There are little red dots on the edge of each knob. As a starting point, try these knob positions (starting from the knob on the left).. Adjust volume as desired. Adjust squelch all the way counterclockwise (no squelch). Adjust mic gain so the red dot is at the 12 o'clock position. Adjust mic gain so the red dot is at the 12 o'clock position. Adjust light dimmer as desired. Adjust RF Power with the red dot at the 12 o'clock position. Ignore talkback and clarifier for now. Now for the 5 little slide switches... Set all of them to the middle position. Now you should be able to operate transmit and receive.
This is a very good radio, but there are so many adjustment knobs that you can reduce its performance if you just blindly turn knobs. After you learn how the radio sounds and works with these average settings, play with each knob, adjusting a little and see what it does for your particular antenna setup. Do some "radio checks" with other CBers and find out what your best settings are. Also read the owners manual for guidance on what each knob does...especially mic gain (too low and you won't be heard, too high and you'll be garbled) and RF Power (to little and you won't reach out very far, too much and you'll overload local listeners). This is definitely not a beginners radio. But it is a lot of fun and will enable you to learn a lot.
Answers & Comments
There are little red dots on the edge of each knob. As a starting point, try these knob positions (starting from the knob on the left)..
Adjust volume as desired.
Adjust squelch all the way counterclockwise (no squelch).
Adjust mic gain so the red dot is at the 12 o'clock position.
Adjust mic gain so the red dot is at the 12 o'clock position.
Adjust light dimmer as desired.
Adjust RF Power with the red dot at the 12 o'clock position.
Ignore talkback and clarifier for now.
Now for the 5 little slide switches...
Set all of them to the middle position.
Now you should be able to operate transmit and receive.
This is a very good radio, but there are so many adjustment knobs that you can reduce its performance if you just blindly turn knobs.
After you learn how the radio sounds and works with these average settings, play with each knob, adjusting a little and see what it does for your particular antenna setup. Do some "radio checks" with other CBers and find out what your best settings are. Also read the owners manual for guidance on what each knob does...especially mic gain (too low and you won't be heard, too high and you'll be garbled) and RF Power (to little and you won't reach out very far, too much and you'll overload local listeners). This is definitely not a beginners radio. But it is a lot of fun and will enable you to learn a lot.