Cobra MicroTalk CXT90C User manual

Introduction
©2008 Cobra Electronics Corporation
6500 West Cortland Street
Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA
www.cobra.com
Making Life Easier and Safer
Staying in touch with your family and friends is
convenient and easy when using your microTALK®
radio. Some of the many uses you will discover include:
Communicating with others while hiking, biking, and working;
keeping track of family and friends at a crowded public event;
checking with travel companions in another car; talking with
neighbors; arranging meeting spots with others while shopping
at the mall.
Secure your microTALK®
radio while on the go.
Carrying your microTALK®radio with you is easy
when using the belt clip or optional wrist strap.
The belt clip easily attaches to your belt, purse,
or backpack.
For Assistance in Canada or the U.S.A.
n this user’s manual, you should find all the information you need
to operate your microTALK®radio. f you require further assistance
after reading this manual, Cobra Electronics offers the following
customer assistance services:
Automated Help Desk
English. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week [phone] (phone).
Customer Assistance Operators
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday
(except holidays) [phone], ext. 2-264 (phone).
Questions
Faxes can be received at [phone] (fax).
Technical Assistance
English and French. www.cobra.ca (on-line: Frequently Asked
Questions).
English and Spanish. [e-mail] (e-mail).
For Assistance utside Canada, the U.S.A. or in French
Contact Your Local Dealer
Customer Assistance
A1
Owner’s Manual
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®English
Belt Clip
TWO-WAY RADIO MODEL
CXT90C Printed in China
Part No. 480-477-P
Version A

Product Features
A3
Introduction
Product Features
A2
Introduction
Maximum range may vary and is based on
unobstructed line-of-sight communication
under ideal conditions.
Industry Canada Notice:
peration is subject to the following two conditions:
1) this device may not cause interference, and
2) this device must accept any interference,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
«IC» before the equipment certification number
signifies that the Industry Canada technical
specifications were met. It does not guarantee
that the certified product will operate to the user’s
satisfaction.
Important FCC Licensing Information
This radio operates on General Mobile Radio
Service (GMRS) frequencies which require a
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license
in the U.S.A. See page 15 for licensing and other
related information.
1. Battery Low
Indicator
2. V X Icon
3. Scan Icon
4. Roger Beep Icon
5. Lock Icon
6. Low Power Icon
7. DCS/CTCSS Icons
8. DCS/CTCSS Privacy
Code Numbers
9. Power Saver Icon
10. Channel Numbers
11. Receive/Transmit
Icon
2
1
3
7
11
8
4
5
13
14
15
10
6
9
1. Antenna
2. External Speaker/
Microphone/Charge Jack
3. Mode/Power Button
4. Lock Button
5. Channel Up/Down Button
6. Backlit LCD Display
7. Speaker/Microphone
8. Volume Up/Down Button
9. Li ht/Max Ran e Button
10. Talk Button
11. Call Button
12. Wrist Strap Connection
13. Belt Clip
14. Battery Compartment
15. Battery Door Latch
Features
•22 Channels
Seven shared
with FRS/GMRS,
seven FRS only,
eight GMRS only.
•121 Privacy Codes
(38 CTCSS codes/
83 DCS codes)
•Hands-Free
Operation (VOX)
•can
Channels,
privacy codes
•Backlit LCD Display
•Call Alert
Five selectable
tones
•Button Lock
•peaker/
Microphone/
Charge Jack
•Roger Beep
Selectable On/Off
•Battery/Power aver
•Keystroke Tones
•Battery Low
Indicator
•Auto quelch
•Maximum
Range Extender
•Belt Clip
Backlit LCD Display
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9
10
11
7
8
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peration Customer Assistance Warranty
Introduction
Caring for Your mi roTALK®Radio •
Your microTALK®radio will give you years of trouble-free service
if cared for properly. Handle the radio gently. Keep the radio away
from dust. Never put the radio in water or in a damp place. Avoid
exposure to extreme temperatures.
Re hargeable Batteries and Charger •
To install or replace batteries:
1. Remove belt clip by releasing belt clip
latch and sliding clip up.
2. Pull up on the battery door latch to remove
the battery compartment cover.
3. nsert the supplied four AAA rechargeable
batteries or non-rechargeable alkaline
batteries. Position batteries according to
polarity markings.
4. Replace battery compartment cover and
belt clip.
To charge batteries in radio:
1. Check to see that the batteries have been
inserted properly.
2. nsert the wall charger/adapter into the charge
jack located at the top of the radio. The wall
charger/adapter has two round connectors
which enables you to charge either one or two
radios at a time.
3. Plug the wall charger/adapter into electrical
outlet.
t normally takes 15 hours to fully recharge batteries. t is not
recommended to recharge batteries more than 24 hours. Estimated
operation time on a full charge is 8 hours.
Use only the supplied rechargeable batteries and wall
charger/adapter for recharging your Cobra microTALK®radio.
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
Remove Belt Clip
Pull Up Lock Latch
Insert Batteries
Radio Char er Jack

Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction peration
Battery Low •
When battery power is low, the Battery Low icon
will blink. Your batteries should be replaced or
recharged, if using rechargeable batteries.
Auto Battery Save •
f there are no transmissions within 10 seconds,
the radio will automatically switch to Battery
ave mode and the Power aver icon will flash
in the display. This will not affect the radio’s
ability to receive incoming transmissions.
Communi ating with Another Person •
1. Press and hold the Talk button.
2. With the microphone about two inches
(5 cm) from your mouth, speak in a
normal voice.
3. Release the Talk button when you are
finished talking and listen for a response.
You cannot receive incoming calls while
pressing the Talk button.
Both radios must be tuned to the same
channel/privacy code to communicate.
To Sele t a Channel •
With the radio on, select any of the
22 channels by pressing the Channel Up
or Channel Down button.
Both radios must be tuned to the same
channel/privacy code to communicate.
Channels 1 through 7 are shared with FRS/
GMRS. Channels 8 through 14 are FRS only.
Channels 15 through 22 are GMRS only.
See page 14 for FRS/GMRS frequency
allocations and compatibility charts.
English
2
Speaker/Mi rophone/Charge Ja k •
To attach a speaker/microphone:
1. Open the speaker/microphone/charge
tab on top of your microTALK®radio.
2. nsert the speaker/microphone accessory
plug into the speaker/microphone/charge jack.
To connect a wall charger/adapter:
1. Open the speaker/microphone/charge
tab on top of your microTALK®radio.
2. nsert the wall charger/adapter plug
into the speaker/microphone/charge jack.
Turning on Your mi roTALK®Radio •
Press and hold the Mode/Power button until you
hear a series of audible tones indicating the radio
is on.
Your microTALK®radio is now in tandby mode,
ready to receive transmissions. The radio is
always in tandby mode except when the Talk,
Call or Mode/Power buttons are pressed.
Using Your Radio
peration
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
Speaker/Microphone/
Charge Jack
Qui k Start
1. Press and hold the Mode/Power button
to turn on your radio.
2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to select a channel.
Both radios must be tuned to the same
channel/privacy code to communicate.
3. Press and hold the Talk button while
speaking into the microphone.
4. When finished talking, release the Talk
button and listen for a response.
Mode/Power
Battery Low
Talk Button
Battery Save Mode
Two Inches (5 cm)
from Mouth
Channel Button
Channel Number

To temporarily turn off auto squelch:
Press the Light/Max Range button for
less than five seconds.
To turn maximum range extender on:
–Press and hold the Light/Max Range button
for at least five seconds until you hear
two beeps which indicates the maximum
range extender is on.
To turn maximum range extender off:
–Press and release the Light/Max Range
button or change channels.
Lo k Fun tion •
The Lock function locks the Channel Up,
Channel Down and Mode/Power buttons to
prevent accidental operation.
To turn the lock on or off:
–Press and hold the Lock button for
two seconds.
A double beep sound is used to confirm your
lock on or off request. When in Lock mode,
the Lock icon will be displayed.
mi roTALK®Range •
Your range will vary depending on terrain and conditions.
n flat, open country your radio will
operate at maximum range.
Buildings and foliage in the path of the
signal can reduce the range of the radio.
Dense foliage and hilly terrain will further
reduce the range of the radio.
On FRS Channels 8 through 14, your radio
automatically switches to low power, which
will limit the range the radio can communicate.
Remember, you can achieve maximum
range by using maximum range
extender. See page 4 for details.
Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction peration
Using Your Radio
peration
Listening for a Response •
Release the Talk button to receive incoming
transmissions. Your microTALK®radio is always
in tandby mode while the Talk or Call buttons
are not pressed.
To Adjust Volume •
Press the Volume Up or Volume
Down button.
A double beep sound is used to indicate
the minimum and maximum volume levels
(1 through 8).
Call Button •
Press and release the Call button.
The other person will hear a two second call
tone. This tone is used only to establish voice
communications.
See page 13 on how to select between
five call tone settings.
To Illuminate Display •
Press and release the Light/Max Range button to
illuminate the display for 10 seconds.
Auto Squel h/Maximum Range •
Your microTALK®radio will automatically shut off weak transmissions
and unwanted noise due to terrain, conditions or if you’ve reached
your Maximum Range limit.
You can temporarily turn off auto squelch or turn on maximum
range extender, allowing all signals to be received and extending the
maximum range of your radio.
English
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
Volume Button
Call Button
Listenin
Volume Level
Li ht/Max Ran e
Lock Icon
Li ht/Max Ran e
Lock Button
Maximum Ran e
Reduced Ran e
Reduced Ran e

