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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: FourbangerYJ on December 21, 2009, 05:15:42 PM

Title: CB radio's
Post by: FourbangerYJ on December 21, 2009, 05:15:42 PM: I am running a Cobra 25. My Dad gave it to me a few years ago. I replace the Mic with a aftermarket one since the OE one died on me. I have it wired straight to the battery. Kind of a pain since sometimes I forget to turn it off/on. Anyway over the weekend I had complaints of how I was getting out. I would start out loud and clear then it would fade and become unclear.

Any ideas?

I have been pondering getting another one I was thinking of going with a Cobra 29. I saw one with a built in SWR and a antenna light that would light up if the antenna needed to be checked.

What kind of CB are you running?
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: drunkencityworker on December 21, 2009, 11:28:22 PM: mine is poo poo...but I can hear the people close...very close...I need upgrade
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: FourbangerYJ on January 04, 2010, 08:23:55 PM: I grounded the Ant. to the tub. Seemed to fix the problem. I used some 12GA. wire with a couple of crimp on loops.
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: drunkencityworker on January 09, 2010, 03:13:36 PM: my buddy came by with swr meter and turns out I have a bad ant cable...
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: drunkencityworker on January 14, 2010, 07:38:19 AM: http://ddoffroad.com/forum/write-ups-how-tos/the-ins-and-outs-of-a-cb-radio-and-making-the-best-of-it/#p4186
decent info here
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: rubberducky on January 15, 2010, 09:33:44 PM: I'm running a cobra 29 nightwatch with weather. Had it upgraded to put out 30 or so watts. Works
great with my 9 ft whip. I took a piece or angle iron and mounted it to the spare tire mount( tire mount removed) I use it on the highway and around the port here in Houston and i can get trucks about ten miles out.

Some good nights I can get Galveston about 25 miles away.

I've heard bad stuff about the weather eddition but it has worked great for three years, the weather edition works great in weather like hurricanes and such when power is out.

Or to get sea reports for wave and wind reports
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: Jeffy on January 16, 2010, 01:11:05 PM: Quote from: FourbangerYJ on January 04, 2010, 08:23:55 PM
I grounded the Ant. to the tub. Seemed to fix the problem. I used some 12GA. wire with a couple of crimp on loops.
Hmmm, if the RF Gain is set then I might think there is a problem with the internals. Although if the antenna was bad and you TX, you could fry the TX circuits. If it was a problem with the antenna, I wouldn't think that it would be clear at first.

You should try testing it while not on the trail.
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: FourbangerYJ on January 16, 2010, 01:25:31 PM: Quote from: Jeffy on January 16, 2010, 01:11:05 PM
Hmmm, if the RF Gain is set then I might think there is a problem with the internals. Although if the antenna was bad and you TX, you could fry the TX circuits. If it was a problem with the antenna, I wouldn't think that it would be clear at first.

You should try testing it while not on the trail.

Last time out it worked perfect all day. Could get out good and receive good. I should check with someone to see how it works around here. I should also check my SWR again.
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: FourbangerYJ on January 16, 2010, 08:58:49 PM: http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/rack-mnt.htm
I went by this link to fix it. My ant. is on my tire rack with bronze bushings. Sometimes it worked well, others not so much. I hope that's all it was is just a bad ground plane. I'll post up if the problem returns.
Title: Re: CB radio's
Post by: jfrabat on January 18, 2010, 10:22:39 AM: I also tuned my antenna, then took the mount off to paint it (was starting to show signs of rust), and since then, I have been unable to tune it. My guess is also a bad ground, so I have to check it out during my next trip to Panama. By the way, I am SERIOUSLY considering driving the Jeep up to Costa Rica next month!