21-1620.fm Page 1 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM OWNER’S MANUAL Cat. No. 21-1620 TRC-235 2 Watt 3-Channel CB Walkie-Talkie Please read before using this equipment.
1-1620.fm Page 2 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM FEATURES Your RadioShack TRC-235 2 Watt 3Channel CB Walkie-Talkie is a portable, two-way radio you can carry almost anywhere. You can use your TRC-235 around the house, in your office, or in your car or boat. You can also use it on fishing and camping trips, or at your business for supervisory, security, or warehouse personnel. Your TRC-235 has the following features: Factory-Installed Crystals — let you immediately begin using your TRC-235 on Channel 14.
21-1620.fm Page 3 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Power/Charging Jack — lets you power your TRC-235 from an AC or DC power source, so you can use the TRC-235 without draining the batteries. And, lets you charge nickel-cadmium batteries without removing them from the TRC-235. Note: You need eight AA alkaline batteries or ten nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries (not supplied) to power your TRC-235. We recommend you record the TRC235’s serial number here.
21-1620.fm Page 4 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Your TRC-235 might cause TV or radio interference even when it is operating properly. To determine whether your TRC-235 is causing the interference, turn off your TRC-235. If the interference goes away, your TRC-235 is causing it.
21-1620.fm Page 5 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM CONTENTS Powering the CB ................................ 6 Using the POWER Jack and ALKALINE/NI-CD Switch................... 6 Using Batteries ................................. 7 Testing the Battery Power .......... 10 Recharging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries ..................................... 10 Using Vehicle Battery Power ........... 12 Using AC Power ............................. 13 External Antenna .............................. 15 Operation ..........
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21-1620.fm Page 7 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM • Set it to ALKALINE before you connect an external power source (vehicle battery power or AC adapter) to the POWER jack or while you are using internal batteries (alkaline or rechargeable). • Set it to NI–CD only when you are connecting a battery charger in order to charge the installed rechargeable batteries. Be sure you set it to NI–CD before you connect a battery charger to the POWER jack.
21-1620.fm Page 8 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Cautions: • Always use fresh, or freshly charged, batteries of the required size and type. • Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable nickel-cadmium), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities. Follow these steps to install the batteries. 1. If the TRC-235 is on, turn OFF/VOLUME fully counterclockwise until it clicks to turn it off. 2.
21-1620.fm Page 9 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM 4. Be sure ALKALINE/NI–CD inside the battery compartment is set to ALKALINE. 5. Put eight AA alkaline batteries and the two supplied dummy batteries, or ten AA nickel-cadmium batteries into the battery compartment, as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside. Note: Before you use the TRC-235 with nickel-cadmium batteries, you need to charge the batteries (see “Recharging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries” on Page 10). 6.
21-1620.fm Page 10 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Testing the Battery Power 1. Turn on the TRC-235 by rotating OFF/VOLUME clockwise until it clicks. 2. Hold down BATT TEST. If the indicator lights, there is enough battery power to operate the CB. If the indicator is dim or does not light, replace or recharge the batteries. Recharging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries You can use a battery charger, such as Cat. No.
21-1620.fm Page 11 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Follow these steps to charge nickelcadmium batteries in the TRC-235. 1. If the TRC-235 is on, turn OFF/VOLUME fully counterclockwise until it clicks to turn it off. 2. Set ALKALINE/NI–CD inside the battery compartment to NI–CD (see “Using the Power Jack and Alkaline/NICD Switch” on Page 6). 3. Connect the battery charger’s barrel plug to the POWER jack on the side of the TRC-235, then plug the battery charger’s plug into a standard AC outlet.
21-1620.fm Page 12 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM 4. When charging is complete, unplug the battery charger’s plug from the AC outlet. Then, disconnect the battery charger’s barrel plug from the POWER jack. Note: You can use an external charger (such as Cat. No. 23-134, not supplied) to recharge the nickel-cadmium batteries. After removing the batteries from the TRC-235, follow the instructions that come with the external charger. Important: Your TRC-235 is capable of using nickel-cadmium batteries.
