B-Tech FRS-A1 User manual

Operating Manual

1
ATTENTION
BTECH FRS-A1 is a multi-tasking FRS transceiver that combines the latest technology in radio communication along with a
sturdy mechanical frame.
The FRS-A1 is designed in simplicity for all users. It works on all FRS channels with all bandwidths and privacy tones
supported. The FRS-A1 allows you to simultaneously monitor two different FRS channels at once. The FRS-A1 also includes a
flashlight, NOAA weather radio receiver, and an FM radio receiver. The FRS-A1 supports both computer and manual
programming. The FRS-A1 is compatible with Kenwood K1 2 Pin accessories and supports USB Type-C charging.
Please read all information carefully before using our products.
FCC RF EXPOSURE
WARNING! It is up to the user to properly operate this radio transmitter to insure safe operation. Do not use the radio
with a damaged antenna. If a damaged antenna comes into contact with the skin, a minor burn may occur.
Please contact your local dealer for a replacement antenna, if needed.
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Hand-Held Operation (Held-to-Face)
This device was evaluated for typical hand-held (held-to-face) operations with a 1 inch spacing from the front of the radio.
For hand-held operation, the radio should be held 1 inch from the user's face to comply with FCC RF exposure requirements.
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Body-Worn Operation
This device was evaluated for body-worn operations with the supplied belt-clip accessory. (All necessary accessories are
included in the package; any additional or optional accessories are not required for compliance with the guidelines.) Third
party accessories (unless approved by the manufacturer) should be avoided as these may not comply with FCC RF exposure
guidelines.

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For body-worn operation, this device has been tested and meets the Industry Canada RF exposure guidelines when used
with BTECH accessories supplied or designated for this product. Use of other accessories may not ensure compliance with
Industry Canada RF exposure guidelines.
FCCPART15
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FCC PART 15 COMPLIANCE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subjected to the two following conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void your authority to
operate the equipment.
PRECAUTIONSFORBATTERIES
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Charging Prohibitions
To protect you against any property loss, bodily injury or even death, be sure to observe the following safety instructions:
1. Do not charge or replace your battery in a location where fuels, chemicals, explosive atmospheres and other flammable
or explosive materials are present.
2. Do not charge your battery if it is wet. Dry it with a soft and clean cloth prior to charging it.
3. Do not charge your battery if it is suffering deformation, leakage and overheat.
4. Do not charge your battery with an unauthorized charger.
5. Do not charge your battery in a location where strong radiation is present.
6. Do not overcharge your battery as it may shorten the life of your battery.

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Maintenance Instructions
To help your battery work normally or prolong its life, be sure to observe the following instructions:
1. Accumulated dust on charging connector may affect normal charging. Please use a clean and dry cloth to wipe it on a
regular basis.
2. It is recommended to charge the battery between 5ᵒC ~ 40ᵒC. Violation of the said limit may cause battery life reduction
or even battery leakage.
3. To charge a battery attached to the product, turn it off to ensure a full charge.
4. Do not remove the battery or unplug the power cord during charging.
5. Do not dispose of the battery in a fire.
6. Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight for a long time or place it close to other heating sources.
7. Do not squeeze, penetrate the battery, or remove its case.
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Transportation Instructions
1. Damaged batteries must not be transported.
2. To avoid short circuiting, separate the battery from the metal bars or from each other, if two or more batteries are
transported in one packaging.
3. If the battery is not attached, the radio should be powered off
The content of the shipment must be declared in the shipping documents and by a battery shipping label on the packaging.
Contact your delivery service for the local regulations and further information.
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Precautions for Disposal
Once the service life of our products (including but not limited to radios and batteries) has ended, they shall not be disposed
as household garbage. Dispose of and recycle our products in accordance with your local regulations.

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MAINTENANCE
To be safe and sure:
Ь Never open your radio’s case.
Ь Never change or replace anything in your radio except the batteries.
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Care and Safety
Your FRS-A1 was designed to fulfill any warranty obligations and to enjoy for many years.
As for the device, we recommend you follow these suggestions:
• Do not attempt to open the unit. Non-expert handling of the unit may damage it and/or annul the warranty.
• When using regulated power supply, the power voltage must be 5V to avoid damages.
• High temperatures can shorten the life of electronic devices, and warp or melt certain plastics. Do not store the radio in
dusty or dirty areas.
• Keep the radio dry. Rainwater or dampness will corrode electronic circuits.
• If it appears that the radio has a peculiar smell or emits smoke, please shut off its power immediately and remove the charger
or battery from the radio.
• Do not transmit without an antenna attached.
• To clean the radio, use a soft, damp cloth. Do not use cleaners or solvents because they can harm the body of the unit and
leak inside, causing permanent damage.
• Use a dry, lint-free cloth to clean the battery contacts.
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Hazardous Environments
Do not operate the radio in hazardous environments as explosion or fire may occur. Do not operate the radio near unshielded
electrical blasting caps.

