ION Pathfinder Charger Quickstart Guide

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Pathfinder Charger. ION designs products to make your life more fun and convenient.

Box Contents

• Pathfinder Charger
• Microphone and Cable
• 1/8" (3.5 mm) Stereo Aux Cable
• Power/Charging Cable
• Quickstart Guide
• Safety & Warranty Manual

Support

For the latest information, documentation, technical specifications, system requirements, and product registration, visit ionaudio.com.

For additional product support, visit ionaudio.com/support.

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are similar to those used in automobiles. Proper use and treatment significantly impact battery lifespan.

General Usage

Fully charge the battery before using it.

Charge the battery completely after each use.

Storage

For best longevity, avoid storage in temperatures exceeding 90°F/32°C or below 32°F/0°C.

It is acceptable to leave the sound system plugged in; it will not overcharge the battery.

Leaving the battery level low and uncharged for 6 months may permanently reduce capacity.

Repair

If the battery fails to charge, check the fuse near the power cable input. If the fuse is intact and it still won't charge, contact ION Audio at ionaudio.com.

Disposal

Bring the unit to a recycling center or dispose of it according to local ordinances.

Outdoor Use and Care

The Pathfinder Charger is water-resistant and can tolerate splashing water. Follow these tips for best performance:

• Pathfinder Charger must only be used outdoors with power outlets or extension cords rated for outdoor use.
• Bring the Pathfinder Charger indoors during extreme weather.
• Do not place the Pathfinder Charger in standing water.
• Do not connect the power cable in a wet environment. Ensure the power input, power cable, and power outlet are completely dry before making connections.

Quick Setup

1. Verify all items listed in the Box Contents are included.
2. Read the Safety & Warranty Manual before using the product.
3. Ensure the battery is fully charged before first use for maximum battery life.
4. Study the Connection Diagram.
5. Set the Master Volume on Pathfinder Charger to zero.
6. Connect your devices.
7. Adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
8. Return the Master Volume to zero when finished using the Pathfinder Charger.

Connection Diagram

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

Connections:

• Microphone: Connects to the Microphone Input on the front panel.
• Tablet, MP3 player, etc.: Connects to the Auxiliary Input (1/8" / 3.5 mm) on the front panel.
• Bluetooth Device: Connects wirelessly to the Pathfinder Charger.
• Power: The power cable connects to the Power Cable Input on the rear panel.

Panel Identification:

• Front Panel: Houses most controls and inputs, including the display, buttons, knobs, microphone input, auxiliary input, and USB port.
• Rear Panel: Contains the power cable input.

Front Panel Controls

The front panel features numerous controls and indicators:

1. Power Button:

Turns the Pathfinder Charger on or off. The unit can charge the battery even when powered off, as long as it's connected to a power source. The power indicator lights up when the unit is on.

Note: If the unit is turned off before exiting the alarm/clock menu, settings may not be saved.

2. Bluetooth Button:

Press and release to pair or disconnect a Bluetooth device. Press twice to disable or enable voice prompts.

3. Light Mode Button:

Selects front panel lighting effects:

• Color Cycle: Lights cycle through colors. Press and hold to freeze on one color.
• Beat Sync: Lights react to the music's beat.
• Off: Lights are turned off (default mode).

4. Radio Selector:

Sets the radio to FM, AM, or turns the radio off.

5. AM/FM Presets:

Store and quickly tune to favorite radio stations. There are 5 presets for AM and 5 for FM. To add a preset: Select the band (FM/AM), use Tune/Track buttons to find a station, then press and hold a numeric preset button. The display will show "SAV". Press a preset button once to go to the stored station.

6. Bass Boost Button:

Enhances bass frequencies. Press and hold to enter the Menu.

Menu Options:

• Clock On/Off: Toggle clock display (ON/OFF).
• Clock Set: Set the clock time (AM/PM, Hours, Minutes).
• Alarm On/Off: Toggle alarm (ON/OFF). A bell icon ? appears if ON. Press any button to disable an active alarm.
• Alarm Set: Set the alarm time (AM/PM, Hours, Minutes).

Note: Alarms set less than one minute ahead may sound 24 hours later.

• Voice Prompts On/Off: Toggle voice prompts (VOI/UOI). Speaker will say "voice on" or "voice off".

7. Play/Pause/Link Button:

Press to play or pause a track from a Bluetooth device. Press and hold to start stereo linking with another Pathfinder Charger. Double-press to disconnect stereo link.

8. Tune/Track Buttons:

Tune radio stations or skip tracks on a Bluetooth device. Hold down to "seek" the next available station.

9. Display:

Shows current radio station, battery status, and Bluetooth status.

