Renkforce RF-ARA-300 User manual

Operating Instructions
RF-ARA-300 Car Radio
Item No. 2373345

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Table of contents
Page
1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................3
2. Description of symbols.........................................................................................................................................3
3. Intended use........................................................................................................................................................4
4. Delivery content...................................................................................................................................................4
5. Safety information................................................................................................................................................5
6. Features and functions ........................................................................................................................................6
7. Overview..............................................................................................................................................................7
8. Mechanical installation.........................................................................................................................................8
a) Installation into the radio recess....................................................................................................................8
b) Removal ........................................................................................................................................................9
c) DAB antenna .................................................................................................................................................9
9. Electrical connection..........................................................................................................................................10
a) Connecting the antennas............................................................................................................................. 11
b) Connecting the LINE outputs....................................................................................................................... 11
c) AUX port...................................................................................................................................................... 11
d) Connecting the speakers and the power supply..........................................................................................12
10. Operation...........................................................................................................................................................13
a) General operation........................................................................................................................................13
b) Menu settings ..............................................................................................................................................14
c) Using the DAB radio....................................................................................................................................17
d) Using the FM radio ......................................................................................................................................18
e) USB/memory card operation .......................................................................................................................20
f) Bluetooth®operation....................................................................................................................................22
11. Maintenance and cleaning.................................................................................................................................24
a) Changing the fuse .......................................................................................................................................24
b) Cleaning ......................................................................................................................................................24
12. Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................................................24
13. Declaration of Conformity (DOC).......................................................................................................................26
14. Disposal.............................................................................................................................................................26
15. Technical data....................................................................................................................................................27

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1. Introduction
Dear customer,
Thank you for purchasing this product.
This product complies with statutory, national and European regulations.
To ensure that the product remains in this state and to guarantee safe operation, always follow the instructions in this
manual.
These operating instructions are part of this product. They contain important information on setting up and
using the product. Do not give this product to a third party without the operating instructions. Therefore,
retain these operating instructions for reference!
If there are any technical questions, please contact:
International: www.conrad.com/contact
United Kingdom: www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/contact
2. Description of symbols
The symbol with an exclamation mark in a triangle is used to highlight important information in these
operating instructions. Always read this information carefully.
The arrow symbol indicates special information and tips on how to use the product.

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3. Intended use
With the Renkforce car radio, you can receive radio programmes in vehicles, play audio data from suitable media
and amplify and play audio signals. It also serves as a hands-free set and a playback device for Bluetooth®-capable
mobile phones.
The device must be connected to speakers for playback.
This product is only approved for the connection to 12 V direct current vehicle electrical system with the negative pole
of the battery to the car body. The car radio must only be installed and operated in vehicles with this kind of on-board
voltage.
The user must make sure that the way the product is installed protects the product from humidity and wetness.
Contact with moisture must be avoided at all times.
For safety and approval purposes, do not rebuild and/or modify this product. Using the product for purposes other than
those described above may damage the product. In addition, improper use can cause hazards such as a short circuit
or re. Read the operating instructions carefully and store them in a safe place. Only make this product available to
third parties together with its operating instructions.
Bluetooth®is a registered trademark of Bluetooth®SIG, Inc. The use of this word mark has been licensed.
Other brand names and trade names are trademarks of the respective owners. All rights reserved.
4. Delivery content
• Car radio
• DAB antenna
• Installation frame
• 2x unlocking keys
• Set of connecting cables
• Operating instructions
Up-to-date operating instructions
Download the latest operating instructions at www.conrad.com/downloads or scan the QR code
shown. Follow the instructions on the website.

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5. Safety information
Read the operating instructions carefully and observe in particular the safety instructions. If
you do not follow the safety information and information on proper handling in these operating
instructions, we will assume no liability for any resulting personal injury or damage to property.
Such cases will invalidate the warranty/guarantee.
• This product is not a toy. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
• Do not leave packaging material lying around carelessly. It may become a dangerous plaything for
children.
• The product must be protected from strong vibrations, high humidity, moisture, ammable gases,
vapours, and solvents.
• Do not place the product under any mechanical stress.
• If it is no longer possible to operate the product safely, stop using it and prevent unauthorised use. Safe
operation can no longer be guaranteed if the product:
- is visibly damaged,
- is no longer working properly,
- has been stored for extended periods in poor ambient conditions or
- has been subjected to any serious transport-related stress.
• Handle the product carefully. It can be damaged by impact, blows, or by being dropped, even from a
low height.
• Always observe the safety information and operating instructions of any other devices which are
connected to the product.
• In addition, observe the additional safety information in each section of these instructions.
• Consult a technician if you are not sure how to use or connect the product, or if you have concerns
about safety.
• Maintenance, modications and repairs must be carried out by a technician or a specialist repair centre.
Never open the device.
• If you have questions which remain unanswered by these operating instructions, contact our technical
support service or other technical personnel.
• Only use the product in temperate climates. It is not suitable for use in tropical climates.
• If the volume inside your car is too high, you will not hear acoustic warning signals. This constitutes a
danger to yourself and to other road users. Therefore, ensure the volume is at a suitable level.
• Inattentiveness on the road might involve serious accidents. Only use the car audio under suitable trafc
conditions so that you cannot get distracted from what is happening on the road while driving.
• Do not listen to too loud music over an extended time. This may damage your hearing.

