Need someone to test my radio. Portland area is dead.

[cmjonesinc]

Best of luck. I think you have a bit of learning to do. Doubt I'll be tasting crow tomorrow as I wouldn't trust any swr readings your radios are putting out at this point. You can't shove RF down the throat of a radio and not expect damage... even if it's turned off. But then again.... I didn't come here asking why I can't talk to anyone and I probably don't know anything

 

[Dwitherspoon]

Do the test now. The receiving radio doesn't need an antenna and, in fact, doing the test without the other antenna is a better test. With the receiving radio in the same room with the transmitter there should be a good meter reading.

By the way, you might put some thought into possibly updating your wall phone. But that's just me.

Best of luck. I think you have a bit of learning to do. Doubt I'll be tasting crow tomorrow as I wouldn't trust any swr readings your radios are putting out at this point. You can't shove RF down the throat of a radio and not expect damage... even if it's turned off. But then again.... I didn't come here asking why I can't talk to anyone and I probably don't know anything

I didn’t come here to debate why I couldn’t talk to anyone! There isn’t anyone on freq! No one in the greater Portland metro area of Oregon is listening! No one uses it here! That was my point! Then it devolved into personal accusations of competence or lack there of.

the broader question is why is everyone so hostile when new comers arrive. We should be doing everything we can to get more users. The FCC can and might kill It entirely.

Ham radio is facing the same thing. Old timers are giving up the ghost and no one is replacing the boomers. FCC has, and is still considering selling the spectrum.

If I did the test now, it would be called Into question like everything else.

 

[cmjonesinc]

You came here asking why you can't hear anyone in your area. After you described your setup several of us could see why couldn't hear anything. You responded by saying what you were doing must be right because you have been doing it for years. You have very likely cooked your radios by running next to no ground plane with an amp with two radios split together. Others and I aren't being hostile, we are just trying to tell you that you aren't using the correct configuration. I'm always happy to help anyone in the radio community but some people who need help don't know that they do. I'm sure there is plenty of knowledge here to get you up and going. CB may be slow in some areas but I can't imagine 40 completely dead channels in a metro area. As a licensed amateur as well as a cb operator, I can assure you that the spectrum is very busy if you have a proper configuration.

 

[KevinC]

I also have a small 3 ft small mag mount I used to use on my trans am.

Looks good.

 

[jonwienke]

I didn’t come here to debate why I couldn’t talk to anyone! There isn’t anyone on freq! No one in the greater Portland metro area of Oregon is listening! No one uses it here! That was my point! Then it devolved into personal accusations of competence or lack there of.

the broader question is why is everyone so hostile when new comers arrive. We should be doing everything we can to get more users.

If you're looking for hostility, look in the mirror. Pointing out the problems with your setup isn't hostility, it's an effort to help you.

You're wrong about the entire CB band being silent. If you're anywhere near a freeway, there will be truckers on 19 on a fairly regular basis. And even if there wasn't any local traffic (which I doubt), there's always the alligator stations running kilowatts of power shooting skip and making nuisances of themselves on 16 and other channels that can be heard pretty much anywhere in the US when the skip is in.

If you're not hearing any of that, it's because you're running an inefficient loaded indoor antenna mounted at ground level on an extremely undersized ground plane surrounded by metal objects blocking the signal, connected to radios that have been deafened by being repeatedly hit with signal levels literally thousands or millions of times higher than what they were designed to handle for years. Not because the band is silent.

Nobody envies your gear or your setup. Your radios have probably been fried by the abuse you've subjected them to, and the odds of the antenna setup in your photos having an SWR of less than 2:1 are less than 1%. I certainly wouldn't be interested in a trade...

 

[sparklehorse]

I tuned to I think it was channel 17 a week or two ago here in Portland, and there actually was quite a bit of activity. The usual local CB dudes playing music and making the crudest possible jokes. This was on a MLA30+ mag loop and Icom R75. I will try to tune in again tonight when I get home and see what's what. I'll make a recording if stuff is happening. I wonder if 'Home Wrecker' and 'Country Girl' are still fighting with each other on the CB channels. Or if there's any folks still talking about the Pickle Park.
.

