CB Savy?

[CRASH!]

Hey all,


I installed a CB last week and finally got to test it last night.

Tha Mrs' & I went out for a night run with Rick & Sarah. Everything was fine until Rick went a few hundred yards ahead to scout the trail.

I could here him fine on my end, but he couldn't hear my responses.

"CRASH! are you out there?"
-yes
"CRASH! Come in"
-I hear ya Rick
"CRASH! DO YOU COPY?"
-YEAH RICK GO AHEAD
"CRASH! COME IN"
-*@&#!

You get the point.

A few minutes later we grouped back up and he could hear me fine.


The unit is a cheapo Radio-shack jobbie (Same as Rick's I believe)
The Antennea (also a cheapy)is mounted on a bracket that bolts in behind the rear taillight.

I'm assuming the problem is distance related, but why I received him loud and clear, yet he couldn't hear me, baffles me.


So can anyone offer some guidance?



Ride'on,

~CRASH!~

[Russ Chung]

Crash!,

You probably need to tune the Standing Wave Ration (SWR) of your CB antenna so that it radiates more power. Here's an explanation. I will bring my SWR meter to the Meet n Greet on Saturday. If your antenna came with an adjustment tool, bring it with you. Meanwhile, make sure that the antenna mount bracket is well grounded.

[CRASH!]

Very cool... Thanks Russ!

Meanwhile, make sure that the antenna mount bracket is well grounded.

Hmmm... the bracket I made is Aluminum. THAT could be a problem. I'll make a new bracket in something more conductive and see if that helps too.


Ride'on,

~CRASH!~

[Old Fart]

Aluminum isn't an issue - assuming the mount is grounded well to the vehicle - we make entire antenna's out of it in the Ham world

If you have a test meter/light, try this. Remove the antenna from the mount, unscrew the PL-259 connector from the back of the radio. Check for continuity between the center pin of the PL-259 and the shell - you shouldn't have any. Check between the shell and a known frame ground - you should have continuity.

If you pass both of those - it's likely VSWR related

[swbooking]

Aluminum isn't an issue - assuming the mount is grounded well to the vehicle - we make entire antenna's out of it in the Ham world

Hes right the aluminum isnt a problem, my bracket is made out of aluminum and my CB works perfect. its most likely SWR related.

[Old Fart]

The fact that he has RX but limited TX makes me think so too - but checking continuity is pretty easy.

[swbooking]

The fact that he has RX but limited TX makes me think so too - but checking continuity is pretty easy.

oh yeah no doubt, check the continuity first.