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

2
INTRODUCTION
© 1996 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
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
y
S
y
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.
H
y
steresis Squelch Circuit —
compensates for fading signals and
eliminates signal chopping during re-
ception.
Automatic Noise Limitin
g
(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
y
—lets you easily see
the selected channel number.
Universal Mountin
g
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

3
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
g
: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

4
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
g
............................................................................................13
Reducing Noise .........................................................................................14
Maintenance ...................................................................................................15
Replacing the Fuse ...................................................................................16
Specifications ................................................................................................17
21-1701.fm Page 4 Thursday, August 5, 1999 12:50 PM

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

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

7
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
g
: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

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

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

10
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