What do I need?

[redneck_radio]

I've got an Realistic TRC-482 but all I have is the main unit, so no antenna, mic, or speakers, and I just wanted to know what I needed to put it in my truck ('68 Chevy C10) and get it working. I looked around for some mics and antennas, but wasn't really sure what I was looking for, I also wasn't sure how to hook up the power supply in my truck. heres a few pics...

is the hole on the left for speaker wires? and what kind of mic jack would that be called? 4 pin?

What kind of antenna would hook up to this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Moleculo]

That hole on the left looks like its for the bracket that usually accompanies the radio. There should be a matching hole on the right. To hook it up for power, you can just run it straight to the battery - red is positive, black is negative. Pick up an inline fuse at the local auto parts store also. For the antenna - well you kind've have to figure out where you want it mounted and how tall you're willing to live with first. The mag mount antennas usually come with the coax that plugs into the back of the radio. If you want a different type of antenna, you'll have to buy coax, too. There are a lot of options. I hate to tell you, but it's going to be a challenge to find a new mic with that type of plug. All of the "4 pin" configurations have the pins in a square pattern now. Maybe someone on the forum here has a mic that will work with that. If not, it probably would be easier to buy an inexpensive new radio than to try and locate a mic that will work with what you have.

 

[MisterFatty]

Welcome to the forum!


First thing, be very careful to observe correct polarity when connecting the radio, two red leads are an extremely bad idea.

you should at the minimum wrap some black tape around the negative wire of that power harness. which connects to a 13.8 volt DC source.

The Mic is a 5 pin Din, not sure if radio shack still sells mics, but you could give them a call, I think most of the 5 pin din shack radios are commonly wired.

As for the antenna, you will need one made for CB. the hole on the side is for mounting screws. On the rear of the radio you have the large antenna connection, and most likely two small jacks labeled "PA" and "EXT Spkr" both are audio out connections, one for a Public Address Speaker, the other for an External Speaker (the radio has one built in). and if functional any connections on the rear of the radio except antenna and power are optional.

That corrosion on the radio is slightly worrisome, Not sure how much I would invest in mikes, etc without checking it out first.

Your best bet would probably be to get a little free advise from a local CB shop if you have one, they should also be able to set you up with an inexpensive antenna, and a mike for the radio, after a quick check to see if it actually works.

Alternatively a wanted post on the forum, maybe a mic, and/or antenna might net you a very low investment.

 

[MisterFatty]

I see Mol answered while i was typing.... good advise....

 

[Robb]

Get a decent antenna - like a Wilson 1000 magnet mount.
Then, an Astatic D-104/M6 handheld power mic.
A cheap SWR meter to set it all up and...done...

 

[packrat]

Welcome to the forum!


First thing, be very careful to observe correct polarity when connecting the radio, two red leads are an extremely bad idea.

Look closer. One lead is red anmd one is black. You are seeing transfer from splitting the leads. Look on ebay for a used RS mic with a din plug, or check your local pawn / swap shop. the one here has literally dozens of hand mics in baskets.

Good Luck,

PR

 

[packrat]

Almost forgot to add, dont pay more than a couple of bucks for a stock hand mic.

 

[redneck_radio]

thanks yall, all this has been real helpful, as far as the power I figured that one out, there was already a fuse on the + line, and I just plugged into a 12v battery, and it came on ok.

as far as the antenna I ain't looking for anything real long range, I just found this radio in my shop today and figured what the heck it'd be fun to put in my truck, so something on the cheaper side of things would be good, any suggestions? for the mic I'll go to radio shack and see what they got, maybe some antenna stuff too.
is there a speaker output somewhere? or is there an internal speaker? I'd assume there's gotta be some kinda out put somewhere since it has a PA mode.

meleculo, yea you were right there's another hole on the other side.

again thanks for yalls help!

 

[redneck_radio]

ah sorry mrfatty I didn't read your post close enough, or look at my radio close enough, further inspection reviled the two output jacks your were talking about. now the question is, are those jacks the normal headphone jack?, I plugged some in and they seemed to fit ok, I'm bout to go test it with it plugged in.

 

[MisterFatty]

are those jacks the normal headphone jack?, I plugged some in and they seemed to fit ok, I'm bout to go test it with it plugged in.

Yes they are, however neither is stereo so only one side would be active if you were to plug walkman type headphones, earbuds, or similar in.

 

[Robb]

I don't think Radio Shack sells CB mics any more. Could be wrong - but I doubt it. If they do, the price would probably be about ~$25 and uses a non-standard battery that costs $10 a pop. An new Astatic D-104/M6 mic can be had for about $40 - and uses a standard 9v battery. They sound great on any mobile radio - and make an excellent base station mic if you go that route. Since you haven't spent any cash out of pocket yet - it would prove to be money very wisely spent.

BTW-The radio you have uses a non-standard 'D.I.N.' type plug. This may be a little problem. If there are any CB shops in your area (usually found along major interstate freeways), that would be the right place to go for getting a mic and have it propery wired up to your radio. May even have some Wilson antennas there - too...

A decent antenna is the primary goal of any radio operator to have. Even radios that are marginal in a performace sense benefits greatly from this choice. More important than the mic; the antenna should be considered first. A Wilson 1000 mag mount are ~$75 new - and about $50 used if you can find one...

Some things to consider.

 

[MisterFatty]

I don't think Radio Shack sells CB mics any more. Could be wrong - but I doubt it.

they probably at least sell replacement mics for current radios, and I believe are still wired the same.