Mode/Power
Privacy Code
Channel Button
Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction peration
Set CTCSS Priva y Codes •
To select a CTC privacy code:
1. After selecting a channel, press the
Mode/Power button until the CTC icon
appears and the small numbers next to the
channel number flash on the display.
f DCS is turned on at the channel
selected, the display will flash the
CTCSS icon and “OFF.” To switch from
DCS to CTCSS, press the Channel Up
or Channel Down button while the
display is flashing “OFF.” The display
will then show the small numbers
flashing and you will then be able
to proceed to step 2.
2. Press using the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to select a privacy code. You can hold
the Up or Down button for fast advance.
3. When your desired CTCSS privacy code is
displayed, choose one of the following:
a. Press the Mode/Power button to enter the
new setting and proceed to other functions.
b. Press the Lock button to enter the new
setting and return to tandby mode.
c. Do not press any buttons for 15 seconds
to enter the new setting and return to
tandby mode.
Using Your Radio
peration
S rolling Through the Mode Fun tion •
By scrolling through the Mode function, you will be able to
select or turn on preferred features of your microTALK®radio.
When scrolling through the Mode function, your radio features
will be displayed in the same predetermined order:
Set CTCSS Privacy Codes
Set DCS Privacy Codes
Set Vox On/Off
Set Vox Sensitivity
Set Channel Scan
Set CTCSS Privacy Code Scan
Set DCS Privacy Code Scan
Set Call Tones
Set Roger Beep On/Off
Priva y Codes •
Your microTALK radio incorporates two advanced coded squelch
systems that can help to reduce interference from other users
on any given channel. CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch
System) provides 38 privacy codes and DCS (Digitally Coded
Squelch) provides 83 privacy codes. This provides a total of 121
Privacy Codes. Either system can be used on all channels, but both
systems cannot be used on the same channel at the same time.
To successfully communicate using a privacy code, both
the sending and receiving radios must be tuned to the same
channel and to the same privacy code system (CTCSS or
DCS) and privacy code number. Each channel will remember
the last privacy code system and number you select.
The privacy code 00 is not a privacy code, but allows all
signals to be heard on a channel that is set to 00 on both
the CTCSS and DCS systems.
English
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
Mode/Power

Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction peration
Voi e A tivated Transmit (VOX) •
n VOX mode, your microTALK®radio can be used “hands-free,”
automatically transmitting when you speak. You can set the
VOX sensitivity level to fit the volume of your voice and avoid
transmissions triggered by background noise.
To turn VOX mode on or off:
1. Press the Mode/Power button until the VOX
icon flashes on the display. The current On or
Off setting is displayed.
2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to turn VOX On or Off.
3. Choose one (1) of the following:
a. Press the Mode/Power button to enter the
selected On or Off setting and proceed
to other functions.
b. Press the Lock button to enter the
selected On or Off setting and return
to tandby mode.
To et VOX ensitivity:
1. Press the Mode/Power button until the VOX
icon flashes and the current sensitivity level
is displayed.
The current VOX sensitivity level is
displayed with letters “LE” and a Number
1 through 5, with Number 5 being the
most sensitive level and Number 1
being the least sensitive level.
2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to change the setting.
3. Choose one (1) of the following:
a. Press the Mode/Power button to enter
the selected setting and proceed to other
functions.
b. Press the Lock button to enter the selected
setting and return to tandby mode.
peration Mode Functions
Set DCS Priva y Codes •
To select a DC privacy code:
1. After selecting a channel, press the Mode/Power
button until the DCS icon appears and the
small numbers flash on the display
(01 through 83).
2. Press using the Channel Up or Channel Down button to select a DCS
privacy code. You can hold the Up or Down button for fast advance.
3. When your desired DCS privacy code is displayed, choose one of
the following:
a. Press the Mode/Power button to enter the new setting and
proceed to other functions.
b. Press the Lock button to enter the new setting and return to
tandby mode.
c. Do not press any buttons for 15 seconds to enter the new
setting and return to tandby mode.
English
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
VOX Icon
Channel Button
Mode/Power
Mode/Power
VOX Sensitivity Level
Channel Button
Mode/Lock Button
DCS Privacy Code
f CTCSS is turned on at the channel
selected, the display will flash the DCS
icon and “OFF.” To switch from CTCSS to
DCS, press the Channel Up or Channel
Down button while the display is flashing
“OFF.” The display will then show the
small numbers flashing and you will then
be able to proceed to step 2.
Channel Button

