CB Not Working Right

wowko · May 3, 2011

I bought a brand new Cobra 19DXIV 40-Channel CB, with a Cobra HG A 1500 Base-Load antenna. Got it all wired up, yet it doesnt seem to work right. I can hear all my buddys OK but they cant hear me for shit.

The kicker is i had another CB i never hooked up and gave it to my buddy with an old antenna, and his setup is working fine.

I have the antenna roof mounted right now. I have two other antennas, the fiberglass kind, that i can try as well.

Let me know, thanks!

disciplerocks · May 3, 2011

I am having the same problem. Mine worked good for about 4 trips and now it quit.

ike621 · May 3, 2011

It could be that you are not pushing enough wattage to reach them or that the sending unit is not producing enough wattage.

I would also check you mic and make sure it is sending good signals.

I am currently working on C-130s that push nearly 500 watts over the HF radio and can tune to CB frequencies. I would offer assistance in troubleshooting but I think the truckers going down I-25 and I-40 wouldn't like having that much power being received in their CBs.

wowko · May 3, 2011

Other trucks can hear my friends fine...i just have it wired to the radio circuit via the fuse panel...could that be why?

--weezl-- · May 3, 2011

no, the 19dxiv is an entry level radio, though i like it (it's what's in my truck) all cb radios will recieve the same, if they are fuctioning properly, there is no difference on the recieving between a $20 radio, and a $200 radio, though the tuning for ssb and such will be different, and some cheaper radios may not have as powerful of a transmitter... i can hear my friends when driving down the highway, several corners away... though anything more than a 5 minute drive and it's getting broken up

antenna is a common issue but will typically be between both transmit and receive...

your power source if it powers the radio, it powers the radio, have you checked your SWR? if it's way out, it can a) not transmit to the radio and antenna's full potential, and b) burn out the transmitter

typically, the longer the antenna, the better it will transmit, it will receive a little better too, but not to the same amount as transmit

my money is your SWR is way off the charts 3:1 or somehting

4.0B2 · May 3, 2011

yeah check the swr...

4x4junkie · May 3, 2011

ike621 said:
It could be that you are not pushing enough wattage to reach them or that the sending unit is not producing enough wattage.

I would also check you mic and make sure it is sending good signals.

I am currently working on C-130s that push nearly 500 watts over the HF radio and can tune to CB frequencies. I would offer assistance in troubleshooting but I think the truckers going down I-25 and I-40 wouldn't like having that much power being received in their CBs.

500 watts is a little pip-squeak mud-duck radio to some people out there :icon_rofl:

I would agree though that an SWR check is in order here (a stock 4-watt radio should still be heard for at least a few miles). SWR meters can be had for as little as $15-20 or so.

LIMA BEAN · May 3, 2011

Watch this video about tuning your antenna, also they have alot of other how to info on this site.

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/pages/video-guide-step-by-step-tuning-instructions-pv-c0-90.html

--weezl-- · May 3, 2011

just tune it on channel 19, if you plan to use most channels, or if you only use 1 channel, tune it on that

dangerranger94 · May 3, 2011

me and a buddy had the exact same problem. it turned out to be our mics. id bet its your mic as well. just find one that will work(check it on your buddys setup to see if it works then try it on yours). it worked for us.

92rangnick · May 25, 2011

id check your swr, if your ony running one whip and its on the top of ur tuck its an awsome ground plane, find sumone with a reader and make sure when u q up ur 2 or lower, iy your running more then one antenna make sure there atleast 8ft away

CB Not Working Right

wowko

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disciplerocks

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ike621

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wowko

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--weezl--

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4.0B2

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--weezl--

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