I have two of these TRC-217 and they work well I had only to replace one with a new speaker in these realistiic Walkie Talkies and we were up and running with out problems as both are complete and are working well both have their own original box’s along with there original user manual and their own 2 battery blanks for each radio if using rechargeable and a plug pack and cigaret lighter chager However they have been packed away for some years now and when I last tested them back in 2018 thy are working both TX/RX but they may now need a tune up or there Electrolytic capacitors my need replacing now due to aging as thy came out in 1987 so that is 36 years ago. Thank you for you video on this as they are a great radio so have a good day your way.
I have a couple of the TRC-216, one operational and the other not, and keep a nice TRC-221 (1991) with 8 Li-ion 3000mAh AA batteries in my Jeep for emergency comms I modded an Astatic Road Devil mic for that sounds really good on it. I love the Realistic CB walkie talkies. Grew up watching them change through the years in the print catalogs.
The TRC-217 works really well because of the "range boost" feature, which is basically those aluminum side panels on the walkie-talkie. Your hand effectively becomes the ground plane by contact with those side panels. Any of the radio shack handhelds that have those side panels are great performers.
Hello Anthony KB2CWN Good to hear from you as regards these Realistic TRC-217 I have a few ways of hooking up power to them the first one is a AC plug pack with a 12 VDC output at 2 amp with the center pin on the male DC plug being positive and the out being negative. I find that this will run the Realistic TRC-217 with no problem and it will also charge the rechargeable batteries up very nicely and with out any AC line noise. I also have also a 12 VDC cigarette lighter adaptor as well along with one for using a 12 VDC bench power supply so that gives me 3 ways to have at lest a 12 VDC supply connected to it. I have given you some picture of what I have here seeing to that I do have two of these Realistic TRC-217 and I have made a few antenna adaptors for them as well so to hook up to the main antenna in the shack or on the car. The AC plug pack with a 12 VDC out at 2 amp gives great line filtering as there NO AC line noise in either of my Realistic TRC-217 in using his plug pack the AC Adapter model: SAG024F 4AU it by CWT by Channel Well Technology Hope this gives you some helpful ways Opps RUclips will not let me post these pictures to you
Today on local web i founded pair of trc-215 with 6 channel .. i buy this. I Have in my collection trc-217 .. are vintage but super in CB lifestyle retro life .. :) . Oldest is better than new like vine and violin .. Grettings from south Poland Adrian SQ9FCB. 73!!!
I have 2 TRC 216 units in very good condition. No battery corrosion. Tried using external power on them. I'm unable to receive any sound on either. When I press transmit the other unit acknowledges the signal but no audio. Any ideas?
I would open it up and spray some deoxit (tuner cleaner) around the channel selector, volume and squelch controls and speaker area. If that doesn't work, try to see if you can locate a cold solder joint anywhere. Lastly, if you have the equipment and are willing to spend the time start checked caps. To be honest, although mine work fine, they are only for display purposes. If something has gone wrong with them, its not worth the effort for me to try and troubleshoot these. They are old and there are plenty of them still on the market. Good Luck!
for some reason i ordered one from ebay the top black thing isnt on the antenna but i also have a trc-206 and on channel 14 when i talk through the trc-206 i can hear it on the 216 but if its the other way around the 216 doesnt transfer the audio to the 206 i cant hear it through thye 206
Something is obviously wrong with the 216. Sounds like it may be an alignment issue. The "black thing" your referring to is a booster for range. Has nothing to do with the transmitting frequency.
Thank you. I'm an old bridge painter and we used these back in the day. I want to use mine as a back up, redundancy, and would like to know the power amount to charge/power the radio.up. I'll continue my quest.... Do I say 73s, or 'over and out'?
Hello it's an old vid but Great information have a question,what type of power supply for home and one for the car and one to charge the batteries thanks a bunch Ray
What kind of external power cord can one use with the 217? I found one in a garage sale and trying to clean up the battery connectors from alkaline corrosion but would like to run them off of external AC or DC power.
@@KB2CWN Hi KB2CWN , i just got a 217 . Trying to get battery cover off , its on like a tank . On the ext power , is tip positive ? Thanks in advance .
They are super cool radios!! I have the 216 and the original antenna broke so I got a replacement eBay antenna. Doesn’t transmit. It will transmit on a external antenna via the side port. Any idea where to find a working replacement antenna? Thank you!
