CB specifics

So I messed with it a little bit by changing setting (RF gain, mic gain) and I can now get the diag to say “pass” for RF out and antenna match but the meter is projecting a very weak signal. The swr for channel one is low about 1.5 but channel 40 is high around 3 I tried tuning a little but it didn’t really change it. I can receive no problem. Just for the hell of it I tried to key up on the road while driving to work and can hear convos loud and clear but when I mic check no one responds (so either I still cannot transmit or people are hearing me and justchoosing not to respond)

I went to three radio shops and none actually deal with cbs and there’s none that actually do in the area. So where I’m at right now is I bought a

$65 uniden pro520XL pro series 40-channel CB radio. compact design. ANL switch and PA/CB switch. 7 watts of audio output and instant emergency channel 9. - black

uniden pro520XL and I’m going to install that Friday when it comes in. Hoping the antenna isn’t the problem.

All of my meter readings were done with the internal features (SWR, RF output, and ANT match). On Saturday I’ll be around a few people who have actual meters to get a more accurate reading

 

Regarding SWR on 40, yeah, 3 is, how would one put it, NOT a recommended max and I realize you know this already... just saying and agreeing that it is "high"!!!

Regarding the MIC check, you are either receiving "skip" or the people you are hearing are using illegal RF amps for their CB's???!!! So, you can hear them, but they are unable to hear you at the same distance due to your output power (i.e. whether you have an SWR of 1.5:1 or 1:1 or whatever)!!!

Regarding the antenna, I believe you are using a 3ft antenna, correct? Depending on location on your truck, whether you have the CB you are using now or the Uniden

$65 PRO520XL Pro Series 40-Channel CB Radio. Compact Design. ANL Switch and PA/CB Switch. 7 Watts of Audio Output and Instant Emergency Channel 9. - Black

PRO520XL (nice radio btw), your SWR is only going to get so good!!! It won't matter whether your antenna is a Wilson, Francis, Firestik, etc!!! If you can TRY to put on a 4ft, THAT would be a SO MUCH BETTER thing you could do to help your RF system!!! If not, try to "equalize" the SWR across ALL CB channels and I'm guessing, from the numbers, your SWR will probably hover around 2-2.5 or thereabouts across ALL channels after tuning your antenna???!!!

So, with that said, I HIGHLY DOUBT your CB "head unit/mobile" is the issue as it sounds more of an antenna problem and/or antenna system. What I mean about problem is, again, simply placement/location on your truck. You could have a COBRA, Midland, Uniden, etc CB and it isn't going to make any difference if your antenna is so long and especially if it is so long, but yet close to some sort of "structure" to where most of the RF is just being reflected back down the antenna system and back-in to your radios RF out!!! My antenna is located behind ceter cab along the "bed rail", as in the 1st illustration (from L to R). I don't care for magmounts or drilling a hole in the center of the cab, as in the 2nd illustration, but, as you can see, it is the best placement as your antenna pattern is "even" around your vehicle. So, the first two illustrations are the best spots... and then you have the rest of the locations. Hopefully, the picture below somewhat helps explain? Now, granted, I'm just showing what the antenna pattern is approx. like at these locations. But, as you can also imagine, if your antenna is only so tall and next to your cab, then the RF is being reflected back quite a bit. From how I remember it, and it has been a while now, but as a rule of thumb, you typically want 1/2 or preferably more of your antenna above ANY "structure" (i.e. structure mainly meaning the cab of your vehicle... or... say some camper shell/soft topper). Anyways, hope the illustrations help a little???!!!



EDIT:
Yeah, your post about the RF out "fail" just had my mind going in CIRCLES!!! LOL!!! You were getting SWR readings, but somehow your radios diags was also telling you a "fail"???!!! I was actually thinking about your issue ALL DAY at work trying to see if there was something I just wasn't understanding???!!!

 

So do you think that it may be fine? When I key the mic on the RF out diag the range shows about 3 watts for output. I’m not sure if that’s enough or not. Really kind of hard to tell without having someone to test it with I guess

 

Sounds about right for 3W given your SWR readings. Your radio is 4W max RF out. On 4W, I was able to reach out roughly +4mi and that was within an urban setting (i.e. trees, buildings, powerlines, etc). Not too bad considering. As far as line of sight, you should reach out +6mi or more? I've never really was able to do that particular test myself. I like CB for trails because it is just a super simple setup and you're only trying to reach people within your group just, typically, a few feet in front/behind you and that's without going into any further detail than that. Some people just HATE CB, but for me, it works just fine and is a good back-up comms regardless. Better than NO COMMS!!!

Btw, who knows, maybe a bad MIC as well (i.e. I'm talking about the transducer itself... or whatever element that is converting your voice to electrical signals as your PTT/keying seems to work just fine... but who knows about the actual "MIC" itself)? I was just thinking about that. I really don't know if that is the case, but I doubt that it is!!!

