21-1585.fm Page 1 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM Cat. No. 21-1585A OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
1-1585.fm Page 2 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM FEATURES Your Radio Shack TRC-488 40-Channel 2-Way CB Radio is a high performance citizen’s band radio that also lets you tune to national weather service broadcasts. This CB is perfect for recreational, business, or emergency use. It lets you talk to other people with CBs at home, in their vehicles, or at camp sites.
21-1585.fm Page 3 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM CONTENTS Installation ............................................................................................................ 4 Mounting the TRC-488 .................................................................................... 4 Mounting the Microphone Holder .................................................................... 5 Connections .........................................................................................................
21-1585.fm Page 4 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM INSTALLATION MOUNTING THE TRC-488 If you use the TRC-488 as a base station, you can mount it on a desk, shelf, or table. The most common mounting location for the CB is under a vehicle’s dashboard. If you use the TRC-488 in a vehicle, 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 bracket, screws, washers, and knobs. 1.
21-1585.fm Page 5 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM 4. Attach the CB to the mounting bracket using the supplied rubber washers and mounting knobs. (illus) MOUNTING THE MICROPHONE HOLDER With a Phillips screwdriver and the supplied screws and washers, attach the supplied microphone holder to the CB’s right side.
21-1585.fm Page 6 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM CONNECTIONS CONNECTING THE MICROPHONE 1. Make sure the pins on the microphone cable’s plug are aligned with the holes in the CB’s MICROPHONE jack on the CB’s left side and insert the plug into the jack. Caution: Never pull on the microphone cable. CONNECTING AN OPTIONAL EXTERNAL SPEAKER You can connect an external speaker to the CB. (illus) Notes: • You must use an 8-ohm speaker capable of handling up to 5 watts of power (such as Radio Shack Cat. No.
21-1585.fm Page 7 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM CONNECTING POWER Using Vehicle Battery Power Follow these steps to power the CB from your vehicle’s battery. 5. Connect the orange BATT + wire, with in-line fuse, to your vehicle battery’s positive (+) terminal or to a point in the vehicle’s fuse box fuse that provides a continuous source of 12 volts even when the ignition is turned off. 1. Make sure the CB is turned off. 2. Disconnect the cable from your vehicle battery’s negative (–) terminal. 3.
21-1585.fm Page 8 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM 3. Connect the black GROUND wire to the DC power supply’s negative (–) terminal. INSTALLING AN ANTENNA Caution: To prevent damage to your CB, you must connect an antenna to the CB before you operate it. (illus) Note: Your local Radio Shack store sells a variety of CB antennas for both mobile and base-station use, and coaxial antenna cable and connectors.
21-1585.fm Page 9 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM 2. Route the cable between the antenna and the CB. 3. Connect the cable to ADJUSTING THE ANTENNA’S SWR the ANTENNA jack on the back of the CB. (illus) Caution: Do not run the cable: To achieve your CB’s maximum range, the antenna’s Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) should be adjusted using an SWR meter (not supplied). Follow the instructions supplied with the SWR meter and antenna to adjust your antenna’s SWR to the lowest possible value.
21-1585.fm Page 10 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM OPERATION SETTING SQUELCH Caution: Do not attempt to use your CB without first connecting it to an antenna. 1. Turn VOLUME clockwise until it clicks to turn on the CB, then set it to about halfway between the minimum and maximum settings. The CB tunes to the last-selected channel. USING AUTOMATIC NOISE LIMITING If you hear low-level popping noises while receiving transmissions, slide ANL/OFF to ANL to turn on the automatic noise limiting circuit.
21-1585.fm Page 11 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM Your TRC-488 receives the following frequencies available to NOAA: 162.400 162.425 162.450 162.475 MHz MHz MHz MHz 2. To select the emergency channel (9), slide CH9/OUT to CH9. CH9 flashes on the display. 162.500 MHz 162.525 MHz 162.550 MHz To select one of the seven available weather channels, set the mode selector to W1-W7. The yellow WX LED lights.
21-1585.fm Page 12 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM 4. If necessary, turn RF.GAIN clockwise to increase the signal sensitivity. 4. Hold the microphone 2 or 3 inches from your mouth, then press and hold down the microphone talk button and speak into the microphone in a normal voice. The red TX indicator lights. (illus) (illus) To turn off the TRC-488, turn VOLUME counterclockwise until you hear it click.
21-1585.fm Page 13 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM CB TIPS Like any other activity, CB radio has its rules and courtesies. The following tips will help you get the most enjoyment out of your CB. COMMON USES FOR A CB RADIO Business Uses • Truck drivers and delivery personnel use it to get road and traffic conditions and obtain assistance in locating destinations. A CB is good company on those “long hauls.
21-1585.fm Page 14 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM USING COMMON 10-CODES Citizen’s band operators have largely adopted the 10-codes for standard questions and answers. These codes permit faster communication and better intelligibility in noisy areas. The following table lists some of the more common codes and their meanings.
21-1585.fm Page 15 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM TROUBLESHOOTING If your CB is not working as it should, follow the suggestions below to try to eliminate the problem. If the CB is still not working properly, take the CB to your local Radio Shack store for assistance. Problem Trouble with reception. Solution • Be sure the CB is turned on. • Be sure VOLUME is turned up. • Be sure SQUELCH is adjusted properly. • Be sure the microphone is securely connected to the CB.
21-1585.fm Page 16 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM MAXIMUM RANGE The maximum range and quality of CB transmissions vary depending on: • The type and quality of antenna used. • The height of the antenna’s mounting location (the higher the antenna, the better the reception). • The surrounding terrain (mountains and tall buildings limit the range). • The weather conditions. • The number of nearby CBs operating on the same channel. • The standing wave ratio (SWR) between the antenna and the CB.
21-1585.fm Page 17 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM MAINTENANCE Your TRC-488 40-Channel 2-Way CB Radio is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your CB so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the CB dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits. Handle the CB gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage circuit boards and cases and can cause the CB to work improperly.
21-1585.fm Page 18 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM REPLACING THE FUSES FCC INFORMATION The TRC-488’s red wire 2-amp in-line fuse helps protect your CB from power surges and short-circuits. If the fuse has blown, replace it with a 2-amp, fast-acting glass fuse (such as Cat. No. 270-1007). 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 FCC Rules .
21-1585.fm Page 19 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM SPECIFICATIONS RECEIVER Weather Frequency Coverage .............................................................162.400 MHz 162.425 MHz 162.450 MHz 162.475 MHz 162.500 MHz 162.525 MHz 162.550 MHz Frequency Coverage .................................................. All 40 CB Channels (Class D) 26.965 to 27.405 MHz Sensitivity ............................................................0.7 µV or better for 10 dB (S+N)/N Adjacent Channel Rejection .........
21-1585.fm Page 20 Thursday, August 5, 1999 9:39 AM GENERAL Power Requirements ........................................... 12-16 Volts DC, Negative Ground Dimensions .......................................................... 113/16 ¥ 513/16 ¥ 7 1/2 Inches (HWD) (46 ¥ 147 ¥ 190 mm) Weight ............................................................................................... 2 lb 2 oz (1 Kg) Specifications are typical; individual units might vary.
