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CB Radio Problems.

Discussion in 'General Automotive' started by SRQ TACO, Nov 7, 2010.

  1. Nov 7, 2010 at 11:47 AM
    #1
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok so I am scratching my head at this point.

    Radio: Cobra 19 Ultra III
    Antenna: Radioshack Whip

    I can hear people clearly and i can speak clearly outta my pa speaker. But when I talk on my cb to other drivers they say i sound muffled. I tried re grounding it on the bed of my truck but It didnt change anything. So I need help.:(
     
  2. Nov 7, 2010 at 11:50 AM
    #2
    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

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    check all your knobs turn your rf gain all the way up and adjust your mic gain
     
  3. Nov 7, 2010 at 11:53 AM
    #3
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have 3 knobs. One is Volume, One is Squelch, and one is the channel knob.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Nov 7, 2010 at 11:58 AM
    #4
    cummins6speed

    cummins6speed Well-Known Member

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    Did you tune your antennae correctly? You may have fried your CB if you did not
     
  5. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:01 PM
    #5
    BradleyScottETC

    BradleyScottETC Class IV Category 8 Elite VIP Member (Only)

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    You need to get ahold of a buddy who has an SWR meter and see how well you've got your radio set up. My dad has this same problem on his, turned out he didn't have a good enough ground either, because I could never hear him well. Make sure your ground is to the FRAME, not to painted body metal or just the spring that you've got your antenna hooked to.
     
  6. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:06 PM
    #6
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Tune? I have it mounted to the bed and the cable ran to the CB. Nobody told me to tune it or even how I would tune it.

    Its mounted to the bed. But my friends tundra is mounted to the bed and it works fine.
     
  7. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:08 PM
    #7
    cummins6speed

    cummins6speed Well-Known Member

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  8. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:11 PM
    #8
    BradleyScottETC

    BradleyScottETC Class IV Category 8 Elite VIP Member (Only)

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    Oh, okay, well then, I doubt there is any difference between his bed and yours, so we can completely rule out this logical solution and move on from here.
     
  9. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:13 PM
    #9
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok if it wasnt grounded right then I wouldnt be able to hear anything on my cb. But I can hear people fine.
     
  10. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:19 PM
    #10
    BradleyScottETC

    BradleyScottETC Class IV Category 8 Elite VIP Member (Only)

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    You'll probably be able to hear people WITHOUT a ground. Your ability to hear them in based on the quality and output of THEIR systems. You can hear my buddy's CB on my television when he keys in front of my house. A better ground is going to improve the transmission of YOUR signal. You need an SWR meter to measure the output quality of your system, and the best way to improve output quality is to start by grounding your antenna directly to the frame of the truck, and going from there.
     
  11. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:24 PM
    #11
    MXscott14

    MXscott14 Bartle Do Member

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    you only have 4 watt's other trucks have amplifier's so strong that they over power everyone else's
     
  12. Nov 7, 2010 at 12:42 PM
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    Max-4_Yota

    Max-4_Yota The Welfare Cadilac

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    This^^ Did you key the mic before you hooked the antenna up?
     
  13. Nov 7, 2010 at 1:05 PM
    #13
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I dont know any of these words. I just bought everything and plugged it in.
     
  14. Nov 8, 2010 at 2:28 AM
    #14
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Cool does anybody local wanna help?
     
  15. Nov 8, 2010 at 6:52 AM
    #15
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    There's only one "plug-n-play" CB and that is that stupid emergency one because its cheap little magmount antenna is pretuned.
    You have a serious radio there which the antenna and its "groundplane" needs to be "matched" to. That antenna you have should have a sliding stinger on it you can move up or down and has a setscrew that holds it in place. You need an SWR meter to connect inline between the antenna and radio to measure SWR. This is a hard thing to come by these days but that Radio Shack should sell one-maybe even have one for you to borrow. All ham radio guys posess one-it's a must have. Your metal truck body is sufficient groundplane for that radio. Where on the truck you install it affects which direction your signal goes. If you drill and install right dead center of the roof (the ideal place) the signal wil radiate 360*-if you mount it at the rear bumper the signal will be stronger in the direction to the front of your truck-etc. If you get the antenna SWR matched to the radio your "modulation" (voice) will get stronger. Your "carrier" is probably weak too. The guys who just install without tuning were probably lucky in that the stars aligned that day and the antenna and mount location were in the ballpark.
    Can you access an SWR meter where you are and someone who knows about it?
    Here is a nice link for ya
    http://www.ehow.com/how_5069948_match-cb-antenna.html
     
  16. Nov 12, 2010 at 2:16 AM
    #16
    SRQ TACO

    SRQ TACO [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I bought a SWR meter and its coming in the mail soon. Should I take my cb back to wallmart and get a new one as well incase its fried?
     
  17. Nov 12, 2010 at 2:43 AM
    #17
    MurphMan

    MurphMan Senility Rocks!

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    Muffled? When they hear you keying up, is there any other interference on there sets that would make them think you're putting out a weak signal? Or is the signal clear but just your voice sounds like you're talking through a dozen layers of blankets? If the latter, I'd try first to swap out the set.
     
  18. Nov 12, 2010 at 4:54 AM
    #18
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    It would serve them right for selling equipment to folks without at least a sign posted saying something about required antenna matching.
     
  19. Nov 12, 2010 at 6:08 PM
    #19
    MurphMan

    MurphMan Senility Rocks!

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    I'm thinking the chance a sign would be read isn't any better than the instructions packed with the CB.
     
  20. Nov 12, 2010 at 7:31 PM
    #20
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Good point:)
     

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