RELM RP6500 User manual

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RP6500 User’s Manual
FM Portable Radio
We are very grateful for your purchasing RELM two-way radios produced by RELM Wireless
Corporation.
RELM two-way radio always incorporates the latest technology. The quality and function of
the RELM two-way radio can meet your demands for reliable communication.
Notice to the User:
·Please read this instruction manual before operating this radio.
·It’s prohibited to use the radio or charge it at any area with a potentially explosive
atmosphere (where the air contains gas, dust and smog, etc.), such as while taking on
fuel, or while parking at a gasoline service station; or any area where radio
communication is prohibited (such as a hospital or a airport.)
·It’s prohibited to operate the radio without permission at the areas where the government
laws prohibit radio communication.
·Please don't expose the radio to direct sunlight for a long time; don't place the radio near
any heating devices, either.
·Please don't put the radio in extremely dusty, moist or dabbling places; don’t place it on any
unstable surfaces, either.
·If you want to develop or remodify the radio
·Refer service to the well-trained professional technicians only and do not disassemble or
assemble the radio.

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CONTENTS
Unpacking and checking
Supplied accessories
Preparation
Charging the battery
Installing/Removing the battery pack
Installing the antenna
Installing the optional speaker/microphone
Installing the belt clip
Radio Overview
Basic Operation
Programmable Button functions
VOX
Copy mode
Whole setting
Time-out Timer（TOT）
Battery Saving
Low Power Warning
Channel Annunciation
CTCSS/ DCS
User’s resolution
Busy Channel Lockout（BCL）
Receiving squelch mode
DTMF signaling
2TONE signaling
5TONE signaling
Transmit beginning/ending signaling (PTT ID)
Problems and troubleshooting
Major Specifications
Status setting

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Unpacking and checking
Unpack the transceiver carefully. We recommend that you identify the items listed in the
following table before discarding the packing material. If any damage has occurred during
shipment, please contact the dealer immediately.
Supplied accessories
Item Quantity
Antenna 1
Battery 1
Belt clip 1
Charger 1
Power adapter 1
Hand strap 1
User’s Manual 1
Antenna Power Adapter Battery Hand Strap Belt Clip Charger
Preparation
Charging the battery
Plug the power adapter into the proper AC wall outlet; and then the green
indicator lights.
Insert the battery or transceiver into the charger slot, and make sure the
transceiver has been turned off.
Make sure the battery is well connected with charger, then the indicator
turns red or flashes, then the charger gets in the state of charging
automatically.
When battery is fully charged the indicator turns green.

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The performance will be at the best condition if you remove the battery when the green
indicator is on. Then remove the power adaptor from the wall outlet.
The charger will enter the protection mode when the yellow indicator flashes, which means the
temperature or the circuit is abnormal. Do not charge the battery at this moment, just remove
the battery and turn off the power of the charger.
Notes:
* The battery is not fully charged in the factory. Before the initial use, please charge the new
battery.
* When you charge the battery the first time or after long time storage (2 months), several
times of charging is needed. Make sure the battery is charged at least once every three
months.
* Do not charge the battery again if it is charged fully or not in the low-pressure warning mode,
otherwise, it will have bad effects on its life and performance. Remove the battery from the
charger after charging.
* There is a protection circuit in KB-36C battery, so the power will be cut off at too low power.
Installing/Removing the battery pack
To install the battery pack:
Match the 3 bulges of the battery pack with the corresponding slots at
the rear bottom of the transceiver.
To install the battery pack:
Then firmly press the battery pack downwards to lock it in place
until a click is heard.

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To remove the battery pack:
To remove the battery pack, use your thumb to press the belt clip, one
side of your index finger to press the release button and then pull the
battery away from the radio
Notes:
* Do not cause short-circuit or throw the battery to the fire.
* Do not disassemble the battery by yourself.
Installing the antenna
Screw the antenna into the connector at the top of the transceiver by
holding the Button of the antenna and turn it clockwise until secure.
Installing the optional speaker/microphone
Insert the speaker/microphone plug into the jacks of the versatile connector,
and fix it with the supplied snail screw.
7

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Installing the belt clip
Match the grooves of the belt clip with those on the rear of the battery.
Then press belt clip downwards to lock it in place. Push the card by
inserting your nail or tool into the groove at the upper part of the clip to
remove the belt clip.

