hood channel mounted cb antenna problem(s)

[damion2492]

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.

.

yeah I got outtve the truckin business yrs ago, im a manual labor kinda fella! im not lookin to be "big dog", im just lookin for an alternative method of communication given the current "conditions" of our country! i wanna do my pickup first, then, hopefully when I get back to work, I can get something for my homestead! unlike MOST these useless kids, I know that when the power goes down, so will cell phones, and the internet!! hard to get the younger generation to understand that, and quite honestly, im done trying to tell them that! as long as I can reach out more than a few miles and can hear and communicate im happy! unfortunately I'm not working due to major health problems, that ive addressed over the last 2yrs so hopefully, by God's grace and mercy, I can get back to at least part-time employment! cant do the heavy manual work ive done the past 40yrs but I can still work!! thanks for your help and support, I greatly appreciate you and everyone else thats helped guide me through this very frustrating situation 🤣🤣👍👍

 

[niceguy71]

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.

yes you can EASILY move the jumper.... just about everyone in this group has one, or more of this type radio and have done the conversion.... I have 3 of them

Amazon is a great place to buy it, totally free unquestioned returns.......
most people have prime so no charge for shipping and you get the radio in a few days.... ANY PROBLEMS at all you just click on the return button and they tell you to bring it to your local Amazon return center ( one in every town in America) and you don't even have to put it in a box or tape it up..... if it doesn't work just return it in 30 days... HELL, even if you just don't like it, you can return it!!!!... and they will not care if you have done the conversion or not... you can just return it and be done with it.... I have never heard of anyone needing to return one!

even if you have to ship it back to Radioddity under warranty.. 11 months and 29 days later.... they will not bother to look to see if it's been converted... they will just exchange it.

it is completely legal to buy and listen to a ham radio.... so you can buy it and listen to it and see if you want to get the ham license ( I have never listened to the Ham bands as I just don't care)

you can legally use the CB portion of the radio... it has a power knob that turned all the way down is 2 watts and all the way up is 40 watts.... legally you cannot transmit with more than 4 watts on AM/FM and 12 watts on SSB
..... there are millions of these radios in America and no one uses 4 watts.... NO ONE! ...I run my knob about in the middle... maybe 15 to 20 watts and that does an incredible job.

the FCC gave up on the CB band many, many years ago..... I have personally seen thousands of people complaining about this idiot in the desert with 1000's of watts of power.... he would talk all day or play music on channel 19 all day... he would just say go back to the bench.... so no one in the country could use channel 19... all you could hear was that idiot.... the FCC received thousands upon thousands upon thousands of complaints on him and people even gave the guys name and address... people BEGGED the FCC to help....and the FCC never did anything!
they will never bother anyone for using something under 150 watts... as long as it doesn't interfere with police fire and ambulance radios they will never get involved.

Channel 6 channel 9 and channel 11 are known as the Superbowl channels... it's guys that build mega watt radios.. like well over a 1000 watts maybe 2000 watts... they go on those channels daily and talk to other guys with mega watt radios..... this has gone on for 25 years and the FCC has never bothered any of them

I talk on my 10 watt Export Radio daily and can talk to another good mobile CB system for 10 miles
... many times I am lucky to get someone 2 or 3 miles away????... I ask what they have and it's always a 4 watt radio and a piece of junk fiberglass antenna...... they are VERY lucky to get 2 or 3 miles... seems most of the Semi Trucks in my area just keep a 4 watt radio and a small fiberglass antenna to talk to the scale house or shipping office a 1/4 mile away and they don't care to go any further away.

the other 25% of the people I hear, I can talk to for more than 10 miles... and they all have what is called an EXPORT Radio.... meaning a radio that has had that jumper moved .... because in many other countries they are allowed to use many more channels and power than we can in the U.S.A.... the companies make one radio.... if they ship the radio to America they just move the jumper.

if the FCC wants to find you... they would have to pay multiple agents to go to your area.... and sit in vans all around your area and wait for you to transmit.. then try to figure out where you are.... it would cost a huge amount of money.. and man hours... all because you have more than 4 watts???
again the FCC is pretty much gone when it comes to CB radios

as for studying for the ham license ....I'll let others advise you, as I have not gotten around to doing it myself yet... so I know nothing about it.
it is always in my plans.... but I have a lot of fun just using the CB band.... for me as a prepper, it's all I care to have and all I need... I just wanted a good base Station, and a good mobile CB Radio, and some handheld CB's so I can communicate in a 10 mile area around me.... and I'm very happy with what I have.

I also love testing things... so I test a lot of antenna's and radios and see what they can do... again I have a lot of fun with what I have....
if I had a normal 4 watt CB radio... I don't think I would enjoy it or be able to talk to anyone unless they were right on top of me.

the video below is my 2011 F-150 and my 10 watt Export radio... a normal 4 watt CB would be like having a useless child's toy compared to something like the Radioddity QT-40 or the QT-60 ( my base station is the Radioddity QT-60 also known as a Anytone 5555 N II ) I'm using a Tram 3500 CB antenna .... your Stryker is probably a much better antenna.

 

[K9KLC]

So in recap, you have one new radio that you only adjusted the Mod pot on and then a used one, and neither one are transmitting or receiving well. Assuming you're telling the truth (and I"m NOT saying your not) none of that should effect the radios receive as well as transmit. I've worked on radios off and on since 1971 including having my own shop for a number of years. I've seen a LOT of stuff bad out of the box. I've seen a lot of people twist things the wrong way, or do this that or the other.

