Vertex Standard VX-920 series User manual

VX-920
OPERATING MANUAL
VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD.
4-8-8 Nakameguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 153-8644, Japan
VERTEX STANDARD
US Headquarters
10900 Walker Street, Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A.
YAESU EUROPE B.V.
P.O. Box 75525, 1118 ZN Schiphol, The Netherlands
YAESU UK LTD.
Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Close
Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K.
VERTEX STANDARD HK LTD.
Unit 5, 20/F., Seaview Centre, 139-141 Hoi Bun Road,
Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Warning! FCC RF Exposure Requirements ............... 1
Controls & Connectors ................................................. 2
Before You Begin ........................................................... 3
Operation ....................................................................... 4
Advanced Operation ..................................................... 8
Programmable Key and Toggle Switch Functions ............. 8
Descriptipon of Operating Functions ............................... 9
ARTS (Auto Range Transpond System) .................... 14
DTMF Paging System ................................................. 14
Optional Accessories .................................................... 15
CONTENTS
Important Notice for North American Users Regarding 406 MHz Guard Band
The U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have requested the
cooperation of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in preserving the integrity of the protected
frequency range 406.0 to 406.1 MHz, which is reserved for use by distress beacons. Do not attempt to
program this apparatus, under any circumstances, for operation in the frequency range 406.0 - 406.1 MHz if
the apparatus is to be used in or near North America.
Warning - Frequency band 406 - 406.1 MHz is reserved for use ONLY as a distress beacon by the US
Coast Guard and NOAA. Under no circumstance should this frequency band be part of the
preprogrammed operating frequencies of this radio.
Congratulations!
You now have at your fingertips a valuable communications tool-a VERTEX STANDARD two-way radio! Rugged,
reliable and easy to use, your VERTEX STANDARD radio will keep you in constant touch with your colleagues for
years to come, with negligible maintenance down-time.
Please take a few minutes to read this manual carefully. The information presented here will allow you to derive
maximum performance from your radio, in case questions arise later on.
We’re glad you joined the VERTEX STANDARD team. Call on us anytime, because communications is our business.
Let us help you get your message across.
Notice!: There are no owner-serviceable parts inside the radio. All service jobs must be referred to an authorized
VERTEX STANDARD Service Representative. Consult your Authorized VERTEX STANDARD Dealer for installa-
tion of optional accessories.

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 1
WARNING! FCC RF EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS
FCC RF Exposure Compliance Requirements for Occupational Use Only:
This Radio has been tested and complies with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF exposure
limits for Occupational Use/Controlled exposure environment. In addition, it complies with the following
Standards and Guidelines:
FCC 96-326, Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental Effects of Radio-Frequency Radiation.
FCC OET Bulletin 65 Edition 97-01 (1997) Supplement C, Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines
for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields.
ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992, IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Fre-
quency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
ANSI/IEEE C95.3-1992, IEEE Recommended Practice for the Measurement of Potentially Hazardous Elec-
tromagnetic Fields - RF and Microwave.
This radio is NOT approved for use by the general population in an uncontrolled exposure environ-
ment. This radio is restricted to occupational use, work related operations only where the radio op-
erator must have the knowledge to control his or her RF exposure conditions.
When transmitting, hold the radio in a vertical position with its microphone 2 inches (5 cm) away
from your mouth and keep the antenna at least 2 inches (5 cm) away from your head and body.
The radio must be used with a maximum operating duty cycle not exceeding 50%, in typical Push-to-
Talk configurations.
DO NOT transmit for more than 50% of total radio use time (50% duty cycle). Transmitting more
than 50% of the time can cause FCC RF exposure compliance requirements to be exceeded.
The radio is transmitting when the red LED on the top of the radio is illuminated. You can cause the
radio to transmit by pressing the P-T-T button.
SAR compliance for body-worn use was only demonstrated for the specific belt-clip Part Number
(#RA060190A). Other body-worn accessories or configurations may NOT comply with the FCC RF
exposure requirements and should be avoided.
Always use Vertex Standard authorized accessories.

