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.

 

[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.

 

[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.