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Help with CB setup

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polak187

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Joined
Oct 10, 2013
Messages
1
I was wondering if you guys had any insight on this. I just got this radio of Ebay. Its an used Cobra 29 mounted in 2004 Silverado with Little Whip antenna in the center of the roof. Radio was advertised as working and tuned/peaked with talkback. I'm powering the radio from the fuse box and ground is attached to the chassis. Original antenna cable that came with little whip was too short so I'm running the 6 foot extension. Cable is not coiled anywhere and slack is laid out flat. My SWR reading on 1 and 40 is about 1ish/1.25 respectively using build in radio meter (separate meter is in the mail so next week I can tune up the antenna better). Now I'm in suburban NJ driving to NYC and even with all the buildings and limited line of sight I should get a lot of chatter. All I'm getting are unclear occasional transmissions.

here's a link to setup pictures:
https://imgur.com/gallery/MUAuo
 

FiveFilter

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
308
I use a 35-inch shorty on my sedan so I can fit in parking garages etc. I am able to communicate with truckers within several miles' distance about highway conditions etc. That's what CB does best anyway, and there's nothing that does it better.
 

spongella

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
948
Location
W. NJ
The pictures look good. You have your RF gain up as per the picture, good. Low SWR, that is good. Mag mount antenna looks good.

Not sure if you are aware, but CB is a lot less crowded than when in it's heyday of the 70's; have you tried listening on a busy channel such as 19 where truckers (at least the ones still on CB) are?

Here in West NJ CB is very quiet except when the band is open.

Have you listened with the squelch fully open? Just turn down the volume when you do that, and see if you hear any signals.

Since you are near the city, do you have lots of active CB'ers? If that is the case and you are hearing little signals then you might want to find another CB'er and do a radio check.

Also, you can call on Channel 19 for a radio check, they still do that.

I hope you find the cause of your problem.
 
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