21-1620.fm Page 13 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM • When you finish using the TRC-235, unplug the fused cord from the cigarette-lighter socket before you disconnect it from your TRC-235. 1. If the TRC-235 is on, turn OFF/VOLUME fully counterclockwise until it clicks to turn it off. 2. Be sure ALKALINE/NI–CD inside the battery compartment is set to ALKALINE. 3. Insert the power cord’s 5.5 mm outer diameter/2.1 mm inner diameter barrel plug into the POWER jack. 4.
21-1620.fm Page 14 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM • To help prevent an electrical short, unplug the adapter from the AC outlet before you unplug the adapter from the TRC-235. Follow these steps to connect the TRC235 to AC power. 1. Connect the adapter’s 5.5 mm outer diameter/2.1 mm inner diameter barrel plug to the adapter’s cord, setting TIP to + (positive) 2. Be sure ALKALINE/NI–CD inside the battery compartment is set to ALKALINE. 3. Connect the adapter’s barrel plug to the TRC-235’s POWER jack. 4.
21-1620.fm Page 15 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM EXTERNAL ANTENNA Your walkie-talkie comes with a telescoping antenna that is ideal for most applications. However, the walkie-talkie’s EXT ANTENNA jack makes it easy to connect other types of antennas, too. For mobile or base station use, you might want to connect an optional external antenna. Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection of external mobile or outdoor base-station antennas. Choose the one that best meets your needs.
21-1620.fm Page 16 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM • For the best performance when you use an external antenna, do not extend the TRC-235’s telescoping antenna. Follow the installation instructions supplied with the antenna, route the antenna cable to the TRC-235, then connect it to the EXT ANTENNA jack. 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.
21-1620.fm Page 17 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM OPERATION Before you use your TRC-235, we recommend you read “CB Operation Tips” on Page 20, which contains information to help you use it effectively and courteously. RECEIVING TRANSMISSIONS AND ADJUSTING SQUELCH 1. If you did not connect an external antenna, fully extend the TRC235’s telescoping antenna and hold the TRC-235 so the antenna is vertical.
21-1620.fm Page 18 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM 3. Turn on the TRC-235 by turning OFF/ VOLUME clockwise until you hear a click and a hissing sound. Note: You might not hear a hissing sound if CHANNEL is set to B or C and you haven’t installed any crystals in channel positions B or C. 4. Adjust OFF/VOLUME to a comfortable listening level. 5. Adjust SQUELCH to cut out the background noise. To do this, wait until there is no signal on the channel.
21-1620.fm Page 19 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM TRANSMITTING 1. Follow Steps 1–5 in “Receiving Transmissions and Adjusting Squelch” on Page 17. 2. Hold the TRC-235 2 to 3 inches from your mouth. Hold down PUSH TO TALK on the side of the TRC-235 and speak in a normal voice into the microphone. Microphone When you finish speaking, release the button. Note: Do not speak too loudly when transmitting. It does not make your signal any stronger, and might distort your transmission.
21-1620.fm Page 20 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM CB OPERATION TIPS The following tips will help you get the most enjoyment from your TRC-235. COMMON USES FOR A CB RADIO Business Uses • Truck drivers and delivery personnel can learn road and traffic conditions and get assistance in locating destinations. A walkie-talkie is also good company on those “long hauls.
-1620.fm Page 21 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM • Camping, fishing, and other sports are more fun with a walkie-talkie. Locate a friend or find out “what’s cooking” back at camp. USING COMMON 10-CODES Citizen’s band operators have largely adopted the 10-codes for standard questions and answers. Their use permits faster communication and better intelligibility in noisy areas. This table lists the codes adopted by the Associated Public Safety Communications Officers (APCO).
