Albrecht AE 4200 R User manual

CB RADIO
AE 4200 R
OPERATING MANUAL

2
Index
Important note 3
Introduction 3
Accessories included 4
Safety Precautions 4
Front view 5
Rear view 5
Installation of the radio 6
Power supply 6
Antenna connection 7
Operation 8
Switching on and adjusting volume 8
Country switch setting 8
Selecting the operating channel 9
Adjusting squelch (muting) 9
AM / FM mode switch 10
Special interest channels 11
Transmitting and correct use of microphone 12
External sockets 12
External loudspeaker 12
Microphone socket 12
Service and Warranty informations 13
Technical Details 14
Service contacts 14
Legal Information 15
Albrecht Radio Passport 15
Declaration of Conformity 16

3
Important Note
Your Albrecht AE 4200 R corresponds to the latest European CB standards. As a
unique feature, it has a software country switching which allows selecting the
operation mode according to the country, where You intend to use the radio. Please
make sure that You use only the country switching which is allowed in Your country
and according to Your CB licence! You may risk a penalty if authority members
will find that You are operating in not allowed modes!
During first use of this radio, Your radio will start in this factory preselected 40
FM / 40 AM mode:
40/40 40 channels FM / 4 Watt, 40 channels AM / 1 Watt. Latest
European Standard EN 300 433-2, but not yet applied in all
countries. In Belgium, Italy, Spain and Switzerland /Liechtenstein
You need a licence to operate the radio, while it is already free of
charges and licence in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Finland ,
France , Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Slovak
Republic. For Spain and Poland, we have special versions
which allows 4 Watts AM, but this versions are only allowed to
be used in Spain (You also need a licence from the local
telecommunications authority for using the Spanish version) or
Poland. For Austria we supply a CEPT version without
country switch (on request).
80/40 80 channels FM / 4 Watt, 40 channels AM / 1 Watt for Germany,
also for Czech Republic (only FM allowed to use). You need no
more any licence to operate the radio in this mode, but in certain
German border regions transmitting from base stations on
channels 41 to 80 in FM is not allowed (or only with a special
license).
40 FM 40 channels FM / 4 Watt (former “CEPT” settings with 40
Channels FM according to EN 300 135-2). This mode can be
used in all European countries (some countries still request an
individual licence, even for 40 FM mode! See our latest issue of
the “Radio Passport”).
Please note that radios with country switches are generally not allowed to be
used in Austria. The new EU member states have now implemented the
European regulations. Please refer to official information of the local
authorities before using the radio in other countries outside EU.

4
Introduction
Your new Albrecht CB Radio AE 4200 R, developed and manufactured in
accordance with the latest CB regulations, offers you:
• 40 channels FM / 4 watt or
• 80 channels FM / 4 watt / 40 channels AM / 1 Watt or
• 40 channels FM / 4 Watts / 40 channels AM / 1 Watt (4 Watts Spain
version)
• Channel selection UP/ Down buttons on the radio
• Red LED channel number display
• Control LED’s for switch position (FM) and TX
• 4-pin standard microphone socket, suitable also for amplifier microphones
or Packet Radio modems/TNC’s
• Socket for external loudspeaker
Please read this operating manual through carefully. This will enable you to make
use of all the functions your new CB Radio has to offer as soon as possible.
Accessories included
Your AE 4200 R comes operational with the following accessories:
• mobile mount
• 2 knurled screws for the mobile mount
• 2 rubber washers for the mobile mount
• fixed connected DC power cable with looped-in fuse
• spare fuse
• Electret hand-held microphone with pre-amplifier and PTT
• Microphone hanger
• various screws to fasten the radio and microphone fixing devices
• User manual with Radio Passport

5
Safety Precautions
People with pacemakers are recommended as a precaution to consult their doctor
before operating the CB radio. Not all types of pacemakers are sufficiently protected
from radiation from a nearby transmitter, so do not assume it is safe to start operation
without checking! Please remember that you are in the immediate vicinity of a
transmitting aerial, particularly when used as a mobile. If your doctor, or the
manufacturer of the pacemaker, has recommended keeping a certain safe distance
from the aerial, then please follow their instructions!
Do not transmit without connecting the aerial and never touch the aerial during
transmission!
Please also take road safety into account! CB Radio (even when only receiving,
particularly when volume is turned up) can divert your attention from the road! Road
safety is of course to be given priority! Therefore only use your ALBRECHT AE 4200
R when the traffic situation enables it to be used safely.
Front view
Rear view
Squelch
Receive Volume
Antenna socket
50 Ohms
PL-259 Standard
DC power cable
13.2 V
External speaker
8 Oms
,
min. 2 W
On / Off
LED-Channel Displa
y
TX-FM
control LED
’
s
Double Function
Channel / Country switch
AM - FM Switch
Brand Plate with
country switching
decri
p
tion
6 pin MIC socket

