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

2
FEATURES
©1997, 1998 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
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-
c
y
S
y
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.
Ad
j
ustable Squelch — reduces noise
between transmissions.
Rotar
y
Tunin
g
Control — for conve-
nient channel selection.
Lar
g
e, Illuminated, Di
g
ital Displa
y
— clearly shows the channel number.
Base Station Capabilit
y
— 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
g
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 _________________
21-1586.fm Page 2 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

3
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
of
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.
21-1586.fm Page 3 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

4
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
g
................................................................................................. 15
Reducing Noise ............................................................................................. 16
Care and Maintenance ....................................................................................... 17
Replacing the Fuse ........................................................................................ 18
Specifications ..................................................................................................... 19
21-1586.fm Page 4 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

5
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

6
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
21-1586.fm Page 6 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

7
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.
21-1586.fm Page 7 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

8
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 (–)
21-1586.fm Page 8 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:50 AM

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

10
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