KB2CWN Ya mine is mint except the plastic on the “booster” broke. Using a external antenna defeats the purpose of a hand held radio. Just stay away from the eBay replacements.
I like these old vintage handhelds. I just bought a TRC-222 at a thrift store for $3.50. The audio on it is terrible though. Very hard to make out anything that’s being said. I’m not sure if there is something wrong with it or if I’ve just been spoiled by the performance of modern radio speakers.
I picked up two Realistic TRC-217 Radios and I'm trying to figure out what to use for an external antenna. These "Ext. Ant" jacks are not the typical jacks I'm used to, like PL-259 (I might have that number wrong). Do I need to get an adapter with an antenna? Also, do you happen to know the name of this type of "RCA style" jack? It's just like the Coaxial Out jack on the back of most DVD and Blu-ray players, but that's all I can figure out.
I do believe this is what you need. www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Female-UHF-Jack-SO239-to-Male-RCA-Plug-Adapter-with-Gold-Pin-RFA-8192-/262458452123?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286
@@KB2CWN Great . I use to plug in my old 23 channel Radio Shack Walkie Talkie (TRC 101B) to a 60 ft piece of Coax and to a half wave on my roof . It was great ! .
The speaker quit working on my 216. The speaker on the hand held mike doesn't work either. I plug in an external usb powered speaker and it works. I removed the front and rear covers and couldn't find anything but when I started putting it back together it started working and shaking bumping nothing stopped it. After I got it back together It quit again. I removed the covers again but tapping the speaker did nothing. I jumped the other speaker directly to the back of the 216s and the extra speaker works. I'm using a 3 amp power supply so that should be enough power. So where can I buy a speaker for this thing?
@@KB2CWN I've been looking and might have a few matches but.. mine says 0.3W If I can't find an exact match what is better, to go higher or lower on the wattage? And how far can I go away from the original wattage?
@@Sny734 Remember, the size of the magnet coincides with wattage. If the magnet is larger than what you have, it may not fit. ON AMAZON LOOK FOR THIS: uxcell 0.5W 8 Ohm 50mm Diameter Internal Magnet Speaker Loudspeaker 4Pcs I wouldn't go any bigger. For the price, its worth a try. Otherwise, look for a non working 216, and use it for parts Also try this www.unicornelex.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=38-1505&gclid=Cj0KCQiA962BBhCzARIsAIpWEL2i1UPII8y5CQxwVZAit1SoRXm3jzmcCRK7zhtoE6QiW9Z5M2PG6DoaAqpQEALw_wcB
At the time yes, it was a months worth of work to purchase one. I am sad that Radio Shack went bye bye. They had so many parts that I had used for years, which now you have to order everything online instead of driving 10 minutes down the road.
I have the same radio it's also in good condition I bought it on eBay every time I turn it on it has a very loud humming noise and then goes away after 30 seconds I thought I'd ask he might know what that is
That is really odd as I got your first contact to me as being Anthony Buonsanto on Wed, Mar 1, 1:01 PM so not sure whats going on here and seeing how RUclips will not let me forward this original contact back to you so you could see for yourself what is going on here. Any ways I do hope all the info was all of use to you so have a great day
I have two of these TRC-217 and they work well I had only to replace one with a new speaker in these realistiic Walkie Talkies and we were up and running with out problems as both are complete and are working well both have their own original box’s along with there original user manual and their own 2 battery blanks for each radio if using rechargeable and a plug pack and cigaret lighter chager
However they have been packed away for some years now and when I last tested them back in 2018 thy are working both TX/RX but they may now need a tune up or there Electrolytic capacitors my need replacing now due to aging as thy came out in 1987 so that is 36 years ago.
Thank you for you video on this as they are a great radio so have a good day your way.
Can you recommend which external 12 V DC power supply can be used with this TRC-217 to plug into a wall outlet?
I have a couple of the TRC-216, one operational and the other not, and keep a nice TRC-221 (1991) with 8 Li-ion 3000mAh AA batteries in my Jeep for emergency comms I modded an Astatic Road Devil mic for that sounds really good on it.
I love the Realistic CB walkie talkies. Grew up watching them change through the years in the print catalogs.
Those are beauties and better made and working than anything made today. Which one is better though?
The TRC-217 works really well because of the "range boost" feature, which is basically those aluminum side panels on the walkie-talkie. Your hand effectively becomes the ground plane by contact with those side panels. Any of the radio shack handhelds that have those side panels are great performers.
