TCL T538 User manual

1
BASIC OPERATIONS
PHONE LAYOUT
SPECIFICATIONS
GETTING STARTED
MAKING AND ANSWERING CALLS
FEATURES MENU
ENTRY METHODS
SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONS
APPENDIX I : TROUBLESHOOTING
APPENDIX II : ABBREVIATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
Note: TCL reserves the right to change or improve the product's design, specifications, and other
descriptions in this manual without prior notice. TCL also reserves the final explanation right for this
manual.

2
1BASIC OPERATIONS
Please read and fully understand this manual before using your phone. This chapter
addresses the basics of setting up your T538 phone, its keys and display icons, and
charging and proper use of the battery.
Be careful when handling, inserting and removing the SIM card. The card and its contents
can be easily scratched or bent. Keep all miniature SIM cards out of the reach of children.
1. Turn the handset over and remove the battery by pulling up the battery lock.
Installing the SIM Card and Battery
TCL

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1
BASIC OPERATIONS
2 .Gently insert the SIM card into the SIM card
holder. Make sure that the SIM card is properly
inserted and that the golden contact area on the
card is facing downward.
Switching ON
To turn your phone on, press and hold the POWER key .
Once the phone is ON, it will automatically search the network. When the handset is
registered in a network, the network name will be displayed on the screen. You are now
ready to make and answer calls. If Please insert SIM card appears on the display,
turn the phone off by pressing and holding the . Following the instructions on page 2,
remove the battery and install your SIM card in the designated slot. If a password or PIN
code is required, enter the correct password. For security purposes, the code will not be
visible as you type. Then, press the Left Soft Key for confirmation. After the phone

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1BASIC OPERATIONS
is unlocked, the handset will indicate the name of the registered network and the signal
intensity.
Please contact your network supplier if you do not know your PIN code. The handset
default password is 1234
To turn off the handset, press and hold the POWER key
The handset will be switched off after the log-off animation. Do not attempt to switch off
the phone by directly removing the battery. This may result in SIM card memory loss.
Press the CALL key to answer an incoming call and to make
a call after entering the phone numbers. In standby mode, press the CALL key to
display the latest call records (all answered, missed and dialed calls, maximum 30
numbers). Press CALL twice to dial a selected record. Press POWER key to end a
call or to return to standby mode from menu. POWER button also serves as power
on/off button when pressed and held for 2 seconds.
Switching OFF
Communication Control Keys
.
CALL/ POWER Keys:

1
BASIC OPERATIONS
0
+
DIRECTION Keys and Right/Left Soft Keys:
Numeric Keys:
To navigate the main menu or browse
menu items from standby mode, press the Direction Key . To access the phone book
directly, press the Left Soft Key .
Keys from to , , and are used to dial numbers and
enter passwords, English letters, symbols, characters etc. They can also be used to select
menus. Press and hold to keys for more than 2 seconds to quickly dial the phone
number correspondingly to the shortcut key. (Please see Section 6.3 for shortcut key
setup).
Main Screen Display Icons
Antenna.
Signal Intensity. The more lines, the higher the signal strength
Keypad lock.
Alarm clock is enabled.
Voice mailbox. Icon flashing means message storage is full.
Battery strength indicator.
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1BASIC OPERATIONS
6
While using the handset, some of the following symbols may appear:
Ring.
Ring after vibrate.
Vibrate mode.
Mute mode.
Access the phone book function.
You have unread messages or info message (or also known as cell broadcasts)
.
Ringer is set to audible ring.
Vibrate. mode
Ring after vibrate.
Mute mode.
The T538 supports the STK (SIM Tool Kit) function, and the menu items are pre-
determined by your SIM card provider.
Receiving Prompt Modes
STK Function

1
BASIC OPERATIONS
7
In this case, the STK menu will be added automatically to the end of the handset's main
menu accordingly.
If you turn off the handset and remove the battery, you will see the bar code label at the
back of the handset. To display the code from standby mode, enter *#06#. It is required
by law to have this identification code printed on your phone. The IMEI code for each
handset is unique globally.
This handset has Enhanced Full Rate Coding function. It does not need to be preset. If this
service is provided by your network, the handset will automatically detect it and activate
the function, supplying you with good sound quality and high receptivity.
Identity)IMEI (International Mobile Equipment
Enhanced Full Rate Coding (EFR)

2PHONE LAYOUT
8
This handset has a 128 64 LCD white and black display screen.
The Front Schematic Layout The Back Schematic Layout
Note: Call key & Left soft key are actually 2 sides of the same key.

