CB radio noise

[mentalbreakdown00]

Hope someone can help me on this. Installed my first CB tonight. It's an el cheapo radio shack standard 40 channel unit. I have checked my grounds with my voltmeter for the engine, trans, and body all good. My plug wires, and ignition system is in check. I get some noise in the cb, and am looking for what a decent noise filter is. I have read a small inline one is marginal at best and a capacitor (maybe it was?) hooked between + and - is better, but a cap with a something network is the best. Please help i'm headed into town tomorrow and wanna try and find one. Also I still gotta shorten my antennae a hair as my channel 1 is 1.5 and 40 is 1.9-2.0 on my swr meter. It sounded great when I drove up near the interstate and got a guy to chat with me about 5 miles away. Is this a decent distance or should I expect further, i'm a newb to this so, forgive a little.:beer:

[chillmiller]

umm might be your squelch just a thought

[Black'03LevelII]

did you hook the pos. and neg. for the c.b. into the fuse box or directly to the battery? if thru the fuse box, try connecting directly to the battery should alliviate most of the noise. also as chillmiller stated try turning the squelch down a bit as well as your RF gain. even once you get the antenna tended to (shortened) 5 miles is about it on a stock radio.

[LearjetMinako]

CB is really a noise catcher. It will catch every bit of noise thats out there. Start by turning down the SQL to hear you hear no noise or very little of it. And if you have a buddy with a CB, do a range check.

I drove from OK to NY and back to OK with the CB on ch.19 all the way. I had the SQL set to hear very little pickup, but when I did get a call through, the range was about 5 miles. Night and very early mornings were the quitiest. As the day goes on, the db meter picks up more noise.

[mentalbreakdown00]

yes it's hooked to bat. It's not a lot of noise, but still some even at night. My power windows make it scream, along with power locks.... I live about 20 miles from the interstate/ city and was wanting to be able to talk/ hear that far.

[OilPatch197]

First thing, disconect the antenna then listen to the radio. If the noise is still there, then it is coming thru the wires, if the noise returns when the antenna is connected, then your antenna is picking up the noise and a antenna relocation, or fixing the noise source the the next step.

[mentalbreakdown00]

Ok will do. I have it on top rear of my sedan for now, may have to move it to trunk lid I guess. I may be getting my fathers old cobra which is crystals and not the newer style it's from the 70's or maybe a little earlier these still any good? He said it's had the crystals changed in it and it's a lot stronger than a newer style one?

[5speedin2.3]

I'm running one of these

DC POWER CORD & NOISE FILTER COMBINATION MODLE PLF-10CX
http://www.cbcity.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=153&

I'm sure you can find one cheaper on eBay or maybe try to find a radio shop. I got mine for $15 at the local CB shop.

Also, Your best bet is to run a power wire straight from the battery with a 15Amp fuse less then 6" from the battery. For the ground, You want something as short as possible. Most people recommend running a short wire to the body of the vehicle.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k193/daniel_k2006/Truck2/IMG_1922.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k193/daniel_k2006/Truck2/IMG_1923.jpg

[mentalbreakdown00]

I tried to the body, picked up a lot of noise when the a/c blower, p/w, or locks were going. I finally got it set up and got rid of a lot of the noise through cleaning all major body grounds, it's amazing even though the volt meter said they were ok, the cb seemed to get them. I got the antennae tuned with my swr meter, it's 1.8 on 1 and 1.8 on 40 and 1.1 on 19. Well the cb dad gave me was a cobra 18 ultra weather band cb. Anyone know if this is a decent unit it's gotta be better than the cheap radio shack one i've got going now.

[WNY964x4]

don't think bigger is always better , i run a Uniden Pro510XL and Dual 48" fiberglass whips , and my range is about 6 to 8 miles , my dad runs a Midland a little bigger than mine and a single 48" and his range is 16 miles

and 5speed , that is quite the setup , what are you runnin for a radio and mike

[mentalbreakdown00]

I didn't say bigger is better. I was asking if the cobra 18 ultra I got is a decent unit. I have a radio shack el cheapo for now. I do think I have a decent antennae though. It's a wilson little wil 10 lb magnetic unit. I think i've got the swr set right on it. 1.8 on 1 and 40 and on 19 it's 1.1. Now I need to know if the cobra is a decent unit and what i need to do to mod it, add a linear or whatever to be able to talk about 20 miles.

