You can select an International, Canadian, or USA channel.

Select an option:

• To select a channel on the device, turn the SELECT dial.
• To select a channel on the handset, select up or down.

Transmitting with the Radio

1. Select an appropriate channel.
2. Verify that the channel is clear. NOTE: You cannot obstruct the communications of other people due to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and international guidelines.
3. Hold PTT on the handset. TX appears at the top of the screen.
4. Speak into the handset. NOTE: Five minutes is the maximum time allowed for transmission. After five minutes of transmitting, PTT is disabled until you release PTT.
5. Release PTT.

Calling a GHS™ 11 Handset

If you connect a GHS 11 handset (not included) to your radio, you can use the intercom feature to communicate between the radio and the GHS 11 handset.

NOTE: The intercom feature is available only on VHF 215/215i radio models.

1. Select PA > INTERCM.
2. Rotate the dial on the handset to select an intercom station to call and select SELECT.
3. Hold PTT and speak into the handset.

To end the call, select EXIT.

Scanning and Saving Channels

Scanning All Channels

When you scan channels, the radio searches for channels that are broadcasting. When a channel is broadcasting, the radio pauses on that channel until the broadcast stops. After four seconds of inactivity on a channel, the radio resumes scanning.

NOTE: When you turn on the ATIS (Automatic Transmitter Identification System, page 20), the radio does not scan or save channels.

1. Select SCAN > ALL.
2. Select an option:

• To exclude the currently active channel from subsequent passes and resume scanning, select SKIP.
• To scan channel 16 each time another channel is scanned, select +CH16. For example, the radio scans channel 21, channel 16, channel 22, channel 16, and so on.

+CH16 appears on the device screen.

• To scan channel 16 in its usual order, select -CH16. For example, the radio scans channel 14, channel 15, channel 16, channel 17, and so on.
• To end the scan, select EXIT.

The radio stops scanning and tunes to the last used, active channel.

Saving a Channel

You can save any channel except the weather (WX) channels. You can save an unlimited number of channels.

1. Select SCAN.
2. Turn the SELECT dial until you find the channel you want to save.
3. Select SAV CH.

The star symbol appears above a saved channel.

Removing a Saved Channel

1. Select SCAN.
2. Turn the SELECT dial until you find a saved channel. NOTE: A saved channel has a star above it.
3. Select SAV CH.

Scanning Saved Channels

You can scan only the channels you have saved. When a saved channel is broadcasting, the radio pauses on that channel until the broadcast stops. After four seconds of inactivity on a channel, the radio resumes scanning.

NOTE: When you turn on the ATIS, the radio does not scan or save channels.

1. Select SCAN > SAVED.
2. Select an option:

• To exclude the currently active channel from subsequent passes and resume scanning, select SKIP.
• To scan channel 16 each time another saved channel is scanned, select +CH16. For example, the radio scans saved channel 21, channel 16, saved channel 25, channel 16, and so on.

+CH16 appears on the device screen.

• To stop scanning channel 16, select -CH16. For example, the radio scans saved channel 21, saved channel 25, and so on.
• To end the scan, select EXIT.

The radio stops scanning and tunes to the last used active channel.

Multiple Channel Monitoring

Before you can monitor multiple channels, you must turn off ATIS.

You can monitor priority channels and the currently selected channel for broadcasting activity. Channel 16 is the first-priority channel on your radio. Channel 9 is the default second-priority channel. You can program a different channel as your second-priority channel.

NOTE: After responding to a call or transmitting on the currently selected channel, you must repeat the steps to resume monitoring multiple channels.

Monitoring Two Channels

You can monitor your current channel and channel 16 at the same time.

Select WATCH > DUAL.

DUAL WATCH and the channels you are monitoring appear on the screen. For example, DUAL WATCH CH:, and 16 + 9.

Monitoring Three Channels

You can monitor your current channel, channel 16, and your second-priority channel at the same time.

Select WATCH > TRI.

TRI WATCH, your current channel, channel 16, and your second-priority channel appear on the screen. For example, TRI WATCH CH:, and 75 + 16 + 9.

Selecting a Different Second-Priority Channel

You can select a channel other than channel 9 as your second-priority channel.

• Select MENU > CHANNEL > 2ND PRIORITY.
• Select an option:

1. On the radio, turn the SELECT dial to the preferred channel.
2. On the handset, select up or down to find the preferred channel.

• Select OK.

Switching to Priority Channels

You can quickly switch between your current working channel and a priority channel. When you change to a priority channel, the transmit power is set to high (25 W) automatically, and when you change back to your current channel, the transmit-power setting is restored.

On North American models, you can quickly switch between channel 16, your second-priority channel, and your original channel using the 16/9 key.

On International models, you can quickly switch between channel 16 and your original channel using the 16+
key.

1. To switch from your current channel to channel 16, select 16/9 or 16+.bThe transmit power changes to high (25 W) automatically. You can select HI/LO > 1W to change the transmit power to low (1 W).
2. On North American models, select 16/9 to switch to your second-priority channel.
3. Select 16/9 or 16+ to return to your previous channel and transmit-power setting.

Placing Calls

Placing Individual Calls

• Select DSC > INDIVIDUAL.
• Select an option:

1. To enter the MMSI number manually, select MANUAL, enter the MMSI number, and select ACCEPT.
2. To select an entry from the directory, select DIRECTORY and select an entry.
3. To select a recent call, select RECENT CALLS.

• Select a channel. The radio transmits the request with your call.
• Select CALL.

