Midland 5001z

[Big Easy]

I'm a bit new to cb radios, I've got a Midland 5001z with a Wilson 1000 mag mount in my pickup.

I've already turned up the modulation pot in the radio, and I'm looking for any other mods that I could do(with a screwdriver preferably), to help get some more power out of this thing.

 

[loosecannon]

from the schematic it looks like T5 T6 and L16 are adjustable.

you can peak these cans for maximum modulated output. this means you have to have either your voice or a tone coming through the mic as you peak them.
do not peak them using a deadkey.

do not turn any of the other coils in the radio even if they look the same as the one you are peaking.

this will probably only get you a couple of watts, which won't be noticed by anyone receiving your signal, but if you just want to play with it, that's what you can do.

remember, to increase your signal by 1 S-unit in someone's receiver, you have to quadruple your power output. this is true whether you are talking about 12 watts, or 12 million watts.

if you put out a 4 watt deadkey that hits another radio at S-5, then to get to s-6 in his radio you would have to have a 16 watt deadkey.

long story short, you need an amplifier.
LC

 

[Big Easy]

from the schematic it looks like T5 T6 and L16 are adjustable.

you can peak these cans for maximum modulated output. this means you have to have either your voice or a tone coming through the mic as you peak them.
do not peak them using a deadkey.

do not turn any of the other coils in the radio even if they look the same as the one you are peaking.

this will probably only get you a couple of watts, which won't be noticed by anyone receiving your signal, but if you just want to play with it, that's what you can do.

remember, to increase your signal by 1 S-unit in someone's receiver, you have to quadruple your power output. this is true whether you are talking about 12 watts, or 12 million watts.

if you put out a 4 watt deadkey that hits another radio at S-5, then to get to s-6 in his radio you would have to have a 16 watt deadkey.

long story short, you need an amplifier.
LC

So do I need a watt meter to peek those cans?

 

[loosecannon]

well, i will say this, and i mean no disrespect.

if you have to ask that question, you have much to learn before you should EVER attempt to peak things inside your radio.

but again, it's your radio, and you can set it in fire and cook a burger on it if you please.
so, you can just peak the coils using the radio's meter, but it would be best to use a wattmeter.
LC

 

[Big Easy]

Lol, I said I was a noob didn't I? But I do want to learn more about radios, and I learn best by doing, so If I burn this one up its no big deal. So I just adjust them with a screwdriver until I get the most output, correct?

I apologize for my lack of knowledge. I've tried to research about modding radios, but haven't found much online.

 

[loosecannon]

no apologies necessary.

if you are interested in learning about what goes on inside a CB radio and would like to know how to repair and align them, your very first purchase should be "The Screwdriver Expert's Guide to CB repair" by Lou Franklin.

read and re-read this book cover to cover and you will be on the way.

to answer your question, you NEVER want to use a metal tool on an inductor as it will give you false readings and can crack the fragile ferrite slug inside them, then you're screwed.

you need to get a set of alignment tools meant for radios. you can find them on ebay.
i suggest going with the plastic ones over the ceramic ones if you are just starting out, as the ceramic ones can also break the slugs if you're not careful.

start doing some serious searching here on the forum, and your knowledge will grow by leaps and bounds.

best of luck,
LC