tuning a cb

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Aug 24, 2007 | 02:54 PM

59flatbedford

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tuning a cb

how do you tune a cb radio me and some of my friends have cbs and i have got all sorts of gauges and stuff to tune them we just arent sure how to do it.

Aug 25, 2007 | 04:25 PM

BPofMD

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From: Millersville, MD

Do you have a SWR meter? Put in in-line with the antenna lead. Zero the meter with the zero adjust ****. Key mike on ch 20 or 21 (middle of band) and see what the meter reads. Should be close to 1 or 1.5 to 1. If it isn't, you have to adjust to make the antenna longer or shorter. What antenna are you using? If a fibreglas, not much you can do. It's usually okay, but check it anyway to make sure you don't have a shorted coax.

Aug 26, 2007 | 11:46 AM

twin66

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From: North Alberta

Where abouts is the best place to pick up a swr meter? I just got an antena yesterday, along with a new power cord, but forgot to get a meter, and am starting a week long, cross-Canada road trip tomorrow. Thanks, for any help.

Aug 26, 2007 | 12:15 PM

Speakers

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Radio Shack (oops, I mean The Source by Circuit City - hmm) has always been the best source for a meter. If they don't have one, try a good-sized truck stop (Flying J, Fifth Wheel, etc.) that sells CB radios.

If it's a metal antenna whip you adjust the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) by lengthening the amount of whip that protrudes from the base (increasing the SWR) or shortening it (decreasing the SWR) by trimming it at the bottom (no more than an eighth of an inch at a time!).

Use the instructions included with the SWR meter to properly adjust your antenna.

Luckily, my Cobra CB has a combination Power/SWR meter with antenna-tuning capability built right in.

Last edited by Speakers; Aug 26, 2007 at 12:42 PM.

Aug 26, 2007 | 03:39 PM

twin66

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From: North Alberta

How can you tell if it has the antenna tuning built in? Mine is an older Cobra 19 LTD. And if so, how does it work.

Thanks again.

Aug 26, 2007 | 05:31 PM

STXDriver

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Adjusting SWR's is not something that one has to do very often. Instead of buy a meter, just drop by a local CB radio shop and they usually check your SWR's for free.