Hello, new member here. Bought a Bearcat 885 and installed in December. Followed instructions to calibrate SWR, turn the dial a couple of clicks to line it up and I get about 4.75. I understand that isn't good. If I turn it down to one bar, I get 1-1.10 or so. So I guess that is good. Problem is, every time I turn the unit on, I have to calibrate it (starts at 7). And I'm not picking up any CB signals. When I check the SRF, I get 30+ db output but zero input. So I called Uniden and they said to send it in. I send it in, they take 60 days, send it back without any notes as to what they fixed, if anything. I install it again, same problem. Scanner, weather, etc. all working great. CB not working. So I call Uniden again, and they said to send it in......again. They have no notes as to what they fixed (or didn't) when they pulled up my case. I can't talk to anyone at Uniden who will do anything other than read the same set of instructions I already have. I ordered the two antennaes through Bearcat Wearhouse that were recommended, one for CB and one for scanner, so I assume I have the correct setup. Any ideas? I'm at my wits end. Stereo shop that installed it said it should be "plug and play" and the antennaes only plug into their specific port, so it's impossible to mess it up. PLEASE HELP!!!
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Help with Bearcat 885
- Thread starter caryrunn
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Trucker700
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- Jun 24, 2017
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If your SWR is going up on transmit, it means your magmount CB antenna isn't grounded well enough thru the paint on your vehicle.
Also, your antennas are too close together.
The antenna for the scanner being close to the CB antenna, is detuning the CB antenna.
Move them further apart ( 4-6 ft if possible) and that will help.
A magmount antenna is a compromise. They will work. But not very efficiently.
You can test the difference by removing the scanner antenna and then checking your SWR's. You should see a difference. But, a proper hard antenna mount to your vehicle that is grounded to the vehicle body and frame, will give you a more consistent SWR value. And will better protect your radio's final transistors.
James
Also, your antennas are too close together.
The antenna for the scanner being close to the CB antenna, is detuning the CB antenna.
Move them further apart ( 4-6 ft if possible) and that will help.
A magmount antenna is a compromise. They will work. But not very efficiently.
You can test the difference by removing the scanner antenna and then checking your SWR's. You should see a difference. But, a proper hard antenna mount to your vehicle that is grounded to the vehicle body and frame, will give you a more consistent SWR value. And will better protect your radio's final transistors.
James
Thanks. The instructions say a minimum of 16” difference. I can try to space it farther apart. But should I have to reset the SWR every time? And why does my SRF transmit at the highest level and receives nothing? I am literally getting no CB signal even with my SWR in the 1.1 range. Anyone have luck with Uniden tech support? Crazy I can’t talk to anyone who can actually help me troubleshoot. And shouldn’t everything work if I followed the instructions and purchased the recommended antennas?
FiveFilter
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- 308
I would work with one at a time, with only the CB antenna on the roof.
First, I'd tune the antenna of your CB on the roof. It appears the stinger on that antenna is only 28-inches tall. This is a really short antenna for 11 meters and may not yield very good results. Your problem likely has nothing to do with it being a magnet mount, per se.
Have you followed the instructions for adjusting the length of the CB antenna to tune for the lowest SWR? With that short of an antenna, you might have to concentrate on one frequency for best SWR, typically channel 19, and let the others fall where they may. Antennas that short are not very wide-banded. If it were me, I'd get something like a Wilson 500 mag mount which has about a 55-inch stinger that will yield much better results. A Wilson 1000 mag mount at about 62 inches would be even better, but that may be too long for many folks.
After you get the CB working as well as you can, then try placing the scanner antenna on the roof. If the CB performance seems to be degraded by the presence of the scanner so close, then move the scanner antenna to the trunk to see what the results are.
Good luck in your quest.
First, I'd tune the antenna of your CB on the roof. It appears the stinger on that antenna is only 28-inches tall. This is a really short antenna for 11 meters and may not yield very good results. Your problem likely has nothing to do with it being a magnet mount, per se.
Have you followed the instructions for adjusting the length of the CB antenna to tune for the lowest SWR? With that short of an antenna, you might have to concentrate on one frequency for best SWR, typically channel 19, and let the others fall where they may. Antennas that short are not very wide-banded. If it were me, I'd get something like a Wilson 500 mag mount which has about a 55-inch stinger that will yield much better results. A Wilson 1000 mag mount at about 62 inches would be even better, but that may be too long for many folks.
After you get the CB working as well as you can, then try placing the scanner antenna on the roof. If the CB performance seems to be degraded by the presence of the scanner so close, then move the scanner antenna to the trunk to see what the results are.
Good luck in your quest.