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
2
SIDE SEL 1 Key
PTT Switch
MONITOR Button
SIDE SEL 2 Button
MIC/SP Jack
(External MIC/SP)
Sub Microphone
(Noise Canceling MIC)
Battery Pack LatchMain Microphone
LED Indicator
Steady Red:
Transmitting in progress
Steady Green:
Busy Channel
Blinking Green:
Tone Squelch in defeated condition
Dealer Programmed ColorÚ:
Emergency, 5-Tone Decoded, or
2-Tone Decoded
Speaker
Antenna Jack
TOP SEL Key
CH (Channel)Selector
VOL/PWR Knob
TOGGLE Switch
Ú: one of “Flashing in white,”
“Continuation changes in
sequential colors,” or “tog-
gling the two colors.”
CONTROLS & CONNECTORS

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 3
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Battery Pack Installation and Removal
To install the battery, hold the transceiver with
your left hand, so your palm is over the speaker
and your thumb is on the top of the belt clip. Care-
fully mate the battery’s four insertion slots with
their corresponding alignment tabs on the trans-
ceiver case, while tilting the Belt Clip outward.
Proper alignment occurs with the battery pack
offset about 1/2 inch from the top edge of the bat-
tery compartment.
Guide the pack on to the tabs with a slight inward
pressure, then slide the battery pack upward, un-
til it locks in place with a “Click.”
To remove the battery, turn the radio off and re-
move any protective cases. Slide the Battery Pack
Latch on the bottom of the radio toward the front
panel while sliding the battery down about 1/2
inch. Then lift the battery out from the radio while
unfolding the Belt Clip.
Do not attempt to open any of the recharge-
able Lithium-Ion packs, as they could ex-
plode if accidentally short-circuited.
Low Battery Indication
As the battery discharges during use, the voltage
gradually becomes lower. When the battery voltage
becomes to low, substitute a freshly charged battery
and recharge the depleted pack. The LED indicator
on the top of the radio will blink red when the bat-
tery voltage is low.
Caution
Danger of explosion if battery is replaced with
an incorrect battery. Replace only with the same
or equivalent type.
Tilt the Belt Clip
Insert the Battery Pack

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
4
OPERATION
Preliminary Steps
Install a charged battery pack
onto the transceiver, as de-
scribed previously.
Screw the supplied antenna
onto the Antenna jack. Never
attempt to operate this trans-
ceiver without an antenna con-
nected.
If you have a Speaker/Micro-
phone, we recommend that it not be connected
until you are familiar with the basic operation of
the VX-920.
Operation Quick Start
Turn the top panel’s
VOL/PWR knob clock-
wise to turn on the radio
on.
Turn the top panel’s CH
selector knob to choose
the desired operating
channel.
ÆÆ Æ

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 5
Rotate the VOL/PWR
knob to set the volume
level. If no signal is
present, press and hold in
the MONITOR button
(under the PTT switch)
more than 2 seconds;
background noise will
now be heard, and you
may use this to set the
VOL/PWR knob for the
desired audio level. Press
and hold the MONITOR button more than 2 sec-
onds (or press the MONITOR button twice) to
quiet the noise and resume normal (quiet) moni-
toring.
To transmit, monitor the
channel and make sure it
is clear.
THIS IS AN FCC
REQUIRMENT!
Press and hold the PTT
switch. Speak into the microphone area of the
front panel grille in a normal voice level. To re-
turn to the Receive mode, release the PTT switch.
Press the (Orange) TOP
SEL key or SIDE SEL 1
key (above the PTT
switch) to activate one of
the preprogrammed func-
tions which may have
been enabled at the time
of programming by the
dealer. See the next sec-
tion for details regarding
the available features.
Switch the top panel’s
TOGGLE switch to the
[A], [B], or [Center]po-
sition to activate one of
the pre-programmed
functions which may
have been enabled at the time of programming
by the dealer. When this switch is in the [A(left)],
[B(right)], or [Center]position, the feature pro-
grammed (by your dealer) to that switch position
will be activated. See the next section for details
regarding the available features.
OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
6
If a Speaker/Microphone is available, remove the
plastic cap and its two mounting screws from the
right side of the transceiver, then align the con-
nector of the Speaker/Microphone on the trans-
ceiver body; secure the connector pin using the
screws supplied with the Speaker/Microphone.
Hold the speaker grille up next to your ear while
receiving. To transmit, press the PTT switch on
the Speaker/Microphone, just as you would on
the main transceiver’s body, and speak into the
microphone on a normal voice level.
Note 1): Save the original plastic cap and its
mounting screws. They should be reinstalled
when not using the Speaker/Microphone.
2) When you press the PTT switch on the
Speaker/Microphone, it disables the internal mi-
crophone, and vice versa.
If the Busy Channel Lockout feature has been
programmed on a channel, the radio will not trans-
mit when a carrier is present. Instead, the radio
will generate short beep three times. Release the
PTT switch and wait for the channel to be clear
of activity.
If CTCSS or Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) Lock-
out has been programmed on a channel, the radio
can transmit only when there is no carrier being
received or when the carrier being received in-
cludes the correct CTCSS tone or DCS code.
Automatic Time-Out Timer
If the selected channel has been programmed for
automatic time-out, you must limit the length of each
transmission. While transmitting, a beep will sound
10 seconds before time-out. Another beep will sound
just before the deadline; the “TX” indicator will dis-
appear and transmission will cease soon thereafter.
To resume transmitting, you must release the PTT
switch and wait for the “penalty timer” to expire.
OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 7
NOTE

