Squelch vs. RF Gain

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by davenjeip, Oct 1, 2010.

  1. davenjeip

    davenjeip Medium Load Member

    459
    257
    Dec 20, 2009
    Port Charlotte, Fl
    0
    Just upgraded to a Cobra 29 LTD BT. It's the first CB I have owned with more than just a squelch knob. I have the SWR right at 1:1 and only have to dial back the squelch or the RF gain just a hair to not have noise.

    What I want to know is the best way to dial out the static. Should I use the squelch and keep the RF gain turned up all the way, or use the RF gain and keep the squelch turned up all the way?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

    1,415
    854
    Oct 3, 2008
    Republic of Texas
    0
    If you dial the squelch up you cut off the noise, and only people close to you can be herd...

    If you dial the RF Gain Back, the noise will fade-out some, but so does everything else...You wont be able to hear guys that are very far off.

    So basically both do similar things...It's just a preference of the operator on how far off you want to be able to hear someone...

    Personally I like to be able to hear guys that are 10, 20, even 30 miles away! So I keep the squelch dialed off, and the RF Gain wide open.

    If I'm traveling with someone (following) then I might dial the squelch up till I can only hear them, that way I wont hear all the other guys telling me to "take it to another Channel"...:biggrin_2559:
     
  4. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

    5,642
    13,468
    Nov 7, 2007
    Possum Booger, Alabama
    0
    I run the squelch all the way off, turned counterclockwise as far as it will go. Then I turn the RF gain all the way up, then back just until most of the noise disappears. In doing it this way, you don't get the choppy, broken conversation of a squelched radio. You hear someone off in the distance very quietly... gradually they get louder and louder.

    I suspect most guys run a 29 this way.
     
  5. jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

    1,415
    854
    Oct 3, 2008
    Republic of Texas
    0
    Good post!....But the reason the gradually get louder and louder....Is because they are getting closer and closer!:biggrin_255:
     
  6. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

    5,642
    13,468
    Nov 7, 2007
    Possum Booger, Alabama
    0
    Exactly. Makes it pretty easy to pinpoint which ####### is belching in the mic like a third grader.

    :biggrin_25525:
     
    delta5 and Bighig Thank this.
  7. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

    5,817
    7,675
    Jul 12, 2009
    A.W.O.L
    0
    I usually back the RF Gain down to cut the noise and then turn the squelch up till it's quiet unless someone's within a mile or so of me...I don't like to listen to all the static and chatter in the background...If you're more than a mile or two from me I usually don't need to hear you!

    If I'm talking to someone and they start to fade, I'll back the squelch down and then turn up the gain to keep them in range as long as possible but that usually only gives me about a ten mile or so range.
     
  8. davenjeip

    davenjeip Medium Load Member

    459
    257
    Dec 20, 2009
    Port Charlotte, Fl
    0
    Thanks.

    I like to pick up from as far away as possible, so I can get as much of a heads up on what's happening down the road.

    So, I figure that I'll just run with the RF turned up all the way and use the squelch to get rid of the noise. Then, if what I am hearing gets annoying I can turn back the RF to get rid of it.
     
  9. Rex Easley

    Rex Easley Bobtail Member

    44
    6
    Nov 26, 2009
    0
    I will turn the gain all the way up, back squelch up untill noise stops, then back down till noise just starts back...then turn gain down untill noise fades, It may be wrong but on my galaxy 44 it seems to max out the distance with little noise and the in/out effect just the squelch adjustment causes
     
  10. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

    3,324
    577
    Aug 12, 2009
    Seminole Florida
    0
    Since I run lots of gain my squelch has lots of noise to work with :biggrin_25525:
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.