hood channel mounted cb antenna problem(s)

[K9KLC]

I can hear voices but they fade away

So the radios (neither) aren't receiving either?

 

[damion2492]

lot

ya know, you kinda described, ME!! I to tend to put a little more "ummff" on things than they really need!! I'll have to try that tomorrow!! unfortunately yet fortunately I only cut maybe 1/2 inch off. I know that can make a YUGE difference but I don't think its to awfully bad, if so, ill have to buy another whip🙄

Dear lord this was a long thread to try to catch up on
I may have missed some.... so if this has been covered.. sorry.

we will get everything working .... we may have to sacrifice some chickens and a goat.... but we we'll get it fixed... you have all the equipment you need to figure this out... and luckily a friend with a working CB.

ok for starters... the Styker is an AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME antenna..... I wish you hadn't cut it.. most times it's perfect out of the box.

just going to throw a couple things out here because I can't see what's going on without being there.

one
the channels on the roof..... the antenna has to be completely flat on the metal... if it is straddling the channels even a quarter inch, it will give a bad SWR..... I know you said you had it in the center... there is no center because of the channels.... and I read you had it offset.....I'm just making sure the antenna is between the channels and flat as a pancake on the metal... I have the same truck and the Stryker will fit between the channels and work great.

two
the Stryker unscrews off the base..... I always over tighten things... just the way I am.... I once put the Stryker on and tightened it a little too much and had the problems you are having... there is a coil in there and if the coil bends inside the base it touches something the antenna doesn't work...... luckily I unscrewed it just a little and it was good again... it was screwed on snug and it wasn't going to go anyplace... but I would have liked to screw it on a little tighter..... I'm on a lot of forums and have seen people over tighten the antenna and the coil inside breaks at the solder joint... so people just resolder it and make sure the coil is going around and round and not touching anything
it's probably ok... but unscrew it just a little.

three
I learned a long time ago not to permanently wire or mount anything until I test it..... meaning... I would have slapped the antenna on the roof and run the coax through the window and to the CB and see how it works before I did the permanent install.....
so luckily for you, you have a friend with a known working CB.... I would undo the coax and ask your friend to set it on his roof and plug it into his cb and see what happens..... to see if it works.... even if he has an aluminum roof.. you can just set it on the roof and it should still work it just won't stick from magnetism.... I have set a few antennas on my F-150 aluminum hood just to see what the SWR is and it seemed to give me a great SWR just sitting on the Aluminum hood.

if his radio works with the Stryker you know the antenna is good.... yes it sucks to take it all out again... but you need to know what's working.... perhaps you are right and something with all those wires under the sill plate is causing some kind of interference.... so for testing disconnect it. and start with the antenna on his known working CB

four......
settings
you need to turn the RF Gain to max... if it's not you will not hear anything.... I sometimes find people that say their antenna is not working, as they can't receive anything.... so I ask where the RF Gain is and presto they find it got turned down by mistake
your Delta Tune should be in the middle
your DynaMic should be turned all the way to max and back off just a little
the Squelch for testing should be all the way on so you hear nothing but static.
turn to Channel 6 and see if your picking up anyone talking.... many people talk there... but unless you have 20,000 watts you will not be able to talk to them... but it's good to test if the radio is receiving.

five
what the below video on SWR
but when you do it..... first button needs to be on FWD and the second button needs to be on SWR
double check antenna is plugged into the ANT and not the Trans
then key the mic.... make sure when you key the mic that you don't have anyone talking or a stereo or any noise around as it will pick up noise and cause the needle to bounce around.... when you key the mic turn the dial until the needle is at the set point ... once it is on set... turn the FWD down to REF and read the SWR

sorry if I'm giving you total beginners explanations... but we have to start and double check everything.

see if that fixes anything... I'll cross my fingers and check the page later.

