Cobra 38 WX ST User manual

How to Use Your
Cobra HH 38 WX ST
Contents
Features ..........................................................................1
Included Accessories
Controls & Indicators
Operating Your HH 38 WX ST
Antenna .......................................................................2
Battery Installation...................................................3
Belt Clip........................................................................3
Turning on Your CB..................................................4
Setting Squelch.........................................................4
Selecting a Channel.................................................6
LCD Display.................................................................7
Transmit/Receive ......................................................8
One Touch Channel 9 & 19 ...................................10
All Channel Scan.......................................................11
Dual Watch..................................................................12
Weather Channels....................................................14
Power High/Low .......................................................16
Battery Capacity Level ............................................18
SoundTracker®System ...........................................19
Lighted Display .........................................................23
Lock Key.......................................................................24
In Vehicle Use.............................................................25
How Your CB Can Serve You ..................................26
A Few Rules You Should Know............................26
Weather Channel Messages.................................27
Channel 9 Emergency Messages........................28
CB 10 Codes ...............................................................30
Frequency Ranges .....................................................32
HH 38 WX ST Specifications ..................................33
Warranty Information..............................................34
Optional Accessories................................................35
Features of This Product
•40 CB Channels
•10 Weather Channels
•Full Feature LCD Display
•Dual Channel Watch
•Full Channel Scan
•Battery Level Meter
•External Speaker/
Microphone Jack
•Instant Channel 9 & 19
•High/Low Power Saver Switch
•BNC Antenna Connector
•Lock Key
1

Turn clockwise.1⁄4turn.
Operation
Operation
Attach Antenna
32
Scan
Func
CH9/19
DW
Lock
CB/WX
Pwr Saver
PWR SAVE WX
SCAN DW EMG
FUNC
40
SIGNAL
POWER
Attach Antenna
Insert.
1
2
Remove battery chamber cover. Press down on
arrow and slide.
Install batteries by polarity markings.
Replace cover.
Battery
Installation
Attach Belt Clip
Install Batteries
1
2
3
Note
Ignoring polarity markings (+/-)
can cause damage to both the
unit and the batteries.
The HH 38 WX ST requires
9“AA” alkaline or NiCD
batteries (not included with
the unit).
When batteries are low or need
charging the BATTERY icon
will flash on the LCD display.
Replace alkaline batteries or
recharge NiCD batteries.
NiCD rechargeable batteries
should be charged a minimum of
12 hours with a CA-45C charger.
NiCD rechargeables should have
a rating of 1.2 vdc, 750 Mah.
Note
Clip slides up to attach and
slides down to remove.
To remove belt clip,
lift tab out and slide
belt clip down.
12
Attach Belt Clip
Slide belt clip up on
rails of base until
tab locks.
Press and
hold down
on arrow
and slide
Note
To increase range as a
portable, use CA41 telescopic
loaded long range antenna.
(See Accessory Page 35).

Operation
Operation
5
Turning On
4
WEAK SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
STRONG SIGNALS
GATE CLOSED
NOISE
WEAK SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
STRONG SIGNALS
NOISE
WEAK SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
STRONG SIGNALS
GATE OPEN
WEAK SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
STRONG SIGNALS
;;;;
;;;;
;;;;
;;;;
NOISE
WEAK SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
STRONG SIGNALS
GATE
Gate closed
Gate open
Gate set to Desired
Squelch Setting (DSS)
Setting Squelch
Note
When you turn on the
HH 38 WX ST , a series of tones
will be heard and the icons will
briefly appear on the LCD
display.
LCD lights on for 5 seconds. Fully counterclockwise opens the
“gate” and all signals enter.
Turning On
Rotate ON - OFF Volume Control clockwise.
Squelch Volume
Off
Squelch Volume
Off
Squelch Volume
Off
To achieve the Desired Squelch Setting (DSS),
turn the Squelch control counterclockwise
until you hear noise. Now turn the control
clockwise just until the noise stops. This is the
DSS setting.
2
3
SquelchVolume
Off
SquelchVolume
Off
Setting Squelch
Squelch is the “control gate” for incoming signals.
Turn volume up
louder than normal.
1Fully clockwise
closes the “gate”,
allowing no
incoming signals.
2

