User's Manual

Waterproof Radio
Portable Radio Operation and EME Exposure
Antenna Care
Use only the supplied antenna. Unauthorized antennas,
modications, or attachments could damage the radio and may
violate FCC regulations.
Do NOT hold the antenna when the radio is “IN USE.” Holding
the antenna affects the effective range.
Body-Worn Operation
To maintain compliances with FCC/Health Canada RF exposure
guidelines, if you wear a radio on your body when transmitting,
always place the radio in a Olympia-supplied or approved clip,
holder, holster, case or body harness for this product. Use of
non-Olympia-approved accessories may exceed FCC/Health
Canada RF exposure guidelines.
If you do not use one of the Olympia-supplied or approved body-
worn accessories and are not using the radio held in the normal
use position, ensure the radio and its antenna are at least 1 inch
(2.5 cm) from your body when transmitting.
Electromagnetic Interference/Compatibility
Note: Nearly every electronic device is susceptible to
electromagnetic interference (EMI) if inadequately shielded,
designed or otherwise congured for electromagnetic
compatibility. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference; and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
Facilities
To avoid electromagnetic interference and/or compatibility
conicts, turn off the radio in any facility where posted notices
instruct you to do so. Hospitals, health care facilities or Airports
may be using equipment that is sensitive to external RF energy.
Aircraft
When instructed to do so, turn off the radio when onboard
on aircraft. Any use of a radio must be in accordance with
applicable regulations per airline crew instructions.
Medical Devices – Pacemakers
The Advanced Medical Technology Association recommends
that a minimum separation of 6 inches (15 cm) be maintained
between a handheld wireless radio and a pacemaker. These
recommendations are consistent with the independent
research by and recommendations of the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.
People with pacemakers should:
• ALWAYS keep the radio more than 6 inches (15 cm) from their
pacemaker when the radio is turned ON.
• Not carry the radio in the breast pocket.
• Use the ear opposite the pacemaker to minimize the potential
for interference.
• Turn the radio OFF immediately if there is any reason to
suspect that interference is taking place.
Medical Devices – Hearing Aids
Some digital wireless radios may interfere with some hearing
aids. In the event of such interference, you may want to consult
your hearing aid manufacturer to discuss alternatives.
Medical Devices - Other
If you use any other personal medical device, consult the
manufacturer of your device to determine if it is adequately
shielded from RF energy. Your physician may be able to assist
you in obtaining this information.
Safety and General Use While Driving
Check the laws and regulations regarding the use of radios in
the area where you drive, and always obey them. If you do use
the radio while driving, please:
• Give full attention to driving and to the road
• Use hands-free operation, if available
• Pull off the road and park before making or answering a call if
driving conditions so require
Do not place a portable radio in the area over an air bag or in the
air bag deployment area. Air bags inate with great force. If a
portable radio is placed in the air bag deployment area and the
air bag inates, the radio may be propelled with great force and
cause serious injury to occupants of the vehicle.
Potentially Explosive Atmospheres
Turn off the radio prior to entering any area with a potentially
explosive atmosphere. Only radio types that are especially
qualied should be used in such areas as “Intrinsically Safe.” Do
Two-Way Radio
R500 Series
Owner’s Manual
Olympia 2-Way radios are intended for recreational (consumer)
use only and are not intended for business use. Olympia offers an
alternate product designed specically for business use - Olympia
P324 Business radio. See below for contact information.
For a list of accessories sold, please contact us.
Contact Us
For further information, call Giant International Ltd. at
1-866-537-0384, e-mail us at [e-mail] or visit us
on the Internet at www.olympiaproducts.com
Getting Started
Waterproof
This radio is waterproof to IP-67 standards. It will withstand
submersion under up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
The radio is resistant to water, rain, and splashes only when
the battery cover and headset accessory port are sealed. Open
the battery compartment door or headset port cover only when
the radio is dry. Use of a headset accessory should be in dry
environments only.
