Realistic Navaho TRC-457

[potter1]

what exactly does adjusting the modulation do? i'm pretty new to cb lol

[Pioneer621]

potter1,
PM me with your shipping address and I will send one to you. I could not find a regular one without the middle click, so I opened one of the ones I had & took the click out so it turns smoothly from one side to the other with NO click in the middle, I tested the pot & it works fine & was easy to do it to & looks like it will fit the 457 ok.

It is a used potentiometer, so if you do not want a used one I understand, but again, it works fine & I cleaned the solder off the pins & sprayed it with cleaner. Again send me a PM with your address & I will get it sent.

As for adjusting the power: the TX meter should change when adjusting the AM power control VR8, if you turn it down (clockwise) you should see the meter drop as well. These radios are not really setup to put out a ton of power, so I don’t recommend cranking that up, I would probably keep it about where it was at or at about 4 to maybe 5 watts carrier, whatever will allow 100% modulation.

If you do not have a set of watt-meters, then I would not really mess with the output power controls, I don’t recommend adjusting the CT7 SSB power without at least a set of meters. CT7 is a variable capacitor, so you need a non conductive tool to properly adjust that one.

As for the modulation control VR7: you want to set it to 100% modulation, which you would really need an oscilloscope to do properly. But you could probably turn it up some & still sound really good, get some checks from the locals possibly while making some adjustments

VR6 is the MIC gain, so you can set this to the point that best suits your microphone.

I hope this helps! Have fun!

Pioneer621

[Sporty Mike]

I'm glad this post has fired up responses to this radio, and it's chassis brethren!!!

I am totally enjoying my TRC-457, it is a great base radio!!!

It has incredible ears, and with the squelch all the way down, and the RF all the way up, if no ones talking, it's stone cold quiet!!!!

Great base, and trying to get a feel for SSB!!!

Mike

[Pioneer621]

See what you guys started, all this talk about these older radios I had to hook my 457 up & blow the dust out of it. LoL

Actually I leave it plugged in all the time as I use it for the clock in the room here! Just no MIC or antenna hooked up.

[Pioneer621]

I'm glad this post has fired up responses to this radio, and it's chassis brethren!!!

I am totally enjoying my TRC-457, it is a great base radio!!!

It has incredible ears, and with the squelch all the way down, and the RF all the way up, if no ones talking, it's stone cold quiet!!!!

Great base, and trying to get a feel for SSB!!!

Mike

Yeah they do have a good receiver in them! I was just listening to some locals & was about to say the same thing in my last post there a second ago. I think the receive is very close to that in my 2510’s.

I have always been pleased with this radio / 858 chassis, all around good playing radios in my opinion.

[Sporty Mike]

Yea, I'd say mine was $20 dollars well spent!!!


Mike

[Pioneer621]

Yea, I'd say mine was $20 dollars well spent!!!


Mike

Definitely a $20 well spent! I paid $20 for my TRC-458 in broken condition, for parts or to restore.

I traded my cousin something for the TRC-457 I have, I forget what it was as it was a long time ago, the 457 needed a little work & he just got a Cobra 2000 GTL so he did not need the 457. Wish I could remember what I traded him, but I have no idea.

Pioneer621

[Sporty Mike]

Yea, I love finding people who are not into the hobby, but happen to have old radios lying around, if you hit 'em at the right time they'll GIVE 'em to ya!!!!!

Nothing like "free"



Mike

[Lost Ram]

All this talk is going to make me break out the old Cobra Cam 89!!!!

[Pioneer621]

All this talk is going to make me break out the old Cobra Cam 89!!!!

You mean like this! I beat you to it, LoL. That’s getting older!

& there is my beat up 457 in the background.


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[Lost Ram]

All this talk is going to make me break out the old Cobra Cam 89!!!!

You mean like this! I beat you to it, LoL. That’s getting older!

& there is my beat up 457 in the background.