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Radio Overview
The functions of the components are as follows:
A. LED Indicator
Lights red while transmitting;
Lights green while receiving.
B. Power/Volume Switch（Knob）
Turn clockwise till a click is heard to switch
on the radio.
Turn counterclockwise till a click is heard to switch off
the radio.
Rotate to adjust the volume after turning
on the radio.
C. Channel Selector
Rotate to select the channel 1-128.
D. Antenna
E. Top Button (programmable button)
It is recommended to be set as the
emergency warning Button.
F. Side button 1 (programmable button)
G. PT T（PUSH-TO-TALK）:
To make a call, press and hold the PTT button, then
speak into the microphone with normal voice. Release
the PTT button to receive signals.
H. Side button 2 (programmable button)
I. Button
Return and delete button in the menu.
J. Button
Select Button.
K. Button
Select Button.
L. Button
Enter and Confirm Button.
M. Numeric keypad
N. Microphone/speaker jacks
For connecting microphone/speaker.
D
E
A
CB
G
H
F
N
J
IL
K
M

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Explanation for the screen
Basic Operation
1. Switch On
Switch on the radio by turning the Power/Volume switch clockwise
till a click is heard, then the radio will be in the state of stand by
and you will hear a beep if the dealer has set it.
2. Adjust Capacity
Press the button preset as canceling squelch to listen to the
background noise and rotate the Power/Volume switch to adjust
capacity.
Icon Description
Signal intensity
SVC
Compandor
Disturbance Frequency
Busy channel lockout
Scanning
Key lockout
Signal reminder is programmed
Battery capacity, flashes when the
battery power goes too low

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3. Select a Channel
Rotate the channel selector to select channels. You will hear voice from the speaker while
receiving proper signals.
As shown in the above right figure:
Zone 1 is the zone of current channel (8 zones from 0 to 7).
H is the transmit power of the channel, H stands for high power, M for middle power while
L for low power.
CHANNEL 1 is the current channel (128 zones from 1 to 128).
4. Make a Call
To make a call, press PTT, and speak in normal voice. Please keep your mouth
3~4 cm away from the microphone.
5. Receive a Call
Release the PTT button to receive a call.
Your dealer can set CTCSS, DCS, 2 Tone signaling on you radio channels by PC software. If
you select a channel that has been preset with the tone signaling, you will not hear any other
calls except those from your own system.

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6. Operation on menu:
press “ ”button to enter the menu or confirm any contents; press “ ” button to return to
the previous menu or cancel the set. When entered the menu, select the sub-menu with the
“channel selector”, “ “or “ ”.
The menu is as follows:
The operations are as follows:
Set scanning:
1. As shown: in CH 1 , press , then utilities is shown;
2. Press , then scan is shown;
3. Press , then enter selecting scan;

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4. Select Scan On or Scan Off with / , then press to confirm it.
If can not enter that way, you have to set in PC communications;
Set back light:
1. As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , and Back Light is shown,
4. Press to select On or Off,
5. Select On or Off with / , press to confirm.
Set the squelch level:
1. As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , then Squelch Level is shown,
4. Press to select squelch level, e.g., Level 0
5. Change the squelch level with / , then press to confirm.
Set power level (high/middle/low):
1. As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , then Power Level is shown,
4. Press to select, e.g., Power Low,
5. Change the power level with / , then press to confirm.

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Set Companding：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , and Companding is shown,
4. Press to select Companding,
5. Select On or Off by / , press to confirm.
Set saving：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , and Save is shown,
4. Press to select Save 1：4,
5. Chang the save percentage with / , press to confirm.
Set scrambler：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , and Scrambler is shown,
4. Press to select, e.g., Scrambler Off,
5. Select On or Off by / , press to confirm.

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Set key tone：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press , utilities is shown.
2. Press to enter select mode,
3. Press / , and Key Tone is shown,
4. Press to select Off or On,
5. Select On or Off with / , press to confirm.
Set Rptr/Talkarnd：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Rptr/Talkarnd is shown,
3. Press to select the mode,
4. Select Repeater Mode or Talkarnd mode with / , press to confirm.
Set speak On mode：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Speak Mode is shown,
3. Press to select the speak on mode,
4. Select with / , press to confirm.
Set zone mode：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,

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2. Press / , and Zone Edit is shown,
3. Press to select the zone mode,
4. Select Zone No with / , press to confirm.
Set call list：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Call is shown,
3. Press to select the call list,
4. Select with / , press PTT to transmit.
Set Rx FRQ：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Ch Edit is shown,
3. Press to select
4. Press , is shown, enter the set of Rx FRQ,
5．Set the Rx FRQ value with the keypad,
6. Press to delete, and press to confirm.
Set Tx FRQ：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Ch Edit is shown,
Ch alias
CHANNEL 1
Rx FRQ
401.660000

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3. Press to select
4. Press , isshown,enterthesetofTxFRQ,
5．Set the Tx FRQ value with the keypad,
6. Press to delete, and press to confirm.
Set Rx CTCSS/DCS：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Ch Edit is shown,
3. Press to select
4. Press , is shown, enter the set of Rx CTCSS/DCS FRQ,
5．Set the Rx FRQ value with the keypad,
6. Press to delete, and press to confirm.
7. stands for the radix point, press ＃to convert among CTCSS、DCS and reverse DCS.
Set Tx CTCSS/DCS：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and Ch Edit is shown,
Ch alias
CHANNEL 1
Ch alias
CHANNEL 1
Rx CTCSS
401.660000
Tx FRQ
401 660000
*

