SKIP Problems in Noise Abatement.

[slowmover]

After a pair of 12+ hour days of “radio on”, weekday vs weekend serves fairly well as representative of expectations I’ve outlined in the, Do Truckers Still Use CB, thread:

Many drivers off at home or on a 34-hr re-set (HOS);

And, too many of the selfish home on Saturday using AM-19 for DX.

It’s not that I didn’t hear or failed to respond to local RX, it’s that the unAmerican (wife-less, child-less, dishonorable) in the several dozens overpower AM-19 viability without a better-than-average radio rig.

Pretty well every hour of daylight 0900-1500 were the cretins present. Paid or not.

What’s to remember about Skip is that across the USA is wildly varying weather. My day was a good example of why keeping AM-19 for truckers (all travelers) is a good thing: I spent most of yesterday in a Winter Storm Advisory, and into the evening in a High Wind Warning. More of which all day today. Temps from -6 to 15F forecast.

We’ve all experienced difficult weather in driving. So why would some s#*+ on that?

If you wouldn’t, what would I need to pay you to change that? (is my contention). No family or friends, no sense of honor . . we seem to have no lack of these specimens today. Just enough of them with their little side-hustle. Gig.

The psych misfits I.D.’d themselves. The Enemy simply subsidizes (and penalizes).

Agitation against use of Citizen Band only shows its value. (Wake up).

Clarity in vocal reproduction is a goal for any CB system. In Mobile, it’s even more valuable despite the extra difficulties. I may despair at content, but I can make out what I can receive.

— Back off the sharp edge of RF Gain, and ease in a bit of Squelch works well almost all day. Local gets thru, if not the weakest.

— The problem of Skip for the traveler is mediated in the solutions found in attention to systems & gear.

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[slowmover]

AM-19 Truck Context for The Traveler’s Channel

Day of the Week, and Time of Day.

Truck Traffic Nationwide (1)

Truck Traffic Nationwide (2)

— East-West traffic (cross-continent) least likely to be on-air excepting locals & regionals until east of IH-55.

— North-South traffic much more likely to be on-air (except far out West when away from Ag-Biz centers).

Skip may cover up some of what’s to be heard (sub-par truck radio systems), but keep in mind where you are, and,

1). Day: weekdays is when one hears truck traffic;

2). Time of Day: from 0500 till 1500 (except metro areas where it lingers) is when drivers are actively sorting their workday.

After about four in the afternoon and throughout the weekend, most truck drivers are off-air. Deliveries finished, been to shipper to re-load and now winding down. Or locals who’ve gone home after 1500.

— Truck drivers tend to stay with truck biz topics. Common parlance is recognizable coast-to-coast.

Most drivers aren’t running anything more than an export radio (wattage amount). They’re not who you hear queering the channel.

What’s a comfortable set of adjustments on a weekday morning hearing local traffic really should suffice at almost all times (given you’ve left the 1980s behind with a DSP-equipped radio rig).

How Skip should sound:

When you are hearing truck drivers on Skip with truck-related topics, that’s when to make radio control adjustments and note S-Meter readings. (A baseline reference).

This “might” include some base stations advertising on-air to truckers.

The mobile ones will be coming across in about the same way you would at distance given that your radio system priority was Hear, and Get Heard.

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[slowmover]

The worst AM-19 base station offenders are on the East Coast. Skip makes them nationwide over the longest period of the day until sundown . . and encourages others to so sin against their fellow man.

The ones paid/credited to keep the anti-Mark Sherman chorus going. Explain otherwise why they keep it up.

Between DesertDukDick and his sidekicks, AM-19 is harder to use. They’re in it together. Same Master.

Anyone using AM-19 for DX does the Devils work.

I’ve spent several days waiting to get across Wyoming on IH80. Opens, then closes. The winter weather is legendary. Thousands of trucks affected. And there've been several massive pile-ups made worse by the a-wipes on 19 blocking RX and discouraging use in general.

