Kenwood TK-3131 - FreeTalk XLS FRS/GMRS User manual

© B62-1590-00 (K)
09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00
UHF FM TRANSCEIVER
TK-3131
INSTRUCTIONMANUAL

THANK YOU
We are grateful for your purchase of this KENWOOD product and
welcome you to theGeneral Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). Your
KENWOOD 2-way radio is called a “transceiver”, meaning
“transmitter & receiver”. We believe this easy-to-use transceiver will
provide you with dependable and reliable communications. This
KENWOODtransceiver is a precision device. Treat it with care, and
you will enjoy years of reliable operation.
FEATURES
• Compact design with a sturdy, polycarbonate body and a spring-
loaded belt hook.
• Can be used with the supplied Ni-MH battery pack or 3 AA
batteries.
• 15 channels with 121 tone/code settings for each channel,
allowing you to ignore unwanted calls.
• Privacy Talk scrambles all your voice messages, giving you
complete privacy for your conversations.
• Automatic battery power saver, providing you with longer battery
usage.
• Battery power level indicator with low battery power warning.
• Key lock, preventing you from accidentally changing your
transceiver settings.
• Six different call tones allows you to identify yourself to your
group before you begin speaking.
• Hands free operation when using an optional KHS-21 headset.
OPERATING CONDITIONS
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Note: The listed ranges are based on field testing and may vary with
your operating conditions.

i
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 (remove the
form from the center of this Instruction Manual). 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. Refer to the frequency charts on
pages 41 and 42.
Questions? Call the FCC for license application questions at
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).

ii
PRECAUTIONS
• Refer service to qualified technicians only. Do not modify or
attempt to adjust the 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, or
wet areas, nor on unstable surfaces.
• Avoid extremes in exposure to weather, heat, and cold. This
transceiver can be used in mild weather conditions, but it is
not waterproof.
• Turn OFF your transceiver while taking on fuel or while parked
in gasoline service stations.
• Do not operate your transceiver or charge your battery pack in
an explosive atmosphere (gases, dust, fumes, etc.).
• If an abnormal odor or smoke is detected coming from the
transceiver, immediately switch OFF the power and remove
the batteries from the transceiver. Contact your KENWOOD
dealer.
◆Government law prohibits the operation of unlicensed radio
transmitters within the territories under government control.
◆Illegal operation is punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.
SAFETY: It is important that the operator is aware of and
understands hazards common to the operation of any transceiver.

iii
CONTENTS
UNPACKING AND CHECKING EQUIPMENT......................... 1
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES.......................................................... 1
ORIENTATION.......................................................................... 2
DISPLAY ................................................................................ 3
PREPARATION ........................................................................ 4
INSTALLING/ REMOVING THE BATTERY PACK................................ 4
INSTALLING/ REMOVING BATTERIES ............................................ 5
CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK ................................................. 6
INSTALLING/ REMOVING THE BELT HOOK .................................... 8
INSTALLING/ REMOVING OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ........................ 8
GETTING STARTED ................................................................ 9
QUIET TALK/ DIGITAL QUIET TALK .................................... 11
SCANNING THE CHANNELS ............................................... 13
REVERT CHANNEL ................................................................ 15
MONITORING A CHANNEL .................................................. 16
VOICE ACTIVATED CONTROL (VOX).................................. 17
VOX GAIN .......................................................................... 17
VOX DELAY TIME ................................................................ 18
VOX OPERATION ................................................................. 19
VOX BUSY LOCKOUT ........................................................... 20
PRIVACYTALK ...................................................................... 21
OPERATING FEATURES....................................................... 22
TRANSMISSION POWER .......................................................... 22
KEY LOCK ........................................................................... 23
LAMP .................................................................................. 23
TIME-OUT TIMER .................................................................. 24
BATTERY SAVE ..................................................................... 25
BATTERY INDICATOR .............................................................. 26
CALLING ALERT TONES ......................................................... 27

iv
INCOMING CALL NOTIFICATION TYPE ........................................ 28
BUSY CHANNEL LOCKOUT...................................................... 31
TRANSCEIVER BEEP .............................................................. 31
SIMPLEX/ SEMI-DUPLEX OPERATION ....................................... 32
RESETTING THE TRANSCEIVER ........................................ 34
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES.................................................. 35
NOTICES TO THE USER ...................................................... 36
QT TONES/ DQT CODES ..................................................... 38
SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................. 40
CHANNEL FREQUENCY CHART:
SIMPLEX OPERATION (FREQUENCY BANK A) ............................ 41
CHANNEL FREQUENCY CHART:
SEMI-DUPLEX OPERATION (FREQUENCY BANK B)..................... 42
MENUS................................................................................... 43
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE............................................... 44

