Radio Shack TRC-442 User manual

Cat. No. 21-1586

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

TRC-442

Full-Power 40-Channel

Mobile CB Radio

21-1586.fm Page 1 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

FEATURES

RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.

Your RadioShack TRC-442 Full-

Power 40-Channel Mobile CB Radio is

a high performing, water resistant CB

which can be used almost anywhere.

The CB is perfect for recreational,

business, or emergency use. You can

call for help, or call other people with

CBs at home, in their vehicles, or at

camp sites. You can also connect it to

optional equipment, such as an option-

al power supply or a base station an-

tenna.

Your CB also has these advanced fea-

tures:

Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) Frequen-

nthesizer — provides highly ac-

curate and stable tuning.

Two Ceramic Filters — provide su-

perior channel selectivity and prevent

adjacent-channel interference.

Automatic Modulation Control —

prevents the transmitter signal from

over-modulating and distorting.

Automatic Noise Limiter — reduces

impulse-type noises while receiving.

ustable Squelch — reduces noise

between transmissions.

Rotar

Tunin

Control — for conve-

nient channel selection.

Lar

e, Illuminated, Di

ital Displa

— clearly shows the channel number.

Base Station Capabilit

— lets you

use the transceiver as a base station

powered from a standard AC outlet

(with an optional power supply and

base station antenna).

Universal Mountin

Bracket — lets

you securely mount the CB in your ve-

hicle or on a table or shelf in your

home.

Notes:

• To use this CB, you need a mobile

or base station antenna.

• The CB radio is water resistant,

not waterproof. Do not submerge

it or put it where water will continu-

ally run over it.

We recommend you record your CB’s

serial number here. The number is on

the CB’s back panel.

Serial Number _________________

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FCC INFORMATION

The Federal Communications Com-

mission (FCC) does not require you to

have a license to operate this CB ra-

dio. However, you must know Part 95

FCC Rules

. It explains the proper

operation of a Class D citizen’s band

transceiver. We have provided a copy

of these regulations with your CB ra-

dio.

Warning: Do not open your CB to

make any internal adjustments. Any

internal adjustments can be made

only by an authorized service techni-

cian.

Internal adjustments and/or modifica-

tions can lead to illegal operation as

defined by Part 95 of

FCC Rules

Such illegal operation can lead to very

serious consequences.

To be safe and sure:

• Never open your CB radio’s case.

• Never change or replace anything

in your CB radio.

Your CB radio might cause TV or ra-

dio interference even when it is oper-

ating properly. To determine whether

your CB radio is causing the interfer-

ence, turn off your CB. If the interfer-

ence goes away, your CB radio is

causing it. Try to eliminate the interfer-

ence by:

• Moving your CB radio away from

the receiver

• Contacting your local Ra-

dioShack store for help

If you cannot eliminate the interfer-

ence, the FCC requires that you stop

using your CB radio.

This device complies with Part 15 of

FCC Rules

. Operation is subject to the

following two conditions: (1) this de-

vice may not cause harmful interfer-

ence, and (2) this device must accept

any interference received, including

interference that may cause undesired

operation.

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CONTENTS

Installation ............................................................................................................ 5

Attaching the Microphone Holder .................................................................... 5

Mounting the TRC-442 .................................................................................... 5

Connecting the Microphone ............................................................................. 7

Installing an Antenna ....................................................................................... 7

Selecting an Antenna ................................................................................ 7

Connecting an Antenna ............................................................................ 7

Using Vehicle Battery Power ........................................................................... 8

Using the CB as a Base Station ...................................................................... 9

Operation ............................................................................................................ 10

Turning On the CB and Receiving Transmissions ......................................... 10

Transmitting ................................................................................................... 11

CB Operation Tips .............................................................................................. 12

Common Uses for a CB Radio ...................................................................... 12

Business Uses ........................................................................................ 12

Personal Uses ......................................................................................... 12

CB Courtesy .................................................................................................. 12

Using Common 10-Codes ............................................................................. 13

Maximum Range ........................................................................................... 14

Troubleshootin

................................................................................................. 15

Reducing Noise ............................................................................................. 16

Care and Maintenance ....................................................................................... 17

Replacing the Fuse ........................................................................................ 18

Specifications ..................................................................................................... 19

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INSTALLATION

ATTACHING THE

MICROPHONE HOLDER

You can connect the microphone hold-

er to the right side of the transceiver or

to another location in your vehicle.

