ION Pathfinder 320 Audio Weather Speaker User Guide

PathfinderTM 320˚

User Guide

Introduction

Box Contents

PathfinderTM 320˚
Power/Charging Cable (6 ft. / 183 cm)
Quickstart Guide

Support
For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit ionaudio.com.
For additional product support, visit ionaudio.com/support.

Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are the same type used in automobiles. As with your car battery, how you use this battery has a significant impact on its lifespan. With proper use and treatment, a lead-acid battery can last for years. Here are some recommendations for getting the longest life  from the internal battery.

General Usage
Fully charge the battery before using it.
Charge the battery completely after each use.

Storage
For best product longevity, do not store at exceedingly hot (greater than 90°F/32°C) or exceedingly cold (less than 32°F/0°C) temperatures.
It is acceptable to leave your sound system plugged in. This will not overcharge the battery.
If you leave the battery level low and do not charge it for 3 months, it may permanently lose capacity.

Repair
If the battery fails to charge, check your fuse near the power cable input. If your fuse is intact and it still will not charge, contact ION Audio at ionaudio.com.

Disposal
Bring the unit to a recycling center or dispose of in accordance with local ordinances.

Use and Care

Though PathfinderTM 320˚ is water-resistant* and able to tolerate splashing water, please review the tips below to get the best performance from PathfinderTM 320˚:

• Bring PathfinderTM 320˚ indoors during extreme weather.

• Please do not place PathfinderTM 320˚ in standing water.

• Please do not connect the power cable to PathfinderTM 320˚ in a wet environment. Make sure the power input, power cable, and power outlet are all completely dry before making any connections.

• WARNING: Keep any non-water-resistant devices (phones, music players, etc.) in a dry place where they will not be affected by water and cause a risk of electric shock.

• Compartment not rated for water resistance and is not guaranteed to prevent water intrusion.
  ION is not responsible for damage to personal property due to product misuse or failure to comply with these instructions.

Setup

Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately.

Features

Front Panel

1. Power On/Off Button: Press and hold this button to turn PathfinderTM 320˚ on/off. While PathfinderTM 320˚ is connected to a power source, it does not need to be powered on to charge the battery.

2. Bluetooth Button: Press and release this button to enter Bluetooth pairing mode or to disconnect a paired Bluetooth device and enter Aux Mode. Press and hold this button to disable or enable the speaker’s Voice Prompts. When linked, press and release this button to set a speaker as  the primary speaker.

3. Light Mode Button: Press this button to select how the lights on the front panel function:
   • Color Cycle: The lights slowly glow and cycle through colors. Press and hold the light mode button to freeze the lights on one color. This is the default mode when PathfinderTM 320˚ is first powered on.
   • Beat Sync: The lights react to the beat of the music.
   • Off: The lights turn off.

4. Boom ButtonTM : Press this button to simultaneously enhance the bass EQ and volume and activate a light show that pulses to the beat of the music. Press this button again to deactivate this feature.

5. Previous Track Button: Press this button to tune in a radio station or go to the previous track on a Bluetooth connected device. Press and hold in radio mode to seek.

6. Next Track Button: Press this button to tune in a radio station or go to the next track on a Bluetooth connected device. Press and hold in radio mode to seek.
   Note: With some apps, pressing the Previous Track button or Next Track button may go to another playlist or music genre.

7. Play/Pause Button: Press to play or pause a track from a connected Bluetooth device.

8. Radio Button: Press this button to set the radio to FM1, FM2, or turn the radio off.

9. Radio Preset Buttons: Store a favorite radio station and quickly tune to a preset radio station. There are 2 banks of 8 numeric positions each to store FM1 and FM2 band presets. In Radio Mode, save the current station as a preset by pressing and holding a numbered button. Press a  numbered button to select a previously saved preset station.

10. Link Button: Press and hold this button to start stereo linking to another PathfinderTM 320˚. Press this button twice to disconnect the link to the other speaker. See Linking Two Pathfinder 320˚ Speakers for more details.

11. EQ Buttons: Press an EQ button until the display shows “HI” (high frequency), “M” (mid frequency), or “LO” (low frequency). Turn the control knob left or right to decrease or increase the selected frequency, and then press the same EQ button to confirm. See EQ Control for more  details.

