Thinking of changing from my Cobra 29...

Answers: 1. Most of the cheap SWR meters will do the job. You can always go by a shop and have them check your SWR and compare the reading to your own meter for a reference.
2. I wouldn't replace your antennas unless you think there is something wrong with them or you can go longer and still be under 13'6".
3. I have SSB in all my radios. I never use it while driving. When using SSB you are always tuning other stations in to sound clearer...not a good thing to be doing when you are driving.
4. If you can find a good shop, I would spruce the Cobra up and keep using it. It is a good radio and all you need in a truck unless you want more channels outside the legal CB band. If you don't care to mail it, I know a place that will put it back in top order for a reasonable/fair price.

I don't understand why you are "setting" your SWR? Once the antennas are matched/set up to the vehicle and a good SWR is obtained, it is not going to change unless something happens to the antennas or coax. It is a good idea to check everything out every so often, as well as "shiny up" all connections from time to time, but unless a antenna or coax goes bad, your SWR should remain the same.

 

There are good shops out there. If you post here where you go or are going, I'll bet you can a good referral.

 

This is what I wrote not too long ago(before I received radios back):

"My advice would be this-unless you are dealing with something rare or of big sentimental value, do not bother with shipping and repair, I understand professionals should be rewarded for their knowledge/skills, but..."

I've sent 2 radios to recommended here DTB Radio shop and outcome is less, than what I expected. After I received my radios back, it turned out even simple, easily visible non-technical service has not been done. When I was quoted $50 for "clean controls" among other things, I thought as place, which deal with customers day in and day out would be experienced in presenting its work, radios would be clean and nice looking. When I opened radios after their return, dust and dirt from storage were still there, it seems, like nobody even tried to clean them.

Would you like to have a new unit(or set) for the price of fixed 10 year old one? If so, just buy new, with warranty radio and enjoy it.

You wrote "I think I MAY have a bad antenna because my antenna light comes on most of the time when keying up." Should not antenna light come on EVERY time when keying in?

On your SSB question, do you feel you are missing it? How often do you NEED it?
You probably do not need it(my guess).

Now, if you have a problem with new or rare unit, that MAY be a different story, first, figure out what the problem(s) is(are) and decide which route to take. Unit, antenna(s), connections, check everything to avoid fixing wrong part of your set.

 

Alright, let us try to make sense of this in an orderly fashion. I strongly suggest that you NOT go change your radio, coax, antennas or anything else right now. Get what you already have to work correctly before you go changing things around.
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.Step 1: stop using this radio setup until you get a separate stand alone SWR meter and test your SWR readings on channels 1,19 and 40. What are those readings on channels 1,19 and 40? The SWR meter that is a component in the radio are notoriously inaccurate.
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.Step 2: Tell us exactly what CB radio equipment and components you are currently using. Are you using the setup that came with the truck? Antenna information: make is Firestik ,model KW,FS or something else? What length of antenna.? Have you changed the coax cable? What type of coax cable are you currently using: RG58,RG8 or something else? What length of coax cable? Single or dual antenna setup?

 

SSb units have a regulated power supply but a lower tolerance for voltage fluctuations. I prefer ssb units simply because of the stability of the waveform regardless of minor voltage fluctuations between different vehicles. One tenth of a volt difference will alter the output waveform of the transmitter on a cobra 29 with an unregulated power supply.