3
SPECIFICATIONS
9
Size
Weight
Volume
Bands
LCD
System Connector
SIM
Battery
Battery Life
Travel Charger
Short Message Service (SMS)
T9
Phone Book
SPECIFICATIONS
79x42x16.5 mm
65g
55cc
GSM 900/DCS1800/PCS1900 Tri- Band
128x64 LCD
DC jack, earphone jack
STK (Sim Tool Kit)
Standard Li-Ion 550 mAh
Talk time 4 hours, Standby time 150 hours
5V DC; 110-220 V AC Adaptor
Point to Point SMS
Predictive text input
200 entries
PARAMETERS

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3
Speed Dial
Call Features
Call List
Keypad Lock
Languages
Game
Calculator
9 locations
Call Waiting, Call Forwarding
10 missed, 10 dialed, 10 received
Yes
English
Yes
Yes
SPECIFICATIONS
For body worn operation this phone has been tested and meets FCC RF
exposure guidelines when used with an accessory that contains no metal
and that positions the handset a minimum of 1.5 cm from the body. Use of
other accessories may not ensure compliance with FCC RF exposur

Charging the battery
Your battery. Charging the
battery before using the phone for the first time. In order to use the battery at its optimum
mode, we recommend completely draining the battery once a month. To do so, simply
keep your phone on until the battery runs out. To charge the battery, attach it to the phone,
then, connect the supplied AC adapter. Make sure the direction sign is facing upward.
When the handset is charging, the battery indicator increases gradually from right to left.
The handset can be charged while powered ON or OFF. When the battery is fully charged,
the battery indicator will show a full grid. To remove from the power supply from the
phone, unplug the handset from the cable by pressing the buttons on both sides.
TCL wireless T538 is equipped with a Lithium Ion(Li-Ion)
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4
GETTING STARTED
Notes on Charging:
When charging the battery, avoid:
Charging for long periods of time. It will reduce battery life.
Charging in temperatures below 32 F(0 C)or over 104 F (40 C).
Charging the battery in direct sunlight or in places with high humidity (suchas
bathroom).
o o o o

12
4
Type of battery Talking timeStandby time
Li-ion battery 150-250 minutes50-150 hours
GETTING STARTED
Do not expose the battery to temperatures above140 F (60 ). For example, do not
leave the battery in direct sunlight on the dashboard of a vehicle.
It is normal for the battery to become slightly warm during charging or using.
Be sure to switch off the handset before unloading the battery. It may shorten the
lifespan of the handset and the saved data may be lost.
Checking the Battery
Battery standby and talk times are subject to your handset usage and configuration.
When the battery is low, the handset will give off a warning tone and display Low
Battery on the screen. When the power is completely drained, the handset will
automatically switch off.
Note: Use only the battery & charger approved by the manufacture. Only use the battery for its original
purpose. Do not dispose of battery in fire. Do not attempt to disassemble the battery. Do not short circuit
the battery by carrying it in your purse or pocket with other metallic object such as coins, clips or pens.
This may critically damage the battery.

5
MAKING AND ANSWERING CALLS
13
Making Calls
Dial with Shortcut Key
Use the number buttons to enter the phone number. If you enter the wrong digit, press the
Right Soft Key to delete the number or press and hold to clear the entire entry. When a
call is established, you will hear a connecting prompt tone. Call meter or call charge will
be displayed on the screen. If the call does not connect, it might be one of two reasons:
The phone number is busy or the network dos not have a spare line.
Your phone number has been blocked by the receiving party.
LINE BUSY:
REFUSED:
The T538 includes Speed Dial, which allows you to dial a number by pressing and
holding its Speed Dial location number. To store a number in Speed Dial:
This case, you can make a quick call by pressing and holding the to key in
standby mode.
Note: To use speed dial, you must press and hold the corresponding memory number for
more than two seconds.

5MAKING AND ANSWERING CALLS
14
View Last Numbers
The handset automatically saves information about the last 10 outgoing calls, the last 10
incoming calls and the last 10 missed calls.
To display the latest numbers from standby mode, press and hold the CALL key . To
directly dial a number on the list, select the contact with the DIRECTION Key then
press the CALL key again.
When DTMF (Dual Tone Multiple Frequency) function is set, the numeric key you
entered from the keypad and key will be transmitted to the recipient as DTMF tone.
To mute the microphone during a call, press the Right Soft Key . Call Mute will
appear in the lower right corner of the screen, and the person you're speaking with won't
be able to hear you, but you will be able to hear him. To enable the microphone, press the
Right Soft Key again. To end the call, press the POWER KEY .
Send the DTMF
Mute Function