Over a hundred vehicles wrecked and several fatalities the past six days. Blame extends to those who grossly interfere with local comms on 19 when three dozen other channels exist.


Every day of the year sees difficulties for men on the road all over the nation. The Travelers Channel ought to be sacrosanct. Nothing excuses the use of 19 for anything but the road-related. Working men, family men all.

Fifty years of that use and everyone knows it. The dozen-plus causing interference daily stand out. Weekends are even worse.

Thunderstorms one place. Sand storms another. Fog, yet another. Then construction, minor accidents, animals on the roadway . . . every one of these is lessened in severity due to the use of CB Radio AM-19 by travelers in car and truck.

The use of Citizen Band by travelers is directly a reason it was created. At the very heart.

It’s hard to top the nations most closed stretch of Interstate. Not only in winter. And it’s the paid job of some to make it worse everywhere else as this solar cycle swings up.

I-80 in Wyoming closed almost immediately after reopening


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[slowmover]

The audio reproduction one favors will influence how well one tolerates listening past Skip for local.

Here’s another DSP speaker choice.

At 0430 in far Wyoming, I’ll adjust the radio to its sharpest audio tone filter to pick up distant drivers commenting on conditions before I pull out.

This highway was beset by problems for days. The WYODOT interactive map shows no real problems now , but there’s no substitute for latest info. (Ran out of time to clear the affected stretch).

More than three dozen broken or abandoned big trucks on the side in the last 200-miles. (Not wrecked). Diesel fuel gel problems, etc.

Less sharp audio later in the day. Too many of these drivers turn into zombies at the wheel after long highway delays. (Bad decisions and passing too much setting up the same conditions for multi-vehicle wrecks all over again).

Knowing to back off a mile or more from the next big truck with an radio heads-up avoids these mini-jams to which car drivers add themselves (“But I’m going faster”, stupid excuse given). Bad weather pile-ups aren’t accidental.

This is what matters: the chance to avoid.

DSP makes AM-19 navigable as most important radio system addition. Skip a-holes to one side and local drivers getting thru, mainly.

The antenna system first (zero compromise), DSP, second, and other gear last (most radios if not DSP equipped). Cheap cigar-lighter power and 3’ mag mount antenna system rigs are no longer viable for mobile due to solar cycle upswing.

If one wants to liken it to needing a more sophisticated scanner as agencies “upgrade”, it’s an accurate analogy.


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[slowmover]

If I’m not mistaken, the number of a-holes on AM-19 has increased.

After a just-finished three week trip and paying even closer attention all day I’ll admit some amazement at the number of “reasonable sounding, congratulatory-of-others-radio-rigs types”, who think themselves above reproach.

It didn’t matter a great deal the past few years as Skip faded in & out. (A novelty).

I was east-bound back across Wyoming with an empty trailer after waiting two days for high winds to subside to 30-mph gusts. Passed a section ahead of reaching the notorious Elk Mountain stretch of IH-80 where three trucks were off in the ditch due to black ice (daytime).

Over the next fifteen (15) miles I couldn’t raise a single westbound driver about the problem ahead of them.

OTOH, stuck at a truckstop with 100+ others, we had some discussion on how to get better radio performance. Fixes applied that work.

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[slowmover]

Above and slightly behind drivers left shoulder for speaker placement.

1). Needs less total volume.

2). Easier to distinguish weak signals.

3). Less aggravating or confusing compared to other locations. Only CB from this area.

 

[slowmover]

After working in a light sweat for hours against a 30-mph crosswind it’s confirmation again about this speaker location being first choice.

“No news is good news”, when it comes to truck blowovers, granted. Coming upon one blocking the highway, unseen, is the concern.

The second half of the day was intermittent ice at altitude (from 3,000 climbing to up near 8,000-ft). Vehicles in the ditch, but not without warning.

 

[slowmover]

Update



Had this radio on dash, alone, a few months. The Anytone AT5555-N2. Removed about $600 in gear and replaced it with $300.

