Support – Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to charge the battery in my FreeLinc device?
Can I leave my Freelinc device plugged into the charger when I am not using it?
How long does a battery charge last on my device?
How is the adapter powered?
How much separation can you have between the device and the adapter and still maintain the link?
Since the FreeLinc Wireless Systems use near field magnetic induction, will proximity to metal degrade the communication link?
What happens if you go beyond the 5-foot range and lose the link between the device and adapter?
What happens if I misplace or lose my FreeLinc device and need to use my radio to communicate with others?
What happens if you have a group of FreeLinc Wireless Systems in close proximity? Will this effect the operation of any or all devices in the group?
What is the warranty on my FreeLinc Wireless System?
What happens when the original battery wears out? How do I get it replaced?
My device will not pair with my adapter. What do I do?
How do I get a new User’s Guide?
Can I charge my device through the USB ports on my computer?
Do I need to modify my radio in any way for your FreeLinc Wireless Systems to work?
How do I turn my device ON and OFF?
How do I get literature on your products?
How can I find my local FreeLinc representative?
Will my FreeLinc device communicate with more than one adapter?
What if I break or lose my device? Can I replace only the , or do I always need to buy the accessory and adapter as a set?
How or where do I push to talk?
Do I have to re-pair my accessory and adapter every time that I turn the radio off? Or every time the battery dies?
When I have a FreeLinc product, do I need my radio any more?
Can I use the same adapter with FreeMotion headsets, FreeMic speaker-mics, and any other FreeLinc accessories?
How will I know when my battery is getting low?
Can I charge FreeMotion headsets and FreeMic speaker-mics with the same charger?

How long does it take to charge the battery in my FreeLinc accessory?
3.5 to 4 hours for a complete charge. The LED on the accessory will turn from red to green indicating a complete charge. The LED on the accessory will not illuminate when unplugged from the charger.

Can I just leave my accessory plugged into the charger all the time when I am not using it?
You can leave it plugged in over night or for 8 to 10 hours at a time, but any extended period of time on a regular basis is not recommended and can cause premature battery failure. Removal from the charging source after complete charging is the best practice.

How long does a battery charge last on my accessory?
A fully charged battery should last around 20 hrs. Since we don’t use a “sleep mode” or other power-saving features in order to ensure always-ready communication, you should experience roughly the same talk time with each charge.

How is the adapter powered?
The adapter gets its power from the radio. Since the FreeLinc adapter uses very little power, you may lose roughly 15 minutes of battery life on your radio per duty cycle, when used with a battery that is in good working condition.

How much separation can you have between the accessory and the adapter and still maintain the link?
The range is roughly 3 to 5 feet.

Since FreeLinc accessories use magnetic induction, will proximity to metal degrade the communication link?

Metal can either enhance or degrade the performance depending on its location. For example, in a car, the surrounding metal can enhance the performance of the magnetic field. However, a metal wall placed between the accessory and the adapter would drastically reduce the capability of the link.

What happens if you go beyond the 5-foot range and lose the link between that accessory and the adapter?
When the accessory is out of range of the adapter, the accessory starts to beep and the LED on the adapter blinks RED indicating the loss of the link. When the accessory and the adapter are brought back within the 5-foot range, the link will be re-established as evidenced by the GREEN blinking LED on the Adapter.

What happens if I misplace or lose my Accessory and need to use my radio to communicate with others?
The adapter is equipped with an ON/ OFF switch. The switch can easily be turned to the OFF position, at which time the radio functions as if the adapter were not on the radio. In this way, you can have full and complete functionality of the radio without having to stop and remove the adapter.

What happens if you have a group close together in a room or on the job? Will this effect the operation of all the accessories in the group?
Generally not. When two accessories get close together, the magnetic fields merge and become one. For this to occur, the two people need to be extremely close – for example, in a bear-hug. At this time, our products are designed with the ability to have two people successfully communicate inside one magnetic field. If a third person were to enter the field, one of those in the field would lose their link. The person who lost the link would be immediately aware of the loss because of a beeping on the accessory. This can be easily remedied by the individual who has lost the link taking a step back. The link will immediately be restored at that time. Remember, you have to be extremely close to another person to be in their field. With all of the tests that we have performed, and with all of our existing customers, this problem has never been reported. Also, when an accessory and an adapter are paired, they exchange a unique and individual ID and they only look for each other. Therefore your accessory will not recognize any other adapter other than the one with which it is paired. This prevents any rogue links and or transmissions.