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
8
ADVANCED OPERATION
Programmable Key and
Toggle Switch Functions
The VX-920 includes the TOP SEL, MONITOR,
SIDE SEL 1, and SIDE SEL 2 keys, and the
TOGGLE switch. The Programmable key and
TOGGLE switch functions can be customized, via
programming by your VERTEX STANDARD dealer,
to meet your communications/network requirements.
Some features may require the purchase and instal-
lation of optional internal accessories. The possible
Programmable key and TOGGLE switch program-
ming features are illustrated at the right, and their
functions are explained on the next page. For further
details, contact your VERTEX STANDARD dealer.
FUNCTION
None
Monitor
Scan
Dual Watch
High/Low Power
Talk Around
TX Save Disable
Encryption DisableÚ1
Follow-Me Scan
Follow-Me Dual Watch
Call/Reset
Call 1
Call 2
Call 3
Call 4
Call 5
Option SW 1
Option SW 1
Emergency
REC/PLAYÚ2
AF Min Volume
Audio PC (PIT)
Lone Worker
TA Scan
TOP SEL SIDE SEL 1 MONITOR SIDE SEL 2
PROGRAMMABLE KEY
For future reference, check the box next to each func-
tion that has been assigned to the Programmable key
and TOGGLE switch on your particular radio, and
keep it handy.
Ú1: Requires FVP-35 or FVP-36 Encryption Unit
Ú2:Requires DVS-5 Voice Storage Unit
FUNCTION
None
Scan
Dual Watch
Low Power
Talk Around
TX Save Disable
Encryption DisableÚ1
Follow-Me Scan
Lock
Audio PC (PIT)
Clear Voice
Group Recall Shortcut Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
A
TOGGLE SWITCH (POSITION)
Center B
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 9
Description of Operating Functions
MONITOR
Press the assigned programmable key to cancel
CTCSS- and DCS-controlled squelch; the BUSY/
TX indicator will blink green. Press and hold this
button for 1.5 seconds to hear background noise
(unmute the audio); the BUSY/TX indicator will
glow green.
SCAN
The Scanning feature is used to monitor multiple sig-
nals programmed into the transceiver. While scan-
ning, the transceiver will check each channel for the
presence of a signal, and will stop on a channel if a
signal is present.
To activate scanning:
Press the assigned programmable key to activate
scanning.
The scanner will search the channels of each chan-
nel, looking for active ones; it will pause each
time it finds a channel on which someone is speak-
ing.
Press the assigned programmable key again to
disable scanning. Operation will revert to the pro-
grammed revert channel.
Note: Your dealer may have programmed your ra-
dio to stay on one of the following channels if you
press the PTT switch during scanning pause:
Current channel (“Talk Back”)
“Last Busy” channel
“Priority” channel
“Scan Start” channel
DUAL WATCH
The Dual Watch feature is similar to the SCAN fea-
ture, except that only two channels are monitored:
The current operating channel; and
The Priority channel.
To activate Dual Watch:
Press the assigned programmable key.
The scanner will search the two channels; it will
pause each time it finds a channel on which some-
one is speaking.
To stop Dual Watch:
Press the assigned programmable key.
Operation will revert to the “Dual Watch Start”
channel.
ADVANCED OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
10
LOW POWER
Press the assigned programmable key to set the
radio’s transmitter to the “Low Power” mode, thus
extending battery life. Press the key again to return
to “Normal” transmit power when in difficult ter-
rain.
TALK AROUND (TA)
Press the assigned programmable key to activate the
Talk Around feature when you are operating on du-
plex channel systems (separate receive and transmit
frequencies, utilizing a “repeater” station). The Talk
Around feature allows you to bypass the repeater sta-
tion and talk directly to a station that is nearby. This
feature has no effect when you are operating on “sim-
plex” channels, where the receive and transmit fre-
quencies are already the same.
Note that your dealer may have mode provision for
“Talk Around” channels by programming “repeater”
and “Talk Around” frequencies on two adjacent chan-
nels. If so, the key may be used for one of the other
Pre-Programmed Functions.
TX SAVE DISABLE
Press the assigned programmable key to disable the
Transmit Battery Saver, if you are operating in a lo-
cation where high power is almost always needed.
The Transmit Battery Saver helps extend battery life
by reducing transmit power when a very strong sig-
nal from an apparently nearby station is being re-
ceived. Under some circumstances, though, your
hand-held radio may not be heard well at the other
end of the communication path, and high power may
be necessary at all times.
ENCRYPTION DISABLE (OPTION)
When the Voice Scrambler feature is enabled, press
the assigned programmable key to toggle the voice
encryption on and off.
ADVANCED OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 11
FOLLOW-MESCAN