The charging base and AC adaptor are not waterproof. Do not
expose the charger to rain or snow. Charge the radios only in a
dry location. Do not place wet radios into the charging base.
Floats
This radio is designed to oat with the NiMH batteries included. It
may not oat with some AA batteries. Each radio can use either
1 NiMH rechargeable battery pack or 3 AA alkaline batteries and
beeps when the batteries are low.
Installing NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack or AA Alkaline
Batteries
1. With the radio off. Ensure that the belt clip is not attached to
the radio.
2. With the back of the radio facing you, loosen the retaining
screw on the battery door and open the cover.
3. Remove the NiMH battery pack from the clear plastic bag (do
not disassemble or unwrap the battery pack) or remove AA
batteries from its packaging.
4. Insert the NiMH battery pack with the diagram facing you or
insert the three AA alkaline batteries with + and - polarity as
shown inside the battery compartment.. (The ribbon should be
underneath the battery pack and should wrap around the right
side of the pack for easy removal.)
5. Close the battery cover and tighten the retaining screw on the
battery door.
R500 series
Safety and General Information
Warning: This manual contains important safety and operating
information.
Please read, understand, and follow the instructions in this
manual. Failure to do so could result in personal injury, death, and/
or damage to the radio, accesories and/or other property.
Transmit and Receive Procedure
The Two-Way radio contains a transmitter and a receiver. To
control your exposure and ensure compliance with the general
population/uncontrolled environment exposure limits, always
adhere to the following procedure:
• Transmit no more than 50% of the time.
• To receive calls, release the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button.
• To transmit (talk), press the PTT button.
Transmitting 50% of the time, or less, is important because the
radio generates measurable RF energy exposure only when
transmitting (in terms of measuring standards compliance).
Exposure to Radio Frequency Energy
The Olympia Two-Way radio complies with the following RF energy
exposure standards and guidelines:
• United States Federal Communications Commission, Code of
Federal Regulations; 47CFR part 2 sub-part J.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineer (IEEE) C95. 1-1992.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) C95.1-1999
Edition.
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(ICNIRP) 1998.
• Ministry of Health (Canada) Safety Code 6. Limits of Human
Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in the
Frequency Range from 3 KHz to 300 GHz, 1999.
To ensure optimal radio performance and make sure human
exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic energy is within the
guidelines set forth in the above standards, always adhere to the
following procedures.
LCD Display Screen Guide
not remove, install or charge batteries in such areas. Sparks in
a potentially explosive atmosphere can cause an explosion or
re resulting in bodily injury or even death.
Note: The areas with potentially explosive atmospheres
referred to above include fueling areas such as below decks
on boats, fuel or chemical transfer or storage facilities, areas
where the air contains chemicals or particles (such as grain,
dust or metal powders) and any other area where you would
normally be advised to turn off your vehicle engine. Areas with
potentially explosive atmospheres are often—but not always—
posted.
Blasting Caps and Areas
To avoid possible interference with blasting operations, turn
off the radio when you are near electrical blasting caps, in a
blasting area, or in areas posted “Turn off Two-Way radios.”
Obey all signs and instructions.
Operational Cautions
Antennas
Do not use any portable radio that has a damaged antenna. If
a damaged antenna comes into contact with your skin, a minor
burn can result.
Batteries
All batteries can cause property damage and/or bodily injury
such as burns if a conductive material—like jewelry, keys or
beaded chains—touch exposed terminals. The conductive
material may complete an electrical circuit (short circuit) and
become quite hot. Exercise care in handling any charged
battery, particularly when placing it inside a pocket, purse or
other container with metal objects.
Battery Charger Safety Instructions:
1. Do not expose the charging adaptor to rain or snow.
2. Never alter the AC cord or plug provided with the unit. If the
plug will not t the outlet, have the proper outlet installed by
a qualied electrician. An improper condition can result in a
risk of electric shock.
3. To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the charging
adaptor from the outlet before attempting any maintenance
or cleaning.
4. Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by Olympia
may result in a risk of re, electric shock or personal injury.
5. Make sure the cord is located so it will not be stepped on,
tripped over or subjected to damage or stress.
6. The supply cord of the AC adaptor cannot be replaced. If the
cord is damaged, call customer service at 1-866-537-0384 or
e-mail us at [e-mail].
FCC Licensing Information
The Olympia radio operates on General Mobile Radio Service
(GMRS) frequencies and is subject to the Rules and Regulations
of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC
requires that all operators using GMRS frequencies obtain a
radio license before operating their equipment. To obtain the
FCC forms, please visit the FCC’s Web site at wireless.fcc.gov/
uls/index.htm?job=home to source form 605 and 159, which
includes all the instructions you will need.
If you wish to have the document faxed or mailed, or if you have
questions, please use the following contact information:
Fax: [phone]
For Mail services: 1-800-418-3676
For FCC License Questions: 1-888-225-5322
Changes or modications not expressly approved by Giant
Intl. Ltd. may void the user’s authority granted by the FCC
to operate this radio and should not be made. To comply
with FCC requirements, transmitter adjustments should be
made only by or under the supervision of a person certied
as technically qualied to perform transmitter maintenance
and repairs in the private land mobile and xed services as
certied by an organization representative of the user of those
services. Replacement of any transmitter component (crystal,
semiconductor, etc.) not authorized by the FCC equipment
authorization for this radio could violate FCC rules.
You can nd the label with the FCC ID on the back of the radio.
Note: Use of this radio outside the country where it was
intended to be distributed is subject to government regulations
and may be prohibited.
Radio Battery Meter
The radio battery icon shows the battery charge level, from full
to empty . When the radio has one segment left
, the radio chirps periodically or after releasing . (see
Low Battery Alert section)
Removing the NiMH Battery Pack or AA Alkaline Batteries
1. With the radio off. Ensure that the belt clip is not attached to
the radio
2. With the back of the radio facing you, loosen the retaining
screw on the battery door to release the battery cover and
open the cover.
3. Remove the NiMH battery pack or remove the AA batteries by
gently pulling the ribbon attached to the radio.
4. Close the battery cover and tighten the retaining screw on the
battery door.
Notes:
• AA Alkaline batteries are optional accessories and are sold
separately.
• Exercise care when removing NiMH or AA batteries. Do not use
sharp or conductive tools to remove either of these batteries.
• Remove the batteries before storing the radio for extended
periods of time. Batteries corrode over time and may cause
permanent damage to the radio.
• The battery door must be tightly closed with the screw to
maintain the waterproof seal of the radio.
Using the Battery Charger
The battery charger provides drop-in charging convenience for
NiMH batteries and can be placed on any at surface, such as a
desk or workbench. Charge the NiMH battery overnight (at least
16 hours) before using it for the rst time. After the initial charge,
an empty battery is fully charged within 14 hours.
1. Follow the steps above to install a NiMH Battery Pack.
2. Plug the AC power supply cord into the jack on the desk stand.
3. Plug the AC power supply into a standard wall outlet.
4. With a radio facing forward, slide it into one of the charging
pockets.
5. When charging in the battery charger, the red light on the
charger base will glow continuously.
Notes
• The light will remain red after the NiMH battery pack is fully
charged.
• When moving between hot and cold temperatures, do not
charge the NiMH battery pack until the battery temperature
acclimates (usually about 20 minutes).
• For optimal battery life, remove the radio from the charger
within 16 hours. Do not store the radio while connected to the
charger.
• If the radio is kept on while charging, the charging time will be
extended.
• Even though the charger is connected, you may not be able to
transmit a message if the battery is completely empty
. Allow time for the battery to charge to 1 bar before
attempting to transmit a message.
• When the radio is wet from rain or snow, thoroughly dry the
surface before charging or removing the batteries.
