Realistic TRC-89 300mW 3 Channel walkie-talkie.

Generally crystal controlled transmitters and receivers use crystals which are cut for frequencies which are not the operating frequencies because the frequencies are often multiplied to get the channels wanted. Also, crystals are cut to operate with specified load capacitance. It is not just a matter of getting "any ole crystal" for proper operation.

There are a couple of things you can try. One is to contact Radio Shack about this and the other is to contact a crystal manufacturer such as International Crystal Manufacturing (ICM) who may have the information necessary for the particular units you have and can possibly supply the right crystals.

Neil

These types of crystals are readily available on e-bay - if you get desperate, you can always just buy another walkie talkie (it may be cheaper than buying the crystals - you can generally get them for around $10).

There is a guy on E-bay that has tons

of the crystals that would appear to

fit your unit.  But, most of what he

has is the higher channels.  Most of

the low channels are gone, except for

channel 19. 

Also, there are zillions and zillions of

CB walkie talkies on E-Bay, and I

guess there always will be.

You can probably ask that crystal

guy if his crystals will fit your unit.

I got the same CB walkie talkie that

I had in 1967.  In perfect condition,

in the box, even with a holiday note

inside to the person who received it

origianlly as a gift back then.  And

all it was - was ten dollars. 

Neil has a good point too.  The

frequencies on the crystals do

not always match the CB channels -

you have to watch out for that one.

Bruce, The Dog Radio Group

Thanx guys. I figured I'd just have to buy some new ones, just kinda hoped I could fix them they were really good and kinda special to me.
It seems a shame to put em to rest for such a simple fix ya know. O and I've tried to contact radio shack and they say there too old for parts, and If I don't know what the right crystals are I can't just buy some off eBay. I'm stuck. LOL.

It is still worth a try to call ICM and talk to them. They are used to dealing with hams and others who call for help. I dealt with them years ago when I needed crystals for some computer equipment I was designing and they were able to meet my needs.

Neil

Hi Neil

Your old friend here. Been a really long time.

Definitely keep them.  In my collection

of radios are some that I still cherish -  

even though they don't work.   And sometimes

years and years have gone by until

I have restored some of these old 

treasures to operating status.

There has got to be a way to 

find you some crystals somewhere.

Bruce, The DOGRADIO Group 

International Crystal, suggested by Radio9Z, has helped me numerous times.

When we built the Big Talker shortwave transmitter they asked for a schematic diagram so they could determine what kind of crystal I needed, and it was perfect and is still working.

When I wanted to change frequency on my now defunct LPB AM Carrier Current transmitter they knew the exact type of crystal needed for those units.

I predict they will get you going.

I am almost certain that the crystals

you need are in HC-25/U holders.

Also, the transmit crystals are on 

the exact frequency of the CB channel.

For instance - channel 14 transmit is

27.125 MHz. 

The receive crystals are slightly different.

The holders are the same - but they are on

a slightly different frequency - they are 

down in the 26 MHz range.

Let me check that.

Be right back.

Bruce, The DOGRADIO Group

OK.  So here's a better example of

what I mean.  

CB channel 19 (probably the most

used trucker's channel in the U.S.)

is a better example to use here,

because I know all of the numbers.

(I think.)

A Channel 19 transmit CB HC-25/U

crystal is cut for 27.185 MHz, which 

is also the actual transmitting frequency. 

But an HC-6/U CB receive crystal for 

channel 19 is on 26.730 MHz.  (But the

radio will still be receiving channel 19

on 27.185 with this receive crystal.)

It's just the way things were made

back then.  Actually, the receive 

crystal is 455 kHz (or .445 MHz) below

the transmit crystal and this math 

arrangement will be the same for

any of the channels for the TRC-89.

I once had a Radio Shack walkie 

talkie that was very similar to 

yours.  It's long gone - but it 

was almost the same - 3 channels, 

but 3 watts instead of 300 mW.  

It also looked very very similar

to the TRC-89.  (I can't remember

the model number.)

I hope this helps - keep us posted and

if somebody else out there wants

to check my math that's OK with me.

There must be a few other dudes that

love the history of CB radio like I do.

In 1966, I was on CB with 100 mW and

my other passion was TV DXing.  The

other stuff came later.

Bruce, The DOGRADIO Group

Somewhere above, I said HC6/U, when

I really meant HC25/U.

Well, if you can't find any anywhere else,

Neil and Carl are right  - the crystal

manufacturing company can probably

help you.  But maybe you have a

little bit more info to go on. 

Bruce, The DOGRADIO Group

Okay so this is what I have gathered so far... They are model trc-89 21-1611 300mW 3ch  Walkie talkies. They use RX/TX type crystals. The crystals are removable and they came with channel 14 crystals wich the TX are at 27.125MHz and the RX are 26.670MHz and I believe they are set for FM transmition.hope this helps. Thank you. Also they support a rx/TX crystals from channel 1-40 and I have all the frequencys for them it doesn't have to be channel 14 but that's the channel they came with but there are holders for two more crystal sets. Ive contacted ICM and they said they need more info on the type of crystals they are.

Since you have exhausted other possibilities it is probably time to consider getting some "CB" crystals from internet sites if the price is right and plug them in and see if they work. All that you would lose is the $$ you spend if they don't work and if they do work then your problem is solved.

Your comment about FM transmission is interesting since as far as I am aware the modes used for CB are AM and SSB. This should not be a factor in the crystals used.

As a "conservator" of my electronic equipment I appreciate why you want to get these working and wish you luck in doing so.

Neil