RadioShack TRC-499 Owners Manual

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Cat. No. 21-1599

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

TRC-499

40-Ch annel 2-Way CB Rad io

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INTRODUCTION

Your Radio Shack TRC-499 40­Channel 2-Way CB Radio is a high
performance CB with the maximum
allowable legal power and innovative
styling.

This CB is perfect for recreational,
business, or emergency use. You
can call other people who h ave CBs
at home, in their vehicles, or at camp
sites. You can also con nect opt ional
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) Fre­quenc

nthesizer

—provides reli­able and exact tuning using a precise
frequency reference crystal.

Two Ceramic Filters

—provide su­perior selectivity and prevent adja­cent-channel interference.

DOWN/UP Channel Selector

—

provides maximum convenience

when selecting channels.

LED Displa

— lets you easily see

the selected channel number.

Universal Mountin

Bracket

—lets
you mount your CB securely in your
vehicle or on a table or shelf in your
home.

To use this CB, you need a

Note:

mobile or base station antenna. Your
local Radio Shack store has a wide
variety of antennas. F or more infor­mation, see “Installing an Antenna.”

For your records, we urge you to
record your CB’s serial number in the
space below. The serial number is on
the CB’s back panel.

Serial Number_________________

H

steresis Squelch Circuit

—

compensates for fading signals and
eliminates signal chopping during re­ception.

Automatic Noise Limitin
Circuit

—reduces noise caused by

(ANL)

nearby electrical equipme nt such as
motors or automotive ignition sys­tems.

© 1995 Tandy Corporation.

Radio Shack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.

All Rights Reserved.

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FCC INFORMATION

The Federal Communications Com­mission (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

Rules

. These rules apply to the oper­ation of a Class D CB. We have pro­vided a copy of these regulations
with your CB.

Warnin

make any internal adjustments. Any
internal adjustments can be made
only by authorized service person­nel.

Internal adjustments and/or modifi­cations can lead to illegal operation
as defined b y Part 95 of
Such illegal operation can lead to
very serious consequences.

To be safe and sure:

• Never open your CB’s case.

Do not open your CB to

:

FCC Rules

FCC

Your CB might cause TV or radio in­terference even when it is operating
properly. To determine whether your
CB is causing the interference, turn
off your CB. If the in terference goes
away, your CB is causing the interfer­ence. Try to eliminate the interfer­ence by:

• Moving your CB away from the
receiver.

• Contacting your local Radio
Shack store for help.

If you cannot eliminate the interfer­ence, the FCC requires that you stop
using your CB.

.

• Never modify your CB.

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CONTENTS

Installation ....................................................................................................... 5

Mounting the Microphone Holder ............................................................... 5

Connecting the Microphone........................................................................ 5

Mounting the TRC-499................................................................................ 5

Installing an Antenna.................................................................................. 6

Selecting an Antenna............................................................................6

Connecting an Antenna . ...................................................................... 7

Using Vehicle Battery Power ...................................................................... 7

Using the CB as a Base Station................................................................. 7

Connecting an Optional External Speaker ................................................. 8

Operation ......................................................................................................... 9

Receiving Transmissions and Adjusting Squelch ....................................... 9

Transmitting ................................................................................................ 9

CB Operation Tips..................................................................................... 10

Common Uses for a CB Radio............................................................ 10

CB Courtesy.................. ................... ............................ ........................11

Maximum Range..................................................................................11

Using Common 10-Codes................................................................... 12

Troubleshootin

Reducing Noise .................................. .......... ....... .. ....... .......... ....... .. .........14

Maintenance .................................................................................................. 15

Replacing the Fuse ...................................................................................16

Specifications ................................................................................................17

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INSTALLATION

MOUNTING THE
MICROPHONE HOLDER

Using a Phil lips s crewdr iver an d 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

1. Insert the microphone’s plug into
the microphone jack until it
clicks.

Caution:

phone cable.

Never pull on the micro-

MOUNTING THE
TRC-499

The mo st comm on mo unt ing loc at ion
for this CB is under a vehicle’s dash­board. However, if you use the TRC­499 as a base station, you can place
it on a desk, shelf, or t able (see “Us ­ing the CB as a Base Station”).

If you are mounting the CB in a vehi­cle, choose a location where:

• You can easily reach the CB.

• Wires and cables will not inter­fere 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:

fits only one way into the micro­phone jack. Do not force it.

2. Slide the microphone onto the
microphone holder.

To disconnect the microphone cable,
squeeze the bottom of the micro­phone’s plug, then gently pull it out.

The microphone’s plug

Cautions:

• The TRC-499 is designed to
work in a vehicle that has a 12­volt DC, negative-ground electri­cal system. Most vehicles have
this type of system. If you are
not sure about your vehicle,
check with your vehicle dealer.

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• If you use the TRC-499 in a
vehicle, mount it securely to
avoid damage to the CB or vehi­cle during sudden starts or
stops.

Follow these steps to mount the CB
using the supplied hardware.

1. Using the mounting bracket as a
template, mark the positions f or
the 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 mount­ing 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 wash­ers and mounting knobs.

INSTALLING AN
ANTENNA

Caution: To prevent damage to your

CB, you must connect an antenna to
the CB before you operate it.

Selecting an Antenna

When deciding on a mobile or base­station antenna and its location, 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
(ignition systems, gauges, etc.).

• The antenna should be vertical
for the best performance.

Your local Radio Shack store sells a
variety of CB antenna s for both mo­bile and base-station use. Choose
the one that best meets your needs.

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