Also the DX-901 extension speaker from Driver Extreme. Its so good with an NRC-equipped radio that it should be considered a mandatory option.



Back home in August I rebuilt the TAC COMM RADIO CARRIER to include the new radio.

Skip while a problem in noise abatement the head-on difficulty, RFI-EMI the interim battle:




So I’ve had filters at both ends. Distinct help.
As I’m using the radio carrier again, time to throw in the kitchen sink, also:



Use of the Radio Carrier means I can add/subtract from “the station in the passenger seat”.

Transceiver — Palomar RTX filter to Morgan 411cb Bandpass — amp — MFJ-945e Mobile Tuner — Palomar CMNF-1500L — Coax to antenna — Palomar Feedpoint choke.

— Yeah, that’s an effective diagram to follow in reducing noise (but it sure as heck has too many termination connections for mobile).

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[slowmover]

The backside of the Radio Carrier is the story. Not a recommended path in total, only in parts.



Power to multiple devices. Coax to all. And case grounds to a single point then connected to 12V Negative. PITA.

Quick Disconnects to be able to remove Radio Carrier easily & quickly.

The Mobile Radio Erector Set Approach in Experimentation.

Haven’t yet ordered this:

CMC-130-3K 1-30MHz – MyAntennas.com

Which will replace the two RTX-end coax filters and maybe the BPS. It’s “big” for an outboard device used mobile, so the Radio Carrier lower case was set to accommodate it.

As things stand, most AM traffic is now received at almost two-way radio noise levels. As an approximation, let’s understand. Heavy Skip is that which to surmount.

Changed to a phased antenna system for the Freightliner yesterday.

From a simpler, but lopsided circle to:



As mobile use in a big truck is complicated by a 13’ tall trailer directly aft of the tractor.

Trade-offs made in favor of distances greater out ahead and behind for Distant Early Warning are SOP for big trucks since the 1970s by using a pair of antennas.



A pair of Sirio 5000 coils + whips now mounted atop SS 44” shafts. (At about 8’ at present in total length; just under 14’ total height).



Shown with Palomar Engineers CMNF-500 Feedpoint choke to complete the diagram of recommended noise help (last in post above).


— Have to replicate Port side RF Bonds on Starboard this evening.


Skip is heavy just now in Comancheria (en route Fort Worth to Albuquerque), but audio clarity is evident in that phenomenon and in local to highest degree yet achieved.

“Simplification”, will be by removal of devices as I go along once antenna system is closer to finalized.


High Performance Radio is what one wants in order to deal with the aggravating trolls on base stations who shouldn’t be on AM-19 disturbing men at work or those using 19 to move their families safely making high speed decisions with life-changing consequences.

All this in order to then be able to distinguish weak/receding signals in his immediate area. It’s clarity all the way down in Skip Problems in Noise Abatement.

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[Trucker700]

Interesting setup. Thanks for sharing. The problem with skip won't go away until the current sunspot cycle starts winding down. Currently, it's increasing and expected to get even stronger. 27Mhz should never have been chosen as a business/local communications band.( before the CB craze took it over) It is effected by sunspots much more than VHF or UHF. Line of sight communications is much more effective at higher frequencies. And that is what would be needed for reliable communications at distances of a few miles or less. There are other choices for reliable communication over short distances. But, getting truckers to adopt them would be nearly impossible. Plus, so many now don't even use a CB radio, even if there is one installed in their truck. Too busy playing with their cellphone or listening to SiriusXM. Not only that, most cannot hit the speed limit downhill with a tail wind! So, they are not concerned about where the local LEO is sitting. And as for traffic stops, those that do turn on their radios, wait till they are already stuck in a backup. Then they want to know what's going on. I always told them if they had their radio on, then they would have known ahead of time and could have possibly avoided the backup and possible long wait.
CB radio will never be what it once was. But, if guys and gals out there are still interested in short range communications, there are other, more reliable methods and equipment. Just getting people to switch would be the greatest challenge.
James
WD5GWY

 

[slowmover]

What might work, in mobile, to allay Skip?