Low Battery Alert
In addition to the battery meter which visually shows the current
battery charge level, the Low Battery Alert feature produces an
audible chirp when the batteries are low.
Attaching and Removing the Belt Clip
1. Align the belt clip post with the groove on the back of the radio
and slide it into place.
2. Gently push until the clip clicks in place.
To remove:
1. Push down on the release tab at the top of the belt clip to
release the catch.
2. Pull the belt clip away from the back of the radio.
Turning the Radio On and Off
In the ON position, the radio chirps and briey shows all feature
icons available on the radio. The display screen then shows the
current channel, code and all features that are enabled.
1. To turn on, press and hold
until a channel number appears
and the radio beeps.
2. To turn off, press and hold until the display goes blank.
Setting the Volume
The R500 has 16 volume levels controlled by the
or keys.
1. Press
to increase volume.
2. Press to decrease volume.
3. Hold
or to rapidly increase or decrease volume.
Control Buttons
Do not hold the radio close to your ear. If the volume is set to an
uncomfortable level, it could hurt your ear.
Transmitting and Receiving Calls
To communicate, all radios in your group must be set to the same
channel and code setting.
1. To talk, press and hold
.
2. When you are nished talking, release .
For maximum clarity, hold the radio two to three inches away
from your mouth and speak directly into the microphone. Do not
cover the microphone while talking.
Power Boost
To boost the radio’s power up to high power, press the top portion
of the
button when talking. If you know your party is close by,
you can conserve the battery’s energy by pushing the lower part
of the button to use less power.
Note: If you are on an FRS only channel (see Channels and
Frequencies table located at the back of the manual.) the radio
will only use low power when either portion of the
is pressed.
Monitor Button
Use the Monitor function to check if a channel is currently in use
by others. For maximum range performance, the Monitor function
will also help you to hear signals that are weak.
To latch the Monitor function on, press and hold
for three
seconds. When an empty channel is located, you will hear
continuous static and noise on that channel.
To turn the Monitor function off, tap
a second time or press
.
Push-to-Talk
Timeout Timer
To prevent accidental transmissions and save battery life, the
radio emits a continuous warning tone and stops transmitting if
you hold for more than 60 seconds.
Menu Options
There are 12 options you may set to your preferences. Each
press of the MENU key advances you to the next option setting.
Press the
or keys to change the setting. The menu will
automatically close 5 seconds after the last press of any button.
After the last menu item, the radio exits MENU mode and returns
to operation of the radio. A press of the button while setting
any menu option will immediately save all your settings and return
to operation of the radio.
All MENU settings will revert to the factory default values
if the battery is fully discharged or removed for more than
5 minutes.
Menus and Values
1. Channel (1-50 and 15R-22R)
2. Code (1-121 or OFF)
3. Call Tone (1-10 or OFF)
4. iVOX (ON/OFF)
5. VOX sensitivity (1-3)
6. Vibrate (ON/OFF)
7. Keypad Tones (ON/OFF)
8. Roger Beep (ON/OFF)
9. Auto Power Off (30/60/90 minutes or OFF)
10. Repeater Channel Enable (ON/OFF)
11. Repeater Transmitted Code
Selecting the Channel
The radio has 50 simplex channels plus 8 repeater duplex
channels. The channel is the frequency the radio uses to
transmit. (See the Channels and Frequencies table located at the
back of the manual.) Channels are shared by other radio users
and channel selection will vary based on your location. Select
a channel that is not being used from the 50 available simplex
channels. Channels 8-14 and channels 34-37 are low power (FRS
0.5 watt). All other channels are GMRS.
When the radio is on a FRS 0.5 watt channel,
displays.
When the radio is on a GMRS 1.5 watt channel, displays.
The 8 GMRS repeater duplex channels 15R – 22R are disabled by
default. See Enabling Repeater Channels on overleaf in order to
select a repeater channel.
1. Press
. The current channel setting ashes.
2. Press
or and select the channel.
3. Press
to save the channel setting orto continue set up.