Channel Button
Mode/Power
Scan Channels
Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction peration
During scanning (while not receiving a transmission),
you can choose from the following:
a. Press and hold the Talk button to communicate on the
channel or channel/privacy code that was displayed before
you entered mode functions or the channel on which,
during scanning, you last received a transmission.
This will return the radio to tandby mode.
b. Press the Mode/Power button to proceed to set privacy
code scan on the channel that was either displayed before
you entered mode functions or on which, during channel
scanning, you last received a transmission (see page 11
for further details).
c. Press the Lock button to return to tandby mode on the
channel/privacy code that was displayed before you entered
mode functions or the channel on which, during scanning,
you last transmitted or received.
Priva y Code S an •
Your microTALK radio can automatically scan the Privacy Codes
(either CTCSS 01 through 38 or DCS 01 through 83) within one
channel. Only one set of privacy codes (CTCSS or DCS) can be
scanned at a time.
To scan privacy codes:
1. While in tandby mode, press the
Channel Up or Channel Down button
to choose the channel on which you
wish to scan privacy codes.
2. Press the Mode/Power button until either
the CTCSS or the DCS icon appears on the
display and the can icon and the privacy
code numbers flash on the display.
3. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to begin scanning privacy codes
within the channel you selected.
Mode Functions
Channel S an •
Your microTALK®radio can automatically scan channels.
To scan channels:
1. Press the Mode/Power button until the
can icon and the channel numbers appear
on the display.
2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down button
to begin scanning channels.
The radio ignores specific privacy
codes while scanning channels.
The can icon will continue to be displayed
when scan is on. Your radio will continue to
scan all channels and stop if an incoming
transmission is detected. Your radio will
remain on that channel for 10 seconds.
While setting channel scan, if you do not press any buttons for 15
seconds your radio will automatically return to tandby mode on the
channel or channel/privacy code displayed before you entered mode
functions.
During scanning (while receiving an incoming transmission),
you can choose from the following:
a. Press and hold the Talk button to communicate on
that channel. Your radio will remain on that channel
and return to tandby mode.
b. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down button to
resume scanning channels.
f you press the Talk button while scanning and not within
10 seconds of receiving a transmission, you will transmit
on the channel on which you last received a transmission.
This will return the radio to tandby mode.
f you do not press any button within 10 seconds,
your radio will automatically resume scanning channels.
English
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
peration Mode Functions
Channel Button
Mode/Power
Select Channel
Scan Privacy Codes