I'm not saying your antenna is bad, I'm not there to make that determination. I'm going to go against the grain here and only say, there's no way I'd hook a new radio, to the same antenna without a way to check that antenna. I don't care if Stryker has sold 1 million good antennas, things can happen. There can be one bad apple or a return that got shipped back out or who knows what. I wasn't there to see the install, or see how the coax may or may not have been twisted around. I have not seen from start to finish what all you did or didn't do to the install that may or may not have impacted anything beyond the radio.

Again, I'm NOT saying you have a bad antenna, there's no way I could know that. Likewise, there's no way you could know you have a good antenna. While new implies good, I've seen a lot of bad out of the box stuff in my time. You MAY very well have two bad radios and the antenna is great. However, do you really want to have a third bad radio in case it's not the radios? Do yourself a favor and find someone with an SWR analyzer that doesn't need a radio to check the system. I've seen good and bad advice in this thread, you have to decide for yourself which is which. I've seen truths and non truths in this thread and I'm not going to call anyone out but man, do your homework. Maybe call a CB shop on the phone or something. See if you can find someone like another CBer or even a ham in your area and have them check the stuff out. I have helped and still do a lot of CB'ers in the area with testing antenna's, installs, etc. Most of those guys are straight shooters and would be glad to help. Ya, there's always that "one guy" but hell with him then move on to the next guy. I wish you were closer I'd come help you myself. (St. Louis Area).

Good luck getting it sorted out. I know it's frustrating.

 

[damion2492]

yes you can EASILY move the jumper.... just about everyone in this group has one, or more of this type radio and have done the conversion.... I have 3 of them

Amazon is a great place to buy it, totally free unquestioned returns.......
most people have prime so no charge for shipping and you get the radio in a few days.... ANY PROBLEMS at all you just click on the return button and they tell you to bring it to your local Amazon return center ( one in every town in America) and you don't even have to put it in a box or tape it up..... if it doesn't work just return it in 30 days... HELL, even if you just don't like it, you can return it!!!!... and they will not care if you have done the conversion or not... you can just return it and be done with it.... I have never heard of anyone needing to return one!

even if you have to ship it back to Radioddity under warranty.. 11 months and 29 days later.... they will not bother to look to see if it's been converted... they will just exchange it.

it is completely legal to buy and listen to a ham radio.... so you can buy it and listen to it and see if you want to get the ham license ( I have never listened to the Ham bands as I just don't care)

you can legally use the CB portion of the radio... it has a power knob that turned all the way down is 2 watts and all the way up is 40 watts.... legally you cannot transmit with more than 4 watts on AM/FM and 12 watts on SSB
..... there are millions of these radios in America and no one uses 4 watts.... NO ONE! ...I run my knob about in the middle... maybe 15 to 20 watts and that does an incredible job.

the FCC gave up on the CB band many, many years ago..... I have personally seen thousands of people complaining about this idiot in the desert with 1000's of watts of power.... he would talk all day or play music on channel 19 all day... he would just say go back to the bench.... so no one in the country could use channel 19... all you could hear was that idiot.... the FCC received thousands upon thousands upon thousands of complaints on him and people even gave the guys name and address... people BEGGED the FCC to help....and the FCC never did anything!
they will never bother anyone for using something under 150 watts... as long as it doesn't interfere with police fire and ambulance radios they will never get involved.

Channel 6 channel 9 and channel 11 are known as the Superbowl channels... it's guys that build mega watt radios.. like well over a 1000 watts maybe 2000 watts... they go on those channels daily and talk to other guys with mega watt radios..... this has gone on for 25 years and the FCC has never bothered any of them

I talk on my 10 watt Export Radio daily and can talk to another good mobile CB system for 10 miles
... many times I am lucky to get someone 2 or 3 miles away????... I ask what they have and it's always a 4 watt radio and a piece of junk fiberglass antenna...... they are VERY lucky to get 2 or 3 miles... seems most of the Semi Trucks in my area just keep a 4 watt radio and a small fiberglass antenna to talk to the scale house or shipping office a 1/4 mile away and they don't care to go any further away.

the other 25% of the people I hear, I can talk to for more than 10 miles... and they all have what is called an EXPORT Radio.... meaning a radio that has had that jumper moved .... because in many other countries they are allowed to use many more channels and power than we can in the U.S.A.... the companies make one radio.... if they ship the radio to America they just move the jumper.

if the FCC wants to find you... they would have to pay multiple agents to go to your area.... and sit in vans all around your area and wait for you to transmit.. then try to figure out where you are.... it would cost a huge amount of money.. and man hours... all because you have more than 4 watts???
again the FCC is pretty much gone when it comes to CB radios

as for studying for the ham license ....I'll let others advise you, as I have not gotten around to doing it myself yet... so I know nothing about it.
it is always in my plans.... but I have a lot of fun just using the CB band.... for me as a prepper, it's all I care to have and all I need... I just wanted a good base Station, and a good mobile CB Radio, and some handheld CB's so I can communicate in a 10 mile area around me.... and I'm very happy with what I have.

I also love testing things... so I test a lot of antenna's and radios and see what they can do... again I have a lot of fun with what I have....
if I had a normal 4 watt CB radio... I don't think I would enjoy it or be able to talk to anyone unless they were right on top of me.

the video below is my 2011 F-150 and my 10 watt Export radio... a normal 4 watt CB would be like having a useless child's toy compared to something like the Radioddity QT-40 or the QT-60 ( my base station is the Radioddity QT-60 also known as a Anytone 5555 N II ) I'm using a Tram 3500 CB antenna .... your Stryker is probably a much better antenna.

