HYT TC-518 User manual

Preface
Thank you for purchasing HYT TC-518 portable radio. The main function keys are located
on one side of the radio, so you can have convenient one-hand operation; the orange
anti-skid PTT key is also ergonomically designed; in addition, the knobs are protected
against damage due to accidental drop.All these advantages help TC-518 possess
reliability and durability.
This easy-to-use radio will deliver you secure, instant and reliable communications at
peak efficiency. Please read this manual carefully before use. The information presented
herein will help you to derive maximum performance from your radio.
MODELS COVERED IN THIS MANUAL
TC-518 VHF Two-way Radio
TC-518 UHF Two-way Radio

1
Contents
Safety Information................................................................................................................2
Product Inspection...............................................................................................................3
Radio Overview....................................................................................................................4
Battery Information ..............................................................................................................6
Antenna Information ............................................................................................................9
Assembly and Disassembly...............................................................................................10
Attaching/Removing the Battery.................................................................................10
Attaching/Removing the Antenna...............................................................................11
Attaching/Removing the Belt Clip...............................................................................11
Attaching/Removing the Earpiece or Microphone......................................................12
Basic Operations................................................................................................................13
Turning the Radio On/Off ...........................................................................................13
Adjusting the Volume..................................................................................................13
Selecting a Channel ...................................................................................................14
Transmitting................................................................................................................14
Receiving....................................................................................................................14
Programmable Auxiliary Functions....................................................................................14
Advanced Operations........................................................................................................15
CTCSS/CDCSS..........................................................................................................15
Battery Save...............................................................................................................15
Power Adjust...............................................................................................................15
Time-out Timer (TOT).................................................................................................16
Battery Strength Indicator...........................................................................................16
Monitor / Squelch Off..................................................................................................16
Scan............................................................................................................................17
Busy Channel Lockout (BCL).....................................................................................19
Low BatteryAlert ........................................................................................................19
Voice Operated Transmit (VOX).................................................................................20
Compandor.................................................................................................................21
Scrambler ...................................................................................................................21
Channel Lock..............................................................................................................21
Troubleshooting.................................................................................................................22
Care and Cleaning.............................................................................................................23
Optional Accessories .........................................................................................................23

2
Safety Information
The following safety precautions shall always be observed during operation, service and
repair of this equipment.
◇This equipment shall be serviced by qualified technicians only.
◇Do not modify the radio for any reason.
◇Use only HYT supplied or approved batteries and chargers.
◇To avoid electromagnetic interference and/or compatibility conflicts, turn off your
radio in any area where posted notices instruct you to do so. Turn off your radio
before boarding an aircraft.Any use of a radio must be in accordance with airline
regulations or crew instructions.
◇For vehicles with an air bag, do not place a radio in the area over an air bag or in
the air bag deployment area.
◇Turn off your radio prior to entering any area with explosive and flammable
materials.
◇Do not charge your battery in a location with explosive and flammable materials.
◇Turn off your radio before entering a blasting area.
◇Do not use any portable radio that has a damaged antenna. If a damaged
antenna comes into contact with your skin, a minor burn can result.
◇Do not expose the radio to direct sunlight over a long time, nor place it close to
heating source.
◇When transmitting with a portable radio, hold the radio in a vertical position with
the microphone 3 to 4 centimeters away from your lips. Keep antenna at least 2.5
centimeters away from your body when transmitting.
WARNING: If you wear a radio on your body, ensure the radio and its antenna are at
least 2.5 centimeters away from your body when transmitting.

3
Product Inspection
Please unpack the package box carefully and check that all items shipped are received;
report any missing or damaged items to your dealer.
Accessories
Item
Qty. (PCS)
Antenna
1
Belt Clip
1
Strap
1
Battery
1
Rapid-Rate Charger
1
Switching Power
1
Owner’s Manual
1
Li-Ion Battery
Rapid-Rate Charger (for
Li-ion Battery)
Switching Power (different P/N for
different countries and areas)
Belt Clip
Strap
Antenna (VHF)
Antenna (UHF)
Note:
1. Note: Frequency band is marked on the label of antenna, if not, please refer to the
label on the radio unit for detailed frequency band information.
2. The radio unit is shipped with the screws of belt clip mounted from the factory.

4
Radio Overview
(1) Power On/Off Key
(2) PTT (Push-to-Talk) Key
(3) SK1 (Side Key 1)
(4) SK2 (Side Key 2)
(5) Antenna
(6) LED Indicator
(7) Channel Selector Knob
(8) Channel Indicator
(9) Volume Control Knob
(10) Microphone
(11) Speaker
(12) Battery Latch
(13) Accessory Jack
(14) Accessory Jack Cover
(15) Belt Clip
(16) Battery
(17) Screw (Belt Clip)
(18) Charging Piece
*PTT (Push-to-Talk) Key
Hold down the PTT key and speak into the microphone to transmit, and release it to
receive.
*SK1 (Side Key 1) / SK2 (Side Key 2)
Side Key 1 and Side Key 2 are programmable keys that can be assigned with long/short