That’s the desired end.
(Reason for the thread).


How travelers & truckers might maintain local comms despite the deliberate interference from base stations thru the day on AM-19 as a result of Skip.


Day One of the latest rig and it’s very quiet. Easier to modify controls to dampen distant base stations, yet not lose local average (weak) mobile radios by so doing.

Weakest not likely heard in heavy Skip unless almost on top of each other.

On days without Skip this radio rig is superb in hearing all that can be heard. And that’s almost 100% other truck drivers. That they’re discussing the road-related —!in main — makes it obvious they aren’t the problem.

15-40/miles isn’t unusual under right conditions, but it’s not regular. 5-15/miles is what’s wanted, and on that promise this “type” rig can deliver. Not just the loud radio rigs of some truck drivers.

This diagram is the basic past RF Bonds to door hinges, and FF/RR of cab (weedburner exhaust now the standard, and it’s short. Stacks would need bonding).

 

[sambu]

What might work, in mobile, to allay Skip?

That’s the desired end.
(Reason for the thread).

You keep asking this, and others have answered, but you keep ignoring them. Let me answer very clearly:

NOTHING will truly "allay" skip in 27MHz AM. IT IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF THE LAWS OF PHYSICS!

You can't beat the laws of physics. You can only work with them and around them. If you truly want to avoid skip, use a different modulation (FM), or a much higher frequency (GMRS), preferably both.

It looks like some truckers are already doing this:

GMRS Truckers/Highway Channel

When using a GMRS radio in your truck it is recommended that you Monitor Channel 7 without Privacy Codes. Channel 7 is a 5 Watt channel, so always use...

www.thetruckersreport.com

 

[slowmover]

I’m not “ignoring” anyone or anything.

Skip can be dealt via audio clarity to a significant degree. Those thinking I’m looking to try to eliminate Skip have misread what’s written. Jumping to conclusions not supported.

Alleviation is the entire point.

— Mobile CB has the problem of weak signal versus strong while all are moving. Some advancing and some retreating. Time is of the essence.

Retrieving the weaker (local) RX from the cacophony of Skip is alleviation.

How much one can tamp things down via RF Gain & Squelch becomes a losing proposition without NRC/DSP (is the start point).


— Lacking experience in CB with digital signal processing of RX is a problem for understanding the thread topic.


Adjustable-range NRC Radio plus coax filters at both ends is the start I’d suggest. (DX-901 speaker, as well as RF Bonds).

— What others may have tried and found some success —


Continue on the path of a dead-quiet, high performance radio rig for disambiguation.

KØBG.COM

A Web Site For Mobile Amateur Radio Operators

www.k0bg.com

The erector set radio rig is to make it easier for me to swap components. Add or Delete “bang-for-the-buck”. Kitchen sink is that I’m tossing what I already own at the problem. (So far, so good).

Big trucks are difficult. Personal vehicles much less so. Mobile more difficult than stationary/permanent, so who knows from where experience may shine a light.

Operator Experience is the key. Components are but one way of discussing that. The latter isn’t the focus, ideally.

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[slowmover]

RF

Here’s an example of a useful device at speed.

(Arguments about accuracy not relevant).

A large, remote S-Meter mounted in east eye view to compare relative signal strength can be useful in determinations about Skip versus local.

It’s quite possible to hear of a road-related problem being broadcast, but the warning is without State & Road. One has heard, “Hey, eastbound, you had a wreck just happen ahead of you at about the 323-marker”.

State is good to add, always.
Highway, Direction of Travel, and Mile Marker is required.

S-Meter gives us “relative strength” as local is usually a closer correspondence in strength-to-audio loudness.

Not always.

Extra-strong Skip can move the S-Meter pretty far.

My radio preference past thirty years has been for a large S-Meter (Galaxy)

 

[slowmover]

DSP (called “NRC” on latest radios).