21-1620.fm Page 22 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Code Meaning 10-15 Message delivered. 10-16 Reply to message. 10-17 En route. 10-18 Urgent. 10-19 Contact __________. 10-20 My location is __________. 10-21 Call ________ by telephone. 10-22 Cancel last message. 10-23 Arrived at the scene. 10-24 Assignment complete. 10-26 Estimated time of arrival is ____. 10-30 Use caution. 10-31 Pick up. 10-33 Emergency traffic. Clear the channel. 10-34 The time is _____.
21-1620.fm Page 23 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM CB COURTESY • Wait for a pause in someone else’s transmission before you ask for a break. • If you do not receive an answer to your call after a second attempt, sign off and wait several minutes before trying again. • Do not hold down PUSH TO TALK when you are not talking. (This is called dead keying.) • Assist callers with directions, information about road conditions, and any other reasonable requests.
21-1620.fm Page 24 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM ADDING CRYSTALS Your TRC-235 includes two crystals (transmit and receive) installed in channel position A. The crystals let you use the CB on channel 14. You can add two more crystals in channel positions B and C so you can use any two other channels of the 40 allotted to CBs. However, you must use only crystals specifically designed for the TRC-235, available from your local RadioShack store.
21-1620.fm Page 25 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Channel Transmit Receive 16 27.155 26.700 17 27.165 26.710 18 27.175 26.720 19 27.185 26.730 20 27.205 26.750 21 27.215 26.760 22 27.225 26.770 23 27.255 26.800 24 27.235 26.780 25 27.245 26.790 26 27.265 26.810 27 27.275 26.820 28 27.285 26.830 29 27.295 26.840 30 27.305 26.850 31 27.315 26.860 32 27.325 26.870 33 27.335 26.880 34 27.345 26.890 35 27.355 26.900 36 27.365 26.910 37 27.
21-1620.fm Page 26 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM 3. Set CHANNEL to A, slide your thumb under the right edge of CHANNEL, then carefully pull CHANNEL up to remove it. 4. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the back cover’s three screws. Caution: The BATT TEST button might come off of the front of the TRC-235 when you remove the front cover. If this happens, simply replace it. 5. Firmly grasp the TRC-235’s front and back cover’s sides and carefully pull the front cover away from the back cover.
21-1620.fm Page 27 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM 6. Insert a new matched pair of crystals (send and receive) into the sockets for Channel B or C. The sockets for the crystals are marked next to Channel A on the circuit board with X1 (receive) and X2 (transmit). The channel’s letter (A, B, or C) is marked on the circuit board and on the diagram below. Important: Be sure you install the receive (R) and transmit (T) crystals in their correct sockets. Do not reverse the transmit and receive crystals.
21-1620.fm Page 28 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM TROUBLESHOOTING If your TRC-235 is not working as it should, follow these suggestions to see if you can eliminate the problem. If you cannot, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. Symptom Suggestion Weak, bad, or no reception. Be sure the TRC-235 is turned on. Be sure the volume is turned up. Be sure the antenna is fully extended. Be sure the batteries are not weak (see “Testing the Battery Power” on Page 10).
21-1620.fm Page 29 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM MAINTENANCE Your RadioShack TRC-235 2 Watt 3Channel CB Walkie-Talkie is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your TRC-235 so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the TRC-235 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits. Handle the TRC-235 gently and carefully.
21-1620.fm Page 30 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM SPECIFICATIONS Receiver Frequency Coverage ... 26.965 – 27.405 MHz Supplied with Channel 14 receive (26.670 MHz) and transmit (27.125 MHz) crystals in the Channel A position Sensitivity (Maximum) ......................... 0.6 µV Adjacent Channel Rejection ................. 45 dB Squelch ......................... Adjustable from 1 µV Audio Output (10% THD) ................. 400 mW Current Drain ...............................
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21-1620.fm Page 32 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:16 AM Limited Ninety-Day Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers.