Kenwood FreeTalk XL User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
© B62-1075-20 (K)
09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02
UHF FM TRANSCEIVER (TK-3101)
KENWOOD CORPORATION
FreeTalk XL™

i
THANK YOU!
We are grateful for your purchase of this KENWOOD
transceiver. We believe this easy-to-use transceiver
will provide you with dependable and reliable
communications.
KENWOOD MEANS WIRELESS
Founded more than 50 years ago, KENWOOD’s Car
and Home Audio products are in demand around the
world. KENWOOD is also a major developer and
producer of wireless and digital wireless
communications products. KENWOOD provides top
quality Amateur Radio products for the serious hobbyist,
and commercial radio products and systems for
business, industry, and public safety users, worldwide.
INFORMATION
If you would like information on other quality
KENWOOD products, please call (USA only):
1-800-KENWOOD (1-800-536-9663)
KENWOOD is on the Web:
Communications Products: Amateur, Land Mobile
(Commercial), Systems:
http://www.kenwood.net
Consumer Electronics: Home & Car Audio, Stage 3,
Computer Products:
http://www.kenwoodusa.com

ii
INTRODUCTION
KENWOOD welcomes you to the General Mobile Radio
Service (GMRS). Your KENWOOD 2-way Business Radio
is called a “transceiver”, meaning “transmitter and receiver”.
For your convenience, this transceiver is equipped with
automatic squelch control which quiets your transceiver
when you are not receiving any calls. For your privacy, this
transceiver provides you with a feature called Quiet Talk
(QT). This feature allows you to use the same channel as
others without having to listen to their conversations.
Another feature of this transceiver is its sliding battery pack
which simplifies installing, removing, and charging.
Your transceiver provides safety and convenience almost
anywhere, indoors or out. It follows both EMI
(Electromagnetic Interference) and military standards. The
communications range depends on your location, and can
be up to 5 miles (8 km) in open areas (refer to the chart
below for talk ranges).
This KENWOOD transceiver is a precision device. Treat it
with care, and you will enjoy years of reliable operation.
Note: The listed ranges are based on field testing and may vary with
individual transceivers.
snoitidnoC egnarklaT
)snoitcurtsboon(snoitacolnepO)mk8(selim5otpU
)sgnidliubraen(saeralaitnediseR)mk3(selim2otpU
decrofnieretercnoc/leetsnI• sgnidliub sesirhgihnI• tf.qs000,052otpU• )m.qs000,67( sroolf02otpU•

iii
FCC LICENSE INFORMATION
Your KENWOOD radio operates on communications
frequencies which are subject to FCC (Federal
Communications Commission) Rules & Regulations.
FCC Rules require that all operators using Personal
Radio Service frequencies obtain a radio license before
operating their equipment. Application for license must
be made on FCC form 574. Temporary operation is
allowed, using form 574T which has been provided for
your convenience. Please read and follow the
instructions on the provided form.
FAX: Forms can be obtained by fax from the FCC Fax-
On-Demand system. Call 1-202-418-0177 from your fax
machine and request document number 000574 for the
form and instructions. If you would like an example of a
completed 574 form, also request document number
005741.
MAIL: Forms can be ordered by telephone, and will be
sent to you by first class mail. Call the FCC Forms
Hotline at 1-800-418-FORM (1-800-418-3676).
INTERNET: Form 574 and instructions can be
downloaded from the FCC Forms website at
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html
Before filling out your Form 574 application Technical
Data section, you must decide which frequency (or
frequencies) you will operate on. See the frequency
table on page 14.
QUESTIONS? Call the FCC for license application
questions at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).

iv
NOTICES TO THE USER
◆ GOVERNMENT LAW PROHIBITS THE OPERATION OF
UNLICENSED RADIO TRANSMITTERS WITHIN THE
TERRITORIES UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
◆ ILLEGAL OPERATION IS PUNISHABLE BY FINE OR
IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH.
SAFETY: It is important that the operator is aware of,
and understands, hazards common to the operation of
any transceiver.
PRECAUTIONS
•Refer service to qualified technicians only.
•Do not operate your transceiver or charge your
battery pack in an explosive atmosphere (gases,
dust, fumes, etc.).
•Turn OFF your transceiver while taking on fuel, or
while parked in gasoline service stations.
•Do not modify this transceiver for any reason.
•Do not expose the transceiver to long periods of direct
sunlight, nor place it close to heating appliances.
•Do not place the transceiver in excessively dusty,
humid, and wet areas, nor on unstable surfaces.
ATTENTION (U.S.A. Only):
The RBRC Recycle seal found on KENWOOD
nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery packs indicates
KENWOOD’s voluntary participation in an industry
program to collect and recycle Ni-Cd batteries after
their operating life has expired. The RBRC program
is an alternative to disposing Ni-Cd batteries with
your regular refuse or in municipal waste streams,
which is illegal in some areas.
For information on Ni-Cd battery recycling in your area, call (toll free)
1-800-8-BATTERY (1-800-822-8837).
KENWOOD’s involvement in this program is part of our commitment
to preserve our environment and conserve our natural resources.

