Basic setup for cb

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Firebird, Oct 4, 2008.

  1. Oct 4, 2008 #1
    Firebird

    Firebird Light Load Member

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    Aug 13, 2006
    Bristol, VA
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    Hey guys (and girls),

    I haven't worried too much about my CB setup but when my cheap Cobra (wal-mart 39.99) fried and then I ripped the stock antenna and cable off I bought a new radio and want to get it right.

    I bought a Uniden Bearcat PC78 Elite and a Wilson Firestick. I also bought one of these Mini something or another cables that advertised it was better than the other one beside it on the wall. As I said. I don't know much about this stuff.

    My SWR is 3. I tuned the antenna on Channel 40 and Channel 1 and had to trim it some to get it even but it is now a 3.

    I plan on getting my radio peaked and tuned and get a better mic but after that what else can I do? Is that about as good as it is going to get?

    Thanks,

    Dave
     
    Firebird, Oct 4, 2008
    Firebird, Oct 4, 2008
    #1
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  3. Oct 4, 2008 #2
    heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

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    near Kalamazoo Speedway
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    Rather than having your radio peaked and tuned, I would recommend having a CB technician check your set-up in the truck. They can make many recommendations, and discover why your SWR is high. I had to use a grounded antenna mount on the newer mirror brackets.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2008
    heyns57, Oct 4, 2008
    heyns57, Oct 4, 2008
    #2
  4. Oct 4, 2008 #3
    jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Republic of Texas
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    If your seeing a swr of 3.0 or higher, that is almost always a sign that you have a "Ground short" somewhere...Most command cause is a loss of ground at the antenna mount. Next would be the connectors on the coax having ground shorts. (this can be easily checked by using one of those little pocket volt meters)

    Once you find the ground problems, and your swr reading starts looking more like 2.0 to 2.5, then it's just going to be a mater of tuning the antenna, to get the swr lower. This could involve anything from cutting the stinger, to longer runs of coax, to re-locating where your antenna is mounted...

    Have Fun!
     
    jessejamesdallas, Oct 4, 2008
    jessejamesdallas, Oct 4, 2008
    #3
  5. Oct 4, 2008 #4
    Firebird

    Firebird Light Load Member

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    Aug 13, 2006
    Bristol, VA
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    Thanks for the info.

    I am in a Freightliner classic XL. I guess all the mirror mounts are aluminum so it would make sense that it could be poor grounds on the antenna.

    Dave
     
    Firebird, Oct 4, 2008
    Firebird, Oct 4, 2008
    #4
  7. Oct 4, 2008 #5
    rjones56

    rjones56 Heavy Load Member

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    staunton va
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    Take a set of jumper cables and clamp them from the mirror bracket to the frame then check swr you will have your answer
     
    rjones56, Oct 4, 2008
    rjones56, Oct 4, 2008
    #5
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