Bad Mic?

[Bray D]

I'll admit, I'm a CB noob, and haven't really searched. Just though I'd post up and see if you guys could help me out.

I'm pretty sure I've got a Cobra 19 radio (I'd have to go check), and have a 102" whip mounted in my bed stake pocket.

I can hear everyone else fine, but they can't hear me. All the lights light up on my radio when I key up but I'm not sending any signal I guess.

Any thoughts?

 

[NMB2]

depends which model you have, but generally that is a pretty cheap radio. the first thing I really need to know is if this is a new issue? Were you previously able to send?

 

[mwood1985]

check your connections for corrosion and a bad ground on the whip first

 

[martin]

check the swr first. Try not to stay keyed up for too long while you do it or you could blow out the final output transister, if it's not blown already.

 

[willievhook]

are you sure the mic is screwed in all the way...

 

[4x4junkie]

+1 on checking the SWR. A shorted coax or improperly grounded antenna seems to be the #1 reason for a 2-way radio to not work correctly (particularly on the transmit end).

 

[Bray D]

It used to work. New issue.

Never did check the SWR. I was hoping to just toss it on there and go. I only use it on the trails, and rarely at that.

Its an old radio. I may just ditch everything and start fresh.

I was getting some engine noise through it too. Like 2 bars would be lit constantly. I was able to adjust the squelch and still hear guys so it wasn't too much an issue, but if I could fix that while I'm at it I might as well.

 

[Bray D]

This is the radio

http://www.rigpix.com/cbfreeband/cobra_19ultraii.jpg

 

[02RangerXLT]

It used to work. New issue.

Never did check the SWR. I was hoping to just toss it on there and go. I only use it on the trails, and rarely at that.

Thats the biggest mistake you can make.. .CB's are NOT just plug and play.

 

[Bray D]

It was for a good 3 yrs

 

[4x4junkie]

Well something happened, and now it needs to be fixed. This is where you need that SWR meter.

 

[02RangerXLT]

It was for a good 3 yrs

Doubtful, It probably worked, but definitely not to its full potential...

 

[Bray D]

Doubtful, It probably worked, but definitely not to its full potential...

All I needed it to do was work. The people I'm talking to are 50ft in front of me haha.

Sooo, I guess I'm going to do it right this time. This Cobra is an old one my dad had in one of his tractors. I wasn't expecting much out of it.

What's a decent radio? The smaller the profile/fewer knobs the better. Like I said, I'm not an over the road trucker, I just want something halfway reliable for the trails.

Once that is sorted out, we'll talk antennas. I love my whip, but if its gotta go, so be it.

Thanks for the help guys. I feel like a noob again haha.

 

[86 slo-vo]

when it comes to cb's its truely ya get what ya pay for....

i love my cobra 29ltd, at turkey bay nobody else can hear anybody up by the gate or anywhere very far in the woods and i can get them like they are beside me

 

[countryboy]

^^^ radio and what til this fall cobra is comind out with it new 50th anniversary model and it is a sweet lookin radio i am gonna get one to replace my galaxy

http://www.a1telecom.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=23_26&products_id=1815