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Newbie
Feb 28, 2022 20:09:20 GMT -5
Post by redeyegunner on Feb 28, 2022 20:09:20 GMT -5
Hello All, Complete CB radio green horn here. Unpacked an old 23 channel radio that I bought used about 10 years ago and hooked it up. Don't have a clue as to what I'm doing. Got a flexible "Y" shape antenna that at the time an add said it was good for setting up indoors that is hanging from my upstairs rafters. This is hooked into a CB tester box which is hooked into the radio. Did some preliminary dinking around and watched the needle on the tester swing up and down a few times but that's it. I have an extra antennae cable with a longer post on it than what is hooked up. No idea if that is somethings special or not. Most of my knowledge of radios was learned in the military. Any help to get this thing into action would be appreciated. Can supply pics and such if that would help. Thanks in advance.
Mike
EDIT: Okay, so the antenna is a Falcon 11 dipole style flexible. Right now I have it set up in a "T" up in my attic. I get static on the CB but can't hear anyone talking. Anyone had any experience with this type of antenna?
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Post by 2600 on Mar 2, 2022 1:54:26 GMT -5
I get static on the CB but can't hear anyone talking. Anyone had any experience with this type of antenna?
Traffic level on the air has dropped year by year for a couple of decades. Even channel 19 will be quiet for long stretches. Being near an interstate helps, since that's the source of traffic on that channel. When the upper atmosphere becomes active during the day, you'll hear stations from a thousand or more miles away. Not too likely they'll hear you. Haven't tried that antenna. A SWR meter is the simplest way to tell if it's functioning. 73
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Newbie
Mar 2, 2022 13:54:15 GMT -5
Post by cbrown on Mar 2, 2022 13:54:15 GMT -5
Getting the antenna outside would help your receive a lot, too. For example, my attic is filled with sheet metal duct work for the central A/C.
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Newbie
Mar 3, 2022 19:41:08 GMT -5
Post by redeyegunner on Mar 3, 2022 19:41:08 GMT -5
I get static on the CB but can't hear anyone talking. Anyone had any experience with this type of antenna?
Haven't tried that antenna. A SWR meter is the simplest way to tell if it's functioning. 73 I do have a SWR tester/meter hooked up. I followed the directions to get it set up. When I key the mike the needle swings between 1 and 1.5. Now I take it it won't measure reception until I actually receive traffic, correct?
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Newbie
Mar 3, 2022 19:42:15 GMT -5
Post by redeyegunner on Mar 3, 2022 19:42:15 GMT -5
Getting the antenna outside would help your receive a lot, too. For example, my attic is filled with sheet metal duct work for the central A/C. I have a metal roof, but that's about it. How much would this affect things?
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Newbie
Mar 4, 2022 2:09:55 GMT -5
Post by 2600 on Mar 4, 2022 2:09:55 GMT -5
If your antenna is under a metal roof, this tends to shield the antenna from signals it might hear in the open.
73
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Newbie
Mar 9, 2022 13:38:10 GMT -5
Post by cbrown on Mar 9, 2022 13:38:10 GMT -5
I have a metal roof, but that's about it. How much would this affect things? It will affect both receive and transmit negatively. Try moving it outdoors if you can.
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Newbie
Mar 10, 2022 17:22:37 GMT -5
Post by oldgeezer on Mar 10, 2022 17:22:37 GMT -5
Metal roof will not effect a vertical antenna with the ground plane at the base.
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Newbie
Mar 11, 2022 0:10:24 GMT -5
Post by redeyegunner on Mar 11, 2022 0:10:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. Gonna try an outside setup for the antenna and report back.
On another matter a CB that I installed on my wife's care years back has a weird interference problem with the mike. Only if you're doubled over with the mike near a certain spot near the floor of the car does the interference go away. What in blazes is that about?
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Newbie
Mar 16, 2022 11:48:29 GMT -5
Post by cbrown on Mar 16, 2022 11:48:29 GMT -5
On another matter a CB that I installed on my wife's care years back has a weird interference problem with the mike. Only if you're doubled over with the mike near a certain spot near the floor of the car does the interference go away. What in blazes is that about? It could be a bad shield wire in the microphone cord, a bad shield connection in either the microphone or the connector, or a bad or broken shield wire in your coax cable. Sounds like RF getting in somehow. Also make sure you have a good ground connection to the radio itself.
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