Stabo Freecom 400 II PMR 446 Handheld Radio Owner’s Manual

: June 13, 2024
: stabo

Table of Contents

Art.-Nr. 20444
stabo
PMR 446
- Owners Manual
- Important
Safety warnings
Important information/Intended use
Scope of delivery
The display
Control elements and connections
Provisions for the operation
- Attaching/taking-off belt clip
- Charging the battery packs
Safety instructions for the charger
Functions
Technical data
- Channel frequency table
CTCSS

Art.-Nr. 20444

stabo

freecomm 400 II

PMR 446

radio handheld

Owners Manual

Important

Prior to using the device for the first time, carefully and completely read through all operating instructions. Keep these operating instructions in a safe place; it contains important hints for operating the device.

Please read this manual carefully and completely to make yourself familiar with the various functions of your radio set. Make sure to observe the safety instructions to avoid any danger for you and other persons as well as damage to the radio set. Keep the operating instructions in a safe place. Be sure to hand over the instructions in case you lend out or sell the radio set.

The manufacturer disclaims any liability for damage and consequential damage caused by the nonobservance of these instructions!

Safety warnings

Persons with cardiac pacemakers are generally advised not to use radio sets! No transmission in immediate proximity to persons with cardiac pacemakers.

Do not touch the antenna during the transmission, do not hold it close to your body, especially not close to the face or the eyes. When using a headset be sure not to turn the volume of your radio set too high: otherwise the noise might damage your hearing.

Do not operate the radio sets neither in an aircraft nor in a hospital or in comparable facilities. Switch off the radio set, if you are in explosive-prone environment (e.g. petrol station). Make sure not to change the battery packs in those places.

When using the radio set in a vehicle be sure to comply with the national regulations! In some countries it is forbidden to use a radio set while driving a vehicle! In a vehicle equipped with an airbag you must not operate or store the radio set neither directly above the airbag nor in the inflation zone of the airbag.

Never open the housing of a radio set or its accessories and do not carry out any modification. Ensure that any repair is carried out exclusively by qualified personnel. Modifications of or interventions in the radio set automatically lead to an expiry of the type approval, moreover it voids all warranty claims.

Prevent children from playing with the radio set, accessories or the packing material!

If you state the odor emissions or the formation of smoke, immediately switch off the radio set and remove the battery packs. Do not operate the radio set, if you detect any damage of the housing or the antenna. Contact a qualified workshop.

Protect your radio sets and the accessories against strong vibrations and extreme temperatures (avoid operating temperatures below -10°C or above +40°C). Do not expose the radio set to direct sunlight for a prolonged period (e.g. shelf in the vehicle).

The charger and the power supply unit must be protected against humidity/moistness.

Never throw the battery packs into the fire! Never short-out the contacts of the battery packs!

Important information/Intended use

stabo freecomm 400 II is a PMR 446 handheld radio set for voice radio over short distances.

The radio standard PMR 446 is assigned in AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, NL, NO, PL, PT, SI (free of charge and without any registration). There is obligatory registration in IT: Italian residents have to pay a nonrecurring charge upon registration of the radio set! (Tourists may use their radio sets free of charge for the duration of their stay in Italy.)

For information on national regulations concerning the use of radio sets on travels abroad please contact the embassies/consulates of the corresponding countries or you may get the information from the corresponding telecoms and postal regulator.

PMR 446-radio sets transmit/receive on 16 specified channels (446 MHz). Within the radius of reach you can communicate via an optional number of radio sets, however, only one person can talk and the other/s listen. Uncoded voice radio links are not confidential!

The range is a function of many factors. Apart from the statutory transmitting power other factors are relevant: e.g. the position of the antenna (it should be installed at right angle and send freely), the energy supply (fully charged battery packs fully exploit the reach) and above all the environment where you transmit. Each “obstacle” (hills, buildings, trees) reduces the range, some materials (e.g. reinforced concrete, pieces of rock) give rise for considerable screening effects. Under optimum conditions (e.g. during sailing or paragliding) PMR 446 radio sets have a maximum reach of 10 km. In housing areas a range of 1 – 2 km is realistic, in strongly screened environment (e.g. in the mountains or inside buildings made of reinforced concrete) the reach may drop to a few hundred meters or less.

