CB

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 1, 2003 | 12:47 PM

geneb11

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 51

Likes: 0

From: USA

I hooked up my cb yesterday,but it's not working correctly. I know the cb works because I've been using it at work. I have the antenna's mounted on the mirrors. I have one on each side(2'diesel antenna's) I did notice the plastic behind the mirror bracket's is this what's causing my problem?

Jan 1, 2003 | 03:34 PM

Johnny88Bronco

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 110

Likes: 0

From: Lake Arthur, Louisiana

You've got to make sure every part of that system is grounded. Especially the antennaes. If your antenaes aren't grounded, you won't be able to use that puppy right.

Jan 1, 2003 | 05:14 PM

geneb11

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 51

Likes: 0

From: USA

A friend at work said he runs a ground from the antenna input at the back of the radio. I think what I'll do is I have an extra antenna and I'll hook it up to the bumper and see if works ok. then I'll know it's the antenna's.

equip:
Cobra 148, Cobra power mic, uniden talkback speaker, 2 2'diesel antenna's

I've used this setup for 7 years wthout a flaw. except I had a wilson trucker 2000 antenna.
The 2' diesel antenna's were on the Bronco and look good on the mirror's.

Jan 1, 2003 | 08:36 PM

JBronco

Postmaster

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,809

Likes: 3

From: Loveland, CO.

You didn't say what was wrong with the cb. Is it a reception problem? First, did you tune your antennas with an SWF meter? If you have duals then you want to make sure that they are tuned the same. Do you have the antennas clearing all the metal of the roof? Are they at least a foot or so higher (at the very least) than the sheet metal of the roof? Also, you want them as far away from the metal of the body as you can get them. Of course, the ground issue as mentioned is very important too. Make sure everything is grounded properly. But you have to tune the antennas, you can't just put them on and go with it, and hope your signal in/out will be good. You can get an SWF meter from Radio Shack for about 20 bucks. The antennas are tuned by pulling out some of the copper wire wrap until they reach the optimal setting. Don't pull out too much at a time because you could pass the optimal setting and then you won't have enough wrap to make it right.

Jan 1, 2003 | 11:24 PM

geneb11

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 51

Likes: 0

From: USA

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Jan-03 AT 00:25 AM (EST)]What's happening is when I key up the needle goes all the way to the left and when I talk it doesn't move. and when driving I get a flickering sound and engine noise.

I have it hooked up with the cigarette lighter. I was thinking of going direct to battery and ground to body and add a noise suppressor(I think I have one from ratshack)

My radio does have a calibration setting. A friend of mine years ago set my trucker 2000 up by clipping off the end a half an inch at a time to bring the signal to the end of the green. I guess removing the wire is the same effect. I would assume that I do each antenna separatly by unpluging the other.

I was thinking of buying a couple of 3' firesticks with the adjustment on the ends. They are selling for $14.00 each on E-Bay. This would put the antenna's above the roof. It's all coming back to me.

I've been working the outbound freight dock for the past 3 years and I don't do much driving right now and I forget what to do with a cb, but it's all coming back. your feedback is much appreciated. :-)

Jan 2, 2003 | 09:03 AM

JBronco

Postmaster

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,809

Likes: 3

From: Loveland, CO.

It sounds like the radio itself might be bad. Or else you have a bad interference problem. Try an inline filter for the power supply. BTW - I meant to say SWR meter, not SWF meter. And yes, some antennas are trimmed by cutting them. If you have the kind that is fiberglass and looks like it has a wire coiled around the outside of it, those are tuned by taking off the top cap and pulling the wire out and clipping it a 1/2 inch at a time or so until you get the best tuning on the SWR meter.

Jan 2, 2003 | 10:19 AM

johnnyo333

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 74

Likes: 0

Those attenaes still need to be grounded by mounting them to metal. Your vehicle is used as a ground plane for your tx/rx. If you don't have them grounded, won't be able to get in or out. Also that engine noise is due to grounding issues as well.