Cobra HHRT50 Road Trip CB Radio Operating Instructions

Cobra HHRT50 Road Trip CB Radio

About Cobra

The future of driver awareness is being advanced by Cobra with the use of cutting-edge technologies. By pursuing exceptional product design and continually creating best-in-class vehicle technology, we seek to lead market sectors. Our 50 years of invention have allowed us to provide the technology you require for a contemporary driving experience, from mending televisions in a small garage to becoming a global leader in consumer electronics.

“If your product should require factory service please call Cobra first before sending your unit in. This will ensure the fastest turn-around time on your repair.”

You may be asked to send your unit to the Cobra factory. It will be necessary to furnish the following. ine to have the product serviced and returned.

1. For Warranty Repair include some form of proof-of-purchase, such as a mechanical reproduction or carbon or a sales receipt If you send the original receipt it cannot be returned
2. Send the entire product
3. Enclose a description of what is happening with the unit. Include a typed or printed name
4. Pack the unit securely to prevent damage in transit. If possible, use the original packing material
5. Ship prepaid and insured by way of a traceable carrier such as United Parcel Service (UPS) or First Class Mail: to avoid loss in transit to Ohra Factory Serve obra Flectronics Corporation. 6500 W. Cortland St., Chicago, IL 60707.
6. If the unit is under warranty, upon receipt of your unit it will either be repaired or exchanged depending on the model. Please allow approximately 3 to 4 weeks before contacting us for status. If the unit is out of warranty a letter will automatically be sent informing you of the repair charge or replacement charge. If you have any questions, please call 1.773.889.3087

Trademark Info
Cobra®, Dynamike®, Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra® SoundTracker, and the snake design are registered trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA. Cobra Electronics Corporation is a trademark of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA. The Bluetooth® word mark and logo are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

The CB Story

The Citizens Band lies between the shortwave broadcast and 10-meter Amateur radio bands and was established by law
in 1949. The Class D two-way communications service was opened in 1959. (CB also includes a Class A citizens band and
Class C remote control frequencies.)

What’s Included with Your HH 50 WX ST

1. High Efficiency Antenna
2. Removable Belt Clip
3. Wrist Strap
4. 12 Volt Cigarette Lighter Plug & Charge Adapter
5. Operating Manual

Controls and Indicators

1. BNC Antenna Connector
2. Squelch Control
3. On/Off Volume Control
4. Removable Belt Clip
5. External Speaker Jack
6. External Microphone Jack
7. Charge LED
8. Rechargeable Battery Charge Jack
9. DC Power Jack
10. Light Key
11. Channel Up/Down Keys
12. PTT (Push To Talk ) Key
13. Battery Door/Chamber
14. LCD Display Panel
15. Lock Key
16. SoundTracker® Key
17. CB/WX Weather Key and HI/LO Power Saver Key
18. Instant Channel 9 & 19 and Dual Watch Key
19. Program Key
20. Channel Scan
21. Microphone

Our Thanks to You

Thank you for purchasing the Cobra HH 50 WX ST handheld CB. Properly used, this Cobra product will give you many years of reliable service.

SoundTracker®
“Cuts noise coming in…strengthens signals going out. This technology dramatically improves the transmission and reception of the CB signals. The revolutionary SoundTracker® System reconfigures the transmission signal which allows it to be transferred more efficiently through cluttered airwaves. At the same time, it significantly reduces the amount of static on all incoming CB signals. The result is a cleaner, clearer-sounding reception of signals and a more powerful transmission which dramatically improves CB communications

Customer Support

Should you encounter any problems with the producers ignore Mama. features, referring to the manual, you still need help, call Cobra Customer Service at 773-889-3087.

Cobra Customer Service

• • Live operators are available M-F 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Central
  • Time at: 773-889-3087
• Automated Technical
  • Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week E-mail questions to: productinfo@cobra.com
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can be found online at: www.cobra.com

Features of This Product

• 40 CB Channels
• 10 Weather Channels
• Full Feature LCD Display
• Dual Channel Watch
• Full Channel Scan
• Battery Level Meter
• External Speaker/ Microphone Jack
• Instant Channel 9 & 19
• High/Low Power Saver Switch
• BNC Antenna Connector
• Lock Key
• Battery Charge Jack
• Battery Charge LED

Note
To increase range as a portable, use HA-TA telescopic loaded long-range antenna. (See Accessory Page 35)

Attach the Antenna

1. Insert.
2. Turn clockwise. 1⁄4 turn

Install the Batteries

1. To remove the battery chamber cover, press down on the arrow and slide down.
2. Install the batteries with polarity markings.
3. Replace cover

Attach the Belt Clip

1. Slide the belt clip up on the rails of the base until the tab locks.
2. To remove the belt clip, lift the tab out and slide the belt clip down.