12. Display: Displays the current radio station, battery status, and Bluetooth status.
    • Battery Status Icon:
    o When the power cable is connected, movement of the battery segments shows the battery is charging. When fully charged, all battery segments will be lit without blinking.
    o When the power cable is disconnected, the battery segment shows the level of the battery.
    o When the battery level is low, the bottom battery segment will blink.
    o If a front panel button is not pressed within 60 seconds, the battery level indicator will turn off (to save energy). The battery level indicator will reappear when any button is pressed. Also, when the battery gets to the lowest battery icon segment, the battery level indicator will turn  back on.
    • Lightning Bolt Icon:
    o The charging indicator will illuminate when the power cable is connected to wall power.
    o When the unit is off and the power cable is connected, the charging indicator will be lit for 5 seconds and then turn off to save energy. To check the charging status, quickly press and release the Power button; the charging indicator will illuminate for 5 seconds and then turn off.
    o If the unit is powered off while the power cable is connected, the charging indicator will illuminate for 5 seconds and then turn off to save energy.
    • Bluetooth Icon: The Bluetooth icon will be lit solid when a device is paired to PathfinderTM 320˚.
    • Power Icon: The power icon will be lit when PathfinderTM 320˚ is powered on. The power icon will not be lit when PathfinderTM 320˚ is powered off.
    • Link Icon: The Link icon will be lit when stereo-linked to another speaker. The Link icon will be off when a single speaker is used.
    • Volume Icon: The Volume icon will be lit when the Main Volume is adjusted, and turns off after 3 seconds of not being adjusted.
    • Boom Icon: The Boom icon will be lit when the Boom function is activated.

13. Auxiliary Input: Open the rubber compartment cover to access the aux input and USB port. This stereo 3.5 mm (1/8”) input can be used to connect a CD player, MP3 player, or other audio source.
    Note: When the rubber compartment cover is open, the unit will not be water resistant. Make sure PathfinderTM 320˚ and connections are dry before charging. Never charge when the unit is wet.

14. USB Charging Port (5V, 1A): Connect your device’s charge cable here to charge it. USB charging only functions when the unit’s power is turned on.

15. Control Knob: This adjusts the speaker’s main mix volume, which includes the Auxiliary Input, Radio, and the audio of a paired Bluetooth device. Turn this knob in EQ mode to adjust the treble and bass frequencies.

Top Panel

1. Fast Charging USB Port: Slide open the top compartment to access the USB port.
   Connect your device’s charge cable here for a faster charge rate (5V, 2.2A). USB charging only functions when the unit’s power is turned on.

2. 2nd Aux Input: Slide open the top compartment to access this Aux input. This stereo 3.5 mm (1/8”) input can be used to connect a CD player, MP3 player, or other audio source.

Rear Panel

1. Power: Insert the included power cable here to charge the unit.

Side Panel

1. Bottle Opener: Use this to open bottles of your favorite drinks.

Operation

Light Mode

When Pathfinder™ 320˚ is first turned on, the lights will be in Color Cycle mode and start to slowly fade from one color to the next. To pause on a certain color, press and hold the Light button for 1 second. To enter Beat Sync mode and have the lights react to the beat of the music, press and release the Light button. Press the Light button again to turn off the lights.

EQ Control

Hi EQ:

1. Press the Hi EQ button. “HI” will appear on the display for high frequency.
2. To decrease the high frequency, turn the encoder left.
3. To increase the high frequency, turn the encoder right.
4. Press the Hi EQ button to confirm or wait 3 seconds for the display to revert back to the main screen.

Mid EQ:

1. Press the Mid EQ button. “M” will appear on the display for mid frequency.
2. To decrease the mid frequency, turn the encoder left.
3. To increase the mid frequency, turn the encoder right.
4. Press the Mid EQ button to confirm or wait 3 seconds for display to revert back to main screen.

Low EQ:

1. Press the Low EQ button. “LO” will appear on the display for low frequency.
2. To decrease the low frequency, turn the encoder left.
3. To increase the low frequency, turn the encoder right.
4. Press the Low EQ button to confirm or wait 3 seconds for the display to revert back to the main screen.

Pairing a Bluetooth Device

1. Make sure the speaker is within range of your Bluetooth device (no more than 100 ft. / 30.5 m away). If there is no connection after 90 seconds, the speaker will stop searching for a Bluetooth device and enter AUX mode.
2. Press the Bluetooth button on the speaker.
3. Navigate to your Bluetooth device’s setup screen. Then find and select Pathfinder 320˚.
   Do not connect to iPA159_BLE; this is reserved exclusively for connecting to the ION Sound XP™ app. If your Bluetooth device prompts for a pairing code, enter 0000.
   Note: If you have previously connected to your Bluetooth device, Pathfinder™ 320˚ will reconnect automatically.
   Tip: Press the Bluetooth button to enable or disable the Bluetooth pairing voice prompts.

To change to AUX mode, press and release the Bluetooth button.
To disconnect a paired Bluetooth device, double press the Bluetooth button.

Linking Two PathfinderTM 320˚ Speakers

1. Power on both PathfinderTM 320˚ speakers.

2. Be sure to disconnect any Bluetooth devices before attempting to link two speakers.

3. Press and hold the Link button to enter Stereo Link mode. Once a link has been established, the word LINK will appear in the display.
   Note: It may take up to 1 minute to make the connection.

4. Then, repeat this process on the other PathfinderTM 320˚ speaker.

5. To disconnect, double press the Link button on one of the two PathfinderTM 320˚ speakers.

Using the Radio

1. Press the Radio button.
   • First press selects FM1
   • Second press selects FM2
   • Third press turns off the radio

2. Select a radio station using the </> buttons.

Note: Pause playback from or disable Bluetooth entirely before using the radio to prevent both audio signals from being active at the same time.
To save a preset station, press and hold one of the preset buttons 1-8.
To recall a preset station, press and release one of the preset buttons 1-8.