To attach the holder to the transceiver,

secure it with the supplied mounting

screws and lockwashers.

To attach the holder to another loca-

tion in the vehicle, such as the dash-

board, follow these steps.

1. Using the holder as a template,

mark the positions for the mount-

ing screw holes at the desired

location.

2. At each marked position, drill a

hole slightly smaller than the sup-

plied mounting screws.

Caution: Be careful not to drill

into anything behind the mount-

ing surface.

3. Attach the holder at the mounting

location using the supplied mount-

ing screws, lockwashers, wash-

ers, and nuts.

MOUNTING THE TRC-442

The most common mounting location

for this CB is under a vehicle’s dash-

board. However, if you use the TRC-

442 as a base station, you can place it

on a desk, shelf, or table. See “Using

the CB as a Base Station” on Page 9.

If you are mounting the CB in a vehi-

cle, choose a location where:

• You can easily reach the CB.

• Wires and cables are clear of the

vehicle’s pedals or other moving

parts.

• The CB is not directly in front of

heating vents.

• All wires and cables can reach

their connection points.

21-1586.fm Page 5 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

Cautions:

• If you use the TRC-442 in a vehi-

cle, mount it securely to avoid

damage to the CB or vehicle or in-

jury to anyone in the vehicle dur-

ing sudden starts or stops.

• Do not mount the CB where it

could damage or interfere with the

proper operation of any passive

restraint safety device (an air bag

or seat belt).

Follow these steps to mount the CB

using the supplied hardware.

1. Using the mounting bracket as a

template, mark the positions for

the screw holes on the mounting

surface.

2. In each marked location, drill a

hole slightly smaller than the sup-

plied mounting bolts.

Caution: Be careful not to drill

into objects behind the mounting

surface.

3. Attach the bracket to the mounting

surface with the supplied mount-

ing bolts, lockwashers, washers,

and nuts.

Note: If you cannot reach behind

the mounting surface to attach the

nuts on the bolts, use the supplied

screws, lockwashers, and wash-

ers to secure the bracket.

4. Attach the CB to the mounting

bracket using the supplied rubber

washers and mounting knobs.

Rubber Washer

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CONNECTING THE

MICROPHONE

1. Align the notch on the microphone

cable’s plug with the ridge in the

MIC jack, then insert the plug into

the jack.

2. Tighten the microphone cable’s

outer ring by turning it clockwise.

3. Slide the microphone onto the mi-

crophone holder.

4. To disconnect the microphone,

loosen the microphone cable’s

outer ring by turning it counter-

clockwise, then pull out the plug.

Caution: Never pull on the micro-

phone cable.

INSTALLING AN

ANTENNA

Caution: To prevent damage to your

CB, you must connect an antenna to it

before you operate it.

Note: If you are using this CB as a

base station, see “Using the CB as a

Base Station” on Page 9.

Selecting an Antenna

When deciding on an antenna and

where to locate it, consider these

points:

• The location of the antenna

should be as high as possible.

• The antenna and antenna cable

should be as far as possible from

sources of electrical noise (igni-

tion systems, gauges, and so on).

Your local RadioShack store sells a

variety of CB antennas for both mobile

and base-station use. Choose the one

that best meets your needs.

Connecting an Antenna

Once you choose an antenna, follow

its mounting instructions. Route the

antenna’s cable to the CB, then screw

the cable to the ANTENNA jack on the

back of the CB.

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Cautions:

• Do not run the cable over sharp

edges or moving parts that might

damage it.