If they do, the price would probably be about ~$25 and uses a non-standard battery that costs $10 a pop.

HUH? what battery is this? are you thinking 7 volt? If so no current maker has used this battery for many, many years. And Radio Shack NEVER has, I can only recall 3 amplified mikes sold by Rat Shack, 2 used AA, and the other used a 9 volt.

An new Astatic D-104/M6 mic can be had for about $40 - and uses a standard 9v battery. They sound great on any mobile radio - and make an excellent base station mic if you go that route. Since you haven't spent any cash out of pocket yet - it would prove to be money very wisely spent.

add another what? 5 bucks for a mic plug, and another hmm... 10 to get it wired, which will probably require a radios shop, who could probably check to see if his radio even works to begin with, and then supply a decent hand mike for 10 bucks? The guy obviously looking for an inexpensive entry right now, for what he would pay for that hand mic he could probably buy a brand new radio radio.

BTW-The radio you have uses a non-standard 'D.I.N.' type plug.

Non Standard? perhaps poor wording? The Rat Shack Din Plug has been THE Standard on Radio Shack CBs for how many years? I've always disliked the 5 Pin Din, but non-standard by who's account? Radio shack has used that sucker forever, and it is universally wired for THERE radios.

I guess you could stretch it a bit and coin the term non-standard, but considering it HAS been the standard for Radio Shack since what, about 1960, I think that is a stretch....

If there are any CB shops in your area (usually found along major interstate freeways), that would be the right place to go for getting a mic and have it propery wired up to your radio. May even have some Wilson antennas there - too...

I would some-what agree with this, as I've already mentioned....

A decent antenna is the primary goal of any radio operator to have. Even radios that are marginal in a performace sense benefits greatly from this choice. More important than the mic; the antenna should be considered first. A Wilson 1000 mag mount are ~$75 new - and about $50 used if you can find one...

Some things to consider.

While this is certainly true, I think a $70+ antenna is a bit premature at this point, decent performance can be had for the cost of a 3 foot fiberglass antenna, and a mount, for substantially less then that.

 

[Robb]

Mista Fatty:

Never seen two RS mics ever wired te same way. Maybe you have.

ALL of the RS mics I've owned had the crappy 7v junk battery.

The DIN's are crappy plugs - too. But it will cost a few bucks extra to make the change - no doubt.

What I wrote was to make suggestions that would save the trouble in finding out the hard way - that RS mics and 3 ft fibreglass whips may work - but will have substandard performace. Not to mention, maybe he may find spending money on junk parts was a waste of time...Now it's up to the man asking these questions to make the decisions...

 

[MisterFatty]

Mista Fatty:

Never seen two RS mics ever wired te same way. Maybe you have.

You must have a very limited experience with Radio Shack radios, very few are wired differently, and these few can be reduced even further by eliminating alternate Mic Jacks, and extremely low production (read rare). Of approximately 85 radios, about 14 vary.

ALL of the RS mics I've owned had the crappy 7v junk battery.

Ok, and how many varieties is that? I have 3 here right now, which by memory, are all they EVER made, the switchable noise cancelling hand-mic uses 2 AA, The first gen Amplified desk Mic (cheap copy of a +2) uses a 9 volt, and the more recent Desk Mic similar to Cobra's which also used a pair of AAs.

And even if my memory is failing, and I'm just forgetting one from over the years, the TR-175 7.5 volt battery can be purchased for about $3.00, or less if you shop around, and the last commercially made Mic which used it was Made by Astatic Corporation, many years ago.

The DIN's are crappy plugs - too. But it will cost a few bucks extra to make the change - no doubt.

Nothing wrong with Din plugs, they can be a bit annoying to dis/assemble but they are no less sound then a more common 4 pin, I would also venture a guess and say D.I.N. plugs in general have seen much more use over the years then any of the CB specific mic connectors.

What I wrote was to make suggestions that would save the trouble in finding out the hard way - that RS mics and 3 ft fibreglass whips may work - but will have substandard performace.

Rat Shack Mics were always decent, and typically priced competitively, absolutely nothing wrong with Rat Shack's Mics. I still have a few working examples of there mics, and NONE use a 7.5 volt battery, and all work quite well. Nothing Sub-Standard at all...

Wilson antennas are definitely decent perfomers, However for less than 30 bucks I can buy a FireStick and a trunk mount, which ARE NOT that far off performance wise, could also sub in a mag mount, as well as a few other worthy 3/8x24 stud mount antennas.

Not to mention, maybe he may find spending money on junk parts was a waste of time...Now it's up to the man asking these questions to make the decisions...

So, your insinuation here is that my recommendations are a waste of time and junk?

I speak from nearly 40 years of experience, of which the majority was spent repairing and selling Radio gear. I certainly don't know everything, and sometimes my memory is not perfect, however I can sit here, and connect my Radio Shack Mics along side my Turners, Astatics, ETC.

I can and have compared Wilson 1k,2k,5k, with various open air coils, k40s, 2,3,4,5,7, foot Firesticks, various Francis antennas, 102 Whips, and most anything that was worth using.

For about 30 bucks you can buy a decent antenna which will talk 20+ miles, within a couple S-Units of the Wilsons, Not quite what I would consider "substandard performace Junk", Rather a smart purchase on a budget, not everyone is willing, or able to dump $75 plus bucks on an antenna.

 

[Robb]

Mista Fatty:

Off topic-it was old the first time you did this.
It's my opinion - and I'm stickin to it.
You may well be right about the RS mics; my experience was different than yours.
This is a forum - get used to it.
Thanks...