Troubleshooting mylack of distance, receivng and transmitting.

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Pmracing, May 7, 2012.

  1. Pmracing

    Pmracing Road Train Member

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    I have been reading here a while, enough to know that my answer will probably be that I need a better antenna. Talking with other drivers on the road, I am barely getting a mile of range.


    I have a Cobra 25 ltd. One year old.

    The coax in my cascadia is bad so, when I was only a month into trucking I was sold this antenna setup:

    Coax run straight from the radio, along the dash and out the passenger door, about 9 or 10 feet long (I did not measure it). The coax is Tramflex RG-8/x Foam 95% Shield stranded center.

    The antenna mount is a single stud perch.

    [​IMG]


    The antenna has no markings on it. It is 4' and I think fiberglass.

    I installed the perch myself and the guy at the CB shop came out and tested the antenna on it with his meter. He kind of gave a "mppfff. Well it should be good enough for your purpose." response to what he saw on the meter. I did not know enough then to ask further questions about that.

    I was wondering if either of these roadpro meters (free to me with pilot points) will do an adequate job for my limited use testing of my setup? So I can see what it is doing before I start modifying it, and after.

    [​IMG]

    Thanks for your input, in advance.


    Mikeeee
     
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  3. philjo

    philjo Light Load Member

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    Well im defiently no expert. But for starters id chuck your coax and get a new 18ft. then i would probably just get the cheaper swr meter. You have only a 4watt radio so i wouldnt think you would need the other. Check your reading with new coax then determine if ya need a antenna. On the swr, you want less than 2 and a 1.1 is ideal. Good luck!
     
  4. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    18 foot is useless ... nothing WRONG with even cheap meters I use them all the time ....

    The antenna is the key ..... if it is no right nothing works ....

    here is a good meter ..... and a cheap one .... both work
     

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  5. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    Rule of thumb. If its 3 feet between your radio and antenna. You need 3 feet of coax.

    Truck driver rule--- 18 feet. I guess so you can use the extra to hang yourself. I dunno.

    Have you ground checked. Might be part of your problem
     
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  6. Daniel.trawick

    Daniel.trawick Road Train Member

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    Doesn't the 29ltd come with a swr built in it? I know my did and didn't need to buy another one to check the swr.
     
  7. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    It's a 25 ;)
     
  8. Daniel.trawick

    Daniel.trawick Road Train Member

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    Ok miss read it. Tired and reading lol long day getting loaded at shipper.
     
  9. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    Am I seeing correct? That's a Francis antenna ?

    If so. Trying going to a good metal type.

    Francis is an excellent antenna. And usually gives great results on any SWR meter. But it does have its Own issues.
     
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  10. philjo

    philjo Light Load Member

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    He already stated his coax is bad, so my advice is not to replace whats not broke. If your swr is still high then try a better antenna.
     
  11. Pmracing

    Pmracing Road Train Member

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    Maybe that was confusing the way I typed it. The preinstalled coax is not just bad it's broke. So I ran a new wire along the dash and out the door.

    Is Tramflex RG-8/x a decent coax?

    I was wondering about the ground as well. Perhaps it has some thread lock on the threads from the original bolt.

    How do I test for a good ground?

    Mikeeeee
     
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