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Under certain conditions, radios can interfere with blasting operations and may cause an explosion. Turn your radio OFF to
prevent accidental transmission when in a blasting area or in areas posted: "Turn off two-way radio." Construction crews often
use remote control RF devices to set off explosives.
Read this information before using the radio. In August 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United
States with its action in Report and Order FCC 96-326 adopted an updated safety standard for human exposure to radio
frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by FCC regulated transmitters.
Those guidelines are consistent with the safety standard previously set by both U.S. and international standards bodies. The
design of the radio complies with the FCC guidelines and these international standards. Never allow children to operate the
radio without adult supervision and the knowledge of the following guidelines.
PACKAGECONTENTS
• 2 FRS-A1 transceivers • 2 Li-Ion battery packs (1500mAh 3.7V)
• 1 USB to AC Adaptor • 2 Belt clips
• 1 USB to Dual USB-C Cable • 2 Wrist straps
• 1 User manual • 2 Earpieces

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MAINFEATURES
• 22 FRS Channel transceiver (No license required) • Output power: 2W
• 10 Selectable call/call alerts • 7 Channel NOAA Weather Radio
• 260 Privacy codes (50 CTCSS Tones and 210 DCS Codes) • 1750Hz tone
• FM radio receiver (88-108MHz)
• Channel monitor, channel scan, dual watch functions • TOT (Time out timer)
OFF/30/60/90/120/150/180s
• CTCSS and DCS codes research • Busy channel lockout function (BCL)
• Voice Operated Switch/Voice Operated Exchange (VOX) • High/low power selection
• Frequency step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz • Squelch adjustable in 9 levels
• VOICE: Vocal indication of the function selected • Keypad lock
• Low battery voice indicator • Battery Saver
• LED Flashlight • Supports USB (Type-C) charging
• Li-Ion 1500mAh battery pack • 2 Pin Kenwood accessory jack
• Up to 8-mile range*
*Range may vary depending on environmental and/or topographical conditions.
*NOAA and FM radio receiver(88-108MHz) with FCC sDOC.

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AbouttheRange
Your FRS-A1 Series radio is designed to give you maximum range under optimum conditions.
• Maximum Range: Little to no sight obstruction.
• Medium Range: Partial obstruction to the line of sight.
• Short Range: Major obstruction to line of sight.
Optimum Conditions are:
• Over water
• Open, rural areas without obstructions
• Flat areas where you can see the other person
To ensure you get maximum range:
• Be sure to use fresh or fully charged batteries - low batteries will cause low power conditions.
• Be sure to set your radio to use high power.
Note: Channels 8 through 14 are only permitted to be used using the low power setting, in accordance
with the FCC.

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MAINCONTROLSANDPARTSOFTHERADIO


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LCDDISPLAY

1. Call Tone (Off, 1–20) 10. Narrowband Indicator (working at 12.5KHz)
2. VOXδOFF,1-5ε 11.CTC Indicatorδ67.0-254.1ε
3. Dual Channel MonitorδON/OFFε 12.DCS IndicatorδD023I/N-D754I/Nε
4. Keypad Lock 13. Battery Indicator (3 Battery Levels)
5. A Channel Number (1-22) or menu number (1-
17)
14. The last two digits of RX/TX frequency (4-5 digits
after the decimal point)
6. A Channel Arrow Pointer 15. Frequency/Channel Alias Display Area
7. B Channel Number (1-22) 16. The last two digits of RX/TX frequency (4-5 digits
after the decimal point)
8. B Channel Arrow Pointer 17. Transmit Power Indicator (half grid for low power,
full grid for high power)
9. Low Power Indication 18. Status (Transmit/ Receive)

