Normal mode operation | West Marine VHF580 instruction

In addition to the three basic operation modes, your radio also provides three different “watch” modes which you can activate during any of the three basic modes. In these watch modes, the radio briefly checks for activity on a specific channel then returns to its previous mode.

Watch Mode What It Does

Use It When

To Turn it on./off...

Weather Alert	Checks for alerts	You want to be	conditions in your area.
	on the last weather	made aware of	Select WX-ALERT Mode
	channel you	severe weather	in Setup submenu, and
	used every seven	conditions in your	then choose ON or OFF.
	seconds.	area.
Triple	Checks for activity	You want to monitor	Press and hold 16/9-TRIfor
	on channels 16	a channel yet	two seconds.
	and 9 every two	maintain a watch on
	seconds.	channels 16 and 9.
Dual	Checks for activity	You want to monitor	Change Triple Watch
	on channel 16 every	a channel yet	to Dual Watch in the
	two seconds.	maintain a watch on	setup menu, then press
		channel 16.	and hold 16/9-TRIfor two
			seconds.

##NOTE: You are required to monitor channel 16 whenever your boat is underway. You should have either Triple Watch or Dual Watch on at all times.

Normal mode operation

Normal mode monitors whatever channel you select, and you can transmit on that channel also. While using normal mode, the display lets you see the following information (not all indicators will display at the same time):

Transmit power

	Weather Alert	Channel mode
	Watch on	Channel mode
	Watch on	(USA, CANadian,
		(USA, CANadian,
		or INTernational)

(1 W or 25 W)

Current channel is stored in

memory

Status messages (see the status message table)

25 Watts USA 25

Memory Alert

GPS Data OK

Marine Operator

Status Icons

Current channel number

Current channel name (if the name is too long, the name line scrolls)

11

Image 11

West Marine VHF580 manual Normal mode operation, Watch Mode What It Does Use It When To Turn it on./off

Contents

DSC Marine Radio Making a Voice Distress Call Making a Distress Call Faire un appel de détresse vocal Faire un appel de détresse Cómo hacer una llamada de apuro por voz Cómo hacer una llamada de apuro Contents Conventions FeaturesIntroduction Manual overview What’s included Getting Started Button Press to Press and hold to Parts of the Radio Button Press to Press and hold Connector/Cable Connects to For details, seeParts of the Microphone Turning on the Radio Setting the UIC Channel Mode USA/CAN/INTMode What It Does Use It When To Turn it on./off How It Works Watch Mode What It Does Use It When To Turn it on./off Normal mode operation Message Meaning Using the radio in normal modeNormal mode with Weather Alert Watch Normal mode with Triple and Dual Watch 08 10 11 12 13 15 17 Scan modeNormal mode with both Weather Alert and Triple/Dual Watch Scan mode with both Weather Alert and Triple/Dual Watch Using the radio in scan modeScan mode with Weather Alert Watch Scan mode with Triple and Dual Watch Weather mode with Weather Alert Watch Weather modeUsing the radio in weather mode Using Your Radio Using Your Radio Changing the channel Setting the volumeSetting the squelch level Making a voice Mayday call Choosing Triple Watch or Dual Watch Boosting the transmission power Using Fips codes for weather alerts Contrast Setting the GPS position manuallyLamp adjust Changing display and sound options What is an Mmsi number? Using Digital Selective Calling DSC FeaturesWhat is DSC? Advanced DSC features Individual or User Mmsi Number Entering Mmsi numbers Group Mmsi number Using the Directory Channel Up Button Channel Down Button Call type What it does When to use itMaking DSC Calls Select Individual Calling a single station Individual Call Calling all stations All-Ships Call Making an automatic distress callCalling a particular group of stations Group Call DSC Call Type Receive Log Information Canceling an automatic distress callReceiving a DSC call Receive log Making Test Calls Test Test CallsReturning a call Requesting another station’s position POS Request Position Request and ReplyReceiving Test Calls Enabling automatic test call reply Sending your own position Position Send Receiving a position request Position ReplyEnabling automatic position reply Renaming Channels Disabling automatic channel switchingPutting the radio into standby ENT-1W/25W Mounting the radio Installing the Hardware Power Supply Requirements VHF Antenna Requirements Connecting the radio Ground Wire Color Connecting to a GPS receiver GPS Data External Configuring the GPS Connecting to an External Speaker Connecting to a Chartplotter Problem Things to Try Maintenance and Troubleshooting Engine Noise Suppression Transmitter SpecificationsRadio Specifications Channel name/description Used for Reference TablesChannel descriptions and what they mean Receiver Ch No RX Freq TX Freq Status Name on display US Marine Channels and Frequencies Canadian Marine Channels and Frequencies Ch No RX Freq TX Freq Status Name on display International Marine Channels and Frequencies Ch No RX Freq TX Freq Status Name on display Types of events Weather Channels and Frequencies US, CAN, and INTEmergency Alert System Same Information Ch No RX Freq Name on display FFW WFW No Response Event Code Nmea Input Nmea OperationNmea Output Basic radio guidelines Three Year Limited Warranty Page QUESTIONS?