PS the multimeter is useless ... don't use it... you know you have 12 volts...
some antennas show a short when you use a multimeter from the Coax center pin to the screw threads... and others don't .... so the multimeter is not going to be very helpful other than finding 12 volts.

im gonna buy a new swr meter. mine was from a buddies dad, ive had it for aboot a yr, that was when I decided to get a cb, that and the current state of our country!! my buddy is only home aboot 5 days a month and at most 3 days every other week. I dont like to bug him cause he's got younger kids and a wife so I just tell him IF ya got time stop by. but given the facts, his radio worked on my antenna, mine not so much on his, which was professionally installed at a cb shop in Florida, I wasn't gonna ask him to tear his interior apart for his antenna since we proved via his radio that my antenna was not the problem. I think my radio(s) might have bad finals but w/o the proper equipment/tools I cant say for sure. theres no more cb shops around me anywhere so ill have to send them somewhere outtve state possibly. I cant afford a new radio but do have a few more ideas I'll try, especially since you mentioned you over tighten things, like I tend to do!! my install isnt very difficult, just ran the wire on the inner edge of the kick plate under the seat, between the console/seat and to the radio, took aboot 10 minutes tops. ill lyk aboot the antenna coil being to tight, I know I put more "ummfff" to it than it really needs. thanks for your help and support, greatly appreciated 👍👍

 

[damion2492]

So the radios (neither) aren't receiving either?

kinda receiving but not good, but neither seems to be transmitting. my buddy was parked about 100 feet away from me and he couldn't hear anything from me, both of us were on same "clear" channel, I could hear a faint voice but not real loud, my squelch was off and gain all up but still faint, but he never heard me at all, and so we switched vehicle's and the got same results so im aboot 73.5% sure somethins up with my radios!

 

[mmckenna]

theres no more cb shops around me anywhere so ill have to send them somewhere outtve state possibly. I cant afford a new radio but do have a few more ideas I'll try,

I don't know what CB radio shops charge for repairs, but on the public safety side, bench time is around $100/hour. CB probably cheaper, but since you don't know what's wrong with it, it could take a while to troubleshoot, plus the cost of the parts.

Might make sense to cut your losses on these for now, and get a new radio. There's some decent deals if you listen to some of these other guys.

 

[slowmover]

I’d prefer you had SSB,

but in a pinch

I wouldn’t go with less:

Anytone 500




Add a KL203 later ($85)


Or (today) spring for an ANYTONE ARES II as no upgrade past external speaker will be needed. True high performance.



.

 

[niceguy71]

By the way... swr has no effect on recieve. Even if the swr is way off... plugging the antenna into the radio should let you hear people talking... listen to channel 6 just to see how it receives and make sure the RF GIn is turned to max
Also most CB shops will be at least 6 months before they can get to it and will be over $100 plus parts.
So buy one of the best for $159.99 ... 40 watts will make you very happy, and SSB is a lot of fun
... buy it once and be done... a four watt radio is more of a toy .. 40 watts is a tool
RADIODDITY QT-60... you already have the best antenna... just get the radio and you can stop playing around.

 

[niceguy71]

By the way... swr has no effect on recieve. Even if the swr is way off... plugging the antenna into the radio should let you hear people tal
... buy it once and be done... a four watt radio is more of a toy .. 40 watts is a tool
RADIODDITY QT-60... you already have the best antenna... just get the radio and you can stop playing around.

Sorry I meant to type in the Radioddity QT-40 not 60.

By the way... swr has no effect on recieve. Even if the swr is way off.
... buy it once and be done... a four watt radio is more of a toy .. 40 watts is a tool
RADIODDITY QT-60... you already have the best antenna... just get the radio and you can stop playing around.

Sorry I meant to type in Radioddity QT-40.... Not 60
Sending your old radio out for repairs will also cost you $20 shipping each way. Plus the $100 minimum and parts
Radioddity QT-40

 

[damion2492]

I don't know what CB radio shops charge for repairs, but on the public safety side, bench time is around $100/hour. CB probably cheaper, but since you don't know what's wrong with it, it could take a while to troubleshoot, plus the cost of the parts.

Might make sense to cut your losses on these for now, and get a new radio. There's some decent deals if you listen to some of these other guys.

yeah theres a lot out their, unfortunately, after 3 bouts of cancer, 2 fusions in my neck and a partial hip replacement, and im only 50, I cant work. so unfortunately buying ANOTHER radio just isnt in my budget. its probably my fault on the 29ltdnw! I know absolutely nothing about electronics, I had no business opening it up so I probably hurt that one. if I can get back to work, highly unlikely at this point in time, but ill have both "hop'd up"! for now im just gonna continue to educate myself on what NOT to do 👍

 

[damion2492]

Sorry I meant to type in the Radioddity QT-40 not 60.