Yes, I know. I already explained that in the beginning of this video.
@@KB2CWN can you sell me the Realistic TRC-217 CB radio ?
I agree.
@@unitedstatesirie7431
No
Hello Anthony KB2CWN
Good to hear from you as regards these Realistic TRC-217 I have a few ways of hooking up power to them the first one is a AC plug pack with a 12 VDC output at 2 amp with the center pin on the male DC plug being positive and the out being negative.
I find that this will run the Realistic TRC-217 with no problem and it will also charge the rechargeable batteries up very nicely and with out any AC line noise.
I also have also a 12 VDC cigarette lighter adaptor as well along with one for using a 12 VDC bench power supply so that gives me 3 ways to have at lest a 12 VDC supply connected to it.
I have given you some picture of what I have here seeing to that I do have two of these Realistic TRC-217 and I have made a few antenna adaptors for them as well so to hook up to the main antenna in the shack or on the car.
The AC plug pack with a 12 VDC out at 2 amp gives great line filtering as there NO AC line noise in either of my Realistic TRC-217 in using his plug pack the AC Adapter model: SAG024F 4AU it by CWT by Channel Well Technology
Hope this gives you some helpful ways
Opps RUclips will not let me post these pictures to you
Thanks for the info, but my name isn't Anthony. Regards
Today on local web i founded pair of trc-215 with 6 channel .. i buy this. I Have in my collection trc-217 .. are vintage but super in CB lifestyle retro life .. :) . Oldest is better than new like vine and violin .. Grettings from south Poland Adrian SQ9FCB. 73!!!
I have 2 TRC 216 units in very good condition. No battery corrosion. Tried using external power on them. I'm unable to receive any sound on either. When I press transmit the other unit acknowledges the signal but no audio. Any ideas?
I would open it up and spray some deoxit (tuner cleaner) around the channel selector, volume and squelch controls and speaker area. If that doesn't work, try to see if you can locate a cold solder joint anywhere. Lastly, if you have the equipment and are willing to spend the time start checked caps. To be honest, although mine work fine, they are only for display purposes. If something has gone wrong with them, its not worth the effort for me to try and troubleshoot these. They are old and there are plenty of them still on the market.
Good Luck!
Thank you
for some reason i ordered one from ebay the top black thing isnt on the antenna but i also have a trc-206 and on channel 14 when i talk through the trc-206 i can hear it on the 216 but if its the other way around the 216 doesnt transfer the audio to the 206 i cant hear it through thye 206
Something is obviously wrong with the 216. Sounds like it may be an alignment issue. The "black thing" your referring to is a booster for range. Has nothing to do with the transmitting frequency.
How does the range of these radios compare to the range of a handheld CB with a rubber duck antenna?
Night and day. Rubber duck, maybe 2 miles from handheld to base radio. Telescoping antenna, over 5 miles handheld to base radio.
I have one. I can barely hear anyone on it.
Do people still use C.B’s?
Awesome
Thank you.
I'm an old bridge painter and we used these back in the day. I want to use mine as a back up, redundancy, and would like to know the power amount to charge/power the radio.up.
I'll continue my quest....
Do I say 73s, or 'over and out'?
Sorry, never used an AC adapter or charging unit. I believe they take 6 or 8 AA batteries.
@@KB2CWN thank you, it's 12 volt.
Hello it's an old vid but Great information have a question,what type of power supply for home and one for the car and one to charge the batteries thanks a bunch Ray
12 volt 12V DC Car Charger Power Suppy Cable Cord Cigarette Lighter Plug 5.5mm x 2.1mm
What kind of external power cord can one use with the 217? I found one in a garage sale and trying to clean up the battery connectors from alkaline corrosion but would like to run them off of external AC or DC power.
12v 2amp minimum wall wart or a 12v cigarette lighter plug. Same for the TRC-207
Your Welcome
@@KB2CWN Hi KB2CWN , i just got a 217 . Trying to get battery cover off , its on like a tank . On the ext power , is tip positive ? Thanks in advance .
@@timmygilbert1371
It should be positive on the tip.. I don't use one so I'm not sure. Sorry
@@KB2CWN Ok thanks for the reply . I saw a pic that showed tip as positive so i think im safe . lol
They are super cool radios!! I have the 216 and the original antenna broke so I got a replacement eBay antenna. Doesn’t transmit. It will transmit on a external antenna via the side port. Any idea where to find a working replacement antenna?
