Pro 510XL FREE power upgrade and swing mod DIY

This video will show you how to increase the power of the modern Uniden Pro 510XL to the legal limit as well as increase your modulation swing at no cost to you.
The "out of the box" current Pro 510XL is set below the legal 4-watt power limit and has been heavily restricted with regard to peak or modulation power.
In this video I show you how to increase the wattage output to the legal 4 watts and increase your modulation swing above 20 watts. No special tools are required.

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thatfonkyhonky336]

what does the waveform look like on a scope?

[@Ridgerider-z4h]

Looks like removing the diode causes overmodulation and distortion. Audio is best at about 60-70% modulation and no higher. Otherwise distortion reigns and your signal splatters over 3 channels. But whatever. It’s just CB, right?

[@rekoil2010]

I love how guys talk about splatter. Pretty sure it's only detected when running large amounts of power. In the real world if it don't splatter, it don't matter. You keep trying to make contacts with your 60-70% modulation. 😅 I'll walk right over you. Small block 422 Illinois gettin down 73s

[@rekoil2010]

Don't get me wrong, I do not promote the removal of any limiters in a radio. They usually have a variable you can turn up instead to achieve the 100% modulation you want out of a radio. I'd recommend doing that instead and put ur on a scope if you have such test equipment.

[@stevenphillip1159]

Can u make a video on the older bored

[@JustinPartridge-v3f]

I love those radios I want to get myself another one I'm looking for a d104 microphone 🎙️ I've been keeping my eyes open for one I'm going to save up my money for one my best friend's going to work on my antenna so I can get my antenna back up in the air so I need longer elements my element broke so he's going to put new elements on it and be good to go that's a really good radio

[@JAFO.]

Bad idea to twist that harmonic null adjustment in the back unless of course you want to see more wattage out but you'll notice when you turn the wattage up the SWR goes up to now why could that possibly be gee maybe it's because you're not adding any wattage on the 11 m BAND you're just turning up the harmonic wattage on 6 m and 81 and 108 MHz and on up the band no you don't want harmonics your antenna is not tuned for that that causes the final to heat up and pop also causes spurious interference just leave the precisely tuned harmonic choke alone in the back.

[@davidsharp3110]

I agree, I own one, added an Astatic D104M6B and it sounds awesome on the air. Messing around with these radios is just bad pratice. It also sounds great when used as a base station.

[@Philip-p6q]

Don't do it.leave it alone.

[@2wenty286]

I just picked up 2 of these but mine are the older version, would D203 still apply? I found D203 on the top side, its soldered through the board with 2 legs. If I clip one side would I be good? I dont have a pep meter so Im unable to tell if it would work correctly. Do you know if this will cause other problems, like flat top or splatter? Thanks for the info.

[@mrsteve9920]

Not positive, I do remember that the clip was on the top side. Please do a quick Google search for pre 1999 radios. I think it might have been D4, but not sure. ALWAYS! Verify before clipping. I can tell you that the older 510s were monsters after clip and power adjust.

[@2wenty286]

@@mrsteve9920 Thank for the info. I did some research and I believe D203 is still the one to clip. I know people clip a different one too but I think thats the audio limiter and I dont want my mic to sound like crap. I bought a Astatic PDC1 SWR/PWR meter to check my SWR and set the dead key. Found out that one of the 510s isnt transmitting any watts even though the lights are lighting up. The other one measured 2 watt dead key, I turned up 203 the max without the screw falling out and it read just shy of 3 1/2 watt dead key. Not sure if these meters arent accurate or my radio is junk. I tried to get a radio check all day today driving over 100 miles and couldn't get one.

[@leonardovargas4989]

​@@2wenty286 Any luck yet after doing this? I have one of these radios as well and been wanting to do this

[@motocrew76]

@@mrsteve9920Hi Steve, Just bought me the 510 again, 3rd one ive owned, Im wanting to mess with it just a smidge. according to your video i bring the L203 screw up to flush with the too of that white casing, correct? also, As for removing that diode, is that really safe? i mean i see you did it and your readings looked to be good and safe, im just thinking potential sound issues like one follower said. its been forever since i messed with one of these like this.