Trucker700
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- Jun 24, 2017
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If you can get to the coax connector on the back of the radio easily, there is a simple test to see if receive is working. Disconnect the coax at the radio with the radio on. ( do not transmit ) Take a paperclip and straighten it out. Put the straight part in the hole where the center pin of the coax goes. While you are holding the paperclip, and with the volume turned up, you should hear increased noise coming from the speaker when inserted and a decrease in noise when removed.
That will let you know if :
1. The receiver is working.
2. And if there is a problem with the antenna and/ or, the coax.
If there is a CB shop near you, it may be worthwhile to let them check the installation. Most of them won't work on an 885 because it uses surface mount components inside.
But, they can test the installation for you. The coax cable could be crimped causing a short. That would cause the loss of reception. And could potentially damage the transmit transistors when you key up the radio.
You shouldn't have to recalibrate each time you power up the radio. Are you leaving the radio settings in the Calibrate position instead of returning it to the SRF position?
Once your antenna is properly adjusted, you should leave the setting at SRF. That will show incoming signal strength and your transmit output.
If you have never adjust a CB antenna for lower SWR, there is more to it than just adjusting settings on your radio. It may require trimming of the antenna whip to get the SWR adjusted properly for your vehicle installation. ( if you already know this I apologize for what may appear as lecturing )
The best thing is to take your vehicle to a CB shop along with the manual for the radio, and let them check your antenna installation. And properly adjust it for you.
James
AKA Trucker
That will let you know if :
1. The receiver is working.
2. And if there is a problem with the antenna and/ or, the coax.
If there is a CB shop near you, it may be worthwhile to let them check the installation. Most of them won't work on an 885 because it uses surface mount components inside.
But, they can test the installation for you. The coax cable could be crimped causing a short. That would cause the loss of reception. And could potentially damage the transmit transistors when you key up the radio.
You shouldn't have to recalibrate each time you power up the radio. Are you leaving the radio settings in the Calibrate position instead of returning it to the SRF position?
Once your antenna is properly adjusted, you should leave the setting at SRF. That will show incoming signal strength and your transmit output.
If you have never adjust a CB antenna for lower SWR, there is more to it than just adjusting settings on your radio. It may require trimming of the antenna whip to get the SWR adjusted properly for your vehicle installation. ( if you already know this I apologize for what may appear as lecturing )
The best thing is to take your vehicle to a CB shop along with the manual for the radio, and let them check your antenna installation. And properly adjust it for you.
James
AKA Trucker
Trucker700
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The reason you are seeing the meter at 7 is because if you are in SRF position it is displaying the strength of background noise.
Turn the Squelch all the way down and you will hear the background noise. If you live near a truckstop or interstate, put you radio on CB channel 19.
( not recommended with wife and kids around in case there are a few potty mouths around )
You should hear people talking. Some areas have more people on CB than others.
The Uniden 885 isn't the easiest CB to get used to using. But, it's the only one that has a built in scanner. Depending on where you live, you can hear a lot of public service like law enforcement and others. But, it won't work well in areas that use Simulcast systems. I enjoyed mine overall, despite it's limitations.
James
AKA Trucker
Turn the Squelch all the way down and you will hear the background noise. If you live near a truckstop or interstate, put you radio on CB channel 19.
( not recommended with wife and kids around in case there are a few potty mouths around )
You should hear people talking. Some areas have more people on CB than others.
The Uniden 885 isn't the easiest CB to get used to using. But, it's the only one that has a built in scanner. Depending on where you live, you can hear a lot of public service like law enforcement and others. But, it won't work well in areas that use Simulcast systems. I enjoyed mine overall, despite it's limitations.
James
AKA Trucker
slowmover
Active Member
The 885 was my first choice for over a year while on the road. Was surprised at how useful it was (in some areas).
My big truck CB antenna system didn’t lack, but the little windshield scanner antenna needed an upgrade.
My big truck CB antenna system didn’t lack, but the little windshield scanner antenna needed an upgrade.
Trucker700
Member
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- Jun 24, 2017
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- 296
I did the same until I started encountering Simulcast systems in areas that I traveled regularly. I eventually installed my old Cobra 29 and added a SDS100 mounted to my dash ( 2004 Peterbilt ) and a Larsen scanner antenna mounted to the passenger's side mirror. Added a GPS module, turned on services I was interested in and had a blast!
I really like the 885. But its one shortcoming was not being able to handle Simulcast systems. Otherwise, a good, basic setup for limited space.
James
AKA Trucker
I really like the 885. But its one shortcoming was not being able to handle Simulcast systems. Otherwise, a good, basic setup for limited space.
James
AKA Trucker
slowmover
Active Member
It was your early posts sold me. Had a ton of Loves credit and used that. Thx
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