damn thats pretty good for a mag mount antenna!! I just got home from a drs appointment in flint Michigan, aboot a hr southwest of my house. I went down I69, and I could hear a few ppl, some clearly, some not. I went to 19 to see if any truckers could hear me, called out several "radio checks" but got nothing back. I know not all truckers use cb's anymore but I got beside one, waved at him to get his attention, signaled I wanted him on his cb, on channel 20, I heard him, but he didn't hear anything from me!! soooo, im wondering if, just maybe, my "new" cobra 29ltdnw is bad??!! I think my swr meter might be bad too!! I can set swr on the radio but something seems hinky with my external swr meter!! either way, I dont seem to be able to communicate with anyone, even 6 feet away! I dig your setup man👍 HOWEVER, i dont have any ground wires hooked up! I DID have 6 when I was messin with that damn hood channel mounted firestik but took them all off! maybe put them back on?? idk, my drs are "ok" with me doing light duty work, so im thinkin aboot gettin a little part time job somewhere so I got a few extra $$ to buy some better equipment! im definitely diggin the radioddity unit!! what's the info on your swr meter that ya got strapped to your radio? I like that!! I couldn't find the tram 3500, guess they discontinued it. another quick question, I ran BOTH my ground and power wires directly to the battery, used 12g wires w/fuse links before hooking them to the battery. is that ok to do as far as the ground wire?? greatly appreciate your feedback, definitely keeps my "spirits" alive 🤣🤣

 

[damion2492]

So in recap, you have one new radio that you only adjusted the Mod pot on and then a used one, and neither one are transmitting or receiving well. Assuming you're telling the truth (and I"m NOT saying your not) none of that should effect the radios receive as well as transmit. I've worked on radios off and on since 1971 including having my own shop for a number of years. I've seen a LOT of stuff bad out of the box. I've seen a lot of people twist things the wrong way, or do this that or the other.

I'm not saying your antenna is bad, I'm not there to make that determination. I'm going to go against the grain here and only say, there's no way I'd hook a new radio, to the same antenna without a way to check that antenna. I don't care if Stryker has sold 1 million good antennas, things can happen. There can be one bad apple or a return that got shipped back out or who knows what. I wasn't there to see the install, or see how the coax may or may not have been twisted around. I have not seen from start to finish what all you did or didn't do to the install that may or may not have impacted anything beyond the radio.

Again, I'm NOT saying you have a bad antenna, there's no way I could know that. Likewise, there's no way you could know you have a good antenna. While new implies good, I've seen a lot of bad out of the box stuff in my time. You MAY very well have two bad radios and the antenna is great. However, do you really want to have a third bad radio in case it's not the radios? Do yourself a favor and find someone with an SWR analyzer that doesn't need a radio to check the system. I've seen good and bad advice in this thread, you have to decide for yourself which is which. I've seen truths and non truths in this thread and I'm not going to call anyone out but man, do your homework. Maybe call a CB shop on the phone or something. See if you can find someone like another CBer or even a ham in your area and have them check the stuff out. I have helped and still do a lot of CB'ers in the area with testing antenna's, installs, etc. Most of those guys are straight shooters and would be glad to help. Ya, there's always that "one guy" but hell with him then move on to the next guy. I wish you were closer I'd come help you myself. (St. Louis Area).

Good luck getting it sorted out. I know it's frustrating.

lol, yeah this is definitely more "frustrating" than it was 35yrs ago!! the ole ferd f2fiddy with the 102" whip mounted to the box and a GOOD ole 29ltd seemed far better and more reliable than the **** im dealin with now!! I checked the antenna with my multimeter before I put it together and on the truck. everything checked out good as far as continuity. no kinks or twists in coax, all straight ran from roof to radio, no coils or pinches either!! I bought what guys told me to get, stryker sr A10mm magnetic mount directly from stryker. it was what they called "refurbished". I seen no damage on it anywhere, and believe me, I looked that thing over with 2 magnifying glasses and a extra fine-tooth'd comb and didn't see a mark, nik, scratch, rub, etc etc etc etc etc anywhere on it!! NOW, that obviously doesn't mean it's still a good antenna, I haven't the equipment to test it, just going by what ppl have said! I dont know enough to know who's tellin me the truth, or who's just BS'n me! I just got home from a dr appointment in flint Michigan, hr away from my house. I took I69, a major highway here in Michigan. I got a truckers attention, had him go to channel 20, I could hear him fairly clear, but he couldn't hear me. he signaled me to channel 30, I heard him, he didn't hear me!! IMO, that sounds like my radio is receiving but not transmitting. yes, in today's world, even "new" items can be bad. the radio im using, cobra 29ltdnw am/fm, was a refurbished one I got from the cobra store on ebay. maybe it was, maybe it wasn't "refurbished"! im sure my 29lx is bad, definitely doesn't seem to get much of anything as far as receiving or transmitting. that was a $15 fakebook gamble so not really surprised or to concerned about that particular radio. unfortunately I live in a tiny rural area, far from the "big" cities. but even out here in gods country, pretty much all the farmers have gotten away from cb's and use cell phones! ive been tryin for 3 months now to find anyone thats remotely or realistically close enough to me to talk to. but everyone seems to have no interest in cb's radios anymore. you seem like you know a lot aboot them, what's your thoughts or opinions on the cb's and antennas ppl on here are sayin to get?? is the stryker sr a10mm magnetic mount antenna good? is that radioddity QT40 a good radio?? im not rich, just healing from 3 bouts with bladder cancer and 2 neck surgeries, so im not working and probably not gonna be able to back to my construction job! so money is sparse for me. I just want something that I can communicate with, mobile for now, Homestead later. i can definitely see the proverbial "SHTF" happening sooner than later! I know when the power goes down, so will cell phones, and the internet! thats my main reason for gettin a cb. im open to you comments, questions, concerns, and definitely your thoughts and views!! im 50yrs old, im not "offended" like many ppl these days!! lmk. I greatly appreciate your input 👍👍

 

[niceguy71]

So in recap, you have one new radio that you only adjusted the Mod pot on and then a used one, and neither one are transmitting or receiving well. Assuming you're telling the truth (and I"m NOT saying your not) none of that should effect the radios receive as well as transmit. I've worked on radios off and on since 1971 including having my own shop for a number of years. I've seen a LOT of stuff bad out of the box. I've seen a lot of people twist things the wrong way, or do this that or the other.