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Mine is just like it!!!! I have added an echo/reverb board to mine, its dead center of the PA switch and dynamic mic dial. It been jacked up with a different final and such but, I also have one that is bone stock. Not sure what it is about those Cam 89's but I like EM!!!!! I see have changed the light color or the rubber filter that fits around the the light to change the color.
Speaking of Realistic, I have an old Navajo with the slide controls instead of knobs around here somewhere.

[Pioneer621]

All this talk is going to make me break out the old Cobra Cam 89!!!!

You mean like this! I beat you to it, LoL. That’s getting older!

& there is my beat up 457 in the background.


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Mine is just like it!!!! I have added an echo/reverb board to mine, its dead center of the PA switch and dynamic mic dial. It been jacked up with a different final and such but, I also have one that is bone stock. Not sure what it is about those Cam 89's but I like EM!!!!! I see have changed the light color or the rubber filter that fits around the the light to change the color.
Speaking of Realistic, I have an old Navajo with the slide controls instead of knobs around here somewhere.

Yeah, those CAM 89’s are old school radios, but they play real good!

The original lights were burnt out when I got it, so I threw some blue L.E.D’s in there to light it up.

I got the Cobra CAM 89 at a hamfest I think in 2006, it was in a box with an old Royce 1-621 base, Cobra 2-amp or something power supply, I think another small power supply, & a Turner Super Sidekick desk MIC, maybe something else but I don’t remember. I asked him what he wanted for some of the stuff & he said $20 for the whole box, so I took it all.

All the lights were burnt out & the internal power supply needs some work, & I still have not got around to finishing it off, I can fix it ok & I think I have all the parts to do it, just got to get around to it. I just run it through the 13.8vDC jack to use it currently. Other then that I just tuned it up & installed the lights & it has been in the closet pretty much for the last couple years, I always got good reports on it though!

I have never had the Navaho with the slide knobs, just the round ones. I think the only Realistic bases I have had are the TRC-457 & TRC-458, I can’t remember if I had any others at the moment, I don’t thinks so anyway.

I have had a lot of different radios so it is hard to remember what all it is. It is amazing how much stuff you can collect in this hobby, but I have a lot of fun with it all!

[Eagleman]

HEY SPORTY MIKE, CHECK THIS OUT....... [Please login or register to view this link] ,,Hope its helpful to ya! Dave

[Sporty Mike]

Yea, thanks Eagleman!!!!

I've read that one a couple times allready!!

Hey, lovin all the input, and love for these old radios!!

Kepp it comin!!!

Mike

[Pioneer621]

Sporty Mike,

What MIC are you running on your TRC-457? Did you get the stock RS MIC with it or are you running a different type, just curious.

[Night Crawler]

Hey, lovin all the input, and love for these old radios!!

That's not an old radio this is an old radio!
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[Lost Ram]

I had a very old working tube radio, it was a Knight 3 channel radio. You had to tune it in. Kinda neat!!! Not sure what happened to it? I have not see it in years.

[Night Crawler]

I remember the Knightkits you had to build them or for an extra charge they came assembled.

This was my first cb that my parents got me for a Chirstmas present in 1965.
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It only came with channel 11 if you wanted more channels you would have to add crystals.

[Lost Ram]

Mine had all three crystals in place. Had 10, 11, and 12 if I remember right. Seems like the mic had a 1/4" type jack. The locals said it had low audio and signal LOL. It was neat to hook up every now and then.

[Eagleman]

AFTER YOU GET THE TRC-457, TELL US HOW YA LIKE IT!!! Dave

[Sporty Mike]

Well, the TRC-457 was working great, until today.

I don't know what happenned, but today I totally lost all TX on it. I was talkin to a local and went to answer him, and I noticed NO swing.

That was it, no more TX, if you key it up on sideband it starts clicking and the lights flash like somethings shorting out!!

Oh well, back to my old reliable Cobra 25 till I get it straightened out, can't be off the air, you know.


