Midland 75822 Channel Mod Instant

Midland 75-822 is highly regarded as one of the most versatile CB radios because it can swap between a handheld walkie-talkie and a mobile vehicle unit. The "Channel Mod" refers to an internal hardware modification that expands the device's capability from the standard 40 CB channels to approximately 120 channels Review: Midland 75-822 "Channel Mod"

In stock form, a set of diodes or jumpers on the circuit board locks the PLL to only produce frequencies for channels 1-40. midland 75822 channel mod

Midland 75822 Channel Mod: What You Need to Know Before You Transmit

If you own a Midland 75822 (often part of the "75-822" or similar legacy series), you might have stumbled across old forum posts mentioning a "channel mod" or "expansion." Before you reach for a soldering iron or try to clip a wire, let’s break down what that actually means, whether it’s possible, and—most importantly—why it’s probably a bad idea. Midland 75-822 is highly regarded as one of

: Improper soldering can easily bridge unintended contacts or damage sensitive integrated circuits, rendering the device inoperable. Warranty Voidance Disassemble – Remove case screws and separate front

The "No-Cut" Mod (For Purists)

There is a less invasive mod for the 75822 that involves simply replacing the channel selector crystal. The stock crystal is usually 10.240 MHz or 10.250 MHz. Swapping it for a 10.695 MHz crystal shifts the entire range. However, this adds only 5 channels up and 5 down, not a full "band" mod. It requires no cutting, but is less popular because the benefit is minimal.

  1. Disassemble – Remove case screws and separate front from rear chassis carefully. Unplug speaker wires if attached.
  2. Locate PLL IC – Look for a 16- or 18-pin chip labeled MC145106, LC7131, or similar. The 75822 often uses an LC7131 or LMX2301 derivative.
  3. Identify programming pins – For LC7131: pins 6–12 (binary code for N-divider). You will manipulate pins 10, 11, 12 (least significant bits).
  4. Cut traces / lift pins – Lift pin 12 (or cut PCB trace to it). This removes the factory channel logic.
  5. Wire the switch

    Q: Can I just add a toggle switch to get "extra channels"? A: On older, simpler CBs (like the Cobra 29), yes. On the 75822’s surface-mount board, it is extremely difficult and unrewarding.

    Bridge Contacts: Solder these two pads together. Some variants may require bridging pads at the "10 o'clock" position to a specific white dot on the board.