I'm not saying your antenna is bad, I'm not there to make that determination. I'm going to go against the grain here and only say, there's no way I'd hook a new radio, to the same antenna without a way to check that antenna. I don't care if Stryker has sold 1 million good antennas, things can happen. There can be one bad apple or a return that got shipped back out or who knows what. I wasn't there to see the install, or see how the coax may or may not have been twisted around. I have not seen from start to finish what all you did or didn't do to the install that may or may not have impacted anything beyond the radio.

Again, I'm NOT saying you have a bad antenna, there's no way I could know that. Likewise, there's no way you could know you have a good antenna. While new implies good, I've seen a lot of bad out of the box stuff in my time. You MAY very well have two bad radios and the antenna is great. However, do you really want to have a third bad radio in case it's not the radios? Do yourself a favor and find someone with an SWR analyzer that doesn't need a radio to check the system. I've seen good and bad advice in this thread, you have to decide for yourself which is which. I've seen truths and non truths in this thread and I'm not going to call anyone out but man, do your homework. Maybe call a CB shop on the phone or something. See if you can find someone like another CBer or even a ham in your area and have them check the stuff out. I have helped and still do a lot of CB'ers in the area with testing antenna's, installs, etc. Most of those guys are straight shooters and would be glad to help. Ya, there's always that "one guy" but hell with him then move on to the next guy. I wish you were closer I'd come help you myself. (St. Louis Area).

Good luck getting it sorted out. I know it's frustrating.

Damion2492 was having nothing but antenna problems... so I suggested the Stryker SR-A10 as they are almost always perfect out of the box and work really good. ( I have talked 4 people in my area into buying them and I would do the SWR on them.....I only had to cut and adjust one of them with my Rig-Expert antenna analyzer )
I have two of them myself that I use for testing....and both were perfect out of the box and work really fantastic.
I have also had a few people over to look over their system ( like WX2Watch from here... he helped me on a range test and his SWR was perfect on his Stryker.

I believe both of the radios Damion2492 has, have been played with... a $15 dollar e-bay radio and the other one was a Cobra refurbished radio off E-bay that he played with....... I contact Cobra a lot for my handheld radios... I asked a woman that I call a lot if they had refurbished radios??? she said it was the first she had heard of it????..... they get returns and sell the whole lot of them for parts once a month.
feel free to call Cedar Electronics 800-543-1608 ... great people, I have worked with most of the
staff... they bend over backwards to help make people happy with their products. best radio company out there for customer service in my opinion. I called to see if they could do anything for Damion2492 ..but they said they don't know anything about refurbished Cobra radios?

on the E-bay site Cobra Refurbished radios it say's it comes with a full factory warranty...... I know Cedar Electronics doesn't even look at the returned radios.. if you provide proof of purchase and mail the radio to them they just mail you a new one... so Damion 2492 ... give that a shot!

the e-bay site say's Cobra Refurbished ... and the seller is Cobra Electronics.... there is no company Cobra Electronics.... the Cobra company that makes and sells Cobra CB's has been Cedar Electronics since 2015 when Escort bought them

so it looks like the E-bay seller made a name "Cobra Electronics" and somehow is able to buy the returned radios from Cedar Electronics??? I really don't know what's going on.... sorry I know I'm guessing

the e-bay site say's they are checked by a qualified tech..... I've seen a lot of these returned radios ( like from Amazon ) their process to make sure that it works is this........ they plug it in and see if it lights up.... that's it, if it lights up they sell it


so this radio may have never worked and of course Damion_2492 did a little modification to it so something could have happened then too.

K9KLC I would love to see what a known working radio would do on his set up... using the same power cord and ground and antenna.... .. or him take the Stryker antenna and screw it into someone else's known working CB set-up.....that in my opinion, is his best next step

I've used to buy a lot of radios off E-bay ( I have bought over 100 used radios from E-bay ).... used to be 50% worked... in the last 2 years it's more like 20% work


Damion 2492 .... I would see if you can return that Cobra... they may not even look at it to see if it's been played with.... they could either send you another one or maybe repair the one you have.... I think you have 30 days.... won't hurt to try to return it.
and if you can't return it send it to the actual Cobra company Cedar Electronics Inc.... the E-bay site say's you have a full manufacturers warranty and that I believe is 2 years...
I just sent a Cobra HH-50 handheld CB that was almost two years old back to them that I bought off Amazon... and they mailed me a brand new one.

 

[K9KLC]

F

K9KLC I would love to see what a known working radio would do on his set up

Great plan, it just would never be one of mine. Some of us do things differently, I NEVER hook ANY radio up to a freshly installed non tested with an analyzer, antenna. You guys can do that all you want, I personally won't. Sure, if it's something I've got on a vehicle already, and tested and have been using it then sure, absolutely. I've seen magnet mount antenna go bad simply moving them from one vehicle to another. (connections on either or both ends).

or him take the Stryker antenna and screw it into someone else's known working CB set-up.

Again, not without checking it with some kind or reliable analyzer. Even the Nano VNA's have come around pretty good. I know you have a rig expert, even better when used properly. I think it's great you have one. I still use the Nano VNAs, a MFJ 259 (great for quick checks and if you like analog metering) and two AEA analyzers one for HF and one for VHF/UHF.

I only had to cut and adjust one of them with my Rig-Expert antenna analyzer )

I think that's great you get out and help people, needs to be more of that!