5
MAKING AND ANSWERING CALLS
15
Call Waiting
Call Waiting notifies you of an incoming call when you are on the phone by sounding a
beep and displaying the caller's phone number on the screen. This service is system
dependent. Contact your service provider for additional information. To display the
following menu options during a call, press the Left Soft Key :
To adjust sound volume.
To place an ongoing call on hold, then make another call.
To end the current call.
To shut off the microphone.
To enable/disable function for calling another extension.
To access phone book and message menu.
To access conference call.
Press the DIRECTION key to switch between the two calls. If the current call is put
on hold, another function menu can occur by pressing the Left Soft Key during the call:
To adjust sound volume.
To hold/activate the call.
To end the current call.
To shut off the microphone.
Volume:
Hold:
End current call:
Mute:
DTMF :
Main menu:
Multiparty:
Volume:
Switch:
End current call:
Mute:
On/Off

5MAKING AND ANSWERING CALLS
16
To enable/disable function for calling another extension.
To access phone book and message.
To access conference call.
Press POWER key to hang up all calls.
When a new message arrives, the message list will appear on the display. To access the
list and read the message(s), press the DIRECTION key and the Left Soft Key .
When you miss an incoming call, the missed calls will appear on the display. To access
the list and view the call details, press the DIRECTION key and the Left Soft Key .
When a cell broadcast arrives, the broadcast list will appear on the display. To access the
list and read the broadcast(s), press the DIRECTION key and the Left Sot Key .
DTMF On /Off :
Main menu:
Multiparty:
Read Short Message
Missed Calls
Cell Broadcast

5
MAKING AND ANSWERING CALLS
17
Connect to Voice Mailbox
Answer Calls
The handset allows you to forward the incoming calls to a voice mailbox. The number of
the voice mailbox center must be preset. To program your voice mailbox, select the Voice
Mail option in the Messages Menu.
Depending on your handset settings, you will be notified of an incoming call in one of the
following ways: ringing, vibrating or backlight flashing.
To select your ring tone select Profiles in the main menu, then select Edit Profile. Using
the DIRECTION key , select a user profile from Outdoor, Car, Silent, User and Meeting.
Press the Right Soft Key (Edit) then select Ringing Tones.
If you have Caller ID, the phone number of the incoming call will appear on the screen. If
the number is saved in your phone book, the name will also spear on the screen.

6FEATURES MENU
6.1 Message Functions
The T538 supports the Short Message Service, a system dependent feature. Unless it is
already included in your service, you may have to subscribe to this feature from your
service provider in order to transmit and receive short messages. The handset also supports
enhanced Short Message Service (EMS), which means you can receive messages with
attachments such as pictures, ring
If the short message memory is not full, the message will be directly saved to the SIM card.
If memory is full, the will flash in the top row of the main screen. When viewing or
editing a message, press the DIRECTION key to scroll through the message pages,
then press and hold the DIRECTION key to move the cursor on a character basis.
tones and animation.
You can view the received messages in Inbox, press to access the inbox menu.
Inbox
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6
FEATURES MENU
To access short message edit box.
To delete the current message(s).
To forward the message to another person.
To save the received message in the Favorite.
To reply to the received message in text.
To reply to the received message in voice.
You can read the message(s) here before you send it.
You can create new message(s) in this menu. The 'input text 'indicator will appear
when you choose this function. And you will see the menu below after you have
entered text, press the Left Soft Key to select the following options:
To handle the message.
To transmit message(s). You can input the phone number directly, or press
the DIRECTION key to access the phone book list to select the number.
To save the edited message in the SIM card.
To save the edited message in the Favorite of your handset.
Edit:
Delete:
Forward:
Archive:
Text reply:
Voice call:
Done:
Send:
Save:
Archive:
Outbox
Write messages
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The following options are available when inputting information: MultiTap,
T9Spanish, T9 Symbols, T9 Numbers, T9 English.
Pictures, Animations, Melodies, Messages, Emotions.
You can save messages in the handset. Under the root directory, press the CALL key to
access the directory and the subfolder list. You can create, save, delete, edit, rename, etc. a
file or a folder as required. After accessing the Favorite menu, press the Left Soft Key
for the following options:
To provide type of files, total and residual space, etc.
To delete the selected files or folders.
To rename a selected file or folder.
To create a new folder under the current directory.
To set message parameters, select Message Settings in the Messages Menu. Menu options
include:
T9 Options:
Insert Item:
Info:
Delete:
Rename:
New folder:
Favorites
Message settings
6FEATURES MENU
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