Black Box Bantam Series User manual

Contents
Safety Matters .................................... 3
Unpack and Check ............................... 4
Getting Aquainted.............................. 5-6
Battery Information.............................. 7
Antenna Information............................ 8
Belt Clip Information........................... 8
Earphone/Microphone Information ..... 9
Strap Information................................. 9
Radio Overview.................................. 10-12
Basic Operation.................................. 13
Turn On/Off ......................................... 13
Adjust Volume...................................... 13
Select Channel ..................................... 14
Make Call............................................. 14
Receive Call......................................... 14
Auxiliary Functions ........................... 15
PC Programming.................................. 15
Programmable Key Settings ................ 16-18
Other Function Settings ....................... 19-22
Specication......................................... 23
Technical Terms ................................... 24
Warranty............................................... 25
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Safety
Please read the warnings below. Failure to obey these warnings may cause danger or violation of the law.
•Usethisradioincompliancewithlocalgovernmentregulations.
•Pleaseturnofftheradiobeforeenteringapotentiallyexplosiveorammableenvironment.
•Donotreplaceorchargebatterypackinapotentiallyexplosiveorammableenvironment.
•Turnofftheradiobeforeapproachingablastareaordetonatorarea.
•Donotuseiftheantennaisdamaged.Damagedantennasmaycauseburns.
•Onlyqualiedtechniciansarepermittedtodomaintenanceonthistwowayradio.Donotdisassembletheradio.
•Toavoidproblemscausedbyelectromagneticinterferenceorelectromagneticcompatibility,pleaseturnoffthe
 radioinplaceswithaWirelessCommunicationTransmitEquipmentProhibitedsignposted,suchashospitalsor
 healthcarefacilities.Wheninaplane,turnofftheradioifrequired.
•Donotputtheradiowithinthepossiblerangeofanairbaginavehicle.
•Donotexposetheradiotodirectsunlightornearheatingdevicesforalongperiodoftime.
•Keeptheradioverticalandspeaknearthemicrophoneduringtransmission.
•Ifyoucarrytheradioonyourbody,pleasekeeptheantenna1inch(2.5cm)awayfromyourbodywhen 
transmitting.
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Unpack and Check
Beforeuse,werecommendthatyoucheckthepackingandidentifytheitemslistedbelow.Ifanydamagehas
occurredduringshipment,pleasecontactyourlocaldealer.
Items Radio Antenna Battery Charger w/adaptor Adaptor Belt Clip Strap Warranty Card
Quantity 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Note:Forfrequencybandofantenna,pleaserefertothelabelonthebottomoftheantenna.
Optionalaccessoriesareavailabletomeetyourrequirements.UsegenuineBlackbox™Bantam®accessoriesto
ensure clear communication and outstanding performance.
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Get Acquainted
Battery Information
Applicable Battery Model:
PleasechargewithBlackbox™Bantam®brandedbatterycharger;Chargingwithothertypesofbatterychargers
maycauseexplosion,personalinjuryordamagetotheradio.
Note:
1.Donotshort-circuitthebatteryterminalsordisposeofthebatteryinare.Donotdisassemblethebattery
casing.
2.Chargingshouldbedonebetween0°C~45°C.Iftemperatureisoutsidethisrange,thebatterymaynotcharge
fully.
3. Please turn off the radio before charging.
4.Donotunplugtheadapterorremovethebatteryduringcharging.Thiswillinterferewiththechargingprocess.
5.Whenthebatterypowerisconsumedquickly,evenafterafullcharge,pleasereplacewithanewbattery.
6.Donotchargewhenthebatteryorradioarewet.Dryitwithaclothtoavoidpossibleelectricalshock.
Warning:
Please prevent any metal conductors such as jewelry or keys from contacting the battery electrodes. Use precaution
whenplacingthebatteryintoapocket,walletoranymetalcontainer.
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Charging Steps:
Please charge as follows:
1. Connect the adapter with the charger.
2. Plug the adapter into an A/C outlet.
 3.ThechargerisreadyforchargingiftheindicatorLEDlightsredfor
 onesecondandturnsoff.IftheindicatorLEDisashing,thecharger
is not ready.
4. Place the battery into the charger aligning the battery slots with
the charger guide rails.
 5.TheindicatorLEDlightsredwhencharging.Ifthebattery 
 capacityistoolow,theindicatorLEDashesred.Thebatteryrst
trickle charges and turns to normal charging automatically.
 6.ThebatteryisfullychargedwhenthebatteryLEDlightisgreen.
The charger stops charging automatically.
Precautions in Charging
Please charge the battery before initial use or after extended storage. Please change or charge the battery if the
powerislow.Ifthebatterypowerisconsumedquicklyevenafteranormalchargethebatterylifeisnished.Please
replace with a new battery pack.
Do not charge the battery with the radio power on.
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Attaching and Removing the Battery Pack
Attaching the Battery
Match the two grooves of the battery with the
corresponding guides on the back of the radio. Make
surethebatteryisatagainstandparalleltothe
aluminum chassis.
Then push the battery along the guide until the battery
latch locks.
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Removing of Battery:
Beforeremoving,makesuretheradioisturnedoff.
Then push downwards on the battery latch.
Slide the battery towards the bottom of the radio.