I didn't post to argue or, really even discuss what most of us in radio already know and that is
you check an antenna system on a new install PRIOR to ever hooking a radio up. (any radio that transmits). I posted what 51 years of working with radios has taught and shown me. Take what I said with a grain of salt, I don't have any skin in this game. This isn't hook your tube type radio up to your 1/4 wave whip and pray any more, the radios today are frail and it takes only a second or two of a short circuit to take out the final(s) in these things. As I said I wish the OP well in his endeavors. I hope the OP gets a new radio, and it all works out for him. Frankly no one should be hooking up radios to unknown antenna systems, new, used or whatever without testing them. I mean, it's the internet so everything we're saying has to be true right???

As I said I hope the OP gets it all straightened out. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a system installed and it not working correctly. I sure hope when he does get it figure out he posts what the situation was. 73 -Greg

 

[damion2492]

Damion2492 was having nothing but antenna problems... so I suggested the Stryker SR-A10 as they are almost always perfect out of the box and work really good. ( I have talked 4 people in my area into buying them and I would do the SWR on them.....I only had to cut and adjust one of them with my Rig-Expert antenna analyzer )
I have two of them myself that I use for testing....and both were perfect out of the box and work really fantastic.
I have also had a few people over to look over their system ( like WX2Watch from here... he helped me on a range test and his SWR was perfect on his Stryker.

I believe both of the radios Damion2492 has, have been played with... a $15 dollar e-bay radio and the other one was a Cobra refurbished radio off E-bay that he played with....... I contact Cobra a lot for my handheld radios... I asked a woman that I call a lot if they had refurbished radios??? she said it was the first she had heard of it????..... they get returns and sell the whole lot of them for parts once a month.
feel free to call Cedar Electronics 800-543-1608 ... great people, I have worked with most of the
staff... they bend over backwards to help make people happy with their products. best radio company out there for customer service in my opinion. I called to see if they could do anything for Damion2492 ..but they said they don't know anything about refurbished Cobra radios?

on the E-bay site Cobra Refurbished radios it say's it comes with a full factory warranty...... I know Cedar Electronics doesn't even look at the returned radios.. if you provide proof of purchase and mail the radio to them they just mail you a new one... so Damion 2492 ... give that a shot!

the e-bay site say's Cobra Refurbished ... and the seller is Cobra Electronics.... there is no company Cobra Electronics.... the Cobra company that makes and sells Cobra CB's has been Cedar Electronics since 2015 when Escort bought them

so it looks like the E-bay seller made a name "Cobra Electronics" and somehow is able to buy the returned radios from Cedar Electronics??? I really don't know what's going on.... sorry I know I'm guessing

the e-bay site say's they are checked by a qualified tech..... I've seen a lot of these returned radios ( like from Amazon ) their process to make sure that it works is this........ they plug it in and see if it lights up.... that's it, if it lights up they sell it


so this radio may have never worked and of course Damion_2492 did a little modification to it so something could have happened then too.

K9KLC I would love to see what a known working radio would do on his set up... using the same power cord and ground and antenna.... .. or him take the Stryker antenna and screw it into someone else's known working CB set-up.....that in my opinion, is his best next step

I've used to buy a lot of radios off E-bay ( I have bought over 100 used radios from E-bay ).... used to be 50% worked... in the last 2 years it's more like 20% work


Damion 2492 .... I would see if you can return that Cobra... they may not even look at it to see if it's been played with.... they could either send you another one or maybe repair the one you have.... I think you have 30 days.... won't hurt to try to return it.
and if you can't return it send it to the actual Cobra company Cedar Electronics Inc.... the E-bay site say's you have a full manufacturers warranty and that I believe is 2 years...
I just sent a Cobra HH-50 handheld CB that was almost two years old back to them that I bought off Amazon... and they mailed me a brand new one.

ok, that pisses me off to no end🤬 its been over 30 days so idk. thats why I absolutely HATE buying **** online! especially electronics! im pretty much done with it for now. its fall and I gotta get firewood and tomatoes done up for winter!! sure is a real bummer reading this, man😢 I got a really bad feeling that what youre sayin is true!! I know my buddy had a professional with 35+ yrs in the business of cb and HAM radios, was a radio and communication tech in the army during the 1st bull**** Iraq "war" so i know he knows his stuff! but nothing seemed to work the way it should've on his Wilson 5000 and he can reach out a looooong ways with his radio, obviously thats been peaked tuned and aligned, but he should've at least heard from me being 100 feet away!! really wouldn't shock me if what your saying is true, definitely cant trust ppl, especially when it comes to ebay or amazon!! ive had plenty of "new junk" I bought from both!! sad state of our world today! nobody seems to take pride in they're work anymore!! im gonna put everything up for now and see if I can find someone who can help me out! I don't think the antenna is bad, in FACT, idk if I mentioned this buuut, we put my buddies radio on my antenna and it seemed to work just as good as his wilson did so im aboot 99.999% POSITIVE my antenna is good!! im no pro, but im leaning heavily towards the radio being bad! either the way I got it or, by my "F" up crankin the mod pot! either way, im in the same place I was 3wks ago🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 thanks again for your help and support with this mess!! sure does leave a real ****ty taste in my mouth 🤮

 