 

How much does SWR vary from meter to meter?

I have a new President Mckinley with a built in SWR meter. I've read internal meters are not very accurate (i'm hoping that's not the case on a radio that was manufactured this year). I have a 1.0 on CH 1 and a 1.2 on CH 40, CH 19/20 are also 1.0.

I'll note this has taken a long time of tuning on the 4' Firestik (many, many, many frustrating attempts that ended in settling for 1.4-1.8 swr) but this is the best I've gotten! From what I've also read, this is PRIME and hard to achieve on a vehicle....

What are the chances I'm getting a false positive reading? Is it worth getting an external meter?

 

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm also interested in the answer because I plan on buying a McKinley very soon. How do you like the radio? How/where is the antenna mounted?

 

I LOVE it!! All the features like SSB, ASC and built in SWR meter sold me on it, plus the $50 mail in rebate. Their customer service is amazing! The size is perfect! I don't know if you've seen this video (it's a bit long) but a very good review of the radio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbvy6n6LUhw&list=PLtX0_zl4NAHGzjnVnI1lTktvOt_0Nf1Pd&index=4

With my setup I was able to talk to a guy ~13mi from me yesterday (the skip must have been good). With my 4' Firestik, Firestik heavy duty spring and Firestik quick release, the Antenna definitely has more than 2/3 over the cab...more like 3/4

 

Was the 13mi on SSB or reg CB?

 

Reg CB. I was shocked when he told me where he was...I'm sure he was shocked I was able to reach him. He was at his home on a base station, I was just driving home.

From my understanding SWR plays a significant role in range/output power.

 

WOW!!!!

Yes, SWR is very important, so a 1.0 SWR is certainly helping your situation. I'd love to hear what kind of distance can be had on SSB. I've read elsewhere that some people have gotten halfway across the country in the right conditions. Can't wait to get mine and find out for myself.

 

Actually internal meters tend to read a tad high, you’re probably 1.0 on 40 too

 

I'd definitely like to find someone near me with ssb to also test that!
Last weekend I was listening to guys from Alabama!

 

Is it possible to run SWR under 1.0?

That would amazing if my SWR is in that sweet spot! Are the SWR meters in newer cb's more accurate than what they used to be? Is it really worth fiddling with?

 

I'm in TN, I'll let you know when I get mine and we can test er out!.

 

I don’t think that’s possible, as a 1.0 means perfect. And yeah I would imagine so, it probably depends on what radio you have as to how much better the newer ones are than the old ones. I would imagine a president McKinley would be almost dead on though, that’s a nice cb

 

I'll have to find the tallest hill in RI lol, but why not. I'm not familiar with the "average" range of an ssb. I'm in to try!
I know my Dad's old home station reached Poland and all around the US.

Guess I should research skip and conditions for it.

 

We'll that's all music to my ears!!! You probably just talked @BrotherBudro into purchasing the McKinley more than I did! Lol!!

 

Yeah, a 1:1 means, pretty much, that you are getting whatever you're outputting (i.e. in this case 4W) and out the antenna system as 4W. Hence, "1 to 1". As the number starts to increase, there is a certain percentage of the RF wattage output being reflected back, typically, from the antenna system. When you hit, for example, a "3:1", I believe close to 25% or more of the RF wattage output is being reflected back "down the antenna system" and back into your radio's output finals... eventually burning them up due to RF heat, if you will!!!


ANNNNNNY radio guy will tell you that you could have THEEEEEE MOST EXPENSIVE radio rig setup, but if your antenna is SHI*, then your radio is JUST THAT, SHI*!!!

I get roughly 1.7 across the board and I'm pretty damn content with that!!! Antenna placement is also key as well. Mine is mounted behind center cab because that is where I want it and it is pretty much the next best spot!!!

Built-in meters, from my personal experiences with them, are crap!!! I guess they're good enough to get you a rough ball park figure, but I would definitely treat it with skepticism for sure!!!

Hope this helps a little?

Btw, SSB is REALLY SWEET and at 12W legal power output, but, just know that, if you don't already know, the receiving end would need to be on and/or have SSB capability as well or you're conversation ends before it even had a chance to begin!!!

 

You make a lot of good points, that was well written. Good job

 

I just realized i forgot to mention my antenna is mounted to the bed behind the cab. It sits on a heavy duty spring and a quick release (both firestik). 90% of my 4' antenna is above the cab.

Also just an update, but I was driving down the highway and picked up a guy over the radio. He asked my location, he said I was ~20mi from him! He was on a galaxy with a power amplifier. We switched over to SSB, but it was hard to tune him in while I was driving...I'm very unfamiliar with the coarse/fine tune.