Scope of delivery

4 PMR 446 hand voice radio sets
4 Earpiece VOX microphone
4 belt clips
2 double tabletop charger
2 power supply unit (230 V/50 Hz)
4 Li-Ion battery packs ( 3.7 V/1100 mAh)
2 owners manual DE/EN

The display

A Transmission indicator
B Reception indicator
C Dual Watch activated
D Scanning activated
E Low transmitting power selected
F Key lock activated
G Battery save mode activated
H Roger Beep is activated
I Battery level indication
J CTCSS-/DCS number
K DCS function is activated
L CTCSS function is activated
M VOX activated
N adjusted selected channel number (1-16)
O Key tone activated

Control elements and connections

1 Antenna (The antenna is fixed to the housing, do not try to unscrew it!)
2 Belt clip
3 MIC/SPK socket: socket for connecting an (optional) headset
4 Battery compartment
5 charging contacts
6 PTT key: transmission key
7 Monitor key/display lighting
8 S/ key: Start search run/key lock
9 VOL- / – key: Volume control
10 Loudspeaker
11 Microphone
12 CH- / – key: channel selection, for stepping forward through the individual settings in the Set menu
13 ON/OFF switch/ Menu key: Switching over to the Set menu
14 C/DW key: Sending out a call tone, start dual-channel monitoring
15 LC display

Provisions for the operation

Attaching/taking-off belt clip

Place the grooves of the belt clip on the guide rails on the upper part of the housing and slide the belt clip downwards until the safety catch snaps in.

For removing push the safety catch on top of the belt clip away from the housing and slide the belt clip upwards.

Charging the battery packs

The Li-Ion battery packs are precharged: Before using the devices, the Li-Ion battery packs must first be fully charged (charging time ca. 3,5 hours).

Important note: the Li-Ion battery packs are already inserted at the factory.

Charging the battery packs in the charger
Switch off the radio sets!

Plug the power supply unit into a socket (230 V) and connect it to the charger.

Place the radio sets into the two charging shafts.

Both control lamps on the charger emit yellow light, the battery packs are now being charged.

If the control lamps light up green the battery packs are fully charged.

Remove the devices.

Safety instructions for the charger

Only use the charger in closed rooms. Protect it from humidity, dust, heat and strong vibrations. The charger should be used only at temperatures between 5° and 40° C (charging outside the recommended temperature range may result in battery packs which are not fully charged).

The double tabletop charger must only be used for the charging of the Li-Ion battery packs that are included in the scope of delivery! The charger must only be operated with the delivered power supply unit. Do not abuse it as DC voltage source for other applications.

Do not disassemble neither the power supply unit nor the charger.

Prevent small metal parts from penetrating into the charger.

Make sure that the radio sets are switched off during charging.

Do not charge the radio set if it has become wet! Only place the radio set into the charger, if it is completely dry.

Disconnect the device from the mains if you do not use it.

Never short-out the contacts of the battery packs. Never throw the battery packs into the fire.

Insert battery packs

Push the latch up and remove the battery cover.

Insert the plug of the battery pack into the socket in the battery compartment.

Insert the battery pack, being careful not to pinch the cable.

Slide the battery cover onto the housing and press down until the latch snaps into place.

Information on disposal of battery packs

Used up battery packs are not to be thrown into the domestic waste. Be sure to observe the national disposal regulations and dispose used up battery packs (inserted into a small plastic bag) with the corresponding collecting points.

Battery save mode/battery low warning

The power consumption of this radio set is very small. If no signal is received, the electronic battery stand-by mode is automatically activated and appears on the display.

If the capacity of the battery pack is low, appears flashing on the display and the battery symbol . Now you have to charge the battery pack.

Functions

Note: If a setting is not activated within 10 seconds the radio set will automatically adopt the last setting.

Switching on/off the radio set

Use the key to switch the radio sets on/off. Switching on is accompanied by a beep sound, the channel number is indicated and the display lighting is activated for approx. 10 sec.

Switching off is accompanied again by a beep tone.

Adjusting the volume
Eight volume levels are available.

Press the VOL- ****/ -key to adjust the volume: LE and the selected volume level are indicated.

Through a long keystroke- ****/ -key the volume is switched continuously. Reaching the lowest/highest level is accompanied by a beep tone.

Selecting the channel
Sixteen channels are available.

Press the CH- ****/ -key and select a free channel. Through a long keystroke the channels are switched continuously.

Note: Always adjust both radio sets to the same channel!

Transmitting/receiving

Hold the PTT key pressed and speak with normal voice level and a distance of approx. 5 cm into the microphone, the TX symbol is displayed.

If your message is finished, release the PTT key, the TX symbol is no longer displayed.

When the radio set is switched on, it is ready-to-receive (unless the set is transmitting). If the radio set receives a signal, the RX symbol is displayed.