Frustrated,
Mike

[Foxhunter]

Some of online reviews of the radio seem to be pretty favorable on the Realistic Navaho TRC-457 and it's sister unit the Realistic Navaho TRC-458. They're a fairly sought-after base radio and many guys like them, although I'm sure you'll find a few who don't see it that way and might have their reasons why. I'd like to see what the negatives are on this pair myself, from curiosity. But many have good reports on them. I've never used mine yet, but do have one. If it works and you got it at a good price, try it out and tell everyone what you think.

Foxhunter 351 NJ

The TRC-457 is a Uniden made radio, back in the day this was probably the most famous marketed radio they had. With a little work this can be a great sounding Vintage radio. I have always liked firing up my Vintage radios!!

Thank you and that's very true it is a Uniden chassis radio, one of the better boards at that. I have one Realistic TRC-457, and two Realistic TRC-458 radios. Haven't yet tried out the TRC-457 and one of the TRC-458's most likely has a blown final but can't wait to get them on-air sometime during the Spring or Summer! We'll have to see what happens but look forward to it, as said they have a great reputation. Here's a couple photos of mine below

Realistic Navaho TRC-457
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Realistic Navaho TRC-458
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Both Realistic Navaho TRC-458 radios
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Hey, lovin all the input, and love for these old radios!!

That's not an old radio this is an old radio!
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Now that's true and I've always loved the Retrocom website. Now I do have a 6-Meter version of that radio you linked to on there Night Crawler, it's a similar looking Lafayette HE-45B. I also have a very similar Lafayette HE20T CB and also an ancient Knight CB tube rig (can't remember model offhand) like you guys talked about. I guess some guys still like these really old rigs. Honestly I've never gotten to trying any of the one's I mentioned above out, save the Knight which does warm up but no RF output (never tested it with a known good mic though) but all tubes light up nicely.

Lafayette HE20T
[ external image ]

Well, the TRC-457 was working great, until today.

I don't know what happenned, but today I totally lost all TX on it. I was talkin to a local and went to answer him, and I noticed NO swing.

That was it, no more TX, if you key it up on sideband it starts clicking and the lights flash like somethings shorting out!!

Oh well, back to my old reliable Cobra 25 till I get it straightened out, can't be off the air, you know.


Frustrated,
Mike

Hate to hear you're having problems with it already, but it's been sitting a while probably and might need some attention to get it in good operating condition. After only spending $20 purchasing it (I paid $45 for a non-working TRC-458!) it would still be well worth having it looked at and repaired. If put back into good condition, it'll probably make a really fine home base radio. Now I wrote about similar trouble that I was having myself with my nearly identical (inside) TRC-458, and maybe you'll find something useful in the thread link below about it . . .



Realistic TRC-458 Problems -- Relay Chatters No TX
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REALISTIC CB RADIOS


I'd encourage ANYONE interested in some of the finer Realistic radios such as the Navaho we're talking about in the thread here to also pay a visit to the following thread here linked to below. There's plenty of good information and photos of quite a few really fine Realistic CB radios found here . . .


Radio Shack Realistic TRC "Hidden Gems" of CB Radios
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Foxhunter 351 NJ

[Sporty Mike]

Thanks Foxhunter!! I read and replyed to the other thread you linked me to.

Maybe between these two threads we can figure it out!!

I really like that 457 and would love to get it straight, but I don't wanna have to spend a fortune to do it, you know.

But the one I have is doing EXACTLY the same as your 458, so maybe we'll get 'em straightened out, with the help of the CBRT!!!

Thanks,
Mike

[Foxhunter]

No problemo and also wrote a reply over there in the 458 thread for you. Hope it gets 'er done!

[unit 205]

mike , i have one sitting on my radio table . i bought one new many years ago and i think its one of the best ssb bases .hated to trade it for a siltronix 1011c , but found this one on ebay a few years ago . over time it seems that the segments in the clock go out . it has the great 858 chip which is easy to do mods with . its made by uniden , enjoy , i do mine !