Battery Installation

Note Ignoring polarity markings (+/-) may cause damage to both the unit and the batteries.

• The HH 50 WX ST requires 9 “AA” alkaline or NiMH batteries rated at 1000 mAh (not included with the unit).
  • When the batteries are low or need charging the BATTERY icon will flash on the LCD. Replace alkaline batteries or recharge NiMH batteries. NiMH rechargeable batteries should be charged a minimum of 12 hours with a CA 45CB charger.
  • NiM H recharge ables should have a rating of 1.2 VDC, 1000 mAh. Attach the Belt Clip
• Note Make sure the antenna is installed on the radio.
  Note When you turn on the HH 50 WX ST, a series of tones will be heard and the icons will briefly appear on the LCD. LCD lights on for 5 seconds, then turns off.

Turning On

• Rotate ON – OFF Volume Control clockwise.

Setting Squelch

Squelch is the “control gate” for incoming signals

1. Turn the volume up louder than normal.
2. Fully clockwise closes the “gate”, allowing no incoming signals.
3. Fully counterclockwise opens the “gate” and all signals enter.
4. To achieve the Desired Squelch Setting (DSS), turn the Squelch control counterclockwise until you hear noise. Now turn the control clockwise just until the noise stops. This is the DSS setting.

Note
For quick channel advance, push and hold arrow key(s).

Note
When switching from one channel to another, the squelch will need to be reset. See Setting Squelch on pages 4 and 5.

Select a Channel

1. Turn the power ON.
2. For higher channels, push the UP arrow key.
3. For lower channels, push the DOWN arrow key.

LCD Display

All needed information is displayed on the LCD panel.

Stop
The antenna must be installed before transmitting.

Transmit / Receive

1. To transmit, push and hold the PTT button. While the PTT button is depressed you cannot receive transmissions.
2. The TRANSMISSION POWER METER will be displayed when transmitting. During transmission, your outgoing transmission
   power is measured in watts and displayed on the power bar graph.
3. Hold the radio about 2 inches from your mouth. Speak in a normal voice.
4. Release the PTT button to receive incoming transmissions.
   When you are receiving an incoming signal, the strength of that signal will be displayed on the SIGNAL STRENGTH METER.

Note Your HHSO WX ST is always ready to receive incoming signals when the PTT button is released.

One Touch For Channel 9 and Channel 19

To gain instant access to Channels 9 (emergency) and 19 (information) from other channels:

1. Push CH 9/19 once for channel 9.
2. Push CH 9/19 again for Channel 19.
3. To return to the original channel, push CH 9/19 a third time.

All Channel Scan

To scan all 40 channels:

1. Set Desired Squelch Setting (DSS).
   
2. Push the SCAN key. The channels will be indexed.
3. To stop scanning, push the SCAN key again.

Note
When an incoming transmission is received the HH 50 WX ST will stop scanning. 10 seconds after the incoming signal stops, scanning will resume.

Note
To set the Desired Squelch Setting (DSS) see Setting Squelch on pages 4 and 5. Pressing the PTT key or scan key will terminate the scan mode

Dual Watch

Note
To set Desired Squelch Setting (DSS) see Setting Squelch on pages 4 and 5.

Note
At a later time, you can recall your last preset DW channels by pushing and releasing the FUNCTION key and quickly pushing and releasing the DW key

Dual Watch allows simultaneous monitoring of two user-selected channels. For example, to monitor Channel 11 and 17 for incoming transmissions:

1. Set Desired Squelch Setting (DSS).
2. Select Channel 11 with the CHANNEL UP/ DOWN key.
3. Push and release the PROGRAM key. PROGRAM icon will be displayed.
4. Push and hold the PWR SAVER/CH9/19/DW key until a “beep” is heard. The DW icon will flash and the PROGRAM icon
   will disappear.
5. Select Channel 17 with the CHANNEL UP/ DOWN key
6. Push and release the PWR SAVER/CH9/19/DW key, and a “beep” will be heard. The DW icon will stay on.
7. The HH 50 WX ST display will switch between the selected channels.
8. To stop the dual watch, push the CHANNEL UP/ DOWN key, or turn the radio off.

