Astatic MobileMax User manual

Mobile Max
MobileMax™
Mobile Digital Microphone Processor
Your Price $99.99
High Resolution Reverb, Slapback Echo
& 6 Second Sound Bite Recording
• 9 different ETS tones
• Universal Talkback
• Compatible with most CB Microphones and
Radio
Controls
1. Standard 4 Pin XLR
Microphone Input
2. E.T.S. Selector Button
3. 7 segment E.T.S. Display
4. Large Illuminated VU Display
5. Adjustable Effects Gain
6. Adjustable Effects Delay
7. Adjustable Mic Gain
8. Power Button
9. External Speaker Jack
10. CB Input
11. CB Speaker Input
12. Adjustable External Speaker
Volume
13. Play / Record Button
14. Power Jack
MobileMax Instructions
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Mobile Max
The MobileMax generates two distinctly different types of echo, 9 different E.T.S. (Roger
Beep) sounds, and can record and play back a six second message . The MobileMax is a
true DSP (digital signal processor) system using 14-bit analog to digital and digital to analog
converters.
Location and Mounting
Choose a good location for your MobileMax which is convenient for the operation of the front
panel controls. It is suggested that you locate the unit near the CB. It is acceptable to mount
the MobileMax on top of your CB. Connecting the metal chassis of MobileMax to the chassis
of your CB or vehicle may increase the possibility of RF feedback (Squeal) problems. If
possible, mount the MobileMax to a non-metal panel or use double-sided foam tape.
Initial Setup
Connect the red wire of power cable (14) to a 12 Volt source and connect the black wire of
power cable (14) to ground. The MobileMax is designed for negative ground vehicles. If you
have a positive ground vehicle, call the factory for special instructions. Plug your favorite
microphone into Mic In (1). Plug mic cable (10) from the rear of the MobileMax into your CB
radio. Now with On/Off switch (8) in the OUT position, your system will work as usual.
Connections
pin 1 - common, shield
pin 2 - audio
pin 3 - transmit
pin 4 - receive
Set Input & Output Level
Turn the Effects Gain (5) full counter clockwise. Now push the On/Off button (8) in, key your
microphone and talk. Adjust Mic Gain (7) while talking. You will see the bar graph display (4)
light as you talk. Adjust the Mic Gain (7) so that the right most red display of the bar graph
occasionally flashes. Setting the Mic Gain (7) louder than this will cause the MobleMax to
distort. Setting the Mic Gain lower than this will result in less than optimum performance.
When the Mic Gain (7) is fully clockwise, the MobileMax will add 20dB of gain (amplification)
between your microphone and your CB radio. If this makes your microphone pick up too
much background noise or causes your CB radio to squeal, turn down your CB radio's
microphone gain (sometimes called modulation or dynamic). You will still get full modulation
out of your CB radio, since the MobileMax has already compensated for the gain.
Effects
Turn the Effects Gain (5) and the Effects Delay (6) to the 12 o'clock position. Turning the
Effects Delay (6) clockwise from the 12 o'clock position will increase the delay time of Slap
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Mobile Max
Back echo. Turning the Effects Delay (6) counter clockwise from the 12 o'clock position will
increase the time delay of Recursive Echo.
The Effects Gain (5) will increase or decrease the volume of the echo. Turn the control
clockwise to increase the volume of the echo effect.
E.T.S. (Roger Beep)
The MobileMax has 9 different E.T.S. (End of Transmission Signal) sounds. This feature
(sometimes called Roger Beep) automatically transmits a short sound when you un-key your
microphone to let the person that you are talking with know that you have ended your
transmission. The E.T.S. display (3) will tell you which E.T.S. sound you have selected.
Momentarily pressing the E.T.S. select button (2) will advance the E.T.S. display (3) by one.
Press and hold the E.T.S. select button (2) and the E.T.S. display (3) will scroll. After E.T.S.
9, the E.T.S. display (3) will advance to "-" turning E.T.S. off. E.T.S. 9 will randomly select E.
T.S. 0 through 8 each time you un-key your microphone.
Universal Talk Back
Plug headphones or a speaker into the Extension Speaker (Ext. Spkr) jack (9) and adjust the
volume with the Speaker Vol control (12) on the rear panel. These jacks use a standard
3.5mm plug. You will now hear yourself with effects when you key the microphone. If you use
stereo headphones, you will only hear from one side. This is purposely done for safety
reasons. If you connect a cable from the external speaker jack on your radio, to CB speaker
input (CB Spkr Input) jack (11) on the MobileMax rear panel, you will hear the radio when the
mic is un-keyed and hear yourself with effects when the mic is keyed. The Ext. Spkr jack (9)
and the CB Spkr Input jack (11) are electrically isolated from the MobileMax chassis to
reduce the possibility of RF feedback (squeal) problems. We recommend using cables that
have molded plastic connectors. Connectors that have a metal outer shell could possibly
short to the MobileMax case and create RF feedback problems.
Message Recording
The MobileMax can record a message that is up to 6 seconds long. Press and hold the Play/
Rec button (13) for 2 seconds, and the E.T.S. display (3) will start flashing the letter "A". The
MobileMax is now armed and ready to record. When you key the microphone, the MobileMax
will begin recording. (Your radio will not transmit while a message is being recorded.) When
you have finished recording, un-key the microphone. As you record the message, the E.T.S.
display (3) will show how much recording time is remaining by counting from 6 down to 1.
After 6 seconds, the MobileMax will stop recording and the E.T.S. display (3) will display “0”
if the microphone is still keyed. When you un-key the microphone, the E.T.S. display will
return to the current E.T.S. setting.Now, if you momentarily press the Play/Rec button (13)
the MobileMax will automatically key the CB radio and play back what you have recorded.
The E.T.S. display will show the letter "P" while the MobleMax is playing back the recorded
message. The MobileMax will un-key the CB radio after the message is over (it will NOT
transmit "dead air" for the remainder of the 6 seconds).
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Mobile Max
Note: If you have pressed and held the Play/Rec button (13) for 2 seconds and the E.T.S.
display (3) is flashing the letter "A" but you decide you do not want to record over your last
recorded message, momentarily press the Play/Rec button again (do NOT key the
microphone) and the E.T.S. display (3) will return to the currently selected E.T.S. setting and
the MobileMax will not erase your previously recorded message.
The message is digitally recorded into digital memory. The MobileMax will keep the last
recorded message in digital memory for years with no power connected to the MobileMax.
Trouble Shooting
One of the most frustrating problems that often occur when adding power microphones or
external effects boxes (such as MobileMax) to existing radio installations is RF feedback
(Squealing). RF feedback is caused when some of the transmitted radio energy is able to
find it’s way back to the microphone input of the CB. Even if your radio didn’t have any
problems before, adding a power mic or effects box can start an RF feedback problem if your
radio and antenna system are not installed properly or in good condition. Make sure that you
have good, solid ground connections on your radio and antenna, that are free from corrosion.
Also make sure that your antenna coax is in good condition and not pinched or shorted.
Have the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) of your system checked. Preferable, it should be 1.5:1
or better. Also there is less chance of RF feedback problems if the MobileMax chassis is not
connected to the metal chassis of your CB radio or vehicle. Mount the MobileMax to a non-
metal panel or use double-sided foam tape. If you connect an external speaker to the
MobileMax, it is possible to get audio feedback (squeal) if the Speaker Vol control (12), is
turned up too high.
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