No antenna kills a CB?

[icebone]

Hello,

This is a CB question, but the antenna experts here probably know it better than random CB users in some other forum... I remember reading somewhere that if you turn on a CB without an antenna attached, it ruins the radio. Is this actually the case?

I have a little handheld cobra CB that i've had for a few years... i used to have it rigged up on my cherokee with a stupid $10 walmart center-loaded mag-mount junk antenna, but then i replaced the little rubber ducky. I think it might have been on with no antenna attached, at one point. It doesn't seem to receive anything, ever, anymore. I never know if i'm just not near a signal, or if it's just never going to receive anything again. The only time i can get it to make noise at all is if i hold the antenna near the ignition on my car and turn the squelch all the way off -- then i get some nice serious static. Thoughts?

cheers
-icebone

 

[K8PBX]

Just having it powered on shouldn't of hurt anything.

Now, transmitting without an antenna - that's a different story.

 

[icebone]

yeah

yeah, i figured that -- i don't think i transmitted with no antenna, but you never know. As i said, it still turns on (and receives nice static from the ignition) but that's about all.

The range is probably junk on a handheld CB with a ducky but i feel like i shoudl be able to hear SOMETHING. On the highway, plenty of trucks around, i scroll through all 40 channels and get nothing. Just dead air.

 

[drouse3]

It sounds like it a dead CB.

 

[Colin9690]

The range is probably junk on a handheld CB with a ducky but i feel like i shoudl be able to hear SOMETHING. On the highway, plenty of trucks around, i scroll through all 40 channels and get nothing. Just dead air.

Pull up right next to a big rig on the highway on Channel 19 and ask for a radio check, seriously. Trunkers never hesitate to confirm that your radio is working, if it works, they'll yet you know.

 

[KC8JPZ]

You would be surprised at how little a cb will receive with no antenna. Also, just having it powered on with no antenna will not hurt the radio. Transmitting with no antenna may cause harm. Is this cb one of the itty bitty jobs with the LED signal meter? If all you want to do is reveive get your coat hangers out and have some fun.

73's
KC8JPZ
JiM

 

[icebone]

Hey,

It's just a Cobra 37ST handheld CB. It has an antenna on it, the little rubber one it came with. It's just not doing a lot these days. Next time i'm near a rig i'll try a radio check on 19, but i remember when the radio was new i'd pick up tx now and then on it -- now, nothing.

-icebone

 

[SIMON11]

It could be a bad antenna connection? Can you take it to bits and check it with a multimeter?

 

[Astrak]

You might just need a better antenna with just a generic ducky you wont receive transmissions very well get something designed for a CB radio. Also transmitting or receiving from inside your house or vehicle won't work very well.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Ice and good buddies,

Even a 5W CB portable is less than useless unless it's connected to a proper antenna. Take it from one who has "been there, done that", both transmit and receive range is extremely limited when used as a hand held. Oh, just because you see "Twin Truckers" mounted on the cab mirrors doesn't say the driver is monitoring 19 or ANY channel, driving all that distance "with your ears on" can make you crazy. Then he could be one of those illegal "freebanders" jib-jabbering out of band but that's a gripe I'd rather not get into at this time.