Uniden Grant LT mod/tune

WHY ?

I use one as my base the only mods worth going are changing the 2sc1674 to a 2sc2229 .... and a channel guard filter.

This radio is very good on SSB and few CB are ...... also this radio is LEGAL .....

Otherwise go buy a export and sound like everyone else .......

 

It's the receiver RF stage this mod is a very common one used in many radios and will make a 1 s unit inprovement in the receiver and help a lot in hearing signals near the background noise.

 

I have worked in 2 way radio since 1967 when I finshed 4 years of electronics school.

This is how I view MOST cb shops ...

They have to make a buck we all do and to do that they will do things to radios that are ILLEGAL and even distructive to the radio. Again not all but many of them. And the "MODS" they want to do are simply not needed many are not going to gain you anything a good amp could not do yet some mods are good.

Changing the 2sc1647 RF transistor to a 2sc2229 and the NB diodes to faster ones realy DOES help ..... cliping out the audio limiter does not ... if you want more audio get a preamp mike.

The GRANT LT is one fine radio right out of the box ....

 

I have been modding and building radios for the last 15 years so when i say the following you can be sure it is based on experience. Your wasting your money on this radio! This is nothing like the old Grant XL and even after all of these mods your not going to be happy with it. I know,I've built 3 of these and it's always been a disappointment. You would be much much better off throwing the LT in the trash and getting an older XL,then after you mod it you WILL have a really nice sounding,strong radio that you can be proud of. The LT just will not do much power,much modulation even after mods and the receive is not the best in the world. Even on SSb these things suck big time compared to an older 148 or Grant XL.
Not telling you this to be an A hole,just thought you may want to know the deal before you wast your money. In my humble opinion,this is the worst radio Uniden has ever built and over the last 15 years that i have been in this Hobie,i have seen some really poor radios. That one is on the top of the list,dont wast your money!



But if you refuse to follow my advise then as far as your mods goes.
#1.Get the digital echo board.the same type that are used in the Magnum radios,they sound really really good.

#2.A variable talk back is a good mod. You could either use one of the knobs on the front of the radio or have them drill a hole in the back or the side of the radio for it. If the shops does it correctly then you should be very happy with it.

#3.A grant LT after a good tune up will do around 15 watts so your not going to see anything more with just an extra 5 watts. >REMEMBER THIS< If any shop tells you that they can get more that 20 watts out of one,with the stock final in it then they are telling you a lie! The only way they could do this is to make the radio over modulate and that in turn would cause a Dosy meter to show you more power but the radio WILL END UP SOUNDING LIKE CRAP! You can do the Mosfet mod to this radio and end up with maybe 30 watts or so but you will still hate the receive of the radio,power is not everything!

#4.Variable power is a good mod as well just dont go to low on your dead key. I dont care what ANY CB shops tells you but you do not want a radio that is all swing. Say a 1 watt key swing to 20+ watts will have you sounding over modulated and distorted,unless you turn the mike gain back and then whats the point? Have the shop set the key at no less than 2 watts then once you get it in the truck get a radio check from some other than the CB tech and adjust the key up to get the best sound quality..... oh and you will never hurt any amp that you would ever use with this radio using a 2 to 3 or even 4 watt key. That swing crap is nothing but BS.

#5.Don't wast your money doing any kind of receive mods other than a good tune. When you do mods to the receive,with the kits i have seen,you either end up with a receive that picks up massive amounts of noise or one that you cant hear anyone unless their within a few miles of you.

If your going to spend the money to have a radio built the way you want it and you want to have a "BIG RADIO" then let me run this by you. Find your self a older Cobra 29 or Uniden PC76,the older the better. Philippine or Taiwan built or the betters ones with the Chinese built coming in last. Stay away from the sound trackers and nightwatch radios,these are all junk! Find a shop that will do the digital echo board install,variable power and talk back. Then have the mosfet final upgrade done to the radio. After all of this you will have at least a 40 watt radio that will make the other truckers want one and would blow that LT away in every way!

If you want a "big radio that sounds good but wont blow someone out of their seat (meaning clean and not over modulated) then find an older 148 or Grant XL.Have all the mods you want done to it but MAKE the CB shop set the modulation for no more that 100% and you will end up with a very very good sounding radio that is not distoreted or over modulated. The older 148's and Grants are not desired by people becasue of the power they do but because of the high quality of sound you get from one, both tranmit and receive as well. Thats why i say if you want the big radio at the truck stop then have a 29 or 76 built the way you want it.

You do know that after all the money you spend on for mods you could have gotten a Galaxy or Connex 33HP for the same price?

 

"#5.Don't wast your money doing any kind of receive mods other than a good tune. When you do mods to the receive,with the kits i have seen,you either end up with a receive that picks up massive amounts of noise or one that you cant hear anyone unless their within a few miles of you."

My GRANT LT has no problems NONE ..... this is why it is my base radio so maybe they bought them from several sorces but mine runs along with the ham radios when ever the radios are on. Im not shure what problems you found but the 7.8mhz IF is image free and stable.

The 2sc1674 to 2sc2229 mod and the diode mods WORK otherwise I AGREE !!!!! leave the receiver alone .... I also added a channelguard filter it is very good at cutting down on out of channel stations and splatter.

On mine MEASURED on a IFR-1200s was a 6 DB gain with no increase in the radio noise floor.

REMEMBER THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT OR LICENSE NEEDED TO FIX CB SETS ....... and few shops have really good equiptment.

 

Point i was trying to make is that compared to the older XL Grants, the LT is nothing but a very poor copy of one of the best CB radios ever built. from the factory the receive is not as resistant to outside interference and the modulation and power output of the LT is much less than the XL, even after modification. I also believe that the audio quality of the LT compared to the XL is less than desirable having heard both on SSB as well as AM.

When one bought a new XL all that was needed to have an outstanding performer on not only SSB but AM as well was nothing more than a good going over to insure that everything was aligned to factory specs.The LT's on the other hand, even after extensive mods were no better than a basically stock XL!

WA4GCH,I do understand where your coming from. But from a truckers point of view,one that wants that big radio sound,your just not going to get that from an LT. I know,I've tried!

 

Your only allowed 4 watts .....

After doing the 2sc2229 mod and adding a channel guard my radios MEASURED on a $15,000 test station worked as well as my ft-840 both in noise floor and channel rejection.

This is why it sits in my station for my CB radio.

I don't have a XL to do a one on one with so i will take your word as to what one will do .....

 

Sure,4 bird watts