cb radio
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Senior User
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cb radio
i have a cb radio it turns on and is wired in. but i dont hear any noise at all from it, even like scratching nothing. i dont have an antenna for it. does a cb radio need an antenna to start working. because i know in a radio you can still tell that it is working even without antenna
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Senior User
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i dont hear anything when i adjust the squelch just a click noise when i power it up.
just wondering because the truck was give to me with the cb in it already and i want to know if it is worth buying an antenna and hooking it up? just got done wiring the ground and power to the cb and it turned on. although the transmitting and sending lights do not light up.
just wondering because the truck was give to me with the cb in it already and i want to know if it is worth buying an antenna and hooking it up? just got done wiring the ground and power to the cb and it turned on. although the transmitting and sending lights do not light up.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2006
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Careful, you could burn out components in the radio without having an antenna hooked up. I am not a CB expert, far from it, but a radio transmitter has to have a path for the signal to go out. Go to a truck stop or anywhere else that has CB radios for sale, and talk to the people there, some may have the ability to help you. Any Ham radio operator should be able to help, to become a Ham, they have to understand 2 way radios.
Try online to find assistance. I don't know enough, except to try to point you in the right direction.
Even with an antenna, the antenna must be tuned (adjusting the actual length of the antenna), to keep from ruining the transmitter. Don't key the mike until you have an antenna hooked up, and grounded. Get an antenna (cheap is OK), and at the same time get an SWR meter, and a dummy load. The dummy load simulates the antenna, so you can perform adjustments without burning the transmitter out.
`
Try online to find assistance. I don't know enough, except to try to point you in the right direction.
Even with an antenna, the antenna must be tuned (adjusting the actual length of the antenna), to keep from ruining the transmitter. Don't key the mike until you have an antenna hooked up, and grounded. Get an antenna (cheap is OK), and at the same time get an SWR meter, and a dummy load. The dummy load simulates the antenna, so you can perform adjustments without burning the transmitter out.
`
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
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The cheapest way to test your radio is to go to radio shack or another CB-selling store and buy a watt meter for a CB, or a watt meter for an HF Ham radio will do the same. You can get them dirt cheap off ebay if you wanna wait for shipping. Hook it up to your radio and then borrow an antenna and hook it to the other side of the watt meter, then key up... If the radio is good you should be putting out about 4 watts. If you decide to mount your own antenna, buy or borrow an SWR meter for CB (or again for an HF Ham radio) and tune your antenna to as close to 1:1 ratio as you can possibly get.
Your CB operates between 27-28MHz, so make sure any meter you buy has that in its range.
Good luck, I am a Ham so if you have any other questions feel free to ask...
Your CB operates between 27-28MHz, so make sure any meter you buy has that in its range.
Good luck, I am a Ham so if you have any other questions feel free to ask...
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Close to Mr. Anderson
get a buddy who has a cb and have him transmit right beside you. without a antenna you wont pick up of anything. that isn't within a few feet. Walmart is not a good place to get a antenna wilson, k-40,or a whip... the "little wil" is really good and runs about 20$ order online or try a local truck stop.
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