[niceguy71]

damn thats pretty good for a mag mount antenna!! I just got home from a drs appointment in flint Michigan, aboot a hr southwest of my house. I went down I69, and I could hear a few ppl, some clearly, some not. I went to 19 to see if any truckers could hear me, called out several "radio checks" but got nothing back. I know not all truckers use cb's anymore but I got beside one, waved at him to get his attention, signaled I wanted him on his cb, on channel 20, I heard him, but he didn't hear anything from me!! soooo, im wondering if, just maybe, my "new" cobra 29ltdnw is bad??!! I think my swr meter might be bad too!! I can set swr on the radio but something seems hinky with my external swr meter!! either way, I dont seem to be able to communicate with anyone, even 6 feet away! I dig your setup man👍 HOWEVER, i dont have any ground wires hooked up! I DID have 6 when I was messin with that damn hood channel mounted firestik but took them all off! maybe put them back on?? idk, my drs are "ok" with me doing light duty work, so im thinkin aboot gettin a little part time job somewhere so I got a few extra $$ to buy some better equipment! im definitely diggin the radioddity unit!! what's the info on your swr meter that ya got strapped to your radio? I like that!! I couldn't find the tram 3500, guess they discontinued it. another quick question, I ran BOTH my ground and power wires directly to the battery, used 12g wires w/fuse links before hooking them to the battery. is that ok to do as far as the ground wire?? greatly appreciate your feedback, definitely keeps my "spirits" alive 🤣🤣

the people on this group are always happy to help... they sure helped me a few years ago... I knew nothing then... and am still learning. ( I still know nothing ) I was lucky to get info from Mckenna... he really went above and beyond to help me.... along with so many others Merlin, SlowMover, PRCGUY.... we had some real smart guys that were a lot more active a few years ago.

it's really nice to see some new guys join the group and actually listen to the group.... we had this one new guy... we told him the best antenna.. and told him a good very cheap CB that would take up no room at all.... we gave ideas for his Base station.... every time we suggested something he would do the complete opposite and then get mad that nothing was working... it was more than a little frustrating... funny he ruined his Cobra 29 too... he had a bad antenna and the 29LTD had high swr kept going off ( because of the bad antenna... .. so he took it apart and did something to it... and then did something again... until it didn't work


I just did a range test with a guy from Radio Reference using the Stryker antenna... it got over 9 miles mobile to mobile
which is very good

.... in my video above it was mobile to base station... I can get close to 20 miles mobile to base station.... so yes that antenna is fantastic and the Styker is supposed to be even better...
the guy I did the test with WX2Watch has no ground straps at all .. you should be able to have a working radio and the Stryker antenna without the straps, and it will work just fine... I feel the ground straps help a LOT... but many others say they will not do anything.... so someday you can add some... but for now it will work fine without them.

as for power.... yes #12 wire to the battery for the positive... but the negative needs to go directly to ground as close to the radio as possible.... I like to drill a 5/16 hole under the passenger floor as high as possible where your toes would be if you sat in the seat. ...I sand all the paint off the floor... I put a star washer against the metal floor then a big washer on top with a crimped Ring Terminal between the bolt head and the big washer... the star washer really bites into metal I use a star washer and lock washer and a lock nut under the floor..... after I make the connection and make sure it all works I paint the floor and the underside of the truck with Rust-OLeum paint.
that will help a lot with noise and proper operation... BUT it is not causing the problems you are having... having both wires to the battery will work well enough to set up your CB system.. and someday you should ground the radio as close to the radio as possible.
I actually used battery cables under the floor of my truck on the same bolt and connected a battery cable ( #6 wire ) to the frame and also to the exhaust.

the little SWR meter... shows me the watts my radio is putting out... and if the SWR is too high it beeps like heck and tells me...
all I have to do to see the SWR is key the mic and look at it and there it is in easy to read digital display.... I've had it for 2 years.... it's on Ebay for $50 bucks... if you get one... make sure you get the on / off switch on the back... I bought one with the On/Off switch in the front and the display was so tiny you can hardly see it... get this one small SWR / Power Meter they used to be $40 bucks... but everything went up.
I have a very expensive antenna analyzer I think it was close to $500 bucks ... funny that cheap Chinese SWR meter is always very close to the same readings!!!
it will make your life a whole lot easier if you can someday buy one.

right now... try to get what you have working... call Cobra and see if you can sent it back for warranty... I would not go with anything to do with E-bay.

if they send you a new one... hopefully it will work.. if it does ... enjoy it for a couple of months.. then see if you can sell it and buy the Radioddity QT-40... it will be a HUGE night and day difference... a toy Versus a real professional radio

 

[slowmover]

F

Great plan, it just would never be one of mine. Some of us do things differently, I NEVER hook ANY radio up to a freshly installed non tested with an analyzer, antenna. You guys can do that all you want, I personally won't. Sure, if it's something I've got on a vehicle already, and tested and have been using it then sure, absolutely. I've seen magnet mount antenna go bad simply moving them from one vehicle to another. (connections on either or both ends).


Again, not without checking it with some kind or reliable analyzer. Even the Nano VNA's have come around pretty good. I know you have a rig expert, even better when used properly. I think it's great you have one. I still use the Nano VNAs, a MFJ 259 (great for quick checks and if you like analog metering) and two AEA analyzers one for HF and one for VHF/UHF.


I think that's great you get out and help people, needs to be more of that!

I didn't post to argue or, really even discuss what most of us in radio already know and that is
you check an antenna system on a new install PRIOR to ever hooking a radio up. (any radio that transmits). I posted what 51 years of working with radios has taught and shown me. Take what I said with a grain of salt, I don't have any skin in this game. This isn't hook your tube type radio up to your 1/4 wave whip and pray any more, the radios today are frail and it takes only a second or two of a short circuit to take out the final(s) in these things. As I said I wish the OP well in his endeavors. I hope the OP gets a new radio, and it all works out for him. Frankly no one should be hooking up radios to unknown antenna systems, new, used or whatever without testing them. I mean, it's the internet so everything we're saying has to be true right???

As I said I hope the OP gets it all straightened out. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a system installed and it not working correctly. I sure hope when he does get it figure out he posts what the situation was. 73 -Greg

Good advice. Thanks for adding. I’ll bet very few CB’ers have thought that through.

