How can I get better reception on my CB radio?

To me an external swr meter is cheap insurance. If you think your having a problem with your antenna system, you can check it asap yourself, which is convenient. Because if you find out that your antenna has a problem, you know not to use your radio until you can get it fixed. Here's a new old stock meter from Radio Shack.

vintage Radio Shack SWR Meter #21-533 - new in box | eBay

SWR meters from Tandy were good meters. This one is very simple to use. Truckers feel that their radios are a work tool. To me an swr meter is a tool also, something every driver should have. Even the cheap truck stop meters would probably be better than nothing.

 

10-4 I’ll definitely get me one

 

When you let others do the work,you learn nothing when those so called pros are not around..
The worst thing sometimes is the tec like lingo telling you whats needed..

 

Swr meter doesnt tell you squat....As an ex...If your outside its all good,drive inside a building and suddenly your so far in the red that your sunburnt...Its basically measureing from the back of the radio or now your extended coaxal line and swr meter..
Should be tuneing on the move vs sittin still and takeing measurements at the antenna..
Also what you drive over makes a diff to..

 

The last time I visited the CB radio shop in Ontario Ca, I had an issue with the antenna, I don’t know how to read the “MFJ” tool or whatever it’s called, I was looking over his head(to learn)and noticed the SWR was high, my first thought was to adjust the stinger, instead he went straight to the mount and said there was a ground issue. He took the mount apart, cleaned it all up. Checked the SWR and it was good. But I learned more from that visit. I still would like to purchase the tool(MFJ) and keep my set up in check. and to help others in our yard. 99% of them think there set up is plug and play then they want to know why there stuff don’t get out, on the other hand, I’m getting compliments all day long

 

Well maybe in your situation you picked up on something..Most just sit in their truck and the giy doin the work saya nothing or tells you stuff that a person has no clue what he means....
Solely based on what your saying a basic internal meter can show you same info..
Personally the mfj is kinda ole school and a lil more difficult..Look into a rigexpert..Aa35 zoom basical for the cb band but moveing up to the Aa55 zoom has a few more useful options..
Swr is basically the bottom of the list of finding out what antenna is doin..

 

To put away $25 a month isnt much in a yr to cover a good a analyzer..Smokers burn through that much in a day,then there is take out and booze....
Its about $30 rite off the bat for a cheap coax and meter that will likely be off anyways..

Guess it depends on what the user wants outta the gear he bought in the 1st place..

 

I think that there is something to be said of both paths of troubleshooting. The SWR as Night said is a first step, it shows a problem. I don't agree that the low SWR is what shows how well the system is working but it shows some problems that could lead to issues. The AA is the next step but they are not do all to end all tool, it does not show everything, there is a lot of work to do with experimenting of the system.

So both tools are justified, but it still goes to having a good RF ground, good feed system and a good radiator.

 

I totally agree, but most guys aren't going to spend a lot of money on an antenna analyzer. That's why I recommend an swr meter. Even a cheap $30 meter will work good enough to let you know if there's something major wrong with the antenna system. As far as measuring voltage standing waves, a cheap meter can work as good as an expensive swr meter. The real problem with them is they aren't always properly calibrated to read the correct RF power from the radio. Of course I'm talking about SWR/power meters. But they both have the same basic circuitry to read the voltage standing waves.