Albrecht AE 5090 XL User manual

CB-Radio
AE 5090 XL
User manual

2
Index
Index....................................................................................................................................... 2
Important Note........................................................................................................................ 3
Introduction............................................................................................................................. 3
Accessories included..............................................................................................................4
Safety Precautions .................................................................................................................4
Front view...............................................................................................................................5
Country code setting before installation ................................................................................. 5
Installation of the radio ...........................................................................................................6
Power supply.......................................................................................................................... 6
Antenna connection................................................................................................................ 8
Operation................................................................................................................................ 8
Before switching on ............................................................................................................ 8
Switching on and adjusting volume .................................................................................... 8
Display and backlight settings ............................................................................................ 8
Selecting the operating channel ......................................................................................... 8
Field intensity meter (S-meter) ........................................................................................... 9
RF Gain setting ..................................................................................................................9
Adjusting SQUELCH (muting) and ASC............................................................................. 9
ASC Noise and Interference Reduction ........................................................................... 10
AM / FM mode switch....................................................................................................... 10
Special interest channels ................................................................................................. 11
MEMO Modus................................................................................................................... 11
Programming one of the 5 direct channel buttons............................................................ 12
Start channel scan............................................................................................................ 12
Stop channel scan............................................................................................................ 12
Change direction of scan..................................................................................................12
Channel scan among direct channels .............................................................................. 12
Dual Watch....................................................................................................................... 13
Emergency Channel CH 9................................................................................................ 13
Transmitting and correct use of microphone .................................................................... 13
Bar graph switching between POWER and MOD ............................................................ 13
Data transfer.....................................................................................................................14
Gateway Radio................................................................................................................. 14
MIC Gain setting...............................................................................................................14
External sockets ................................................................................................................... 14
External loudspeaker........................................................................................................14
External S-meter .............................................................................................................. 15
Microphone socket ...........................................................................................................15
Service and Warranty information ........................................................................................ 15
Troubleshooting................................................................................................................ 15
European 2 years warranty ..............................................................................................15
Where to find service hints and service documentation ................................................... 16
Disposal and Recycling of Electronics Waste .................................................................. 16
Albrecht Radio Passport AE 5090 XL .................................................................................. 17
Operation only with individual licence .............................................................................. 17
Declaration of Conformity / Konformitätserklärung...........................................................18
Technical Details .................................................................................................................. 19
Service contacts ................................................................................................................... 19
Short manual AE 5090 XL – Fast to the point ...................................................................... 20

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Important Note
Congratulations to Your new CB-Radio AE 5090 XL. This CB-Radio corresponds to the
latest European CB standards. As a unique feature, it has a country mode setting,
which allows selecting the operation mode according to the country, where You
intend to use the radio. Please make sure that You program the right country code
before you install and use it the first time!
40 FM 40 channels FM / 4 Watt (former “CEPT” settings with 40
Channels FM according to EN 300 135-2). This mode is free of
charges and licences in nearly all European countries (except
Italy, You must have a licence there for any kind of CB radio).
80/40 For Germany only: 80 channels FM / 4 Watt, 40 channels AM /
1 Watt. Receiving AM-modulated signals on channels 41 to 80 is
possible, but the AM-transmitter is disabled for these channels.
You need no licence to operate the radio in this mode, but in
certain border regions base stations transmitting on channels 41
to 80 in FM is not allowed (or special licence should be applied
for).
40/40 40 channels FM / 4 Watt, 40 channels AM / 1 Watt. Latest
European Standard EN 300 433-2, not yet applied in all
countries. In Belgium, Italy, Spain and Switzerland residents
need a licence to operate the radio, while it is already free of
charges for travellers and licence free for everybody in France,
Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovak
Republic, and Portugal.
Introduction
Your new Albrecht CB Radio AE 5090 XL, 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 or
• 40 channels FM / 4 Watts / 40 channels AM / 4 Watts (for Poland with 0
KHz offset and Spain with Standard frequency only)
• Channel selection knob on the radio set and UP/DOWN buttons on the
microphone
• Scan modes for up and down frequencies, direct channels and Dual watch
• 5 freely programmable memory positions for stored stations

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• Multifunction LCD display
• Colour choice and dimmer function (DIM/Light)
• 6-pole microphone socket, suitable for amplifier microphones, selective
calling systems, Packet Radio modems/TNC’s or sound card access for
CB Gateway operation
• Socket for external S-meter
• Socket for external loudspeaker
• Rugged, heavy duty electret microphone
• Conventional Squelch + additional ASC (patent by GPE) noise reduction
system
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 5090 comes operational with the following accessories:
• mobile mount
• 2 knurled screws for the mobile mount
• 2 rubber washers for the mobile mount
• DC plug-in power cable with looped-in fuse
• spare fuse
• noise-reduced hand-held electret microphone with UP/DOWN buttons
• microphone hanger
• various screws to fasten the radio and microphone fixing devices
• User manual with circuit diagram and Radio Passport
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!