Attaching/Removing Belt Clip
Attaching Belt Clip (Figure 3)
Align the screw eyelets of the belt clip with those on
the rear of radio and fasten the belp clip with enclosed
screws.
Removing Belt Clip (Figure 4)
Loosen the screws to remove the belt clip.
Attaching/Removing the Antenna
Attaching the Antenna (Figure 1)
Screw the antenna into the connector at the top of the
radiobyholdingthebottomoftheantenna,andturning
it clockwise until secure.
Removing the Antenna (Figure 2)
Rotate the antenna counter clockwise by holding the
bottom of antenna.
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Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Attaching External Earphone/Microphone
1. Open the Earphone/Microphone jack cover. There is
noneedtoremoveit.(Figure5)
2. Insert the Earphone/Microphone into the Earphone/
Microphonejack.(Figure6)
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Attaching the Strap
Thread the strap into the hole at the back of the radio
and fasten it.
Figure 5 Figure 6
BANTAM BANTAM

Radio Overview
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BANTAM

1Antenna
Antenna with helical plug is used to transmit and receive signals.
2Top Key: Programmable Key
The default setting is off.
3Channel Selector
Choose channel and the channel annunciation is available if the voice prompt is on.
4Power Switch/Volume Control
This knob is to turn on/off the radio and adjust volume. Rotate the knob clockwise until a click sounds to turn
on the radio. Rotate it further to adjust the volume. Rotate the knob counter clockwise until a click sounds to
turn off the radio.
5LED Indicator
  TheLEDindicatorglowsredduringtransmitting;glowsgreenduringreceiving;ashesredwhenthebattery
  powerisinsufcient;ashesgreenduringscanning.
6Strap Hole
The hole is to fasten the strap.
7PTT (Push-To-Talk) Key
  Totransmit,pressdownthePTTkeyandspeakintothemicrophone;releaseittoreceive.
8Side Key 2: Programmable Key
The default setting is monitor.
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Over View (continued)
9Side Key 1: Programmable Key
The default setting is off.
10 MIC-SP Jack/ Data Port
To connect the earphone/microphone or programming cable
11 Speaker
Output voice.
12 Microphone
Input voice.
13 Belt Clip
The radio is easy to carry for you can clip it on your belt.
14 Li-ion Battery
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Basic Operation
Turning the Radio ON/OFF
Rotate the Power Switch/Volume Control knob
clockwise until a click sounds to turn on the radio. At
thesametime,avoiceindicationofthecurrentchannel
is heard.
Rotate the Power Switch/Volume Control knob counter
clockwise until a click sounds to turn off the radio.
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BANTAM
BANTAM
Volume Adjustment
Aftertheradioisturnedon,rotatethePowerSwitch/
Volume Control knob to adjust volume.
Tip: you can listen to background noise in monitor
mode and adjust the volume.