Adjustable squelch

Your radio set is equipped with an adjustable squelch (3 levels: level 1 = small signal strength, level 3 = large signal strength), that prevents that an annoying noise can be heard on free radio channels. However, under certain conditions – and depending on the distance – computers, electric or electronic devices might interfere with this squelch, so that you hear noises. Due to the supersensitive receiver of the radio set, such interferences in immediate proximity are normal and unavoidable. In case of such interferences you should change the distance to the source of interference and hold the radio set in such a manner that the antenna can send freely.

Pilot tone process CTCSS

Your radio set is equipped with two pilot tone process (CTCSS with 38 different tones and DCS with 83 digital codes), that permits to address specific individual partner stations or groups or to receive only calls from the latter.

Note: Make sure that you and your partner use the same CTCSS tone resp. the same DCS code.

Activating/deactivating the pilot tone process CTCSS
Press the MENU key 1x : CTC appears on the display and OF flashes.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select a tone number.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds.

Note: If you activate the CTCSS function, the DCS function is automatically disabled!

For deactivating press again the MENU key 1x : CTC appears on the and the pilot tone number flashes.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select OF.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds.

Activating/deactivating the pilot tone process DCS
Press the MENU key 2x : DCS appears on the display and OF flashes.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select a tone number.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds.

Note: If you activate the DCS function, the CTCSS function is automatically disabled!

For deactivating press again the MENU key 2x : DCS appears on the and the pilot tone number flashes.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select OF.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds.

Switching the transmitting power (high/low)

If the distance and constructional conditions permit, the energy consumption of the devices can be reduced by decreasing the transmitting power.

Press the MENU key 3x : Pr appears, HI (high) respectively LO (low) is blinking on the display.

Select the requested transmitting power by means of the CH- ****/ -key.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A double beep tone sounds.

Note: LO is indicated on the display if transmitting power low is selected.

VOX function (phonetic transmission)

This function permits to send without activating the transmit key: Voices/noises that hit the microphone thus switch on the transmitter of the radio set.

Adjust the sensitivity according to the environmental noises, so that the set switches from reception to transmission if your voice volume is appropriate. You can select between 3 sensitivity levels (level 3 = highest sensitivity).

Activating/deactivating VOX
Press the MENU key 4x : LE appears and OF and the VOX symbol are flashing.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select the desired sensitivity level.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds and the VOX symbol is displayed.

For deactivating press the MENU key 4x : LE appears and the sensitivity level and the VOX symbol are flashing..

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select OF.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds and the VOX symbol disppears.

Setting the squelch **

**

The squelch can be changed in 3 levels (level 1: very small signal strength (noise), level 3: large signal strength).

Press the MENU key 5x : in the display flashes . Select one of the three levels with the CH- ****/ -key.

Confirm with the PTT key: a beep tone sounds.

Call tone

Push the call key C/DW to emit a tone call that is received by the partner station. You can select among 10 different call tone melodies.

Selecting the call tone melody
Press the MENU key 6x : the call tone adjusted last sounds, CA is displayed and the call tone number is flashing.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select a call tone melody.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds.

Activating/deactivating the key tone
Press the MENU key 7x : appears and OF is flashing.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select ON.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds, the symbol is displayed.

For deactivating press the MENU key again 7x : appears and OF is flashing.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select OF.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds, the symbol disappears.

Roger beep

When releasing the PTT key after transmission, a signal tone is automatically transmitted. This tone signals to your contact partner that your message is finished and your partner can talk (this is useful for instance for disturbed radio communications).

Activating/deactivating the roger beep
Press the MENU key 8x : ro appears and OF is flashing.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select ON.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A beep tone sounds and the roger beep symbol is displayed.

For deactivating press the MENU key again 8x : ro appears and ON is flashing.

Use the CH- ****/ -key to select OF.

Confirm by pressing the PTT key: A double beep tone sounds, the symbol disappears.

Stopwatch function

The radio set is equipped with an integrated stop watch (measurement range: 1 sec. – 60 min.). You may stop the time measurement and let it continue again or you may reset to zero and start anew.

Activating/deactivating the stop watch
Press the MENU key 9x : is flashing.

Use the CH- -key to start the stop watch, use the CH- -key to stop the time measurement.

Press the CH- -key key to continue the time measurement, press the CH- -key twice to reset the stop watch (re-start by means of the CH- -key).

The stop watch function stops automatically if the time measurement is not re- started again within 15 sec. (or manually by the means of the PTT key).

Note: Transmitting/receiving is possible during a time measurement.