The radio transmits the call on channel 70 and returns to the previous channel while listening for an acknowledgment on channel 70. After an acknowledgment is received, the radio changes to the channel you selected for the call.

Placing Group Calls

Before you can place a call to a group, you must enter the MMSI number of the group into the directory.

You can contact a group of specific vessels, such as a sailing club or flotilla, by making a group call.

1. Select DSC > GROUP > CALL.
2. Select a saved group.
3. Select a channel. The radio transmits the channel request with your call.
4. Select CALL.

The radio transmits the call on channel 70, then changes to the selected channel.

Individual Call or Group Call Channels

When placing an individual or group call, you should select from designated DSC channels. The radio transmits this request with your call.

• USA: channels 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 17, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, and 77.
• Canada and International: all USA channels, plus channel 15

DSC channels are limited to channels that are available in all frequency bands. You can select CUSTOM to select a channel that is not listed. If you select a custom channel, the station you are calling may not be able to comply with the specified channel. You should select a channel that is appropriate for communication.

Placing All-Ships Calls

All-ships calls are transmitted to all stations within receiving distance of your radio. You can make two types of all-ships calls. Safety calls broadcast significant navigational or weather-related information. Urgency calls communicate situations about the safety of a vessel or person when danger is not imminent. The captain should discern whether a situation warrants a safety call or an urgency call.

1. Select DSC > ALL SHIPS.
2. Select SAFETY or URGENCY.
3. Select a channel. The radio transmits the channel request with your call.
4. Select CALL.

The radio transmits the call on channel 70, then changes to the selected channel.

Requesting a Vessel’s Position

Position data received from stations that respond to position request calls is sent over the NMEA network. You can track the vessels on your Garmin chartplotter.

• Select DSC > POS. REQUEST.
• Select an option:

1. To enter the MMSI number manually, select MANUAL, enter the MMSI number, and select ACCEPT.
2. To select an entry from the directory, select DIRECTORY and select an entry.

• Select CALL.

The radio transmits the call on channel 70 and returns to the previous channel. WAITING FOR ACKNOWLEDGE appears on the screen.

Receiving Calls

Receiving Distress Calls and Distress Relay Calls

When receiving a distress call or a distress relay call, DISTRESS or DISTR RELAY, information about the call, such as MMSI number and the nature of the distress, appear on the radio screen. A distress call is sent from a vessel in need of assistance, and a distress relay call is sent from either another vessel or a station on behalf of a vessel in need of assistance.

The radio sends data related to the call over the NMEA network based on how you configure MMSI filters.

NOTE: When a distress call is received, the radio switches to channel 16 automatically after ten seconds.

When a distress call is received, select an option:

• To view additional information about the distress call and switch to channel 16, select down.
• To accept the distress call and switch to channel 16, select OK.
• To review information about the distress call without switching to channel 16 automatically, select PAUSE.
• To ignore the distress call and stay on the current channel, press CLEAR.

Receiving All-Ships Urgency and Safety Calls

When you receive an all-ships urgency or safety call, ALL SHIPS appears on the screen, and URGENCY or SAFETY appears as the type of call. If the channel request is for an invalid channel, INVALID CH REQUEST appears on the screen.

NOTE: When an all-ships call is received, the radio switches to the requested channel automatically after ten seconds.

When an urgency or safety call is received, select an option:

• To view additional information about the call and switch to the requested channel, select down.
• To accept the call and switch to the requested channel, select OK.
• To review information about the call without switching to the requested channel automatically, select PAUSE.
• To ignore the call and stay on the current channel, press CLEAR.

DSC Settings

Manual Position Information

If you do not have a GPS device connected to your radio, you can manually enter your position and time of entry. The position data is transmitted with DSC calls. When you enter the position and time manually, MANUAL POS appears on the screen.

Manually entered position information must be updated regularly, and the radio displays two alerts to remind you to update the position data.

• When the position data you entered manually is more than four hours old, DATA IS OVER 4 HOURS OLD appears on the screen. The radio continues to transmit this position data, but you should update it before it becomes invalid.
• When the position data you entered manually is more than 23.5 hours old, it is considered invalid, and DATA IS INVALID appears on the screen. The radio does not transmit invalid position data, and you should update it immediately.

Entering Position Information Manually

1. Select MENU > SYSTEM > MANUAL GPS.
2. Enter your current coordinates and the present time.
3. Select ACCEPT.

Changing the Channel to 16 Automatically

By default, the radio changes to channel 16 automatically when receiving distress, distress relay, and all-ships urgency calls. In certain situations, when you must continually monitor a channel to maintain uninterrupted communication with another vessel, for example, you can disable this feature.

1. Select MENU > DSC > AUTO CHANGE CH..
2. Select an option:

• To set the radio to switch automatically to channel 16 when you receive a qualifying call, select ON.
• To set the radio to prompt you to accept or decline a channel change when you receive a qualifying call, select OFF.

Sending Automatic Replies

You can configure the radio to automatically respond to incoming calls, including position requests.

NOTE: When you configure the radio to automatically respond to incoming calls, the radio also changes the channel automatically for all incoming individual calls.

1. Select MENU > DSC > INDIV REPLY.
2. Select an option:

• To send automatic replies, select AUTO.
• To send replies manually, select MANUAL.

Specification

Cleaning the Outer Casing

NOTICE

Avoid chemical cleaners and solvents that can damage plastic components.

1. Clean the outer casing of the device (not the screen) using a cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution.
2. Wipe the device dry.

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Garmin VHF 115-215 Marine Radio-FAQs