M-tech MT-300 User manual

i
M-TECH RADIO
MODEL MT-300
DSC VHF Marine Radio
Instruction Manual

ii
Table of Contents
Section 1: Installation..................................................................1
Introduction................................................................................... 1
Powering Your Radio ................................................................ 1
Auxiliary Wires ......................................................................... 1
Bracket Installation.................................................................. 2
Antenna.......................................................................................... 3
How to Make a Distress Call........................................................ 4
Section 2: Basic Radio Operation................................................5
Using the Keypad.......................................................................... 5
Power/Volume............................................................................ 6
Squelch....................................................................................... 6
H/L (High/Low).......................................................................... 6
WX (Weather)............................................................................ 6
16/9 (Priority Channel) ............................................................. 6
SCN (Scan)................................................................................. 6
MEM (Memory) ......................................................................... 7
CALL.......................................................................................... 7
DISTRESS ................................................................................. 7
SELECTOR................................................................................ 7
PTT (Press to Talk) ................................................................... 7
DSC Calling vs. non-DSC Calling................................................ 7
What is a DSC call?................................................................... 7
How DSC works......................................................................... 8
Simplex or Duplex..................................................................... 8
MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity).................................. 8
MMSI Setup............................................................................... 9
Choosing a Channel .................................................................... 10
Making a Call.............................................................................. 10
Receiving a Call........................................................................... 11
Section 3: Advanced Operation.................................................13
Calls.......................................................................................... 13
Transmission ........................................................................... 13
AllShips Call........................................................................ 13
Directory Call ...................................................................... 14
Distress Call ........................................................................ 14
Last Call............................................................................... 16
New Call............................................................................... 16
Reception.................................................................................. 18
AllShips Call........................................................................ 18
Distress Call ........................................................................ 18
Geographic Call................................................................... 18
Individual Call..................................................................... 19

iii
Channels.................................................................................. 19
Channel Bank.......................................................................... 19
Directory .................................................................................. 20
Storing/Editing MMSI Data ............................................... 20
DSC Monitor............................................................................ 21
GPS Operation......................................................................... 22
H/L............................................................................................ 22
Memory Operation .................................................................. 22
Position Send/Request ............................................................ 23
Transmission ....................................................................... 23
Reception.............................................................................. 24
Priority Channel (16/9)........................................................... 25
PTT (Push To Talk)................................................................. 25
Scan.......................................................................................... 25
Weather (Wx)........................................................................... 27
Frequency Charts & Usage .......................................................28
FCC Radio License and MMSI Number Information
In U.S. waters, vessels which are not required to carry radio equipment
are not required to have an FCC (Federal Communications Commis-
sion) ship station license for a VHF marine radio.
However, any vessel required to carry a marine radio on an interna-
tional voyage, carrying a HF single side band radio telephone or ma-
rine satellite terminal must have an FCC license.
License application forms for ship and land stations can be downloaded
free from the FCC web site at this address: www.fcc.gov/formpage.html.
You may also order copies of these forms by calling the FCC Forms Dis-
tribution Center at 1-800-418-3676.
At this time, the FCC does not require recreational boaters to have a
ship radio station call sign. The U.S. Coast Guard recommends using
the boat's registration number and state.
The BoatU.S. MMSI Program has been certified by both the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Coast Guard to as-
sign MMSI numbers to vessels with DSC capable radios. To obtain and
register your free MMSI number, the Coast Guard recommends logging
onto http://www.boatus.com/mmsi/ and following the instructions.

iv
FCC Digital Device Compliance
This device complies with Part 15 of the U.S. Federal Communi-
cations Commission (FCC) Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful in-
terference, and (2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may cause undesired opera-
tion.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manu-
facturer could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Note:
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 pro-
tection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the in-
structions, may cause harmful interference to radio communica-
tions. However, there is no guarantee that 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 into an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.
•Consult the factory customer service department for help.

