21-1649.fm Page 1 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM OWNER’S MANUAL Cat. No. 21-1649 TRC-236 40-Channel 5-Watt CB Walkie Talkie with LED Display Please read before using this equipment.
1-1649.fm Page 2 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM FEATURES Your RadioShack TRC-236 40-Channel 5Watt CB Walkie Talkie with LED Display is a portable, two-way radio you can carry almost anywhere. You can use your TRC236 around the house, in your office, or in your car or boat. You can also use it on fishing trips, or at your business for supervisory, security, or warehouse personnel. Your TRC-236 has the following features: 2-Digit LED Display — lets you easily see the selected channel number.
21-1649.fm Page 3 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Power/Charging Jack — lets you power your TRC-236 from an AC or DC power source, so you can use the TRC-236 without draining the batteries. And, lets you charge nickel-cadmium batteries without removing them from the TRC-236. Note: To power your TRC-236 with internal batteries, you need eight AA alkaline batteries or ten nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries (not supplied). We recommend you record the TRC236’s serial number here.
21-1649.fm Page 4 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM FCC INFORMATION The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not require you to have a license to operate this walkie talkie. However, the FCC does require that you read and know Part 95 of FCC Rules. These rules apply to the operation of a Class D CB. We have provided a copy of these regulations with your TRC-236. Internal adjustments and/or modifications can lead to illegal operation as defined by Part 95 of FCC Rules.
21-1649.fm Page 5 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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 Connecting an Optional Antenna .... 15 Operation ......................
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21-1649.fm Page 7 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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 connect a battery charger to the POWER jack to charge the installed rechargeable batteries.
21-1649.fm Page 8 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Cautions: • Always use fresh, or freshly charged, batteries of the required size and recommended 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-236 is on, turn OFF/VOLUME fully counterclockwise until it clicks to turn it off. 2.
21-1649.fm Page 9 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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-236 with nickel-cadmium batteries, you need to charge the batteries (see “Recharging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries” on Page 10). 6.
21-1649.fm Page 10 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Testing the Battery Power 1. Turn on the TRC-236 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, Cat. No.
21-1649.fm Page 11 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Follow these steps to charge nickelcadmium batteries in the TRC-236. 1. If the TRC-236 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 5.5 mm outer diameter/2.
21-1649.fm Page 12 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM 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-236, follow the instructions that come with the external charger. Important: Your TRC-236 is capable of using nickel-cadmium batteries. At the end of the batteries’ useful life, they must be recycled or disposed of properly.
21-1649.fm Page 13 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM • When you finish using the TRC-236, unplug the fused cord from the cigarette-lighter socket before you disconnect it from your TRC-236. 1. If the TRC-236 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.
21-1649.fm Page 14 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Cautions: • The power supply must be able to deliver 12 volts and at least 1200 milliamps of power. The recommended power supply meets these specifications. Using a power supply that does not meet these specifications could damage the TRC-236 or the power supply. • You must use a DC fused cord that supplies 12 volts and delivers at least 1200 milliamps of power.
21-1649.fm Page 15 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM 2. Connect the DC fused cord’s 5.5 mm outer diameter/2.1 mm inner diameter barrel plug to the TRC-236’s POWER jack. 3. Be sure ALKALINE/NI-CD inside the battery compartment is set to ALKALINE. 4. Plug the DC fused cord’s other end into the power supply’s power socket. 5. Plug the power supply into a standard AC outlet, then turn on the power supply.
21-1649.fm Page 16 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM • The antenna and antenna cable should be as far as possible from sources of electrical noise (appliances, other radios, and so on). • The antenna should be vertical for the best performance. Note: When connecting an optional antenna, always use 50-ohm coaxial cable, such as RG-58 or RG-8. For lengths over 50 feet, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable.
21-1649.fm Page 17 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Warning: When installing or removing a base station CB antenna, use extreme caution. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead 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 remove the antenna. DO NOT attempt to do so yourself.
21-1649.fm Page 18 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM OPERATION Before you use your TRC-236, we recommend you read “CB Operation Tips” on Page 22, 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 TRC-236’s telescoping antenna and hold the TRC-236 so the antenna is vertical.
21-1649.fm Page 19 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM To redisplay the channel number for several seconds, simply press and release DISPLAY. 3. Repeatedly press CH s to select higher channels, or CH t to select lower channels. To move rapidly through the channels, hold down CH s or t. 4. Adjust OFF/VOLUME to a comfortable listening level. 5. Adjust SQUELCH to cut out the background noise. Wait until there is no signal on the channel, then slowly turn SQUELCH clockwise until the background noise stops.
21-1649.fm Page 20 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM TRANSMITTING 1. Follow Steps 1–5 in “Receiving Transmissions and Adjusting Squelch” on Page 18. 2. To increase the transmitted signal strength and increase the TRC-236’s range, set POWER HI/LO on the side of the TRC-236 to HI. To decrease the transmitted signal strength and save battery power, set POWER HI/LO to LO. 3. Hold the TRC-236 2 to 3 inches from your mouth.
-1649.fm Page 21 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM Important: Channel 9 is reserved for motorist assistance and for reporting emergency information about accidents, hazardous road conditions, and so on. If you are using Channel 9, always give emergency messages priority. 4. To turn off the TRC-236, turn OFF/ VOLUME toward OFF until it clicks.
21-1649.fm Page 22 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM CB OPERATION TIPS The following tips will help you get the most enjoyment from your TRC-236. 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.
21-1649.fm Page 23 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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).
21-1649.fm Page 24 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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 _____.
21-1649.fm Page 25 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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.
21-1649.fm Page 26 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM TROUBLESHOOTING If your TRC-236 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 Weak, bad, or no reception. Suggestion Ensure the TRC-236 is turned on. Ensure the volume is turned up. Ensure the telescoping antenna is fully extended or an external antenna is attached to the TRC236’s EXT ANTENNA jack.
21-1649.fm Page 27 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM MAINTENANCE Your RadioShack TRC-236 40-Channel 5Watt CB Walkie Talkie with LED Display is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your TRC-236 so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the TRC-236 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits. Handle the TRC-236 gently and carefully.
21-1649.fm Page 28 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 AM SPECIFICATIONS Receiver Frequency Coverage ... 26.965 – 27.405 MHz Sensitivity (Max.) ..... 0.5 µV at 10 dB (S+N)/N Adjacent Channel Rejection ................. 45 dB Squelch ........... Adjustable from 1 µV to 1 mV Audio Output (10% THD) ................. 400 mW Current Drain ............................... 85–300 mA Transmitter Frequency Coverage ... 26.965 – 27.405 MHz Power Input (at 12V DC): High .................................................
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21-1649.fm Page 32 Thursday, August 5, 1999 11:33 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.