Thank you!
I have a non working 216 in mint condition. Unfortunately it doesn't work. Its all intact so I don't just have the antenna.
KB2CWN Ya mine is mint except the plastic on the “booster” broke. Using a external antenna defeats the purpose of a hand held radio. Just stay away from the eBay replacements.
@@KB2CWN can I get some help on the walk-in talkie
@@davidcalcagno4394
What help do you need?
I like these old vintage handhelds. I just bought a TRC-222 at a thrift store for $3.50. The audio on it is terrible though. Very hard to make out anything that’s being said. I’m not sure if there is something wrong with it or if I’ve just been spoiled by the performance of modern radio speakers.
I picked up two Realistic TRC-217 Radios and I'm trying to figure out what to use for an external antenna. These "Ext. Ant" jacks are not the typical jacks I'm used to, like PL-259 (I might have that number wrong). Do I need to get an adapter with an antenna? Also, do you happen to know the name of this type of "RCA style" jack? It's just like the Coaxial Out jack on the back of most DVD and Blu-ray players, but that's all I can figure out.
I do believe this is what you need.
www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Female-UHF-Jack-SO239-to-Male-RCA-Plug-Adapter-with-Gold-Pin-RFA-8192-/262458452123?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286
Do either of these WT's have a plug in for an extension antenna ?
Yes they do
@@KB2CWN Great . I use to plug in my old 23 channel Radio Shack Walkie Talkie (TRC 101B) to a 60 ft piece of Coax and to a half wave on my roof . It was great ! .
Are the antennas interchangeable? Will a trc-216 antenna work on a trc-217?
Well, if you take them completely apart, you'll find out. Im not about to attempt that, so I can't answer your question.
The speaker quit working on my 216. The speaker on the hand held mike doesn't work either. I plug in an external usb powered speaker and it works. I removed the front and rear covers and couldn't find anything but when I started putting it back together it started working and shaking bumping nothing stopped it. After I got it back together It quit again. I removed the covers again but tapping the speaker did nothing. I jumped the other speaker directly to the back of the 216s and the extra speaker works. I'm using a 3 amp power supply so that should be enough power.
So where can I buy a speaker for this thing?
Take a measurement and start with ebay. Im sure you can find something there. Otherwise Google is your friend.
Good Luck!
@@KB2CWN I've been looking and might have a few matches but.. mine says 0.3W If I can't find an exact match what is better, to go higher or lower on the wattage? And how far can I go away from the original wattage?
@@Sny734
Remember, the size of the magnet coincides with wattage. If the magnet is larger than what you have, it may not fit.
ON AMAZON LOOK FOR THIS:
uxcell 0.5W 8 Ohm 50mm Diameter Internal Magnet Speaker Loudspeaker 4Pcs
I wouldn't go any bigger. For the price, its worth a try.
Otherwise, look for a non working 216, and use it for parts
Also try this
www.unicornelex.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=38-1505&gclid=Cj0KCQiA962BBhCzARIsAIpWEL2i1UPII8y5CQxwVZAit1SoRXm3jzmcCRK7zhtoE6QiW9Z5M2PG6DoaAqpQEALw_wcB
@@Sny734
Did you get my last message to you?
@@KB2CWN Yes I know it has to be thin but I'm just wondering what affects higher or lower wattage would have as I haven't found a 0.3W yet.
It looks very modern, LCD is a rarity these days. It must have been expensive.
At the time yes, it was a months worth of work to purchase one. I am sad that Radio Shack went bye bye. They had so many parts that I had used for years, which now you have to order everything online instead of driving 10 minutes down the road.
I have the same radio it's also in good condition I bought it on eBay every time I turn it on it has a very loud humming noise and then goes away after 30 seconds I thought I'd ask he might know what that is
Couldn't tell you . Maybe a cap is on its way out
Yeah I'll have to take a look at the capacitors .thanks for the feedback
Where can u get the walkie talkie from?
Ebay
That is really odd as I got your first contact to me as being Anthony Buonsanto on Wed, Mar 1, 1:01 PM so not sure whats going on here and seeing how RUclips will not let me forward this original contact back to you so you could see for yourself what is going on here.
Any ways I do hope all the info was all of use to you so have a great day