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CHARGINGTHERADIO
Your radio includes USB charging cables (with AC adaptor) and battery packs. Follow these instructions to
recharge your radio.
Make sure to turn the radio OFF before placing the radio in the charging cradle.
1) Plug the Type-C USB cable into the Type-C USB charging port on your radio. Connect the other end of
the Type-C USB cable into a USB plug or use the AC/USB transformer to connect it to an AC outlet.
2) The LED will illuminate red while charging, and will illuminate green when fully charged
Note:
• Use only the supplied battery and AC adapter or approved accessories from BTECH.
• Charge time may vary depending on the remaining battery life at the start of charge.
• The battery must be installed for the unit to operate, even if the unit is also connected to external power.
• If battery power is low, you cannot operate the radio even using external power. Allow the battery to
charge before using. If you try to transmit while power is low, the radio will automatically turn off.
• For fastest charging, turn off the radio before charging.

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BASICOPERATIONS
Turning Your Radio On and Off
To turn your radio ON, turn the rotary knob clockwise until you feel the knob click.
To turn your radio OFF, turn the rotary knob counterclockwise until you feel the knob click.
Setting the Volume
Increase volume by turning the rotary knob clockwise.
To decrease volume, turn the rotary knob counterclockwise.
Do not hold the radio close to your ear. If the volume is set to an uncomfortable level, it could hurt your
ear.
Choosing a Channel
Your radio has 22 FRS channels and 260 privacy codes you can use to talk to others. In order to speak to
someone, both your radios must be set to the same channel and privacy code.
Press [c] to move up one channel at a time.
Press [d] to move down one channel at a time.
When choosing a privacy code, if you press and hold down the [c] or [d] key, it will allow you to scroll
more quickly through them.

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Note: privacy codes do not keep conversations private; a better term may be ‘filter’. Adding privacy
codes will filter out calls to only hear calls with the matching ‘privacy code’. Privacy codes enable
multiple groups to share the same channel, by using a privacy code to only hear their own group’s
conversations. The FRS-A1 will indicate if the channel is in use, even if you do not hear the traffic - the
LED will illuminate green on the FRS-A1 to indicate that there is activity on the channel. You can hear
all channel activity by holding the [MONI] button to open the squelch and hear all traffic.
Talking and Listening
All radios in your group must be set to the same channel and Privacy Code in order to communicate.
1. Hold your radio 2–3 cm from your mouth.
2. Press and hold the [PTT] key while speaking. The Transmit TX- - - icon appears on the display.
3. Release the [PTT] key. You can now receive incoming calls. When you do, the Receive RX- - - icon
appears on the display.
For maximum clarity, hold the radio 2 to 3 cm away and avoid covering the microphone while talking.
A/B channel selection
In standby mode, press and hold cd key to switch A/B channel. Arrows point to transmit channel.

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SCAN
Your FRS-A1 can scan all 22 channels for activity. Press and hold the [SCAN] key to begin scanning. Repeat
the same procedure to stop scanning.
Your radio will rapidly scan each of the 22 channels and stop on any active channel. Your radio will resume
scanning after 4 seconds when the channel is no longer active.
When you press the [PTT] key to transmit on an active channel, the scanning function will stop, and you
will remain on that channel. To initiate scanning again, press the [SCAN] key again.
NOTE: You can change the direction of scanning (increase channel numbers or decreasing channel
numbers) by tapping corresponding c
c
/
d
key.
Scanning for Privacy Codes
Your FRS-A1 can scan to find the matching tone from another radio if you do not know the tone being
used. First select the same FRS channel from the other radio to match the FRS-A1. The green light will
illuminate on the FRS-A1 if the channel is active and correct. To find the matching tone, go to Menu 01,
(RXCODE) and enter the submenu by pressing the [MENU] key. Transmit on the other radio with the
unknown tone. Your FRS-A1 LED will illuminate green to confirm an active channel is being received. Press
the [SCAN] key while the FRS-A1 is actively receiving from the other radio. The FRS-A1 will begin scanning
through the active tones and will stop on the matching tone once found.
NOTE: The radio will only scan for tones while there is activity on the channel. You must ensure that
you are on the active channel and the channel is actively receiving to begin scanning for the matching

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tone.
Monitor
Pressing and holding the [MONI] key will let you hear noise so you can adjust the volume level of the
radio when not receiving a signal. This should be used to check activity on your current channel before
transmitting.
This will hear all traffic on the channel regardless of the privacy tone used.
Using the Monitor button will hear all traffic on the channel. Holding the [MONI] key will open the squelch
and will hear all traffic no matter what privacy tones you have enabled.
Keypad lock
This function locks the keypad to prevent accidental pressing of the controls.
To avoid accidentally changing the radio setting, press the key for 2 seconds. The icon will
appear on the display. PTT, LAMP, MONITOR, and FM Radio keys will still be active. Repeat the same
procedure to unlock the keypad.
Flashlight
This function is very useful for night illumination.
To turn it on press [LAMP]; push it two times to change the flashlight to a strobe light; push it a third
time to turn it off.