Operation
Operation
LCD Display
7
Note
For quick advance, push and
hold arrow key(s).
6
Select Channel
PWR SAVE WX
SCAN DW EMG
FUNC
40
SIGNAL
POWER
Function Key
Indicator
SoundTracker
System™ icon SIGNAL
Incoming Strength of
Signal Meter
POWER
Outgoing Transmission
Power Meter
2 Digit Channel
Display
Battery Capacity
Level Indicator
FUNC

Lock Key
Battery Save Indicator
Weather Mode Indicator
Scan Mode Indicator
Dual Watch Indicator
Emergency Channel 9
PWR SAVE
WX
SCAN
DW
EMG
LCD Display
All needed information is displayed on LCD
display panel.
Select Channel
Turn power ON.
PTT
CH
LIGHT
PTT
CH
LIGHT
For higher channel,
push UP arrow key.
For lower Channel,
push DOWN
arrow key.
1
23
LIGHT
Note
When switching from one
channel to another, squelch will
need to be reset.
or

2 inches away
Hold mic about
2 inches from
mouth. Speak
in a normal
voice.
3
Operation
Operation
Transmit / Receive
9
Transmit/Receive
Note
While PTT button is
depressed you cannot
receive transmissions.
Stop
Antenna must be
installed before TX
Note
Your HH38 WX ST is always
ready to receive incoming
signals when the PTT button is
released.
When you are receiving an
incoming signal, the strength
of that signal will be displayed
on the bar graph.
8
The TRANSMISSION POWER METER will be
displayed when transmitting.
FUNC
40
PWR
To transmit, push and hold PTT button.
1
Release PTT button to receive incoming
transmissions.
PTT
CH
LIGHT
PUSH &
HOLD
PTT
CH
RELEASE
3
2
The INCOMING SIGNAL STRENGTH METER will be
displayed when a signal is received.
FUNC
40
SIGNAL
Note
During transmit,your
outgoing transmission power
is measured in watts and
displayed on the bar graph.

Push SCAN key. The channels will index.
To stop scanning, push SCAN key again.
To return to original channel, push
CH 9/19 a third time.
Push CH 9/19 once for channel 9.
Operation
Operation
11
One Touch for
Channel 9 and
Channel 19
10
One Touch For Channel 9 and Channel 19
To gain instant access to Channels 9 (emergency)
and 19 (information) from other channels:
Scan
Func
CH9/19
DW
Lock
CB/WX
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN DWDW
FUNC
9
SIGNAL
EMG
Scan
Func
CH9/19
DW
Lock
CB/WX
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN DWDW
FUNC
SIGNAL
Push CH 9/19 twice for Channel 19.
DW
DW
DW
Note
When an incoming
transmission is received the
HH 38 WX ST will stop scanning.
10 seconds after scan stops,
scanning will resume.
Note
To set Desired Squelch Setting
(DSS) see Setting Squelch .
Pressing PTT key or scan key will
terminate scan mode.
All Channel Scan
To scan all 40 channels:
Set Desired Squelch Setting (DSS).
All Channel Scan
Scan
1
2
3
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH A
3RD TIME
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN DWDW
FUNC
7
SIGNAL
1
2
3
Note
Pressing CHANNEL
UP/DOWN key will exit
you from this mode.
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN DWDW EMG
FUNC
40
SIGNAL
Scan

Push key until“beep” is heard.
The DW icon will stay on.
Push and hold key until “beep”is heard.
The DW icon will flash and the FUNCTION icon
will disappear.
Dual Watch
Dual Watch allows simultaneous monitoring of
two preselected channels. To monitor Channel 11
and 17 for incoming transmissions:
Set Desired Squelch Setting (DSS).
Select Channel 11 with CHANNEL UP/
DOWN key.
Push and release FUNCTION key.
FUNCTION icon will be displayed.
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN DW
FUNC
9
SIGNAL
The HH 38 WX ST display will switch between
the selected channels.
To stop dual watch, push CHANNEL UP/
DOWN key on the HH 38 WX ST.
Operation
Operation
13
Note
At a later time you can recall
your preset DW channels by
pushing and releasing the
FUNCTION key and quickly
pushing and releasing the
DW key.
12
Dual Watch
Select Channel 17 with CHANNEL
UP/DOWN key.
flashing
icon
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
HOLD
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN
FUNC
DW
DW
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN DW
FUNC
SIGNAL
1
2
3
4
Note
When a transmission is received
the HH 38 WX ST will stop
monitoring. 10 seconds after the
DW stops, monitoring will
continue between the two
channels.
5
6
7
8
DW
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PRESS &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN
FUNC
FUNC
FUNC
Func
Func