Key lock

As a protection against faulty operation you can lock the keyboard (with the exception of CALL , MON and PTT keys and volume).

Activating/deactivating the key lock
Press and hold the S/ key until a double beep tone sounds and the symbol is displayed.

For deactivating press and hold the S/ key again until a double beep tone sounds and the symbol disappears.

Automatic scan

The automatic scan permits to find active channels quickly. It scans independently all of the 16 channels and stops as soon as a signal
exceeds the squelch threshold. It will start anew, if no signal is available. You can also restart scanning by pressing the CH- / -key.

Activating/deactivating the channel scan
Briefly press the S/ key, the search starts immediately and appears in the display.

You may change the direction of the scanning by means of the CH- / -key.

To end scanning, press the PTT, CALL or S/ key: the scan symbol is no longer displayed.

Display lighting

Switching on the radio set the display lighting is automatically activated for approx. 10 sec. By pressing the MON key, the display lighting can manually be switched on for approx. 10 sec.

Monitor function

The automatic squelch can bypassed such that you can also hear weak signals.

Activating/deactivating the monitor function
Press and hold the MON key until noise can be heard. As long as you keep hold the MON key the squelch is bypassed.

For bypassing the squelch permanently press and hold the MON key for approx. 5 sec: A double beep tone sounds.

For deactivating the monitor function, briefly press the PTT key.

Dual watch function

If you wish to be ready-to-receive on both channels instead of only one channel, you require the dual watch function. With this function the radio set automatically switches over every 0.5 sec. from the actual channel to the preferred channel. The radio set stops as soon as a signal is received on one of the two channels.

Activating/deactivating Dual Watch
Press the C/DW key until a beep tone sounds. DW appears and OF is flashing.

Use the CH- **/ -key to select the requested preferred channel and confirm by pressing the PTT** key. The dual watch starts.

For deactivating press the C/DW key: DW disappears.

Note: As long as the dual watch is active transmitting is not possible.

Restoring the factory setting (reset)

Remove the battery from the battery compartment. Press the on/off switch , keep it pressed and insert the plug from the rechargeable battery into the socket in the battery compartment. When the device is switched on again, the device has been reset to the factory setting.

Battery low warning

If the capacity of the battery pack is low, bA Lo is flashing on the display and the battery symbol appears. Now you have to charge the battery pack.

Earpiece -VOX- microphone

Activate the VOX-function (see user manual, page 29)
Plug the headset into the speaker/microphone jack.
The VOX-function can now be used with the headset.

Note: You can also use the headset without the VOX-function with the PTT- button.

Care instructions
Clean the housings of the radio sets by means of a slightly damp, lint-free cloth, do not at all use detergents or solvents.

Protect the radio sets against extreme temperatures and strong vibrations.

Keep the battery contacts clean by means of a dry cloth.

Remove the battery packs, if you do not use your devices for a prolonged period.

Protect the accessories against humidity/moistness, dust/contamination, strong vibrations and extreme temperatures.

Disposal instructions

Electric and electronic devices are not to be thrown into the domestic waste. Deliver devices that are out of order/used with a corresponding collecting point.

Please contact your local authorities for corresponding information.

Used up battery packs are not to be thrown into the domestic waste: Dispose them (inserted into a small plastic bag) with the corresponding collecting points!

Troubleshooting

Fault/Remedy
Your radio set cannot be switched on.
Charge the battery packs.

You can neither speak nor hear your radio partner.
Check whether the same channel and (if activated) the same CTCSS tone resp. DCS code are adjusted.
If you are out of reach, reduce the distance to your radio partner.

No key function.
The key lock is switched on. Deactivate the key lock.

The channel is permanently busy.
Check the VOX setting. If required, reduce the VOX sensitivity of the second device as well.
Other parties in your environment occupy the channel. Switch to another channel.

SIMPLIFIED EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Hereby, stabo Elektronik GmbH declares that the radio equipment
type
stabo freecomm 400 II
is in compliance with Directive 2014/53/EU.
The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at the
following internet address:
https://stabo.de/links/DoC/freecomm-400-funkkoffer

Technical data

Frequency range: 446.00625 MHz /446.19375 MHz
Number of channels: 16
Number of subchannels: 38 CTCSS tones/83 DCS code
Range: max. 10 km (with unobstructed view)
Output power: ≤500 mW
Operating voltage: 3.7 V/1100 mAh li-ion battery pack
Dimensions (H x W x D): 56 x 170 x 42 mm (incl. antenna)
Weight: 126 g (incl. battery pack)