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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,
especially if volume is turned to maximum) can divert your attention from the road!
Road safety is of course to be given priority! Therefore only use Your ALBRECHT
AE 5090 XL when the traffic situation enables it to be used safely.
Front view
Country code setting before installation
Before You can use Your new CB radio the
first time, You should program it to the
correct country code. Press the SCAN/Multi-
Mode button (1) while the device is still off
and switch on your radio while keeping the
button pressed. Release the button. Now the
multi standard choice 01 to 05 will appear in
the display. Select the mode for Your
country by turning the channel switch (see
the following table and our radio passport).
Switch the radio off and on again after
selection of the country code.
Double potentiometer
Volume, RF Gain
and on/off
Memory-keys Dual watch (DW) control
Microphone
volume
Channel
switch
Double
potentiometer
Squelch / ASC
Scan/
Multi-Mode
Button
AM-FM-
Button
DIM-/Light
Button
CH9
Button
Mod-
Power-
Dis
p
la
y
1

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Re- Programming to another
country code
This is possible at any time,
even after installation and
when the radio is in use. The
procedure is the same like
Your first setting.
Installation of the radio
You can either operate Your ALBRECHT AE 5090 XL 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 particularly careful
to ensure free leg movement). Take care not to damage any underlying wires during
installation!
Then insert the radio into the mobile mount. 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. If a safe mounting of the radio is not possible in Your car or truck with the
supplied mounting bracket, we recommend to use one of our DIN slot mounting kits
suitable for AE 5090 series! Such mounting kits for a free DIN slots are available as
optional accessory items.
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.
Power supply
Your AE 5090 XL receives power from the 2 pin plug-in cable.
The red and black wires in the cable are for the power supply. The cable has a
looped-in fuse.
However, 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 wire to the positive pole on the vehicle battery (or
elsewhere in the vehicle’s electrical system with permanent plus) or to a 12
Volt external power supply unit.
Mode Channel Power Modulation
01 80 CH 4W/1W FM/AM
02 40/40 4W/1W FM/AM
03 40 4W FM only
04 40/40 4W/4W FM/AM (only Spain)
05 40/40 4W/4W FM/AM (only Poland)
with 0 kHz offset
(Poland Frequencies

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Example 2
The set should be automatically switched on and off with the ignition switch.
Attach the red wire to a part of the vehicle electrical system, which is
interconnected to the ignition.
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.
An EEPROM memory keeps the channel and country information stored even
if the radio is not connected to power.
Note for all connecting methods:
For EMC reasons, the cable used to connect to the power supply should be no longer
than 3 metres and have sufficient diameter (at 3 meters length not below 1.5 – 2.5
mm2).
If you wish to operate Your set at home from the mains supply then please only use a
stabilized 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
stabilized and during open circuit reach such high voltage levels that Your radio set
could be destroyed.
The stored country code and all memory channels are kept in an EEPROM-memory.
The memory settings of the radio will be in the same condition after You plug out and
plug in the DC cable.
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 5090 XL are electronically stabilized, 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!
In most truck installation a step down DC-DC converter 24 to12 V is used.
Best CB reception quality is only possible with standard linear voltage
reducers. Switching step down converters may radiate interference signals
due to their technology. Even if such converters have valid approval marks,
the CB range is disregarded by the specifications and we cannot assure
interference free reception. If such a converter should be installed in Your
truck, it is recommended to place the antenna as far away as possible from
DC-DC converters and engine management computers.