[@khimetchon1807]

Hi! Do you have service manual for this?

[@johnhambyphotography]

Does this apply to the 520? Thanks

[@TM-gv6zv]

If it was me I would set the radio dead key down to about 2 1/2 Watts and you will probably get a little louder modulation. And most likely you will probably get a better average forward swing.

[@OverkillCB]

Looks like a much newer PCB than the one I just modified

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Hi there Mr. Steve and to all o this channel. First, I just want say thanks for making this video. ever since the first CB radio I had an opportunity to turn listen to and talking on, I have wondered what all of the adjustable parts do. Like those adjustable coils and adjustable resistors. When I talked on the air some would say that if you open the radio and adjust those things you can increase the talk power - like output power and modulation as you show here. I am also interested in how to increase the receive sensitivity so the CB can hear weaker signals so that it is a 2 way street - further talking and further listening! I have a Uniden Pro 520 XL and I find that by opening the covers and adjusting the coils near the back of the radio with just my finger, no tuning tool required, I can increase the output transmitted power up to about 20 watts as I read on am Astatic power meter.

[@foxxfury145]

How much power does it do now?

[@JohnVeitch1]

I just bought a new one off Amazon and the board is different than what you show in the video, I can't see a D203 diode anywhere and the only one underneath that metal is D201, do you know if the D201 will do the same as removing D203?

[@W5MDM]

@JohnVeitch1 did you ever find out the answer to your question? I was thinking about buying one from Amazon. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of info out there on the newer ones.

[@Chris-Ould]

I would have just used the ANL switch on the front of the radio. Just wire the ANL so its always on. ( I never turn it off anyway lol ) Then use the switch in series with one leg of the diode to have the best of both worlds. Can't hear me, flips switch... Can You Hear Me NOW !!!lol

[@JustinRuth-km4wz]

The right way is is to change the value of the loading resistor ..and get the deadkey to about 1 watt and when u modulate u will see 25 plus... But there is some other parts u must change ..do not remove the diode ... U want to put a cap and and diode in series ...

[@JustinRuth-km4wz]

U took all the headroom out the the average ... U do t want to do this

[@paulwright7551]

Next up, Spectrum analyzer, let's see where all you just splatter those watts to.

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

How about the 520 models ?

[@mrsteve9920]

I haven't been inside one of the newer models, but my suspicion is that it may be the same

[@bruceclark5627]

It's the same radio with rf gain.

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Good question, I have a Uniden 520 XL. I would be interested in reading or watching stuff about here on this channel.

[@spaghettibender9893]

lmao SMH guys dont do any of this ! just buy a loud power mic

[@falcorthewonderdog2758]

Removing the AMC limiter destroys the audio quality. Don't do this.

[@Fisherman613]

It Shure does, you can lift leg on D-14 cathode end and add a 15ohm 1/4 watt resistor to Negative end . Look for black band on diode. 1987 older model

[@SDS-1]

Pads ripped right off, no going back😑

[@pjackson239]

People who post crap that have no clue what they are doing and in most cases even know why. Smdh one more radio destroyed by a noob.

[@lesjones5684]

Junk radio 😂😂😂😂

[@chrish1695]

says noone

[@mikemay7134]

They are not junk radios, I have one that the serial number ends in 08 these are the best radios I got it from Bell's CB radio tune with a red devil power mic in a jeep I'm getting a true 34 W out of it, as far as distance and talking loud believe it or not it's right up there with my Striker 655 this is a nice little radio, my friend has one of these in his Jeep that I sold him set up the same way will a 5 ft fire stick tunable antenna and you would think he was talking on a big radio

[@pjackson239]

Ummm Junk