Questions about an RK56 I just bought

[Boll Weevil]

I've read a post telling about how Telex sold the Turner line to some other company and the mics no longer have near the quality sound they once had. Supposedly the way to tell was if it only said Turner on the back and not Telex. The mic I purchased today has an oval sticker on the front that reads "Roadking 56 Telex" and stamped on the back is "Turner Roadking". The manufacturers address is Roadking, Elizabethtown, PA. What exactly do I have? My 8 year old Roadking has no sticker or indetation on the front and reads Turner Telex on the back. It's in disrepair right noew but I was very pleased with the performance and I'm hoping to get the same results from the new one.

One more question: I also just purchased a Cobra 29 LX. I haven't yet warmed up to the display but I do like the features. Anywho, I was playing with the talkback using a Para Dynamics power/echo mic, the stock Cobra mic, and the new RK 56. The PD and the stock mic seemed to work fine but the RK56 was barely audible unless the mic was within 1/2" of my mouth. This was with dynamic and talkback level all the way up. Any ideas?

Thanks

[Z-MAN]

Its a low powered Cobra, what do ya expect? Its a NC mic, they do better on a radio that has more power.

[sonoma]

you have to have the rk56 mic right up to your mouth in most cases like Zman said it is a noise cancelling mic. the newer ones just do not have the audio the old ones had. the quality of the mic just is not there any more.

[MDYoungblood]

Both Z-Man and sonoma have it right. The new RK56's were made by "who knows" Chinese manufacturer for the Barjan Corporation. to be sold in the USA. Barjan was sold to another "who knows" company a couple of years ago, their products are still being sold under the Barjan name. If you have a Turner / Telex model, it has better than average noise rejection which means you need to almost eat the mic.

3's

Greg

[Savoirfaire]

It is amazing.

The Japanese were GREAT at taking what already exists and making it even better.



The Chinese mostly take everything and make it worse and that is what most of our politicians seem to want here on the shelves.




I know not the whole country is that way but everything I have bought has been junk.

73, Frank

[Ohio_359]

It is amazing.

The Japanese were GREAT at taking what already exists and making it even better.



The Chinese mostly take everything and make it worse and that is what most of our politicians seem to want here on the shelves.




I know not the whole country is that way but everything I have bought has been junk.

73, Frank

If you remember, the **Censored** only made junk in the beginning of their industrial revolution too.

It's probably the same thing the Germans said about us at one time.

[Night Crawler]

The PD and the stock mic seemed to work fine but the RK56 was barely audible unless the mic was within 1/2" of my mouth. This was with dynamic and talkback level all the way up. Any ideas?

Take the microphone element out of the stock mic and and use it to replace the one in the RK56

[Boll Weevil]

Thanks for the info. I do plan on having it peaked when I get a chance, just the modulation pot turned up and bench test, nothing major. If that doesn't help I'll just continue to use the 636 and add the Roadkrap 56 to my ever-growing collection of cb stuff.

It's bad enough that it's near impossible to buy American these days. Now we have to hope to find electronics that are not cheap knock offs of a product made in Japan.

[jessejamesdallas]

Depending on which board is in your Cobra 29LX, you can turn up the Talk Back by just soldering a jumper across the top of resister "R21 and R77"...This will make the Talk Back full volume when you turn it on...

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[Boll Weevil]

The PD and the stock mic seemed to work fine but the RK56 was barely audible unless the mic was within 1/2" of my mouth. This was with dynamic and talkback level all the way up. Any ideas?

Take the microphone element out of the stock mic and and use it to replace the one in the RK56

I was thinking about doing that. I might just bring them both to the cb shop and use the leftover stuff to practice becoming a cb technicianologist.

[dirtyjob]

if an amplified turner is what you seek, find an rk76

[Boll Weevil]

Depending on which board is in your Cobra 29LX, you can turn up the Talk Back by just soldering a jumper across the top of resister "R21 and R77"...This will make the Talk Back full volume when you turn it on...

Thanks for the tip. My concern was not so much the talkbalk but the performance of the mic. I think leaving it stock will be fine with a decent mic but it's nice to have this option if needed.

if an amplified turner is what you seek, find an rk76

I just want to be heard loud and clear as if I were standing next to the person I'm speaking to. I'm satisfied with the performance of my peaked 29 Classic with the Astatic 636 but have always liked the sound of the RK56. I'm losing faith in Turner since it seems hit-or miss as to what you are actually buying. Retailers will charge a premium for the name regardless of what is in the box.

[Night Crawler]

Crack that 56 open and see if there's padding in front of the mic element if there is take it out that might help.
That's the cheap way of making a microphone noise cancelling but it also reduces its sensitivity.

[Boll Weevil]

Crack that 56 open and see if there's padding in front of the mic element if there is take it out that might help.
That's the cheap way of making a microphone noise cancelling but it also reduces its sensitivity.

I considered doing that but decided to return it for a refund. As far as I'm concerned they are selling a RoadPro mic with a Turner sticker at a Turner price. My Astatic 636 sounds good and doesn't have the talkback issue so I'll stick with it for now.