Cobra 29 lxi

[Frontierjoe]

For some time now, this radio baffles me! I had it peaked and tuned at a truck stop, Penn 80 in Milton PA. Talks well, about 2 miles I think. But receiving sucks 1/2 mile to 1/4 at best, turn squelch open and I can still hear but with lots of static. One thing I noticed is it picks up rouge signals from base stations, like truck stop, and high powered signals great. Good radios gate pretty good, but noting outside 1/2 mile. SWR is so low barly registers on the unit, and everything checks per the onboard system ck the cobra has built in. Is this a antenna issue, or perhaps the tune is wrong? I'm using 18ft quality coax, firestick with adjustable tip, have direct power from battery, ground to chassis firewall, have 12v interference cancel box, and haven't seen much difference between trucks. It's been in a 2000 Volvo, 2015 freightliner, 2000 Mack, and 1995 Ford L9000. Also have satellite xm radio, and GPS on separate power, and the satellite radio is as far away as possible!

 

[Redneck0410]

If it talks only two miles and receives 1/4 to 1/2 mile, you got screwed. A standard rule of thumb is 1 mile for every watt of radio output. You got sucked in by a hack shop. You should've left it alone, this coming from someone on both sides of the debate. I have owned both stock and modified radios and the stock are always head and shoulders above the modified units.

Sent from my Z812 using Tapatalk

 

[mmckenna]

"Peak and Tune at a truck stop" is a likely source of the issue. Sort of like saying you got your colonoscopy done down at the hardware store.

Seriously, most of these guys who claim they can "peak and tune" have no clue what they are doing. They usually tweak a few things and boost the power output a little bit, but rarely do anything to the receiver. Most of these guys don't have the right equipment to adjust a receiver properly.

Antenna might be part of the problem.
Shorten the coax to the length you actually need. Using 18 feet can hide antenna issues.
Then try tuning your antenna and see how it does.

 

[Frontierjoe]

If it talks only two miles and receives 1/4 to 1/2 mile, you got screwed. A standard rule of thumb is 1 mile for every watt of radio output. You got sucked in by a hack shop. You should've left it alone, this coming from someone on both sides of the debate. I have owned both stock and modified radios and the stock are always head and shoulders above the modified units.

Sent from my Z812 using Tapatalk

The shop is a good shop, he has all the proper tools! But I think maybe he missed something! The radio would barly get out a mile before, just seem like inbound carry so much background it overwhelmes the people at a distance. Well I guess I'll be buying a Galaxy next. See how that works.

 

[KC4RAF]

This also comes from a guy who

use to do the so called "peak and tune", or more aptly referred to as the "golden screwdriver" tech. Most of the guys I knew who did the peak and tune used information from someone else, who got it from so and so over in Midtown, etc. No real knowledge of what this coil does or that diode is used for...
I have been involved in electronics all my life and have seen some really bastardized CBs out there. Sure, there are those who say the factory didn't adjust it for what it could do, and sometimes they are kind of correct. But you or any body else CAN NOT tell the difference between 1 or 2 extra watts of power!
Some times the peak and tune 'expert' gets lucky and gets the transmitter to put out a little extra power, which then breaks the rules applied to 11 meter operators, but as mentioned above, you can not tell the difference.
Best to just leave the radio alone.