1
UNPACKING AND CHECKING EQUIPMENT
Carefully unpack the transceiver. We recommend you identify the
items listed in the following table before discarding the packing
material. If any items are missing or have been damaged during
shipment, file a claim with the carrier immediately.
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
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Belt hook (with screws)
KSC-28 rapid charger (with holder and adapter)
KNB-27N battery pack

2
ORIENTATION
Antenna
Power switch/
Volume control
Turn clockwise to
switch the power
ON and counter-
clockwise to
switch the power
OFF. Rotate to
adjust the volume.
MENU key
Press to perform various
functions. Press and
hold while switching the
power ON to enter
Setting Mode.
CAL key
Press before
making a call,
to alert the
other party
members.
LED Indicator
Indicates the
transceiver
status.
/ keys
Press to change the operating
channel, to select a menu in
Setting Mode, and to perform
other functions.
MON key
Press to monitor
the current channel
for activity.
Microphone
Speaker
PTT (Push to Talk) switch
Press and hold, then speak
into the microphone to
transmit.
SP/MIC jacks
Lift the covers
and insert the
accessory s
plugs here.

3
DISPLAY
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4
PREPARATION
INSTALLING/ REMOVING THE BATTERY PACK
The battery pack is not charged at the factory; charge it before
use (pages 6 and 7).
Average battery pack life using low power: 12 hours
Average battery pack life using high power: 10 hours
• Average times are calculated using 5% transmit time, 5% receive
time, and 90% standby time.
◆Do not short the battery terminals or dispose of the battery by
fire.
◆Never attempt to remove the casing from the battery pack.
1Remove the battery cover from
the rear of the transceiver by
sliding it back and pulling it away
from the transceiver body.
2Install the battery pack as shown
in the diagram. When removing
the battery pack, pull on the
ribbon that is attached to the
pack to dislodge the pack from
the battery compartment.
3Align the battery cover tabs with
the slots on the transceiver, then
firmly slide the cover into place.
Ribbon

5
INSTALLING/ REMOVING BATTERIES
In place of the battery pack, you can use 3 AA batteries. Use
high quality alkaline batteries to enjoy longer periods of
battery life.
Average battery life using low power: 8 hours
Average battery life using high power: 4 hours
• Average times are calculated using 5% transmit time, 5% receive
time, and 90% standby time.
1Remove the battery cover from
the rear of the transceiver by
sliding it back and pulling it away
from the transceiver body.
2Install or remove 3 AA batteries.
• Be sure to match the battery
polarities with those marked in
the transceiver casing.
3Align the battery cover tabs with
the slots on the transceiver, then
firmly slide the cover into place.
Note:
◆Do not mix old and new batteries or batteries of different types.
◆When you do not use the transceiver for an extended period of
time, remove the batteries from the transceiver.

6
CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK
Initially charging the battery pack after purchase or extended
storage (greater than 2 months) will not bring the battery pack
to its normal operating capacity. After repeating the charge/
discharge cycle two or three times, the operating capacity will
increase to normal.
◆Do not recharge the battery pack if it is already fully charged.
Doing so may cause the life of the battery pack to shorten or the
battery pack may be damaged.
◆After recharging the battery pack, disconnect it from the charger.
Charging the battery pack for more than 5 days may reduce the
battery pack life due to overcharging.
Note:
◆The ambient temperature should be between 41°F and 104°F
(5°C and 40°C) while charging is in progress. Charging outside
this range may not fully charge the battery.
◆Always switch OFF the transceiver equipped with a battery pack
before charging. Using the transceiver while charging its battery
pack will interfere with correct charging.
◆The battery pack life is over when its operating time decreases
even though it is fully and correctly charged. Replace the battery
pack.

7
1Plug theAC adapter cable into
the adapter jack located on the
rear of the charger.
2Plug the AC adapter into an AC
outlet.
3Slide a battery pack using the
supplied holder or a transceiver
equipped with a battery pack
into the battery pack slot.
• Make sure the metal contacts of
the battery pack mate securely
with the charger terminals.
• The indicator lights red and
charging starts.
4When charging is completed,
the indicator lights green.
Remove the battery pack or the
transceiver from the battery
pack slot.
• It takes approximately 2.5 hours
to charge the battery pack.
• When the charger will not be
used for a long time, unplug the
AC adapter from the AC outlet.

8
INSTALLING/ REMOVING THE BELT HOOK
If desired, attach the belt hook
to the rear of the transceiver
using the 2 supplied screws.
INSTALLING/ REMOVING OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Note: Always switch OFF the transceiver power when installing or
removing the optional accessories.
The following accessories can be used with this transceiver:
• KMC-21 Speaker-Microphone
• KHS-21 Headset
• KHS-1 Headset
• EMC-3 Clip Microphone with Earphone
To install these accessories:
1Open the SP/MIC tabs on the side of
the transceiver.
2Insert the accessory’s plugs into the
SP/MIC jacks.
3When you remove the accessory
from the transceiver, be sure to cover
the SP/MIC jacks with the attached
tabs in order to keep dust and dirt
away from the contacts.
Note: Refer to the accessory instruction manuals for detailed
instructions on each of the accessories.