Operation
Operation
15
Note
The 10 National Weather
Channels include 7 NOAA
and 3 Canadian channels.
These channels provide
full coverage to keep you
informed of weather
conditions, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
For a list of weather
frequencies see specifications
in the Frequency Ranges
section.
Note
Your HH 38 WX ST has a
special auto squelch circuit
for weather transmission
which disables your squelch
control.
14
To return to normal CB operation, push and
release the CB/WX key again.
The WX icon will disappear.
Weather Channels
10 National Weather Channels provide
weather transmission reception.
Weather
Channels
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WX
SCAN DWDW
FUNC
09
SIGNAL
To change weather channels push the
CHANNEL UP/DOWN arrow keys.
At times, different channels can be received.
Select the one with the clearest audio quality.
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WX
SCAN DW
FUNC
SIGNAL
Push and release the CB/WX key and the
current weather channel will appear.
1
2
3
Note
Environment Canada & the U.S.
Department of Commerce,
operate 380 stations which
reach about 90% of the North
American population. If you
cannot receive a weather sta-
tion, you may not have one in
your area.
PWRS
LIGHT
PWRS

Power Saver (HI/LOW)
Reduces transmit power output to 1 watt to
extend battery life.
Operation
Operation
1716
Power Saver
(HI/LOW)
Note
The low power setting cuts
the transmitting range in
half,but the receiving range
is not affected.
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PUSH &
RELEASE
SAVE WX
SCAN DW
FUNC
40
SIGNAL
PWR SAVE
Push and release the key.
The PWR Save icon will appear and the
FUNCTION icon will disappear.
To exit Power Saver (HI/LOW) mode:
Push and release FUNCTION key.
FUNCTION icon will be displayed.
Push and release the key.
FUNCTION and PWR Save icon will disappear
2
PWRS
PWRS
Note
Battery life is increased
approximately 50% while in
Battery Power Save Mode is
activated.This reduces transmit
power output to 1 watt.
Push and release the FUNCTION key.
FUNCTION icon will be displayed.
1
Scan
Func
CH9/19
Lock
CB/WX
DW
Pwr Saver
PRESS &
RELEASE
PWR SAVE WXWX
SCAN
FUNC
40
FUNC
FUNC
Func
2
1
FUNC
Func
3

Operation
18
Battery Capacity
Level
Battery Capacity Level
To monitor the remaining power level of the
HH 38 WX ST battery: check battery icon bands.
Note
Battery life is approximately
20 hours under normal use
conditions.
Operation
19
Scan
DW
Func
CH9/19
BAT
HI/LO
Lock
CB/WX
PWR SAVE WX
SCAN DW
FUNC
SIGNAL
flashing
icon
BATTERY icon will flash if batteries are low.
Replace batteries as soon as possible.
Note
SoundTracker® gives you
clearer, cleaner reception to
improve CB communications
while on the air.
The SoundTracker® System
While previous systems only “blanket out” or
limit noise in higher sound frequencies, the
revolutionary new SoundTracker® System
actually reduces noise while leaving the signal
intact in the reception mode. In the transmission
mode, it actually strengthens the signal, providing
you with a significant reduction in noise on
reception and transmission.
Sound clarity is measured by the ratio
of the signal level to the noise level.
The higher the signal-to-noise ratio,
the better the sound.
How SoundTracker® Works
On Reception - “Cuts noise coming in”
With a normal CB, distant signals fall below
the squelch level and are unintelligible. With a
SoundTracker® CB. the noise level is cut up to
90%, which increases the signal-to-noise ratio
and dramatically improves signal clarity.This also
allows you to significantly reduce the squelch
level, which greatly expands your listening range.
On Transmission - “Strengthens signals going out”
A SoundTracker® CB strengthens the transmit
signal by more effectively using the available
RF power output of the CB. The result is improved
transmission signal clarity and an expanded
transmission range.