Like our having gone from full serve to self serve retail gasoline. Price is lower DIY, but a good pro shop had to stand behind their work.

Like these guys (1967). Knew what were some of, “that funny sound”.



AA’s were expensive until recently.

My “test equipment” was my oldest or least desirable radio after a coax check.

 

[damion2492]

F

Great plan, it just would never be one of mine. Some of us do things differently, I NEVER hook ANY radio up to a freshly installed non tested with an analyzer, antenna. You guys can do that all you want, I personally won't. Sure, if it's something I've got on a vehicle already, and tested and have been using it then sure, absolutely. I've seen magnet mount antenna go bad simply moving them from one vehicle to another. (connections on either or both ends).


Again, not without checking it with some kind or reliable analyzer. Even the Nano VNA's have come around pretty good. I know you have a rig expert, even better when used properly. I think it's great you have one. I still use the Nano VNAs, a MFJ 259 (great for quick checks and if you like analog metering) and two AEA analyzers one for HF and one for VHF/UHF.


I think that's great you get out and help people, needs to be more of that!

I didn't post to argue or, really even discuss what most of us in radio already know and that is
you check an antenna system on a new install PRIOR to ever hooking a radio up. (any radio that transmits). I posted what 51 years of working with radios has taught and shown me. Take what I said with a grain of salt, I don't have any skin in this game. This isn't hook your tube type radio up to your 1/4 wave whip and pray any more, the radios today are frail and it takes only a second or two of a short circuit to take out the final(s) in these things. As I said I wish the OP well in his endeavors. I hope the OP gets a new radio, and it all works out for him. Frankly no one should be hooking up radios to unknown antenna systems, new, used or whatever without testing them. I mean, it's the internet so everything we're saying has to be true right???

As I said I hope the OP gets it all straightened out. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a system installed and it not working correctly. I sure hope when he does get it figure out he posts what the situation was. 73 -Greg

I looked up one of those nanoVNA and they look rather complicated, and expensive!! im sure my antenna is good!! we put my buddies peaked and tuned cobra 148(i think thats what model it is) on my antenna and it seemed to work fine! he's got a wilson 5000 antenna that bells electronics and cb shop in oakland pk Florida installed and he can chat with ppl from crapafonia to new york and anywhere in between just fine so I know his radio is good and im aboot 99.999% positive my antenna is good! I know even new stuff can, and many times is, junk!! I really believe that my radio is bad! either I got it that way, or when I opened it up and crank'd the mod pot! which ever it is, I really think its all in the radio not the antenna! buuut, like ya said, I didn't have it checked 1st, at least with the right equipment. sure do greatly appreciate everyone's feedback and support, definitely means a lot to me 👍👍 but as for now, fall is comin, I gotta get firewood cut and split and lots and lots of tomatoes to get canned!! im settin everything aside for now and gonna focus on continuing to educate myself on what to and NOT do with this!! thanks again, really appreciate it 👍👍

 

[K9KLC]

Good advice. Thanks for adding. I’ll bet very few CB’ers have thought that through.

Like our having gone from full serve to self serve retail gasoline. Price is lower DIY, but a good pro shop had to stand behind their work.

Like these guys (1967). Knew what were some of, “that funny sound”.

View attachment 190129

AA’s were expensive until recently.

My “test equipment” was my oldest or least desirable radio after a coax check.

Ya everything is expensive. The nano VNA however sort of broke the mold for that price barrier thing. Honestly I've compared mine to some pretty high end stuff (not the 10,000 stuff) but multiple hundreds and honestly, it's "close enough" that I feel comfortable using it instead of some of my AEA's when it's just easier to carry one device as opposed to to two devices. Honestly the MJF I have has been serving us since about 1996 or so and after some minor cold joint solder repair, it's still working fine and because I'm so used to it, for simple SWR checks to find the dip and such, I still like to watch the meters swing. .

Understood on the Oldest or least desirable radio. That works too, anything it's ok to sacrifice would be ok. I never worked about the systems that were more open as opposed to shorted but it only takes once LOL.

 

[niceguy71]

F

Great plan, it just would never be one of mine. Some of us do things differently, I NEVER hook ANY radio up to a freshly installed non tested with an analyzer, antenna. You guys can do that all you want, I personally won't. Sure, if it's something I've got on a vehicle already, and tested and have been using it then sure, absolutely. I've seen magnet mount antenna go bad simply moving them from one vehicle to another. (connections on either or both ends).


Again, not without checking it with some kind or reliable analyzer. Even the Nano VNA's have come around pretty good. I know you have a rig expert, even better when used properly. I think it's great you have one. I still use the Nano VNAs, a MFJ 259 (great for quick checks and if you like analog metering) and two AEA analyzers one for HF and one for VHF/UHF.


I think that's great you get out and help people, needs to be more of that!

I didn't post to argue or, really even discuss what most of us in radio already know and that is
you check an antenna system on a new install PRIOR to ever hooking a radio up. (any radio that transmits). I posted what 51 years of working with radios has taught and shown me. Take what I said with a grain of salt, I don't have any skin in this game. This isn't hook your tube type radio up to your 1/4 wave whip and pray any more, the radios today are frail and it takes only a second or two of a short circuit to take out the final(s) in these things. As I said I wish the OP well in his endeavors. I hope the OP gets a new radio, and it all works out for him. Frankly no one should be hooking up radios to unknown antenna systems, new, used or whatever without testing them. I mean, it's the internet so everything we're saying has to be true right???

As I said I hope the OP gets it all straightened out. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a system installed and it not working correctly. I sure hope when he does get it figure out he posts what the situation was. 73 -Greg

I never thought you were posting to argue, I knew you were only trying to help and you always do.