Channel Selecting
Rotate the channel to choose your desired channel from
1~16 channels.
You can select the channel according to the number or
symbolmarkatthebottomoftheknob.Also,youcan
operate according to channel annunciation.
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Make a Call
Tomakeacall,holddownthePTTkeyandspeakinto
the microphone with normal voice. Please keep the
microphone 2 inches away from your mouth.
Tip:
1.HolddownthePTTbuttonandtheLEDindicator
glowsred,theradiobeginstotransmit.
2.IftheLEDindicatorashesred,thebatterypoweris
insufcient.Theradiocannottransmitwhenthebattery
power is not enough for normal operation.
Receive a Call
ReleasethePTTbutton,theradiobeginstoreceive.You
can hear the other voice if you receive a call on your
current work channel. If call signal is too weak or you
setveryhighsquelchlevel,youcannothearthecall.
BANTAM

Auxiliary Functions
Auxiliary Functions need to be set through PC software or contact your
dealer for programming.
PC Programming
1.Visitblackboxradios.comtodownloadtheBantam®programming
software(youcanalsocontactyourdealerforprogramming).
2. Turn off the radio and connect it to the PC with the programming cable
(seegureontheright).
3.Runtheprogrammingsoftware,thenturnontheradio.Press“Read”
button and change the parameter data as needed.
4.Pressthe“Write”buttontochangeparametersintheradio.
5.Forparametersettingandoperation,pleaserefertothehelpdocuments
of the software.
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BANTAM
Programming
Cable
(optional)

Programmable Key Settings
Key Setting menu. The default setting is as follows:
•Thedefaultlongpressdurationis2seconds.
•TopKey(orangekey)longpress:off
•TopKey(orangekey)shortpress:off
•SideKey2longpress:off
•SideKey2shortpress:monitor
•SideKey1longpress:off
•SideKey1shortpress:off
You can change the function settings to a function key’s long and short presses using the programming software on
the“KeySettings”Menu.
Thekeyscanbesetas:off,monitor,monitormomentarily,soundofencrypt,alarm,electricitydemand,whisper,
VOX or power.
Battery Power (electricity demand)
Withthisfunction,theradiowillreportthebatterypowerbyaudibleindication:“PowerHigh”,“PowerMiddle”,
“PowerLow”,and“PleaseChargeBattery”.
High/Low Power Switching (power)
You can set the power setting of each channel separately according to your work environment to maximize the use
ofbatterypower.Whensetatlowpower,theradiouseslesscurrent,thusthebatteryoperatingtimeisprolonged.
High power is 5W and low power is 1W.
•Youcanselect“PowerSelect”in“ChannelInformation”menutosetthepowerashigh/lowpowerofeach
channel separately.
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Monitor
Thisfunctioncanbesetas(TopKey)/(SideKey2)/(SideKey1)usingtheprogrammingsoftwareonthe“Key
Settings”Menu.Foroperation,presstheprogrammedkeytohearaweaksignalandtohelpyouadjustthevolume
when no signal is received. Press the key again to cancel monitor.
Sound Encrypt (Voice Encryption)
Whenthisfunctionisprogrammed,thetransmitsoundisencrypted.Theothersideneedstodecryptthe
transmission.Otherwise,thesoundreceivedisnoiseorunintelligibleaudio.
1.Thisfunctioncanbesetas(TopKey)/(SideKey2)/(SideKey1)usingtheprogrammingsoftwareonthe“Key
Settings”Menu.
2.Presstheprogrammedkeyandtheradiowillannounce“VoiceEncryptOn”.Pressagaintodisableandtheradio
willannounce“VoiceEncryptOff”.
3.Youcanturnthisfunctionon/offonthe“OptionalFeature”menuatthe“SoundofEncryption”.Checkthebox
to turn on the function and uncheck the box to turn off the function.
Whisper
Withthisfunction,youcanbeclearlyheardevenifyouspeakintotheradiowithaverylowvoice.
1.Thisfunctioncanbesetas(TopKey)/(SideKey2)/(SideKey1)usingtheprogrammingsoftwareonthe“Key
Settings”Menu.
2.Presstheprogrammedkeyandtheradiowillannounce“WhisperOn”.Pressagaintodisableandtheradiowill
announce“WhisperOff”.
3.TosetthemicrophonereceivingvolumeleveltheWhisperlevelcanbesetas1,2,or3.1isthemostsensitive,3
is the least sensitive.
4.Youcanturnthisfunctionon/offonthe“OptionalFeature”menuatthe“WhisperFunction”.Checktheboxto
turn on the function and uncheck the box to turn off the function.