A mobile example working against a solar electric system. (50-sec).

This is the start point radio feature with which to deal with Skip problems as voice has the noise cut away from it.

There is the quantity of noise cut away, and what video clips can’t reproduce is that the quality of voice as experienced makes for a NEW world in CB performance.

Audio Ware - West Mountain Radio

CLRspkr ClearSpeech DSP Noise Reduction Speaker. CLRdsp ClearSpeech DSP Noise Reduction Processor. PWRspkr 15W. COMspkr Computer Speaker System.

www.westmountainradio.com

— For older CB radios not NRC-equipped, choose from above.

I’ve close to ten years experience in running DSP filtration on AM-19. There’s not a substitute. (Period).

The thread has this as start point in experience.

Alleviation is finer points past this start.

Build radio rig to highest standard. Rubber ducky on dash ain’t it, nor is the now-ancient Cobra 29 and a 4’ mag-mount.

One is not going to avoid entanglement with a high-speed, multi-vehicle pile-up on an Interstate with only 1-2/miles of warning. Tallest antenna to greatest height is also fundamental.

3-5/miles is barely sufficient to exit the road or pull over on the shoulder (itself dangerous). 5-miles and beyond is what’s wanted.

Skip interference on AM-19 working as it should isn’t accidental or by chance.



Greatest possible range of RX is the reason for noise abatement, and Skip is not itself an impossible barrier to receiving on AM-19 all day.

— In effect one is narrowing the amount of clock time heavy Skip all but blanks ones RX. This is the moving target.


How one drives is the other part (daily trip plan + travel speed), which is beyond the scope of this thread. Driver Edjumacation.

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[slowmover]

aRFView attachment 148775

Here’s an example of a useful device at speed.

(Arguments about accuracy not relevant).

A large, remote S-Meter mounted in east eye view to compare relative signal strength can be useful in determinations about Skip versus local.

It’s quite possible to hear of a road-related problem being broadcast, but the warning is without State & Road. One has heard, “Hey, eastbound, you had a wreck just happen ahead of you at about the 323-marker”.

State is good to add, always.
Highway, Direction of Travel, and Mile Marker is required.

S-Meter gives us “relative strength” as local is usually a closer correspondence in strength-to-audio loudness.

Not always.

Extra-strong Skip can move the S-Meter pretty far.

My radio preference past thirty years has been for a large S-Meter (Galaxy)

(Had to drop finishing post linked as was time to move the truck).

Given best mobile radio rig, then this tool becomes part of disambiguation.

“Best mobile radio rig” is discussion in thread below. Exact component is one thing, but features are that which matter.

What & Why:

2023 Best Mobile CB

Via mobile experience as an OTR truck driver. Several thousand hours annual use. Earlier references to the Qixiang factory’s new circuit board elsewhere. Several brands. The above possibly the best known example at present. Paired with the equally new Driver Extreme DRX-9010 External Speaker...

forums.radioreference.com

The thread we are in is a part of, “why”.

Don’t let The Enemy silence you or stop up your ears.

“Own the means of communication”, is at stake. The mobile radio rigs one encounters have average (poor) performance.

1). Build to overcome the deficiencies of the other mans mobile radio rig.

2). Utilize further tools with an increasingly experienced ear to isolate important TX.

Skip is not an insurmountable barrier on any CB channel, and for any radio use. 19 & traffic is the knife-edge test..


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[niceguy71]

The discourtesy of screwing up AM-19.

The understood Truckers Channel.

Got 39 to 119 other channels before we consider freeband.

The thread is not to whine and moan, but to introduce others new to CB how to deal with Skip overwhelming local comms. The exigencies of the road.

Your experience and advice. (This post is “where I am, today”; welcome suggestions on my behalf and that of others).

My experience is Mobile.
Almost all as a truck driver.
This is a vital tool.
Skip makes things difficult.

— Best system ingredients of antenna/coax system, cleanest 12V power and quality component selection (a step up from entry-level).