Sorry I meant to type in Radioddity QT-40.... Not 60
Sending your old radio out for repairs will also cost you $20 shipping each way. Plus the $100 minimum and parts
Radioddity QT-40

thats a 10M radio, wouldn't i need a HAM license for that? sorry, im not familiar with all the new age radios. I'd like something I can reach out further than a mile, whether on the rd or wherever. I know my stryker SR-A10MM is a great antenna capable of reaching a few miles but wouldn't I need a "upgraded" radio? again, im not real familiar with cb's and their capabilities so go easy on me🤣

 

[damion2492]

Dear lord this was a long thread to try to catch up on
I may have missed some.... so if this has been covered.. sorry.

we will get everything working .... we may have to sacrifice some chickens and a goat.... but we we'll get it fixed... you have all the equipment you need to figure this out... and luckily a friend with a working CB.

ok for starters... the Styker is an AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME antenna..... I wish you hadn't cut it.. most times it's perfect out of the box.

just going to throw a couple things out here because I can't see what's going on without being there.

one
the channels on the roof..... the antenna has to be completely flat on the metal... if it is straddling the channels even a quarter inch, it will give a bad SWR..... I know you said you had it in the center... there is no center because of the channels.... and I read you had it offset.....I'm just making sure the antenna is between the channels and flat as a pancake on the metal... I have the same truck and the Stryker will fit between the channels and work great.

two
the Stryker unscrews off the base..... I always over tighten things... just the way I am.... I once put the Stryker on and tightened it a little too much and had the problems you are having... there is a coil in there and if the coil bends inside the base it touches something the antenna doesn't work...... luckily I unscrewed it just a little and it was good again... it was screwed on snug and it wasn't going to go anyplace... but I would have liked to screw it on a little tighter..... I'm on a lot of forums and have seen people over tighten the antenna and the coil inside breaks at the solder joint... so people just resolder it and make sure the coil is going around and round and not touching anything
it's probably ok... but unscrew it just a little.

three
I learned a long time ago not to permanently wire or mount anything until I test it..... meaning... I would have slapped the antenna on the roof and run the coax through the window and to the CB and see how it works before I did the permanent install.....
so luckily for you, you have a friend with a known working CB.... I would undo the coax and ask your friend to set it on his roof and plug it into his cb and see what happens..... to see if it works.... even if he has an aluminum roof.. you can just set it on the roof and it should still work it just won't stick from magnetism.... I have set a few antennas on my F-150 aluminum hood just to see what the SWR is and it seemed to give me a great SWR just sitting on the Aluminum hood.

if his radio works with the Stryker you know the antenna is good.... yes it sucks to take it all out again... but you need to know what's working.... perhaps you are right and something with all those wires under the sill plate is causing some kind of interference.... so for testing disconnect it. and start with the antenna on his known working CB

four......
settings
you need to turn the RF Gain to max... if it's not you will not hear anything.... I sometimes find people that say their antenna is not working, as they can't receive anything.... so I ask where the RF Gain is and presto they find it got turned down by mistake
your Delta Tune should be in the middle
your DynaMic should be turned all the way to max and back off just a little
the Squelch for testing should be all the way on so you hear nothing but static.
turn to Channel 6 and see if your picking up anyone talking.... many people talk there... but unless you have 20,000 watts you will not be able to talk to them... but it's good to test if the radio is receiving.

five
what the below video on SWR
but when you do it..... first button needs to be on FWD and the second button needs to be on SWR
double check antenna is plugged into the ANT and not the Trans
then key the mic.... make sure when you key the mic that you don't have anyone talking or a stereo or any noise around as it will pick up noise and cause the needle to bounce around.... when you key the mic turn the dial until the needle is at the set point ... once it is on set... turn the FWD down to REF and read the SWR

sorry if I'm giving you total beginners explanations... but we have to start and double check everything.

see if that fixes anything... I'll cross my fingers and check the page later.