[WNY964x4]

as long as you have a decent antennal and the radio is tuned right , you should be able to reach your goal , i have never had luck with cobra ( the 3 i have had have all burned out ) so i am running the uniden till i can get a nice galaxy.

[5speedin2.3]

don't think bigger is always better , i run a Uniden Pro510XL and Dual 48" fiberglass whips , and my range is about 6 to 8 miles , my dad runs a Midland a little bigger than mine and a single 48" and his range is 16 miles

and 5speed , that is quite the setup , what are you runnin for a radio and mike

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50415
More pictures are on page four.

I run a Cobra 25 thats been peaked, tweaked, tuned and it has a swingkit. I also run a Boomer (Palomar) 600 one driving four and a Wilson 5000. All with Belden RG-8X coax.

I also have a very rare Astatic Minute Man II mic and a Road Noise 2018 echo mic.

I plan to get an RCI 2950 to run with my current setup.

[WNY964x4]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50415
More pictures are on page four.

I run a Cobra 25 thats been peaked, tweaked, tuned and it has a swingkit. I also run a Boomer (Palomar) 600 one driving four and a Wilson 5000. All with Belden RG-8X coax.

I also have a very rare Astatic Minute Man II mic and a Road Noise 2018 echo mic.

I plan to get an RCI 2950 to run with my current setup.

very nice , i was looking at getting a Galaxy DX959 , for some reason i have bad luck with cobra's , and i was looking into a Astatic Road Devil mic , and maybe an 8.5' straight whip , i currently run a dual Astatic fiberglass setup.

[mentalbreakdown00]

Ok, you guys lost me. I am buying a wilson 5000 this weekend. I do have a ? though. I now have a radio shack cheapy cb, in a deal I got a cobra 18 ultra weather band. Is this cb better than the rs one, or not even worth it just save up for something else? I do like that it has weatherband though.

[crappieman]

Thats a darn good antenna for what your trying to do , you shoiuld be able to get your swr a lot lower . you have 18ft. of coax laying around in a ranger
Do not lay the coax in the cab in small coils if at all possible loop it loosely , center antenna on roof of cab you can just about get to were your swr is out the box just by dropping the stinger to the bottom of the shaft and lifting it just enough to clear contact with the bottom of the shaft . I don't claim to know a lot but cb,s and keydown competitions are my first true love . And yes i do operate a competion rig of my own set up by me , and have gone from my 8 pill class and up to and won 12 pill to finally lose in the 16 pill early rounds . Come down to Camp Lejeune in carolina 3rd weekend in march every year for the keydown , great time to be had .

[orange_ranger]

i just installed an old radioshack cb and have yet to actually get any talk other than noise is their anything i could have screwed up

[5speedin2.3]

Ok, you guys lost me. I am buying a wilson 5000 this weekend. I do have a ? though. I now have a radio shack cheapy cb, in a deal I got a cobra 18 ultra weather band. Is this cb better than the rs one, or not even worth it just save up for something else? I do like that it has weatherband though.


I think you should be ok with a 500 or 1000 unless you plan to get an amp, the antenna should always be twice your peak power.
Although the 5000 is better then the 1000 and 500 because it can handle more power.
I spent the extra money and went with the 5000 because I eventually plan to run more power when I get my ham license.

As for the radio, If its one of the mini CB's then I'm sure the 18 is going to be better, especially if its been peaked and tweaked.
Weatherband is nice for the long trips upnorth here, I like having it.

[mentalbreakdown00]

Ok the cobra 18 is junk never get one if you can help it. I now have my wilson 5K ant. and it's installed. I bought my stryker 490 today, 125 watts, with usn and lsb.

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ok the cobra 18 is junk never get one if you can help it. I now have my wilson 5K ant. and it's installed. I bought my stryker 490 today, 125 watts, with usn and lsb.

What is wrong with the 18?

[5speedin2.3]

Ok the cobra 18 is junk never get one if you can help it. I now have my wilson 5K ant. and it's installed. I bought my stryker 490 today, 125 watts, with usn and lsb.

Stryker makes some nice radios. I'm sure you love the new setup.