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3. Press to select
4. Press , is shown, enter the set of Tx CTCSS/DCS FRQ,
5．Set the Tx FRQ value with the keypad,
6. Press to delete, and press to confirm.
7. stands for the radix point, press ＃to convert among CTCSS、DCS and reverse DCS.
Set contact list：
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and contact list is shown,
3. Press to select,
4. Select the address cable of the call to be made with / ,
5．Check the alias or address code by turning the knob,
6. Key in the address code of the person you are calling,
7. Press to transmit the current contact list.
Set status:
1．As shown: in CH 1 , press to enter select mode,
2. Press / , and status is shown,
3. Press to select,
4. Select the needed status with / ,
Ch alias
CHANNEL 1
Tx CTCSS
XXXX
*

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5．Check the alias or address code of the status by turning the knob,
6. Press to select the current status.
Programmable Button functions
The dealer can program the 2 Side Buttons and 1 top Button with one of the following auxiliary functions.
None
Off (“do not set the functions”)
Scan
Lone working
Contact list
Power selector
Show or hide the channel alias
Busy Channel Lockout (BCL)
Key lock
Squelch level selector
Companding
Scrambler
Battery power
Zone
Monitoring
Cancel Squelch
Emergency Alert
Back light
Rptr/Talkarnd
Express select channel 1
Express select channel 2
Call 1, 2, 3 or 4
Channel lock
Adjust display contrast
Notes: programmable key can be set as short press or long press.
The following functions can be programmed by the dealer:
None
Set of None
Scan
Press the button set as Scan to start scanning. When carrier wave scan is enabled. While in scanning, the radio
checks every channel (any channel in any zone) and stops on the channel on which a signal is detected until that
signal disappears. If interval between signal disappearing and continuing scanning has been preset, the radio will

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Zone 0 L
CHANNEL 1
Zone 0 M
CHANNEL 1
remain on that channel. Only when there are two channels added in the scan list and the scan function has been
activated, the radio can start scanning.
It can be set as: short press: scan, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once to start scanning (it should be effective in the channel scan list).
2. Press once to quit.
Notes: there are 8 zones from 0 (default zone) to 7; and there can be as many as 128 channels in each
zone. There are totally 16 scan lists; you can select any scan list. Every scan list can scan any channels
in different zones (16 channels to the most).
Lone working
Press the button set as Lone working to start lone working. This mode is to ensure the safety of the user while
using the transceiver separately.
It can be set as: short press: personal working, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once to start personal working;
2. Press once again to quit.
Notes: the lone working is connected with the automotive checking in the programming software, and
will be effective when both are set.
Contact list
Enter the Contact list quickly:
It can be set as: short press: contact list, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once to enter the contact list Call
2. Press again to enter the content interface of the contact list,
3. Select the options in the contact list with /
4. Press PTT to transmit
5. Press to quit.
Power select
Rotate the “channel selector” to enter the “power level” menu quickly. There are high, middle and low levels.
It can be set as: short press: power select, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once, will be shown,
2. Press it again, will be shown,

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Zone 0 M
CHANNEL 1
3. Press it a third time, will be shown.
Busy Channel Lockout (BCL)
Busy Channel Lockout can prevent you from interfering other radios that using the same channel.
Press the PTT button, if the channel is busy, the radio with BCL function active will make warning sound and
prohibit transmitting. To stop the warning sound, please release the PTT button and the radio returns to receiving
mode.
It can be set as: short press : Busy Channel Lockout, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once, will be shown,
2. Select the character you need with / , e.g.:
3、Press toconfirm.
Key lock
Press the key programmed as “key lock” for one second to lock/unlock the keys for the transceiver.
It can be set as: short press: key lock, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once, will be shown,
2. Press it again, will be shown.
Squelch level Selector
Enter the “Select squelch level” rapidly, 0~9 levels are available with the channel selector.
It can be set as: short press: Select squelch level, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once,
will be shown,
2. Select squelch level with / , e.g.:
3. Press to confirm.
BCL none
BCL none
BCL carry？
BCL Carry PL?
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5

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Companding
Enter the Companding mode when press the key programmed as “Companding”,
It can be set as: short press: Companding, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once to open the Companding mode,
will be shown,
2. Cancel the mode by pressing it again, will be shown.
Scrambler
Press the key programmed as “scrambler” to prevent any third party to hear you talking on the phone.
It can be set as: short press: scrambler, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once to open the scrambler mode,
will be shown,
2. Cancel the mode by pressing it again,
will be shown.
Battery volume checking
Display the battery power.
It can be set as: short press: battery power checking, long press：off.
1. Press the programmable key once: the battery power will be shown,
2. Press again: close the display.
Zone
CHANNEL 1
Zone
CHANNEL 1
CHANNEL 1
CHANNEL 1