Radio Shack TRC521 CB User Manual

www.radioshack.com

M f a

u b l w

C m

OFF/VOLUME — Rotate towards V

a t

SQUELCH — Rotate to reduce

TRC521 CB Radio

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

OLUME to turn on your CB, and then

djust to desired listening level. Rotate

owards OFF to turn off you r C B .

B/WX — Slide to CB to se and listen to citizen’s and radio. Slide to WX to

isten to local and national

eather broadcasts.

onnect the supplied

icrophone here.

ounting Bracket

icrophone Holder

ounting hardware supplied

or the microphone holder

nd CB.

DUAL WATCH/ALERT TONE OFF — Press to activate dual watch (see Page 11), or to silence weather alert tones (see Page 10).

background noise (CB sensitivity). See Page 6.

PTT — Push to talk. Hold down and talk into the microphone while transmitting.

RF GAIN — Rotate to improve signal reception in strong signal areas. See Page 6.

CHANNEL — Rotate to tune to a channel.

UP/DN — Press or hold down to scroll up or down through channels.

Microphone

21-1711

Thank you for purchasing the RadioShack TRC521 CB Radio. It provides two-way communication on the citizen’s radio band and lets you tune to local and national weather service broadcasts. It provides the maximum legal power output for the greatest available range, and a built-in PLL (phase-locked loop) frequency synthesizer to reduce congestion.

CB radio provides hours of fun and entertainment! Listen and talk to people from all over the country while traveling, and make new friends along routes that you regularly travel. It is also a great way to keep informed of local emergencies, such as traffic accidents, road blocks, weather alerts and so on.

IMPORTANT

If an icon appears at the end of a paragraph, go to the box on that page with the corresponding icon for pertinent information.

— Warning  — Caution Ô — Note

RadioShack and R adio Sh ack .c om

are trademarks used by

RadioShack Corporation.

CONTENTS

CB Radio Set u p ............ ............. 2

Attach the Microphone Holder 2

Mount the CB . ......................... 2

Connect the Microphone ......... 3

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

Connecting to Vehicle

Battery Power ............ ............. 4

Connecting an Optional

External Speaker .................... 4

Using the CB as a Base Station . 5

Receiving and Transmitting ........ 6

Receiving ............................... 6

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

Using Common 10-Codes ...... 7

Tips for Using Your CB ............... 8

Business Use .......................... 8

Personal Use .......................... 8

Transmission Cou rt e sy ........... 8

Maximum Range ..................... 9

Reducing Noise ...................... 9

Listening to the Weather Band . 10

Using Digital Weather Alert ... 10

Using Dual Watch .................. 11

Replacing the Fuse ................ 11

Troubleshooting ....................... 12

Care ......................................... 12

Service and Repair ............... 12

FCC Information ....................... 13

Specificatio ns .................. ......... 14

Accessories .............................. 15

CB RADIO SETUP

Your CB’s display is prot ected during sh ipment by a piec e of clear film. Carefully peel off thi s film befo re us ing your radio.

ATTACH THE MICROPHONE HOLDER

You can attach the microphone holder horizontally or vertically to either side of your CB.

Vertical

To attach the microphone holder somewhere else, follow these steps.

1. Use the microphone holder as a template to mark the positions for the mounting screws at the desired mounting location.

2. Drill a hole at the marked position. Do not drill into anything behind the mounting surface.

3. Attach the microphone holder to the mounting surface using the supplied (small) machine screws and lockwashers.

Microphone Holder

Horizontal

WARNING o

Mount the CB securely to avoid damage to the CB or vehicle, and to avoid injury to anyone in the vehicle during sudden starts or stops.

MOUNT THE CB

Find a convenie nt locati on in your vehicle to mount your CB. If you are uncomfortable mounting the CB yourself, consult with your vehicle service center or automotive dealer for assistance.

Select a mounting location where:

• you can easily reach the CB.

• wires and cables are clear of the vehicle’s pedals or

• the CB is not directly in front of heating vents.

