Hey guys, this is my first post to your forum and hopefully not my last. I recently got into the radio game in the last few months. I started off with a crappy antenna and a Realistic TRC-484. I got the manuals for that radio and a SWR/Wattage/Mod Meter and tuned that thing up. Wanting to get out further, I went to a yard sale and picked up this Sears Roadtalker 40 SSB Radio. From what I see it's a "Vintage" Radio and seems to have some positive reviews on alot of the CB websites. I have a few questions on it tho and im unable to find the service module. I found the pods to turn up AM and my Mod.
I got AM sounding sweet. The Radio pushes a 10w Dead Key with about a 15 swing. (I think my SWR meter is a little out tho). During talking the radio dims a little bit but the other end hearing me has NO complaints about the quality of my transmission.
This is the fun part, SSB on the radio I think was previously tuned and does not sound right. When I talk into the radio it sounds like im over modulated. I thought that was the issue but when I calibrated it it looks like im PEAKING the radio at high 80's which is not great mod but definitely not over modulated. Im starting to think the poor radio is way overdriven and I am looking for the POD numbers to turn down my SSB a little bit so the radio doesn't dim so much. According to my Power meter im pushing almost 30w on SSB (again the power meter is from the 70's too so im assuming it's lieing). My SWR is 1.1 on the meter and 1.1ish on the radio.
The question I have is where do I get the service manual for this radio. I will put links of the pictures since ive not been able to find a working model number. Here is all the information I have from the Radio. What im looking for is an idea where to start.
1. What's the most mod/power I should push outa this thing on AM without harming it.
2. What's the most mod/power I should push outa this thing on SSB without harming it/starving it
3. Manual ??? Which Pods handle my SSB output I want to turn it down a little bit. People can hear me well but as soon as it trys to push out that extra little bit it sounds like im clipping. The front display lights almost completely dim on a whistle.
Thanks !!
Front
http://solosoft.org:81/gallery/v/Radio/Sears/IMG_0025_1_.jpg.html
Back
http://solosoft.org:81/gallery/v/Radio/Sears/IMG_0027_1_.jpg.html
If me opening the radio and taking a very high resolution picture would help in ANY way for sure I will do it.
Thanks guys ... I just don't want to break this old radio, and it looks like someone else played with it before.
I did a little more research and found this information.
Sears 663.38100050: <VR1-S Meter, VR2-Sq Range, VR4-Carrier Balance, VR4-AMC, VR6-ALC
VR7-RF Meter, VR8-Final Bias, VR9-Driver Bias, VR10-AM Power>
TX tune-up: SSB: L15, L40, L39, L38, L28
So ... what I understand from this VR1 pod is for my meter up in the front ? This RX/TX right ? How would you tune this is there a special way
VR2 Sq Range - Sounds like a Squelch range ???
VR4 Carrier Balance - What's this exactly for ?? Im assuming it's the power of my carrier on AM
VR4 AMC - No Idea lol
VR6 ALC - Sounds expensive lol ... no idea tho ...
VR7-RF Meter - I think this might be the meter up in the front
VR8 - Final - im assuming this is for my final power ???
VR9 - Driver Bias - ???
VR10 - AM Power - Makes sense right ?
SSB: L15, L40, L39, L38, L28
Im assuming those pods are for the SSB which is what im looking for, but there is no description of what they exactly do ???
Thanks guys ... if I find more information i'll keep posting it as I go ... Sorry guys im not the greatest at this but am definitely learning as I go. Any help would be great.
I got AM sounding sweet. The Radio pushes a 10w Dead Key with about a 15 swing. (I think my SWR meter is a little out tho). During talking the radio dims a little bit but the other end hearing me has NO complaints about the quality of my transmission.
This is the fun part, SSB on the radio I think was previously tuned and does not sound right. When I talk into the radio it sounds like im over modulated. I thought that was the issue but when I calibrated it it looks like im PEAKING the radio at high 80's which is not great mod but definitely not over modulated. Im starting to think the poor radio is way overdriven and I am looking for the POD numbers to turn down my SSB a little bit so the radio doesn't dim so much. According to my Power meter im pushing almost 30w on SSB (again the power meter is from the 70's too so im assuming it's lieing). My SWR is 1.1 on the meter and 1.1ish on the radio.
The question I have is where do I get the service manual for this radio. I will put links of the pictures since ive not been able to find a working model number. Here is all the information I have from the Radio. What im looking for is an idea where to start.
1. What's the most mod/power I should push outa this thing on AM without harming it.
2. What's the most mod/power I should push outa this thing on SSB without harming it/starving it
3. Manual ??? Which Pods handle my SSB output I want to turn it down a little bit. People can hear me well but as soon as it trys to push out that extra little bit it sounds like im clipping. The front display lights almost completely dim on a whistle.
Thanks !!
Front
http://solosoft.org:81/gallery/v/Radio/Sears/IMG_0025_1_.jpg.html
Back
http://solosoft.org:81/gallery/v/Radio/Sears/IMG_0027_1_.jpg.html
If me opening the radio and taking a very high resolution picture would help in ANY way for sure I will do it.
Thanks guys ... I just don't want to break this old radio, and it looks like someone else played with it before.
I did a little more research and found this information.
Sears 663.38100050: <VR1-S Meter, VR2-Sq Range, VR4-Carrier Balance, VR4-AMC, VR6-ALC
VR7-RF Meter, VR8-Final Bias, VR9-Driver Bias, VR10-AM Power>
TX tune-up: SSB: L15, L40, L39, L38, L28
So ... what I understand from this VR1 pod is for my meter up in the front ? This RX/TX right ? How would you tune this is there a special way
VR2 Sq Range - Sounds like a Squelch range ???
VR4 Carrier Balance - What's this exactly for ?? Im assuming it's the power of my carrier on AM
VR4 AMC - No Idea lol
VR6 ALC - Sounds expensive lol ... no idea tho ...
VR7-RF Meter - I think this might be the meter up in the front
VR8 - Final - im assuming this is for my final power ???
VR9 - Driver Bias - ???
VR10 - AM Power - Makes sense right ?
SSB: L15, L40, L39, L38, L28
Im assuming those pods are for the SSB which is what im looking for, but there is no description of what they exactly do ???
Thanks guys ... if I find more information i'll keep posting it as I go ... Sorry guys im not the greatest at this but am definitely learning as I go. Any help would be great.
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