Radio Shack TRC-501 User manual

Cat. No. 21-1701

OWNER’S MANUAL

40-Channel 2-Way CB Radio

Please read before using this equipment.

TRC-501

21-1701.fm Page 1 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

INTRODUCTION

RadioShack is a trademark used by Tandy Corporation.

Your RadioShack TRC-501 40-

Channel 2-Way CB Radio is a high

performance CB with the maximum

legally allowable power and innova-

tive styling.

This CB is perfect for recreational,

business, or emergency use. You

can call other people who have CBs

at home, in their vehicles, or at camp

sites. You can also connect optional

equipment to your CB, such as an

external PA speaker, or a DC power

supply and base station antenna to

set up a base station in your home.

Your CB has these features:

PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) Fre-

quenc

nthesizer — provides re-

liable and exact tuning using a

precise frequency reference crystal.

Two Ceramic Filters — provide su-

perior selectivity and prevent adja-

cent-channel interference.

steresis Squelch Circuit —

compensates for fading signals and

eliminates signal chopping during re-

ception.

Automatic Noise Limitin

(ANL)

Circuit

— reduces noise caused by

nearby electrical equipment such as

motors or automotive ignition sys-

tems.

DOWN/UP Channel Selector —

provides maximum convenience

when selecting channels.

LED Displa

—lets you easily see

the selected channel number.

Universal Mountin

Bracket —

lets you mount your CB securely in

your vehicle or on a table or shelf in

your home.

Note: To use this CB, you need a

mobile or base station antenna. Your

local Radio Shack store has a wide

variety of antennas.

We recommend you record your

CB’s serial number here. The num-

ber is on the CB’s back panel.

Serial Number_________________

21-1701.fm Page 2 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

FCC INFORMATION

The Federal Communications Com-

mission (FCC) does not require you

to have a license to operate this CB.

However, the FCC does require you

to read and know Part 95 of

FCC

Rules

. These rules apply to the oper-

ation of a Class D CB. We have pro-

vided a copy of these regulations

with your CB.

Warnin

:Do not open your CB to

make any internal adjustments. Inter-

nal adjustments must be made only

by authorized service personnel.

Internal adjustments and/or modifi-

cations 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’s case.

• Never modify your CB.

Your CB might cause TV or radio in-

terference even when it is operating

properly. To determine whether your

CB is causing the interference, turn

off your CB. If the interference goes

away, your CB iscausing the interfer-

ence. Try to eliminate the interfer-

ence by:

• Moving your CB 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.

21-1701.fm Page 3 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

CONTENTS

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

Mounting the Microphone Holder ................................................................5

Connecting the Microphone ........................................................................5

Mounting the TRC-501 ................................................................................5

Connecting an Antenna ...............................................................................6

Selecting an Antenna ...........................................................................6

Connecting the Antenna .......................................................................7

Connecting an Optional External Speaker ..................................................7

Connecting Power .......................................................................................8

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

Using the CB as a Base Station ...........................................................8

Operation ..........................................................................................................9

Receiving Transmissions and Adjusting Squelch .......................................9

Transmitting ..............................................................................................10

CB Operation Tips .....................................................................................10

Common Uses for a CB Radio ...........................................................10

CB Courtesy .......................................................................................11

Maximum Range ................................................................................11

Using Common 10-Codes ..................................................................12

Troubleshootin

............................................................................................13

Reducing Noise .........................................................................................14

Maintenance ...................................................................................................15

Replacing the Fuse ...................................................................................16

Specifications ................................................................................................17

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INSTALLATION

MOUNTING THE

MICROPHONE HOLDER

Using a Phillips screwdriver and the

supplied small screws and small

metal washers, attach the supplied

microphone holder horizontally or

vertically to either side of the CB.

CONNECTING THE

MICROPHONE

Make sure the pins on the micro-

phone cable’s plug are aligned with

the holes in the CB’s microphone

jack on the front of transceiver and

insert the plug into the jack.

To disconnect the microphone cable,

press and hold down the small tab on

the microphone plug, then pull out

the plug.

Caution: Never pull on the

microphone cable.

MOUNTING THE

TRC-501

The mostcommon mountinglocation

for this CB is under a vehicle’s dash-

board. However, if you use the TRC-

501 as a base station, you can place

it on a desk, shelf, or table (see “Us-

ing the CB as a Base Station” on

Page 8).

If you are mounting the CB in a vehi-

cle, choose a location where:

• You can easily reach the CB.

• Wires and cables will not inter-

fere with the vehicle’s pedals or

other moving parts.

• The CB is not directly in front of

heating vents.

• All wires and cables will reach

their connection points.

Caution:If you use the TRC-501 in a

vehicle, mount it securely to avoid

damage to the CB or vehicle during

sudden starts or stops.

(il-

21-1701.fm Page 5 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

Follow these steps to mount the CB

using the supplied hardware.

1. Using the mounting bracket as a

template, mark the positions for

the three screw holes.

2. In each marked location, drill a

hole slightly smaller than the

supplied large screws.

Caution: Be careful not to drill

into anything behind the mount-

ing surface.

3. Using a Phillips screwdriver,

attach the mounting bracket to

the mounting surface with the

large screws and supplied lock

washers.

4. Attach the CB to the mounting

bracket using the rubber wash-

ers and mounting knobs.

CONNECTING AN

ANTENNA

Caution: To prevent damage to your

CB, you must connect an antenna to

the CB before you operate it.