Note
When an incoming transmission is received the HH 50 WX ST will stop monitoring and remain on the channel. After 10 seconds the radio will continue to monitor the 2 channels.

Weather Channels

Note
The 10 National Weather Channels include 7 NOAA and 3 Canadian channels. These channels provide full coverage to keep you informed of weather conditions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For a list of weather frequencies see specifications in the Frequency Ranges section on page 32.

Note
Your HH 50 WX ST has a special auto squelch circuit for weather transmission which disables your squelch control.

• 10 National Weather Channels provide weather transmission reception.

1. Push and release the CB/WX key and the current weather channel will appear.
2. To change weather channels push the CHANNEL UP/DOWN arrow keys.
   At times, different channels can be received. Select the one with the clearest audio quality.
3. To return to normal CB operation, push and release the CB/WX key again.

Power Saver 

1. Push and release the PROGRAM key. PROGRAM icon will be displayed.
2. Push and release the CB/WX key.
   1. To exit Power Saver (HI/LOW) mode: Push and release the PROGRAM key. PROGRAM icon will be displayed.
   2. Push and release the CB/WX PWR SAVER key.
   3. PROGRAM and PWR SAVE icon will disappear

Battery Capacity Level

To monitor the remaining power level of the HH 50 WX ST battery: Check the battery icon bands.
The BATTERY icon will flash if the batteries are low. Replace or recharge the batteries as soon as possible.

The SoundTracker® System

While previous systems only “blanket out” or limit noise in higher sound frequencies, the revolutionary SoundTracker® System reduces noise while leaving the signal intact in the reception mode. In the transmission mode, it strengthens the signal, providing you with a significant reduction in noise on reception and transmission.

Sound clarity is measured by the ratio of the signal level to the noise level. The higher the signal-to-noise ratio, the better the sound.

• How SoundTracker® Works
  • On Reception – “Cuts noise coming in” With a normal CB, distant signals fall below the squelch level and are unintelligible. With a SoundTracker° CB., the noise level is cut up to 90%, which increases the signal-to-noise ratio and dramatically improves signal clarity. This also allows you to significantly reduce the squelch level, which greatly expands your listening range.
  • On Transmission – “Strengthens signals going out” A SoundTracker® CB strengthens the transmit signal by more effectively using the available RF power output of the CB. The result is improved transmission signal clarity and an expanded transmission range.

Note
SoundTracker® gives you clearer, cleaner reception to improve CB communications while on the air.

Activating SoundTracker®

1. Push and release the ST key

The SOUNDTRACKER icon will appear

Testing SoundTracker®

1. Select any unused channel on your CB.
2. Fully counterclockwise opens the “gate” and all signals enter. Turn the knob clockwise until it stops.
3. Deactivate soundtrack mode by pressing the SOUNDTRACKER key.

Note
At times you may experience different levels of noise reduction. Different terrains and environments will affect the SoundTracker® System’s performance.

1. Turn the volume up louder than your normal listening level.
2. Push and release the ST key.
3. To disengage SoundTracker® push and release the ST key again.
4. ST icon will disappear

Lighted Display

To illuminate the display, push and release the light key. The light will remain on for about 10 seconds.

Lock Key

The purpose is to lock the front keys to avoid accidental actuation.

1. To lock, push, and hold the LOCK key. The LOCK icon will appear.
2. To unlock, push and hold the LOCK key.

In-Vehicle Use

The HH 50 WX ST can be connected to your cigarette lighter port with the provided adapter. This power connection will also charge the batteries with the included interchangeable tip.

Note
Due to the characteristics of CB transmissions, it is necessary to use an external car roof/truck magnet-mounted antenna (item # HG A1000) and a BNC S0239 adapter (item # HA-BNC) to receive optimal performance while in your vehicle. See the Accessories section on page 35.