I also hope you know I was not trying to be negative to anything you said... Damion2492 doesn't have an antenna analyzer ... he was having so much trouble with antenna's ... every time I play with fender mounts or rain gutter mounts or back rest mounts and all that... nothing but problems.... the Stryker is generally the easiest fix... I was just pointing out it was the least likely of the problems.

 

[niceguy71]

I looked up one of those nanoVNA and they look rather complicated, and expensive!! im sure my antenna is good!! we put my buddies peaked and tuned cobra 148(i think thats what model it is) on my antenna and it seemed to work fine! he's got a wilson 5000 antenna that bells electronics and cb shop in oakland pk Florida installed and he can chat with ppl from crapafonia to new york and anywhere in between just fine so I know his radio is good and im aboot 99.999% positive my antenna is good! I know even new stuff can, and many times is, junk!! I really believe that my radio is bad! either I got it that way, or when I opened it up and crank'd the mod pot! which ever it is, I really think its all in the radio not the antenna! buuut, like ya said, I didn't have it checked 1st, at least with the right equipment. sure do greatly appreciate everyone's feedback and support, definitely means a lot to me 👍👍 but as for now, fall is comin, I gotta get firewood cut and split and lots and lots of tomatoes to get canned!! im settin everything aside for now and gonna focus on continuing to educate myself on what to and NOT do with this!! thanks again, really appreciate it 👍👍

I've tested the Wilson 5000 and the Stryker.... personally.... I think the Stryker is just a hair better... but both are about as good as you can get..... sounds like you ruled out the antenna

I'm sure that Radio is a problem.... please call Cobra and see if you can send it in for warranty work... DO NOT TELL THEM YOU OPENED IT....
just tell them you bought a Cobra and it's not working.... they will send you an e-mail and ask you to scan in your receipt from where you bought it.... you will do that... and they will give you a shipping label and you just mail it in..... don't talk about the refurbished store or it never worked or it's been opened... just provide what they ask you for,
.. the people there are the worlds best in customer care... I bet they will tell you to mail it to them and they will send you a brand new one... and you'll be done... all for the cost of shipping the radio to Cedar Electronics
800-554-31608

 

[K9KLC]

I looked up one of those nanoVNA and they look rather complicated, and expensive!! im sure my antenna is good!! we put my buddies peaked and tuned cobra 148(i think thats what model it is) on my antenna and it seemed to work fine! he's got a wilson 5000 antenna that bells electronics and cb shop in oakland pk Florida installed and he can chat with ppl from crapafonia to new york and anywhere in between just fine so I know his radio is good and im aboot 99.999% positive my antenna is good! I know even new stuff can, and many times is, junk!! I really believe that my radio is bad! either I got it that way, or when I opened it up and crank'd the mod pot! which ever it is, I really think its all in the radio not the antenna! buuut, like ya said, I didn't have it checked 1st, at least with the right equipment. sure do greatly appreciate everyone's feedback and support, definitely means a lot to me 👍👍 but as for now, fall is comin, I gotta get firewood cut and split and lots and lots of tomatoes to get canned!! im settin everything aside for now and gonna focus on continuing to educate myself on what to and NOT do with this!! thanks again, really appreciate it 👍👍

Sounds like you're narrowing it down which is what the desired outcome is. Let me ask you you're posting here on this forum aren't you? I suspect either a computer, tablet, or smart phone is involved in the process. You figure that stuff out right? The Nano VNA can be as complicated or basic as. you need it to be. Similar to the Rig Expert that @niceguy71, he has only posted photos of it doing basic SWR Checks at specific frequencies. The "collective" (a group of hams that loan stuff between each other) has one and we use it both as he does and the graphing capabilities on that device. It's a truly amazing device that is actually on my short list "one day" to have my own personal one.

 

[K9KLC]

I never thought you were posting to argue, I knew you were only trying to help and you always do.

I also hope you know I was not trying to be negative to anything you said... Damion2492 doesn't have an antenna analyzer ... he was having so much trouble with antenna's ... every time I play with fender mounts or rain gutter mounts or back rest mounts and all that... nothing but problems.... the Stryker is generally the easiest fix... I was just pointing out it was the least likely of the problems.

Man you're fine, that's just the tired old Italian coming out in me. I've always enjoyed our exchanges and and have enjoyed your antenna testing information! Yes I hope he gets it squared away. Frankly if I could have a magnet mount or roof mount on my work truck I'd try one of the Strykers just to see what's up with them! 73!

 

[K9KLC]

I've tested the Wilson 5000 and the Stryker.... personally.... I think the Stryker is just a hair better... but both are about as good as you can get..... sounds like you ruled out the antenna

This is interesting. I've used the 5K for some years now, and am really happy with the performance on it on both CB and even up on the 10 meter ham band. Like in my other post, perhaps one day I'll up the money for the Stryker and see what's up with it!

 

[K9KLC]

crankin the mod pot!

Like you, I'm 99.999% sure a simple mod pot crank up did not cause a problem in the radio. Good luck, don't give up the ship.

 

[WSAC829]

I'm 99.999% sure a simple mod pot crank up did not cause a problem

Unless it was the wrong pot / can. If one of the cans was turned it would explain a lot of what’s going on.

 

[EAFrizzle]

I know OP has mentioned the cost and learning curve for the NanoVNA, but for others finding this thread, I highly recommend the NanoVNA and the TinySA spectrum analyzer as well. They're inexpensive for what they are, and not as hard to use as they may seem. Used together, even a goober like me can get a lot of useful and usable information about an antenna and a radio.

Do you need one to install one or two radios? Definitely not. But, if the RF bug bites you, they're well worth it.