Add in a nice power mic and you will be set. :icon_thumby:

[WNY964x4]

i just put a Uniden PC68 Elite in my truck with a Cobra mic and a Diesel external speaker , looking into getting an Astatic Road Devil mic , still gotta ground my antennas though , picking up alot of static and right now i just have them hooked to the backrack which is bolted to the fiberglass bed

[5speedin2.3]

i just put a Uniden PC68 Elite in my truck with a Cobra mic and a Diesel external speaker , looking into getting an Astatic Road Devil mic , still gotta ground my antennas though , picking up alot of static and right now i just have them hooked to the backrack which is bolted to the fiberglass bed

I wouldn't use your radio for anything other then listening. If you don't have the antenna tuned or hooked up right you WILL fry the finals in the radio and they're expensive to replace.

[WNY964x4]

well right now i am in a state where u need it , so what do you think is on my list of stuff for tonight , i soon as dad gets outta work we are gonna finish my set-up , gotta re route my coax in the cab and ground the antennas , i have never tuned the antennas , since all the wadios i have had - with the exception of the pro510 - have had the adjustment right on the radio

[5speedin2.3]

Lol.. Alright.

I'm sure your range is horrible. Trust me, you should tune your antenna and make sure the SWR is less then 1.5:1.

I run almost 1kW. I think I know what I'm talking about. :dunno:

[WNY964x4]

i trust you , but the person i am having help me i trust also , my dad is helping me and he was an over the road trucker for 18 years and had some wild set-ups and knows his stuff

[Scrambler82]

mentalbreakdown00,

How'd the install go ?

Reading the all of the posts got confusing too many different topics, I have this, I have that... man lets stick to what is asked, please/thank you...

Did you say you changed the CB ?

How did the antenna tune for SWR ?

The Wilson 5000 is a great antenna, I run Wilson Fiberglass, is it mag mount of hard mounted ?

WNY964x4,
Always tune the antenna using an external SWR Meter; the internal meters/SWR Tuning is to help the radio only it does nothing to tune the actual antenna system.
The main reason for tuning the antenna to the system is to get all of the power possible out the antenna.
When you use a Match Box or an internal device to tune the SWR (so to speak) it only adjusts the mismatch at the radio and burns up any mismatch in heat dispersion in the match box; yes the tuner saves the radio but does nothing for the antenna/coax and the transmission of the signal.
An internal tuner should be used after the initial tuning, to tweak out any small mismatches that occur overtime through corrosion, wet conditions or just road dirt.
IMHO, get the whole system tuned.

Sorry if this ruffled any feathers but it is my opinion.

[WNY964x4]

WNY964x4,
Always tune the antenna using an external SWR Meter; the internal meters/SWR Tuning is to help the radio only it does nothing to tune the actual antenna system.
The main reason for tuning the antenna to the system is to get all of the power possible out the antenna.
When you use a Match Box or an internal device to tune the SWR (so to speak) it only adjusts the mismatch at the radio and burns it up any mismatch in heat dispersion. Yes the tuner saves the radio but does nothing for the antenna/coax and the transmission of the signal.
An internal tuner should be used after the initial tuning, to tweak out any small mismatches that occur overtime through corrosion, wet conditions or just road dirt.
IMHO, get the whole system tuned.

Sorry if this ruffled any feathers but it is my opinion.

no ruffled feathers here , i trust my dad , but i like to get other opinions too , he knows alot , but not everything , my uncle (whose handle is electrician) on the other hand , has built some nasty set-ups , the FCC came to my grandmothers in rochester and told him to never key up his system again , he was disrupting cable and telephone service in a half mile radius every time he keyed the mic , talking to people in russia and germany and all over

[Scrambler82]

no ruffled feathers here , i trust my dad , but i like to get other opinions too , he knows alot , but not everything , my uncle (whose handle is electrician) on the other hand , has built some nasty set-ups , the FCC came to my grandmothers in rochester and told him to never key up his system again , he was disrupting cable and telephone service in a half mile radius every time he keyed the mic , talking to people in russia and germany and all over

Those were the days when CB was King and a lot more fun... I was young then but it got my interest going in Radio Communications and get me to take the Amateur Radio License Tests.
Luck to you and I hope all goes well in your install.
Keep the site posted on your progress.