Note
The HHSORT Road trip model comes with a magnet-mounted antenna (item #HH-Mini).

SAFETY NOTICE MPE minimum distance for HH-Mini Antenna

The antenna used for this transceiver must be properly installed and maintained must provide a separation distance of at least 12 inches (31 cm) from all persons and must not be co-located or operated in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. Never transmit if any person is closer than the specified distance to the antenna.

How Your CB Can Serve You

A CB Radio Can:

• Warn of traffic problems
• Provide weather and road data
• Provide help in the event of an emergency
• Provide direct contact with home or office
• Assist police by reporting erratic drivers
• Get local information to find a destination
• Communicate with family and friends
• Suggest spots to eat and sleep
• Keep you alert while traveling

A Few Rules You Should Know

• A. Conversations cannot last more than 5 minutes with another station. A one-minute break is required to let others use the channel.
• B. You cannot blast others off the air by use of illegally amplified transmitters or illegally high antennas.
• C. You cannot use a CB to promote illegal activities.
• D. Profanity is not allowed.
• E. You may not transmit music with a CB.
• F. Selling of merchandise and/or services is prohibited.

Weather Channel Messages

Local weather reports are provided by NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An agency of the U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA operates 500 stations which reach about 90% of the U. S. population. If you cannot receive a weather\ station, you may not have one in your area. A similar network of 15 stations broadcasts continuous weather information across much of southern Canada.

Channel 9 Emergency Messages

1. Set to channel 9 for emergencies
   • Be sure the antenna is properly connected.
2. CB Distress Data
   • When transmitting an emergency, you should request a “REACT BASE” and provide the CB
   • distress data (called CLIP):
     • Call Sign Identify yourself.
     • L location Be exact.
     • I njuries Number. Type. Trapped?
     • Problem Give details and help needed

The FCC gives these examples of permitted and prohibited messages for channel 9. These are only guidelines and not all-inclusive:

Frequency Ranges

The COBRA HH 50 WX ST transceiver represents one of the most advanced AM two-way radios used as a Class D station in the Citizens Band Radio Service. This unit features advanced Phase Lock Loop (PLL) circuitry providing complete coverage of all 40 CB channels and 10 weather channels as shown below.

HH Frequency Ranges 50 WX ST Specifications

Limited Two Year Warranty

COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
warrants that its COBRA CB Radios, and the parts thereof, will be free of defects in workmanship and materials for two (2) years from the date of the first consumer purchase. This warranty may be enforced by the first consumer purchaser, provided that the product is utilized within the U.S.A. COBRA will, without charge, repair or replace, at its option, defective CB radios, products, or parts upon delivery to the COBRA factory Service Department, accompanied by proof of the date of first consumer purchase, such as a duplicated copy of a sales receipt. You must pay any initial shipping charges required to ship the product for warranty service, but the return charges will be at Cobra’s expense if the product is repaired or replaced under warranty.

Exclusions: This limited warranty does not apply;

1. to any product damaged by accident;
2. in the event of misuse or abuse of the product or as a result of unauthorized alterations or repairs;
3. if the serial number has been altered, defaced, or removed;
4. if the owner of the product resides outside the U.S.A.

All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are limited in duration to the length of this warranty. COBRA shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential, or other damages; including, without limitation, damages resulting from loss of use or cost of installation.

Optional Accessories

FCC

Part 15.19 Warning Statement- (Required for all Part 15 devices)

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:

• THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND
• THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.

FCC Part 15.21 Warning Statement-

NOTE: THE GRANTEE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS NOT EXPRESSLY APPROVED BY THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE USER’S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.

FCC Part 15.105(b) Warning Statement

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, under part 15 of the FCC Rules.  These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.  This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used by the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.  However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.  If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

IC RSS-GEN, Sec 8.4 Warning Statement

This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. this device may not cause interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

IC RSS-GEN, Sec 8.3 Warning Statement

This radio transmitter, 906A-HH50WXST, has been approved by Industry Canada to operate with the antenna types listed below with the maximum permissible gain and required antenna impedance for each antenna type indicated. Antenna types not included in this list, having a gain greater than the maximum gain indicated for that type, are strictly prohibited for use with this device.

FAQS About Cobra HHRT50 Road Trip CB Radio

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