• Do not run the cable next to power

cables or other CB antenna

cables.

• Do not run the cable through a

vehicle’s engine compartment or

other areas that produce extreme

heat.

Note: To achieve your radio’s maxi-

mum range, adjust the antenna’s

Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) using an

SWR meter (not supplied).

Follow the instructions supplied with

the SWR meter and antenna to adjust

your antenna’s SWR to the lowest pos-

sible value. SWR values of 2.0:1 are

generally acceptable, with readings of

1.5:1 or lower being more desirable.

USING VEHICLE

BATTERY POWER

You can power this CB from your vehi-

cle’s battery or from standard AC pow-

er with an optional DC power supply.

For information on using AC power,

see “Using the CB as a Base Station”

on Page 9.

Follow these steps to power the CB

from your vehicle’s battery.

1. Connect the red wire, with the in-

line fuse, to a source of voltage

that turns on and off with the igni-

tion switch, such as a spare

accessory terminal in your vehi-

cle’s fuse box. This prevents the

battery from being drained if you

leave the CB on when you turn off

the ignition.

2. Connect the black wire to your

vehicle battery’s negative (–) ter-

minal or to a metal part of the

vehicle’s frame that is not insu-

lated from the frame by a plastic

part.

Red wire to switched

accessory terminal

Black wire to vehicle’s frame

or battery (–)

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USING THE CB AS A

BASE STATION

Although this CB is designed mainly

for mobile use, you can also use it as

a base station with an AC power

source. For base station installation,

you need the following items (all avail-

able at your local RadioShack store):

• 12-volt DC power supply (such as

Cat. No. 22-504)

Caution: Most 12-volt DC power

supplies plug into a standard AC

outlet to produce DC power.

Before connecting your CB to a

12-volt DC power supply, read

and follow the instructions in-

cluded with the power supply.

• Base station antenna (such as

Cat. No. 21-969)

• Coaxial antenna cable and con-

nectors

Follow these steps to install the CB as

a base station.

1. Mount the base station antenna

as described in its owner’s man-

ual.

Warning: Use extreme caution

when you install or remove a base

station CB antenna. If the antenna

starts to fall, let it go. It could con-

tact overhead power lines. If the

antenna touches the power line,

contact with the antenna, mast,

cable, or guy wires can cause

electrocution and death. Call the

power company to remove the

antenna. DO NOT attempt to do

so yourself.

2. Route the antenna cable to the

CB, then connect the antenna to

the ANTENNA jack on the back of

the CB.

3. Connect the CB’s black power

wire to the negative (–) terminal

on the DC power supply.

4. Connect the CB’s red wire, with

the in-line fuse, to the positive (+)

terminal on the DC power supply.

5. Connect the DC power supply to a

standard AC outlet.

Red wire

to switched

accessory

terminal

Black wire to vehicle’s

frame or battery (–)

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OPERATION

Before you use your CB radio, you

should know how to use it effectively

and courteously. “CB Operation Tips”

on Page 12 contains information that

will help you get more enjoyment from

your CB radio.

TURNING ON THE CB

AND RECEIVING

TRANSMISSIONS

1. Turn SQUELCH fully counterclock-

wise.

2. To turn on the CB, turn VOLUME

clockwise until it clicks and you

hear a hissing sound. The CB dis-

plays the last selected channel.

3. To tune to a specific channel, ro-

tate CHANNEL clockwise or coun-

terclockwise until the display

shows the desired channel.

To rapidly move up or down the

channels, turn CHANNEL only

slightly to the left or right.

4. Slowly turn SQUELCH clockwise

until the hissing sound stops.

Note: If the CB picks up

unwanted, partial, or very weak

transmissions, turn SQUELCH

clockwise to decrease the CB’s

sensitivity to these signals. Turn

SQUELCH counterclockwise if you

want to listen to a weak or distant

station.

5. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable

listening level.

6. To turn off the CB, turn VOLUME

counterclockwise until it clicks.

21-1586.fm Page 10 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

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