6
Installation of the radio
You can either operate your ALBRECHT AE 4200 R in the car or at home as a base
station. For installation as a mobile station in the car, a mobile mount device is
enclosed. Mount the set in such a way that it is not exposed to direct sunlight if
possible, as this would lead to an increase in the temperature and can decrease the
(set’s) working life. The set should also not be installed near a heater. Mount the set
in such a way that it is exposed to as little vibration as possible.
The mobile fixing device should be attached to the dashboard, the tunnel slot or to
any other suitable place using the enclosed tapping screws. Do not install the set in a
place where it could cause injuries in the case of an accident (be careful to ensure
free leg movement). Take care not to damage any underlying wires during
installation!
Then insert the radio into the mobile mount device. Secure the set with the large
knurled screws (using the enclosed plastic washers) firmly at the required angle.
Also mount the microphone hanger using the enclosed screws in an easily-
accessible place.
In order to prevent interference to the vehicle electronics from transmission in the
vehicle, please make sure to take any mounting instructions from the vehicle
manufacturer for radios and antennas into account.
Please note: European directives allow the car manufacturers to decide, whether or
not private radio transceivers may be operated in cars, this is also valid for antenna
installations. Please install Your mobile CB station only in accordance to car
manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Power supply
Your AE 4200 R receives power from the 2 pin fixed power cable.
The red and black wires in the cable are for the power supply. The cable has a
looped-in fuse.
You can choose from two methods when connecting to the power supply (red and
black):
Example 1
The radio should be able to be switched on and off at any time using the
volume / on/off switch.
Connect up the red to the positive pole on the vehicle battery (or elsewhere
in the vehicle’s electrical system with permanent plus) or to a 12 volt power
unit.
Connect up the black wire to the negative pole on the vehicle battery or the
power unit or to a well-conductive part of the car body.

7
Example 2
The set should be automatically switched on and off with the ignition switch
of the car. The radio shall always start in last used mode on the last used
channel.
Attach the red wire to a part of the vehicle electrical system which is
interconnected to the ignition.
Connect the black wire to the negative pole on the battery or the vehicle
body.
Note for all connecting methods:
For EMC reasons, the cable used to connect to the power supply should be no longer
than 3 metres.
If you wish to operate your set at home from the mains supply then please only use
a stabilised power pack with at least 2 amps permanent current-carrying capacity.
Under no circumstances should you use a car battery charger, as these are not
stabilised and during open circuit reach such high voltage levels that your radio set
could be destroyed.
If in base station use it is important to you that the stored stations are kept even after
switching off and on again, then please do not switch the external power supply
power unit off when you switch your set off for a short time. Only use the on/off
switch on the transceiver itself.
Never repair a blown fuse with silver paper or with aluminium foil! If the fuses
keep blowing, then please give your radio set to your servicing dealer to be
repaired or hand it in to Albrecht’s service station.
The maximum allowed voltage variation for this radio is up to 15.6 volts.
Never exceed this voltage under no circumstances! The transmitting stages
for your AE 4200 R are electronically stabilised, and therefore it is impossible
to increase output by means of excessive supply voltage. Such attempts may
lead to serious damage to the radio set but will never increase output power!
Antenna connection
Connect your CB antenna to the ANT socket on the rear side of your ALBRECHT AE
4200 R. Most CB antennas must be tuned to best radiation during installation to give
highest effective communication range. CB specialists do that job with a standing
wave meter to check and adjust the aerial. Tune the antenna to the best standing
wave ratio (SWR) on an intermediate channel e.g. using Channel 1 in 80/12 mode
(26.965 MHz) or Channel 20 in all other modes.
On this channel you should obtain a SWR of approx. 1.5 or less. If the SWR
deteriorates on the highest (Channel 40) and lowest (Channel 41) channels up to a
value of 2.5, then your aerial is still acceptable. SWR above 3 is too bad for good

