If you leave the squelch on the threshold and take the radio outside does it ever open?Hello all, I just bought a handheld cb, and the only way I can hear people talking is when squelch is turned OFF, and all the static is coming through.
When I put squelch up, I can't hear anything.
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When you say threshold, you mean just leave squelch how it is? When I take it outside, and squelch is up, I still cannot hear anything.If you leave the squelch on the threshold and take the radio outside does it ever open?
You might only be hearing weak signals due to the sunspot cycle being so low. Also, the antenna on a portable CB is worthless, so you will be lucky to talk more than a mile or two. If you can substitute a base antenna it might work better.
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If you were to look at the CB band with a spectrum analyser, you would see noise peaks for every channel. It is simply an aggregate of every distant user on the channel. The UK converted CB to FM which improves performance.Also when I keep squelch down, and I go outside, it is a bunch of white noise along with speaking, that works fine.
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When you say threshold, you mean just leave squelch how it is? When I take it outside, and squelch is up, I still cannot hear anything.
It's a Midland 78-785 40 channel handheld cb radio.Turn the squelch down all the way. You should hear constant static noise. If someone is taking, wait until they stop or change the channel until you find one that has no one talking on it. Slowly turn up the squelch control until the static sound just stops. Leave the squelch there. The squelch control is now set at the "threshold" where it is just turned up enough to silence the background static. Anyone talking now *should* have enough signal to "open" (unmute) the squelch so you can hear them. When they stop talking, the squelch should kick in again and mute the background static noise. You may need to adjust the squelch control slightly up or down near this setting to get it so it just barely mutes the background noise.
What manufacturer and model is this handheld CB?
Before you replace the antenna or go out and buy gold-plated connectors, go find a truck stop and listen on 19. Or, find out if any law enforcement agencies in your area monitor channel 9. I wouldn't hold my breath on that one, though.
A handheld CB is about like trying to eat Chinese food with 1 chopstick