VHF Radio Screen overview
For your convenience the features that you are most likely to use are all available on the main screens of the software. These include the VHF screen, AIS List screen, AIS Plot screen and the My vessel screen. You can switch between screens by pressing the left and right arrow keys.
The first main screen is the VHF screen. This is where you can quickly make a DSC call, adjust the transmission power, and monitor or scan channels with ease.
| No. | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Status bar | A handy tool that shows you what status is currently active by highlighting the corresponding icon. |
| 2 | Screen name | This is the name of the screen that you are on. |
| 3 | Current mode | This shows which mode is currently selected: either Normal, Watch, or Scan mode can be active at one time. |
| 4 | Quick channels | This shows a list of channels that you can quickly call while in normal mode. Up to 3 Quick channels can be configured within the app. The 4th Quick channel is the last channel used before selecting another quick channel. |
| 5 | DSC call softkey |
When you're ready to make a DSC call, press this softkey. Once pressed, additional options will appear, allowing you to select the type of DSC call you wish to make. Click here to see information on DSC calling. |
| 6 | Switch mode softkey | If you want to enter watch or scan mode, press this softkey. The options on the screen change based on the mode you've selected. |
| 7 | High / Low softkey | If you want to adjust the transmitting power, press the softkey. This toggles between 25W (high power) and 1W (low power). |
| 8 | Radio status | This shows the current status of the radio. "Rx" indicates that you're receiving a transmission, while "Tx" means you're transmitting. "STBY" shows after a short period of inactivity |
| 9 | Channel | This is the channel that you currently have selected. |
| 10 | Transmitting power | This displays the amount of power currently being used to transmit your messages. Use low power when communicating with vessels nearby (less than 1 mile) and high power to reach vessels further away. |
Quick Channels
QUICK CHANNELS are a handy way of quickly selecting frequently used channels.
For example, if you find yourself regularly changing channels between Port operations, your local marina and a friend who has a boat nearby, you can set those channels as QUICK CHANNELS in the app.
The quick channels appear on the VHF screen. Use the arrow keys to select a quick channel and press the OK button to select that channel. You can then press the DSC CALL softkey to call. Quick channels can be selected in the app.
VHF radio modes
VHF Radio Scan and Watch modes are a good way of listening to one channel without missing information being broadcast on another.
Press the MODE softkey when you want to enter WATCH or SCAN mode.
Normal mode
NORMAL mode is the standard operating mode for the X100. In this mode, all functionality is available, making it ideal for making calls or sending messages. Normal mode allows you to listen to a single channel and make and receive VHF calls on that channel.
Alternatively, Scan or Watch Modes allow multiple channels to be sequentially scanned or simultaneously listened to.
Scan Mode
SCAN mode is ideal for listening for important announcements or broadcasts, such as safety alerts or radio activity of multiple channels, listening to each in turn. When a broadcasting channel is found, the X100 will stay on that channel until the broadcast ends. If no further broadcasts occur on that channel, the X100 will continue scanning for other channels.
To learn how to set how long the channel is scanned after a broadcast ends, click here.
| No. | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Type |
This indicates the scan type selected, scan types give you the flexibility to gather the information you need from broadcasts and announcements more effectively. Standard: All channels in the frequency are scanned. Standard Priority: Scans all channels, with channel the priority channel being scanned in between each. Be aware that the priority channel can change depending on your location. Custom: A custom list of channels is scanned in ascending order. Custom-Priority: Scans a custom list of channels, with the priority channel being scanned in between each. Be aware that the priority channel can change depending on your location. |
| 2 | Priority | This indicates the priority channel, be aware that the priority channel can change depending on your location. |
| 3 | Selected | This shows how many channels are available in the frequency band you selected for scanning. If you chose Custom and you are in the U.S. or Canada, you have the ability to include the weather channels in the scan. |
| 4 | Start scan softkey | Press the softkey when you are ready to start the scan. |
To set a SCAN MODE:
-
Press the MODE softkey until SCAN MODE is selected.
-
Press the ok button and choose between the scan types.
When you have selected a scan type and are ready to begin, press the START SCAN softkey.
Watch mode
WATCH mode is perfect for when you want to monitor your priority channel(s) and one other channel simultaneously. For example, this is useful if you want to stay updated on marine channels while keeping an ear on safety or emergency broadcasts.
Once selected Watch mode starts automatically.
To learn how to set how long the channel is watched after a broadcast ends, click here.
| No. | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Type |
This indicates the watch type selected, watch types give you the flexibility to gather the information you need from broadcasts and announcements more effectively. Dual: Allows you to monitor another channel along with the priority channel, giving you the ability to stay updated on both at the same time. Tri: Lets you monitor the channel you’re on, the priority channel, the Call Channel - or 2nd Priority Channel. This keeps you updated on all three channels simultaneously. |
| 2 | Channels | This indicates the channels that are being watched. |
To set a WATCH MODE:
-
Press the MODE softkey until WATCH MODE is selected.
-
Press OK to toggle between DUAL and TRIPLE modes. DUAL mode watches the channel you're currently on, as well as channel 16. TRIPLE mode lets you select an additional channel to monitor alongside your current channel and channel 16.
Once you’ve selected the channels to watch, you’ll start receiving broadcasts on them—provided there are messages being transmitted.
Transmitting power
The X100 gives you the option to adjust the power of your transmissions. To change the power level, just press the HIGH/LOW softkey. This will toggle between high power (25W) and low power (1W).
Low power is ideally used to contact vessels that are nearby (less than 1 mile away), whereas High power is used to contact vessels that are further away.
| INFORMATION | |
| Some channels only broadcast on either 1W or 25W. |
Making a DSC call from the VHF RADIO screen
DSC takes the hassle out of communicating at sea, making it easier and more reliable. Instead of broadcasting over the radio to get someone’s attention, you can use DSC to connect directly with another vessel. Just select the boat by its MMSI number or pick it from a list, and you're ready to call, it’s as simple as making a phone call.
Click here to learn how to make a routine DSC call from the AIS list screen, and here for the AIS Plot screen.