Selecting an Antenna

Although this CB is designed for mo-

bile use, you can also use it as a

base station. When deciding on a

mobile or base-station antenna and

its location, consider these points:

• For the best performance, the

antenna should be vertical and

located as high as possible.

• The antenna and antenna cable

should be as far as possible

from sources of electrical noise

(ignition systems, gauges, etc.).

(il-

21-1701.fm Page 6 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

Your local RadioShack store sells a

variety of CB antennas (for both mo-

bile and base-station use), coaxial

antenna cable, and connectors.

Connecting the Antenna

Once you choose an antenna, follow

the mounting instructions supplied

with it.

Warnin

:Use extreme caution when

you install or remove a base station

CB antenna. If the antenna starts to

fall, let it go! It could contact over-

head 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 re-

move the antenna. DO NOT attempt

to do so yourself.

Then route the antenna cable to the

CB and connect the cable to the AN-

TENNA jack on the back of the CB.

Cautions:

• Do not run the cable over sharp

edges or moving parts.

• 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.

CONNECTING AN

OPTIONAL EXTERNAL

SPEAKER

To make the CB easier to hear in

noisy environments, you can connect

it to an external CB speaker. Use an

8-ohm speaker capable of handling

3–5 watts of power (such as Ra-

dioShack Cat. No. 21-549). The

speaker’s cable must have a 1/8-inch

plug.

Simply plug the speaker cable into

the CB’s EXT 8Ωjack.

Note: When you connect an external

speaker, the CB’s internal speaker

automatically disconnects.

(il- (il-

Speaker Cable

21-1701.fm Page 7 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

CONNECTING POWER

You can power this CB from your ve-

hicle’s battery or from standard AC

power with an optional DC power

supply (such as Cat. No. 22-120).

Using Vehicle Battery Power

1. Connect the CB’s red wire, with

in-line fuse, to a source of volt-

age that turns on and off with the

ignition switch, such as a spare

accessory terminal in your vehi-

cle’s fuse box.

2. Connect the CB’s orange wire,

with in-line fuse, to a source of

voltage that supplies constant

positive (+) power, or directly to

your vehicle’s positive (+) bat-

tery terminal. This connection is

for memory back-up.

3. Connect the CB’s black wire to

your vehicle battery’s negative

(–) terminal, or a metal part of

the vehicle’s frame that is not

insulated from the frame by a

plastic part

Using the CB as a

Base Station

Caution: Most 12-volt DC power

supplies plug into a standard AC out-

let to produce DCpower. Before con-

necting your CB to a 12-volt DC

power supply, read and follow the in-

structions provided with the power

supply.

1. Connect the CB’s red and

orange wires, each with in-line

fuses, to the DC power supply’s

positive (+) terminal.

2. Connect the CB’s black wire to

the DC power supply’s negative

(–) terminal.

3. Plug the power supply’s cord

into a standard AC outlet.

(il-

21-1701.fm Page 8 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

OPERATION

Before you start using your CB, you

should know how to use it effectively

and courteously. “CB Operation

Tips” on Page 10 has information

that will help you use and enjoy your

CB.

RECEIVING

TRANSMISSIONS AND

ADJUSTING SQUELCH

Caution: Do not attempt to use your

CB without first connecting an anten-

na to it.

1. Turn SQUELCH fully counter-

clockwise.

2. To turn on the CB, turn VOLUME

clockwise until you hear it click

and you hear a hissing sound.

The CB displays a channel num-

ber.

3. 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. If

you want to listen to a weak or

distant station, turn SQUELCH

counterclockwise.

4. Adjust

VOLUME to a comfortable

listening level.

5. Press DOWN to select lower

channel numbers or UP to select

higher channel numbers. The

channel number appears on the

display.

Important! Channel 9 is

reserved for motorist assistance

and for reporting emergency

information about accidents,

hazardous road conditions, and

so on. Always give emergency

messages priority on Channel 9.

6. To turn off the TRC-501, turn

VOLUME counterclockwise until

you hear it click.

(il-

21-1701.fm Page 9 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

TRANSMITTING

We recommend you try receiving

transmissions before you transmit.

1. Follow Steps 1–5 under “Receiv-

ing Transmissions and Adjusting

Squelch.”

2. Hold the microphone 2 or 3

inches from your mouth. Then

press and hold down the micro-

phone talk button and speak into

the microphone in a normal

voice. The TX indicator turns on.

Note: Do not speak too loudly

when transmitting. It does not

make your signal any stronger,

and might distort your transmis-

sion.

3. When you finish transmitting,

release the microphone talk but-

ton. The TX indicator turns off.

You can now receive transmis-

sions.

4. To turn off the TRC-501, turn

VOLUME counterclockwise until

you hear it click.

CB OPERATION TIPS

Like most activities, CB radio has its

customs and courtesies. The follow-

ing tips will help you get the most en-

joyment from your CB.

Common Uses for a CB

Radio

Business Uses

• Truck drivers and delivery per-

sonnel can learn road and traffic

conditions and get assistance in

locating destinations. A CB is

also good company on those

“long hauls.”

• On construction crews, a CB

quickly pays for itself when you

are calling for additional materi-

als or coordinating the activities

of different work crews.

• For security officers, a CB is

more than a convenience — it is

a must for both safety and effi-

ciency.

Personal Uses

• Keep in touch with home while

driving to work, to the store, or to

a social activity. Let your family

know you are tied up in traffic or

that you will stop by the store on

the way home.

• If you are a two-car (or more)

family, CBs are great for com-

municating with family members

while they are in their cars.

(il-

21-1701.fm Page 10 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

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