The “Follow-Me” Scan feature checks a User-as-
signed Priority Channel regularly as you scan other
channels. Thus, if only Channels 1, 3, and 5 (of the 8
available channels) are designated for “Scanning,”
the user may nonetheless assign Channel 2 as the
“User-assigned” Priority Channel via the “Follow-
Me” feature.
To activate “Follow-Me” scanning, first select the
channel you want to designate as the “User-Assigned
Priority Channel” and press the assigned program-
mable key. Then rotate the CH Selector knob to re-
call to the “Scanning Start” channel which has been
programmed by your dealer to activate the scanner.
When the scanner stops on an “Active” channel, the
User-assigned Priority Channel will automatically be
checked every few seconds; if activity is found on
the User-assigned Priority Channel, the radio will
switch between it and the Dealer-Assigned Priority
Channel, if any.
FOLLOW-MEDUAL WATCH
To set up a “Dual Watch” frequency pair using the
“Follow-Me” feature, select a channel using the CH
Selector knob. Now press the assigned programmable
key; pressing the assigned programmable key locks
the current channel as the User-assigned Priority
Channel. Now rotate the CH Selector knob to select
another channel (not the “Scanning Start” channel).
Your radio will now switch back-and-forth between
the currently-selected channel and the User-assigned
Priority Channel.
During “Follow-Me” scanning (after you have
pressed the key), you can set up the “Dual Watch”
feature by rotating the CH Selector knob to another
channel. The radio will then scan back and forth be-
tween the original User-assigned Priority Channel
and the newly-selected channel.
The Priority Channel you have assigned (before
pressing the key) will be retained in memory until
you change it.
ADVANCED OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
12
CALL/RESET
While the DTMF Paging System
This feature, if enabled, allows the user to change
the 3-digit Page Call code, used to call other simi-
larly-equipped stations. Press the assigned program-
mable key, followed by the three digits representing
the Page Call code of the station you wish to call.
Three tones will be heard after the last key is pressed
(the new code will now be transmitted).
The receiver squelch of the other station will be
opened, and you can begin communication.
While the 2-Tone/5-Tone Paging System
This feature, if enabled, press the assigned program-
mable key to send a 2-tone/5-tone sequential tone.
CALL 1 TO CALL 5
Press the assigned programmable key to send a 2-
tone/5-tone sequential tone group which is pre-de-
fined.
OPTION SW1
Press the assigned programmable key to toggle the
optional accessory “1” “On” and “Off.”
OPTION SW2
Press the assigned programmable key to toggle the
optional accessory “2” “On” and “Off.”
Emergency
The VX-920 series include an “Emergency” feature
which may be useful for alerting another party moni-
toring on the same frequency as your transceiver’s
channel.
Press the assigned programmable key to initiate an
emergency call. For further details contact your
Dealer.
REC/PLAY (VOICE STORAGE: OPTION)
This function allows your radio to record a received
voice message, and to play back the recorded audio.
It requires installation of the optional Voice Record-
ing Unit.
Recording;
Press the assigned programmable key for 1.5 sec-
onds to enable the Voice Recording Mode. If the in-
coming signal is received, so as to un-mute the
squelch and pass audio, then received audio will be
recorded.
ADVANCED OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL 13
Playback;
Press the assigned programmable key momentarily
to play back the last message. To stop the play-back,
press this key again.
AF MIN VR
Press the assigned programmable key to reduce the
audio output to the (lower) level programmed by your
Dealer.
AUDIO PITCH CONTROL
Press the assigned programmable key to toggle the
Audio Pitch Controller “On” and “Off.”
The Audio Pitch Controller allow you to the most
comfortable and/or effective reception in noisy en-
vironments.
LONE WORKER
Press the assigned programmable key to toggle the
Lone Worker feature “On” and “Off.”
The Lone Worker feature is designed to emit an alarm
for 30 seconds when the Lone Worker Timer (pro-
grammed by your Dealer) has expired. If the user
does not reset the timer by pressing the PTT switch,
the radio switches to the Emergency mode.
TA SCAN
Press the assigned programmable key to toggle the
TA (Talk Around) scan feature “On” and “Off.”
While TA scan is proceeding, the VX-920 will search
both the transmit and receive frequencies. When a
signal is encountered on the receive frequency, the
VX-920 will pause until the signal disappears. When
a signal is encountered on the transmit frequency,
the VX-920 will check for activity on the receive
frequency every few seconds (interval programmed
by your Dealer).
ADVANCED OPERATION