9
GETTING STARTED
qq
qq
qSwitch the Power ON.
Switch the transceiver power ON by turning
the Power switch/ Volume control clockwise.
• A confirmation tone sounds. When using
simplex operation, a single tone sounds.
When using semi-duplex operation, two tones
sound. Refer to page 32 for details on
selecting simplex or semi-duplex operation.
To switch the transceiver power OFF, turn the
Power switch/ Volume control fully
counterclockwise, until a click sounds.
ww
ww
wAdjust the Volume.
Set your desired volume level by rotating the
Power switch/ Volumecontrol.
• Clockwise increases the volume and
counterclockwise decreases the volume.
Note: To adjust the volume using background noise
as a reference, use the monitor function (page 16).

10
ee
ee
eSelect a Channel.
Select a channel from 1 to 15 by pressing the
▲or ▼ key.
• A confirmation tone sounds each time you
press the ▲or ▼ key.
• When you receive a call on your selected
channel, you will hear audio from the speaker
and the LED will light green.
• To use a signalling code, refer to “QUIET
TALK/ DIGITAL QUIET TALK” on page 11.
rr
rr
rMake a Call.
1Press the MON key to make sure the
channel is not in use (refer to page 16).
2Press and release the CAL key to alert
the other parties that you are making a
call.
• A calling alert tone will sound on the other
party’s transceiver.
3Press and hold the PTT switch, then
speak into the microphone to transmit.
• The LED lights red while transmitting.
• For best sound quality, speak into the
microphone in your normal speaking
voice while holding the microphone
approximately 1.5 inches (3 to 4 cm) from
your lips.
4Release the PTT switch when you have
finished speaking.

11
QUIET TALK/ DIGITAL QUIET TALK
QT (Quiet Talk) and DQT (Digital Quiet Talk) are functions that
reject signals from undesired parties that are using the same
channel as you. You will hear audio from the speaker only
when you receive a signal that contains a tone or code
matching the one set up on the channel you are using.
Likewise, when you transmit on a channel set up with QT or
DQT, the receiving station must have a matching tone or code
in order to hear your signal.
You can select a tone or code for each channel. There are 38
QT tones (01 to 38) and 83 DQT codes (DQT01 to DQT83).
After changing the QT/ DQT setting, confirm that the other
members in your group have selected the same tone or code.

12
1Press the MENU key.
• The current setting blinks.
2Press the ▲or ▼ key to select your desired
value.
• The values range from 01 to 38 for QT tones,
then proceed to 01 to 83 for DQT codes.
When you use a DQT code, the icon
appears on the display.
•“” means you have turned off both QT and
DQT.
• Refer to pages 38 and 39 for the actual QT
tones and DQT codes.
3Press the MENU key 3 times, or press the
PTT, MON, or CAL key to confirm the setting.

13
SCANNING THE CHANNELS
You can scan all the channels of the transceiver to search for
a signal. When the transceiver verifies a signal on a channel,
it proceeds to check whether or not its QT/ DQT setting
matches that which is set up on your transceiver, if you have
set a channel with QT/ DQT. If the QT/ DQT matches, the
transceiver stops at the channel and opens the squelch so
you can listen to the call. If the QT/ DQT does not match, the
call is ignored and scanning continues.
Before you can use the scan function, ensure that it is
activated. You can turn the scan function (the ability to
perform scan) ON or OFF in Setting Mode:
1Turn the transceiver power OFF.
2Press and hold the MENU key while turning
the transceiver power ON (for 1 second).
3Press the ▲or ▼key to select “ ”.
4Press the MENU key to select “ ” (scan
function off) or “ ” (scan function on).
• If you select “ ”, you will no longer be able
to perform scan by pressing and holding the ▲
key (see page 14).

14
5Press the PTT, MON, or CAL key to exit
Setting Mode.
To begin scanning:
1Press and hold the ▲key for 1 second.
•appears on the display.
2When a signal is detected and the QT/ DQT
matches, the channel number appears on the
display and blinks.
3When the signal is no longer present, the
transceiver waits for 5 seconds before
scanning continues.
• If a new signal appears before the 5 seconds
elapse, the transceiver will remain on the
channel until the new signal is no longer
present, at which time it will again wait for
5 seconds before continuing.
4To end the scan at any time, press and hold
the ▲key for 1 second.
• The transceiver returns to the channel you
were using before you started scanning.