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FM Radio (FM)
The frequency range to listen to the radio is 87-108MHz.
With FRS-A1 turned on, Press [FM] to turn on the radio. Select the desired
radio frequency with the [c
c
]/ [
d
] keys. Press the [SCAN] key or hold the
c/d keys to automatically search for radio channels. Press [FM] to exit FM
radio.
NOAA Weather Radio
Your radio can receive weather broadcasts from the NOAA National Weather
Service.
While using the Weather Radio, you are not able to receive FRS
communications.
1. To turn on the Weather Radio Broadcast mode, the [WX] key.
appears.
2. Press [
c
]/ [
d
] to select the desired weather channel.
3. To exit the Weather Radio Broadcast mode, press [WX]. disappears.
NOTE: There are 7 NOAA channel frequencies available, and these frequencies are the 7 NOAA
nationwide broadcasts. You will need to pick the channel with the strongest reception in your area.
You can press the [SCAN} key to scan for an active channel; this, however, will make the /‚ keys
inactive. Once you have connected to an active channel or you wish to stop scanning just press the

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[SCAN] key again, and that will exit the scanning function.
NOAA Weather Radio Frequency List:
Chan. Freq.
(MHz)
Chan. Freq.
(MHz)
WEATHER CH01 162.550 WEATHER CH05 162.450
WEATHER CH02 162.400 WEATHER CH06 162.500
WEATHER CH03 162.475 WEATHER CH07 162.525
WEATHER CH04 162.425 --- ---
1000Hz, 1450Hz, 1750Hz Tone Burst
To send out a tone burst; you simultaneously press the designated key while holding down the PTT key.
No further configuration is required to use this feature.
The following configurations will transmit accordingly:
• [PTT] + [FM] = Transmits 1450Hz Tone Burst
• [PTT] + [MONI] = Transmits 1750Hz Tone Burst
• [PTT] + [] = Transmits 2100Hz Tone Burst
If you have the keypad lock enabled on your radio, you can still send a 1750Hz tone burst the regular
way without having to unlock your radio.

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WORKINGTHEMENUSYSTEM
Basic Use
Using the menu with arrow keys
1. Press the [MENU] key to enter the menu.
2. Use the [c] and [d] keys to navigate between menu items.
3. Once you find the desired menu item, press [MENU] again to select that menu item.
4. Use the [c] and [d] keys to select the desired parameter.
5. When you've selected the parameter you want to set for a given menu item:
a). Press [MENU] to confirm your selection, and it will save your setting and bring you back to the main
menu.
b). Press [WX] to cancel your changes, and it will reset that menu item and bring you out of the menu
entirely.
6. To exit the menu at any time, press the [PTT] key.

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ShortcutMenuoperations
MEN
U
No.
Name
(Full Name) LCD display Selectable
1 RXCODE
- Receiver Privacy Codes
OFF;67.0…D754N
The Privacy Codes is OFF, and the display is OFF.
When the display is OFF, press c key to select CTCSS
with priority;
When the display is OFF, press d key to select DCS
with priority.
2
TXCODE
-Transmitter Privacy
Codes
OFF;67.0…D754N
The Privacy Codes is off, and the display is OFF.
When the display is OFF, press c key to select CTCSS
with priority;
When the display is OFF, press d key to select DCS
with priority.
3 SQL
- Squelch Level
0-9 Levels
0: Lowest
9: Highest

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4 LIGHT
- Back Light
OFF
ON
KEY
5 BEEP
- Keypad Beep
OFF
ON
*Allows audible confirmation of a key press.
6 VOX - VOX
OFF will turn off VOX function.
1: Lowest Sensitivity
5: Highest Sensitivity
7 TXP
-Transmit Power
HIGH - high power transmission;
LOW - low power transmission.
*When set to low power, the screen will display the ‘L’
icon.
8 TDR – Dual Watch
Operation
OFF
ON
*Monitor [A] and [B] at the same time. Activate the
dual watch, and the screen will display the ‘S’ icon.