Possible CB issue, or I'm just THAT new to it....

speedfreak87 · #1 08-29-2010, 05:17 PM

I hooked up my Cobra CB this weekend, ran the remote wire off the remote on my radio (this way I don't forget to turn it off) power off the cig lighter wire (may re run it to the battery) and ground is to a bolt for one of the dash brackets. K30 35" antenna mounted to my roof wire going through my brake light down the driver side under the carpet to the center console. (pics will prob be posted tomorrow)

Now while I was sitting in my driveway after the instal, key on engine off, I was getting some people chattering, cool it works, and I'm a good distance from any major highway.. Well today, I was going to work up the highway (287 for those in the know) and I got a TONE of static.. basically I got zero chatter from anyone and there is always trucks on this highway.. So is maybe something wrong with the way I ran the antenna? bad ground? or am I that new to all this CB stuff that I'm doing something wrong? I had it on 19 first, then went to 17 and 9 then scan.. if it picked anything up it wasn't clear, just very static..

what "could" the possible issue be? should I re-run the antenna wire on the pass side where there are less wires? new ground? ahh! HALP! lol!

stephensimmons · #2 08-29-2010, 05:38 PM

Did you set you swr on the antinna? also adjust your sqelch

speedfreak87 · #3 08-29-2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephensimmons

Did you set you swr on the antinna? also adjust your sqelch

SWR?

I have been adjusting the squelch back and forth.. usually when something start coming through with static I'll adjust and then nothing comes through.

stephensimmons · #4 08-29-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreak87

SWR?

I have been adjusting the squelch back and forth.. usually when something start coming through with static I'll adjust and then nothing comes through.

Yes SWR. you have a switch on your cb that says swr and when you set it to the swr position you key your mic and depends on where its at you have to adjust you anntina for good transmission

stephensimmons · #5 08-29-2010, 06:01 PM

check this link out.

http://www.fixya.com/support/t448167...ntenna_without

speedfreak87 · #6 08-29-2010, 06:25 PM

this is the one I have.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...15#tabsetBasic

I'll try that calibrating thing see if I can even do it with this radio..

speedfreak87 · #7 08-30-2010, 06:08 AM

Here are some pics. The antenna is 35", and you'll see a pic while listening, and one while transmitting. I think I'm going to re-run the antenna wire on the pass side of the car since there are less wires over there..

stephensimmons · #8 09-06-2010, 10:51 AM

Did you eva get this working?

speedfreak87 · #9 09-06-2010, 01:18 PM

lol! yeah, works fine.. just not a lot of chatter that's why I thought it wasn't working.

08xlt · #10 09-06-2010, 07:34 PM

http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/

Good Stuff here.

FireRanger · #11 09-06-2010, 07:47 PM

The problem here has nothing to do with SWR or tuning. If the radio worked fine with the engine off and has interference with the engine on, then you've already figured out the problem. Its not tuning, interference from the engine.

Run your power wires as directly as possible to the positive and negative posts of the battery. 90% of problems like you describe are solved by doing that. The other issue is the ignition radiating RF and it's being picked up by the antenna. Our fiberglass hoods exasperate this. Old trucks with metal hoods shielded most of it.

speedfreak87 · #12 09-06-2010, 08:21 PM

Thanks for the link, I will check that out more.

stephensimmons · #13 09-07-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreak87

lol! yeah, works fine.. just not a lot of chatter that's why I thought it wasn't working.

Good deal!