v
FCC WARNING
This equipment generates or uses radio frequency energy. Changes
or modifications to this equipment may cause harmful interference
unless the modifications are expressly approved in the instruction
manual. The user could lose the authority to operate this equipment
if an unauthorized change or modification is made.
INFORMATION TOTHE DIGITAL DEVICE USER REQUIRED BY
THE FCC
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses and can generate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that the
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer for technical assistance.
FCC REGULATIONS REGARDINGTHE USE OF THE
EMERGENCY CHANNEL
The communications must be for the purpose of soliciting or
rendering assistance to a traveler, or for communicating in an
emergency pertaining to the immediate safety of life or the
immediate protection of property.
One or more of the following statements may be
applicable:

vi
CONTENTS
UNPACKING AND CHECKING EQUIPMENT................... 1
Supplied Accessories...................................... 1
PREPARATION .................................................. 3
Installing/ Removing the NiCd Battery Pack ............ 3
Installing the Antenna ..................................... 4
Installing the Belt Clip..................................... 4
Installing the Cover over the Speaker/
Microphone Jacks.......................................... 5
Installing the (Optional) Speaker/ Microphone ......... 5
GETTING ACQUAINTED ........................................ 6
OPERATING BASICS............................................ 7
QUIET TALK (QT) ............................................... 8
QT Tone Setup .............................................. 9
CHANNEL SETTING CONFIRMATION ........................13
Reference Table...........................................14
TRANSCEIVER FUNCTIONS ..................................15
Time-out Timer (TOT) ....................................15
Battery Save ...............................................15
Low Battery Warning .....................................15
CHARGING THE NiCd BATTERY PACK .......................16
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ....................................18
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE..................................19

1
UNPACKING AND CHECKING EQUIPMENT
Carefully unpack the transceiver. We recommend that
you identify the items listed in the following table before
discarding the packing material. If any items have been
damaged during shipment, file a claim with the carrier
immediately.
■Supplied Accessories
metI rebmuNtraP ytitnauQ
annetnA5X-4960-09T1
regrahcyrettaB5X-2550-80W1
rotpadaCA5X-1550-80W1
kcapyrettabdCiN )41-BNK( 5X-9390-90W1
enohporcim/rekaepS revockcaj 3X-1530-90B1
enohporcim/rekaepS tekcarbgnikcol 4X-3944-12J1
pilctleB3X-4260-92J1
teswercS5X-6930-99N1
dracytnarraW––1
dracesneciLXX-3061-95B1
launamnoitcurtsnIXX-5701-26B1

2
Belt clip
Speaker/ microphone
jack cover
Screw set
Speaker/ microphone
locking bracket
AC adaptor
NiCd Battery
pack (KNB-14)
Battery charger
Antenna

3
PREPARATION
1Match the four grooves of
the battery pack with the
corresponding guides on
the back of the
transceiver.
2Slide the battery pack
along the back of the
transceiver until the
release latch on the base
of the transceiver locks.
3To remove the battery
pack, pull back on the
release latch and slide
the pack away from the
transceiver.
■Installing/ Removing the NiCd Battery Pack
The battery pack is not charged at the factory;
charge it before use {page 16}.
Average battery pack life:
•KNB-14 (supplied): 8 hours
•KNB-15A (optional): 10 hours
Average times are calculated using 5% transmit
time, 5% receive time, and 90% standby time.
CAUTION:
◆ DO NOT SHORT THE BATTERY TERMINALS OR DISPOSE
OF THE BATTERY BY FIRE.
◆ NEVER ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE CASING FROM THE
BATTERY PACK.