8
communication range. A bad SWR may also indicate that there is perhaps an
installation error or missing ground. Problems may be caused through missing
ground, especially in boats and motor homes with fiber glass body. For these cases,
Albrecht offers a special connecting cable with matching box as “artificial ground”
(AKM 27), or ground less antennas like GL 27.
Some antennas, like “Gamma II” (order No. 6725) are broadbanded and do
not need any retuning during installations.
Even if your AE 4200 R has a particularly robust transmitter high-
level stage which can even withstand mismatching of SWR=3, you
should still never transmit without an antenna!
Operation
Before switching on
• Turn SQUELCH control left as far as possible
Switching on and adjusting volume
The on/off switch is combined in the VOLUME control. To switch on:
• Turn VOLUME control from OFF position slightly right. LED display will be
illuminated. Then turn further until desired volume is reached.
Selecting the correct country code
Starting with 40 / 40 channel system
When You switch on Your new CB radio for the first time, it will start with the latest
European channel setting with 40 channels FM and 40 channels in AM.
Note: this system is allowed in B, BG, CH, D, E, EST, F, Fin, FL, I, LV, NL , P, PL
and SK
40/40 This position can be used in those countries, where already all 40
international channels are allowed to be used in AM and FM. AM was
traditionally used by CB from the beginning in the early 60’s in USA, and it
is still the preferred mode of all truck drivers in the world. Please use this
mode only in countries according to the list in the Radio Passport, and
please apply for an individual licence where requested.
If necessary You can return to this system any time later by:
• Switch the radio off
• Press Down button and keep button pressed
• Switch on the radio at the same time
• Release the button

9
Switching to 80/40 channel system (Germany and Czech Republic only)
80/40 This position is only allowed to be used in Germany and Czech Republic,
because no other European country provides the German 80 FM
channels. (Note: In Czech Republic please use only FM)
No individual licence is necessary, but restrictions are still in force in
certain German border regions, where transmitting on channels 41 – 80 is
not allowed or only with a special licence.
• Switch the radio off
• Press Up button and keep button pressed
• Switch on the radio at the same time
• Release the button
Switching to 40 Channels FM (the former CEPT system)
Europe-wide used 40 Channels FM mode. If You are not sure what is allowed in Your
country please ask local authorities before using the radio. If You should not need
any individual CB licence in Your home or guest country, You should use this country
switching as Your setting:
40 FM This is former “CEPT” mode, the programming which is allowed in most
countries (except Austria, Spain and Luxembourg). Here the radio works
on the international 40 Channels in FM mode. The Mode switch AM – FM
on the front side allows only receiving in AM and FM, but only transmitting
in FM mode ( in some countries You need a licence, even for 40 CH FM
only!)
To switch to this system
• Switch off the radio
• Press Up and Down simultaneously and keep pressed
• Switch on the radio again
• Release buttons
Please read carefully the “Radio Passport” or the “Circulation Card” in the last
chapter of this manual before reprogramming the unit. Take your home
country’s licence or the Circulation Card with You when travelling abroad and
using 40/40 or 80/40 mode.
Note: This radio utilises a CPU system especially developed for this radio. Other
(illegal) channel systems are not stored in the CPU system and are not available at
all.
Selecting the operating channel
• with Up or Down buttons on the radio You can continuously select channels. The
present channel is displayed.

10
• Press the respective button longer to run up or down through the channels. The
present channel is displayed.
Adjusting squelch (muting)
Particularly in FM, noise can be a nuisance on a free channel. With the muting
control (SQUELCH) You can suppress this noise - but also signals which are too
weak to be received properly.
This is how to adjust the signal strength required to switch on the loudspeaker, using
the SQUELCH control knob:
The further the control knob is turned to the right, the stronger a signal has to be in
order to be audible through the loudspeaker.
In order to adjust the set to be the most sensitive to incoming signals, switch to a free
channel:
• Use the up / down switches to find a free channel, where no signal is
displayed.
• Then turn the SQUELCH control carefully to the right until the noise just
about disappears.
Now the loudspeaker stays off when on a free channel but it switches back on when
receiving even very weak signals.
The muting adjustment is particularly important during channel
scanning. In this mode the point to which the set is adjusted
decides whether scanning is stopped at the signal or not.
Therefore you should test the various muting settings for various
signal strengths and get to know this function.
AM / FM mode switch
In the German channel system 80/40 You can now receive on all 80 channels in FM
and AM, but You can transmit on all these channels only in FM.
In AM the only channels 1-40 are enabled for transmitting. If You should try to
transmit in AM on other channels, the LED will blink to warn You.
Transmission on such channels is technically deactivated. A green control LED is on
during FM mode.
Special interest channels
There are a few channels which have been established for certain purposes:
Channel 1 Call channel in FM (Germany only)
Channel 9 Call and emergency channel, in Germany particularly this
channel is also used by all truck drivers in AM.
This means: a large number of stations are listening in. If
the worst comes to the worst (e.g. in case of accident etc.)
there is a good chance that someone will be listening.