Customer Assistance WarrantyIntroduction
Mode Functions
peration
The can icon will continue to be displayed when privacy code scan
is on. Your radio will continue to scan privacy codes and stop as an
incoming transmission is detected. Your radio will remain on that
channel/privacy code for 10 seconds.
While setting privacy code scan, if you do not press any buttons for
15 seconds your radio will automatically return to tandby mode on
the channel/privacy code that was displayed before you entered
mode functions.
During scanning (while receiving an incoming transmission),
you can choose from the following:
a. Press and hold the Talk button to communicate on that
channel/privacy code. Your radio will remain on that
channel/privacy code and return to tandby mode.
b. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down button to
resume scanning privacy codes.
f you press the Talk button while scanning and not within
10 seconds of receiving a transmission, you will transmit on the
channel/privacy code on which you last received a transmission.
This will return the radio to tandby mode.
f you do not press any button within 10 seconds, your
radio will automatically resume scanning privacy codes.
During scanning (while not receiving a transmission),
you can choose from the following:
a. Press and hold the Talk button to communicate on
the channel/privacy code that was displayed before you
entered mode functions or the channel/privacy code on
which, during scanning, you last received a transmission.
This will return the radio to tandby mode.
b. Press the Mode/Power button to proceed to other functions.
c. Press the Lock button to return to tandby mode on the
channel/privacy code that was displayed before you entered
mode functions or the channel/privacy code on which,
during scanning, you last transmitted or received.
English
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
Five Call Tone Settings •
You can choose between five different Call Tone ettings to
transmit a call alert.
To change a call tone setting:
1. Press the Mode/Power button until the
letter “C” and the current call tone number
(01 through 05) is displayed. The current
call tone will sound for one second.
2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to hear the other call tone settings.
3. Choose one of the following:
a. Press the Mode/Power button to
enter the new setting and proceed
to other functions.
b. Press the Lock button to enter the new
setting and return to tandby mode.
Roger Beep Confirmation Tone •
Your listener will hear an audible tone when you release the
Talk button. This alerts the other party that you are finished
talking and it is OK for them to speak.
To turn roger beep on or off:
1. Press the Mode/Power button until the
Roger Beep icon flashes. The current
on or off setting is displayed.
2. Press the Channel Up or Channel Down
button to select roger beep on or off.
3. Choose one of the following:
a. Press the Mode/Power button to enter the
new setting and return to tandby mode.
b. Press the Lock button to enter the new
setting and return to tandby mode.
Channel Button
Channel Button
Mode/Power
Mode/Power
Call Tone Settin
Ro er Beep Off
peration

peration Warranty Introduction
English
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Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
LICENSING •
For Products Used in Canada
Industry Canada Notice
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1) this device
may not cause interference, and 2) this device must accept any
interference, including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
« C» before the equipment certification number signifies that the
ndustry Canada technical specifications were met. t does not
guarantee that the certified product will operate to the user’s
satisfaction.
For Products Used in the U.S.A.
FCC Licensing Required
This two-way radio operates on GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)
frequencies which require an FCC (Federal Communications
Commission) license. A user must be licensed prior to operating on
channels 1 through 7 or 15 through 22, which comprise the GMRS
channels of this radio. Serious penalties could result for unlicensed
use of GMRS channels; operation of this radio is subject to additional
rules specified in 47 C.F.R. Part 95.
Licensed users will be issued a call sign by the FCC, which should be
used for station identification when operating this radio. GMRS users
should also cooperate by engaging in permissible transmissions only,
avoiding channel interference with other GMRS users, and being
prudent with the length of their transmission time.
For licensing information and application forms, please call the FCC
Hotline at 800-418-FORM. Request form #159 and form #605.
Questions regarding the license application should be directed to the
FCC at 888-CALL-FCC. Additional information is available on the FCC’s
website at www.fcc.gov.
General Spe ifi ations •
FRS/GMRS Frequency
Allocation and Compatibility
Important: Please note that Cobra GMRS models with 15 Channels
may designate different channel numbers for the same frequency.
For example, a Cobra 15 Channel GMRS model would need to be
tuned to Channel 11 in order to communicate with a 22 Channel
GMRS tuned to Channel 15. Please refer to the chart below for
channel/ frequency number compatibility.
A = Channel No. for 22 Channel FRS/GMRS Models
B = Channel No. for 15 Channel GMRS Models
C = Type of Radio Service
D = Frequency in MHz
E = Power utput
AB C D E
1 1 FRS/GMRS 462.5625 High
2 2 FRS/GMRS 462.5875 High
3 3 FRS/GMRS 462.6125 High
4 4 FRS/GMRS 462.6375 High
5 5 FRS/GMRS 462.6625 High
6 6 FRS/GMRS 462.6875 High
7 7 FRS/GMRS 462.7125 High
8 FRS 467.5625 Low
9 FRS 467.5875 Low
10 FRS 467.6125 Low
11 FRS 467.6375 Low
12 FRS 467.6625 Low
13 FRS 467.6875 Low
14 FRS 467.7125 Low
15 11 GMRS 462.5500 High
16 8 GMRS 462.5750 High
17 12 GMRS 462.6000 High
18 9 GMRS 462.6250 High
19 13 GMRS 462.6500 High
20 10 GMRS 462.6750 High
21 14 GMRS 462.7000 High
22 15 GMRS 462.7250 High
General Specifications
and Licensing Customer Assistance
peration