5
press functions by your dealer.
Note:
Short Press
Key press no longer than 1 second.
Long Press
Key press longer than 1 second.
*LED Indicator
LED indications and alert tones are shown in the table below (see Advanced Operations
for details):
Status
LED Indication and Alert Tone
Power On
1. The power-on alert tone is heard when the radio is
powered on.
2. When the current channel is a blank channel, beeps
are heard.
Radio Standby
The LED flashes blue if no operation is made or no carrier
is present within 2s. Your dealer can enable/disable this
LED indication.
Low BatteryAlert
The LED flashes red and a low pitched tone is heard
every ten seconds.
Transmitting
1. Red LED glows while the radio is transmitting.
2. When transmission times out, continuous beeps are
heard.
3. TOT Pre-alert: one beep is heard.
4. Transmitting PTT ID: continuous beeps
(programmable by your dealer) are heard.
5. Transmitting PTT ID is completed: a short beep
(programmable by your dealer) is heard.
Receiving
The LED glows green when carrier presents.
Scanning
1. The LED flashes green every 1 second when
scanning is in process.
2. Scan Start Tone (programmable by your dealer): one

6
beep is heard.
3. Green LED solidly glows when signal is received.
4. Scan Stop Tone (programmable by your dealer): one
beep is heard.
Power Adjust
Switch to low power: a low pitched tone is heard.
Switch to high power: a high pitched tone is heard
VOX/Compandor/Scrambler/
Channel Lock
Enable functions: one beep is heard.
Disable functions: two continuous beeps are heard.
*Channel Indicator
Used to indicate the currently selected channel.
*Battery Latch
Used to secure or remove the battery.
*Earpiece Jack & Programming Port
Used to connect accessories such as speaker/microphone, earpiece, programming cable
and cloning cable.
Battery Information
Initial Use
New batteries are shipped uncharged from the factory. Charge a new battery for 5 hours
before initial use. The maximum battery capacity and performance is achieved after three
full charge/discharge cycles. If you notice the battery power runs low, please recharge the
battery.
Applicable Battery Packs
To reduce the risk of injury, charge only the battery specified by the manufacturer. Other
batteries may burst, causing bodily injury and property damage.
Caution:
1. To avoid risk of personal injury, do not dispose of batteries in a fire!
2. Dispose of batteries according to local regulations (e.g. recycling). Do not dispose as

7
household waste.
3. Never attempt to disassemble the battery.
Battery Tips
1. When charging your battery, keep it at a temperature among 5℃- 40℃.
Temperature out of the limit may cause battery leakage or damage.
2. When charging a battery attached to a radio, turn the radio off to ensure a full charge.
3. Do not return fully charged batteries to the charger for an “extra boost”. This action
will significantly reduce battery life.
4. Do not return a battery to the charger before the battery power runs low. This action
will significantly reduce battery life. Never take the charger as a stand for your radio.
5. Never charge a battery that is wet. Please dry it with soft cloth prior to charge.
6. The battery will eventually wear out. When the operating time (talk-time and standby
time) is noticeably shorter than normal performance, it is time to buy a new battery.
To Prolong Battery Life
1. Battery performance will be greatly decreased at a temperature below 0℃. A spare
battery is necessary in cold weather. The cold battery unable to work in this situation
may work under room temperature, so keep it for later use.
2. The dust on the battery contact may cause the battery cannot work or charge. Please
use clean dry cloth to wipe it before attaching the battery to the radio.
Battery Storage
1. Fully charge a battery before you store it for a long time, to avoid battery damage due
to over-discharge.
2. Recharge a battery after several months’ storage (Li-Ion & Li-polymer batteries: 6
months), to avoid battery capacity reduction due to over-discharge.
3. Store your battery in a cool, dry place under room temperature, to reduce
self-discharge.
Charging the Battery
Use only the charger specified by the manufacturer. The charger’s LED indicates the
charging progress.
Charger LED
Status

8
Red LED solidly glows.
Battery is charging.
Green LED solidly glows.
Battery is fully charged;
or
Charger is ready to charge.
Charging Method 1
Please follow the steps below:
1. Plug theAC connector of the adapter into theAC outlet socket.
2. Plug the DC connector of the adapter into the DC socket on the back of the charger.
Then charger LED glows green.
3. Place the radio with the battery attached, or the battery alone, in the charger.
4. Make sure the battery is in good contact with the charging terminals. The charging
process initiates when the red LED lights.
5. The green LED lights when the battery is fully charged (orange LED lights when the
battery is almost fully charged). Then remove the radio with the battery attached or the
battery alone from the charger.
Charging Method 2
You may connect several single-unit chargers so the combination can be used as a
multi-unit charger. To connect single-unit chargers, slide the latch on a charger into the
slot on the bottom of another one, as shown in figure 1.

9
图1：排充组装示意图
座充连接扣
Figure 1 Assembly Diagram of Multi-unit Charger
The assembled multi-unit charger can work with HYT Six-Unit Switching Power, to charge
up to six batteries simultaneously, as shown in figure 2. Please refer to Owner’s Manual
for Six-Unit Switching Power for detailed operation procedures.
图2：六联排充充电示意图
Figure 2 Schematic Diagram of Six-Unit Charger
Antenna Information
Stubby antenna is ideal for communication within limited range. Thin and long
antenna optimizes communication coverage, and its flexible and soft characteristic
Charger Connection Latch