v
FCC Radio Frequency
Compliance Requirements and Warnings
When operating your marine radio transceiver, you should know that
the antenna radiates radio frequency (RF) energy. This radio was de-
signed to meet the FCC’s rules and regulations for the maximum per-
missible exposure to radio frequency energy. This design was tested
and found to be compliant with the strict requirements established by
the FCC.
DO NOT operate the radio without a proper antenna attached, because
this may damage the radio and may also cause you to exceed FCC RF
exposure limits. Antenna types suited for this radio are described in
the installation section.
DO NOT transmit for more than 50% of the total radio use time.
Transmitting more than 50% of the time can cause FCC RF exposure
compliance requirements to be exceeded. The radio is transmitting
when the “TX indicator” is displayed on the screen. You can cause the
radio to transmit by pressing the "PTT" (Push To Talk) switch.
IMPORTANT: The antenna(s) used for this transmitter must be in-
stalled to provide a separation distance of at least 91 cm (37 inches)
from all persons (including passengers). The antenna(s) must not ex-
ceed an antenna gain of 3 decibels (dB) and must not be co-located or
operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

1
Section 1: Installation
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the M-Tech MT-300 DSC VHF Radio. We
know you’re anxious to try it out, but first, let us explain how this man-
ual can help you get the most out of your new radio.
We have designed this book so you don’t have to read the whole thing
from front to back to find the information you want. At the start of each
segment, we’ll tell you what content is coming up next. If it’s a concept
you're already familiar with, we’ll show you where to find the next im-
portant topic.
We lead off the manual with proper Distress Call procedures on page 4.
We put it at the front of the book to make it easy to find in case of an
emergency.
The first section covers MT-300 installation and specifications.
The second section, Basic Radio Operation, goes over some basic func-
tions of the radio and includes instructions on how to set up your MMSI
(Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number. You can't make a call
without it! To jump to MMSI setup, flip to page 8. To acquire a free
MMSI number, see the web address on the bottom of page ii.
The third section, Advanced Radio Operation, offers more detailed in-
formation about the radio's features. The section will touch on all as-
pects of the radio's functionality, providing clear and complete explana-
tions via a convenient alphabetical layout.
Let’s get started!
Powering Your Radio
(Power Supply cable – red and black wires)
The unit works from a 12-volt electrical system. You may attach the
radio to a 12-volt battery or to an auxiliary power panel.
If possible, keep the power cable away from other boat wiring, especially
the engine's wires. This will provide the best isolation from electrical
noise. The power cable has two wires, red and black. Red is the positive
lead, black is negative or ground. Make sure to attach the in-line fuse
holder to the red lead
as close to the power source as possible.
Auxiliary Wires
The white and black auxiliary wires on the back of the unit connect
your radio to an external speaker. Connect the white (+) wire to the
speaker's positive lead, and connect the black (–) wire to the speaker's
negative lead.

2
The remaining auxiliary wires are used for DSC (Digital Selective Call-
ing) service, where the radio can exchange latitude and longitude posi-
tion information with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver in
NMEA 0183 format.
Wiring to transmit NMEA information
to a GPS receiver.
Wiring to receive NMEA position information
from a GPS receiver.
Caution
All of the auxiliary wires have bare ends for easier installation.
The bare ends on any unused wires could cause an electrical
short if left exposed. To prevent this, you should cover the indi-
vidual wire ends – either by capping them with wire nuts or
wrapping them with electrical tape.
Bracket Installation
Mount the unit in any convenient location, provided there is clearance
behind the unit when it's tilted for the best viewing angle. You should
also make sure there is enough room behind the unit to attach the
power, antenna and auxiliary cables. Pick a location far enough from
any compass to avoid compass deviation caused by the speaker magnet.
The radio must be installed at least three feet from the antenna. Make
sure there is space nearby to hang the mic clip.
Holes in the gimbal bracket's base allow wood screw or through-bolt
mounting. You may need to place a piece of plywood on the back side of
thin fiberglass panels to reinforce the panel and secure the mounting
hardware. We suggest that you use stainless steel screws for installa-
tion.
Ground – (Red) To Radio
To GPS unit
NMEA Receive + (Brown)
Shield (Ground)
Receive + NMEA Transmit + (Orange)
Shield – (Ground) Ground – (Yellow)
To GPS unit To Radio
Transmit +

