| Author |
Message |
    
Flyingwolf
New member
Username: Flyingwolf
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:09 pm: | 
|
So what exactly can be done to this radio.
Have it setting here and am thinking to my self. What can I do to this little guy.
So whats up. I see no threads on here for this particular model so I was hoping someone had some experiance with it. If so please enlighten me. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 4948
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:19 pm: |
|
Flyingwolf,
WELCOME TO THE COPPER FORUM!
All of the Tune Up information that I have on the Uniden Pro538W is listed in the Modification List.
It is locate to the Laft of the forum here.
Tools
Mic. Wiring
Frequency Chart
CB & Ham Lingo
Modification List
Just Click on Modification List then under Make scroll down until you see Uniden and then under model scroll down until you see Pro538W.
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
|
Flyingwolf
New member
Username: Flyingwolf
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 8:24 pm: |
|
Son of a gun. Had mozilla setup and came here from a google link. Never even knew the menu was over there. Thanks alot.
Though now that I have seen what the mods are I do have some questions on what they do. There is only a couple and I am not sure on what each one does. Where would be the best forum to ask these particular questions?
tech note
this is by far the best forum and most informative group you will find on the net!so ask away. |
Flyingwolf
New member
Username: Flyingwolf
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 1:14 am: |
|
Ok wel as there is only a couple of mods that can be done it wont hurt to ask them all here.
Well bassicly I am new to this area. Electronics I am good at, want a computer built from scratch I'm your guy. CB I am not a whiz by any definition.
So I guess I am asking.
What does each mod do and what are the pluses / negatives of each.
Thanks for the help. |
Flyingwolf
New member
Username: Flyingwolf
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 1:29 pm: |
|
Ok since we cant edit here let me ask a couple more specific questions.
While looking at the radio and reading the mods area I naturally came up with some questions.
1. Under modulation it says cut D-12. I found D-12 and I know I am supposed to cut it. My question is. What does it do. All it states is modulation. So what will this do for me?
2. It states AM Power. L-10 and L-11. I am guessing I am to cut those two. Ok fine. But what will this do? I assume that it states it will boost my power output. Currently of course it runs at 4 watts standard. So by cutting these two will I get more power I am guessing? And if so how much power? |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 336
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 7:06 pm: |
|
OK it says "cut d-12" well a lot of people will argue that you shouldn't!!! D-12 is the modulation limiter, sure limiter sounds like a bad thing but it is realy a good thing it is there so you don't go over 100% modulation and sound all fuzzy and distorted and bleed all over the place. As far as l-10 and l-11, just tune them, they are variable get the right tools (NOT METAL SCREW DRIVERS) and tune them for maximum output.
Also just a little extra info...
Being a guy that can repair a radio and build a computer, let me tell you they are two entirely different things. When your sound card goes bad, you don't find out what part is bad, replace it, then re-tune, you just replace the sound card. It's a whole different world but I am sure you'll enjoy it!!!
BC |
Kid_vicious
Intermediate Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 226
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 9:38 pm: |
|
flyingwolf, welcome to the addiction, er, i mean hobby.
do not "cut" diode 12. if you choose to try this mod; unsolder one leg of the diode so that you can solder it back later if you dont like the results. this part is the modulation limiter, sometimes referred to as the AMC. its job is to limit your modulation (talking) to 100%. if this part is removed, your radio will produce a dirtier signal as seen on an oscilloscope. you may sound louder to the person receiving, but you might also sound muffled, garbled, or just plain annoying. all cb radios have this part in them, but they all respond differently when it is removed. i actually like the sound of my 2000gtl with the limiter removed. i also turn the mic gain down and dont eat the thing while talking. you will not ahrm your radio by removing this part, but be sure to leave yourself the option of putting it back in if you dont like the sound of it, or if someone you trust tells you it sounds worse than before.