 

[WB9YBM]

Try this:
Disconnect the antenna from one of the radios. Set both radios on the same channel with AM and key the radio which still has the antenna. See if there is anything at all on the receiving radio. If it's receiver is still healthy there should be a good signal indication on it's S-meter.

...and you'll probably get a feedback squeel...

 

[KB4MSZ]

I'm curious about the test results. Need to know if I should pre-heat the oven for this crow or not.

 

[cmjonesinc]

I'm curious about the test results. Need to know if I should pre-heat the oven for this crow or not.

I'll bring dessert

 

[mikewazowski]

Even if he can’t hear any locals, he should be able to hear someone on channel 6 when conditions are right.

 

[Dwitherspoon]

I tested all three radios and they work. Backwards and forwards. All three send and receive. I tested all three with my 7’ mag mount and 3’ mag mount and they all tuned down to 1.1 or less.

On a side note gentlemen.

My car photo omy Facebook page freaked out my wife and she demanded I not be a part of this forum.

That was pretty weird guys. I was a little surprised myself. In the creepy way.

 

[Dwitherspoon]

I tuned to I think it was channel 17 a week or two ago here in Portland, and there actually was quite a bit of activity. The usual local CB dudes playing music and making the crudest possible jokes. This was on a MLA30+ mag loop and Icom R75. I will try to tune in again tonight when I get home and see what's what. I'll make a recording if stuff is happening. I wonder if 'Home Wrecker' and 'Country Girl' are still fighting with each other on the CB channels. Or if there's any folks still talking about the Pickle Park.
.

I have 3 radios going sans amp on all major channels since 4:00 PM. I haven't heard a soul. Channel 6, 19 and 17. All active, all on. Just static.

 

[cmjonesinc]

There is no possible way you are getting a 1.1 or less with either of those antennas with your pictured setup. Sans amp is completely irrelevant for receiving purposes.

 

[Dwitherspoon]

Oh, it is true. I tested in every possible way because of what you're doing right now. That's what I got across three radios and two antenna. I assume you graduated from high school, what college did you go to? Drop out? Bachelor's or masters? GPA? I'll post my transcripts if you post yours? I'm a huge believer in fairness. High school 3.8 flat and college 3.91. Are you an abused child? Did you wife leave you? Did none of the popular kids invite you to sit with them at lunch in middle school?

Help me understand here. My readings are a fact and are a matter of record. You're upbringing and lack of social graces are not.

 

[jonwienke]

In-radio meters are not accurate. And the fact that others in your area are hearing traffic and you are not is a pretty good indication your assumptions and conclusions aren't accurate, either.

 

[Dwitherspoon]

In-radio meters are not accurate. And the fact that others in your area are hearing traffic and you are not is a pretty good indication your assumptions and conclusions aren't accurate, either.

One person said he might have heard traffic years ago! Three of my radios are not dead! I've keyed up and my wife has responded to me on three different set ups! My voice and my wife's are all that's to be had in the Portland metro area! Good lord. You people are either willfully ignorant, or not bright.

Forget the Trans Am social media stalking, you guys aren't well. Some are cool, but some of you aren't well. i would encourage you. No, Implore you to be more open. Toxic stuff.

Best,
D.

 

[jonwienke]

Not years ago, last week. Post 46...

 

[cmjonesinc]

"every possible way" you say? What test equipment are you using? On board swr meters and talking to a radio you are within sight of? Are those three radios and two antenna all tee'd together?

 

[vagrant]

It is incredible that those radios didn't completely cook the RX with that T adapter, even with 5 watts and either one turned off. Still, I wonder how well they work with one setup at the residence and the other on the vehicle one, five, 10 miles away. I wonder if they can TX/RX a block away. Testing a few feet apart is one thing, but distance is crucial.

I haven't talked on 11 meters in decades. It was fun.

 

[522]

This keeps getting better and better as it goes. Cant make this up... lol