Help with the Cobra 29 NW LTD

[Coonass]

I have almost the same problem with my 29 NW LTD and someone suggested turning down the RF GAIN and it has worked for me. I dont know if it will help in your situation but you can try and see.

[Joetro]

Originally Posted by Coonass

I have almost the same problem with my 29 NW LTD and someone suggested turning down the RF GAIN and it has worked for me. I dont know if it will help in your situation but you can try and see.

I don't think the 19 has an RF Gain adjustment, so, no, it won't help him.

[Coonass]

Thank you everyone, I have checked everything out and turning the RF GAIN down seems to have helped with the problem. But again thanks to everyone who has offered their solutions.

[DannyB]

Thanks for the responses.
Right, the 19 doesn't have an RF gain adjustment. It doesn't have any adjustment control except for volume and squelch.
I'll try routing the cable through the wing vent instead of pinching it in the door. Hopefully that will help.

[squirrellsgnwild]

Originally Posted by DannyB

Thanks for the responses.
Right, the 19 doesn't have an RF gain adjustment. It doesn't have any adjustment control except for volume and squelch.
I'll try routing the cable through the wing vent instead of pinching it in the door. Hopefully that will help.

yeah... they call that rf choke!

[Section Eight]

Originally Posted by DannyB

Friday night I was sleeping in my company truck at one of our facilities when one of the mechanics crashed a trailer into it. So now I'm using a loner truck while they decide whether or not to fix it or total it out. Yeah, he was moving and pretty much destroyed the entire front end but that's a tale for another thread
My cobra 19 seemed to work fine in my truck, but since I've moved it into the loner, I have to squelch it way up to keep it from constantly hissing.
Since the previous user of the truck took the antenna from atop the mirror, as well as the in dash coax, I got a new coax and a new Errikcson antenna from the shop. clamped the antenna to the mirror bracket and ran the coax between the door and the door jam.
I confess, I know next to nothing about cb's. I know the 19 is not the greatest radio out there, but it's all I can afford right now.
Does anyone have any idea why the radio now spits and hisses constantly unless I turn the squelch way up? Could the coax being pinched in the door be causing this?
Sorry if I'm not using the correct terminology here.

There are a lot of things that can cause what you're experincing. Here are two more possibilities I would consider:

Are there any other electronic items running in the loaner truck that were not running in your truck? (examples: dc-ac inverter, satellite radio receiver, electric cooler/fridge, cell phone charger. Any of these could give you the effect of extra static.) If there are, unplug them one at a time and see if the problem goes away.

If not, and having checked your coax as Joetro suggested, I have to wonder if the aftermarket coax/antenna system you installed on the loaner is simply performing a lot better than the "factory" setup in your original truck. Often, even the cheapest aftermarkt setup works better than what the factory puts in, especially on late model trucks. The better the antenna system performs, the better it "hears," and a lot of what is out there to hear is a ton of "static" in the background, especially on channel 19.

If you were getting very little static in your original truck (no static with the squelch knob turned left, say, around 9:00/10:00 position), during the middle of the day then I it could be your original factory setup wasn't working nearly as well as the one you installed, even if it seemed to be working acceptably. It is not at all uncommon to have to turn the squelch to 12:00 position and beyond in daytime operation to quiet the static unless you turn the RF Gain knob back some (in the direction of "can't hear as well").

You didn't mention what kind of truck you were/are in, but I would guess a Century/Columbia or a Volvo. As for your Cobra 19, if it is a DX "III" it is actually a pretty good little performer for the price, certainly better than its predecessors (and also you can disregard the RF Gain comment).

[DannyB]

Hi Section 8,
You guessed right, they are both century class freightshakers.
There's nothing running in the loner that wasn't running in in the one the mechanic crashed into so I don't think that is an issue.
I was wondering if it may be the case that the aftermarket antenna / coax was just performing better but it seems that it's worse going down the road than sitting still.
Yeah, I usually had the squelch knob at 9 or 10 but now I have to have it at 1 or higher to keep it quiet.
The company kept their word and got me TAH for Veterans Day. I go back out tomorrow so I'll be rerouting that cable and see if that helps.
It is nice to hear that the 19 is an ok unit. A 29 is on my Christmas wish list but I don't see it happening
I just hope I don't get permanantly assigned to this truck. It's a year newer than my old truck, but, to put it kindly, it's been rode hard and put away wet. I know it's not my equipment, but I still like to take a little pride in what I drive.

[Coonass]

" (and also you can disregard the RF Gain comment)."

Not only did ya'll hijack the thread but telling someone to disregard someone's comment that is only trying to help is pretty low.

[DannyB]

Sorry Coonass. My thread got moved here by the mods.
I think the comment about disregarding the RF gain was meant for me. The Cobra 19 doesn''t have an RF gain control so I don't have the option of adjusting it.
But when I DO get a 29, and I will as soon as I have the cash for one, I'll remember the tip so I thank you in advance for the help.

[Coonass]

Originally Posted by DannyB

Sorry Coonass. My thread got moved here by the mods.
I think the comment about disregarding the RF gain was meant for me. The Cobra 19 doesn''t have an RF gain control so I don't have the option of adjusting it.
But when I DO get a 29, and I will as soon as I have the cash for one, I'll remember the tip so I thank you in advance for the help.

I dont have a problem with them moving the thread here, why not we are having the same problem almost. I know the comment was meant for you, but him saying to disregard my "help" was uncalled for (like I cant throw something out there that I think might help someone). After all it was trying to help, why didnt he just say it dosent apply to that radio and say "thanks" for trying to help out.

We are here to help each other, not to say disregard somones own opinion . You don't have to thank me. But Thank You