L10 and L11 are tuning coils that control the output power (watts) of your radio. tuning them can bring the power up maybe a watt or so, which is not noticable (trust us!) on the receiving end.
on the newer radios such as yours, these coils are usually filled with an epoxy to keep them from rattling around and detuning. (most cb'ers believe its meant to keep their grubby paws out of the radio, and it might be true to some extent.) if i were you i would leave these coils alone. most of us have numerous stories of breaking the ferrite slug inside, and good luck finding a replacement.
you might be thinking by now, "whats the point of listing these mods if youre not sopposed to do them?" well, my friend, the answer to that one is a long debated subject. we all started out clipping limiters and tuning TX (transmit) coils, after a while of that you find that there are better options and they all start with finding a good radio to begin with. i would bet that plenty of people on this forum are using good quality, barely modified equipment. that being said, we all have to start learning somewhere, and i say garage sale radios are the way to go. you can find plenty of junk radios out there, just dont pay more than $10.00 for them and you wont feel bad when it goes up in smoke. most of us have thrown away more junk mobiles than we'd care to admit. find out by searching this forum which older radios are the best for modifying and when you run across one; DONT MESS WITH IT! keep it for a while and read EVERYTHING you can find about it. plan how you want to mod it. make sure you have paid your dues with the cheap radios and do it right the first time.
BTW, since you are new to the hobby, may i ask how much you understand SWR? i dont mean any offense, but if this is not right, nothing else you try will work. please keep the questions coming, (always search first though), and in no time you'll be posting things like this:
i have a uniden pro538w and i want to drive a linear with it. do any of you techs out there know how to lower the dead key on this radio? also looking for an NPC mod for it.
(IM SERIOUS GUYS, I NEED THIS INFO. MY DAD HAS ONE OF THESE RADIOS AND HE'S TIRED OF GETTING KEYED ON!)
take it however you can get it!
matt |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 337
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 11:18 pm: |
|
Matt:
DITTO! Perfect post  said it way better than i did!
BC
PS Speaking of tuning coils, couldn't you tune it down via those? Just a thought |
Kid_vicious
Intermediate Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 229
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 9:48 pm: |
|
bc, thank you very much. i dont mind making long posts if i think that others will find them in their searches.
i could be wrong, (i am a lot), but im under the impression that detuning these coils will cause downward modulation. in the sams manuals that i have, they tell you to set the radio in SSB mode when tuning these coils so that they are peaked when modulated. maybe one of the techs on here can shed some light on this subject for us.
im guessing that the mod is similar to what is usually done to a cobra 29ltd to lower its dead key. not that the boards are similar but the idea is the same.
matt |
Flyingwolf
New member
Username: Flyingwolf
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 7:09 pm: |
|
Wow. Thats a good bit of info to sift through. Seems like I may leave this radio the way it sits for now. Doesnt seem like any internal mods will give me any more usability when it comes to it.
As for welcoming me to the hobby. Well Im kinda already in there.
Own a BCIII, Pro 92 Pro 28 and looking to grab a Pro-96 or BC396 when it comes out this summer. Live in a completely digital APCO 25 area. So have to go the way of the 500 dolalr scanner to hear anything.
Have always been a listener. Going for my tech license in a couple of weeks. Im up to 19 WPM morse so no problems when I go for the general.
As for the question about SWR. Quite familiar. Let out a bit of magic blue smoke in my first endeavors before sitting dowm and reading the ARRL bible.
This looks to be quite an informitive board.
I will definatly be asking plenty of questions and hope I dont annoy too much.
Thanks for the welcome. I am afraid I am already addicted. My wife hates that we live within a short distance of 2, count them 2, goodwill/resale shops that have no clue about the actual value of the radio equipment they get in.
Had a nice phantom linier amp in there the other day. To bad all the tubes were destroyed and the radio was completely trashed. But the chassis was nice. Decided not to pick it up though.
And yep you guessed it. Im a young one (25).
So I guess I will keep asking questions and learn as much as I can.
Thanks.
Jim
Semper Fi |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5029
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 7:18 pm: |
|
SEMPER FI!
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Kid_vicious
Intermediate Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 241
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 12:12 am: |
|
theres another post about this radio here and it says the mod limiter is Q15. would either one work? which is better?
matt |
