Cb radio advice needed

Turn the SQ knob slowly until static stops and turn mic gain up. You should get some responses on a radio check. Also check swr to make sure it isn't above 1 or 1.5

 

You should be able to hear and talk with that radio, even though it's a basic radio. If all you get is static, it's a bad antenna most likely. Check to make sure the antenna mast isn't broken. you can also buy another antenna at the truck stop for just the CB. that's what most of us do.
The antenna that comes with most trucks is a co phased antenna that is shared with the stereo. They're not the best thing for a CB.
Also you need a better radio when you can afford it. Use the one you have now, but be looking for a Cobra 29 at the least, although there's many great radios out there. I found many great deals on radios by just asking if anyone has one for sale when you're in the truck stops. Next time your at the truck stop, give a shout out for one.

 

Better radio is nice but not necessarily a key to hearing and talking more. Your antena is arguably the most important piece of the equipment. Unfortunately a factory pre run coax and antena are known to have numerous issues including poor ground and inaccurate swr/impedance. For low power operation you do not need to spend big money on expensive antenas, just make sure a decent low cost antena is properly mounted.

 

I have had pretty good luck with my factory 660 antennas but I know the worst factory setup yet was my cascadia. You couldn't transmit or receive with a guy right beside you.

 

agreeed i have a cascadia. factory is HORRIBLE, bouhgt a birdpirch, firstick and crap coax from truck stop. i get about 3 miles out of it. also had radio peacked and tuned

 

Check with your company shop on what is allowed if you get an antenna. My trainer paid someone to set up a strong signal but the company shop took it down because it was against company policy. He wasted a lot of $$$.

 

Nothing wrong with the radio. Buy your own antenna and mount, external speaker and a RK56 or Astatic noise canceling mic. A cobra 19 with a good tech can be tuned up to sound as good as any out here. There receiver is very good as well. The mic and the antenna are the main things. I would use a 5' Francis whip on a mirror mount on the left mirror. It will work very well.

 

What kind of truck is it? I have had several Freightliner Century's (3 lease and 1 I now own) all came with crap for coax cable installed at manufacturer set up as a co-phase (2 antenna set-up). I ripped all that out put some good coax in then got my SWR's down to a 1 with a Wilson 5000 with a single antenna but put 2 on truck for cosmetics. Static on the CB is very common even with properly set antenna's and tuned radio, you might also want to buy some inline noise suppressors (attach to CB power cord) to help eliminate some of noise coming from the truck itself. Take your radio to a CB shop when you can afford it a get the radio peak & tuned right for maximum performance. Adjust squelch till noise is reduced or eliminated, the RF Gain will reduce how far you can pick up a signal.

Galaxy 99 10 meter radio
Astatic Mic
1000 wt Messenger w/ remote switch and 4 fans
Wilson 5000 Antenna

Also a good thing to check, companies are pretty strict on tractor modifications.

 

Read your manual to learn how to calibrate the unit before you start buying stuff. Then, go to a cb shop to find out what you need, spending money on trial and error could end up costing way more than tou need to spend. b