PS the multimeter is useless ... don't use it... you know you have 12 volts...
some antennas show a short when you use a multimeter from the Coax center pin to the screw threads... and others don't .... so the multimeter is not going to be very helpful other than finding 12 volts.

ok, thats interesting, thats NOT how im doing it. im using both switches, he's using 1! I set mine to swr on right switch, left is on the 10w, key the mic get reading then switch the right switch to pwr then key the mic again! he's just using the left switch, 10w-100w! ive watched over videos showing me to do it the way ive been doing it! actually, I set right switch to swr, left switch to 100, key mic, then put right switch to pwr and key mic again!! im slightly confused right now!! do I move the right switch from swr to pwr or leave it and only use the left switch???????????

 

[slowmover]

Radioddity QT40 10 Meter Radio | 40W | FM/AM/SSB/PA | CTCSS/DCS | Weat

The Radioddity QT40 is a powerful 10-meter ham radio with advanced noise reduction for clear audio function. It supports FM, AM, USB, LSB, and PA modes, and has a 40W output for long-distance communication. Built with high-quality components, it offers reliable performance. More potential are...

www.radioddity.com

Flash Bundle Sale. $169

Same as ANYTONE ARES II

These 10-12M radios convert to 11M.

Sufficient power to be heard in today’s noisy conditions and equipped with NRC (Noise Reduction Circuitry; DSP) which greatly cleans up both TX & RX.

— This modern design (2022 release) so outclasses older radios that they are made obsolete.

My ten years of using DSP was that I regularly heard and conversed as a truck driver with men that those around me couldn’t hear.

Makes listening far more enjoyable. Easy.

On Sideband one has frequency stability not possible before. (Can extend AM distance from, say, 10-miles out to 25-miles if the other man also has an SSB radio).


The Flash Bundle sale is quite the bargain. What’s included — performance wise — would have run you almost $700 as late as 2021.

My 2021 Lincoln 2 was $300
KL7405 Amp was $150
W-M Radio DSP Speaker was $225

The QT40 (or QT60 I have) really doesn’t give up any performance compared to that rig; mobile, on AM. And there’s no extra complications in cabling, power, etc.

$170 radio plus DRX-901 $60 speaker would put you at $230 versus my $700-plus.

I understand your wife’s frustration and I admire your doggedness in trying to git’er dun

Thanks to @mmckenna for drilling down so deeply.

You arrived here at the right time. An HF rig of this type is an outstanding vehicle upgrade.


I can’t imagine being on the highway — a big metro or far rural — without the means to talk with those whom He also motivated to have a good rig.

.

 

[damion2492]

Radioddity QT40 10 Meter Radio | 40W | FM/AM/SSB/PA | CTCSS/DCS | Weat

The Radioddity QT40 is a powerful 10-meter ham radio with advanced noise reduction for clear audio function. It supports FM, AM, USB, LSB, and PA modes, and has a 40W output for long-distance communication. Built with high-quality components, it offers reliable performance. More potential are...

www.radioddity.com

Flash Bundle Sale. $169

Same as ANYTONE ARES II

These 10-12M radios convert to 11M.

Sufficient power to be heard in today’s noisy cinfitions and equipped with NRC (Noise Reduction Circuitry; DSP) which greatly cleans up both TX & RX.

This modern design (2022 release) so outclasses older radios that they are made obsolete.

My ten years of using DSP was that I regularly heard and conversed as a truck driver with men that those around me couldn’t hear.

Makes listening far more enjoyable. Easy.

On Sideband one has frequency stability not possible before. (Can extend AM distance from, say, 10-miles out to 25-miles if the other man also has an SSB radio).

The Flash Bundle sale is quite the bargain. What’s included — performance wise — would have run you over $700 as late as 2021.

You arrived here at the right time.

.

I thought you needed a HAM license for radios like that?