What is the warranty on my FreeLinc product?
The warranty on all FreeLinc products is 1 year parts and labor for the original purchaser of the product. Click here to read or download the complete warranty.

What happens when the original battery wears out? How do I get it replaced?
When the battery fails to hold a charge outside of the warranty period, the accessory may be returned to FreeLinc, where the battery will be replaced for a fee of $69.95. This new battery will have a warranty of one year from the date of replacement.

My accessory will not pair with my adapter. What do I do?
While extremely rare, it is possible for the accessory to fail to pair with its adapter. Should this problem occur, a “forced pairing” procedure can resolve it. For complete instructions on this procedure, contact FreeLinc at 866.467.1199.

How do I get a new Operator’s manual?

Click here to download a new version of your User Manual.

Can I charge my accessory through the USB ports on my computer?
No you cannot. The levels on other USB ports are not the same as they are on our charging cables. Doing so could cause damage to your FreeLinc accessory and in extreme cases may present a fire hazard.

Do I need to modify my radio in any way for your products to work?
No, you do not. The only requirement is that we must offer an adapter that fits on your radio model. This is no different than other wired accessories you may have used. For a complete list of the radio models we currently support, click here.

How do I turn my accessory ON and OFF?
FreeLinc accessories do not have ON and OFF switches on them. When the accessory continuously fails to find its paired adapter for approximately 2 minutes, it will turn OFF (go to sleep) automatically. To turn the accessory ON (wake it up), you simply press the Push to Talk button located on the accessory.

How do I get literature on your products?
Visit our Downloads section for a complete list of literature and related material.

How can I find my local FreeLinc representative?
Visit our Sales Contacts section to locate and contact the rep in your area.

Will my accessory communicate with more than one adapter?
NO. When an accessory and an adapter are paired, they exchange a unique and individual ID which ensures that they will only communicate with each other. Therefore your accessory will not communicate with any other adapter other than the one with which it is paired. This prevents any rogue links and or transmissions.

What if I break or lose my accessory? Can I buy the accessory only, or do I always need to buy the accessory and adapter as a set?

Yes, you can buy accessories without adapters. You can also buy adapters without accessories. Visit our products section to learn more.

How or where do I push to talk?
There are two ways to Push To Talk(PTT) with FreeLinc Accessories. First, there is a PTT button located on the accessory itself. On the FreeMotion, the PTT is found on the ear bud, and on the FreeMic the PTT is found on the side. Second, there is a PTT button located on the top of the adapter that is attached to the radio. These two PTT locations give the user the flexibility of using which ever option is best for them.

Do I have to re-pair my accessory and adapter every time that I turn the radio off? Or every time the battery dies?
No, not if the units have already been paired. Once the accessory and adapter have been paired, they exchange a unique ID. Turning the radio or the accessory off will not cause the unique IDs between the units to be lost. When the devices are powered up the pairing is re-established automatically in a matter of seconds. On rare occasions, the pairing could be lost. If this does happen, all that is required is to follow the Forced Pairing procedure found here.

When I have a FreeLinc product, do I need my radio any more?
Yes, you do need your radio. Our products work the same as any other accessory that you attach to your radio (SpeakerMics, Headsets, Ear pieces). The only “BIG” difference is that FreeLinc accessories do not have a cord between the radio and the accessory.

Can I use the same adapter with FreeMotion headsets, FreeMic speaker-mics, and any other FreeLinc accessories?
Yes, you can. All FreeLinc Accessories are compatible with any of the Adapters.

How will I know when my battery is getting low?
Our accessories are designed with a low battery audible indicator.

Can I charge FreeMotion headsets and FreeMic speaker-mics with the same charger?
Yes, FreeLinc chargers are interchangeable and can be using for any of our products.