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Antenna connection
Connect Your CB antenna to the ANT socket on the rear side of Your ALBRECHT
AE 5090 XL. 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 aerial to the best
standing wave ratio (SWR) on an intermediate channel e.g. using Channel 1 (26.965
MHz) in 80ch mode or Channel 20 (27,205MHz) in all other modes.
On this channel You should obtain an 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
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 fiberglass body. For these cases,
Albrecht offers a special connecting cable with matching box as “artificial ground”
(like AKM 27, order nr. 68440) or use special antennas for groundless installation like
GL 27 (order nr. 6351).
Some antennas, like “Gamma II” are broad banded and do not need any
retuning during installations.
Even if Your AE 5090 XL has a particularly robust transmitter high-
level amplifier stage which can even withstand mismatching of
SWR=3, you should still never transmit without an antenna!
Operation
Before switching on
• Turn SQUELCH and ASC control left (counter clockwise) 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 (the inner knob) from OFF position slightly clockwise.
LC display and buttons are illuminated. Then turn further until desired volume is
reached.
Display and backlight settings
You can chose between two display- and backlight colours red and blue and two dim
levels for the display and the backlight.
• Press DIM/Light button longer than c. 1,5s to change the colour
• Press DIM/Light button less than c. 1,5s to change the dim level
Selecting the operating channel
On the radio set:
• With the rotary channel knob You can continuously select channels. The present
channel is displayed.
On the microphone:
• Press the ∧or ∨button on the microphone briefly, to switch up or down a channel.

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• Press the respective button longer to run up or down through the channels. The
present channel is displayed.
Field intensity meter (S-meter)
On the bar graph display You can see approximately how strong the receiving signal
is.
The scale under the bar display (S1 to +30) helps with orientation for an input signal
in the stages S1 to S9+30dB.
Please note: the field intensity meter only registers a signal when the muting control
has opened.
RF Gain setting
You can adjust the overall-sensitivity of Your receiver with the RF gain knob, which is
combined with the volume knob (outer ring). Normally, RF gain should be in the full
clockwise position. Sometime You may desire to listen only to nearby stations. Or
You may receive much interference signals. In such cases You can reduce the
sensitivity of Your receiver by turning the knob more counter clockwise.
Please note: Squelch and ASC settings may require re-adjusting in low sensitivity
position.
Adjusting SQUELCH (muting) and ASC
Particularly in FM, noise can be a nuisance on a free channel. To suppress as much
noise as possible, Your radio is equipped not only with an ordinary muting control
(SQUELCH) like all CB radios have, but has also a preinstalled ASC circuit (patented
by GPE). Both circuits can be preset and adjusted independent of each other. Please
be careful with the squelch circuit: it may suppress noise, but if turned too high, it can
also suppress weaker signals.
There is a double potentiometer for both SQUELCH and ASC setting. The inner ring
is for SQUELCH; the outer ring is for ASC.
This is how to adjust the signal strength required to switch on the loudspeaker, using
the (inner) 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 rotary switch or the microphone buttons 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 faint signals.
The muting adjustment is particularly important during channel
scanning. In this mode the point to which the set is adjusted

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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.
ASC Noise and Interference Reduction
While the Squelch opens and closes statically at a certain preadjusted signal
strength value of the incoming signal, not taking into account interference signals,
the ASC circuit works very smooth and dynamically. It measures the signal to noise
ratio and if interference signals suddenly appear, ASC automatically varies the
threshold point to a safer adjustment and returns to the old adjustment when
interferences are disappearing again.
An example:
You have adjusted the SQUELCH carefully to the most sensitive point while the
engine of Your car was still off. Now You start the engine and switch on the
windshield wiper the squelch circuit will immediately regard the interference of the
engine or wiper as a signal and will open, because the squelch cannot distinguish
between a wanted signal and an unwanted interference.
If You would have preset the ASC at switched-off engine before, the interference
coming from the wiper motor would be detected and the ASC circuit would shift the
threshold point so long automatically, until the interference will disappear.
The radio will remain muted, but stay on the highest sensitivity level during the whole
procedure studied in this example.
That means: in most cases You only need to adjust the ASC knob to Your needs only
once before starting. The setting will be maintained during travelling. The switching
point is no sudden on-off point like the squelch, but a more smooth gliding effect
between on and off. The best point is, where the background noise is just becoming
so weak, that it does no more disturb You. A small background noise may remain.
Please do not turn the ASC knob too much into full
clockwise direction. If You intend to suppress weaker
signals, which You do not like to hear, use the inner Squelch
knob for this purpose and not the ASC knob. A symptom for
too much closed ASC potentiometer is when weak speech still
comes through, but louder speech no more.
AM / FM mode switch
In the two programming modes 40/40 and 80 channels, FM modulation is available
on all channels, but AM-transmitting only on the 40 international CB channels. On all
channels you can switch between AM and FM using the function button AM/FM. The
display shows either AM or FM accordingly.
When You switch on the set the first time it operates on FM.
Please note that in 80 ch mode, on channels 41-80 the operation is limited on AM. To
receive AM-modulated signals on channels 41 to 80 is possible, but the AM-
transmitter is disabled for these frequencies. If Your radio is set to AM and You push
the PTT-button, the radio will show Er (error).