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6. Features and functions
• DAB+ receiver for digital radio reception
• FM radio module with RDS function
• USB and SD interface
• Bluetooth®hands-free set
• Music playback via Bluetooth®interface (A2DP)
• High output power (4 x 40 W max.)
• Preamp output for the connection of a power amplier
• Port for external audio sources on the front panel
• Electronic volume, bass, treble, fader and balance control
• Digital signal processor for the adaptation of the sound characteristics to various music styles
• Loudness function
• Exact electronic tuning of the FM stations using PLL tuner
• 24 programmable station memory slots (18x FM, 6x DAB)
• Manual and automatic station search (both directions)
• Automatic storage of stations
• ID3 tag display
• ISO terminal

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7. Overview
1 button
2 F/PS/ button
3 MOD/ button
4 RESET button
5 Display
6 Hands-free microphone
7 SD card reader
8 PWR/MUT button
9 button
10 Knob
11 BND/ID3 button
12 1/ button
13 2/INT button
14 3/RPT button
15 4/RDM button
16 5/ button
17 6/ button
18 AUX port
19 USB port
20 DAB antenna port
21 ISO terminal
22 Fuse
23 LINE outputs
24 FM antenna port
AUX
PWR
MUT
MOD
B ND
ID3
F/PS
5 6
1 2 INT 4 RDM
3 RPT
RESET
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
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21 22 23 24

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8. Mechanical installation
An installation cut-out for the car radio is provided in most vehicles. The choice of the installation location depends on
safety aspects. Therefore we recommend that you actually install the car radio in this place.
The device requires a DIN installation cut-out with the dimensions 182 x 53 mm; these dimensions are standardised
and most vehicle manufacturers comply with them.
Should there be no installation cut-out, please consult your car dealer about the correct place of installation for your
car radio.
Please select the place of installation carefully so that the device neither impedes the driver nor distracts
them from what is happening on the road.
Use the supplied installation material to guarantee a safe installation.
Any modications to the vehicle that become necessary due to the installation of the car radio or other
components must always be carried out in such a manner that neither trafc safety nor the car stability is
affected. In most cases, cutting out a piece of sheet metal will render the type approval null and void.
Since the device becomes hot during operation, the place of installation must be heat-resistant.
Make sure before drilling the attachment holes that no electric cables, brake lines, fuel tank or similar can
be damaged.
When using tools to install your car's hi- components, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
When installing the car hi- system, consider the risk of accident which can arise from devices being torn
away in the case of an accident. Therefore, you should secure each component in a place where it cannot
be dangerous to passengers.
Before you install the device, check the depth of the installation recess. A minimum depth of 100 mm is
required for installation.
a) Installation into the radio recess
• Unlock the installation frame with the two unlocking keys (gure 1, item 1).
• Remove the installation frame towards the back of the device (gure 1, item 2).
• Insert the installation frame into the respective cut-out in the vehicle (g. 2).
• Bend down some clips in the installation frame until the frame is securely fastened in the recess (g. 3).
• When you have made all the electrical contacts (see “Electric Connection”), insert the device into the installation
frame until it locks in (g. 4).
Keep the two unlocking keys in a safe place. You will need them for a later removal of the device.

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b) Removal
• Unlock the device by inserting the two unlocking keys into the slots on the side of the device frame.
• Carefully pull the car radio out of the installation frame.
• Loosen all plug connectors on the back of the device.
c) DAB antenna
For adhesive installation, a minimum temperature of 15 °C is required. Clean the adhesive areas with a
suitable cleaner (e.g. rubbing alcohol) before installation.
The antenna should not be attached in the area of metallised windscreen parts or close to heating wires.
Do not attach the antenna within the driver's eld of view. It should not interfere with the driver's clear view
of the road.
Select the place of installation with due regard to the length of the connecting cables. They should be long
enough to reach the site of installation of the car radio.
The DAB antenna and connecting cables must never be installed within the release range of an air bag.

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• The antenna should be mounted within the upper corner of the windscreen and A-pillar (at the top right from the
driver's perspective).
• Use the picture below to determine the mounting position.
150 mm
70 mm
• The black electronics box and antenna wire should be attached to the windscreen and the copper-coloured ground
plane to a metal part of the windscreen frame. Make sure the coating of the metal part of the windscreen frame is
intact in doing so.
• Peel off the protective lms and attach the antenna such that the cable outlet faces the covering of the A-pillar.
• Once attached, the antenna should not be subject to any mechanical strain for 24 hours.
• The connecting cables must be guided to the car radio installation recess.
9. Electrical connection
Electrical connection must always be carried out by a specialist.
To avoid short-circuits and resulting damages to the device, the negative pole (ground) of the vehicle
battery must be disconnected during electrical connection. Only connect the negative pole of the battery
when you have completely connected the device and checked the connections.
Use only a voltmeter or a diode test lamp to check the voltage of the vehicle system leads, as regular test
lamps consume excessive voltage and may thus damage the vehicle's electronics.
When laying the cables, make sure they are not squeezed or abraded on sharp edges. Use rubber
grommets for the lead-though points.
The line towards the speakers must be a bilar cable. Insulate the bare wires at the connecting terminals.
Ensure there are no sharp edges that may damage the cables. Ensure that your speakers have a
sufciently high power rating (see “Technical data”). Ensure that all the speakers have the correct polarity,
i.e. the plus and minus marks must match. The connecting cables of the speakers are usually coded: Some
manufacturers mark the (+) line with an additional colour band. Others use a corrugated line for the (+) pole
and a smooth one for the (-) pole. The system was designed for the operation at speaker impedances of at
least 4 Ohm. Never connect speakers with a lower impedance.