 

[niceguy71]

thats a 10M radio, wouldn't i need a HAM license for that? sorry, im not familiar with all the new age radios. I'd like something I can reach out further than a mile, whether on the rd or wherever. I know my stryker SR-A10MM is a great antenna capable of reaching a few miles but wouldn't I need a "upgraded" radio? again, im not real familiar with cb's and their capabilities so go easy on me🤣

yes it's a ham radio
it's also the one of the best CB's you can get and for what you get it's dirt cheap!
it's a little on the big side but again ask the wife to give it to you for Christmas... they put them on sale once in a while for $149.99 ... they used to always be $199.99

sorry you're having a lot of medical issues and out of work..... I think you may be done playing with CB's for a while... you probably want to take a break from it anyway.
but you have the Stryker antenna which works fantastic and is easy to use ( hopefully it will still be ok now that you have cut the whip.) so down the road you can get a good CB and it will be easy to get everything working.

people constantly come into the group and ask questions.. the group gives great advice on a great working CB ..only to see them later buy a cheap piece of junk???? most of the small radios don't receive worth a damn.... and most of the CB's you buy are 4 watts.. they probably put out 2.5 watts.... and are lucky to talk 4 or 5 miles.... if you're going to spend the money buy something that is worth it.

thank you for listening to me about getting the Stryker antenna.... if you had a brand new, not altered CB radio... you would be using it today.... that antenna does a great job and should have made getting a fantastic working CB system as easy as possible.

the ham radios like the Radioddity QT-40 are built like a very professional radio with great parts... it has NRC "Noise reduction circuitry" that gets rid of most of the background static.... I use my Radioddity to talk to Europe often.... with the NRC turned on I can hear people from Ireland, Scottland, Germany, France, London.... with all the power the Radioddity has you can talk to them.... but without the NRC you would not be able to hear them, (without the NRC you just hear too much static ) obviously if you can't hear them you can't talk to them.... many of the radio companies are making some kind of noise reduction now, but most don't do a very good job..... the Radioddity radios with NRC works fantastic... it's a real game changer...... if a person with a cheap 4 watt radio is 7 to 10 miles away from you... without the NRC you may only hear static.... but with the NRC you may be able to clearly hear them... and with the 40 watts of power and Stryker SR-A10 antenna you can easily reach them and talk to them.
yes you need a ham radio license to talk on a ham radio.... don't do it, but you can turn the dial to "D" and that is the 40 channel CB band... down the road you can study and pass the exam and get your ham license ( about $50 bucks $35 for the application and $15 for the testing fee ) once you have your ham license you can talk on it... you'll already have the radio and now can use both bands .... if the world goes to heck, having a ham radio in the truck will be very helpful. and make a great hobby for you too.

most of the CB's out there are $60 to $100 .... they don't have SSB or the NRC ..they don't receive worth a damn and don't have enough power to talk very far ,,, so for $159.99 it's truly a no-brainer!

SSB is a blast... your signals go all over America or the world... everyday you can turn it on and ask for a contact and it's always interesting to talk to someone from Florida, California, Maine, Oregon.... you just never know who you will contact... many times I ask for a contact and it's quite thrilling to hear someone from Canada, South America or Europe reply to you.

this is the simple CB conversion ( 11 meter ) you will have to do if you can someday afford a Radioddity QT-40
it's so easy a child could do it.

 

[slowmover]

Edited my last.

 

[slowmover]

I thought you needed a HAM license for radios like that?

No. Just stay off 10 & 12 without license.
You’ll be on BAND D exclusively.

 

[niceguy71]

SlowMover.... we both said basically the same thing at the same time, and gave the same link for the conversion??? funny how things work... I was typing my post ( I type very slow.. it generally takes me 20 minutes to make a post.) .. and after I posted it... you beat me to it.....

Great minds think alike.

 

[damion2492]

No. Just stay off 10 & 12 without license.
You’ll be on BAND D exclusively.

ok. so I see these guys switched something inside, IF, I get this, should I do that or no?

 

[slowmover]

Have to move the jumper for it to work on 11M.
Not optional.

I added second vid to make it clear.