It’s vital to ensure NO 12V noise (engine-running), and nothing the coax is picking up from your vehicle or others. Test & research. Don’t compromise.

I’m using a new GALAXY 959b with an alignment & tune by Ray Brashear, a Palomar Engineer Transceiver Coax Filter, an ICE 411cb Bandpass Filter, (into a KL-203 amp) and Mini-8 coax into a P-E Feedpoint Filter and out a 7’ Skipshooter atop a Predator stud on PROCOMM P4 mount.

RF Bonded doors, antenna mount (with cab & exhaust to come).

Audio is via a West Mountain Radio CLEARSPEECH DSP Speaker (biggest noise clean-up after quality install).

— Listed the above to lend context to adjusting controls or making changes as below:

Step One: Find a quiet channel mid-day (relative), and dial RF GAIN back to almost dead. Then SQUELCH to almost cover that.

Step Two: Back to 19 (which will be louder; more voices) with this noise reference registered.

Step Three: This is where NB/ANL can be used to effect. (Don’t expect much). DSP or NRC can be adjusted. Both more for audio “quality” versus “quiet”.

Step Four: This is where the willingness to open the wallet and experiment enters.

The asswipes on AM-19 running base stations are likely the same ones who’d assure you they’re patriotic Americans. But “forget” to tell you they wear an N95 in the shower and have had all their vaccination boosters.

This form of opposition to good order might fade some (besides those who — like Internet hasbara, trolls, are paid to F up the natural order to the benefit of their masters) given you best equip yourself to:

Hear, and Get Heard.

Then to exercise that prerogative on AM-19. Speak up. Radio isn’t passive listening. Give Universe clues of what you’re trying to accomplish (which is to successfully complete your trip).

He helps those that help themselves.

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I always had mic gain and RF gain to max.... I didn't even know why they made them adjustable. thanks Slowmover

 

[slowmover]

My attempts are such that the worst of Skip is now down to an hour or two late in the day.

This is significantly different than the loss of utility for half or more of the working day.

That loss of the last hour or so of daylight is on only the days with the worst in Skip.

Upgrades to the RF Bond system this past week show (again) following best advice is the best approach (about 20-22’ feet of 3/4” woven copper braid in this instance; $65 plus lugs).



Go for quiet.

Bonding

The AT5555-N2 shows S4 at 0430 when wide-open in a near-metro area (SQL to 10). It’s kinda hot, so dialing RFG back to an S2 is SOP. Glad I am that the VOL has a numerical read as I’ve blasted myself out of the seat in early morning not having adjusted that control in accordance (ha!), and the locals get to speaking past 0500 (34 vs 44 when moving & past daylight)..

The menu-choice of ASQ I operate at 8 for the late day heaviest Skip. That’s about the only time I use this pre-set as it seems to still allow local comms with regularity, albeit not much distance.

I’d say that’s where a typical non-NRC, lower quality install radio system operates thru a day without Skip, but better than with mag mount antenna per my rental car experience).

— In other words, right gear (DSP) with right install does much to alleviate Skip interference with local comms on AM-19.

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[slowmover]

Post in thread '2023 Best Mobile CB'
2023 Best Mobile CB

RF Bonds & Coax filters making noise floor lower eases radio burden and it’s possible to bring audio to a higher level of clarity given speaker choice and it’s location.

Mobile hasn’t ever been this good.

These big trucks are a PITA. So for your private vehicle “range” (depth) ought to be even better.

Pulling your wife out of the noise as she makes her way home (Mobile to Base) brings “reliable” 11M HF to the level you’ve wanted.

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[slowmover]

Post in thread 'Which of these amps should I get?'
Which of these amps should I get?

NRC meant I could also help that base station precisely dial in his Mic Gain & Talkback against his power mic settings. His voice went from intelligible to — if I knew him — fully familiar.

NRC means best ears on the road all around you.

Don’t assume others hear as well: repeat needed details from RX.

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