3
Install the gimbal bracket, which looks similar to the one pictured here. Place
the bracket so the arms slope toward the radio's front.
Once a location is determined, use the bracket as a template and mark
the mounting holes. Screw the bracket to the mounting surface. Be sure
to leave enough slack in the cables to allow tilting the unit.
Attach the unit to the gimbal bracket using the supplied gimbal knobs
and washers. Attach the cables and the unit is ready to use.
Antenna
A good antenna installation will optimize the performance of your ma-
rine radio. There is no height requirement for antenna installation, but
the higher it is mounted, the better the reception. That's because ma-
rine VHF radio signals travel only on a "line of sight" basis. An ideal
installation will give the antenna a clear view of the horizon in all di-
rections.
The antenna may be mounted on a gunwale, rail or on flat surfaces like
a deck, roof or bulkhead. In the case of some sailboats and powerboats,
it may be attached to a mast or mast-like structure.
When installing your VHF marine antenna, be sure to keep it at least
three feet away from any other antenna or metal object. The antenna
also must be installed three feet away from the radio, and at least three
feet from any passengers or crew. Refer to the antenna manufacturer's
instructions for further installation information. You must also make
Front
Screw
mounting
hole

4
sure your antenna and its installation complies with all local and fed-
eral regulations. Never operate your radio unless it is connected to the
antenna.
The antenna must not exceed an antenna gain of 3 decibels (dB). The
antenna cable requires a PL259 connector, and the cable connects at
the back of the radio. For installations less than 25 feet, use RG58 co-
axial cable. For installations greater than 25 feet, use RG-8/U coaxial
cable.
WARNINGS:
Using an antenna with gain greater then 3 dB can damage the
radio and exceed the safe exposure limits for radio frequency
(RF) energy.
Also, the energy from any VHF radio antenna can be harmful,
even one properly rated at 3 dB of gain! Do not come in contact
with the antenna while a transmission is being sent. Be sure
the antenna is installed where it is separated from people by
at least 3 feet of space.
How to Make a Distress Call
Speak slowly, clearly and calmly.
1. Select VHF Channel 16.
2. Press microphone button: "MAYDAY — MAYDAY— MAYDAY."
3. "THIS IS [your ship ID]."
4. "MAYDAY [your ship name]."
5. Tell where you are — what navigational aids or landmarks are near.
6. State the nature of your distress.
7. Give number of persons aboard and condition of any injured.
8. Estimate present seaworthiness of your ship.
9. Briefly describe your ship — meters, type, color, hull.
10. "I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16."
11. End message by saying "THIS IS [ship name/call sign] OVER."
12. Release the PTT key and listen. Someone should answer. If not, re-
peat call, beginning at Item 3 above.
WARNING
The following types of communication are prohibited by the
FCC: false distress calls; calls to any boat — excluding emer-
gencies and radio tests; calls to or from a vessel on land and
obscene or profane language. Using obscene or profane lan-
guage could result in a fine of up to $10,000.

5
Section 2: Basic Radio Operation
This section addresses the radio’s basic operations, which includes
MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number setup. If you already
have your MMSI number programmed into the radio and have a strong
understanding of the radio's basic functions, move on to Section 3: Ad-
vanced Radio Operation.
We're going to kick off the operation section with a brief description of
the radio's basic functions. That will be followed by some important
information on Digital Selective Calling and basic instructions on how
to make and receive calls.
Using the Keypad
The keypad has six keys: H/L (Hi/Lo), WX (Weather), 16/9 (Priority
Channels), SCN (Scan), MEM (Memory), CALL (Call). When you press
any of the keys a tone will sound. If you push a key and a 3-beep tone
sounds, there is an error or the function is not supported by the radio.
You’ll notice several functions require you to hold down a key for a few
seconds. In those cases, a single beep sounds, then, after a few mo-
ments, a second beep will be heard to let you know you have success-
fully changed the mode.
The M-Tech MT-300 VHF Marine Radio.