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
14
ARTS (AUTO RANGE TRANSPOND SYSTEM)
This system is designed to inform you when you and
another ARTS-equipped station are within commu-
nication range.
During ARTS operation, when the radio receives the
correct ARTS signal, a short beep will sound. If you
move out of range for more than two minutes, your
radio senses that no signal has been received; three
short beeps will sound. If you subsequently move
back into range, as soon as the other station trans-
mits, a short beep will sound.
DTMF PAGING SYSTEM
This system allows paging and selective calling, us-
ing DTMF tone sequences.
When your radio is paged by a station bearing a tone
sequence which matches yours, your radio’s squelch
will open and the alert will sound.

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
15
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
FNB-V86LI 7.4V, 1150 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
FNB-V87LI 7.4V, 2000 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
FBA-34 Alkaline Battery Case (6 x AA)
VAC-920 Desk top Rapid Charger
PA-39 AC Adapter
VT60F VX-Trunk Unit
VT60FS VX-Trunk/Encryption Unit
FVP-36 Encryption Unit
FVP-35 Encryption Unit
(Rolling Code Voice Scrambler)
DVS-5 Voice Storage Unit
MDC1200 Digital ANI Encoder Unit
VME-100 ANI Encoder Unit
VMDE-200 ANI Encoder/Decoder Unit
SRX-3 Multi Band Receiver Unit
(450-512 MHz)
SRX-4 Multi Band Receiver Unit
(134-174 MHz)
MH-65A7A Speaker/Microphone
ATV-8A VHF Antenna (134-151 MHz)
ATV-8B VHF Antenna (150-163 MHz)
ATV-8C VHF Antenna (161-174 MHz)
ATV-6XL VHF Antenna
(134-174 MHz, Untuned)
ATU-6A UHF Antenna (400-430 MHz)
ATU-6C UHF Antenna (440-470 MHz)
ATU-6D UHF Antenna (450-485 MHz)
ATU-6F UHF Antenna (485-520 MHz)
LLC-920 Leather Case
CE59 Programming Software
FIF-8 Flash ROM Writer
FIF-10A USB Interface
CT-108 PC Programming Cable (for FIF-10)
CT-109 PC Programming kit
(CT-29 + CT-115)
CT-110 PC Programming Cable (for FIF-8)
CT-115 PC Programming Cable (for VPL-1)
CT-116 Radio to Radio Programming Cable
Availability of accessories may vary; some accessories are supplied standard per local requirements, others
may be unavailable in some regions.
Check with your VERTEX STANDARD Dealer for changes to this list.

VX-920 OPERATING MANUAL
16
NOTE

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Operation is subject to the condition that this device
does not cause harmful interference.

Copyright 2005
VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD.
All rights reserved.
No portion of this manual
may be reproduced
without the permission of
VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD.
Printed in Japan
EC033N150