CBRadioBB.com - modify a Uniden PRO 520XL

[fucker6661]

THANKS FOR THE TIP

[RadiosAreMyHobby]

In all honesty getting a talkback is useless. Unless you like squealing very loudly!

[panosalitis]

If your radio is squealing after adding talkback, you might want to increase the value on the resistor. using too low of a value will cause extremely loud talkback resulting in feedback. Talkback is not useless at all, it's great if you want to set your echo/effects or, if you're like me, want to listen to your voice when you talk.

[beast6228]

If you modify a radio like this it certainly won't last very long. These radios audio transistors and final amplification circuits are not made to handle excessive input voltage. In other words, in order to run more power and modulation, you'll need to upgrade the final and the audio chip. I spent 20+ years working in a cb shop and seen thousands of blown cheap radios because some idiot opened the audio limiter circuit.

[panosalitis]

I've got a few friends that use this radio with this particular mod done to it going on 2 years of operation. Smoke hasn't escaped yet. What do you mean by 'very long'?

[andrewgeorgelang]

Hi i just did the talk back mod, that works.

I then lifted one side of D203 off the board.

Then I spread coils apart like the video shows, meter only shows around 5 watts. What happend? How do I up the power now?

[panosalitis]

You want to use a peak reading meter to read PEP watts. You are most likely using an average reading meter. The deadkey will be around 5 watts after this mod and most 520s will do about 20 PEP.

[andrewgeorgelang]

I just got a brand new 520xl opend it, preformed the mods in the video. Did use a ex-meter, got around 2 watt increase? What the hell happend??

[panosalitis]

Check your other comment

[KevCal510]

it worked on my 510xl.

[panosalitis]

Awesome, thanks for the info.

[MooseBaker]

Whats this mod do?

[panosalitis]

This modification will increase the power output of your radio from 4W average, 10W PEP to about 5W average and 20W PEP.

[Deevius1]

If I were to actually do this illegal mod. and rolled the dice right.. I would pound 8/9s all day into bases 27mi. away with a 3' Wilson!

[dapwn3ritswatido]

why is it illigal to modify a CB radio? whats the harm?

[panosalitis]

There is a 4W limit set by the FCC. Modifying a CB radio causes it to bleed on adjacent channels and sometimes even bands.

[emersonburris69]

will this work on a 510xl?

[cbradiotechman]

what is a deadkey???

[panosalitis]

Deadkey is the carrier. Google it.

[BurningTirez]

I had my older uniden 68 peaked and tuned a while ago, im not even sure what was done to it but it has a cap and resitor in it. Nothing was clipped though. dont even know how good it was done, but I must say it sounds great. Its very loud but still crystal clear so something must have done right. Swinging to 23 watts.

[panosalitis]

Yeah, dropping the carrier will definitely make any radio loud and is great if it's paired up with an amplifier but no reason to do so if you are running barefoot.

[thecobraman]

am verry sorry but this mod

is not at all good for

the radio at all

,,,good for Spurious emmissions

sorry

[panosalitis]

im sure it's not the best mod in the world, but its definitely an improvement over stock. Anyone who wants to modify this radio isn't gonna go to the trouble and cost of buying all the equipment. This is better than nothing for most people.

[fred30680]

Nice Video, I have the pro 510 XL not the same as the 520.

[outlawlane]

@ panosalitis- How 'exactly' are you reading the meter @ 1:43 - 2:00 to read the output? I have the same meter, have read the manual, and searched, but haven't found much except a view reviews that talk about the accuracy of the power meter function.. Nothing much on how to read it.. tnx! 73

[panosalitis]

You are looking at the top line of the 'Power' scale (which is on the bottom). since it's in the 200W range, jut knock a '0' off the numbers. Same with the 2000W range except you read the actual numbers. The 20 watt range uses the bottom line.

[flecjl]

You were running the on 13.8v and getting 15-20W out of it, but What kind of wattage would you get if it was running on about 12.3v?

and thanks for the tutorial.

[panosalitis]

I doubt you would see much difference unless you went well below 12v

[RadioCalvin]

Hello Panosalitis!

I have a Uniden pro 510 xl and I want to get the peak wattage (as you did on this pro520xl)

I cut D14 but my power meter still shows 4 watts.

What can I do?

Thank you very much for your help,

Radio Calvin.

[dr07828]

LOL @ law abiding mud duck

[MikeGTR1983]

Muza zryta niemilosiernie.

[RadioCalvin]

Hello Panosalitis!

Could you please tell me what to do on my pro510 xl?

What is the modulation limiter? (I can't find any D203 on the pro 510 xl)

Thank You!

[bigfoot355]

the audio limiter is D14

[panosalitis]

This is a different board and there is no D14 on this one. You must have the older version.

[luisromeromonro]

Do you have the 520xl schematics..? if you have it send me a copy please...

Thank you..

[panosalitis]

No I don't, sorry.

[yungtrucker16]

whats the best radio out right now? a galaxy DX98VHP? thats what tryna get..can a good robot voice with them?

[panosalitis]

The best radios are the ones that are the cheapest and sound the best. For me, that would be any old cobra or uniden. Just make sure your antenna is tuned right otherwise it wont make a difference how 'good' your radio is.

[choab]

uniden 68 and 78 are outstanding radios with some modification, any good echo board can do a robot voice

[computerdude556]

does it work with a Uniden PRO 510XL?

[panosalitis]

did you read the description?

[csk0425]

(Part 1) Unless you are willing to buy an O-Scope, a real set of shielded meters, A decent DVOM, a 2 tone signal generator, A 10 frequency counter, It wouldn't make much difference. Unless you have the proper equipment, Most attempts at "peaking" a radio will be just guesswork, and that usually ends up with a radio that appears to be putting out more wattage than it really is. I am not trying to diss anyone, but the reality is there is a lot more than just turning pots, cutting diodes.

[panosalitis]

you are absolutely right, but most CB'ers wont go out and buy all that stuff just to tune a few of their radios, nor would they pay some hack $60 for something they can just do themselves. The reality is that even tho the wattage isn't clean, its still an improvement from a stock radio. It sure sounds that way to me and that's the bottom line. That's what's fun with CBs :) i wouldn't hack up any of my HF radios like that!

[stupa55]

Great Job :)

I will try this at my U520XL :D

[panosalitis]

Thanks, let me know how the modification goes and what your wattage is.

[csk0425]

I don't know where you "CB'rs " are getting your info, But spreading the coils that wide simply causes spurious emmissions which make unshielded (inexpensive) meters read false readings. Try googleing cb meters and what frequencies outside of 26~28 Mghz will do to readings. You can get 15~20 watts from that radio, but not by simply cutting the diode and turning a pot, ...... REDEYE

[panosalitis]

Why don't you make a video and show us "CB'rs" how to do it the right way?

[csk0425]

Panosalitis, unless you have the proper equipment, (O-Scope, 2 tone signal generator, DVOM, Shielded RF Meter, etc it is just guesswork when you start turning pots, spreadin coils and clipping diodes. The reality is that most hack truck stops do these Miricle Peaks" to get fast money. I am not trying to diss you or any other CB enthusiest, really... I am happy to see people in CB radio again! Spurious emmissions is a term that means while you are TX'ing on 27.1850 ( see part 2)

[KajunOwns]

i bet that dude is some HAM that thinks hes a RF genius he probably got a tech license out of a cracker jack box and memorized his questions to the general and is gonna learn us "CB'ers" a thing or two lol typical of a lid

sincerely a ham who still is a "CB'er" by the way excellent mod on the uniden