Newbie CB setup questions

In order for it to work your antennas have to be electronically 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or a full bandwidth apart.

The CB bandwidth is 11 meters at channel 20 or 433". 1/4 wave is 9 feet. 8' will work on higher channels really well, but will work fine on the lower channels too.

Electronically means the distance between the two, plus any electronics in the middle. 8' of coax isn't going to work.

Having said that you can get tuners that will electronically correct the SWR, but they can be costly for the better ones and for the cheaper ones as they keep burning out. Though at 4 watts you shouldn't have much burn-out.

Any metal in parallel with any part of an antenna will act as part of that antenna.

Best to get it one on a pick-up as high as possible.

 

Yes each channel is a different frequency and there for a different bandwidth. Though from channel 1 to channel 40 is considered 11 meters.

SWR is a Ratio. What is .1? 5 to 1 maybe. The idea is to have the signal higher than the noise. You'll hear hams talk about the noise being 30 or 60db down. Meaning the noise is 30 to 60 DB BELOW the signal strength

I'd find a new CB shop..

 

If the signal is weak on one channel, there is a good chance it will be weak on all 40. The difference in bandwidth on the CB isn't all that great. The channels allow you to easily switch between frequencies, so you aren't stepping on a another CB conversation.

Look at each channel in a similar fashion as a conventional over the air TV. As you dial your TV to say channel two the TV automatically tunes into 54-60 MHZ, dial channel 3 and your TV automatically tunes to 60-66MHz. Dial in Channel 1 on your CB and it tunes to 26.965Mhz, Channel 2 is 26.975Mhz. Voice doesn't need the bandwidth of video so by the time you get to channel 40 you have only made it 27.405Mhz.

The other thing: Any old piece of wire can be used to RECEIVE a radio signal.; However to Transmit that piece of wire has to be TUNED to the operating frequency. As I said before that tuning HAS to be 1/4, 1/2 or full bandwidth. The lower the operating frequency the longer the bandwidth. Your AM radio is a 160 meters. That AM radio tower you see on your travels IS the antenna and then only half of it. The other half is it's ground. CB is 11 meters. A 433" whip is kind of ridiculous, so most whips are 1/4 Bandwidth (102") and are fine tuned by lengthening or shorting it's profile by 1/4" at a time. The really short CB antennas have a coil in the base to make up for the difference in overall length. Even then the ground is part of the antenna. Proper length and proper ground makes a great antenna.

Just because you heard that CB shop fine doesn't mean he heard you the same way.

Bottom line here is simple.. They may look "cool" but your antennas aren't doing a darn bit of good. Take one off and tune the remaining one properly.
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WHAT?

Moving one CB ch would make little diffrence and a tunner will not tell you anything about how well your antenna is working but maybe read the swr ..
A single antenna set up right is the way to go.

 

Not trying to be rude but you aren't listening. Just because it's crystal clear to you doesn't mean it is the other way around. When it comes to Antennas it's YOUR transmissions that count.

Home satellite dishes are mainly received devices and for the most part they are just plastic. The LNBF is coated in plastic, so they don't pose much of a problem; however, if any part of your Transmit antenna is parallel to the metal stand it will interfere.