• all wires and cables can reach their connection points.

1. Use the mounting bracket as a template to mark the

other moving parts.

positions for the screws on the mounting surface.

2. At the marked positions, dri ll a hole slightl y smaller than

M K

the mounting screws. Do not drill into objects behind the mounting surface.

3. Secure the mounting bracket to the mounting surface with the supplied screws and lockwashers.

Screws and Lockwasher s

ounting

nobs

Rubber Washers

Mounting Bracket

4. Attach the CB to the mountin g bracket with the sup plied rubber washers and mounting knobs.

Microphone

CONNECT THE MICROPHONE

Jack

1. Align the holes inside the microphone’s plug with the pins in the microphone jack and insert the plug.

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

3. Slide the microphone

Locking Nut

Microphone Plug

onto the holder.

4. To disconnect the microphone, unscrew the locki ng nut and pull the microphone plug toward you. Do not pull the microphone cable.

CONNECTING AN ANTENNA

To use this CB, you ne ed a mobile or base station antenna. There are many types of antennas for CBs. Each type has its own benefits, so choose the one that best meets your needs. Your local RadioShack store sells a wide variety of antennas. If you are using this CB as a base station, see “Using the CB as a Base Station” on Page 5.

 CAUTION 

• Avoid routing the cable next to sharp edges or moving parts, which might damage the cable.

• Do not run the cable next to power cables or other radio antenna cables.

• Do not run the cable through the engine compartment or other areas that produce extreme heat.

Ô NOTE Ô

Do not connect the black wire to a non-metallic (plastic) part, or to any part insulated from the vehicle’s chassis by a non-metallic part.

Dual band antennas provide optimum reception of CB and WX channels. For mobile installations (car, boat), a nondirectional antenna provides the best CB reception. Mobile antennas use your vehicle’s metal body as a ground plane. If the CB is installed in a boat, your boat’s steel hull is used as a ground plane. Without a steel hull serving as a ground plane, you will not receive maximum efficiency. Before using your CB in a boat, consult with your boat dealer regarding an adequate grounding system.

Keep in mind that for the best performance you should mount the antenna:

• as high as possible.

• as far as possible from sources of electrical noise.

Black and red POWER wires

• vertically.

1. Follow the antenna’s instructions to mount it.

2. Route the antenna cable to the CB radio and connect it

ANT. jack. 

to the

ANT. Jack

Antenna Cable

CONNECTING TO VEHICLE BATTERY POWER

1. Connect the CB’s red POWER wire to a terminal in yo ur vehicle’s fuse bo x that has power onl y when the igniti on is in the ACC (accessory) or ON position.

2. Connect the CB’s black the vehicle’s frame (chassis ground). Ô

POWER wire to a metal part of

CONNECTING AN OPTIONAL E

XTERNAL SPEAKER

You can conn ect an external speaker to the CB. Use an 8-ohm

speaker with a

/8-inch (3.5-mm) plug. Insert the speaker’s plug into the

EXT. SP. jack.

CB’s

EXT. SP. Jack

USING THE CB AS A BASE

STATION

Although this CB is designed for mobile use, you can use it as a base station with an AC power source. Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection of base station antennas, coaxial antenna cable, connectors, and b ase station power supplies. For base station installation, you need the following items:

• a 12-volt DC power supply that can supply at least 1.5



amps.

• base station antenna.

• coaxial antenna cable and connectors.

1. Mount the base station antenna as described in its owner’s manual.

2. Connect the ante nna cable to the

ANT.

3. Connect the CB’s black POWER wire to the negative (–) terminal on the DC power supply.

jack on the back of the CB.

ANT. Jack

DC Power Supply

Cable

 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 included with the power supply.

WARNING o

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 overhead power lines. If the antenna touches a 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.

Red wire connected to + terminal

Black wire connecte to – terminal

4. Connect the CB’s red terminal on the DC power supply.

5. Connect the DC power supply to a standard AC outlet.

POWER wire to the positive (+)

+ 11 hidden pages