4
Antenna
Belt
clip
■Installing the Antenna
Screw the antenna into the
connector on the top of the
transceiver by holding the
antenna at its base and
turning it clockwise until
secure.
Note: The antenna is neither a
handle, a key ring retainer, nor a
speaker/ microphone attachment
point. Using the antenna in these
ways may damage the antenna and
degrade your transceiver’s
performance.
■Installing the Belt Clip
If necessary, attach the belt
clip using the two supplied
3 x 8 mm screws.
Note: If the belt clip is not installed,
its mounting location may get hot
during continuous transmission or
when left sitting in a hot environment.
CAUTION: DO NOT USE GLUE
WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT
SCREW LOOSENING WHEN
INSTALLING THE BELT CLIP, AS IT
MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE
TRANSCEIVER. ACRYLIC ESTER,
WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THESE
GLUES, MAY CRACK THE
TRANSCEIVER’S BACK PANEL.

5
If you are not using a
speaker/ microphone, install
the cover over the speaker/
microphone jacks using the
supplied 3 x 6 mm screw.
Note: To keep the transceiver water
resistant, you must cover the
speaker/ microphone jacks with the
supplied cover.
■Installing the Cover over the Speaker/ Microphone Jacks
■Installing the (Optional) Speaker/ Microphone
1Insert the speaker/
microphone plugs into the
speaker/ microphone
jacks.
2Attach the locking bracket
using the supplied
3 x 6 mm screw.
Note: The transceiver is not fully
water resistant while using the
speaker/ microphone.
Speaker/
microphone
jack cover
Speaker/
microphone
locking bracket

6
GETTING ACQUAINTED
Speaker
Antenna
Speaker/
microphone
jacks
ww
ww
w
tt
tt
t
ee
ee
e
qq
qq
q
Microphone rr
rr
r
qq
qq
qPTT (Push-To-Talk) switch
Press this switch, then speak into the microphone to
call a station. Release the switch to receive.
ww
ww
wMonitor key
Press and hold this key to turn the squelch OFF.
You will hear background noise. Release the key to
turn the squelch back ON.
ee
ee
eChannel selector
Rotate to select channels 1 ~ 15.
rr
rr
rLED indicator
Lights red while transmitting, green while receiving a
signal, and orange while in setup mode. Flashes red
when the battery voltage is low while transmitting.
tt
tt
tPower switch/ Volume control
Turn clockwise to switch ON the transceiver. Turn
counterclockwise until a click sounds, to switch OFF
the transceiver. Rotate to adjust the volume level.

7
OPERATING BASICS
1Switch ON the transceiver by turning
the Power switch/ Volume control
clockwise.
•A beep sounds.
2Adjust the volume by pressing and
holding the Monitor key, then rotating
the Power switch/ Volume control.
3Rotate the Channel selector to
choose your desired channel.
•When you receive an appropriate
signal, you will hear audio from the
speaker.
4To make a call, press and hold the
PTT switch, then speak into the
microphone using your normal
speaking voice.
•Hold the microphone approximately
1.5 inches (3 to 4 cm) from your lips.
5Release the PTT switch to receive.
Note:
◆ The channel in use may have been programmed
with a signalling code. Refer to “QUIET TALK
(QT)” on page 8.
◆ When the battery pack voltage becomes too low,
transmission will stop and the LED will blink red.
Refer to “Low Battery Warning” on page 15.
1
3
57911
13
15
1
3
57911
13
15
1
3
57911
13
15

8
QUIET TALK (QT)
QT allows you to hear only signals on your channel
which are coded to match your transceiver. When a
received signal has a code different from the one set up
in your transceiver, squelch will not open and you will
not hear the signal. When a received signal has a code
that matches your code, squelch will open and you will
hear the signal.
Likewise, when you transmit on a channel set up with
QT, the receiving station must have a matching code in
order to hear your signal.
•QT tones are selected from 38 standard signalling codes
(see the table below).
•Selecting “00” will turn signalling OFF.
edoC .oN .qerF )zH( edoC .oN .qerF )zH( edoC .oN .qerF )zH(
ZX100.76B1412.701Z6729.761
AX209.17Z2519.011A6828.371
AW304.47A2618.411B6929.971
BX400.77B2718.811Z7032.681
BW507.97Z3810.321A7138.291
ZY605.28A3913.7211M235.302
AY704.58B3028.1312M337.012
BY805.88Z4125.6313M431.812
ZZ905.19A4223.1414M537.522
AZ018.49B4322.6415M636.332
BZ114.79Z5424.1516M738.142
Z1210.001A5527.6517M833.052
A1315.301B5622.261––00FFO

