RadioShack TRC-520 Owners Manual

The FCC Wants You to Know ........................................................................................... 2

Installation ......................................................................................................................... 2

Attaching the Microphone Holder ............................................................................... 2

Mounting the CB ........................................................................................................ 2

Connecting the Microphone ....................................................................................... 3

Connecting an Antenna ............................................................................................. 3

Connecting Vehicle Battery Power ............................................................................. 4

Connecting an External Speaker ............................................................................... 4

Using the CB As a Base Station ....................................................................................... 4

Operation .......................................................................................................................... 5

Receiving Transmissions and Setting Squelch .......................................................... 5

Changing Channels Using the Controls on the Microphone ...................................... 6

Dual Watch and Memory Setting ............................................................................... 6

Transmitting ............................................................................................................... 6

Listening to the Weather Band ................................................................................... 6

Digital Weather Alert .................................................................................................. 6

Weather Channel Frequencies .................................................................................. 7

Using Compass .......................................................................................................... 7

Calibrating the Electronic Compass ........................................................................... 8

Transmission Courtesy .............................................................................................. 8

Maximum Range ........................................................................................................ 8

Reducing Noise ......................................................................................................... 8

Using Common 10-Codes .......................................................................................... 9

Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................. 10

Care ......................................................................................................................... 10

Replacing the Fuse ................................................................................................ .. 10

Specifications .................................................................................................................. 11

Mobile CB with Compass, Dual Watch and Digital
Weather Alert

OWNER’S MANUAL — Please read before using this equipment.

Your RadioShack 40-Channel Mobile CB
Radio provides two-way communications on
the citizen’s radio band and lets you tune to
local and national weather service broad­casts. You can also connect optional equip­ment to your CB such as external speakers,
or a DC power supply and base antenna to
set up a base station in your home. The built­in 40-channel PLL (phase-locked loop) fre­quency synthesizer uses a precise frequency
reference crystal for reliable and exact tun­ing.

Ideal for recreational, business, or emergen­cy use, your CB has these features:

Electronic Compass

heading information.

Dual Watch

ceiving another channel so you do not miss
important transmissions. Dual Watch de­faults to channel 9 (emergency call channel).

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospher­ic Administration) 7-Channel WX Band
Receiver

weather service frequencies which provide
local weather conditions and forecasts.

WX Channel Autoscan

when a weather station carrier is lost, the CB
automatically scans weather channels so it
can detect a weather alert signal transmitted
with a weather signal.

WX/Signal Indicator

ready to receive and indicates the reception
of a weather alert.

Digital Weather Alert

Message Encoding (SAME) digital informa­tion to determine and display the level of

— checks one channel while re-

— lets you tune to seven national

— provides accurate

— In CB mode,

— shows the CB is

— uses Specific Area

weather events (does not limit alerts to a
specific area).

ACE (Audio Clarity Enhancer)

presses noise levels while leaving the signa l
intact during reception. It enhances the
transmission and provides a significant re­duction in transmission and reception noise.

RF Gain Control

due to strong RF signals.

Convenient On-Microphone Channel Up/
Down Controls

band for communications.

Universal Mounting Bracket

mount your CB securely in your vehicle.

Specialized Squelch Circuit

sates for fading signals and eliminates signal
chopping during reception.

Maximum Allowable Legal Power Output

— gives you the greatest available range.

TX Indicator

dio is transmitting.

Digital Channel Display

channel number easy to see.

External Speaker Jack

your CB to an external speaker.

Screw-On Mic Connector

cure microphone connection.
To use this CB, you need a mobile or base

station antenna. Your local RadioShack
store has a wide variety of antennas. For
more information, see “Connecting an Anten­na” on Page 3.

— prevents overloading

— let you quickly scan the

— lights to show when the ra-

— lets you connect

— ensures a se-

— sup-

— lets you

— compen-

— makes the

2001 RadioShack Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

©

RadioShack and RadioShack.com are trademarks

used by RadioShack Corporation.

THE FCC WANTS YOU TO
KNOW

The Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) does not require you to have a license
to operate this CB. However, the FCC does
require that you read and know Part 95 of

FCC Rules

tion of a Class D CB. We have provided a
copy of these regulations with your CB.

. These rules apply to the opera-

cure it using the supplied small screws and
lock washers.

Warning:

internal adjustments. Any internal adjustments
can be made only by an authorized service
technician.

Unauthorized internal adjustments and/or
modifications can lead to illegal operation as
defined by Part 95 of
operation can lead to very serious conse­quences.

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 interference goes
away, your CB is causing it. Try to eliminate
the interference by either moving your CB
away from the receiver or contacting your lo­cal RadioShack store for help. If you cannot
eliminate the interference, the FCC requires
that you stop using your CB.

If you cannot eliminate the interference, con­tact your local RadioShack store for help.

Do not open your CB to make any

FCC rules

. Such illegal

INSTALLATION

To attach the holder to another location in the
vehicle, such as the dashboard, follow these
steps.

1. Using the holder as a template, mark the
positions for the mounting screw holes at
the desired location.

2. At each marked position, drill a small
starter hole for the supplied mounting
screws.

Caution:

thing behind the mounting surface.

3. Attach the holder at the mounting location
using the supplied small screws and lock
washers.

Be careful not to drill into any-

Mounting the CB

The most common mounting location for this
CB is under a vehicle’s dashboard. However,
if you use the CB as a base station, you can
place it on a desk, shelf, or table (see “Using
the CB As a Base Station” on Page 4).

Attaching the Microphone Holder

You can connect the microphone holder to ei­ther side of the CB or to another location in
your vehicle. To attach the holder to either
side of the CB, horizontally or vertically, se-

If you are mounting the CB in a vehicle,
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.

2

• the magnetic fields caused by the vehi­cle’s wiring do not affect the CB. (See
“Calibrating the Electronic Compass” on
Page 8.)

• all wires and cables can reach their co n­nection points.

4. Attach the CB to the mounting bracket
using the supplied rubber washers and
mounting knobs.

Warning:

mount it securely to avoid damage to the CB
or vehicle or injury to anyone in the vehicle
during sudden starts or stops.

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

1. Using the mounting bracket as a tem-

2. In each marked position, drill a small

3. Attach the mounting bracket to the

If you use the CB in a vehicle,

plate, mark the positions for the screw
holes on the mounting surface.

starter hole for the supplied mounting
screws.

Caution:

objects behind the mounting surface.

mounting surface with the supplied
screws and lock washers.

Be careful not to drill into

To use the radio’s compass mode cor-

Note:

rectly, you have to install the CB horizontally.

Connecting the Microphone

1. Align the slot on the top of the micro­phone’s plug with the ridge inside the
microphone jack. Then fully insert the
plug into the jack.

2. Turn the plug’s locking nut clockwise to
tighten it.

3. Slide the microphone onto the micro­phone holder.

To disconnect the microphone from the CB,
unscrew the locking nut then pull out the plug.

Caution:

ble.

Never pull on the microphone’s ca-

Connecting an Antenna

There are many different types of CB antenna
for mobile CBs. Each antenna type has its
own benefits, so choose the one that best
meets your needs. Your local RadioShack
store sells a wide variety of antennas.

For the best performance you should mount
the antenna:

• as high as possible on the vehicle

3