Alarm
Withthisfunctionprogrammed,theradioalarmsoundsandtheLEDglowsred.Atthesametimeitsendsan
emergency signal to other Bantam radios on the same channel and the receiving radio will sound an alarm tone.
1.Thisfunctioncanbesetas(TopKey)/(SideKey2)/(SideKey1)usingtheprogrammingsoftwareonthe“Key
Settings”Menu.
2.Tostopthelocalalarm,pressthe(PTT)keytoreturntonormaloperatingstatus.ThereceivingBantamradio
resumesnormaloperationafterpressingthe(PTT)key.
3.Aftersendingtheemergencysignal,theradiowillnotreceivetransmissionsuntilthe(PTT)keyispressed.The
radiowillre-sendtheemergencysignalevery5secondsuntilthe(PTT)keyispressed.
4.Youcanturnthisfunctionon/offonthe“OptionalFeature”menuatthe“AlarmFunction”.Checktheboxto
turn on the function and uncheck the box to turn off the function.
VOX
WithVOX,youcandirectlyspeakintothemicrophonewithoutholdingdownthe(PTT)key.TheLEDglowsred
andyourvoicewillbetransmitted.WhenoperatinginWhisperVOXmodeusingearphones,theradiobeepswhen
VOX is enabled.
1.Thisfunctioncanbesetas(TopKey)/(SideKey2)/(SideKey1)usingtheprogrammingsoftwareonthe“Key
Settings”Menu.
2.Presstheprogrammedkeyandtheradiowillannounce“VOXOn”.Pressagaintodisableandtheradiowill
announce“VOXOff”.
3.TosetthevoicecontrolsensitivityoftheVOX,theVOXlevelcanbesetas1,2,or3.1isthemostsensitive,3is
the least sensitive.
4. WhisperVOX(usingearphones):Checktheboxtoenablethefunctionandunchecktheboxtodisablethefunction.
5. VOX function: Check the box to enable the function and uncheck the box to disable the function.
DuringtheVOXoperation,pressthe(PTT)keytocanceltheVOXfunction.Turnoffandthenturnontheradioto
re-enable the VOX function.
Note:Checkingboth“WhisperVOX”and“VOXFunction”theVOXisdisabled.
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Other Function Settings
Voice Prompts
The default setting for this function is voice prompts in English. You can know the current channel through voice
prompts.
1.Inthe“Voice/BeepTone”in“OptionalFeature”menu,youcansetthepromptsasOFF/English/Tone.
2. Channel Annunciation: The radio will report the current channel number when you switch to a channel.
3. Low Battery Alert: The radio will alert you by voice prompts when the battery power becomes low.
4.ScanOnIndication:Ifthecurrentchannelissetasthescanchannel,theradiowillinformyoubyvoiceprompts.
Low Battery Alert
Whentheradioannouncesthelowbatteryalerteitherbyvoiceindication“beep/pleasechangethebattery”orthe
LEDashesredwhentransmittingtheradiowillstoptransmitting.Pleasereplacewithanewbatteryorchargethe
battery.
Battery Save
The receiver circuit will cycle ON and OFF by the selected ratio to reduce power consumption. The radio
automatically enters save mode 5 seconds after no signal is received or transmitted and no key has been pressed.
1.Thedefaultsavescaleis1:3.Youcanchangethe“SaveScale”inthe“OptionalFunction”menuofthe
programmingsoftware.Youcanselectoff,1:1,1:2,1:3,or1:4.Selecting“Off”cancelstheautobatterysave.
Selecting 1:4 offers the highest battery conservation.