• Charging Indicator: Battery segments indicate charging status. Fully charged segments are lit without blinking. When disconnected, segments show battery level.
• Lightning Bolt Icon ⚡: Illuminates when connected to wall power via the IEC cable.
• Bluetooth Icon ?: Lit solid when a device is paired; not lit when first powered on (unless previously paired).
• Power Indicator: Lit when the unit is powered on; not lit when powered off.

10. Master Volume Control:

Adjusts the main mix volume, including microphone, auxiliary input, radio, and Bluetooth audio.

11. Microphone Input with Volume Control (1/4"):

Mono input for microphones, guitars, or other musical instruments (6.35 mm).

12. Auxiliary Input:

Stereo input (1/8" / 3.5 mm) for connecting CD players, MP3 players, or other audio sources.

13. Speaker Link:

Connect multiple Pathfinder Chargers using a 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo aux cable from the Speaker Link of one unit to the Aux Input of another. A 2' (61 cm) cable is included.

14. USB Charging Port:

Charge your device using its cable. USB charging only works when the unit's power is turned on. For faster charging, put the device's screen to sleep.

Top Panel

1. Qi Wireless Charging:

Place your Qi-compatible smartphone here for wireless charging.

2. Qi Charging Indicator:

A blue LED on the top panel lights up and slowly fades in/out when a Qi-compatible smartphone is placed on the landing area, indicating successful wireless charging. The LED turns off when the smartphone is 100% charged.

3. NFC (near-field communication):

After pressing the Bluetooth button, touch and briefly hold your enabled device to the NFC logo to pair.

Power Cable Input (Back Panel)

Insert the included power cable here to charge the unit. The Pathfinder Charger can be used while simultaneously charging the battery.

Pairing a Bluetooth Device

1. Turn on your Bluetooth device.
2. Power on the Pathfinder Charger. If previously connected, it will reconnect. To disconnect an existing pairing, press and release the Bluetooth button when the Bluetooth icon ? is lit solid.
3. Press and release the Bluetooth button to initiate pairing mode.
4. On your Bluetooth device, navigate to its setup screen, find "Pathfinder Charger", and connect.
5. If prompted for a pairing code, enter "0000".
6. To disconnect pairing while the Bluetooth icon ? is lit solid, press the Bluetooth button.
7. To connect a different Bluetooth device, repeat step 3.

Pairing a Bluetooth Device Using NFC

NFC allows data exchange, like pairing, by gently bumping devices together. Check your device's manual for NFC support.

To use NFC to pair with Pathfinder Charger:

1. Ensure your NFC-enabled device is turned on and unlocked.
2. On your device, go to Settings and ensure NFC is turned ON (one-time setup).
3. Power on the Pathfinder Charger.
4. Press and release the Bluetooth button on the Pathfinder Charger. The Bluetooth icon ? will flash (needed for first-time NFC pairing).
5. Touch and briefly hold your device to the NFC logo on the Pathfinder Charger's top panel.
6. Follow the pairing instructions on your phone. Enter "0000" if a passcode is required.
7. To unpair, gently bump your device against the NFC logo or disconnect via your device's Bluetooth menu.

Stereo Linking Two Speakers

To link two Pathfinder Chargers for stereo sound:

1. Press and hold the Play/Pause/Link button to enter Stereo Link mode. The display will show "LINK" once a connection is established.
2. Select the master unit (left channel) by pressing and releasing the Bluetooth button.
3. To disconnect the link, double-press the Play/Pause/Link button.

Troubleshooting

Unit not charging:

Ensure the power cable is properly connected to the unit and the power outlet.

Sound is distorted:

Lower the volume of your sound source, instrument, or microphone. Also, try reducing the Pathfinder Charger's Master Volume.

Too much bass:

Adjust the tone or EQ control on your sound source to lower the bass level. This allows for louder playback before clipping (distortion).

Poor AM reception:

If a Bluetooth device is connected, disconnect it to listen to AM radio. To improve AM reception, reposition the entire unit.

High-pitched whistling noise with microphones:

This is likely feedback. Point the microphone away from the speaker.

Cannot hear microphone over music:

Turn down the music volume from your source.

Cannot play music from a flash drive:

The USB port is for charging USB devices only.

Cannot connect audio device via Bluetooth:

• Ensure your audio device and Pathfinder Charger are close together and unobstructed by walls or furniture.
• Reset the Bluetooth connection on the Pathfinder Charger by powering it off and on. Refer to "Pairing a Bluetooth Device" for more information.
• Reset the Bluetooth connection on your audio device by turning Bluetooth off and on in its settings.
• If the above steps don't work, find "Pathfinder Charger" in your audio device's Bluetooth menu, tap the gear/info icon, and select "Unpair" or "Forget". Power the Pathfinder Charger off and on, then try pairing again.

Note: If Pathfinder Charger was recently paired to another device within range, you may need to repeat the unpairing process with that device.