 

[damion2492]

yes it's a ham radio
it's also the one of the best CB's you can get and for what you get it's dirt cheap!
it's a little on the big side but again ask the wife to give it to you for Christmas... they put them on sale once in a while for $149.99 ... they used to always be $199.99

sorry you're having a lot of medical issues and out of work..... I think you may be done playing with CB's for a while... you probably want to take a break from it anyway.
but you have the Stryker antenna which works fantastic and is easy to use ( hopefully it will still be ok now that you have cut the whip.) so down the road you can get a good CB and it will be easy to get everything working.

people constantly come into the group and ask questions.. the group gives great advice on a great working CB ..only to see them later buy a cheap piece of junk???? most of the small radios don't receive worth a damn.... and most of the CB's you buy are 4 watts.. they probably put out 2.5 watts.... and are lucky to talk 4 or 5 miles.... if you're going to spend the money buy something that is worth it.

thank you for listening to me about getting the Stryker antenna.... if you had a brand new, not altered CB radio... you would be using it today.... that antenna does a great job and should have made getting a fantastic working CB system as easy as possible.

the ham radios like the Radioddity QT-40 are built like a very professional radio with great parts... it has NRC "Noise reduction circuitry" that gets rid of most of the background static.... I use my Radioddity to talk to Europe often.... with the NRC turned on I can hear people from Ireland, Scottland, Germany, France, London.... with all the power the Radioddity has you can talk to them.... but without the NRC you would not be able to hear them, (without the NRC you just hear too much static ) obviously if you can't hear them you can't talk to them.... many of the radio companies are making some kind of noise reduction now, but most don't do a very good job..... the Radioddity radios with NRC works fantastic... it's a real game changer...... if a person with a cheap 4 watt radio is 7 to 10 miles away from you... without the NRC you may only hear static.... but with the NRC you may be able to clearly hear them... and with the 40 watts of power and Stryker SR-A10 antenna you can easily reach them and talk to them.
yes you need a ham radio license to talk on a ham radio.... don't do it, but you can turn the dial to "D" and that is the 40 channel CB band... down the road you can study and pass the exam and get your ham license ( about $50 bucks $35 for the application and $15 for the testing fee ) once you have your ham license you can talk on it... you'll already have the radio and now can use both bands .... if the world goes to heck, having a ham radio in the truck will be very helpful. and make a great hobby for you too.

most of the CB's out there are $60 to $100 .... they don't have SSB or the NRC ..they don't receive worth a damn and don't have enough power to talk very far ,,, so for $159.99 it's truly a no-brainer!

SSB is a blast... your signals go all over America or the world... everyday you can turn it on and ask for a contact and it's always interesting to talk to someone from Florida, California, Maine, Oregon.... you just never know who you will contact... many times I ask for a contact and it's quite thrilling to hear someone from Canada, South America or Europe reply to you.

this is the simple CB conversion ( 11 meter ) you will have to do if you can someday afford a Radioddity QT-40
it's so easy a child could do it.

yeah I definitely dig it!! Hopefully i can get back to work within the yr! so, ive watched a few videos on this radio, few questions....1 I see these guys open it up and switch some tiny fuse lookin item, is that something I can do? looks quite simple to do, but I also dont wanna open another radio, especially one that expensive, and void the warranty! 2 i see this radio is on Amazon, is that a good place to purchase it from or should I go through the manufacture directly? 3 is there a website or something that I can look at the HAM test? obviously im not very "smart" with cb's so I understand that I'd have to study up for a test! 4 can I use it "legally" or would I need to get my HAM license first? side question, I know radio frequencies can be tracked, how would anyone know IF I use it rarely? Just a few questions I'd like to know before I fully committed to buyin this.

 

[slowmover]

SlowMover.... we both said basically the same thing at the same time, and gave the same link for the conversion??? funny how things work... I was typing my post ( I type very slow.. it generally takes me 20 minutes to make a post.) .. and after I posted it... you beat me to it.....

Great minds think alike.

I “type” one-fingered on phone screen. Can sometimes take me over an hour. Two, if I feel I need to find links & images.

The burden of OTR experience is that the full range of CB radio is hidden in plain sight. Not obvious until it matters on-road. Thus not actually a burden to try to convey.

The extra money I’ve spent to try to get things right is re-paid when others Do It Once, and Do It Right.

You're getting close. @jcrmadden and @billdean both hit triples coming out of the gate (automobiles, not big trucks).


— When it’s a high performance CB rig — all details followed — the speed of what’s needed on-road isn’t limited by mere words. The lives of you and your family may ride on it.

.