App Control

IMPORTANT: To ensure the best possible experience with the app, use the most current Android OS or iOS on your device.
Follow these steps to download the free app on your device:

1. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play on your device. Then, search for the ION Sound XP app.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the app. Once downloaded, the ION Sound XP app will appear on your device’s home screen.

3. Connect your device to Pathfinder™ 320 via Bluetooth. See the Pairing a Bluetooth Device to learn how to do this.

4. Open the ION Sound XPTM app. If prompted, allow the app to access your device’s Bluetooth and Location Services.

5. Tap to select Add A Product on the screen. The app will scan and find Pathfinder™ 320.
   If you are having issues connecting, tap Help with setting up? for additional tips.

6. Select the Pathfinder™ 320 icon to go to the next screen, where you can use the app to control various functions of the speaker such as:
   • Radio: Play the radio, change stations, and edit presets.
   • EQ: Adjust the speaker’s equalization, and enable or disable Boom.
   • Volume: Adjust the speaker volume.
   • Light Effect: Choose the lighting effect from Color Cycle, Beat Sync, and Off.
   • Battery Status: Displays the battery level.
   • Support: Visit ionaudio.com, contact Technical Support, and view Warranty information and Frequently Asked Questions.

Troubleshooting

If the unit is not charging: Make sure the power cable is properly connected to the power input and the power outlet.

If the sound is distorted: Try lowering the volume control of your sound source.
If there is too much bass: Try adjusting the tone or EQ control on your sound source to lower the bass level. This will allow you to play the music louder before clipping (distortion) occurs.

If you cannot connect your audio device to PathfinderTM 320˚ via Bluetooth:

• Have your audio device (e.g., smartphone or tablet) and PathfinderTM 320˚ as close together as possible while trying to connect. Make sure both the audio device and PathfinderTM 320˚ are unobstructed by walls, furniture, etc.
• Reset the Bluetooth connection on PathfinderTM 320˚ to disconnect PathfinderTM 320˚ from any other audio device and restart the search process. If this does not work right away, power off PathfinderTM 320˚ and then power it back on. See Pairing a Bluetooth Device for more  information.
• Reset the Bluetooth connection on your audio device by turning Bluetooth off and back on. You can find this under the Bluetooth menu in the Settings for your phone or other audio device.
  If this does not work, and you have connected to PathfinderTM 320˚ before, find PathfinderTM 320˚ in the list of available or previously connected devices in your audio device’s Bluetooth menu, tap the “gear” or “i” icon located next to it and then select Unpair or Forget. Turn  PathfinderTM 320˚ off and back on and try pairing again once it reappears in your available devices list.
  Note: If PathfinderTM 320˚ has been paired to another audio device recently that is still within range, you may need to repeat this process with that audio device to fully disconnect.

If you experience audio dropouts while playing music from a Bluetooth device, this may be happening because your unit is trying to link to another speaker. This can occur if you power off a speaker that was linked to your unit or if you have just turned on your unit and it is in Stereo-Link  mode. To stop the audio dropouts, exit Stereo-Link mode by double-pressing the Link button. Alternatively, you can wait for your unit to link to another speaker if there is one within range.

If you would like to stop your speaker from automatically linking when you power it on, make sure you double-press the Link button to exit Stereo-Link mode before you power it off.

Appendix

Technical Specifications

corners
Woofer: 8″ / 203.2 mm
Bluetooth Specifications| Profile: A2DP, AVRCP
Module: Bluetooth 5.0
Range: Up to 100 feet / 30.5 meters’
Water Resistance Class| IPXS
Power| Connection: IEC320 C13
Input Voltage: 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
Battery| Type: 12V, 7Ah, SLA
Battery life: Up to 100 hours** Recharge time: Up to 10 hours
Aux Input| 3.5 mm (1/8″) line-level
Charge Port| (1) Under rubber cover: 5V, 1A
(1) In compartment: 5V, 2.2A
Dimensions
(width x depth x height)| 15.1″ x 10.4″ x 19.4″ / 383.6 x 265 x 493.1 mm
Weight| 22.7 lbs. / 10.3 kg

Specifications are subject to change without notice.
*Bluetooth and wireless reception and range are affected by walls, obstructions, and movement. For optimal performance, place the product in the center of the room so it is unobstructed by walls, furniture, etc.
**Battery performance varies with the features being used on the unit and volume at which content is being played. In typical usage for audio playback, exclusive of additional features, the Pathfinder 320° battery lasts up to 100 hours.

Trademarks & Licenses
ION Audio is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned  by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by ION Audio is under license. All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.

ionaudio.com
Manual Version 1.2

References

• Sound Experiences | ION Audio
• Support : ION Audio
• Sound Experiences | ION Audio
• Support : ION Audio

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