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The Radio Shack 19-1210 is a VHF business-band mobile two-way radio that is suitable for use in MURS, the new license-free VHF radio service. For information about the BTX-127 (the handheld equivalent), see the BTX-127 page.
David Wild.

NEW! See below for more supplimental information from the Service Manual

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Setting a standard frequency and CTCSS


To set the frequency, turn the unit off, ensuring CTCSS is off. Open the small plate cover on the bottom using a screwdriver. Set the dip switches to "101010", hold down PTT on the microphone, then turn the unit on. Release the PTT. If the radio beeps once, you're good to continue. Set the channel that you want to set (on the front of the unit), then choose a dip switch setting from the following table. Then hold down and release PTT on the microphone. If the transciever beeps once, the frequency has been set correctly. Now set the dip switches to 000000 and close the cover.

Setting Frequency Name Setting Frequency Name
0000 151.625 RED DOT 1000 151.940 MURS 3
0100 151.700 - 0001 151.955 PURPLE DOT
0101 151.760 - 0010 154.570 MURS 4
0110 151.820 MURS 1 0011 154.600 MURS 5
0111 151.880 MURS 2

To set the CTCSS, turn the unit off, ensuring CTCSS is set to off. Open the cover plate on the bottom. Choose a dip switch setting from the table below, and then hold down PTT on the microphone whilst turning the transciever on. If you get a beep and the RX lights for about 2 seconds, you have been successful. Now set the switches to 000000 and close the cover.

Code Frequency Setting Code Frequency Setting Code Frequency Setting
- none 000000 14 107.2 001110 28 173.8 011100
1 67.0 000001 15 110.9 001111 29 179.9 011101
2 71.9 000010 16 114.8 010000 30 186.2 011110
3 74.4 000011 17 118.8 010001 31 192.8 011111
4 77.0 000100 18 123.0 010010 32 203.5 100000
5 79.7 000101 19 127.3 010011 33 210.7 100001
6 82.5 000110 20 131.8 010100 34 218.1 100010
7 85.4 000111 21 136.5 010101 35 225.7 100011
8 88.5 001000 22 141.3 010110 36 233.6 100100
9 91.5 001001 23 146.2 010111 37 241.8 100101
10 94.8 001010 24 151.4 011000 38 250.3 100110
11 97.4 001011 25 156.7 011001
12 100.0 001100 26 162.2 011010
13 103.5 001101 27 167.9 011011

Setting a non-standard frequency


The 19-1210 can actually be set to use pretty much any frequency between 150.775 MHz and 157.740 MHz. This frequency is programmed into an extra memory using the method outlined below. Note that all of the non-MURS frequences require a license for transmission. To perform this operation, you will need open the entire case, and locate the special "set" switch. The set switch is on top of the circuit board, about 4 inches from the front of the board and about 3 inches from the left side of the board. Don't press it yet, but when you do need to press it you can use a screwdriver to depress the top of the square button. Here are the instructions:
  1. Open the table below (it will open in a new window) and find the frequency you wish to use
    19-1210 Special Frequency Table
  2. Write down the six digits for Bank 1 and the six digits for Bank 2
  3. Turn the radio on
  4. Set the dip switches to the code you wrote down for Bank 1 (0=off, 1=on)
  5. Press the set button. You should hear one long beep
  6. Set the dip switches to the code you wrote down for Bank 2
  7. Press the set button. You should hear two long beeps. (If you hear three, something has gone wrong, so try again)
  8. Turn off the radio and reset the dip switches to their previous setting
The frequency is now programmed in the extra memory, which can be alternated with the frequency in channel 1. To switch from the standard frequency (set by the dip switches in the usual fashion) to the extra memory, flick dip switch 2 (second from left) on. Thanks to August Hoecker for information on the non-standard frequency setting

Further tweaks