9
1Press and hold the PTT switch and
Monitor key, then turn the power
ON.
•Continue to hold the PTT switch
and Monitor key until the LED
lights orange, then release the
keys.
2Press the Monitor key.
•The LED changes from orange to
green and a beep sounds. The
transceiver is now in QT tone setup
mode.
3Rotate the Channel selector to
choose the channel you want to
set up.
■QT Tone Setup
Note:
◆ Refer to the signalling codes listed in the table on page 8.
◆ When selecting a single digit number (0 ~ 9), always use 2 digits
(00 ~ 09).
◆ When you are confirming the selected signalling number, there
is a short pause between the 10’s digit and the 1’s digit.
The transceiver will exit the setup mode if no
operation is performed within 5 seconds.
1
3
57911
13
15
1
3
57911
13
15

10
4Press the PTT switch to select the
10’s digit of the signalling number.
•Each time you press the PTT
switch, a beep sounds and the 10’s
digit of the signalling number
changes. There are a total of 4
different numbers (0 ~ 3).
Note:
◆ To select “0”, press and hold the PTT switch
until a 1 second tone sounds (approximately
2 seconds).
◆ Pressing the PTT switch more than 3 times
will cause an error tone to sound, and no
value will be selected.
5Wait for 2 seconds to hear the
beep pattern of the 10’s digit
number you selected .
6Press the PTT switch to select the
1’s digit of the signalling number.
•Each time you press the PTT
switch, a beep sounds and the 1’s
digit of the signalling number
changes. There are a total of 10
different numbers (0 ~ 9).
noitcA eulaV nrettappeeB
dlohdnasserP TTP sdnoces2rof0xenotdnoces1
sserP TTP emit11x
•
sserP TTP semit22x
••
sserP TTP semit33x
•••

11
Note:
◆ To select “0”, press and hold the PTT switch
until a 1 second tone sounds (approximately
2 seconds).
◆ Pressing the PTT switch more than 9 times
will cause an error tone to sound, and no
value will be selected. (If you set the 10’s
digit to “3”, an error will occur after pressing
the PTT switch more than 8 times.)
7Wait for 2 seconds to hear the
beep pattern of the 1’s digit
number you selected.
8Press the Monitor key to complete
the setting.
•The green LED blinks twice.
noitcA eulaV nrettappeeB
dlohdnasserP TTP sdnoces2rofx0enotdnoces1
sserP TTP emit1x
1•
sserP TTP semit2x
2••
sserP TTP semit3x
3•••
sserP TTP semit4x
4••••
sserP TTP semit5x
5•••••
sserP TTP semit6x
6•–
sserP TTP semit7x
7••–
sserP TTP semit8x
8•••–
sserP TTP semit9x
9••••–

12
9Press the Monitor key again to
confirm the beep pattern of the
selected signalling number.
10 Repeat steps 3 to 9 to set up
another channel.
Example of setting up a channel with QT tone no. 01:
1After entering QT tone setup mode, select channel 1.
2Press and hold the PTT switch until a 1 second tone
sounds, to select 0 for the 10’s digit (approximately
2 seconds).
3Wait for 2 seconds.
•A 1 second tone will sound to confirm that 0 has been
selected.
4Press the PTT switch 1 time to select 1 for the 1’s
digit.
•A beep sounds when you press the PTT switch.
5Wait for 2 seconds.
•A short beep will sound to confirm that 1 has been
selected.
6Press the Monitor key.
•The green LED blinks twice.
7Press the Monitor key again.
•A 1 second tone will sound (0), there will be a short
pause, and then a short beep will sound (1) to confirm
that 01 has been selected.

13
CHANNEL SETTING CONFIRMATION
You can confirm the signalling code settings that are
programmed in your transceiver.
Note:
◆ After confirming a setting, you must turn the power OFF and then
ON again so the transceiver can operate normally.
◆ There is a short pause between the confirmation of the 10’s digit
and the confirmation of the 1’s digit.
1Select the channel you want to confirm.
2Press and hold the Monitor key, then turn the power
ON.
•The beep pattern will sound. [i.e.- If QT tone 01 is set
up on the channel, a 1 second tone will sound (0),
there will be a short pause, and then a short beep will
sound (1).]
3Turn the power OFF after confirming the number.
4Repeat steps 1 to 3 to confirm the QT tone of
another channel.
Beep Pattern Table:
rebmuN nrettappeeB rebmuN nrettappeeB
0enotdnoces15•••••
1• 6 •–
2••7••–
3•••8•••–
4••••9••••–